Presentation of the cross-country team for the 2017-2018 season

The FAE (Andorran Ski Federation) cross-country team was presented today at the Andbank headquarters, with skiers Irineu Esteve and Carola Vila and coaches Joan Erola and Laura Orgué, who will make their debuts on the technical staff, managing Vila in her improvement as an athlete.

Andbank and the FAE are supporting cross-country skiing for yet another year, a discipline that is in very good sporting health thanks to the results of the skiers in previous seasons, although this involves an increasingly expensive commitment. That is why the figure of Laura Orgué has been added to the coaching staff, a cross-country and mountain skier who studies the technical side in depth and has participated in 3 Olympic games. The Catalan will be in charge of the female team, which includes Carola Vila.

The act served to present the separate aims and preparation of Esteve and Vila, both with the coach Joan Erola until now, but now with different schedules.

Esteve is initially aiming at the World Cup, where he will take part in Lillehammer in December, while Vila will be at the European Cup. This year, there is in addition the U23 World Championships and the South Korean Olympic Games in February 2018.

Josep M. Cabanes: “At Andbank we value work with effort and determination very highly and we believe that these are young people who have shown very good sporting development. We want to wish them good luck and encourage them to work hard to achieve all the milestones”.

Irineu Esteve: “I’ve always wanted to be at the World Cup, but we’ll see how we start in the first races and see if the top 30 is possible. If we continue as we have until now, I think it can be done”.

Joan Erola: “Being competitive is what will decide whether we can continue in the World Cup or carry on working and then, when we are competitive, return”.
“At the European Cup this year I think that Carola could be competing between the best 10 and 15 in the category. It’s in the last year as a junior when you have to be among the best. She has two years left as a junior. I think Laura can give her something extra”.