Four Oxygene trainee instructors put their slalom racing to the test on Saturday entering the Super Slalom competition in La Plagne.
What is the Super Slalom?
The Super Slalom is an event created by the World Cup slalom skier Julien Lizeroux in his home resort of la Plagne. It’s the longest slalom event in the world at 4kms long and with a leg-burning 320 gates! The event is designed to be challenging but fun and is open to anyone who wants to compete.
Who took part?
Over 470 competitors took part in the event. Our four racers were in good company skiing in the tracks of Julien Lizeroux, Alexis Pinturault, Adrien Theaux, Jean-Frederic Chapuis, Jeremy Prevost, Clement Noel, Kevin Rolland, Julien Regnier and more.
Competing for Oxygene were trainee instructors (left to right) Jules Chareyre, Mario Bavottom, Adam Hall and Valentyn Billaud (not pictured).
Oxygene Super Slalom competitors
The day itself
After a warm up led by a local gym club, the race began at 9am and ended with the last racers around 2pm.
Super Slalom 2019 Warm Up
The weather played its part, in what was an excellent day, with wall to wall sunshine and the snow was firm and held up well until the end of the race. Many of the elite racers were dressed in fancy dress and we saw super heros, unicorns, Christmas trees, monsters, wizards, witches and more weaving their way down the course. Team Valoche were out in force at Aime 2000 blasting their chainsaws, ringing their bells and letting off coloured smoke as the competitors flew past.
Mario bashing the gates on the Super Slalom 2019
The results
Clement Noel won the race in a time of 4 minutes 31 seconds, followed by Alexis Pinturault and Julien Lizeroux. Mario was the first of the Oxygene team home in 120th position with a time of 5 minutes 58 seconds with Adam hot on his heels placing 122nd overall with a time of 5 minutes 59 seconds. Jules was next over the finish line in 153rd with a time of 6 minutes and 18 seconds and last but not least was Valentyn who placed 172nd with a time of 6 minutes and 25 seconds. Bravo boys!
Exhausted but happy to have finished (left to right) Jules, Valentyn, Mario & Adam.
It was a great day all round and our racers did exceptionally well in a field of competitors bursting with experience. Chapeau to the organisers, the volunteers and all the racers. See you again next year!