The first European Universities Winter Championships has concluded with exciting final races and matches in Alpine skiing, Snowboarding and Snow Volleyball, as well as with a nice Closing Ceremony, in the beautiful scenery of Val Di Zoldo, Italy.

The inaugural European Universities Winter Championships and the EUSA Winter Forum saw more than 200 participants attending and witnessing the first time Winter Sports being put on EUSA Championship programme featuring three sports: Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding and Snow Volleyball.

The European Universities Winter Championships showcased great talent and sportsmanship on the snow slopes and courts, of young athletes from across Europe. Each race and match, brought its own share of excitement, surprises, moments of brilliance, and many exciting and adrenaline rushes.

Alpine Skiing and Snow Volleyball had the honour of breaking the ice and opening the competitive part of this European Universities Winter Championships, starting on 19th of December. The following day, Snowboarding has its debut, hosting some thrilling races on the slopes in Val di Zoldo.

On 19th of December, the races in the first Alpine Skiing category – Slalom took place on the Cristelin Alta slope, bringing already the first champions in both men’s and women’s competition.

After some spectacular races, in the women’s competition the three winning places on the podium were taken by: Maja Chyla, from Jagiellonian University (POL) holding the gold medal, followed by Julia Zlatkova from Technical University Sofia (BUL) with the silver medal and Anna Rech from University of Udine (ITA), winning the bronze.

In the men's competition the first place went to Kamen Zlatkov, from Technical University Sofia (BUL), while the silver medal went to Gleb Mosesov, Armenian State University of Economics (ARM), followed by Jan Sanitrar from Technical University in Zvolen (SVK) who won the bronze medal.

On the last competition day, we witnessed thrilling races in Giant Slalom at the Col dei Baldi slope – Alleghe. Athletes, both in men and women category raced and showcased great talent and skills, fighting for the victory, and becoming the first ever champions in EUSA Giant Slalom Competition.

The women’s competition winners in the Giant Slalom race were:

1.Anna Rech from University of Udine (ITA) – gold medal

2. Maja Chyla from Jagiellonian University (POL) – silver medal

3. Constance Lay from University Of Grenoble Alpes (FRA) – bronze medal

The men’s competition winners in the Giant Slalom race were:

1.Arne Ackermann from University of Bern (SUI) 

2. Thomas Dalla Libera from University of Verona (ITA)

3. Simon Nantschev from University of Applied Sciences Munich (GER) 

Cups were awarded for the Best Teams of the Giant Slalom Race in Alpine Skiing.

In the womens competition, the best three teams were:

1. University of Grenoble Alpes (FRA)
2. Technical University of Sofia (BUL)
3. University of Ljubljana (SLO)

In the mens competition, the best three teams were:

1. University of Bern (SUI)
2. University of Grenoble Alpes (FRA)
3. Armenian State University of Economics (ARM)

Snowboarding brought high level of competitiveness and fair number of snowboarders trimming the snow with their skilful tricks and moves, resulting with the first champions in Parallel Slalom races on 20^th of December.

In the women's competition, the gold went to Natalie Schoemann from University of Bamberg (GER), followed by Isabel Chiara Murer from University of Udine (ITA) and Irem Gezer from Istanbul Medipol University (TUR).

In the men’s competition of Parallel Giant Slalom, three competitors representing 3 Bulgarian universities took the winning places on the podium: Tervel Zamfirov from University of Forestry winning the gold medal, Kristian Georgiev from National Sports Academy Vasil Levski with the silver medal and Alexander Krashniak from Technical University Sofia winning the bronze medal.

On Thursday, the Snowboarding Giant Slalom finals took place on the Cristelin Alta slope, providing thrilling atmosphere, exciting races and fresh desires for victory.  

In the women’s competition the winners of the Giant Slalom race were:

1. Isabel Chiara Murer from University of Udine (ITA)
2. Irem Gezer from Istanbul Medipol University (TUR)
3. Julia Oleksiuk from University of Warsaw (POL)

In the men’s competition in the Giant Slalom Race there was once again a total domination on the winners podium from the athletes of the three Bulgarian Universities:

1. Tervel Zamfirov from University of Forestry (BUL)
2. Kristian Georgiev from National Sports Academy Vasil Levski (BUL)
3. Alexander Krashniak fromTechnical from University Sofia (BUL)

The Snow Volleyball competition brought fierce and skilful teams from Europe, who competed and created many fair play and fun spirited matches. Amazing points, blocks and recoveries were showcased on the white surface of the snow pitch in Val di Zoldo.

Starting with the first match on 19^th and finishing with great semi-finals and finals on the 21^st of December, EUSA European Universities Winter Championships got the first champions in Snow Volleyball in both men and women’s competition, setting a great example for the future of the event.

In the women’s Snow Volleyball competition, the gold medal went around the necks of the girls from University of Vienna (AUT), followed by the silver medallists, the team from Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ROU) and the bronze medallists Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.  Since the first day of competition, these teams had shown dynamic discipline and great passion and desire to achieve and compete in the highest level possible.

The men’s competition also brought strong, fast paced and talented teams, who provided amusing matches, pleasant to watch and cheer at, bringing only the best of the best to the final.

The three winning positions on the medal podiums were occupied by University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (CZE) winning the gold medal, University of Klagenfurt (AUT) winning the silver medal and Technical University Darmstadt (GER) winning the bronze.

The Most Valuable Player for the women’s competition in Snow Volleyball was given to: Michaela Wengler from University of Vienna (AUT) and in the men’s competition the same award went in the happy hands of Tadeas Trousil from University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (CZE).

The European Universities Winter Championships were officially concluded with a nice, humble and rewarding Closing Ceremony, gathering all the participants in one place, to wrap up this inaugural EUSA Winter event.

The final words and official conclusion of the European Universities Winter Championships were given by Mr Haris Pavletic, 1st Vice President of EUSA and the Mayor of Val di Zoldo, Mr Camillo De Pellegrin.

EUSA team is extremely satisfied with the succesful realisation of the first European Universities Winter Championships and happy to have started the path of winter sports in EUSA sports programme.

For more information, please see https://wintersports2023.eusa.eu/