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Wednesday 18 December updated on 12-18-2024 at 8:06
Wednesday 18 December updated on 12-18-2024 at 8:06
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Over the decades, this iconic site has hosted world-class competitions, launched cultural festivals, and supported pioneering talents in their respective disciplines. From the Canoe-Kayak World Championships to the spectacular RedBull Linecatcher events, Les Arcs has become a playground and source of inspiration for champions and enthusiasts from around the world.
Bourg-Saint-Maurice became the first French city to host the Canoe-Kayak World Championships since their creation in 1949. Nearly 300 athletes representing 16 countries competed over six days for the coveted title. On this occasion, the French team excelled, winning first place with seven gold medals, four silver, and five bronze. Claude Peschier became a double World Champion in Kayak, both individually and as part of a team.
Founded by Roger Godino and Yves Petit de Voize in 1973, the Academy Festival of Les Arcs was created to develop summer activities. From the beginning, it held a unique place in French musical practice.
Following the example of major American academies like Banff and Marlboro, the idea was:
- To provide young and talented musicians a place where they could freely gather to play music together.
- To offer instrument and chamber music courses to students: the Academy.
- To share numerous free concerts with the wider Les Arcs audience.
It hosts 180 trainees, 50 artists, 30 free concerts, conferences, and resident composers each year, such as Bernard Cavanna, Nicolas Bacri, Vincent Paulet, Eric Tanguy...
This innovative French short film from its time depicted skiing with a quirky plot: The Genius of Skiing, Régis Rolland - Snowboarder - must protect the "secret of skiing" coveted by his enemies. Winning six major international awards, it toured the world and left a lasting impression for generations. "Apocalypse Snow" spearheaded the snowboarding explosion in Europe, with Régis Rolland becoming its emblem. It was the first part of a cult film trilogy made between 1983 and 1986 by Didier Lafond.
Arc 2000 hosted speed skiing events on its legendary Kilometre Lancé slope. The first Olympic champions crowned in these events were Frenchman Michaël Prüfer (229.299 km/h), setting a new world record, and Finnish athlete Tarja Mularin (219.245 km/h).
7th stage of the Tour de France in 1996, Chambéry - Les Arcs: 200 km
Finish at Arc 1800: 1700m altitude.
Climb: 14.5 km at 5.8% gradient between Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Les Arcs.
Winner: Luc Leblanc (FR)
Yellow Jersey: Evgueni Berzin (RU)
Another stage of the Tour de France stopped in the commune, at Bourg-Saint-Maurice, on July 21 and 22, 2009 (16th stage, 160 km between Martigny and Bourg-Saint-Maurice, followed by the 17th stage departing the next day to Le Grand Bornand).
Born from the partnership between Quiksilver and Les Arcs, the Quikcup (1999 to 2001) and the Quiksilver Slope Style Pro Les Arcs (2002 to 2004) became unique international freestyle competitions, 100% snowboarding.
They brought together the world's best freestyle snowboarders, men, women, and children, for a unique three-day event dedicated entirely to slopestyle. It featured a magical and globally recognized snowpark composed of multiple modules: hips, tables, half-pipes, and other jibs.
An unmissable event in the winter season from 1999 to 2007, this extreme skiing competition and World Tour finale, partnered successively with Rip Curl and North Face, brought together professional skiers and telemark skiers.
The Freeride Les Arcs was organized by a passionate team, the "Ça Envoie du Gros" team: Enak Gavaggio, Laurent Niol, Romain Raisson, Baptiste Blanc... For whom the Les Arcs ski area has been a fabulous playground since childhood. Alongside Dino Raffault, "the organizer," they envisioned and created a competition and atmosphere that resembled them: pure freeride.
Giant Slalom and Slalom for Men
Thanks to the station's expertise, the dedication, and motivation of an entire organizing committee, Les Arcs hosted its first World Cup stage on January 6 and 7, 2001.
On the Cachette slope at Arc 1600, Swiss skier Michael von Grünigen (43.67) won the giant slalom ahead of Austrian Benjamin Raich (2:45.29). An extraordinary reward for the winner: Lambada, a splendid Tarine cow!
Laughing and having fun while contributing to a noble cause... That was the ambition of the "Les Arcs Humor Festival." Initiated by Eric Siri, head of the resort's radio station, this event held an important place in summer entertainment from 2001 to 2008, supporting the "Soleil d'Enfance" association in its efforts to improve the daily lives of children with disabilities.
Renowned comedians graced the stage: Smaïn, Popeck, Les Chevaliers du Fiel, Chantal Ladesou, Tex, Gérald Dahan, Pierre Douglas, Denis Maréchal, Sellig, William Klank...
Organized by local professional and pioneer rider François Bon, in partnership with Columbia (from 2007 to 2009), this was the major and unmissable event in speed flying: a revolutionary practice mixing skiing and flying.
Every year, from 2006 to 2010, it brought together the 20 best pilots worldwide in this spectacular discipline. This event paved the way for technical challenges that are now benchmarks in the global circuit.
Created by Pierre Emmanuel Fleurantin and Guillaume Calop, natives of Bourg-Saint-Maurice, this cultural and festive event marks the start of the ski season. The Festival aims to introduce the public to European auteur cinema and foster networking between professionals, producers, exhibitors, and distributors.
The program features over 70 exclusive films, accompanied by renowned directors and actors. Each year, a country is highlighted.
Imagined and organized by Enak Gavaggio, a true icon of skicross and a key figure at Les Arcs (7 X Games medals, 5th at the Vancouver Olympics), the GMX has been revealing young French skicross talents for five editions (2009–2014). During four days of competition under the banner of fun, young athletes benefit from the experience and advice of the champion.
The competition, open to licensed or unlicensed children, includes two stages of the French Skicross Championships (Benjamins and Minimes), in an atmosphere unique to Enak, the "Dark Lord" of skicross!
Born from the partnership between RedBull and Les Arcs, the RedBull Linecatcher has been the annual highlight of backcountry freeskiing since 2013. The event, gathering the world's top backcountry ski stars each year, is a competition halfway between freestyle and freeride.
Featuring couloirs, rocky cliffs, steep slopes, and kickers shaped within the terrain, it’s a dream opportunity for riders to perform their best aerial choreography and win the coveted title, blending fluidity, technicality, and boldness!
Imagined by international freestyle stars and opinion leaders Henrik HARLAUT (aka E-Dollo) and Phil CASABON (aka B-Dog), the B&E Invitational marked a new era in freestyle skiing in just one day!
The course, specially designed for the occasion, featured a gigantic, playful, and creative module mixing pipes, bowls, quarters, rails, and transfers… An exceptional playground perfect for showcasing the talent of the 19 freestyle legends and stars who accepted Henrik & Phil’s invitation.
