Gurgl – the name for a number of neighbouring Austrian Tirol villages, the most famous of which is Obergurgl – have announced they'll be staging their first ever World Cup Slalom race this November, the opening slalom race of the 23-24 season.
Slalom stars like Britain's Dave Ryding, who is already sponsored by the resort, as well as Norway's Lucas Braathen and Henrik Kristoffersen, will gather for the first time at the resort promoted as the "Diamond of the Alps." The race will be staged on 18 November on the slopes of Kirchenkar in Hochgurgl.
The new race means that autumn 2023 will see the Ötztal region, where Gurgl is located, will become the centre of alpine ski racing twice within a few weeks. At the end of October, the FIS Alpine World Cup traditionally celebrates its season kick-off with two giant slalom events held at Rettenbach Glacier in Sölden.
Gurgl is traditionally one of the first winter ski areas in the Alps to open each season, in mid-November, which apparently helped convince International Ski Federation (FIS) that it weas a reliable location to stage an early season event after most had to be cancelled for lack of snow in October/November last season, except Sölden.
"This is a truly unique opportunity for us. In addition to the opening event on the glacier, we are now also putting our winter sports and snow expertise in the spotlight of the international public in Gurgl," explains Oliver Schwarz, Managing Director of Ötztal Tourismus. Both happiness about hosting this race and the commitment are great: "Our ambition is to establish Gurgl as an annual venue. We will prove that we are capable of doing so."
Even if the focus is on the professional athletes on 18 November, the Gurgl ski opening from 16 to 19 November will see the slopes open to all. The first of its 112 kilometres of runs served by 25 lifts with ski-in/ski-out options will be available.
Image credit: Ernst Lorenzi