45 years ago, the World Championships in Portillo
Portillo
Campionati Mondiali di Sci Alpino del 1966 a Portillo (Chile) It 'probably the most famous South American ski resort in the world.
And the reason is one: Portillo was established in August 1966, the Alpine Ski World, the first and last held in the Southern Hemisphere.
And 'the ski resort's oldest continent and Latin was already fully functional since the '40s. In the early 60's was bought by wealthy Americans with the intention to make it ski resort of world interest and candidate to host the World Ski Championships was the perfect opportunity. Then the World Cup, the world of ski racing, events were much more important today because, with the Olympics, were the only international event.
After many negotiations with the FIS, Portillo won the organization's 19th edition of the World Cup and now is preparing to gear up, creating the necessary infrastructure and improving access to the site (including a rail). In the summer (even in winter!) Of 1965, a year earlier, international competitions were organized to test and ski elle national teams in Europe and North America.
During that event, terrible as an exceptional rise in the South Pacific typhoon hit Portillo, violent winds and snow storms ever recorded. Some avalanches destroyed almost the entire park and the ski lifts of the rooms, as well as reap five victims.
The FIS then went back the decision to confirm whether or not the owners of the World Portillo, who are organized to best to build the ski area, along with completely redesigned company POMA lifts, device other than the first also to prevent further avalanches destructive.
In one intense summer Portillo was almost completely rebuilt and made ready to host all the big event.
Nature, after being so hostile, granted for the World Cup cold and peaceful and perfect and abundant snow. Marc Hodler, president of the FIS and the president of Chile, Eduardo Frei, inaugurated the first World Ski Championships in the south of the equator, which places the Chilean hosts and manages beautifully.
It was the world of the French, who won 16 medals, 7 gold medals out of 8 available, not only in the men's slalom triumph of a trans, but the Italian Carlo Senoner, who later named his hotel in Selva di Val Gardena to the location that the Chilean gave the glory.
At that World Cup was also carried out for the first time, the giant in two heats in a time of great experimentation in new home FIS which also led, by the following season, the birth of the World Cup.
Those World Cup, in the shadow of Aconcagua, remain in the memory of skiing is absolutely extraordinary and unique for a number of factors.
And 'no doubt that clearance to the attention of the world skiing South America, which has since continued to grow in the supply and infrastructure, and handed over to the Myth Portillo.
Stampa
