Despite best efforts, Garmisch GS canceled as humid weather rolls in

By Published On: January 31st, 2016Comments Off on Despite best efforts, Garmisch GS canceled as humid weather rolls in

Sunday’s giant slalom scheduled in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, was canceled due to humid weather conditions that prevented the necessary preparation of the race track. After a successful downhill on Saturday, the technical athletes once again had to leave the slope without racing because pouring rain and fog rolled in on the upper part of the shortened course.

“We were prepared because yesterday the weather forecast predicted exactly this,” said Markus Waldner, chief race director. “So we went up to the hill at five in the morning, there was 20 cm of fresh snow at the very top so we immediately moved the start down to Seilbahnsprung and concentrated the work with the 180 volunteers on the lower part. They worked hard and cleaned the race line, which allowed us to confirm the program with the racers’ inspection.”

But then conditions rapidly changed for the race organizers.

“The problem was that after the inspection, the fog came in and with the wet snow the slope changed and broke. So we tried to lower the start again, to entry Hölle, and worked full gas with water and salt. The reaction was good, but not in the sections that were already used by the downhill, there was no more base on these sections. So it was impossible to have a safe race. A big hand to the organizers who did a great job, but today again – like in Adelboden – Mother Nature was stronger.”

The Adelboden giant slalom scheduled on Jan. 9 was canceled due to fog but has been rescheduled in Hinterstoder, Austria, on Feb. 26. The last time the men’s World Cup circuit held a traditional GS race was on Dec. 20 in Alta Badia, Italy.

Possible replacement options for the Garmisch giant slalom will be checked in the coming days and communicated as soon as possible.

Release courtesy of FIS

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About the Author: SR Staff Report