Yesterday evening the women’s World Cup night slalom was held in Schladming as a replacement for Flachau (still in progress when this issue went to press). At the weekend it should continue in the Zauchensee in Salzburg. A few days before the two World Cup speed competitions, the corona numbers are almost going through the roof in the host community: Yesterday the seven-day incidence in the Altenmarkt community was 4502. “We are doing everything humanly possible to hold events safely”, Veronika Schäffer, head of the organizing committee, calmed down.
According to Schäffer, the preparations for the races are right on schedule. The slope is ready, “tomorrow we will start with the first test runs”. But there is no longer any thought of spectators at the downhill on Saturday or at the Super-G on Sunday. In any case, the plan was to only have 450 guests per race this year. According to Schäffer, the best possible care is taken for the safety of the World Cup entourage: All around 140 employees in the accommodations or restaurants are tested daily with PCR or antigen tests (alternately), a separate test lane has been set up for this.
Stadlober’s good memories
Above all, ÖSV President Roswitha Stadlober has a personal connection to the Gamskogel: 41 years ago she was the eleventh best Austrian in a women’s World Cup race there. “That was the beginning of my career,” said the former world-class runner (then as Roswitha Steiner).
OC boss in Zauchensee is the former world-class downhill skier Michael Walchhofer. “It is actually served,” says the Salzburg native, who raved about a “winter wonderland” in his home country.
Walchhofer assumes that the Italian Sofia Goggia, who has so far been superior in many speed races, will also be the hunted in Zauchensee. “But for us as the organizer it would of course be great if a local runner could compete for victory.” Above all, he has high hopes for Mirjam Puchner: “She is now where she belongs.”
Source: Nachrichten
