Gudauri to host FIS snowboard and ski cross races

Georgia’s winter destination Gudauri is set to host two International Ski Federation competitions over the next two weekends, with the Snowboard Cross Europa Cup and Ski Cross Freestyle to be held at the location.

Following on the first FIS-sanctioned ski cross race in Bakuriani — another of the country’s winter sports resorts — last year, the new competitions in Gudauri will see riders and skiers flock to slopes of the spot from across Europe.

Seen as part of ongoing preparations for Georgia’s hosting of the 2023 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships, the first of the two events will see snowboarders take to a new track on the Kudebi slope in the area.

Constructed by Thomas Guirlando, a French professional working on international-level venues for tournaments, the slope will become a busy spot for the Europa Cup between Friday and Sunday.

The sporting event will come under the focus of agenda.ge photographer Nino Alavidze, so check back for her photo report on Monday!

Ski cross masters will then arrive in Gudauri for their turn to entertain the crowds and aim for top spots between 15-17 March.

Skiers from across Europe and beyond flocked to the 2018 competition, an early step in Georgia’s plans to host the 2023 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.

The maiden FIS ski cross contest on Georgian resorts was hosted during last season, when athletes from Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Australia and Kazakhstan joined four local favourites in Bakuriani.

Organisation of the event in Georgia was seen as a major step in the early stages of the country’s preparations to host the 2023 championships and its aspirations to launch a bid for the Winter Olympic Games in 2030.