Courchevel Méribel 2023: magnificent World Ski Championships

Organized to perfection by the Courchevel and Méribel ski resorts, these world championships enjoyed the support of the Caisse d’Epargne Rhône Alpes (CERA), which has also been a long-standing partner of the French ski team for over 25 years.

A remarkably well-organized competition

A total of 600 athletes representing 75 nations competed in six different disciplines, 54 medals were awarded, including two to Alexis Pinturault (gold in the combined event, bronze in the super G), enabling France to finish 6th in the overall nations’ ranking. 

These World Alpine Skiing Championships, supported by the CERA as their first national partner, will be remembered as a magnificent and remarkably well-organized competition. 

The first time this competition was held in France was in Chamonix in 1937, and the most recent one was in the Val d’Isère in 2009. This year once again, the governing bodies of Olympic sports in France demonstrated their fine-honed ability to organize major sporting events (even if, in this particular case, they also benefitted from superb meteorological conditions). It’s worth noting that this was the first sporting event to be certified compliant with the ISO 20121 international standard. CERA is immensely proud to have supported this international competition that helps burnish the reputation of the French mountains and enhance the popularity of skiing. 

A fine 9th place for Coralie Frasse Sombet

Coralie Frasse Sombet, an athlete supported by the Caisse d’Epargne Rhône Alpes, took part in these championships, eager to show her worth in this international competition organized in her home region and generating considerable public interest with a total of 120,000 spectators. 

This alpine ski racer, who developed her skills at the Chamrousse ski club and finished 11th overall in the World Cup giant slalom last year, achieved a fine 9th position in these World Championships giant slalom event: “I tried to do my utmost, to put my heart into it,” she explained to a France Télévision reporter at the end of the first round, “I’m quite proud of myself! I came in 9th but considering that I rank 16th worldwide, I gained a few places at the end of this run!” 
The next World Ski Championships will be held in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria.

In the wide array of partnerships built up by the Caisse d’Epargne Rhône Alpes, the Savings Bank has formed a ‘team’ of about ten champions from the national French ski and snowboard teams, including Coralie. These athletes defend the colors of French national and regional skiing and represent potential medal-winners in international competitions.