Thursday training for Matterhorn descents canceled

Initially, the start was moved from the original start at 3,720 meters above sea level to the start of the women’s race at 3,500 meters due to strong winds. In addition, the start time was changed to 11:00 instead of 11:30. However, the onset of snow made it impossible to complete the time run.

In the first training session for the competition in the immediate vicinity of the Matterhorn, Carinthian Otmar Striedinger achieved the best time on Wednesday. This training was completed over the full distance. Since the weather forecast for Friday is also not very promising, it could have been the only one until the two-country departures on Saturday and Sunday (11.30 a.m. / live on ORF 1). It is also unclear whether these can take place. Next Monday is already circulating as an alternative option.

Racer Marco Schwarz took the situation calmly. “I’m completely prepared for races to take place at the weekend. You always have to be a bit flexible when it comes to speed, you have to expect cancellations,” said the Carinthian. “Today we have exactly the opposite of yesterday. Dream weather yesterday, difficult conditions today,” noted Matthias Mayer, who resigned last year and will be present at several races this season as an advisor to the ÖSV coaching staff. The three-time Olympic champion added in the finish area that the condition of the slopes and the route would not stand in the way of the start of the season.

“It’s difficult at this time of year”

“The weather forecast is a bit difficult now, you have to be honest,” said ÖSV men’s head coach Marko Pfeifer. “Yesterday it was super, super beautiful, every runner and every coach enjoyed it. It makes your hearts blossom, that would certainly be a win for skiing. But of course we know that it’s difficult at this time of year at the altitude. Although they are extra unlucky that the weather is moving like this.”

The fact that races are to be held on a glacier at the beginning of November, starting at almost 4,000 meters above sea level, has been criticized for some time. The starting area above the tree line is particularly exposed and vulnerable to weather events. “You just shouldn’t forget that at this altitude, even when the weather is very nice, the wind plays a role. And the race should be a bit fair,” said former downhill star Beat Feuz to the daily newspaper Blick.

“Other people have to decide whether they want to have something like that on their calendar or not,” explained ÖSV coach Pfeifer. “I can only see it for sport, and in principle it would be a really cool thing. The question is whether it can really be implemented at this time of year.”