Pushback from Athletes Sparks Reevaluation
FIS officials have proposed key adjustments to the 2025–26 World Cup calendar following strong criticism from athletes and national ski federations—especially regarding the men’s schedule. The initial draft, created at the FIS Spring Meeting in Vilamoura, Portugal, featured only seven men’s downhill races, prompting pushback from top skiers including overall World Cup champion Marco Odermatt.
Downhill specialists across multiple nations voiced frustration over the imbalance. With ten super-Gs, nine giant slaloms, and eleven slaloms initially scheduled, the downhill discipline—the premier test of speed in Alpine skiing—appeared underrepresented. That imbalance triggered renewed discussions and offers to revise the program.
Swiss Ski and Crans Montana Lead Adjustments
In response, Swiss Ski and the organizers in Crans Montana stepped forward with a revised proposal. Their plan would adjust both the men’s and women’s World Cup events at the Swiss resort.
On the women’s side, the Crans Montana super-G originally slated for February 1 will now move to January 31, while the January 30 downhill on Mont Lachaux remains unchanged.
The bigger shift comes on the men’s side. Crans Montana’s January 31 men’s super-G will convert into a downhill and shift to February 1. In addition, a second downhill has been added to Beaver Creek’s Birds of Prey weekend. These moves reflect a clear intent to meet the needs of downhill athletes and address concerns about discipline equity.
More Downhill Races for the Men’s Tour
The updated plan also clarifies the holiday period. No World Cup races will be held in Bormio in 2026, as the Italian resort will host the Olympic Alpine events in February. However, a men’s super-G has been added in Livigno, Italy, on December 27, helping to maintain the number of early-season speed races.
If the FIS Council approves the proposal on June 12, the revised men’s calendar will feature:
- 9 downhill races
- 9 super-G races
- 9 giant slaloms
- 11 slaloms
This adjustment restores a more balanced distribution between speed and technical disciplines and reflects growing efforts by stakeholders to prioritize fairness and athlete feedback in the World Cup structure.
Key Revisions in Proposed Calendar Address Downhill Concerns
Women
For the women, the Crans Montana super-G has been moved up to January 31, one day earlier than initially scheduled, while the January 30 downhill remains unchanged.
Men
On the men’s side, significant adjustments are planned for the Beaver Creek stop, with an additional downhill added on December 4. This expands the Birds of Prey weekend to include two downhills (December 4 and 5), a super-G (December 6), and a giant slalom (December 7).
Another key update includes the scheduling of a super-G in Livigno, Italy, on December 27, clarifying both venue and timing.
Finally, Crans Montana’s January 31 men’s super-G has been replaced with a downhill now set for February 1. If approved, these changes would bring the men’s downhill count to nine and provide a more even race distribution across disciplines.
Latest Draft Before Suggested Revisions:
About the Author: Peter Gerber Plech
