Connecting the present success with the next generation #gruyerechallenge
Nov 19, 2020·Cross-CountryLe Gruyère AOP, Premium Sponsor of the COOP FIS Cross-Country World Cup is in the start gates with a special season challenge. At the Le Gruyère AOP cheese challenge, FIS Cross-Country athletes fight for financial support for their own youth ski club. A total prize money of CHF 12’000 € will be 100% distributed by the end of the season to the top-3 women and men of the Le Gruyère AOP cheese challenge ranking.
First placed athletes win 3’000 €, second placed athletes 2’000 € and third placed athletes 1’000 € each for their youth club.
The winning athletes also receive a precious Swiss Cow Bell, traditionally marking their domination as the highest ranked of their group. With the culture still in place, the leader owning the bell with the deepest and loudest tone, is an audible beacon for the others in the group to follow.
With the financial donations to the youth clubs and the precious cow bell as the winners prize, the Le Gruyère AOP cheese challenge underlines the importance of constantly building on the foundation for the next generation.
The ranking
The athlete with the most pieces of cheese, won by reaching a podium of a Le Gruyère AOP sponsored World Cup, will win the challenge. Last year’s winner was Therese Johaug with 17 pieces – 42.5kg - of Le Gruyère cheese. Norway, who won the Nations Cup collected an incredible overall total of 235kg cheese by all their athletes podiums!
Le Gruyère AOP extended their sponsorship of World Cup races this year, covering all events from the season start until the Nordic World Ski Championships in February.
The latest ranking will be published every Monday at 5pm CET after the World Cup weekend on the FIS Cross-Country Social Media channels as well as on www.gruyere.com/challenge.