Michelle Gisin is back on the podium, taking third place in the Giant in Courchevel. A performance that has a taste of victory for the Crans-Montana 2027 ambassador, who has had to face mononucleosis this summer.

Michelle Gisin is incredible. The skier from Obwald appeared to shrug off her mononucleosis, and the adverse effects that are still troubling her, to take third place in the first Courchevel Giant, which was won in style by Mikaela Shiffrin, coming in just in front of Sweden's Sara Hector. Who could have imagined that the skier from Engelberg would be able to return to competitive skiing this quickly? Having only resumed training at the end of September, the Swiss skier took her first podium place of the winter, after – in her words - "some very complicated months", while also having to manage her rest periods after competitions. This podium place naturally has a taste of victory.

Michelle Gisin had already shown that she was gradually returning to form during the slaloms in Levi where she placed 8^th and 5^th. She then took to her downhill skis again in Saint-Moritz and Val d'Isère, ending up with two top 10 finishes. Competition appears to motivate and enable her to transcend, and her polished technique has allowed her to shine even if she is not yet 100%. In Courchevel, the Obwaldian once again showed her natural talent, and took the 15^th podium place of her career, her third in the Giant . After a brilliant first heat, she was able to keep up the pace despite her fatigue, and in the second, she used the science of trajectory to her advantage.

Camille Rast’s third best result of her career

There was even more satisfaction in the Swiss clan thanks to Camille Rast’s 9th place. The Valaisan finally managed to let loose in a discipline in which she has had difficulty truly freeing herself since the beginning of winter. The click that seemed to occur during the Andalo Giants in the European Cup, where she took 1^st and 2^nd place was reflected in the World Cup.

Starting with bib number 45, the skier from Vétroz managed an excellent 16^th place, on a piste that had already deteriorated in the first heat. Not satisfied with this, she attacked even harder on the second run to gain seven places and, for the third time in her career, finished in the top 10 in the World Cup, and equalled her best result in the Giant, back in 2017 in Kronplatz, before her health problems with mononucleosis and a torn cruciate knee ligament. This performance will give her a lot of confidence for the next Giant races this winter, as she knows she has what it takes to finish in front. Hasn’t she just finished with the fourth fastest time in the second heat…

Wendy Holdener (18^th), Simone Wild (21^st) and Corinne Suter (23^rd) also scored points.

Mikaela Shiffrin's 72^nd

In the absence of Lara Gut-Behrami, who tested positive for Covid-19, having pushed her to the limit in the opening Giant in Sölden, Mikaela Shiffrin had no hesitation in winning her 72^nd World Cup race. With 14 Giant Slalom victories now, she joins Anita Wachter, Viktoria Rebensburg, Tessa Worley, Tina Maze and Lise-Marie Morerod as the third most successful athlete in the discipline.

With this new success, Shiffrin takes the overall lead from Sofia Goggia, who was eliminated in the second round on Tuesday. A second Giant is scheduled to take place on Wednesday in the French resort.

The International Ski Federation (FIS) paid tribute to its former president Gian Franco Kasper, who died on 9 July 2021 at the age of 77, in a ceremony in his home town of St Moritz. The ceremony took place at the end of the women's World Cup super-G on Sunday 12 December, in the finish area in Salastrains. The Crans-Montana World Cup races were represented by president Marius Robyr and vice-president Hugo Steinegger.

Gian Franco Kasper led the FIS as its president for 23 years, after serving as Secretary General for 23 years. With this ceremony, the FIS wanted to show its respect for Gian Franco Kasper’s work. For 18 years, Gian Franco Kasper also demonstrated his steadfast commitment to the world of international skiing and snowboarding as a valued member of the International Olympic Committee. Several Olympic medallists, World champions and World Cup winners were present for the tribute.

In the video below, Marius Robyr pays a posthumous tribute to his friend Gian Franco Kasper, and thanks him warmly for his constant commitment to alpine ski racing in Crans-Montana.

Video (in French only): SkiActu

The 2021/22 season holds some big challenges for the Organising Committee of the alpine skiing events in Crans-Montana. Five races to organise! The Men's Night Exhibition Slalom on 12 January, two Women's European Cup downhills on 19 and 20 February, and the following weekend (26/27 February) two Women's World Cup downhills, a sort of Olympic revenge.

During the traditional pre-season meeting, the president of the Organising Committee, Marius Robyr, gave a precise, concise and motivating presentation to all the sector heads and their deputies detailing the many missions and tasks that await them.

For the time being, all efforts are being concentrated on Wednesday 12 January, when a Men's Exhibition Slalom will be held, between the World Cup events in Adelboden and Wengen. The best slalom racers in the world will compete for the handsome sum of 50,000 Swiss francs on offer to the winner.

With an excellent team spirit, the Organising Committee is doing its utmost to make these races a great success. This is thanks to the precious support of the CMA ski lift company, the Swiss military (an average of 200 men per day, both for the training and for the races), members of the Civil Protection, as well as our partners Swiss-Ski and the FIS International Ski Federation.

Marius Robyr also gave a positive interim report on the Crans-Montana bid to host the 2027 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. A convincing dossier was submitted to the FIS, and a comprehensive presentation was given online to the FIS experts. Garmisch-Partenkirchen/Germany, Soldeu/Andorra and Narvik/Norway are also in the running, making for very strong competition. On 26 May 2022, the FIS Council will elect the host venue at the FIS Congress in Vilamoura/Portugal.

