PlanetSKI Heads to The Alps
21st November 2024
It’s our first trip of the season and we couldn’t have timed it better. Fresh snow has fallen & the temperatures have dropped. We’re heading to Obergurgl this weekend for World Cup ski racing. NEW
This week has seen the first main storm of the approaching winter.
Over 1m has fallen in parts of the northern and western Alps, with less in western Austria where Obergurgl is situated.
The cold temperatures have allowed snow-making to take place.
We have reported on the snow here on PlanetSKI:
Obergurgl, or Gurgl as the area is now called, has been open since last week and more terrain has opened with the cold temperatures this week.
PlanetSKI is primarily in resort for the men and women World Cup slalom races that take place on Saturday and Sunday.
It’s the first time the women have raced in the resort, while in the men’s inaugural race last year GB’s Dave Ryding was in fourth place – just missing out on a podium position.
Ryding is sponsored by Gurgl and they put The Rocket on the race poster:
View this post on Instagram
Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) will be looking for her 99th World Cup triumph, hotly pursued by the likes of Katharina Liensberger (AUT) and Lena Duerr (GER).
The men meanwhile made their Gurgl debut last season.
Frenchman Clement Noel was victorious in last week’s slalom in Levi and currently leads the standings.
Meanwhile, Lucas Braathen, now representing Brazil, is poised to make history as he strives for his first podium finish after his return.
We reported on the races in Levi, Finland, last weekend:
Next stop ➡️ Gurgl 🇦🇹#fisalpine #worldcupgurgl #skiverrückt pic.twitter.com/L7JTVRjZHK
— FIS Alpine (@fisalpine) November 20, 2024
This is the first trip of the 24/25 season for PlanetSKI’s editor, James Cove.
“I have been waiting for this moment since the end of April when I put away my skis, and it has been a joy packing the gear and looking forward to the weekend ahead,” said James.
Packing for skiing. Image © PlanetSKI
James has a big winter planned for PlanetSKI and he’ll be skiing in Switzerland (Verbier and Crans-Montana, Villars) ahead of Xmas.
Then over the New Year he’s off on a road trip round a few resorts in France (Les Arcs, La Plagne, La Clusaz, Tignes/Val D’Isere, St Foy and and likely some others.
Next it’s Japan for six weeks in January skiing all number of resorts.
Do look out for reports on his extended stay in the country that is No 1 on most people’s bucket list.
PlanetSKI’s team of reporters will be criss-crossing the Alps, the Pyrenees and Scandinavia reporting on the winter, as James is in the powder of Japan.
But now PlanetSKI is focused on Gurgl in Austria with a weekend of skiing and some World Cup racing action thrown in.
Do check back…
