Event
Winter Time
Publié le Wednesday 8 March 2023

After battling it out at the Alpine Skiing World Cup in Courchevel-Meribel, France's top skiers will be closing out the competition season in the best possible way: by vying for the title of Champion de France 2023. It's on the emblematic La Pousterle piste and the Stade piste that the biggest names in French skiing - Pinturault, Noël, Worley... - will battle it out from March 23 to 31, 2023!

Editorial

Renaud Muselier - President Region Sud
©Region Sud

"After Auron and Isola 2000 last year, the French elite alpine skiing championships return to the Southern Region, to Les Orres, for this 2023 edition. It's an opportunity to see, among others, Alexis Pinturault, recently crowned Alpine Combined World Champion, on the piste at La Pousterle!

A great moment of sport, to be experienced intensely in our Southern Alps, for which we are investing 200 million euros as part of the Mountain Plan. May the best win! "



Renaud Muselier

President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region

Deputy Chairman of Régions de France

Jean-Marie Barnard President Departement Hautes-Alpes

"It's a great source of pride for the Hautes-Alpes department to host this year's French elite alpine skiing championships in Les Orres. I see it as a sign that the organizers of the most prestigious competitions have confidence in us, and that our collective efforts to make our resorts attractive are bearing fruit. I have no doubt that this championship will be a great success and that it will be followed by many others, and I wish all the competitors, organizers and spectators a great time skiing in the Hautes-Alpes, in Les Orres"

Jean-Marie Bernard

President of the Hautes-Alpes Department

Pierre Vollaire - Maire des Orres
©Les Orres

"Les Orres is back to ski racing. We are proud to welcome the French Elite Alpine Ski Championships to Les Orres. This event is an integral part of our development policy. The organization of such events is a driving force and federator at resort level, but also with all our partners; a valuable dynamic. The best skiers at national and top world level will be able to compete, particularly on the La Pousterle piste, nicknamed the little "Kitzbuhel", which was made for the Olympics! Good luck to all participants and volunteers, and thank you to everyone involved in the organization of this major event! "

Pierre Vollaire

Mayor of Les Orres,

CEO of SEMLORE

Les Orres back on the ski racing map

After hosting a number of European and FIS Cups that have earned the resort its reputation, Les Orres is back in the spotlight, hosting the French Alpine Ski Championships from March 23 to 30.

With 100km of slopes, a significant vertical drop and a wide range of technical features, Les Orres is looking to renew its ties with top-level French alpine skiing. Hosting the French Championships, a major event, reflects the momentum built up over the last few years, and our determination to host new events in the years to come!

Pinturault, Worley, Noël... The big names of alpine skiing in Les Orres

The French Championships will bring together some of the biggest names in French skiing, including :

Men's category:

  • Alexis Pinturault : Holder of 6 crystal globes, triple World Champion, multi-Olympic medallist
  • Clément Noël: Olympic Slalom Champion, World Slalom Champion, 10 World Cup victories
  • Mathieu Faivre: Olympic Giant Slalom bronze medallist, three-time World Champion, Giant Slalom World Cup winner
  • Johan Clarey: Olympic downhill silver medallist
  • Sam Alphand: 8 World Cup starts - 2 European Cup podiums
  • Nils Allègre: World Cup top 10
  • Nils Alphand: 16 World Cup starts - 1 European Cup win

Women's category:

  • Tessa Worley: Quadruple World Champion, 16 World Cup victories
  • Laura Gauché: 1 World Cup podium finish
  • Chiara Pogneaux: 6 World Cup starts
  • Camille Cerruti: took part in the Olympic Games - 38 World Cup starts
  • Nastasia Noens : World champion in mixed team parallel event
  • Coralie Frasse Sombet: several World Cup top 10 finishes

La Pousterle and Le Stade, the 2 slopes hosting the Championships

It's on the La Pousterle ski run, the emblematic downhill track in Les Orres, that the athletes will set off for these French Alpine Skiing Championships. Renowned for having one of the highest vertical drops in France and for being a very difficult run, this black run starts at the top of the eponymous chairlift and descends almost the entire ski area, finishing above Les Orres 1800. Its northerly orientation ensures quality snow and surface.

