THE GREATEST TALENTS IN WORLD SKIING IN CRANS-MONTANA

Crans-Montana is extremely honoured that the International Ski Federation (FIS) has awarded the resort the 30th FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships in 2011, from 29 January until 6 February. In organising these competitions, Crans-Montana is intending to add a new highlight to its long and rich history with the ‘white circus’. In 2011, it will be exactly 100 years since the English ski pioneer, Sir Arnold Lunn, organised the first downhill in the world, here on the Haut Plateau, from the Plaine-Morte Glacier to Mollens! Amongst the ski races organised in Crans-Montana, there have been over 20 European Cup and 19 FIS World Cup races, two World Cup finals (1992/98) as well as the unforgettable 1987 World Championships.

Enormous investment in the ski lifts and pistes

Whether already completed or underway, investment in the ski lifts, pistes (over 140 km) and other infrastructures has been huge. For example, no less than 4 million francs have been injected into modernising the mythical Piste Nationale. For the Women’s World Cup in 2010, and with a view to holding future races here, the last part of the course has been modified so as to now offer a spectacular slope, ideal for organising slaloms and giant slaloms.

The modifications to be carried out this summer/autumn on part of the Mt-Lachaux piste (Women’s Downhill 1987 World Championships) will allow the slalom and giant slalom heats of the Junior World Championships to be held here. As for the Nationale, it will be hosting the downhill and Super-G. The two pistes merge into a stunning joint finish line.

Proximity and ambitions

For the Junior World Championships, Crans-Montana is offering a concept of proximity: just one single finish line for the 8 races, a site where throughout the races a large tent will be installed for the racers and those accompanying them, with refreshments and a rest area, car parks and ski lifts adjacent to the piste. Not far away, «Le Régent» Congress Centre, which will be set aside for team leaders’ meetings and a media centre, welcoming hotels and the ice rink where the opening ceremony will take place. The organisers’ leitmotiv: «A superb festival of skiing, with youth as its theme!»

The 30th FIS Junior World Championships taking place from 29 January until 6 February will see some 250 athletes from 53 nations competing for medals accompanied by 470 support staff.