This weekend the Chalet Ski Holidays has the pleasure of seeing the FIS Ski World Cup circuit pull into the historic town of Chamonix Mont Blanc in the French alps. 

FIS World Cup Kandahar 2016 – Chamonix

The first Chamonix Kandahar race started in 1948 so after a recent absence it was great to welcome the FIS World Cup back to the Verte Piste and the Chamonix Valley in France.

Practice aside, the 2016 Kandahar World Cup was a two day event with the combined event first up on Friday and the downhill to take place on the Saturday. Local interest in the downhill this year was exceptionally high with local skier Guillermo Fayed lying 5th overall in the World standings and the knowledgeable local public hoping for a podium finish for their local star.

Festivities started early and on Thursday evening the drawing of the starting positions got things going nicely. Thousands turned out, highlighting why Chamonix probably should be on the calendar every year! The highlight the local children from the race clubs of Chamonix, Les Houches, Argentiere and Vallorcine presenting the bibs to the stars ready for Friday morning (below eventual Italian downhill winner Dominik Paris (2nd also in the combined) being presented with his combined bib).

Mens Combined Event – Friday 19th February

Many of you will be well aware of a slower start to proceedings this year on the snow front but recent snowfall has turned this around considerably. Friday emphasised the change in both weather and snow conditions with the Kandahar Event Organisers forced to swap the slalom to the morning and downhill to the afternoon due to heavy snowfall and low visibility early on.

Despite the snow, it didn’t deter thousands of ski fans lining the streets and the piste to watch their heroes throw themselves down the slalom and downhill course. The large French home support were particularly enjoying themselves and certainly had a very good morning with France dominating the three podium positions after the first run (slalom) with Alexis Pinturault  0.57 seconds ahead of his compatriot Thomas Mermillod-Blondin. Victor Muffat Jeandet Jeandet a further 0.12 seconds behind in 3rd.

The afternoon didn’t disappoint French supporters either. Although a great 2nd run in the downhill from the Italian Dominik Paris split the French three, Paris taking 2nd place overall, first remained with Alexis Pinturault. Pinuralt’s win was warmly celebrated although it didn’t get the biggest cheer of the afternoon. This instead went to Chamonix’s very own 20 year-old Blaise Giezendanner. Most local’s attention were firmly fixed on Guillermo Fayed impending run on Saturday, but Blaise showed on the combined downhill course that it is just a matter of time before he will be grabbing headlines alongside Guillermo Fayed. Posting the fastest downhill time of the day – a significant 1.2 seconds faster than the 2nd fastest combined downhill time that Dominik Paris achieved, Blaise clearly had the run of the week and demonstrated he is clearly a name to look out for in the very near future!

Kandahar 2016 Downhill – Saturday 20th February

After the excitement of the combined event on Friday and French success, Chamonix’s ski public awoke on Saturday to renewed anticipation with the prospect of more French success and local hero Guillermo (“Gus”) Fayed adding to Friday’s French podium haul. Following on from Friday, the snow hadn’t abated and visibility and snow conditions weren’t at the best but the event was still to go ahead.

Canadian Manuel Osborne-Paradis was the early leader after the first five departures which he kept until Steve Nyman of the USA 1:58:73 to take first place after 12 skiers. This he retained until Dominik Paris continued his excellent downhill form in Chamonix, delivering an unbeatable 1:58:28. It wasn’t through trying and local Chamonix Ski Alpin skier Guillermo Fayed, 2 starts later came close with a 1:59:18, roared down by the extremely partisan crowd to temporarily take third. behind Paris and Nyman respectively. Sadly it wasn’t to be a home podium as Swiss skier Beat Feuz stole local hearts going 22nd to pip Fayed into fourth.

Kandahar History – Chamonix

The Kandahar name dates back to  Lord Roberts of Kandahar who awarded the trophies to skiers in the late 1920’s. A gallant British soldier and gentleman, Lord Roberts had received his title for leading the liberation of a stranded battalion who were surrounded in the town of Kandahar during the Afghanistan war. In 1928 the Kanadahr races were one of the first intentional ski events and each year used to be held  Saint Anton (Austria), Garmisch Partenkirschen (Germany). Chamonix joining the mix in1948.