Women’s events return to the Critérium de la Première Neige 2023
Excitement was running high at the 2023 edition of the Critérium de la Première Neige in Val d’Isère, marking the long-awaited return of the women’s events after a year’s absence. The Downhill and Super-G saw women athletes take to the fearsome O-K piste with determination and desire.
A Logistics Challenge for Organizers
For the organization, the return of this women’s competition weekend meant a double dose of work, involving the meticulous preparation of not one, but two major pistes: the famous Face de Bellevarde and the Piste Oreiller Killy (O-K). Despite this extra preparation, the whole team was delighted to be able to provide two great weeks of sport.
A Source of Pride for Val d’Isère
This return of women to Val d’Isère is also a source of pride for the resort, as these female athletes are undeniably part of the very essence and identity of this emblematic and historic event.
A Real Successful Challenge
“It was a real challenge and a great source of pride to be able to deliver, collectively, this fortnight of the 68th Critérium in its complete configuration. Organizing men’s and women’s technical and speed races on two different sites a week apart is always a major challenge, in human, technical and logistical terms. It took a lot of hard work and involvement on the part of everyone involved, including the organizing committee and the Val d’Isère resort. I’ll always remember the beautiful images of this fortnight, despite the cancellation of the men’s slalom in the first week.”
Memorable Moments from the 2023 Edition
“The fight on the giant Face, which ended with a magnificent victory for Marco Odermatt. The postcard-perfect conditions and the high standard of the women’s races. The drone footage on the Oreiller-Killy piste made me feel like I was there.” – Ingrid Jacquemod, Director of the Club des Sports de Val d’Isère.
