The best female skiers are arriving to Grandvalira, Andorra (Pyrenees) to take part in the Women’s FIS Alpine Ski World Cup. Up until now there are 19 registered countries to compete. February 21st is the last day to register the names of the participating racers. Awaiting final confirmation, the leading racers to pay special attention to are:
Lindsey Vonn
Lindsey Vonn (b. United States, October 18th, 1984), is the racer with the most race wins in the history of the Women’s Alpine Ski World Cup with 76, just 10 short of the legendary 86 wins by Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark in the Men’s category. After recovering from a serious injury, she is once again the clear favourite to top the overall standings of this season’s World Cup. She is currently leading with 1,060 points. Vonn is 1st in the Downhill and Super-G categories (with a total of 500 and 360 points respectively) and 2nd in the Alpine Combined (80 points). Lastly, it is important to note the good results that Vonn has achieved in 2016, with the Vail skier, sponsored by Head, getting on the podium no fewer than 11 times (9 gold medals, 1 silver medal and 1 bronze medal). Vonn has won the World Cup title on 4 occasions after 360 participations in the White Circus. She has taken part in four Olympic Games since 2002 and won a gold medal in the Downhill and a bronze medal in the Super-G in Vancouver 2010. She has also participated in 20 races in 6 different World Championships, in which she appeared on 6 podiums (2 gold medals, 3 silver medals and 1 bronze medal in the speed races).
Lara Gut
The Swiss skier, born on April 27th, 1991, is currently second in the overall standings with 973 points. Versatility is her most outstanding skill, since she is currently first in the Combine (100 points) and second in the Super-G (261 points). Sponsored by Head and member of the Sporting Gottardo Ski Club, Gut has appeared on 8 podiums so far this season (5 gold medals, 2 silver medals and 1 bronze medal). On her honours list, she has a second place and a third place in World Cup overall standings and she has taken part in 178 races, with 28 podiums finishes, 17 of those in first position. She has also participated in 16 races in 4 World Championships (3 silver medals, 1 bronze medal) and made her Olympic Games debut in Sochi 2014, where she won a bronze medal in the Downhill.
Viktoria Rebensburg
Born in Germany on October 4th 1989, Rebensburg is one of the main favourites for this season. Currently third in the standings (820 points), the SC Kreuth skier has earned good results in the Super-G races, where she is currently in 4th position with 204 points. In 2016, she appeared on 6 podiums (2 gold medals, 1 silver medal and 3 bronze medals) and has participated in 170 World Cup races, achieving 29 podium positions and 12 wins. She has the experience of having taken part in 5 World Cups in her career, winning a silver medal in the Giant Slalom at Vail/Beaver Creek in 2015; and in two Olympic Games, winning gold in Vancouver 2010 and bronze in Sochi 2014, both in the Giant Slalom.
Tina Weirather
Tina Weirather (b. Liechtenstein, May 24th,1989) is currently in fifth position, both in the overall standings (619 points) and in the Super-G standings (166 points). Weirather is the daughter of two elite skiers and member of the SC Schaan ski club, currently sponsored by Atomic and Tecnica. This year she has appeared on 4 podiums (2 silver medals and 2 bronze medals) and has participated in 136 World Cup races, with 24 podium positions and 4 wins. She has also taken part in 4 World Championships and in 2 Olympic Games.
Cornelia Hütter
The Austrian skier (b. October 29th, 1992) is one of the most outstanding skiers of this season, currently seventh in the overall standings with 533 points. She has performed fantastically well in the Super-G and is currently third with 215 points. In the Alpine Combined, she is 11th (24 points). Hütter is member of the SV St. Radegund ski club and has been on the podium 5 times in 2016 (1 silver medal, 4 bronze medals). Hütter has participated in 54 World Cup races gaining 6 podium positions, as well as taking part in the 2015 World Championship and in the 2014 Olympic Games.
Nadia Fanchini
Nadia Fanchini (b. June 25th, 1986) is eleventh in the overall standings (398 points) and sixth in the Super-G (127 points). The Italian skier has reached the 200-race mark in World Cups and earned 10 podium places and 1 win in the Super-G. Fanchini has also taken part in 5 World Championships, winning a silver and a bronze medal in the Downhill, and in two Olympic Games.
Elisabeth Görgl
The unpredictable Elisabeth Görgl (b. February 20th, 1981) is currently in the Top 10 of the Super-G, falling in 9th place with 96 points. The Austrian skier is one of her country’s most outstanding alpine ski figures and is currently 31st in the overall standings (209 points). Sponsored by Head and member of the KSV Kapfenberg-Steiermark club, Görgl has taken part in 357 World Cup races and earned 42 podium places, including 7 wins. She has also participated in 7 World Championships and been on the podium 3 times, 2 of which were victories. Lastly, she has also participated in 3 Olympic Games and won bronze medals in each the Downhill and Giant Slalom events in Vancouver 2010.
