Andorran Skier Joan Verdú Eyes Rebound in Adelboden Giant Slalom

Joan Verdú, the Andorran alpine skier with the Federació Andorrana d'Esquí (FAE) and VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports team, described his World Cup start as a minor setback but expressed strong belief in his potential ahead of the giant slalom in Adelboden, Switzerland, on 10 January.

Speaking at the FAE's traditional Christmas gathering at Hotel Piolets Soldeu Centre, Verdú reviewed his season: did-not-finishes in Beaver Creek and Val-d'Isère, 16th in Copper Mountain, 12th in Sölden, and a return to form with 19th in Alta Badia. He remains calm and confident, pointing to adaptation challenges with new skis after 12 years on his previous brand. "The new material performs excellently, but it reacts differently in key moments—those two or three tenths can drop you from seventh or eighth to 18th," he explained. The packed schedule and long travels have cut into training, but he sees it as a brief jolt that will make him stronger.

Verdú heads to Austria for training from 2 to 9 January before Adelboden, where he took eighth last season. He praised the piste, especially on ice, and feels technically sharp but needs more determination amid the circuit's tight margins. "Everything is so level that if the puzzle pieces don't align perfectly, you end up 16th or 19th like me," he said. Mentally, he has matured beyond his early aggressive approach, learning from injuries to strike a balance between risk and control. "I'm the first one who wants to be higher up, and we work relentlessly for it."

The FAE's year-end review highlighted contrasts: strong showings from cross-country skier Gina del Rio in distance events at Davos, Cande Moreno's return to World Cup points after over two years, and tougher starts for Verdú and Irineu Esteve. President Pepi Pintat called the balance positive for a small nation, with five alpine skiers in the World Cup and others in Europa Cup. General manager Carles Visa echoed that, noting pride in seeing athletes fill Eurosport screens.

On the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics—where Andorra has six quota spots (four alpine, two cross-country)—Verdú prioritizes World Cup consistency. "The best preparation is a strong season here; arriving confident means anything can happen." Pintat dreams of an Olympic diploma, saying "everything is possible" given current form, while Visa stressed steady top-30 results as the path forward. Esteve remained hopeful despite a negative start, and del Rio targeted a solid showing without specifics.