Italy takes it all in Speed Skiing
For the second straight year, Idre Fjäll (SWE) played host to the FIS Speed Ski World Cup Finals. Just like the World Championships in Grandvalira (AND), it was Italy that took the glory.
The defending World Champions Valentina Greggio and Ivan Origone also secured the crystal globes. Greggio claimed her first Overall Title after just two seasons in Speed Skiing’s top category (S1). Karine Dubouchet-Revol (FRA) took second and last year’s winner Linda Baginski (SWE) earned third place.
After 2008, it was the second Overall Title for Origone. The men’s final was similar to last year’s finals as Ivan was leading the standings by 50 points ahead of Klaus Schrottshammer (AUT) before the final competitions. While last year, Schrottshammer took the glory, Origone was able to extend his lead even further this time, and snatch the title by 80 points. Third place went to Christian Jansson (SWE) who won the last two World Cup competitions of the season.
Ivan and brother Simone now own an outstanding collection of ten crystal globes.
Despite strong results by Italy, it was France who won the Nations Cup based on the results of the best S1 competitor, best female and best junior athlete per competition and country. Sweden and Austria tied in second place.
Although the 2014/15 FIS Speed Ski World Cup season has now come to an end, FIS Europa Cup competitions will continue until late April. One of the highlights will be the first ever Speed Skiing event in Iceland on 18th-19th April.
Reymond and Mueller take the Overall Titles in Telemark
The FIS Telemark World Cup season saw its culmination in Gaustablikk (NOR) last weekend. Defending triple World Champions Amelie Reymond (SUI) and Tobias Mueller (GER) continued their winning streaks as they were crowned overall champions of the 2014/15 season.For the 12th time Fjellguten Skilag hosted and organised the event.
There was some good battles for the champion in the men’s category with no clear leader but Amelie Reymond head and shoulders above the rest in the ladies’ field romped home with all 3 three globes. She did not go out in full glory though with Mathilde Ilebrekke (NOR) giving her a run for her money to take the win in the last parallel race of the season.
In the men’s class everything was open. Bastien Dayer (SUI) took the globe in the classic, Tobias Mueller (GER) sealed his grip in the sprint and Phillippe Lau (FRA) dominating in the head to head races to take the parallel title. With nine victories this season, Mueller showed depth to his strength to take the overall prize.
The Nations Cup was won by France with 6197 points. Switzerland (6091) and Norway (4165) finished second and third.
Meanwhile, the FIS Telemark livestream project has been broadcast to dozens of countries and viewers have swelled since its first airing in Germany in December. It has reached in excess of 3.5 million viewers in Germany and several thousands have joined the livestream project viewing on-line.
Source: fis-ski.com
