If you set your alarm to watch the first-ever cross-border FIS World Cup event in the Matterhorn Ski Paradise ski area today, you can roll back over: the Local Organization Committee (‘LOC’) together with the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (‘FIS’) announced in the wee hours of the morning that the race for today is canceled.
Heavy snowfalls, wind and fog forced a cancelation of the event. The previous two training runs from Thursday and Friday had also been canceled due to snowfalls. After last year’s race was canceled due to lack of snow, it is certainly a luxury problem to have. Unfortunately this will mean one less Downhill event on the men’s speed calendar, unless a replacement can be found.
“Due to the heavy snowfall from last night, and this morning, together with the strong wind, to ensure the safety situation for everyone, the Jury together with the OC have decided to cancel todays DH race.”
Hopefully the second Downhill event which was scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday, November 12, 2023, can go ahead as planned. The bib draw on Friday night had seen Switzerland’s Stefan Rogentin with coveted bib no. 1, Italy’s Dominik Paris with no. 6, Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayer with no. 11, Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde with no. 13 and Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt with no. 14. Team USA skiers Ryan Cochran-Siegel and Jared Goldberg had sequential bib numbers 17 and 18 respectively. The top seeded skiers are subject to a random lottery at each race to determine the starting order, which has now become a big ceremony bringing out hundreds of fans.
Source: Snow Brains