Moguls World Cup returns to Alpe d’Huez with top athletes ready for action
Dec 13, 2023·Freestyle
The FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup moguls tour has arrived in Alpe d’Huez, France, for a weekend of high-stakes competition on December 15-16, following captivating events in Finland and Sweden.
Alpe d’Huez, renowned for its challenging stage in the Tour de France, is equally famous for its sunlit, impeccably groomed slopes. Located at an elevation of 1860 meters, the resort boasts over 250 km of runs, linking several villages through a dramatic elevation change of over 2200 meters.
The resort has strengthened its connection with freestyle skiing in recent years, focusing on mogul skiing. Three seasons ago, it began as a training base for the French team, and two years ago, it hosted its first World Cup moguls event. This year, athletes return to the challenging "Signal" ski run, known for its steep incline and deep bumps.
Despite early challenging weather, including rain and snow, the forecast for the competition days is favorable.
In the women's competition, Australia’s Jakara Anthony leads the pack with two wins and a third-place finish this season. Other top contenders include Jaelin Kauf (USA), the season's first duals winner, and Rino Yanagimoto (JPN), fresh from a double runner-up position in Idre. The U.S. team, featuring Olivia Giaccio, Elizabeth Lemley, Tess Johnson, and Hannah Soar, is also expected to perform strongly.
On the men's side, Mikael Kingsbury leads the standings after his recent success in Sweden. He faces tough competition from Ikuma Horishima, who has excelled on the "Signal" course in the previous years. The Swedish team, led by Olympic Champion Walter Wallberg and supported by Filip Gravenfors, Rasmus Stegfeldt, and Albin Holmgren, is another formidable force. Athletes like Nick Page (USA) and Pavel Kolmakov (KAZ) are also in the mix, along with Kingsbury's teammates, Louis-David Chalifoux and Julien Viel.
The event schedule is:
- Men's qualifications on Thursday, December 14, at 13:00 CET.
- Women's qualifiers on Friday, December 15, at 10:00 CET, followed by the single moguls finals at 12:30 CET.
- Dual moguls on Saturday, December 16, with preliminary rounds at 10:45 CET and finals at 13:30 CET.
Viewers can stay updated with the extensive TV broadcast and live-streaming details, which will be announced on Thursday afternoon, ensuring comprehensive coverage of this exciting moguls event in Alpe d’Huez.
Alpe d'Huez World Cup FIS data page (start lists, results, etc.)
