Media Information
Meribel Set to Ignite the Youth World Cup Season
Lausanne, 7 December 2023 – As the snow continues to cover the iconic slopes of Meribel, France, anticipation is building for the inaugural event of the 2023/24 ISMF Youth Skimo World Cup season. This season marks the second installment of the Youth World Cups, a clear and resounding commitment from the International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) to nurture the talents of the younger generation of athletes, setting the stage for an exhilarating journey into the heart of competitive ski mountaineering.
Meribel, with its breathtaking alpine backdrop, is poised to play host to the first leg of the Youth World Cup, a testament to the region’s commitment to fostering the growth and development of skimo and specially among the younger athletes. This year’s Youth Cup promises to be an even grander spectacle with four stops -Meribel, this weekend; Bormio, Italy, in February; Berchtesgaden, Germany, in February and Model, Norway, in March- each a showcase of the talent and passion of the emerging skimo stars.
The first stop of the World Cup season Will include a Sprint race on Saturday for athletes on the U20 and U18 categories, while on Sunday the athletes will face an Individual race for the same categories. A total of 113 athletes have registered for this weekend’s competition, coming from 12 different nations.
Some of the rising stars of the skimo circuit, like European Youth Olympic Festival’s medallists Eric Canovi (ITA) or Laia Selles (ESP) are amongst the athletes ready to kick off the season in Meribel.
The decision to host for the second consecutive year the Youth World Cup reflects the ISMF’s dedication to providing a platform for young athletes to showcase their skills on an international stage. The inclusion of Meribel in this season’s Youth World Cup not only underscores the region’s significance in the skimo community but also provides a dynamic arena for these young athletes to test their mettle against the world’s best.