The 2020/21 Audi FIS Alpine World Cup men’s and women’s North American events will be scrapped due to Covid 19 this upcoming season. The events will, instead, be held exclusively in Europe and return to North America for the 2021/2022 season.
The much loved Killington (USA) women’s giant slalom and slalom events in November and the speed week in Lake Louise (CAN) in December will be rescheduled for competition in Europe. As will the men’s speed weekend in Lake Louise in November and both speed and tech events at Vail/Beaver Creek Bird’s of Prey event in December.
“The desire and motivation to hold these races as scheduled for all parties was strong,” said Markus Waldner, FIS men’s Chief Race Director.
“The training set-up and races in USA and Canada are very much appreciated by the teams. But ultimately, the unique logistics and situation for the early season alpine races has current travel restrictions and corresponding quarantine regulations in both directions, which led to this joint decision.”
The adapted calendars, to be approved in late September, involve the rescheduling of the Alpine North American competitions at existing European locations later in the season.
The preliminary calendar adjustments include events in December, with Val d’Isere (FRA) taking on an additional weekend for the men. The planned giant slalom races will be moved up one weekend to 5th-6th December making room for an added downhill and super-G on 12th-13th December to replace one of the North American weekends.
The women’s tour will add a downhill to its traditional weekend in St. Moritz (SUI) on 5th-6th December. The Swiss resort has picked up a downhill as part of its race weekend to compensate for the Lake Louise race. Additionally, Courchevel (FRA) will host a two-race technical weekend in December.
The revised calendars with the latest adaptations will be approved following the FIS Technical Meetings from 30th September to 2nd October for ratification by the FIS Council on 3rd October and will be published on the FIS website at that time.
Decisions for all other FIS World Cup sanctioned sports will be made independently and based on an assessment of each set of circumstances, including the risks and travel requirements related to each event and host country, as well as time needed between competitions to accommodate for Covid-19 protocols.
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