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With such a packed programme, it would be impossible to imagine organising the 2022 alpine ski races in Crans-Montana without the invaluable support of our loyal volunteers. From the youngest to the oldest, these volunteers dedicate countless hours of hard work during the preparation and competition days.

During this warm and friendly raclette evening in "La Bergerie du Cervin" restaurant, thanks were given for the volunteers’ commitment, and their dedication was naturally honoured, as is the case every year, at the beginning of the season. Marius Robyr, president of the Organising Committee, did this in a touching manner. He also motivated the volunteers for the challenging 2022 programme ahead: with the Men's Night Slalom by invitation (12 January), the Women's European Cup (19 and 20 February) and the Women's World Cup (26 and 27 February) with two downhills, which will be an interesting Olympic rematch after the Winter Games in Beijing. In regards to these events, the volunteers’ commitment is already in great demand for the various training days preceding all the events. Musical entertainment for this friendly evening was provided by the accordionist Tony Bitschin.

The Crans-Montana "Bénéclub" would be delighted to receive any additional registrations for volunteers, both for the races and for the 2022 training sessions. If you are interested, please click on the following link: https://www.skicm-cransmontana.ch/en/volunteers-2021-22/
The Organising Committee and all the heads of department would like to thank you in advance for your interest.

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Major autumn renovation work on the upper part of the legendary Crans-Montana Nationale piste, between the Bella Lui start and Cry d'Er, has been completed.

A recent on-site inspection took place, with Hannes Trinkl, FIS Speed Races Director. The former Austrian downhill specialist, who was world champion in 2001 and Olympic bronze medallist in 1998, praised the work and compared the Nationale to the demanding Beaver Creek downhill (Colorado/USA).

The Crans-Montana piste now fully meets the technical requirements for modern downhill racing. In addition, it offers a course that is just as spectacular for the spectators on site as it is for television viewers. The Nationale is also a real challenge for the athletes, at 3,670 metres long (start: 2,520 m, finish: 1,545 m, vertical drop: 981 m), and with an estimated race time of between 2'10 and 2'15.

Hannes Trinkl said, "The Nationale offers a downhill for the World Championships that absolutely deserves to be a championship piste." But in the meantime, Crans-Montana is now able to take over a speed race that was cancelled in the men's World Cup calendar at short notice. As a candidate for the 2027 World Championships, the Haut Plateau resort is not only ready for its traditional women's races on the Mont Lachaux track, but it is also ready to host men's competitions on the Nationale piste!

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The first snow is here, the summits are white and the temperatures are now cool enough to want to put on a cosy hat. And the Crans-Montana World Cup hat is here! True to tradition, it’s a different colour every year and this will continue until the 2027 World Championships, if the FIS awards them to us, which we wholeheartedly hope will be the case. Garnet red and white, it goes with anything… the 2021/22 season hat is a real eye catcher! 

With the festive season fast approaching, here’s an idea for a useful and comfortable gift to leave under the Christmas tree. You can get it from Crans-Montana Tourism and Congress. The price : CHF 20.00. It is free for "Friends of the Crans-Montana World Cup". If you’re interested in becoming a member of this friendly group, click here.

Online purchase: please click on the poster

The 2021/22 alpine skiing World Cup season started in a traditional manner this weekend in Sölden, Austria. It was an excellent opportunity to promote Crans-Montana's bid for the 2027 World Ski Championships among the ski competition family, and to a few of the leaders in particular. The ambitious project was positively received, says Hugo Steinegger, executive vice-director of the bid. It’s now important to continue planning with drive and passion.

 

 

After being forced to skip the 2020 edition for reasons that we are all aware of, the Friends of the Crans-Montana World Cup were finally able to meet -  for the fourth time - for a delicious raclette served at "La Bergerie du Cervin" restaurant in Vermala. This get-together was a great success, and a good opportunity to get into the mood two weeks before the start of the 2021/22 World Cup season, which will be stopping on the Valais High Plateau on 26 and 27 February 2022, and which features two downhill races programmed for "our" annual women’s classic. These events will be preceded by two European Cup downhill races, scheduled on 19 and 20 February. On Wednesday 12 January, the men will also be stopping off in Crans-Montana for a Night Slalom, by invitation only. The top specialists in the discipline will be present.

Full of imagination and humour as always, Marius Robyr, the charismatic President of the Organising Committee for the World Cup events, addressed the FRIENDS and presented the 2022 edition, not forgetting to mention the World Cup Party of course, which will see the return of the Oesch's die Dritten family, the most famous popular music group in Switzerland, to the resort. The event will take place on Saturday evening, 26 February, in the tennis centre at Le Régent Congress Centre. Tickets will be on sale from 15 November. Of course, the progress of the bid to host the 2027 Crans-Montana/Valais Alpine World Ski Championships wasn’t forgotten either.

A wood-fired raclette without traditional accordion music is simply unthinkable! The well knowned Thürler-Mosimann-Tschanz trio provided the perfect entertainment for this friendly event. The FRIENDS present once again had the honour of being the first to receive, and wear, the 2022 Crans-Montana World Cup hat, which is released in a different colour each year. The new look is a very cool white and ruby red design. It will be on sale for CHF 20.00 from 1 December 2021, from the Crans-Montana Tourism and Congress offices.

If you would also like to join the other 320 members of the Friends of the World Cup, it's very simple, just register by following the instructions here. The World Cup Steering Committee would be delighted to welcome new members.

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