Southern Hemisphere Continental Cups are Fast Approaching

As the summer heats up in the North, it’s hard to believe that the 2018/19 FIS Alpine competition season is well underway in the Southern Hemisphere. The very first FIS races of the new season have already been contested in El Colorado and La Parva, Chile; Tiffindell, South Africa; Chapelco, Argentina; and Cardrona, New Zealand. The month of August ushers in the opening Continental Cup series’ of 2018/19 with top-caliber racing in South America for the South American Cup (SAC) and in Australia and New Zealand for the Australia New Zealand Cup (ANC).

In addition to athletes native to the regions, the Southern hemisphere Continental Cups always attract top international talent from around the world as many national teams and other elite-level athletes make the annual trek down South for summer training.

The SAC kicks off first with technical races in Argentina, hosted at Cerro Catedral and Las Lenas from 14-17 and 25-27 August. More GS and slalom races continue in Chile at El Colorado and La Parva through early September. The series includes downhill, super-G, and alpine combined races in El Colorado and concludes with technical events in Cerra Catedral.

The SAC will crown discipline title winners in all individual events this season including slalom, GS, super-G, downhill, and alpine combined. Although the competitions are sure to attract talent from around the globe, the top-placing athlete from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela in the overall and discipline standings will qualify for a personal starting spot on the World Cup tour for the 2018/19 season.

The ANC will start at the end of August in Mount Hotham, Australia, with both slalom and GS races. The series then shifts to Coronet Peak and Mt. Hutt, New Zealand, for the concluding technical and super-G events in early September. The two Coronet Peak slalom and giant slalom races for both men and ladies will be contested as part of the Audi Quattro Winter Games NZ, a multi-sport international festival that brings seven winter sports together for New Zealand’s largest recurring sporting event.

This year’s ANC will crown discipline title winners in slalom, giant slalom, and super-G. The top-placing athlete from Australia or New Zealand in the overall and discipline standings will qualify for a personal starting spot on the World Cup tour for the 2018/19 season.

Stay tuned for news from the SAC and ANC races as they kick off later this month!

Release courtesy of FIS.