The Women’s Alpine Ski World Cup touches down in Soldeu on the 10th and 11th of February. It is the 17th of the 22 stops that the white carnival makes this season. It comes with the passion and determination of an entire country that is approaching the sporting event highly motivated to be able to demonstrate that it is the most creditworthy and innovative project of the three venues that aspire to hosting the 2029 World Championships. 110 athletes from 27 countries will compete on the legendary Avet course where preparations are progressing very well. The most prominent stars of the moment and in the history of skiing will compete on the Giant Slalom and Slalom courses including top names such as Mikaela Shiffrin (USA), Federica Brignone (IT), Lara Gut (CH) and Petra Vhlova (SK). The American, who currently leads the overall standings, is in with the chance of claiming 100 World Cup victories, and this significant goal could be achieved in the Grandvalira ski station, which would greatly enhance the mediatic impact of the event. Currently, the Italian is the leader in the Giant Slalom discipline, and Shiffrin also leads the rankings in the Slalom.
Broadcasters from all over the world have already completed their accreditation requests and have each booked their set at the foot of the competition course. The Italian company, Infront Sports, who are in charge of the television broadcast, will be operating 18 cameras for the Giant Slalom, and 16 for the Slalom. The images will be broadcast live and in various time-shifted programs around the world.
The staffing for the event is expected to comprise of around 400 people involved in its organisation, including 230 volunteers.
The Sport Hotel Village in Soldeu was this morning’s venue for the official presentation of the event. The Director General of the Organising Committee, David Hidalgo, explained that the preparatory work on the Avet slope is well on schedule. On the first of February the 'snow control' test will be carried out there by the International Ski Federation (FIS).
The event was attended by the Head of the Andorran Government, Xavier Espot, in his capacity as Honorary President of the Organising Committee, who reasserted the government’s full support for the Andorran candidacy. He explained that the Andorran Foreign Office is working on tipping the balance in favour of the Pyrenean country in the vote to decide the venue that will organise the 2029 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. This decision will be made during the International Ski Federation (FIS) Annual Congress in the city of Reykjavík (Iceland) on the 4th of June.
The mayor of Canillo, Jordi Alcobé dedicated a few words to the next event that takes place in Soldeu by looking back, remembering the pioneers of the ski station. In this regard, he drew attention to the relevant upcoming date that will be the 60th anniversary of Soldeu El Tarter that just by chance happens to coincide with this year’s World Cup. Alcobé appealed to everyone to fill the stands on competition days.
The spokeswoman for the Board of Directors of the Andorran Ski Federation (FAE), Meritxell Santuré, gave special thanks to the ski clubs and announced that racers Iria Medina and Carla Mijares will participate in the Giant Slalom and Slalom competitions, respectively.
In turn, Xavier Cornella, CEO of Creand Crèdit Andorra, the main sponsor of the event said: “We are driving forward the strategy of promoting the snow sector as a key economic pillar for the country’s progress. That is why, in addition to participating in societies that manage snow fields, such as SETAP365 and the marketing company NEVASA, we sponsor ski stations and grass-roots clubs, as well as the FAE Andorran alpine ski team and our racers on an individual basis.”
Regularly appearing on the circuit
Putting on high-competition alpine skiing events is something that has gone from strength to strength. Soldeu’s presence in the white carnival calendar has been consolidated with a total of five editions between the World Cups (2012 and 2016), the World Cup Finals (2019 and 2023), and this year’s event. In autumn 2023, given this track record, Soldeu El Tarter (Grandvalira) was appointed a member of the prestigious Club5 Ski Classics, an association that unites the great white carnival’s “classic” races. In this vein, Patrick Toussaint, member of the FIS Council placed great value on having Andorra on the circuit on a regular basis, alternating the organisation of the Women's and Men's World Cups every two years. In addition, he stressed the fact that having someone like Joan Verdú competing at the highest level is very important, adding that it is something that "adds significant weight to the candidacy".
‘Sportainment’
As was the case at last year’s edition, the organisation has prepared an extensive agenda of recreational and entertaining activities for all audiences. The Soldeu platform will offer a trade village with performances, entertainment and gastronomic activities, while L'Abarset will be the après-ski epicentre for once the races are finished.
The main sponsors of the Soldeu 2024 Women's Alpine Ski World Cup are: Creand Crèdit Andorra, Andorra Turismo, Municipality of Canillo, FAE, Allianz, Altavista and Vredestein.
