Val Gardena/Gröden delivers an unforgettable World Cup week
Just before Christmas, the world's best ski racers were guests in Val Gardena/Gröden for the 57th time for the speed classic on the Saslong. As usual, two races were on the program: a super-G on Friday and the legendary downhill classic on Saturday.
Val Gardena/Gröden congratulates the Speed World Champions
The Saslong Classic Club is thrilled with the freshly crowned world champions in the fast disciplines. Dominik Paris won the Super-G in Are, Sweden, and Kjetil Jansrud the downhill - both have also had great successes in Val Gardena/Gröden.
Val Gardena/Gröden provides a week of highlights
The 51st edition of the men's speed races on the Saslong is history. Organizers, FIS and athletes can look back on a very well organized race week that continued on Tuesday with the ladies’ World Cup competitions in Val Gardena/Gröden.
"Simply fantastic!"
These is what the athletes had to say after the last ladies’ race on the Saslong.
Great joy clouded by a drop of sadness
On Saturday, the men's 2018 speed races on the Saslong concluded with a downhill victory for Norwegian Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. On Tuesday, 18 Dezember and Wednesday, 19 Dezember, two ladies’ races took place for the first time in Val Gardena/Gröden and all went well. Ilka Stuhec from Slovenia won both races. Rainer Senoner, President of the Organizing Committee of Val Gardena/Gröden can look back on a successful week of racing in ideal conditions for both ladies and men.
Double victory for Stuhec
On Wednesday, a successful racing week concluded with the ladies’ super-G race. The super-G race went smoothly under cloudy skies.
Praises from all sides
The President of the Organizing Committee, Rainer Senoner, greeted all those present and opened the third and final team captains' meeting by praising the work of the jury, the committee, the coaches, the television production company and especially the good performances of the ladies racers.
"It's a dream come true!"
Here is what the athletes had to say about today’s ladies’ downhill race on the Saslong.
Only Ilka Stuhec is ahead of Nicol Delago
The downhill race of the ladies took place on the Saslong under blue skies and in perfect conditions.
Austrians lead in training
The last ladies’ downhill training on the Saslong started at 10:00 am under ample sunshine. The forerunners included some well-known ski stars such as Kjetil Jansrud, Peter Fill and Verena Stuffer.
A repeat win: Südtirol Ski Trophy for Aleksander Aamodt Kilde
The Norwegian racer A.A Kilde was awarded the Südtirol Ski Trophy on Monday evening in the finish area of the Gran Risa. This award is given to the racer who earns the most points in the four World Cup races in the two Ladin valleys.
"Excellent slope, great weather!"
The International Ski Federation FIS and the Organizing Committee Val Gardena/Gröden met on Monday evening for the second team captains’ meeting to discuss the first training day with the participants.
What the racers had to say about the training runs
Racers - and others - expressed their opinions on the training runs.
The ladies on the Saslong: the training runs
On Monday, the downhill training took place in Val Gardena/Gröden at 10:00 am.
We're looking forward to the ladies‘ races. "We're ready!"
Am Sonntagabend fand in Wolkenstein die erste Mannschaftsführersitzung statt, die heuer zum ersten Mal die Frauen Welt-Cup Woche einleitet.
"A ladies' race on the Saslong has always been my dream”
Isolde Kostner from Val Gardena/Gröden was one of the world’s best athletes in both the downhill and super-G disciplines at the turn of the millennium. In an interview, the two-time World Champion and two-time winner of the Downhill World Cup talks about the upcoming ladies’ races on the Saslong.
Kilde dominates the downhill in Val Gardena/Gröden
It’s Norway again! This time, it’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, Aksel Lund Svindal’s younger team member who is standing on top of the podium. It's his downhill on the Saslong and his first triumph in Val Gardena/Gröden.
Kilde in the lead at the "Südtirol Ski Trophy”
This year again, the athlete who scores the most points during the four races in South Tyrol will be awarded during the World Cup week in Val Gardena & Alta Badia. After two competitions, the Norwegian Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is in first place.
“A hell of a race”
Another Norwegian victory, but with Aleksander Aamodt Kilde a new name on the highest podium. Here is what the racers had to say about today's downhill.
Marc Gisin stable after heavy fall
The Swiss Marc Gisin, who took a heavy fall during the Val Gardena/Gröden downhill, is in a stable condition based on initial feedback.
The online media celebrate Kilde's victory
The events of the Val Gardena/Gröden downhill were reported in many online media around the globe. Here a small excerpt...
Otmar Striedinger's fan club is unbeatable
Also in 2018, the traditional fan club parade could not be missed during the World Cup week in Val Gardena/Gröden. Before the start of the Saturday downhill, the fans of the ski stars met in the centre of Santa Cristina to parade to the finish area of the Saslong.
Vitalini Speed Contest, dreaming of Svindal and others
Following in the footsteps of Svindal & Co., the "Vitalini Speed Contest" was held immediately after the super-G, a speed competition dedicated to the very young talents of skiing.
VIDEO: a special thank you by Sarah Lewis
A special thank you by FIS Secretary General Sarah Lewis to the organizers of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup in Val Gardena/Gröden for both hosting the men’s Super-G and classic Downhill but, furthermore, for stepping in and hosting two additional ladies’ events making this an extra special World Cup week in the valley.
Theaux also kicking off downhill with start number 1
The award ceremony of the super-G on Friday evening on the Antonius Square in Ortisei/St. Ulrich was immediately followed by the the bib draw for Saturday’s downhill.
"It couldn't be better."
At the team captains’ meeting on Friday in Selva/Wolkenstein, the super-G was reviewed and the latest information announced for the downhill on Saturday.
The super-G in Val Gardena/Gröden as seen by the international media
The events on the Saslong on Friday found their coverage in numerous online media from all over the world. Here is a small excerpt...
"A role model for all"
After his victory in the super-G on Friday, "Saslong King" Aksel Lund Svindal outshines everything in Val Gardena/Gröden. Here is what the racers had to say about today's super-G.
Record holder Aksel Lund Svindal wins the super-G ahead of a super Christof Innerhofer
He is still the king, Aksel Lund Svindal. The Norwegian wins once again on the Saslong amassing seven victories on the Val Gardena/Gröden track. Svindal wins today's super-G ahead of Christof Innerhofer. The Italian sees the first place fade away by only 5/100 of a second. Another Norwegian completes the podium, Kjetil Jansrud. Wonderful day and wonderful audience in the first race of the World Cup weekend in Val Gardena/Gröden.
VIDEO: Alexander Rabanser on the job of course slider
Alexander Rabanser is responsible for the "slippers" on the Saslong. In the video, he explains what work awaits him and his 35-people-strong team during the World Cup week in Val Gardena/Gröden.
The FISI invites the schoolchildren of Val Gardena/Gröden to the ladies’ competitions
The Organizing Committee and the Italian winter sports federation FISI invite all schoolchildren of Val Gardena/Gröden to attend the downhill and super-G races for free.