Snow seems to be the main topic at this year’s World Cup season: First there was not enough snow anywhere, now it falls at the wrong time. In the last few days the scenery in the Gardena/Gröden Dolomites has finally been transformed into a magical winter landscape, however the fresh white snow is not really conducive to the race track beneath the beautiful Saslong mountain. Even tomorrow, snow is causing the organizers a lot of concern.

Günter Hujara, FIS Race Director, and Rainer Senoner, Race Director of the Gardena/Gröden World Cup races, know what is expecting them tomorrow: Lots of snow and lots of work. “ The weather forecast is predicting constant snowfall throughout the whole of tomorrow, starting at 11 am. 15 to 20 cm of fresh snow are expected on the Saslong race track,” Race Director Senoner explains. Fresh snow on a World Cup race track not only makes the piste slow, but also dangerous. It is very important that those responsible for preparing the piste do a good job and keep the slope as free of fresh snow as possible.

The unstable weather conditions have already compromised the preparations for tomorrow’s Super G. The course had to be set in record time by the Canadian coach John McBride, because the Downhill training run took much longer than expected and he could only begin at 3.30 p.m. McBride has set 49 gates with 45 changes of direction. However, the organizers and Race Director Hujara are not only expecting fresh snow but also bad visibility, which would result in a lower starting point and therefore a shorter race track. If the fog is too thick in the wood free section, the race will start in front of the first wall. A provisional starting point has already been set.