Andorra is hosting the top-level alpine ski competition FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup, launched more than 50 years ago. The event takes place March 11-17. Almost 5 months after the start of the season, the world’s top 25 male and female skiers will slide down the slopes of Grandvalira de Soldeu-El Tarter to compete in all disciplines and to decide who will win the Audi FIS Ski World Cup 2019. It’s the biggest sporting event in the history of the principality and the Pyrenees and it will consolidate the position of Grandvalira and Andorra as first-rate world skiing sites. It is expected that more than 500 million people around the globe will watch the live TV broadcast of the finals.
The Avet course in the Grandvalira-Soldeu sector will be the stage of the slalom and giant slalom. This slope is more than 1,200 metres long and its maximum incline is 70%. The Àliga slope in the Grandvalira-El Tarter sector, whose dual route, when seen from above, is X-shaped—just like Grandvalira’s logo—, will host the Super-G and downhill finals. One of the slopes is 60 metres wide, has an elevation difference of 756 metres and is 2,700 metres long. All slopes have high-quality snow and provide the top athletes with maximum safety, so the event is guaranteed.
The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup was launched in 1966 by a group of friends and experts in skiing competitions, such as French journalist Serge Lang, legendary French skiing coach Honoré Bonnet and American skiing coach Bob Beattie. The first edition immediately gained support from the president of the International Ski Federation, Marc Hodler, and in the spring of 1967 it became an official event. The first race of that first edition was held in Berchtesgarden, West Germany. Jean-Claude Killy from France and Canadian skier Nancy Greene were the first two-time overall FIS World Cup champions.
In this 2018-2019 edition, the main contenders in the male competition are Marcel Hirscher, Alexis Pinturault and Henrik Kristoffersen. While skiiers Mikaela Shiffrin, Petra Vlhová and Wendy Holdener are in the race for the women’s gold medals.
The Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals is a very prestigious event and a historic milestone for Andorra. It will definitely change the way how the world of sports will look at the principality in the future. Illa Carlemany will host a special event during the competition days with many activities for the whole family, so that’s one more reason – and a great opportunity – to visit us.
* You can buy your ski pass at the Carlemany Information and Customer Service Point, or ask the staff for information about the facilities and all seasonal offers.
** Photographie fournie par Turismo de Andorra