DID YOU KNOW THAT CAPE VERDE IS PARTICIPATING THIS MONTH OF FEBRUARY IN THE WORLD ALPINE SKI CHAMPIONSHIP?

And truth. Although without snow and without the so-called winter sport, Cape Verde (CPV) is among the 75 nations participating in the 47th edition of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Championship, taking place this February in Courchevel and Méribel, in the French Alps .

It is no less true that this first participation by Cape Verde is not going as planned, but even so, Jerome Philippe inscribed his name as the “first Cape Verdean” to enter the world's top ski competition.

REPRESENTING THE LAND OF YOUR EX-WIFE

Jerome Philippe, who lives in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, in southwestern France, was married to a Cape Verdean woman for a long time, but despite the rupture of marriage ties, he remained connected to Cape Verde, parents that he decided to represent in sports.

And as Cape Verde does not have any winter sports federation, this 47-year-old Frenchman created his own Cape Verdean ski federation, thus being able to register as a Cape Verdean athlete in the International Ski Federation (FIS).

Jerome's entry into the world ski party was not very happy however. The Lyceum teacher - Jerome has a PhD in Physics - the teacher is not very well prepared physically and it was to the letter that he managed to pass a first stage destined for countries not used to snow sports.

In the second race he was disqualified because he couldn't stay on track (he skidded). It now remains to try one last chance in the men's slalom this weekend but the chance of qualifying is really very small since some of the giants of world skiing will be in the race.

LOOKING FOR SPONSORSHIP

Jerome said he struggled to stay on track because his equipment was obsolete. Moreover, Cape Verde's only athlete and captain in the ski world cup doesn't even have a coach.

The teacher resumed skiing after 10 years off and without a club or structure for continuous training, he arrived in the Alps in clearly poor physical shape, especially since - he said - "as a skier from a small nation" he is not used to big clues”.

Despite the difficulties, Jerome dreams of taking Cape Verde to the 2025 World Cup and especially to the 2026 Olympic Games, but for that, he says he would like to have a sponsor to help with the cost of equipment.

It is that although skiing may not be a sport only for the rich as they say, this modality is not very “democratic” financially and not everyone is able to buy the very expensive first-class equipment that varies according to the characteristics of the slope or the terrain. competition.

Jerome thanks you,