The 4th Madrid SnowZone Championship for journalists exceeded the record number of participants with the attendance of more than 50 journalists, including Mercedes Milá. Organised by PROA Comunicación, the event was attended by a total of 23 national mediaTelecinco, La Sexta, RTVE, Telemadrid, Cadena SER, Discovery, Movistar+, Europa Press, Servimedia, EFE, Hearst, RNE, Política Local, Esdiario, Unika FM, Travesía, Ràdio Sant Boi, Hablemos de esquí, I love ski, Cadena Ibérica Radio, Nevasport and Planet BPM. RTVE and Hablamos de esquí were proclaimed champions in the snow and ski categories, respectively. Journalist and presenter Mercedes Milá attended on behalf of SCIJ Spain, an international journalists' club founded in 1955. "We want all media from all parts of Spain to be represented in this club," she encouraged the participants.
Javier Villar, general director of Madrid SnowZone, thanked the journalists for their presence, "your collaboration has allowed the Championships to be held and to grow a little more every year". He also wanted to thank the support of the RFEDI-Spainsnow, which was represented by Olympic skier Juan del Campo. "I think about the competition when I get up and when I go to bed, the high competition is a way of life. When you finish each descent, you have to have given the maximum," he declared.
For her part, María González, marketing director of Madrid SnowZone, wanted to thank Club Tecalp, who coordinated the refereeing, the time trial and the clinic, for the technical management of the Championship. "Thanks to the whole club and especially to Juanjo de la Torre (technical director) for making it possible, once again this year, for journalists to feel what it's like to participate in a high competition event".
In the snow category, Jorge Gala (RTVE) was proclaimed champion after two second places in the second and third editions. In addition, Carlos Marinho (Unika FM) and Marcos Chaves (Unika FM) completed a podium that both had crowned in previous editions. In the skiing category, Nacho Correa (from the podcast Hablamos de esquí) was the winner, with times under 20 seconds, and Ignacio Díaz Cortes (Hearst) -champion of the second edition- and Borja Fadón (Esdiario) -sub-champion of the third Championship- completed the podium in second and third place, respectively.
In this edition, the great role of Juan del Campowhich reached the second round in Schaldming, was used as a tribute to recreate a slalom in which the journalists competed in the ski category. For the snowboarders, who descended afterwards, the slalom was adapted to a mini-giant, thus facilitating their descent.
The IV Madrid SnowZone Championship for journalists counted with the collaboration of the following sponsors who provided gifts for both the winners and the rest of the participants. Salomon gave skis to the winner of the category and the special prize Woman and Snow; Burton gave boots to the snowboard champion and a gift to the seven winners; D. Franklin, who participated in the Championship for the first time, gave glasses to all the participants and a special pack for the seven winners; Intu Xanadú gave the winners of each category a 50 euro gift card to spend in the Shopping Centre; Forus gave a voucher for 10 green fees or 5 individual golf lessons to the winners and bags with free week passes in their sports centres to all the participants; and Tommy Mel's provided the food for all the journalists.
In addition to these gifts, Madrid SnowZone gave all the media two two-hour ski passes with equipment rental and the winners received an annual ski pass.
The families of the participants enjoyed different activities in the snow for children aged three and over. In addition, for the second year running, children over the age of five were able to take part in a skiing session guided by Madrid SnowZone instructors.
