Alpine Skiing 11 February

Alpine Skiing: Girls’ Giant Slalom at Bakuriani 2025 EYOF – A Day of Skill and Speed

On 11 February 2025, the Alpine Skiing events of the Bakuriani European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) kicked off with the Girls’ Giant Slalom, showcasing the talents of young athletes from 33 nations. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Caucasus Mountains, the competition featured a challenging course with a vertical drop of 303 metres over a length of 934 metres.

The first run started at 09:30, with the course expertly set by Paolo Deflorian from Italy. A total of 75 competitors took to the slopes, but not all managed to finish, with ten not completing their first run. The atmosphere was electric as the athletes pushed themselves down the course, which included 37 gates designed to test their technical skills.

Swiss skier Lara Bianchi emerged as the star of the day, finishing with a time of 1:39.55 after two runs combined, securing the gold medal. She led a strong performance from the Swiss team, demonstrating remarkable precision and speed on the technical course. Following her, Italy’s Marta Giaretto claimed silver with a time of 1:40.82, while Norwegian Helene Oveland took bronze with a total of 1:41.21.

The top five athletes showcased their skills impressively. Alessandra Di Sabatino from Italy finished fourth, just behind Oveland, with a time of 1:41.31. Emma Bastita, another Italian contestant, rounded out the top five with a final time of 1:41.50.

The second run began at 11:30, with Georg Hofmarcher as the course setter, who laid out 36 gates for the competitors. The changes in conditions and the increased pressure of the second run led to a few surprises, with several racers failing to finish, including notable names like Margot Simond from France and Victoria Mikalsen from Norway.

Here are the official results for the top ten finishers in the Girls’ Giant Slalom:
1. Lara Bianchi (SUI) – 1:39.55
2. Marta Giaretto (ITA) – 1:40.82
3. Helene Oveland (NOR) – 1:41.21
4. Alessandra Di Sabatino (ITA) – 1:41.31
5. Emma Bastita (ITA) – 1:41.50
6. Borge Andresen FJ (NOR) – 1:41.55
7. Minna Bont (SUI) – 1:41.58
8. Juliette Fournier (SUI) – 1:42.02
9. Elena Grumer (AUT) – 1:42.07
10. Eliska Hordossy (CZE) – 1:43.14

Overall, the event was a testament to the talent and determination of the young athletes participating in the EYOF. As the competition continues in Bakuriani, excitement is building for the upcoming events, where more stars of the future will have the opportunity to shine.

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