Before the start of the Alpine Ski World Cup season with two giant slalom races on the weekend in Sölden, the Forum Alpinum was traditionally held. The Chief Race Directors of the International Ski Federation (FIS), Markus Waldner for the men’s side and Atle Skaardal for the women’s side, gave insights into changes, innovations and considerations:
Parallel racing: In spring a working group of the FIS will deal with the harmonisation of the rules for parallel events. For the season now beginning, two City Events in Oslo and Stockholm are scheduled for women and men, with 16 athletes each invited. The races are part of the Slalom World Cup. With a large starting field and a different format, the women will run a parallel slalom in St. Moritz, the men a parallel giant slalom in Alta Badia. “It’s important to test formats, but now we have to work on the modification,” said Markus Waldner. Until the 2021 World Cup in Cortina d’Ampezzo it is necessary to be ready when a parallel individual race will be a medal competition. This is the first step towards inclusion in the Olympic program.
Warmer and cut-resistant underwear: At the request of the speed athletes, warmer and cut-resistant underwear will be worked on. The prototypes, which have been tested in the wind tunnel, will already be used in the course of the upcoming season. “With 150 Euro they are affordable also for families”, Markus Waldner said with a view also to the youngest athletes who are in action at FIS races. He was pleased to discover that the airbags were also being used more extensively on the ladies’ side.
Women’s World Cup in St. Anton: The women return to St. Anton for the first time after January 2013. In the future, the women’s January speed races in Austria will take place alternately in St. Anton and Zauchensee. The three-wheeler with Bad Kleinkirchheim no longer exists, for the Carinthian organiser a different technical solution is to be found, Aatle Skaardal confirmed: “I am happy that we are back in St. Anton. It is a very challenging course with extremely steep sections. With St. Anton and Zauchensee we have two very good speed tracks,” said the Norwegian.
World Ski Championships in Aare: According to Aatle Skaardal, preparations for the season highlight in February are going according to plan, last week they were in Sweden for the final inspection. “We have very high expectations, we had a great World Cup 2007. The courses are the same with some modifications. The weather can always be a challenge, but we are well prepared.” FIS President Gian Franco Kasper also looks to the future with confidence. “Aare is doing an excellent job.”