As of: January 26, 2024, 7:07 p.m
By: Christian Fellner
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The snow band is holding: The organizers are confident for the two races this weekend.
© Kornatz
Despite the adverse weather, there is widespread optimism in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: the two men's Super-G events this weekend should go ahead as planned.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
– Martina Betz beamed around: “Tomorrow the sun will shine for all of you,” the OC boss called out to the coaches of the ski nations on Friday evening.
Should mean something like: Everything will be fine.
Encouragement is what you need these days.
Winter is going crazy again.
It was barely 14 days ago that frost reigned in Werdenfelser Land - even during the day.
Everything looked as if this Alpine World Cup could go ahead without any worries.
But you can no longer rely on the weather today.
“We have lost a lot of snow since the inspection,” regretted Markus Waldner, the men’s race director of the world association FIS.
And yet: Despite all the adversity, those responsible at the team captains' meeting exuded one thing: optimism.
“I have a good feeling,” said Waldner – and the South Tyrolean is truly an old hand in alpine racing.
Basically, you can hardly believe it: The rain that came from the sky in the last few days, the foehn storm that swept over the mountain ridges with temperatures of 15 degrees and more - and did the Kandahar at Kreuzeck survive all of that?
“The basics are great,” said Betz, the on-site chief organizer from the Garmisch Ski Club.
“We also have a team that works well.
I filmed this on the slope today, it's really incredible.” The moves are right.
Salt helps with heat to preserve the slope
Waldner also signed this immediately.
“The work was very productive out there,” acknowledged the race director.
How do you deal with the heat?
This is no longer a big secret anymore.
Salt helps in such cases.
There was a larger round of work on the slopes on Friday.
Another pinch for the amazingly resilient white is scheduled for Saturday morning.
“The rain is doing the rest,” emphasized Waldner.
“It helps the slope develop.” Those responsible for the track will meet at 10.45 a.m. and want to give the green light for the start of the first race at 11.45 a.m.
In order to protect the route, access for trainers will be strictly limited.
Of course, the active participants are allowed on the route during the inspection, but only three coaches per nation are allowed.
The access regulations are even more restrictive for the Eishang and Hölle sections.
According to Waldner, the hell in the lower area of the Kandahar is the most critical passage in terms of snow conditions.
And yet: The 60-year-old is confident: “The salt will work.”
Only unpredictable weather can thwart the organizers' plans
Betz hopes so too.
“We no longer have it in our hands.” The only thing that can throw a spanner in the works for the organizers is the weather.
“If it turns out completely different than predicted.” If the forecast remains that the rain will stop early on Saturday night and the fog will soon clear, then it is clear to the OC chairwoman: “Then we will run our race.” She's not worried about Sunday anyway.
“It gets significantly colder at night, we have temperatures below zero, which helps the slopes.”
Early in the morning at 6 a.m. the OK heads up the mountain this Saturday.
For an initial inspection.
Only a few slide squads are then allowed onto the slopes to get them ready to race.
“This is very early for the circumstances, but we prefer to have a buffer,” assured Betz.
Team Kandahar doesn't want to leave anything to chance.
There are currently plans to run a slightly different racing line for Sunday.
This particularly applies to the ice slope.
“Another entrance is planned.” Whether it can actually be implemented is still an open question.
Setting the course, for which an Italian trainer was responsible, “wasn’t easy,” revealed Waldner.
“It wasn’t quite what he wanted, but the course still turned out well.”
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Betz pointed out three innovations to the guests: Firstly, there is now an LED wall at the start in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
A drone is also used at the cable car jump and accompanies the racers into hell.
Before the athletes take off at the height of the cable car stadium, they now drive through a large arch that bears the golden “K” for the race track.
Seven meters high, 26 meters wide – even the drone should fly through with the skier.
Everything is ready for the World Cup.