Men's downhill probably back in the calendar
Created: 05/18/2022, 19:20
By: Patrick Hilmes
According to the latest draft of the calendar, the men's giant slalom will also take place on the Kandahar next season.
© Hans-Peter Huber
The latest FIS draft includes three men's races on the Kandahar.
However, the final decision will not be made until next Wednesday at the FIS Congress in Milan.
SC Garmisch interprets the news as a "good sign", but keeps a low profile.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen – "Nothing is fixed yet." Florian Fischer took the wind out of his sails as soon as the news circulated on Wednesday and found open ears in the ski circus.
Nevertheless, the message is powerful: The Ski World Cup calendar for the 2022/23 season should also include the men's downhill run on the Kandahar.
At the beginning of April, plans by Johan Eliasch, President of the International Ski Federation (FIS), became known, according to which this classic should no longer exist in 2023.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen was only intended to host a night slalom on the Gudiberg and two women's races on the Kandahar.
This met with little approval from the German Ski Association (DSV) and the Garmisch Ski Club.
The FIS board (council) was not enthusiastic either, so they did not approve the dates.
The outcry was great.
Night slalom, giant slalom and downhill planned
Since then there has been a lot of discussion, many discussions sought and held.
"We worked in the background the whole time," says Fischer, the chairman of SC Garmisch.
But he doesn't want to reveal much more.
He emphasizes, however, that the entire calendar is not yet finalized.
He did not want to confirm or deny the rumors about the return of the men's downhill.
Nevertheless, the circulating message is a glimmer of hope.
According to information from the Tagblatt, the new draft of the World Cup calendar provides for three men's races in Garmisch-Partenkirchen - a night slalom at the beginning of January on the Gudiberg and a downhill and a giant slalom at the end of January on the Kandahar.
"We could live with that," emphasizes Fischer.
The speed ladies, on the other hand, would have to forego their home appearance
their races in Garmisch-Partenkirchen no longer appear in the latest draft.
The races in Asia were also canceled.
If it stays that way, the men's competitions on the Kandahar would also be the dress rehearsal for the World Championships, which will take place in Courchevel-Meribel (France) from February 6th to 19th.
After the World Cup, a second series of races is currently planned in the USA.
Decision on World Cup calendar and World Ski Championships 2027 at the same time
There will only be certainty in the coming week, when the World Ski Association Congress takes place in Milan on Wednesday, May 25, but Fischer also knows the significance of the rumours: "That's certainly not a bad sign." Coming On Wednesday, the DSV and the SCG are hoping for double good news.
Because not only the World Cup calendar is to be finally fixed, in Milan the decision will also be made as to who will be awarded the contract to host the Alpine Ski World Championships 2027.
In addition to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Crans-Montana (Switzerland), Narvik (Norway) and Soldeu (Andorra) also threw their hats in the ring.