EC Finals round up big Sochi test event season

From 14th-17th March, the 2014 Olympic Winter Games venue hosted the FIS Alpine Skiing European Cup Finals at Sochi’s Rosa Khutor Alpine Centre. After test events in the disciplines of Ski Jumping, Cross-Country Skiing, Nordic Combined, Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard earlier this season, the European Cup Finals wrapped up the test event series less than one year prior to next season’s winter sports highlight.

Approximately 94 athletes from 22 countries took part in the European Cup Finals, which were held in challenging weather conditions, due to heavy rain and warm temperatures. Nevertheless both the men’s and ladies super G’s and giant slaloms were carried out, whilst downhill competitions had to be cancelled. Despite the difficulties with the weather, it was certainly a valuable test in dealing with such difficult conditions and the FIS officials were pleased with both the event and the venue, which will host all the Alpine Skiing events during next year’s Olympic Winter Games.

21-year-old Ramona Siebenhofer from Austria and 20-year-old Norwegian Aleksander Aamodt Kilde were crowned overall European Cup champions as a result of their outstanding seasons. For the Norwegian the prestigious title came on top of his giant slalom gold medal at the FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships in Canada earlier this season.

Following the races, many of the athletes were also quick to praise the event Organisers, as well as the Rosa Khutor tracks, which were designed by legendary Olympic downhill champion and FIS Alpine Committee Chairman, Bernhard Russi.

Also FIS European Cup Coordinator Marcus Waldner expressed his complete satisfaction: “I think this year the organisation was perfect. We are very satisfied. Conditions were very tough, so it was a real test. That was very challenging, but finally it turned out very well and I think the preparations are going in the right direction.”

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