“The World Cup races are an extremely important marketing tool,” said race director Rainer Senoner, who is also President of the Saslong Classic Club. “We can show that we are a worthy candidate. By hosting the third, additional race, we are proving once again that we are ready in Val Gardena when we are needed.”
Wolkenstein’s Mayor Roland Demetz was also happy, especially since three Saslong winners were chosen this week. “For our 100th World Cup race, of all things, we got an additional downhill run – for the first time in our long history.”
Odermatt criticizes the monster program
The men’s ski world cup in Val Gardena and Alta Badia will continue with an extremely busy programme: five races will take place within five days. Heavy criticism comes especially from all-rounders like Marco Odermatt.
snow at the right time
The speed races on the last weekend before Christmas are a tradition in Val Gardena. Everything is set before the 55th edition of the classic in the World Cup. According to FIS race director Markus Waldner, the Saslong is in excellent condition. The fresh snow and the low temperatures of the past few weeks have come in good time and have dressed the landscape in winter.
Moderately bad weather has been announced for Thursday and Friday, but this could be an opportunity for the organizers to demonstrate how to deal with problems and solve them, especially with regard to the World Cup candidacy.
FIS boss comes out as a Val Gardena fan
Some important personalities from politics and sport are expected this year. For example, the Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, South Tyrol’s Governor Arno Kompatscher and Flavio Roda, President of the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI), have confirmed as guests. And Johan Eliasch has also announced his coming, the pugnacious President of the International Ski Federation (FIS) raved about Val Gardena during his visit last year.
A major hurdle in the direction of hosting the World Cup was already cleared last year. Gröden prevailed against Sestriere in the race for support of the FISI and has been Italy’s official candidate ever since. The decisive factor was the concept, which focuses on sustainability and the protection of the environment through the use of existing infrastructure, as was communicated after the decisive vote.
No new slopes planned
Central to this promise is that no new slopes will be built for the World Championships. Downhill and Super-G would be held on the Saslong, while the technical disciplines would be held on the Ciampinoi 3 piste, which had already been used since 1970, with the destination directly in Selva. The Alta Badia ski area in the neighboring Val Badia is not part of the application, following a decision by the municipal council. He decided against participating for environmental reasons. The 2029 World Ski Championships will probably be awarded at the 2024 FIS Congress.
