Almost eighty Spanish athletes will participate in the Winter Universiade Granada 2015

Sara Hurtado y Adrián Díaz

78 athletes will represent Spain in the Universiade, 64 of which will compete in ice disciplines and 14 in snow. We can highlight the presence of Queralt Castellet, world sub champion of Half Pipe and the Free Style couple Sara Hurtado y Adrián Díaz, one of the revelations in the Sochi Olympic Games.

La snowboarder Queralt Castellet, will be the flag – bearer for the Spanish delegation. Last 17th January she won the silver medal in Half Pipe, being the first Spanish athlete to get it. After this achievement, she is one of the favorites for the gold medal in Granada.

As for the Alpine Skiing competition, 7 Spanish athletes will take part in it. Among them we can find Pol Carreras and Álex Puente (who participated in Sochi 2014), or Nuria Pau, ranked third on the RFEDI (Royal Spanish Winter Sports Federation) last season 2013/2014.

Castellet was accompanied by Elena García Serra in Snowboard. The Spanish delegation will be represented by 5 freestylers. Ander Zamora, first in moguls competition in the last Spanish championship, Patricia Muñoz, third in the female category or Elena Jaimez and Enrique Salvador, gold medals in Slopestyle.

On the other hand, the Spanish Ice Sports Federation (FEDH) will bring to Granada the largest number of participants in its history. The most important ones are the Figure Skating athletes. The couple Hurtado-Díaz will opt for the gold, closely followed by Celia Robledo and Luis Fenero. In the individual competition Javier Raya and Felipe Montoya will compete for a medal in the male category. Sonia Lafuente, who got the silver medal past Winter Universiade Erzurum 2011, will be a referent for the female one.

Ice Hockey will be one of the great attractions. Spain will present the combined male/female teams. Women captained by sisters Abrisqueta, will compete in group stage with United States, Japan and China. In the male competition Spain will face China, Slovakia and Czech Republic.

There will also be a male and female team in Curling. Sweden got the male gold in Trentino Universiade, whereas the Russians got the victory in the female category. Those will be the rivals to beat in Granada. Spain will be represented in Short Track Speed Skating by Roges Vallverdú and Víctor Martínez.

The Spanish delegation with 78 athletes, will be the largest in the history of the Spanish university sports, with more number of participants than in Trentino Winter Universiade 2013 (31 athletes) or Summer Universiade Kazan (46 athletes)

The opening ceremony of the Winter Universiade Granada 2015 will be the 14th February. Sky, Snowboard and Free Style competitions will be held in Sierra Nevada Ski Resort. The male Hockey competitions will take place in the Sports Pavilion in Granada. Mulhacén Pavilon will hold the female Hockey competitions and the Igloo will be the Venue for Figure Skating and Short Track. Finally, the Fuentenueva Pavilion will be the Venue for curling. The male Ice Hockey final will close the competition the 14th February.

SPANISH ATHLETES

FIGURE SKATING

Sara Hurtado / Adrián Díaz – Danza

Celia Robledo / Luis Fenero – Danza

Javier Raya – Individual

Felipe Montoya – Individual

Sonia Lafuente – Individual

SPEED SKATING

Roger Vallverdú Imbernóm

Víctor MarVnez Blanch

ICE HOCKEY

MALE