Gray skies spoke volumes at Schladming, Austria where the first training run ahead of World Cup Finals were cancelled. After a day of heavy rain Sunday officials pulled the plug on the women's downhill training Monday (March 12). Rains are expected to continue into Tuesday raising concern a second day of training, another men's and a womans might fall to the weather as well.

Forecasts indicate the precipitation will end Tuesday and allow for racing Wednesday. The forecast for the remainer of the week calls for dry and partly sunny conditions. The first competition scheduled is mens downhill Wednesday, but at least one training run must be completed by regulation before the race can be conducted.

American Lindsey Vonn has already clinched this season’s downhill title and leads a group of six U.S. skiers who qualified for the finals downhill race by reaching the top 25 rankings. Maria Hoefl-Riesch, Elisabeth Goergl and Tina Weirather will be competing for the remaining two spots on the overall downhill podium.

Two retirements were announced Monday. Mario Scheiber and Anja Paerson have elected to end their racing careers.

Gepa photo.