Industry News
Valle Nevado, South America’s premier ski resort, hosted the Andes Cup from July 28 to August 2, marking the start of the South American Cup Park & Pipe event series. The competition drew nearly 40 elite athletes from over six countries, competing in high-level freeski and snowboard disciplines across two slopestyle and two big air events for each sport.
The event is part of the South American Cup circuit, which awards points that count towards the world circuit and can also qualify competitors for the World Cup. Valle Nevado’s world-class snowpark set the stage, where athletes battled not only each other but also challenging weather conditions. Despite these challenges, the athletes delivered spectacular performances, earning crucial FIS points as they strive for spots on the upcoming World Cup tour.
In the men’s freeski category, standout performances came from Chilean Francisco Salas, American Luke Votaw, and Argentine Cristobal Colombo. On the women’s side, Chilean Javiera Rojas dominated with three consecutive wins, and Olympian Dominique Ohaco from Chile made a strong showing in the big air competition.
The snowboard competitions were fiercely contested. Former World Cup athlete Antonia Yañez of Chile made a triumphant return, winning all four events. Italian Arianna Vergani, along with Chileans Josefa Arellano and Julieta Pizarro, also secured podium finishes. Among the youth competitors, Chilean Olympian Leon Lorenzini and Argentine Santiago Magni were the stars.
In the men’s snowboard category, Chilean World Cup snowboarder Yañez, Argentine Fede Charadio, and teammate Valentin Moreno each claimed victories, while Pedro Pizarro and young Chilean athletes Benjamin Villegas and Andres Erlandsen also displayed strong performances.
These events at Valle Nevado not only showcased incredible athletic talent but also introduced key innovations aimed at enhancing performance and sustainability. Live Heats technology enabled the display of real-time results and scores on a screen at the start gate, stoking the excitement for both competitors and spectators. Additionally, compost and recycling containers were implemented to reduce waste and environmental impacts.
The Andes Cup is organized by the Chilean National Ski and Snowboard Federation, with support from the National Institute of Sports (IND) and sponsors such as Avene, Rossard, Oakley, Thule, LBS, Opinel, Stanley, El Montañés, The North Face, Snickers, and media partners Chilenieve, Revista HD Sports, and Global Vía Pública. Following its success, the event is scheduled to return to Valle Nevado in 2025.
