The ski circus is exploring new avenues: An official FIS event is taking place in Dubai - at an outside temperature of 30 degrees.
Felix Neureuther has a clear opinion on this.
Dubai - who needs mountains for skiing?
Ski halls have been around for a long time in areas with a rather flatter topography.
In professional sport, however, these have not played a role so far - that has now changed: In Dubai, the World Ski Federation FIS organized an official indoor race in Dubai for the first time.
The framework conditions are more than bizarre: While it is 30 degrees outside, slalom races of the lower-class "Entry League" take place in a cooled complex.
The Dubai indoor ski area is housed in the huge shopping center "Mall of the Emirates", which is one of the largest in the world.
People in the Arab emirate can no longer only strap on their skis on sand dunes, but also on 22,500 m² of artificial snow.
Winter sports in the desert climate?
No problem.
First ski race in Dubai - just the beginning?
Top drivers did not take part, but the race caused a stir.
Erjon Tola from Albania triumphed in the men’s race, and the 34-year-old has already competed 14 times in the World Cup.
In the women’s category, Italian Elisa Pagani took the win.
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Skiing in Dubai: No problem in the “Mall of the Emirates”.
© Walter Bibikow / imago-images
The race in Dubai marks the beginning of controversial reforms initiated by the new FIS President Johan Eliasch.
He wants to fundamentally change alpine skiing and make it more environmentally friendly.
“Indoor ski events could definitely have potential, especially in summer,” he says.
He ignores the fact that a ski hall in Dubai is likely to have an enormous CO2 footprint.
Not to mention the long air travel of the athletes.
Felix Neureuther criticizes indoor races: "What kind of sporting incentive does that have?"
The reforms are particularly criticized by active and former athletes.
Ex-ski ace Felix Neureuther has no understanding for such events.
“Where is skiing at home?
In the mountains, of course, and that's where it belongs.
What kind of sporting incentive does it have to race in a ski hall?
That's not a challenge for a professional, ”he clearly positioned himself in the ARD sports show.
(epp)