French training debacle: “Abandoned due to catastrophic circumstances”

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While we are currently enjoying summer temperatures in Switzerland, it is deep winter in South America. That is why the top skiers on the other side of the world are preparing for the new season and training with dedication. Apparently, however, not everything is going as planned there. The French downhill team in Chile faces some weather-related challenges – and even ends up canceling its training camp.

“We left Chile early due to the catastrophic weather conditions,” veteran Adrien Théaux wrote on social media. They decided to return from the summer training camp in Nevados de Chillan because they found better training conditions in Europe.

Rain and snowfall

According to Xavier Fournier-Bidoz, head of the French speed team, the weather was “crazy”. At first we enjoyed the sunny weather and spent a day skiing to get in shape. But then: “The catastrophe. The next three days there were torrential rains,” said the coach. The rain was then followed by heavy snowfall. In three days it snowed almost one and a half meters.

“Apart from a few turns in powder snow, it was impossible to train in these conditions,” Fournier-Bidoz explains the decision to break camp. The return journey presented a new challenge for the French as flights had to be found for the ski stars and their equipment.

Swiss teams also in South America

The Swiss top skiers are still in South America. While the men’s speed team is also present in Chile (Valle Nevado), the men’s slalom team and the technical women’s team train in Ushuaia, Argentina’s southernmost city on the border with Chile.

Things will get serious again from the end of October. The women start on October 28. in Sölden (Austria) with the giant slalom into the new season. The men’s giant slalom starts the next day at the same location. (mbi)

Source : Blick