Beyond Time
The History of Alpine Skiing in Crans-Montana
Since 1911, Crans-Montana has been shaping the history of alpine skiing. From the earliest competitions to the present day, the resort has hosted some of the sport’s greatest events and witnessed the rise of exceptional champions. This timeline traces the key moments of this remarkable legacy, from its beginnings to the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Crans-Montana 2027.
1911
The birth of the downhill
On 7 January 1911, Crans-Montana made history by hosting the Roberts of Kandahar Challenge Cup, considered to be the firstever downhill ski race. Conceived by Sir Arnold Lunn, the race ran from the Plaine-Morte glacier down to Montana and marked a turning point in the history of ski racing, establishing Crans-Montana as a pioneer of modern alpine skiing.
From 1944
Building event-hosting expertise
From the post-war period onwards, two events played a major role in Crans-Montana’s sporting history. The Mont-Lachaux Trophy attracted the elite of alpine skiing year after year. At the same time, ski bob experienced remarkable growth, culminating in the 1969 World Championships. These two major milestones contributed to the widening of the Nationale piste and laid the foundations for Crans-Montana to host the world’s biggest international competitions.
1977
The First World Cup Races in Crans-Montana
In 1977, Crans-Montana hosted a FIS World Cup event for the first time, joining the ranks of the world’s leading ski resorts alongside Val d’Isère, Cortina, Adelboden, Wengen or Kitzbühel. Following the 1979, 1981 and 1986 editions, the quality of the organisation and the experience gained were rewarded with the award of the 1987 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.
Erika Hess
Hanni Wenzel
1987
World championships that made history
In February 1987, Crans-Montana hosted the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, the largest sporting event ever held in Valais. The Swiss team achieved a historic feat, winning 14 medals, including 8 world titles – a record that remains unmatched to this day. Beyond the sporting performances, these World Championships showcased the expertise of the organisers and volunteers and left a lasting mark on the history of the region and of alpine skiing.
from left to right : Vreni Schneider / Karl Alpiger / Maria Walliser / Pirmin Zurbriggen / Erika Hess / Peter Müller / Michaela Figini
Pirmin Zurbriggen
1992 - 1998
The World Cup Finals
Crans-Montana returned to the World Cup circuit in 1992 by hosting the World Cup Finals, a major event bringing together men and women in all disciplines to compete for the coveted Crystal Globes awarded to the best skiers of the season.
The Haut-Plateau hosted the event once again in 1998, in an edition marked by Alberto Tomba’s 50th and final victory. “La Bomba” brought his career to an end that very day.
Alberto Tomba
2008
The return of the World Cup
In 2008, the World Cup returned to Crans-Montana under the leadership of Marius Robyr and his team, with women’s speed events. The “Speed Queen”, Lindsey Vonn, won the first race of this new era.
In 2012, the men returned to Crans-Montana, where 37-year-old Didier Cuche achieved a historic feat by winning the super-G – his final race on home snow.
Didier Cuche
Lindsey Vonn
2011
Future World Champions in Crans-Montana
In 2011, Crans-Montana hosted the FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships, bringing together the world’s finest young talents. It was on the Nationale piste that names such as Wendy Holdener and Alexis Pinturault first emerged on the international stage.
Alexis Pinturault
Wendy Holdener
2016
A women’s World Cup classic
Since 2016, Crans-Montana has become a classic stop on the women’s World Cup circuit. Every winter, the world’s best female skiers battle it out on the Mont Lachaux piste, renowned for its spectacular and demanding course. Champions such as Lara Gut-Behrami, Sofia Goggia, Federica Brignone and Mikaela Shiffrin have all added their names to the list of winners, helping make this event a highlight on the international calendar.
Lara Gut-Behrami
Federica Brignone
2019 - 2022
A first bid, then a second
Inspired by the memories of 1987, the organisers in Crans-Montana submitted their first bid in 2019 to host the 2025 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. Despite the award going to Saalbach-Hinterglemm, they continued their efforts. In 2022, the FIS officially entrusted Crans-Montana with hosting the 2027 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. The countdown was on.
Marius Robyr, Hugo Steinegger and Urs Lehmann were the driving forces behind the successful bid that brought the World Championships back to Crans-Montana in 2027.
2023 - 2026
A new organisation preparing for the World Championships
In 2023, the Crans-Montana 2027 Association was established, and a new organising committee was formed to oversee the build-up to 2027.
From 2025 onwards, it took the reins of the organisation as the men’s circuit returned to the Nationale piste, celebrated in spectacular fashion with a Swiss podium sweep. A year later, the rehearsal for the World Championships brought both the men’s and women’s events together for an action- packed World Cup weekend in Crans-Montana.
from left to right : Marco Odermatt / Franjo von Allmen / Alexis Monney
Malorie Blanc
