Third Mamba Ski Race Set for Saturday in Andorra's Grandvalira
Organized by skier Joan Verdú, the event expects 300-350 participants on a challenging 2.8km course with new obstacles like an enlarged water pool, drawing around 1,000 spectators for family activities and après-ski.
Key Points
- Third Mamba Ski Race set for Saturday in Andorra's Grandvalira, expecting 300-350 participants.
- 2.8km Àliga piste course with 751m drop features enlarged water pool, freeride zone, jumps.
- Organized by skier Joan Verdú, who finished 26th in World Cup giant slalom.
- Event includes family activities, 700 meals, après-ski, drawing 1,000 spectators.
The third edition of the Mamba Ski Race, organised by Andorran skier Joan Verdú, is scheduled for this Saturday on the Àliga piste at El Tarter in Grandvalira, with organisers expecting 300 to 350 participants capped for safety and a total crowd of around 1,000 people.
The event splits entrants between the Small Mamba category, open from age eight, with about 175 participants, and the Big Mamba with roughly 150. The 2.8km course, dropping 751 vertical metres, includes tougher obstacles this year: an enlarged water pool for added challenge, a freeride zone, parallel turns, banked bends, and two final jumps. "The pool gives it an extra challenge," Verdú said, emphasising the race's fun, open format unique to the Pyrenees.
Recent snowfalls and forecast sunshine have left the piste in top condition. "This is the year the piste is in its best shape," noted Santi López, technical director at Serveis en Muntanya SETAP365 for Soldeu-El Tarter. Grandvalira and Viladomat officials have praised the initiative for promoting sport in Andorra.
The race village at Hotel Nordic will feature family activities, workshops, music, games, raffles, and gear demos, with a DJ until 18:00. Around 700 meals are confirmed, plus guests—up from 400 last year. The day ends with an après-ski at L’Abarset for adults, free for Big Mamba entrants. Red Bull is sponsoring for greater visibility.
Verdú called it "the perfect excuse to celebrate the end of the season" after a tough World Cup campaign, where he finished 26th in giant slalom overall with 60 points, missing Lillehammer finals by two. Results included 12th in Sölden, 16th at Copper Mountain, 19th in Alta Badia, 20th in Adelboden, and 10th at the Milan-Cortina Olympics—nearly matching his prior ninth—with the fastest second run there. He had DNFs at Beaver Creek, Val d’Isère, Schladming, and Kranjska Gora.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: