FIS Congress wraps up in South Korea

KANGWONLAND, Korea – A controversy free and subdued 48th International Ski Federation (FIS) Congress closed today (June 1) when two potentially firecracker items, a revised “Athlete Code of Behavior” document and mandatory strong sanctions for violation of commercial marking measurements, were tabled prior to the Congress opening for further review and study. This left this Congress with little to discuss but with a number of technical issues open for the fall meeting which will be held in Zürich in early October.

With most proposals being withdrawn, the remaining interesting item on the Congress’ agenda was the election of new council members. For inexplicable internal reasons, the National Ski Federation of Japan chose not to nominate a replacement for its long standing member, Yoshiro Ito, who had been a member since 1969 and was one of the four FIS vice presidents. Japan’s decision to not put up a candidate provided a path for a new Russian candidate, Andrey Bokarev, who was elected. At the last congress in Antalya, Turkey, the Russians lost their long held seat and a vice presidency over alleged miss-dealing’s by member Leonid Tyagachev.

Likewise, the Italians who had been without a council member since former Italian Federation president Giovanni Morzenti was suspended midway through his term for alleged extortion. Flavio Roda, the newly elected president of the Italian winter Federation and a former coach of Italian superstar Alberto Tomba, was elected for a two-year term as well.

To the surprise of some, the Chinese candidate, Xiaojuan Yan, failed to gain a Council seat for the second time having stood for election in Antalya in 2010. All of the standing candidates, including USSA’s president and CEO, Bill Marolt, were reelected easily.

The United States will host a number of World Cups next season. In alpine Aspen will continue as the site for the ladies, holding a giant slalom and slalom while Beaver Creek will have three races on Birds of Prey; downhill, super G, and giant slalom. There is also a possibility that the area, which will be the site of the 2015 Alpine World Championships, will hold an additional super combined. The decision will be taken sometime this summer.

Beaver Creek also announced that the Forest Service has granted tentative approval for the proposed women’s downhill course. Pending the conclusion of a commentary period, the area expects to go to work on the project sometime in mid-June according to Vail Valley Foundation President Ceil Folz.

Telluride, Colorado is on the calendar for its inaugural World Cup event. The San Juan mountain area will be hosting two ladies and two men’s skier cross cares in mid-December. There will be ladies and men’s World Cup half pipe and slope style contests on Dec. 8 and 9, 2012.