European Championships

HO - Works 01

IWWFEUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Pictures credit : Valentina Aureli

This competition, as its name indicates, brings together only the best European athletes. The title is precious for European citizens and, as always, the battle to reign on Recetto was fierce this year. Although many talented skiers were competing, it was difficult to guess who would take the top step of the podium. Manon Costard, the defending European champion and a great favorite for this competition, fell early (1,5@11,25m 38off) during prelims and the crowd started to believe that the door was wide open for her opponents, Sandra Bottas or Beatrice Ianni. But Manon’s intensity to win was too strong. And, because she was the only woman to run 11,25m (38off) in Saturday's finals, Manon remained the champion. Sandra skied well, ensuring a silver medal with 5@11,25m (38off). Alice Bagnoli completed the podium, an amazing result which enhanced her position on the overall leaderboard, and gave her confidence going into the trick event. Alice beautifully executed her hand and toe passes, and took her first win in a European Championship, pushing her onto the overall winning step. What a great week for the Italian in front of her crowd.

Manon Costard - Slalom Champion

One of the most amazing wins of this tournament came all the way from Greece. Marie Vympranietsova, 42 years old, took the win in front of two serious competitors, 5-time European junior champion, Ines Anguenot, and Alice Bagnoli.

On the men's side, the battle was fierce on every level!

Tricks - Danylo Filchenko and Louis Duplan Fribourg both scored above 11,000 points in the finals. But Louis absolutely killed it with 11,900 total points. Nicholas Benatti completed the podium with a solid 10,260 points.

Beatrice Ianni Sandra Bottas Alice Bagnoli

Jump - Different event, same opponents, Danylo and Louis. The Ukrainian was first out and landed a 67,7m jump … insane! The crowd held their breath while Louis was in the air on his last jump. Everyone could tell it was close . . . 67,2m! Half a meter shy of the win. Danylo is Jump Champion! Special mention goes to Louis’s brother, Pol. Although he took a brutal crash on his first jump, he decided to go back on the ramp and completed a 63,8m jump. Determination.

Slalom - The story is too good to be true. In the prelims, the only non-Italian to join the show was Sacha Descuns, 3@10,25m (41off), which tied him for the lead with Matteo Luzzeri, the sentimental favorite from San Gervasio. Next up, Brando Caruso and the all-time legend, Thomas Degasperi. Emotions rose higher in finals. Tgas was experiencing the hardest test of his life because his beloved father passed away a few weeks prior to the event. But a champion remains a champion. Tgas skied with all his heart and turned 3@10,25m (41off), leaving his teammates with a tough score to reach. Brando (2nd) went a little deep at 2 and couldn't reach 3. Sacha (3rd) skied poorly (as he said afterward), and went over the 2nd buoy without getting around it. Unfortunately, Matteo blew out his fin too early in the pass to take part in the winning fight. This is how Thomas Degasperi won his 9th title in Slalom at the European Championship.

Brando Caruso Thomas Degasperi Sacha Descuns

Louis Duplan-Fribourg

Pol Duplan-Fribourg

Mario Pigozzi

Overall - While close in trick and jump, slalom helped Louis win the title outright over Danylo. Pol was right to go back on the water after his crash, managing to fly far enough to gather some important points that helped him take the bronze medal in the Overall battle.

Gregoire Desfond