This prestigious event on the international stage of alpine skiing will be held on December 2 and 3. Not one, but two women’s giant slalom races are on the program for this thrilling weekend, which will be further energized by an entertainment component worthy of Tremblant.

We are promised “a vibrant atmosphere, unforgettable moments and a fierce competition among the world’s top female skiers”. Close to 80 athletes from around the planet will compete on the Flying Mile course. Two separate races – one on Saturday and one on Sunday – have been organized. Each will consist of two runs, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Only the 30 best skiers will qualify, in each event, for the second run of each race.

Why two giant slaloms? It’s a matter of balancing the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) competitions calendar. Tremblant’s ideal topography for the technical test of giant slalom allows reestablishment of a balance which will provide an equal number of races in each discipline.

The athletes to watch

The biggest stars of alpine skiing, including today’s ten best female skiers, will take part. These will include American Mikaela Shiffrin, Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami and Italian Marta Bassino. While will certainly admire the technical prowess of these great skiers, our eyes will probably be riveted on Canadian Valérie Grenier, whose home base is Mont-Tremblant. After her first victory on the World Cup circuit last January 7, in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, Valérie confided to us that racing “at home in Tremblant” was one of her most cherished dreams. It’s worth noting that that first win was in giant slalom.

Weekend festivities

Tremblant Resort will again provide proof that it doesn’t do things by halves. A DJ and entertainers will launch the festivities on Friday at 4 p.m. in the Place des Voyageurs. From 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., the group Valaire will take the stage.

On Saturday

The following day, prior to the race, the percussion group Baratanga will host the audience in the Place des Voyageurs. Between the runs, the audience will be able to watch old-time games in Place St-Bernard.

Starting at 4:30 p.m., back to the Place des Voyageurs for some musical ambience with a DJ. Presentation of trophies and the draw for bibs for the following day’s race will be held at 6 p.m. At 7 p.m., Laurence Nerbonne, Marie-Pierre Arthur, Sara Dufour and Les Louanges, under the direction of Antoine Gratton, will be onstage, and after that, a DJ will keep the festivities going. As for the presentation of medals, it will take place in the race zone on Sunday. Shows and entertainment on-site are all free of charge.

Reserve your tickets now!

To be present for the excitement, wouldbe attendees have a choice from among three different access zones: the General Zone, which provides various viewing points for $19 a day; the Fan Zone, with bleachers located close to the finish line ($75 a day), and lastly, the Prestige Zone. Don’t wait, because places are limited and at the time of writing, the Fan Zone was already full for Saturday.

For more details: coupedumonde.tremblant.ca/billets

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