The Stade piste will host all the slaloms scheduled for March 24, 26 and 28, with Alexis Pinturault, Clément Noël, Nastasia Noens, Chiara Pogneaux and Mathieu Faivre in the running. The 600-meter track will accommodate between 55 and 75 gates for the men and between 40 and 60 for the women.

Behind the scenes of slope preparation

Since January, teams at Les Orres have been hard at work preparing to host this major event. Take a behind-the-scenes look at the preparations for the French Championships, which will welcome France's skiing elite in just a few days' time...

PRIORITY: SECURING AND MARKING THE RUN

  • 4km of nets

    • 900 meters of 4-meter-high A netting

    • 3km of 2-meter-high B nets

  • 900 meters of protective tarpaulins

  • 13 airpads (protective mattresses)

  • 4 months of event preparation

  • 120 volunteers

  • Synergy between resort teams and partners such as SCOCE, ESF, Lycée Alpes Durance, ESI...

Focus on... the weekend of March 25-26

During these 2 days, the general public will be able to encourage and meet the best skiers. Show, emotion and conviviality to celebrate French Skiing at Les Orres and enjoy the spectacle of the races, as well as the events scheduled during the Championships. Program:

SATURDAY, MARCH 25

  • 8H - 13H30: GÉANT DAMES 📍Piste La Pousterle

    Refreshment bar at finish

    Top skiers: Tessa Worley, Camille Cerruti, Chiara Pogneaux
  • AWARDS - 1H after the end of the races 📍Kiosque Les Orres 1800

    Signing sessions with top skiers
  • 6pm: MEN AND WOMEN PUBLIC RANDOM DRAW 📍Kiosque Les Orres 1800

    Signing sessions with top skiers, Custom Bar, Public Quiz

SUNDAY MARCH 26

  • 8am - 1pm: SLALOM DAMES & HOMMES 📍Piste Stade

    Refreshment bar at finish

    Top skiers: Alexis Pinturault, Clément Noël, Nastasia Noens, Chiara Pogneaux
  • 13H : AWARDS 📍Au pied de la piste Stade

    Refreshment bar at finish
  • 6:00 PM: MEN'S GIANT PUBLIC DRAW 📍Kiosk Les Orres 1800

    Signing sessions with top skiers, Custom Bar, Public Quiz

See full program

Atmosphere and entertainment: the French ski festival in Les Orres

During the Championships, the public will be able to enjoy the event and its many activities! On the program:

  • Prize-giving ceremonies and prize-drawing: Come and congratulate the skiers who perform best each day on the slopes, and watch as bib numbers are handed out for the next race.
  • Meetings with top skiers: on March 24, 25 and 26, come along to the prize-giving ceremonies to chat with France's top skiers and get your autograph !
  • Refreshment area: From March 23 to 27, a refreshment area will be set up in the finish areas of the stadium and La Pousterle. It's the perfect place to spend a convivial moment when the skiers arrive!
  • Custom Bar: On March 24, 25 and 26, take advantage of prize-giving to personalize items at the Custom Bar!
  • Quizzes : answer our host's "special Championships" questions as quickly as possible and win lots of prizes!

All our teams, partners, SCOCE, ESF, Lycée Alpes Durance, volunteers and resort stakeholders are mobilized to welcome and organize the French Alpine Skiing Championships in Les Orres.

Request your press accreditation for the event

Would you like to cover the event, have access to certain reserved areas or interview one of the Top skiers? To request press accreditation, please contact :

Etoile MONTAGNIER

Communication & PR Manager

06 66 53 42 37

etoile.montagnier@lesorres.com