Alpine Ski Stars Come to Moscow

Following its successful debut in January this year, the Ski Federation is once again inviting the world’s alpine skiing elite to the capital, Moscow, this coming weekend. With a new venue, an even larger artificial ramp and record prize money, the second edition of the slalom event in Moscow is reaching new heights and aims to generate plenty of publicity for the 2014 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Sochi—and therefore also in Russia. A 60-meter-high, 35-meter-wide ramp is being built at the “State Palace of Children’s and Youth’s Creativity” in Moscow ahead of Saturday, where women will also go head-to-head for the first time.

Skiing in Russia is not yet as popular as other sports. With the slalom event in Moscow, which is intended to take place annually in the future, Russia wants to change that in time for the Winter Olympics on home soil. For this reason, the organizers are waiving admission fees, allowing residents and tourists to enjoy the spectacle in Moscow for free. The German colors will be represented at the ski event by Maria Riesch, winner of last weekend’s World Cup slalom in Levi, Finland, and Fanny Chmelar. Austria’s reigning slalom world champion Manfred Pranger is also expected to compete in Moscow, along with the world’s top technical skiers.

The slalom in Moscow is not part of the World Cup, however, so in Russia it is not about points but “only” about money. The winners of the knockout-format event will each receive 30,000 euros, while even taking part earns a lucrative fee of 10,000 euros. There will naturally be plenty of entertainment in Moscow this coming Saturday alongside the slalom course, so a visit should be well worth it.