Five people speak at a presentation event and all five agree. Cross-country skiing, one of the most popular forms of athletics years ago, has lost its momentum but it is here, in the province of Girona, where its most classic ingredients are still breathed. Competitiveness, of course, but also camaraderie, familiarity, the reward for effort and also for participation. See nanny and also more established athletes. Have a loyal audience, come rain or shine. Ingredients that this morning have been gathering, together, the deputy for Sports Jordi Masquef; the president of the Selva Regional Council, Salvador Balliu; the territorial head of Sports of the Generalitat in the Girona counties, Anna Julia; the president of the Catalan Athletics Federation, Mercy Rossich; and also one of the most international athletes in the demarcation: Esther Guerrero. The first four, representing the institutions that give their support, once again, at the Girón Cross Country Circuit this season 22/23. La banyolina, responsible for sponsoring this event. Once again, because it’s not the first and most likely not the last time he does it.
The circumstances make it even more special for Guerrero today’s event held in the Ferran Agulló room of the Diputació de Girona. He was seriously injured in the first quarter of this year and after trying to play again a few weeks later, he relapsed. In the summer the machinery stopped. I needed to make one reset. The feelings are increasingly positive and he will return to the competition very soon. It could reappear this weekend, at the Milla de Berango, proof that he won last year. But it is not yet one hundred percent confirmed. What yes, what is on his mind is to run one of the eight events of this edition of the Giróní de Cros Circuit. At the same time, the 31st Grand Prize Consell Comarcal de la Selva and also the 18th Trophy Diputació de Girona. So many editions are added because the competition is already a classic on the calendar. Kick off, November 6th and the denouement won’t come until February 19th.
The action starts at Santa Coloma de Farners (the oldest test in the province catches edition number 48), to then move on, a week later, to the Cross City of Girona (November 13). It will be the 20th of the same month that it will be time to visit Olot before the test of Caldes de Malavella of the 27th. Until December 18th there will not be the 20th Cross de bathrooms, scoring for the Catalan GP. The last test of the calendar year, before the 33rd Cross de stained glass windows of January 15. So, back for one of the new ones. The Cros de is included in the calendar Castellón d’Empúrieswhich premieres. The end point will be written on February 19 in Sant Hilari Sacalm, test also valid for the Catalan Championship in the Master category. The circuit does not understand gender: men’s and women’s races are there. He doesn’t look too thin for his age either. The range goes from pre-teens to veterans over 55.
Those attending the event, all of them, wished this year’s edition to be “a complete success”. These words have been repeated, over and over. Rossich went a little further and recalled that the appearance of other tests, especially on asphalt, has reduced participation in cross-country races, but that it is in Girona, city and especially province, where the spirit of always, authenticity, so he trusts that this passion will remain intact. Esther Guerrero listened attentively, from one side. His head must have been going round and round, thinking about when he will be able to run and under what conditions he will be able to run.
