2007-06-04
FIS Confirmed: Three Stops for World Cup in Canada
Calgary, AB (Ski Press) — Canada’s three stops on the World Cup circuit—Panorama, Whistler and Lake Louise—were confirmed by the The Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS) in meetings last week in Portoroz, Slovenia.
World Cup alpine ski racing returns to Panorama, BC with Women’s Giant Slalom and Slalom races Nov. 24th and 25th. It will be the first World Cup races in the BC resort since 1992 when DH and SG races were held for both Men and Women.
The last World Cup races in Whistler were Men’s Downhill and Super G events held in 1995. The upcoming races, the only World Cup events in Whistler prior to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games for these athletes, will be Women’s Downhill and Super Combined and Men’s Super G and Giant Slalom from Feb. 21st to 24th, 2008.
Other key decisions made during the FIS Conference in Portoroz, Slovenia include:
• The World Cup start position draw for DH, SG and SC has changed. The top seven competitors according to World Cup Start List points will draw for bibs numbered 16 to 22. The following eight best competitors according to the WCSL (8 to 15) will draw for bibs numbered 8 to 15. The remaining top 30 competitors will draw for start positions 1 to 7 and 23 to 30.
• A -10 cm ski length variance has been approved for J1 men’s slalom in FIS and ENL races.
• The length and radius of skis for Masters has changed from “regulations” to “recommendations” except in Super G (Men may not be less than 185 cm, Ladies may not be less than 180 cm.)
• There are now only two categories of FIS registration for alpine skiing. “Active” in which case the NSA guarantees insurance or “Inactive” in which case the athlete is not on the list and the insurance requirements may not compete. There is no temporary registration.
“The World Cup race events returning to Panorama and Whistler this season represent a major step toward Canada’s goal of being a world-leading alpine ski racing nation by 2010,” said ACA Chief Executive Officer Ken Read. “The exceptional work of the race committee and hundreds of volunteers has established the event in Lake Louise as a special race within the World Cup calendar and as a result FIS has chosen it as the opening event of the speed season. A lot of people are already in place working very hard to ensure these race events are the best in the world.”
In Lake Louise, where they have been hosting World Cup races since 1989, the Bombardier Lake Louise Winterstart will get underway Nov. 24th to 25th with Men’s Downhill and Super G races while Women’s DH and Super G are scheduled for Dec. 1st and 2nd.
