Zermatt Matterhorn Glacier Photo: GEPA

Press release provided by: Matterhorn Cervino Speed Opening

The Women’s Audi FIS World Cup races in Zermatt-Cervinia have been canceled

After the snow control on Tuesday, October 25th on the ‘Gran Becca‘, the two women’s downhill races scheduled for November 5th and 6th have been canceled due to the warm weather conditions.

It was hoped the temperatures would drop enough to finalize the course preparations, however the unseasonably warm temperatures and heavy rainfall up to over 3000 meters above sea level meant the ‘Gran Becca’ is not ready for racing. The slope on the glacier is still in perfect condition but the lower part is too soft and the safety of the athletes cannot be guaranteed during the races.

It is a cancellation that the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) regrets. ‘We hoped, together with the organizers, for better news until the very end. Unfortunately, the cancellation of the women’s races is unavoidable. We would like to thank the organizers for their great commitment and appreciate that every effort was made to be able to hold races on the «Gran Becca». We continue to believe in this unique cross-border downhill project’, said FIS General Secretary Michel Vion.

‘If the temperatures were 2 to 3 degrees colder in the last seven days, we would have had heavy snowfall all the way to the finish area and we could have produced technical snow. Nature must be respected and accepted. The FIS was left with no choice but to cancel the women’s races’, explains OC President Franz Julen.

The organizers in Zermatt and Cervinia are already working on making the premiere of the Matterhorn Cervino Speed Opening in late autumn 2023 a reality. ‘We have been able to learn a great deal in the past few weeks and months and are still convinced of our idea and our strategy. The innovative and unique Matterhorn Cervino Speed Opening is an added value for everyone – for the sport, for the athletes, for both regions, for tourism, and for the winter industry. That is why we will continue to work hard to experience spectacular downhills at the foot of the Matterhorn next year’, emphasizes Franz Julen in conclusion.

Watch the drone video and realize why we all hope the event will some day happen.