Idre Fjäll (SWE) ready for the first back-to-back races in 2023

Jan 21, 2023·Ski Cross

Happy new year everyone and welcome back on the ski cross track after almost a month break.

Beginning of the week, the ski cross tour headed north to Scandinavia, more precious to our long-term venue Idre Fjäll (SWE) which is located in the historical province Dalarna only 30km away from the Norwegian boarder. Idre Fjäll is the fourth biggest ski resort in Sweden and already hosts the FIS Ski Cross World Cup for the 9th year in a row. Including the FIS Freestyle World Championships in 2021 we can already count 16 ski cross races here.

The spectacular races down the 1.1 km long and challenging course including 53 elements whereof 500 m, which means almost half the course, is the famous finish strait where we for sure will see a lot of action also this year, will go down from 19-22 January 2023.

Sandra Naeslund in her own league

The ski cross queen Sandra Naeslund is dominating the ski cross World Cup on women`s side this season and so counts as favorite to stand on top of the podium at her home races here in Idre Fjäll. She is not only unbeaten for over a year and won every single qualification this season, but she has also beaten the record on most World Cup wins men and women in Val Thorens (FRA). The new record now counts 33 victories, and we are pretty sure this record will rise further till the end of the season. Besides that, Naeslund is also our reigning Olympic and World Champion.

Next to Naeslund who is also leading the list of most podiums and victories in Idre Fjäll (10 podiums whereof 6 have been victories) we have some other strong athletes on the women`s side trying to finally beat the Swedish athlete.

With 8 podiums whereof 4 have been victories Fanny Smith (SUI) is listed as second most successful women and Marielle Thompson (CAN) counting 7 podiums whereof 2 have been victories as third here in Idre Fjäll.

Besides these two women which are currently also in second (Thompson) and third (Smith) position in the overall World Cup standing list, we should also have a look on Swiss Talina Gantenbein and German Daniela Maier which showed good and consistent performances this season. Maier already stood on the podium twice and Gantenbein once.

Open book on the men`s side

So far, only Austrian athlete Matthias Graf was able to take two wins this season, one in Val Thorens and one in Innichen. Other than that, no male athlete stood on top of the podium twice, which shows how many strong athletes are out there, battling for the wins.

World Cup leader Reece Howden (CAN) also showed some strong consistent racing this season with 3 podium spots whereof one was a victory in Innichen (ITA). He is the only one having more podiums than Graf.

Besides these two, you should also have an eye on Jonas Lenherr (SUI) who is leading the list of most podiums in Idre on the men`s side and stood on the podium already once this season, as well as on the young Swede David Mobaerg who will not only get some extra power from racing on home soil, but also the fact that he stood on the podium last year here in Sweden and also in Arosa (SUI) this year.

The first Qualification men which counts for the first final on Saturday will go down on Thursday, 19 January 2023 at 11:00 CET. The second Qualification men and the two Qualifications women will get underway on Friday, 20 January 2023. On Friday we will start with the first Qualification women which will count for the race on Saturday at 11:10 CET. Followed by second Qualifications Men at 12:10 CET and Women at 13:15 CET which will than count for the second race on Sunday.

All four Qualification runs can be followed via the FIS App or on our website via live timing.

WATCH Finals LIVE (subject to change)

Saturday, 21.01.2023 at 12:30 CET