Under 100 days to go until FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Åre

The organisers from Åre 2019 celebrated a major milestone on the way to this winter's FIS Alpine World Ski Championships at the opening race events in Sölden where they shared their message of getting the world ‘Inspired to Ski’.

The 100-days-to-go milestone shared the same day as the first race of the Audi FIS World Cup season on 27th October, and appropriately enough the first significant snowfall for Central Europe this year. While the tour will zigzag the globe for the next few months, all eyes will turn to the small Swedish village, which is hosting the World Championships for its third time, in February.

For the Swedish national ski team, the competitions in Sölden marked the start of an important season with high expectations and the main goal of the major home event in Åre.

“It is fantastic to have World Championships at home. I was able to participate and collect experience at Åre 2007 and now it is my turn to return in the same situation that Anja was then, ready to fight for medals. I cannot wait to race there again,” said 2018 Olympic slalom gold medalist Frida Hansdotter.

The number of recent entries for Åre 2019 is a clear indication that the season is officially underway. Although the registration platform only recently opened, more than 25 nations have already submitted their entries and approximately 70 nations are expected to participate in total. To date, entries include the more exotic ski nations of Madagascar, South Africa, Moldavia, Haiti and Ireland, as well as more the traditional teams from Italy and Switzerland.

The days leading into the season opener in Sölden were chock full of press conferences and meetings. Åre 2019 CEO Niklas Carlsson provided a Championships overview to the attendees at the annual FIS Alpine Forum. Representatives from Åre also met with the teams and media at multiple information sessions, the AIJS General Assembly, and the FIS Chiefs of Media Meeting to discuss the particular logistics and services planned for Åre 2019.

“Wow, it is getting close. 100 days is a magic milestone, it is still ways out but yet so close,” said Karin Stolt Halvarsson, Media & Broadcasting Manager for Åre 2019. “It is important to be here to manage our relationships with the who’s is who in skiing, and to feel the pre-season excitement,” added Stolt Halvarsson.