Croatian skier Zrinka Ljutic won the World Cup slalom in Courchevel on January 30, 2025, confirming her current form. Prior to this success, she chose Val d’Isère for her final training sessions, where she benefited from unique preparation on the Face de Bellevarde, which was specially lit for the occasion.
Careful preparation in Val d’Isère
At 21, Zrinka Ljutic chose Val d’Isère for her training, taking advantage of the opportunity to train at night on the Face de Bellevarde. This allowed him to familiarize himself with the specific lighting conditions of the Courchevel competition, which takes place at night. “She was nervous because she had never run at night before,” explains her coach, Vedran Pavlek. These sessions under the spotlight were a major asset in her preparation, providing her with conditions similar to those she would encounter in competition.
Victory in Courchevel
The work carried out in Val d’Isère has borne fruit. Zrinka Ljutic won the Courchevel slalom in 1:45.06, taking the lead in the first run and consolidating her advantage in the second. She finished ahead of Sweden’s Sara Hector by +1.26 and Germany’s Lena Dürr by +1.28 to claim her third victory of the season, following wins in Semmering and Kranjska Gora.
Sous les applaudissements des spectateurs et le drapeau croate brandi fièrement, Zrinka s’est laissée aller à un moment de détente sur la neige à l’arrivée. “I’m in a dream, don’t wake me up,” she said after her victory, clearly moved by her result.
Support from the Sports Club and ski patrollers
The Val d’Isère Sports Club played a key role in facilitating the organization of these training sessions. With the help of local ski patrollers, Zrinka was able to enjoy a safe and perfectly suited environment. “We were given a very warm welcome and everything was put in place to provide us with the best training conditions,” said Vedran Pavlek, the athlete’s coach. Between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., spotlights illuminated the track, allowing Zrinka to train in a nighttime atmosphere that was new to her but proved beneficial.
Thanks to the collaboration between the Sports Club, local ski patrollers, and the resort, Val d’Isère was able to offer the Croatian champion the ideal setting to prepare for one of the most demanding stages of the World Cup. This success in Courchevel, achieved through careful training, demonstrates the importance of meticulous preparation and the value of local infrastructure in the performance of international athletes.
