Maribor World Cup GS canceled during first run due to warm weather

Laboring course workers couldn’t compete with the rising temperatures (53 F) and today’s (Jan. 15) women’s World Cup giant slalom in Maribor, Slovenia was canceled after 25 women made their way down the slushy course.

“It was not realistic to bring 50 racers more down. We had no choice. The course was not holding up,” FIS Race Director Atle Skaardal told Fisalpine.com. “We had the coaches working group with us and we all agreed to stop the race. There was some good development on the course this morning but the sun came out and it warmed up dramatically. The snow started to break and after 25 racers we decided this is not going to be possible with 50 more racers at the top.”

After 25 racers, the results were, not surprisingly, looking a lot like the start sheet. Germany’s Viktoria Rebensburg had the lead in the one bib followed by second starter, local Tina Maze. France’s Tessa Worley and Austria’s Kathrin Zettel also matched their bib numbers is fourth and fifth, respectively. Americans Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso were in 12th and 19th while Sarah Schleper was the last woman down the soggy course in 25th.     

“It’s about safety and fairness,” said Skaardal. “It was starting to not be possible to ski. With 50 more racers at the start, you can just imagine what the course would look like after another half an hour, also in terms of the second run.”

A slalom race is still scheduled for tomorrow, though officials will decide if the race is possible tomorrow morning.

“We knew it was going to be a tough one with the temperature and weather conditions. We are trying and hoping it will get colder so the snow freezes. As for right now everything is still on,” said U.S. head coach Alex Hoedlmoser of the GS cancelation and Sunday’s slalom race. “We just have to stay positive. Even if conditions aren’t great we have to be ready when they say racers are off. We have to be up there and charge.”