Heavy Rainfall and Safety Concerns Led to the Cancellation of the Bansko World Cup Slalom

It was an unfortunate day for the Bansko World Cup slalom with the decision to cancel the race after the first 31 competitors finished the course. The heavy rainfall, wind, and deteriorating conditions were deemed unsafe for the remaining racers, and the forecast showed minimal signs of letting up.

FIS Referee Markus Waldner stated, “Unfortunately, the forecast was right; strong winds, wind cast, and especially the rain. The slope was pretty okay. We salted this morning, but the visibility and the wet goggles were not good enough, and that became dangerous,” he continued, “We checked the forecast for the second run this afternoon. We have a small window, but for the second run, we expect even worse conditions, and that would be unfair and importantly unsafe.”

The day started with a large crowd in the stands, and athletes prepared to endure the subpar conditions. The first 31 racers continued to fight through the challenging conditions but were struggling to produce runs that were even close to Clement Noel’s leading time.

Clement Noel had a strong lead ahead of the field after his stellar performance. The French racer maintained composure even after a bobble toward the bottom section of the course and managed to set a time that proved hard to catch.

The next slalom will be at the Stifel Palisades Tahoe Cup on February 25th.