Crans Montana DH postponed due to excessive snowfall

By Published On: February 13th, 2016Comments Off on Crans Montana DH postponed due to excessive snowfall

More than two meters (or six feet) of fresh snow has hit the famed resort of Crans Montana in the Swiss Alps since the beginning of the week. Organizers have worked day and night on the race hill with the help of 200 volunteers and put enormous efforts into making the downhill race a possibility after two days of training. Unfortunately, heavy snowfall on Friday night left the jury with no other option but to postpone the race until Sunday at 10:30 a.m. CET. The alpine combined originally scheduled for Sunday is therefore canceled and will not be replaced this season.

“We worked without interruption from 12:00 to 18:00 yesterday afternoon and then again from midnight on, with five snow cats on the race track,” explained Marius Robyr, president of the organizing committee. “But unfortunately, it didn’t stop snowing as we were hoping for. It snowed almost 80 to 90 centimeters at the top and because of the wind, there was even 1.20 to 1.30 meters in some places.”

“We realized rapidly that it wouldn’t be possible to prepare a World Cup track of quality and provide total safety for the racers,” Robyr continued. “After an inspection around 8:30 this morning, the jury together with the organizing committee decided to cancel the race and dedicate the day to preparing the hill for tomorrow.”

An additional 20 to 30 cm of snow is still expected on Saturday afternoon, but the organizers ensure all that they are up for the challenge.

Release courtesy of FIS

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