Men’s Alpine World Cup 2023/24

[S.H.]

There's even a chance they could postpone a Fri/Sat race to Monday.

Isn't the rule that World Cup Finals races can't be rescheduled?

From the 2023-2024 Rules for the FIS Alpine World Cup

https://a.storyblok.com/f/252177/d482d566b6/al_wc-rules-2324_06-10-2024.pdf

 

[4ster]

I don’t know but I would think that a postponement is not the same as a rescheduling

 

[Primoz]

There's very little chances for something like this. Saalbach is (still) normally operating and that's reason why finals are done in 2 weeks instead of "standard" one week. There was simply no space in hotels (or hotels didn't want to give space) as there's still plenty of normal skiers there. Postponing race to different day, even if rules would allow (and they don't) drags so much stuff behind, that there's no realistic chances something like this would happen. TV schedules are done long before and changing them is not as simple as someone might think, people booked their hotels and tickets, hotels booked their rooms (for new guests arriving Sunday) etc. So realistically, something like this is never chance, especially not in one of biggest ski centers in Austria, where everything is booked months (if not years) in advance.

 

[RiesenSL]

The idea to postpone was on an Italian sports news site, complaining that any cancellation would kill any chance for an Italian women to take a speed globe. Since then, race-day weather has improved a bit (and now, forecast for next week is warm). Looks like after today's rains, the worst is over. Sunday mens DH was looking cool & clear but now snow is forecast through the night before!

 

[S.H.]

I don’t know but I would think that a postponement is not the same as a rescheduling

postponing to a different day is rescheduling

 

[RiesenSL]

postponing to a different day is rescheduling

If you look at the that FIS rule in context as a whole, resched appears to be defined by a subsequent upcoming venue, for which there are none after Finals. I think they also bent a rule by changing the Saalbach speed course a few days ago.

 

[4ster]

Odermatt
Kriechmayr
Sarrazin

 

[RiesenSL]

Holy sodium, the piste has survived through over 7 tons of salt. Soon after the womens DH on Saturday, it will get much cooler and a dusting of snow, allowing for more aggression on the Odermatt/Sarazzin battle.

Sarrazin grabs globe if he is:
1st and Odie is 4th or worse,
2nd and Odie 7th or worse,
3rd and Odie finishes 14th, or
4th or 5th and Odermatt is outside top 15.

 

[altabrig]

Holy sodium, the piste has survived through over 7 tons of salt.

Wow!

Salting the earth. Do they ever use CaCl2? More expensive and would probably melt too much instead of harden up?

 

[BrianB]

Piste survived, which is impressive given the weather the past several days and kudos to the organizers, but it did get noticeably slower today as the race progressed, by bib 9 or 10 everyone was .3 to .4 seconds slower at the first interval with no obvious reason and only getting slower from there and top 4 finishers were start #s 4,5,6 8. Hoping Saturday will not be such a start number lottery with the cooler temperatures.

 

[4ster]

 

[Swede]

Rough weather, start pushed in hope for it to get better. Looks bad…

 

[4ster]

Looks like the men’s DH final has been cancelled

 

[RiesenSL]

 

[RiesenSL]

A year to remember for wrong reasons; high number of injuries in a Downhill season with 7 cancellations and only 2 re-scheduled, resulting in only 8 races at 6 locations over 9 weeks (Dec 14 - Feb 17). Even 3 SLs were wiped out!

Very bad year for North American men, great year for Swiss men & women; 7 globes including the big 2. In 74 races, the Swiss won 27, and Marco & Lara won 21, twice as many as the entire Austrian team (11 victories).

 

[RiesenSL]

NEXT SEASON

FIS has cancelled next year's downhill opener in Zermatt-Cervinia. FIS suggested to organizers a date later in the season but organizers claimed logistical problems, including "insufficient accommodation capacity in the high season."

With next year's Finals in Sun Valley, they want a second wkd (late Nov/early Dec) in North America next to Beaver Creek (such as Lake Louise, Copper, etc.).

To assist in re-scheduling events, a 'Reserve' weekend is being considered, immediately before World Champs (Saalbach Feb 4-16). This would avoid events with 3 races in a row.

FIS also intends to increase tech races during the week (Tue/Wed) and at night, 2nd runs at 7pm, recognizing conflict & competiton with Euro football (Champions League). However a Wed race also puts pressure on training requirements for other races on the following Saturday.

 

[4ster]

Always sad to see the World Cup season end as it usually signals to the ending to the regular ski season for many as well.
Looking forward to bigger and better things during next year’s world championship season!

 

[Tony Storaro]

Happier than if he'd just been released from prison

View attachment 230261

Nice bong he’s got there..

 

[Cat1210]

Sarrazin and Odermatt after the downhill was canceled. The video is lovely, such great sportsmanship.

 

[RiesenSL]

Norwegian Ski Association has proposed a new event format for Men:
Start in USA at the end of November.
West Alps tour (until Christmas).
Classics Tour (New Year until end of January).
Southern Alps Tour (end of January).
World Champs in early February.
Mid-March to Scandinavia.
Finales at an undetermined venue in early April.

Women differ in the Europe tours; Eastern Alps (until Xmas), Classics (New Year to end of Jan) then Western Alps (end of Jan).

The major objective is to minimize airflights. Training in South America in the autumn, then shifting to the Rockies in North America. Secondary goal is optimization of snow conditions at both ends of seaon. This concentratres European races exclusively in December, January, February,