Val Thorens Sets the Stage for Skimo World Cup Opener
Val Thorens, 24 November 2023 – As the snowflakes gently blanket the picturesque slopes of Val Thorens, the anticipation in the air is palpable. This Saturday, a Sprint race will kick-off the 2023/24 ISMF World Cup season. With an unprecedented 22 countries represented, and the return of last season’s podium champions, Val Thorens is ready to witness ski mountaineering history in the making. And don’t forget that you will be able to watch the races LIVE on the Olympic Channel!
The presence of athletes from 22 countries showcases the global resonance of ski mountaineering. From seasoned veterans to emerging talents from three Continents will be represented on the start list this weekend, almost double the number of countries than last year’s season opener, which had athletes from 13 Member Federations.
The echoes of last season’s triumphs reverberate through the mountain air as the athletes who stood atop the podium in the previous races return to defend their titles. Wearing the ones on Saturday will be reigning Sprint World Cup Series ranking winners last season, Emily Harrop (FRA) and Arno Lietha (SUI). But also toeing the start list will be the current Sprint World Champions, Oriol Cardona (ESP) and Marianna Jagercikova (SVK).
But winning here in Val Thorens won’t be an easy task for any of them. The Swiss team is ready to repeat their incredible success last year in Val Thorens, where they not only swept the podium on the Men’s Sprint race -Lietha, Iwan Arnold and Thomas- but also Matteo Favre in fourth place. And all of them will be toeing the start line on Saturday.
On the Women’s side, Marianne Fatton (SUI) and Giulia Murada (ITA) are aiming to repeat their podium performances of last year, but the likes of Célia Perillat-Pessey (FRA), Ana Alonso Rodriguez (ESP) or Caroline Ulrich (SUI) will try to start the season in style.
Being the first race of the season, this will be the perfect set-up to check where everyone is in terms of race fitness, and checking the progress of the pre-season training blocks. And also it will be the moment to check the progress of last year’s U23 debutants like Ot Ferrer (ESP) or Paul Verbnjak (AUT) but also to keep an eye on the ones that are making their debut in the Senior category, on their first U23 year, like Thibe Deseyn (SUI), Oriol Olm (AND) or Jon Kistler (AUT).
The Sprint race will take place on Sarturday, November 25, with the Qualifications starting at 9.10am local time and the first Heats at 10.30am. All the Heats, semi-finals and finals can be watched LIVE on the Olympic Channel.
Check some images of the training day and Opening Ceremony HERE
About the ISMF
Founded in 2007, the International Ski Mountaineering Federation ISMF is the global governing body for ski mountaineering competitions. Since 2016, the organization is officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee IOC. Its main goals are the promotion, regulation and development of the ski mountaineering sport worldwide. Based in Lausanne, Switzerland, the ISMF’s membership consists of 47 national mountaineering or ski sports federations in Europe, Asia, Oceania and the Americas. The ISMF organizes ski mountaineering World Cups events and World Championships. For the first time, ski mountaineering has been a medal sport at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland and has recently been included in the programme of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
