Featured Image: Louison Accambray racing. Credit: DU Athletics
The FISU Winter World University Games alpine ski racing events concluded yesterday in Italy. The celebrations and excitement did not stop throughout the games, and the competition remained fierce.
The athletes finished with the tech portion of the competition. The giant slalom races were on January 18th and 19th, the team parallel event on the 20th, and the slalom events were held on the 21st and 22nd.
Historically, the alpine skiing events have had the highest country participation of any sport at the FISU Games. Racers from the United States competed in the tech events but were absent in the first speed events of the Games.
The North Americans that entered into the tech races achieved top 30 results for Canada and the US. Loïc Chable, skiing for the University of Denver, shined once again on the podium, and University of Colorado athlete Louison Accambray earned a 4th-place result in the GS.
Loïc Chable Achieves Another Podium
University of Denver Graduate Student Loïc Chable secured his second podium of the 2025 World University Games. He started off the series with a dominating victory in the super combined event, winning by over six-tenths.
In the giant slalom, the Pioneer was able to move up three spots after the first run to earn a 2nd-place result.
Alex Aubert Serracanta, racing for Spain, won the GS with a commanding lead, -1.21 ahead of Chable. But, for Chable and another Swiss athlete Nick Spoerri, the fight for second place was close, finishing only 0.03 apart.
This is Chable’s second appearance at the World University Games. In 2023 the University Games were in Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain, New York. There he achieved 4th in slalom, 7th in super-G, and 9th in alpine combined.
Two podium finishes were a superb performance for the DU athlete, and he will carry that momentum into the rest of his collegiate invitationals this season.
Louison Accambray Executes a 4th Place in the Giant Slalom
University of Colorado athlete Louison Accambray executed a strong performance in the GS, earning a 4th-place result. The Buffalo was only +0.09 off the 3rd-place position, which was claimed by Italian Margherita Cecere.
Swiss athletes Delphine Darvellay and Sue Piller secured the first and second positions on the podium. Piller showcased dominance, finishing with a lead of -0.60 over the field.
Accambray won the season-opener giant slalom at the DU Invitational. So, with her early season success, she will be gunning it for a top showing at NCAA Championships.
North Americans Join the Competition for Tech Events
The North American nations, the United States and Canada, had competitors for the tech events. Collectively, they had their best showing in the men’s slalom with three in the top 30.
Nick Kirkwood of Boston College led the North Americans with a 25th-place finish. The University of Alaska Anchorage athlete Caeden Carruthers concluded the day in 27th, and University of Denver athlete Jack Bowers earned 28th.
About the Author: Ellie Hartman
