Russia ushered in the New Year by hosting a highly successful International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup race on a giant, purpose-built ski ramp, in the Vorobyevy Hills in central Moscow. The unique event, a parallel slalom race, helped to demonstrate Russia’s readiness to stage its first Winter Games in Sochi in 2014, and showcase the passionate support for winter sports in the country.
Following the competition, the top international competitors joined Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea coastal resort of Sochi for skiing in the Krasnaya Polyana mountains, and a tour of the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games project.
The FIS World Cup event in Moscow was the first event of its kind, with elite athletes racing on a 150m (490 feet) long, 55m (180ft) high and 33m (108ft) wide ramp with 14 slalom gates. Germany’s Felix Neureuther took first place, followed by France's Jean-Baptiste Grange in second and American ski legend Bode Miller in third. In total, sixteen world-class competitors drawn from 10 countries took part, including two Russian athletes.
Prior to the competition, athletes were given a tour of the Kremlin and a private audience with Prime Minister Putin. During this meeting, Mr. Putin expressed his passion for skiing and underscored the importance of the city event for the development of skiing in Russia in the build up to the Sochi 2014 Winter Games.
Attracting a capacity crowd of more than 20,000 people, the event was attended by senior figures from the FIS, including Gian Franco Kasper, President of the FIS; Hans Pieren, FIS Men’s Slalom World Cup Chief Race Director; and Günter Hujara, FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup Chief Race Director; and many national ski federations.
A smaller ramp was built for a snowboard and freestyle World Cup event in Moscow last year – this event’s success led to the FIS’s commitment to stage an Alpine event in the Russian capital. The newly constructed mobile ramp will host another freestyle and snowboard World Cup competition next month and could be used by other cities to host similar events around the world.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, President and CEO of Sochi 2014, said:
“The FIS event in Moscow emphasizes Russia’s commitment to hosting the most innovative Winter Games of all time in 2014. The huge, cheering crowds that attended the event show just how passionate Russian people are about winter sports.”
Hans Pieren, FIS Men’s Slalom World Cup Chief Race Director, said:
“I am impressed by the willingness of Moscow to stage such incredible event. Our Russian partners made a great effort to create the enormous construction in such short period of time. The organizers took all the requirements of the International Ski Federation FIS into account.”
Bode Miller, former World Champion and Olympic Silver medalist, said:
“The idea is strong. We talked about it for a long time. The ramp is giant. It's hard to believe how much effort and time it takes to build something like that. I think it's really cool to see it actually happen and come to reality.”
Felix Neureuther, Winner of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in Moscow, said:
“I feel great. It's natural to feel great when you win. It was very interesting to compete on this artificial ramp. It's completely different to a natural slope, but still a really challenging and interesting experience.”
(Source: Sochi 2014)
