A strong wind forces changes in the original schedule.
The 23rd edition of the Borrufa Trophy reaches its middle point with some excellent performances by the skiers who come all the way from Finland. Today’s winners were Teemu Pietikainen (FIN) and Julie de Leeuw (BEL) amongst the under 14, whilst in the U16 category, Jakub Matulka (POL) and Kiia Larilahti (FIN) were the ones who climbed to the top of their podiums. The Finnish team obtained 2 gold medals, 3 silver medals and 1 fifth place.
The weather was once again very tough for everyone involved on the ski slopes of Vallnord Ordino-Arcalís. This time, the sun shined during the early hours of the morning and at the awards ceremony. It was however the strong wind that became an added difficulty to overcome for the skiers of both categories and that forced the organisers of the Borrufa to cancel the second heat of the Giant Slalom for the U16 category.
It was precisely in the U16 category where the victories were extremely tight, probably as tight as they will get for this year’s trophy. The winner, Jakup Matulka, manage to beat his main rival, the also Finnish, Niko Kukkonen, by a minimal difference of 5 hundredths of a second. After he was awarded his gold medal, Matulka confessed: I was very lucky that they had to cancel the second heat, the difference was so small, anything could have happened.
Amongst the girls, there was also two Finnish skiers at the top of the podium. Larilahti and Korpio were only 1 tenth of a second a part and left the third in the ranking, Ida Brons (DEN), more than 1” behind them.
The Special Slalom raced by the boys of U14 also had an intense duel between two Finnish competitors. Pietikainen and Hahtela fought with all their might in both heats finishing only 1 tenth of a second a part. It is worth pointing out that Hahtela was the only skier who managed a result of less than 40” in the heats.
The Belgian skier Julie Van Leeuw, was the clear winner of the Special Slalom amongst the girls. The fight for the second place was a bit tighter and it was in the end for Xènia Rodriguez (AND) who managed to beat Yuna van Puyvelde also from Belgium.
The Andorran skier’s trainer, Mihai Bara, made the following comment: Xènia is a hardworking girl who is obviously progressing. She was third yesterday in the Giant and second today in the Special. She has a very bright future.
Tomorrow (28th January), both categories will race the combined event: 1 Special Slalom (SL) and 1 Super Giant Slalom (SG).
Press service.
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