“It is frustrating that we are again in the same situation as in previous years. The FIS is not learning from the past and is only making loose promises again,” said ÖSV General Secretary Christian Scherer to the APA. The reason for the standstill in Alpine scheduling is the controversial Matterhorn races.
“We are in good communication with FIS General Secretary Michel Vion, who makes it quite credible that the Zermatt/Cervinia issue is blocking the entire season planning,” explained Scherer. The Italian-Swiss co-production has so far failed to have a speed premiere on European soil in November. Many voices are calling for the races to be postponed, for example to March, but the organizers object that it would be difficult to accommodate the World Cup entourage when winter tourism is in full swing.
Now FIS boss Johan Eliasch’s prestige project is apparently preventing the dates of the remaining World Cup races for the 2024/25 season from being set. “The argument or excuse from the FIS was that they are in coordination with the Swiss and Italian Ski Associations regarding Zermatt/Cervinia. Apparently there would be a meeting there in mid-February about how to proceed,” said Scherer. “It cannot be the case that all other events are blocked as well. This is not acceptable for a professional structure.”
“A document that no other place has ever received”
There should be an agreement that guarantees the Matternhorn organizers the races for five years. “A document that no other place has ever received, which is already very questionable. That also complicates the entire process,” complained Scherer. The FIS left a request from the APA in this regard unanswered.
The ÖSV is pushing to know “whether the Hochgurgl premiere was so good that it remains on the calendar,” said Scherer. For Sölden, the window of opportunity to change the date has apparently more or less closed. “Sölden is ready to discuss the date, but it will most likely not be possible to make a November date in 2024 because the quarters are now blocked,” said Scherer about the host of the World Cup opening, which is controversial due to the time of year. The Ötztalers would prepare to keep the October date for 2024. “The later we get planning security, the more likely this scenario is.”
“If this is implemented, we will definitely stick to Semmering”
At Semmering – it would be the Lower Austrians’ turn as World Cup hosts again in the two-year cycle with Lienz around the turn of the year 2024/25 – infrastructural improvements would have to be made on the advice of the FIS. The slope is too narrow at the slalom start and the finish area also needs to be adapted. “The plans are there, they are good. If they are implemented, they will definitely stick to Semmering. But they have to do their homework now,” said Scherer.
The Secretary General announced talks in this regard with the Lower Austrian political leadership during Kitzbühel Week. With the Streif and other Austrian highlights such as Schladming and Flachau, the ÖSV is planning to continue the traditional dates. “The classics – with all our love – you won’t be able to attack,” said Scherer.
