Andorran Skier Etna Pou Secures Eight FIS Wins in Debut Season, Tops Global Rankings

Andorran skier Etna Pou wrapped up her debut FIS circuit season with eight victories, positioning her among the world's top 17-year-olds in several disciplines.

The 17-year-old, who trained at Ordino Arcalís before moving to Esquí Club Pas Grau and now sponsored by Grandvalira Pas de la Casa-Grau Roig, excelled across Italy, Spain, and France. Her highlights included slalom gold at the sixth FIS Blanca Fernández Ochoa Trophy, super-G victory at Bormio with parallel event bronze, and giant slalom triumph on Grandvalira's Esparver piste, where she posted her best mark of 28.70 FIS points.

Two weeks ago at the French Absolute Championships in Tignes, Pou made her downhill debut for eighth place, with top-12 results in super-G and slalom. "It was my first downhill, though the course wasn't especially tough—it felt like a fresh challenge with no prior experience in the event," she noted, describing it as rewarding both athletically and personally.

On the national stage, she took absolute runner-up in slalom and giant slalom, plus the U18 title. Her FIS points now read 27.10 in slalom and 38.74 in downhill, ranking her first globally among 2009-born skiers in downhill, second in slalom, and inside the top 10 in giant slalom.

"I never thought I'd claim eight wins in my first FIS year," Pou reflected. She pointed to the sharper competition—"the pace is faster, and every detail matters more"—but credited the season with helping her adjust technically and mentally. Italian podiums stood out as "payoff for the year's dedication and steady effort." Overall, it drove her growth as an athlete, sharpening her understanding of elite demands and boosting confidence for bigger targets, including a realistic shot at the Europa Cup with continued progress.