28th Marchablanca
The 28th Marchablanca was won by Carlos Lannes and Constanza Viaña both of whom also became the first winners of the Challenger Cup. The trophy was donated to the Marchablanca by long time local skier Luis Argel who contributed to the formation of skiing in Tierra del Fuego.
Tierra del Fuego’s governor Fabiana Ríos, the mayor of Ushuaia Federico Sciurano, the president of the Club Andino Ushuaia Daniel Catania, Tierra Mayor matriarch “Puichi” Giró, Cerro Castor owner and Salomon representative Juan Carlos Begué, as well as representatives from sponsors Movistar and Powerade were all on hand for the traditional sounding of the bell to mark the start of the Marchablanca.
More than 500 skiers participated in the event which consisted of a 21 KM elite freestyle race as well as shorter citizen events. A regional institution, many of the citizen skiers complete the Marchablanca in elaborate costumes in an event that is part of a holiday weekend in Argentina characterized by family oriented festivities.
Race Director Pablo Valcheff recognized Argel just before the start of the elite race. Argel then presented the race organization with a trophy he had commissioned for the winners of the Marchablanca. The Valley of Tierra Mayor where the Marchablanca is held is relatively remote even today and Argel has lived and skied the valley for decades during which time he has come to embody a regional ideal of resilience, strength, and love for the Fuegian landscape.
Beginning in 2015, the Marchablanca will be the accessory race to the Ushuaia Loppet and part of the official Worldloppet calendar. For more information and results, see www.marchablanca.com.
Pictures available here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.692744314114234.1073741839.173612359360768&type=1
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