Tessa Worley
Tessa Worley (b. October 4th, 1989) already knows what it feels like to win in Grandvalira, since the French skier took first place in the Giant Slalom in the 2012 World Cup, and is currently 23rd in the overall standings with 245 points. Worley, sponsored by Rossignol and member of the ARMEES-EMHM – S.C. Grand Bornand ski club, is 22nd (36 pts.) and 13th (20 pts.) in the Super-G and Alpine Combined standings respectively. She was second in the overall World Cup standings in 2006 and has taken part in 147 races, with 13 podiums and 2 wins. Worley has also competed in 4 World Championships, winning a gold medal and a bronze medal in the Giant Slalom, and in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.
Mikaela Shiffrin
The young American skier (b. Vail, March 13th, 1995) will be the big question mark in the race in El Tarter, since she is just recovering from a very serious injury that has kept her out of the circuit for a few months. However, she had been on the podium 3 times until her injury in December, including two victories in the Slalom in Aspen and an outstanding second place in the Grand Slalom in Sölden. Shiffrin’s record at the World Championships is nothing short of impressive, with two victories in the Slalom in 2013 and 2015. All in all, she has taken part in 73 races and earned 27 podium positions including 17 victories. Shiffrin has also participated in two World Championships and in the 2014 Olympic games, winning two gold medals and one gold medal respectively, all of them in the Slalom event.
Michaela Kirchgasser
The Austrian skier (b. March 18th 1985) is one of the favourites in the Alpine Combined thanks to some excellent results that have positioned her in 3rd place in this event’s standings with 60 points. Sponsored by Atomic, the Salzburg-born skier and member of the USK Filzmoos ski club is currently ranked 15th in the overall standings with 361 points. She has taken part in 248 World Cup races and earned 15 podium places, including 3 wins. Kirchgasser has also participated in 5 World Championships, winning a silver medal and a bronze medal; and in three Olympic Games.
Maruša Ferk
Maruša Ferk, (b. September 27th, 1988) is a Slovenian alpine skier who has achieved very good results in the Alpine Combined, currently accumulating 50 points and sitting in 4th place in the standings. In the overall standings, she is currently in 62nd place with 64 points. She has taken part in 131 World Cup races (1 podium), 3 World Championships and 2 Olympic Games.
Margot Bailet
Margot Bailet (July 25th, 1990) is one to keep an eye on in the Alpine Combined event, with the French skier currently in fifth position with 45 points. Bailet, a member of the Inter Club Nice ski club and sponsored by Salomon, is currently in 38th place (166 points) in the overall standings. She has also taken part in 81 World Cup races and in 2 World Championships.
The timetables for the FIS World Cup Grandvalira Andorra Soldeu El Tarter 2016 on the 27th and 28th of February:
Friday, 26th of February 2016
9.00am – 12.00pm: Free practice on the competition tracks
5.00pm – 6.00pm: Captains meeting and race numbers lottery
7.30pm: Laser show, fireworks and torch-lit descent to the Avet at Soldeu slope
Saturday, 27th of February 2016. Super-G (SG)
10.30am: Ladies Super-G, Àliga SG track
12.30pm: Flower ceremony at the finish area
6.30pm: Awards ceremony at the Canillo Ice Rink
6.45pm: Public race-number lottery at the Canillo Ice Rink
Sunday, 28th of February 2016. Alpine Combined (SC)
10.30am: Super-G leg, Àliga SG track
1.30pm: SL leg, Àliga SL track
3.00pm: Awards ceremony at the finish area
4.00pm: Closing ceremony at l’Abarset, El Tarter
You can get to the Àliga SG Super-G track with the 10-seater ski lift in El Tarter or with the 4-seater chairlift, both leaving from the parking area. Then, they link with the 6-seater chairlift at Tosa Espiolets. The slope is oriented towards the north-west, which guarantees better snow quality, and it descends through the wavy terrain of El Tarter until it finishes in front of Hotel Nòrdic and next to the parking area, which makes it easier for spectator access.
The last part of the track is visible from the hotels that have the sunniest rooms that overlook the competitions track.
Look here for more information about Andorra FIS SKI history
See also Andorra best ski resorts
See also Andorra travel guide
See also Pyrenees travel guide
See also France travel guide
See also Spain travel guide
