Uproar in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: FIS President wants to remove the men's downhill on the Kandahar from the calendar

Created: 04/09/2022Updated: 04/09/2022 12:42 p.m

By: Christian Fellner

A classic in alpine racing: the men's downhill run on the Kandahar also attracts the most fans.

© Kornatz

Behind the scenes things are brewing at the international ski association FIS: The new president Johan Eliasch wants to turn the alpine calendar upside down.

Established World Cup locations should remain on the track.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is also affected: A night slalom is to replace the classic, the men's downhill, on the Kandahar.

The enthusiasm is limited.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

– The rumors lasted stubbornly.

To be more precise, they have been around since the German Championships on the Kandahar just over a week ago.

Suddenly it was said: Garmisch-Partenkirchen will not have a Ski World Cup next winter.

Gossip – thought many.

It shouldn't be that bad.

But cuts are programmed.

So the classic, the men's downhill run on the Kandahar, which was planned for the end of January 2023, should be canceled - according to Johan Eliasch, the new president of the Ski World Association FIS.

For this, the market town would receive a night slalom on January 4th.

This is the traditional competition from Zagreb.

In Croatia there is no joy about it either.

Turbulent times in the ski scene.

Innovations in the alpine calendar meet with resistance - not only in Germany

Eliasch, the new man who took over the post at the head of the FIS last summer, stands for change.

He made that clear from the start.

"That's not wrong in itself," says Florian Fischer, chairman of the ski club in Garmisch.

But Eliasch seems to want to tread paths that many established skiers don't like.

At an online meeting of the FIS Council, he presented his ideas - and the World Cup calendar for the 2022/23 season.

What the representatives of the nations got to see annoyed many.

Not only dr.

Franz Steinle, the President of the German Ski Association, who sits on the committee.

Other major nations are also said to have rebelled.

This went so far that the Alpine dates were not approved by the Council.

The Austrian broadcaster wants to know a few details.

The start of the glacier in Sölden should still be fixed, after which the usual trip to North America should take place.

Towards the end of the season – brand new – a return across the Atlantic is planned.

At the expense of long-established World Cup locations such as Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

"We were also a bit surprised by the report or the plans of the FIS," emphasizes Fischer.

Eliasch's ideas were not well received by the organizing committee.

"We don't see it as a sufficient replacement that, in addition to the two women's races, only one men's night slalom is to take place in Garmisch-Partenkirchen next winter." Basically, the same for the whole German Ski Association.

“For the athletes, the descent on the legendary Kandahar is undoubtedly one of the outstanding sporting highlights of every year.

It is correspondingly difficult for us to accept the current FIS plan.”

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, as a World Cup bidder, can't really show off

The criticism from circles of the World Cup OC is currently still cautious.

Logical: As is well known, the place is applying for the Ski World Cup 2027. The decision should be made at the end of May.

"Garmisch-Partenkirchen has made a significant contribution to the positive development of alpine skiing over the past 70 years," says Peter Fischer.

In any case, the long-standing OC boss hopes for a “partnership solution” for the coming winter.

That's what those responsible at the DSV are after.

"The calendar presented by the world association is a clear step backwards for alpine skiing in Germany," emphasizes Stefan Schwarzbach.

The Director of Communications also makes it clear that "we do not understand the reasons for this calendar change, which also affects other traditional locations".

Together with the officials from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, they now want to put their heads together and hold talks with the FIS.

Outrage among many nations: FIS is also planning World Cups in Russia

Incidentally, the Alpines are not the only ones who have been the subject of discussions.

Ski jumping and snowboarding competitions are planned in Russia and Belarus - despite the war in Ukraine.

The ski jumping tour for women is also taking shape, but should take place in Austria and Slovenia.

In turn, SC Partenkirchen would look into the mountains with the stovepipe.