Marius Robyr receives a standing ovation from the Organising Committee

Preparations for the forthcoming European Cup races (February 10/11) and Women’s World Cup races (February 16-18) are well underway at all levels in Crans-Montana. The president of the Organising Committee, Marius Robyr, was enthusiastic as he shared his motivation with the 99 department heads and their deputies preparing for their tasks at a final meeting before the competitions.

The Mont Lachaux piste is currently in excellent condition, with enough snow (1m to 1m50), assured the technical department, led by Stéphane Robyr. The Organising Committee has great help from a Civil Protection detachment and 220 military personnel who will be carrying out a wide range of tasks, not just during the races, but also well before and after the event. Their main tasks will be to build the infrastructure and prepare and maintain the piste. They will all be under the command of Colonel Sébastien Neuhaus, commander of the Disaster Response Battalion 204 (Batallion d'intervention en cas de catastrophe 204 (Bat interv acc 204)).

This year’s Women's World Cup will also be an opportunity to celebrate skiing on the Haut-Plateau. Accompanied by a wonderful entertainment programme, ceremonies will take place on the Friday and Saturday evenings (February 16 and 17) at the Ycoor ice rink in Montana, featuring the top female skiers in the world. Spectators will also be able to enjoy themselves in the Sponsors’ Village at the foot of the Violettes gondola, where games, food and music will provide pre- and post-race entertainment for fans. And let's not forget the attractive World Cup Party on Saturday evening, February 17, at Le Régent Sports Centre, starring Oesch's die Dritten and Die Fetzig'n aus dem Zillertal. We highly recommend that you purchase your ticket at www.skicm-cransmontana.ch or from any of the Crans-Montana Tourism and Congress offices.

This year's races mark the end of a fantastic 18-year World Cup adventure for Marius Robyr. With an ever more competent Organising Committee, the dynamic and charismatic brigadier has kept the three promises he made to the municipalities on the Valais Haut-Plateau in the early 2000s: to organise European Cup and World Cup races every year, to establish the races as World Cup Classics, and for the FIS to award them the organisation of the Alpine World Ski Championships in 2027. There was an emotional moment at the end of the session when all those present stood up together to give Marius Robyr a well-deserved standing ovation.

DEPREZphoto sa, cransmontana