Val Louron – The last race of the ISMF Youth World Cup 2022/23 was the Olympic discipline, the Sprint race, and the weather conditions made it once again a hard day in the office for the youngest ski mountaineering athletes. Over 120 athletes competed at the Sprint race in Val Louron (France), on the U20, U18 and U16 categories, on a day with rain, fog a reduced visibility, which proved to be hard for all competitors.
The U20 Men’s category Sprint race saw an exciting battle for the win. In the end, current World Champion Finn Hösch (GER) won the last international competition of the season ahead of the Overall U20 Men winner Jon Kistler (SUI). The third place was for Oriol Olm Rouppert of Andorra. All three boys will compete next year in the Senior Men’s category.
Also, the best U20 Woman, Thibe Deseyn, will move up to the seniors. The young Swiss dominated today’s Sprint and won all seven races of the Youth World Cup. María Ordóñez Cobacho of Spain finished her last season in the youth categories with a great second place after outsprinting third Noemi Junod (ITA), who battled for the bronze spot with Louise Trincaz (FRA).
The phenomenon of the 2022/23 season and winner of two gold medals at the EYOF 2023, Erik Canovi (ITA), won not only the Sprint race but also the Overall ranking of the U18 Men category. Second of the day as well as in the Sprint ranking was David Jost of Germany. The bronze spot grabbed talented Andorran Max Palmitjavilla Dourdet. “It is great to be able to perform so well today. I didn’t feel great in the last two days but today I found the sparkle again and it paid off”, explained Canovi.
After not finishing the vertical due to problems with the Achilles tendon, Laia Sellés Sánchez of Spain conquered the shortest discipline. Everything went as she had hoped in the Sprint, and she won the final by a large margin. The photo finish had to decide the second and third place, respectively. Eva Matějovičová (CZE) won the silver medal centimetres ahead of Erola Rocias Sacrest (ESP), while fifth Camille Maupoix (FRA) won the Overall. “To be able to race today despite my injury, and to see my best friend coming in the third place, was just perfect. A great way to finish the season”, said Selles.
It seems that Germany found its prodigy. After winning the Vertical and Individual race, Silas Walter was the fastest also in today’s Sprint of U16 Men category. Marian Marcel Surdu (ROU) and Kérian Grimaud (FRA). “It has been a tough day, I didn’t have glasses today, and with the rain and the fog I could not see anything, but I managed to get the victory”, said Walter.
On the women’s side, Enya Summermatter (SUI) won the last competition of the week, with Corine Higgins (USA) coming second and Elena Beatrice Boboc (ROU) third. “Today was challenging, I felt really great despite the weather”, said Summermatter after her victory.
