Press releases in detail

Oct 24, 2008

Managing a good start and taking the euphoria all the way into the world championships – this is what the athletes of the German Ski Association (DSV) are aiming for. For the alpine team, things are getting serious as of tomorrow: the new Audi FIS World Cup starts in Sölden. For six years, Audi has been giving its name to the series.

With an international press conference held last night in Sölden, Austria, Audi gave the official starting signal for the new season. Kathy Hölzl and Felix Neureuther represented the German colours at the event, and the seven-time World Champion Anja Pärson from Sweden presented herself in good spirits before the winter kick-off as well. Highlight of the 2008/2009 season will be the alpine World Ski Championships in Val d’Isère, France, in February 2009.

The Audi FIS Ski World Cup can safely plan far beyond this date: the collaboration has been in existence for as many as six years, now Audi and the FIS will extend their agreement by another four up to and including the 2011/2012 season. Audi is the name-giver and thus one of the most important partners of the Alpine World Cup. In addition, AUDI AG has been supporting the DSV for over two decades now and is also partner of the alpine national teams from Sweden, Finland, France, Liechtenstein, Italy as well as the athletes from Austria and the United States.

The guest list for the press conference at which the athletes got into the mood for the upcoming competitions included high-calibre names: the current World Cup winner in the giant slalom, Ted Ligety (USA), was there as well as the title bearer of the ladies’ competition, Denise Karbon (Italy), slalom World Cup winner Manfred Mölgg (Italy) as well as the young Swiss hopeful Lara Gut. France was represented by Tessa Worley, the bronze medal winner of the 2008 Juniors’ World Championship, and her compatriot Richard Cyprien. Austria was represented by Michaela Kirchgasser, who won the gold medal at Åre.

The first challenge – the giant slalom on the Rettenbach glacier - will be awaiting the ladies Saturday morning, on Sunday the men’s competition will start. Both races start at an altitude of 3,048 metres and end 348 metres below at the finish. The best female DSV athlete last year was Kathy Hölzl in eighth place.