2020-21 World Cup calendar announced

A bevy of important topics were on the table during the online meeting of the Alpine Committee Oct. 2, but the main focus was on the newly proposed calendars for the upcoming season and the necessary measures to deliver a safe and fair competition season.

These new calendars aim to provide a safe environment for athletes to compete and are based on the requirements to reduce numbers and costs for teams, organizers and stakeholders, says FIS. To limit interaction as much as possible, a number of events were separated to have only women’s or men’s races. Speed and technical events were also split where possible.

Men’s calendar

The new calendar features a double weekend in Val d’Isère (FRA), with first two giant slaloms, followed by a speed block (super G and Downhill). In late December, along with Sunday’s traditional giant slalom, Alta Badia (ITA) will host a Slalom on Monday. In January, Swiss venue Adelboden will host a long weekend with a double GS and a Slalom. Finally, only the speed athletes will be racing in Garmisch-Partenkirchen with a SG and a Downhill on the menu.

Women’s Calendar

As far as the women’s calendar is concerned, there will be two slalom races in Levi (FIN) and two giant slalom events in Courchevel (FRA). One of the most awaited stages will certainly be the Chinese speed weekend in late February, which will also act as an Olympic test event. In the final phase of the season, the World Cup will be back in Jasna (SVK) after four years.

Overall, the calendars feature 39 races for the men and 35 for the women, spread over 18 different venues. The highlight of the season will be the 2021 World Ski Championships in Cortina d’Ampezzo (ITA) from Feb. 8-21. The season will wrap up with the finals in Lenzerheide (SUI) from March 17-21.

Minimum requirements

A standardized approach was proposed to evaluate ahead of time whether a World Cup event can take place. If at the time of the preliminary entry deadline (five weeks prior to the event) at least seven out of the top 10 nations from the Nations’ Cup 2019-20 are allowed to travel to the organizing nation, the event can be valid for the World Cup. In exceptional cases, the FIS Event Task Force Group will make the final decision.

Additionally, a set of rules’ adaptations have been presented, to protect athletes who are not able to participate fully or partly in World Cup competitions during the 2020-21 season due to travel and/or immigration restrictions.

Finally, later on Saturday, the FIS Council will elect the organizers of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2025. Will it be Crans-Montana (SUI), Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER) or Saalbach (AUT)? 

All the proposals mentioned above are subject to the approval of the FIS Council on Oct. 9.