Levi passes snow control, ready for racing

Hill preparations are underway (credit: World Cup Levi)

Today’s snow control for the ladies and men’s World Cup slalom in Levi, Finland, was positive and the competitions will be held as scheduled. The World Cup Levi slalom opening races will take place Nov. 16 and 17 with the following program:

Ladies’ slalom – Saturday, 16.11.2013, starting times 11:00/14:00 LOC – 10:00/13:00 CET

Men’s slalom – Sunday, 17.11.2013, starting times 11:00/14:00 LOC – 10:00/13:00 CET

FIS Race Director Hans Pieren confirmed the event during Thursday’s official FIS snow control inspection.

“The circumstances on Levi’s race course are so good this year that the confirmation of the races is just a formality. The Organizing Committee and the snowmakers have worked very well,” he said.

The entire racecourse is covered in over three feet of snow, and the weather forecast also looks good for the upcoming weeks.

“The race arrangement at Levi have proceed very well and the next week’s forecast promises that we are going to have great race weekend at Levi, ” Pieren added.

27 nations announced they would be sending a total of 170 athletes to the event. A few comebacks are expected during the weekend in Levi as some previously injured athletes plan to race. Finnish alpine star Tanja Poutiainen will compete at her home racecourse of Levi Black, and she will be joined by Austrian Marlies Schild, Germany’s Suzanne Riesch, and France’s Julien Lizeroux, all after being off the tour for extended periods of time due to injuries.

Release and video courtesy of World Cup Levi, cover photo credit GEPA/Christopher Kelemen