The opening round of the men's World Cup skiing season, scheduled for November 11 and 12 in Zermatt-Cervinia, was canceled due to strong winds and heavy snowfall.
The event, which was supposed to feature two downhill races, was the first-ever cross-border competition in World Cup history, as the course spanned from Switzerland to Italy.
The cancellation was a disappointment for the skiers and the fans, who were looking forward to the long-awaited return of the speed season.
How the weather ruined the plans
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
According to the International Ski Federation, the decision to cancel the races was made after consulting with the local organizers, the national ski associations, and the athletes' representatives.
The main reason was that the adverse weather conditions, which made it impossible to prepare the slope and ensure the safety of the skiers.
The weather forecast for the weekend was already unfavorable, with strong winds and snowfall expected on both days.
However, the organizers hoped that the situation would improve and that at least one race could be held.
On Friday, the official training session was canceled due to the wind, and the race jury decided to postpone the first downhill to Saturday, hoping to run two races on the same day.
However, on Saturday morning, the situation worsened, as heavy snowfall covered the slope and the wind continued to blow.
The race jury inspected the course and concluded that it was not possible to clear the snow and secure the safety nets in time for the races.
Therefore, they announced the cancellation of both downhills and the possibility of rescheduling them to another date and venue.
The cancellation of the races was a blow for the skiers, who had been training hard for the start of the speed season.
Many of them expressed their frustration and disappointment on social media, but also their understanding of the situation and their appreciation for the efforts of the organizers.
Marco Odermatt, the reigning overall World Cup champion from Switzerland, said that there was no race that day because of too much snow and wind, but that he still enjoyed the beautiful day in the mountains.
He thanked everyone who worked hard to make the event possible and hoped that they could race soon.
Matthias Mayer, the Olympic downhill champion from Austria, said that the weather was too bad for the race, but that he was ready for the next challenge.
He thanked Zermatt-Cervinia for the great hospitality and the amazing scenery.
The fans, who had been eagerly waiting for the return of the World Cup action, also expressed their sympathy and support for the skiers and the organizers.
Many of them commented on the social media posts of the skiers, saying things like: "Sorry to hear that. Stay safe and positive. We are looking forward to seeing you race soon." or "What a pity. But better safe than sorry. You are amazing and we are proud of you."
Some fans also suggested alternative venues and dates for the rescheduled races, such as Val Gardena, Bormio, or Kitzbuehel in December or January.
However, the FIS has not yet confirmed any official plans for the replacement of the Zermatt-Cervinia event.
The next scheduled races for the men's World Cup are two slaloms in Gurgl, Austria, on November 18 and 19. The women's World Cup will start on November 11 and 12 with two slaloms in Levi, Finland.
