World Cup Racing Once Again Hit by Bad Weather
11th December 2023
Yet more races were cancelled in what is turning into a difficult start to the season for the International Ski & Snowboard Federation. NEW
Sunday’s women’s World Cup super-G race in St. Moritz, Switzerland, and the men’s World Cup slalom race in Val d’Isère, France, were both been cancelled due to weather.
In St. Moritz, heavy snowfall on Saturday night made the Corviglia course unsafe, following two days of speed racing on Friday and Saturday.
“It was quite a lot of snow last night,” said FIS Chief Race Director Alpine Women, Peter Gerdol, on Sunday.
“The minimum was 20cms, there were some spots where it was over 40cms.
“The snow really covered the whole course and the race line that we kept quite clean until last night, but at the end this new snow destroyed the base.
“In a couple of hours, it’s impossible to get this base hard enough to make a safe race.”
❌ Due to a drastic change of the slope condition, despite the hard work overnight the jury together with the LOC and Swisski decided to cancel today’s race. This decision was made in order to ensure the safety of the athletes. 😔 #fisalpine pic.twitter.com/LIUR8m4rps
— FIS Alpine (@fisalpine) December 10, 2023
Sunday’s conditions in Val d’Isère, France did not allow the men’s slalom race to go ahead.
A giant slalom race took place on Saturday before bad weather closed in making Sunday’s race unfeasible.
“Actually the snow was really good yesterday during the GS and then late afternoon it starts raining,” said FIS Chief Race Director Alpine Men Markus Waldner.
“And then it turns into wet snow (with) strong wind also. This morning we went out at 2 o’clock in the morning. The base was actually gone, not good enough to race anymore.
“We tried to set the course and clean a little bit, but it was not safe enough.”
❌🌨️ Due to the present slope conditions after last night rain and snowfall, to ensure the safety of the racers, today’s Men’s slalom has been cancelled. 😔 #fisalpine pic.twitter.com/kJsa0PcmfK
— FIS Alpine (@fisalpine) December 10, 2023
Here at PlanetSKI we have reported on the current weather in our updated snow report:
Some racing was able to take place on Saturday:
A men’s giant slalom on Saturday was won by Marco Odermatt at Val d’Isere as snow fell.
The men’s World Cup tour resumes on Friday with four consecutive days of racing in Val Gardena and Alta Badia in the Italian Dolomites.
For the men six races have been cancelled, one abandoned and just two completed in a difficult season so far.
Prior to Saturday’s giant slalom, the only other race to go ahead was a slalom in Gurgl, Austria.
The season giant slalom opener in neighbouring Soelden was cancelled, before two downhills in Zermatt-Cervinia (Switzerland/Italy) were also scratched.
Last weekend’s races at the American resort of Beaver Creek, two downhills and a super-G, were wiped out by heavy snow and high winds.
Birds of Prey, Beaver Creek. Image © PlanetSKI.
The women’s tour moves to Val d’Isère next weekend for a downhill and a super-G.
Three women’s speed races have been cancelled so far, after both scheduled downhills last month at Zermatt-Cervinia were cancelled due to heavy snow and strong winds.
The races for both men’s and women’s events are expected to be made up at different venues later in the season.
Meanwhile other snowsport disciplines have been taking place with some success for GB athletes at the weekend:
That’s 🥈 for @Mia_brookes at the @fissnowboard Big Air World Cup 😍
Congratulations Mia 🥳🫶#gbsnowsport pic.twitter.com/mSyLqsOScP
— GB Snowsport (@GBSnowsport) December 10, 2023
Another 🔝1️⃣0️⃣ added to the collection 🤩
Cheers to Andrew Musgrave for a stellar performance at the @fiscrosscountry World Cup in Östersund, securing 6th place! 🎿
Final results:@musgraveandrew 6th@JamesClugnet 33rd@andrew_youngy 35th
📸: @sebbeeeh #gbsnowsport pic.twitter.com/RltokR6X4Q
— GB Snowsport (@GBSnowsport) December 10, 2023
