The Alpine World Ski Championships will arrive in the Three Valleys on 5 February, bringing the world’s best skiers and plenty of ski fans to Méribel and Courchevel. In this preview, we’ve gathered the schedule highlights and earmarked the athletes to watch during an exciting two weeks in the resort.
Return to France
It’s the first time the World Championships have landed in France for more than a decade, with the last championships on French snow held in 2009 in Val d’Isere. This will be the first time the championships have taken place in the Three Valleys, with both Courchevel and Méribel hosting events.
A packed schedule
Expect a packed schedule of events between 5 - 19 February.
Both women’s and men’s events will be spread across Méribel and Courchevel, with the Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super G and Downhill disciplines being joined by the hugely exciting parallel team races. There will also be free access to two qualification sessions at the Stade Emile Allais course in Courchevel.
|
Opening Ceremony |
5 February |
Courchevel |
|
Women’s Alpine Combined |
6 February |
Méribel |
|
Men’s Alpine Combined |
7 February |
Courchevel |
|
Women’s Super G |
8 February |
Méribel |
|
Men’s Super G |
9 February |
Courchevel |
|
Women’s Downhill |
11 February |
Méribel |
|
Men’s Downhill |
12 February |
Courchevel |
|
Parallel Qualifications |
14 February |
Stade Emile Allais - Courchevel |
|
Alpine Team Parallel |
14 February |
Méribel |
|
Men & Women’s Parallel Giant Slalom |
15 February |
Méribel |
|
Men’s Giant Slalom Qualification (free access) |
16 February |
Stade Emile Allais - Courchevel |
|
Women’s Giant Slalom |
16 February |
Méribel |
|
Men’s Giant Slalom |
17 February |
Courchevel |
|
Men’s Slalom Qualification (free access) |
18 February |
Stade Emile Allais - Courchevel |
|
Women’s Slalom |
18 February |
Méribel |
|
Men’s Slalom |
19 February |
Courchevel |
|
Closing Ceremony |
19 February |
Courchevel |
The ones to watch
It’s not often you can watch the world’s best female and male skiers in one place. From the Downhill and the Super G to the Slalom and Giant Slalom, we’ll be spoilt for choice.
Female racers
Many will be watching American Mikaela Shiffrin, the current overall World Cup leader and two-time Olympic Gold Medallist, as she goes for glory in the Slalom and Giant Slalom races.
Also aiming to clear the tighter gates will be Slovakian Petra Vlhova, who’s having a solid season in the technical disciplines on the World Cup circuit.
Completing the top female line-up will be Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami, Italian Marta Bassino, World Cup Super G leader Ragnhild Mowinckel from Norway, and the Italian Downhill specialist Sofia Goggia.
Male racers
In the men’s races, all eyes and a lot of support will be on local Courchevel skier Alexis Pinturault, overall World Cup champion in 2021 and the most successful French World Cup skier in history.
A lot of focus will also be on Swiss Marco Odermatt, last season’s overall World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist in Beijing last year.
Expect a lot of Norwegian flags, as current Downhill World Cup leader Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, rising star Lucas Braathen and technical specialist Henrik Kristoffersen all take to the piste. Also looking to make an impact will be the Austrian Downhill and Super G specialist, Vincent Kriechmayr.
Off the piste
Of course, not all the action will be on the snow. The Three Valleys will be well and truly alive during the championships, with bars, cafés and restaurants full to the brim. Expect an electric atmosphere!
There will also be a full entertainment programme across both resorts, with live music and ski shows in both villages and the International Festival of Pyrotechnic Art landing in Courchevel.
Enjoy the slopes
The event organisers have made every effort to ensure the slopes can be enjoyed by all throughout the championships.
All ski lifts will be open to the public and only five runs will be closed during the two weeks of races and events: Eclipse and the Granges in Courchevel; and Roc de Fer, Choucas and Eterlou in Méribel. Two tunnels have also been dug to maintain the flow of skiers beneath the competition runs.
Catch the coverage
For those of you not lucky enough to be in the Three Valleys during February, you can catch the coverage on Eurosport and BBC Ski Sunday, as well as following real time news and results on the official World Championships website.
We’re looking forward to welcoming our guests to Méribel during the championships and enjoying a thrilling two weeks of competition. See you on the slopes!
Image copyrights: World Ski Championships