We are very lucky to have one of Chamonix’s most exciting sport events, the world-renown Men’s Alpine Skiing World Cup “Kandahar”, happen just a few meters from our office in Les Houches.

When the Kandahar happens, it’s our tradition to join the crowds and cheer all athletes. So, that’s exactly what we did last week during the races on February 3rd and 4th. What a great way to celebrate this discipline we love!

Here’s a bit of history about the Kandahar, as explained on seechamonix.com.

The Kandahar race is one of the main sporting events in the Chamonix valley and it showcases Chamonix’s excellent skiing reputation. Created in 1928, the Kandahar was the first international alpine competition to combine downhill and slalom events. It plays host to the slalom and giant slalom, which are both spectacular disciplines to watch.

The race takes place on La Verte piste in Les Houches at the beginning of the year. Extensive work has been carried out on the lower part of the course over the past few years, in order to enlarge the arrival area and widen parts of the piste. These amendments mean that Chamonix will now be able to host world cup slalom events, too. 

The reputation of the Kandahar has attracted many of the big downhill competitors over the years. These include: James Couttet, Karl Schranz, Emile Allais, Ingemar Stenmark, André Aamodt, Alberto Tomba, and Bode Miller!