According to skiracing.com, ski racers recently met secretly in Kvitfjell, Norway to discuss a plan of action to force FIS to make changes to the existing race calendar.
Top of the agenda was an end to the demanding double race weekends and replacing the twice-cancelled ‘Speed Opening’ downhill races that Zermatt and Cervinia may be fated never to host.
It was reported that the athletes would prefer to replace the propose dual-country race with the previous nominee Lake Louise.
According ex-downhill racer Ken Read, conditions on 24-26 November when the World Cup races were calendared for Lake Louise, were ‘perfect, with top to bottom coverage, no wind, unlimited visibility and a temperature of -3C.’
Calendar is “unacceptable”
ÖSV head coach Marko Pfeifer has emphasized the need for change: “The calendar as it stands is unacceptable. We have to make the high-quality races high-quality.”
Markus Waldner, FIS race director, told SkiRacing.com, “They want to have a say in the calendar planning; that’s their right; after all, they’re the ones competing.”
It remains to be seen whether FIS will make any changes to take into account these requests.
Climate change petition by athletes
FIS is also considering how to handle previous demands by athletes to simplify the calendar to reduce transatlantic flights and consequently reduce the carbon footprint of the World Cup tour.
