After the cancellation of five speed races at the start of the season in Zermatt/Cervinia and Beaver Creek, only one downhill run in Val Gardena and one in Wengen have been added. The two downhill runs in Chamonix planned for next weekend are canceled due to lack of snow, and no alternative location has been found.
After the serious falls on the Lauberhorn by the Norwegian Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, the Frenchman Alexis Pinturault and the Swiss Marco Kohler, the debate about an overloaded calendar was opened in Kitzbühel and additional races were criticized. But without considering this, the technology backlog becomes even greater. So far there have been twelve speed races and eleven technical competitions. If everything takes place as planned from now on, it will be 4:23 p.m. at the end of March.
Cancellation of speed races for men and women
There are no speed races for women in Garmisch, and for men there is nothing in Chamonix.
Waldner against three speed races in a row
The chief race director of the International Ski Federation (FIS), Markus Waldner, had recently repeated several times that he no longer wanted three speed races on consecutive days, but now the only opportunity to add to this is in Kvitfjell. A downhill run on February 17th and a Super-G on February 18th are currently planned. An additional race would be possible with a break day on Friday and training and a race before that.
GEPA/Mario Buehner-Weinrauch FIS chief race director Markus Waldner speaks out against three speed races on three days in a row
Kitzbühel could serve as an example: At the Hahnenkamm races, training took place on Tuesday and Wednesday and a break on Thursday before a downhill run took place on Friday and Saturday. “The cancellation of Chamonix hurts us. If Kvitfjell gets a second run, then we will have ten runs. That’s the average over the last few years anyway,” said Kriechmayr, who came fifth and fourth in the two Super-Gs in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. He hoped Waldner would agree.
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Wengen and Kvitfjell cannot be compared
You can’t compare Wengen and Kvitfjell, said Raphael Haaser, who finished second on Sunday and achieved his second podium finish this winter. “In terms of substance, it’s not as strenuous as Wengen. We are there to race. Nobody will be against a third race in Kvitfjell.” Daniel Danklmaier sees it similarly. “Length and intensity are different in Wengen. Kvitfjell is also demanding, but the length is what makes it.”
Stefan Babinsky tries to concentrate on his job and that is racing. “It’s difficult to please everyone. I think that the decision-making situation is certainly not easy.” Ultimately, it is up to the organizer, who has to agree to take on a race, and Waldner, whose approval is necessary. But he is usually the first to be criticized when something happens.
