24th April 2008
Origone and Tidstrand claim Speed Skiing World Cup titles

2008 Men's World Champion Simone Origone (ITA)

2008 Women's World Champion Sanna Tidstrand (SWE) Photo: POC

The finals of the FIS Speed Skiing World Cup 2007/08 season were held last week in Verbier (SUI). The Speed Skiing week on Mont Fort was initially also planned to include the competitions rescheduled from Cervinia (ITA). Due to inclement weather these had to be cancelled early in the week whilst the finals proper lucked out with the weather god and could be staged as planned from 14th-17th April.

In the ladies’ competition, Sanna Tidstrand (SWE), third in last season’s overall rankings, again held off Karine Debuchet (FRA) for the race victory as well as for the title of the ladies’ World Cup champion. Elena Banfo (ITA) finished third in the season rankings. Ladies record five-time champion Tracie Max Sachs (USA) sat out the entire season to recuperate from various injuries. Linda Baginski of Sweden posted her season’s best finish by taking 3rd in the finals.

The victory in the men’s final, went to Simone Origone (ITA), three time World Cup champion who prevailed for the first time this season, whilst brother Ivan prevailed in the season’s rankings for the first time, despite finishing 8th in Verbier. Philippe May of Switzerland finished third overall while Jukka Viitasaari (FIN) captured his best result of the season by finishing 2nd ahead of May. Altogether 63 men raced in the finals.