Alpine skiing: Aksel Lund Svindal, Matthias Mayer & Co.

The twenty best riders in the world ranking list recently met with FIS race directors Markus Waldner and Hannes Trinkl in Kvitfjell to discuss possible changes in the World Cup. Athlete representative Hannes Reichelt initiated the meeting, he will present the results at the congress of the World Ski Federation. It’s about starting order, suits and piste grooming.

If it goes to Aksel Lund Svindal, Matthias Mayer and Co., then the departure starting order that has been in force since the 2016/17 season is to fall. The top ten of the world rankings are currently allowed to choose odd starting numbers between 1 and 19, which means that the best of the world can be found in a long drawn-out starting field. With this system they wanted to keep the viewers in front of the TV for a longer time.

The athletes now demand that the runners from 1 to 30 are allowed to choose every single number between 1 and 30. With this, the top people would presumably also start again in the package, because they know beforehand what the best numbers will be on a certain track under expected conditions.

Above all, this should create more equal opportunities. It was interesting that the top 20 unanimously said that something had to be changed,”said Reichelt, who was a victim of the current rule even this winter,” I can tell you a thing or two about it. With a change, it would be much fairer from a sporting point of view.”

Another point was the race suits, in which the top 20 were also agreed that it was all about safety and not just aerodynamics, Reichelt reported,”That means thicker suits, cut-resistant and equipped with protectors. The last time in Kvitfjell there were once again considerable deficiencies, also in Aare not everything went according to plan. With the help of snow groomers a really hard ground was destroyed.

“We need more manpower up front. People must be instructed on how to do it, so that it works,”Reichelt said. The aim is for the responsible FIS race director, Dr. Trinkl, to get employees who are doing the necessary preparatory work. Currently, Trinkl in Kvitfjell was still involved in a – challenging – World Cup arena when important decisions were made in Aare and mistakes were made after the heavy rainfall.

Reichelt will travel to Greece in spring with the feeling of support for the FIS Congress “For me it is very important that I know what is the widespread opinion. Makes it easier for me now. He will continue to discuss this with Waldner, who, like Trinkl, supports the runners’ proposals.

Reichelt will also talk to ÖSV President Peter Schröcksnadel, who was the great supporter of the current starting rule. It remains to be seen whether television will support the idea and how the FIS Council will ultimately decide.