ALPINE SKI. The Audi FIS Ski World Cup season 2012/13 promises some great action as it gets underway at Sölden’s Rettenbach glacier (AUT) this coming weekend. The ladies’ and men’s giant slalom competitions on 27th and 28th October will offer the Alpine ski racers the first chance to measure their new season’s form after some six months of hard training, off and on snow. It is the 15th time the Austrian high altitude resort is hosting the event.

Following the official FIS snow control last Thursday 18th October, both competitions have been confirmed without hesitation. Markus Mayr, FIS Race Director for the ladies' tech events commented: "The conditions on the slope are wonderful, from top to bottom. The weather forecast for the next few days foresees some warmer temperatures but those won't have an impact on the course which is in excellent shape."

Soelden Ski World Cup slope today. The racers start at 3048 meters and overcome an altitude of 368 meters. The slope has an average gradient of about 35%. Quite impressive when you consider that the top athletes in 2 days will whizzing down with an average speed of ca. 60-70 km/h and a top speed of ca. 80 km/h! © Soelden

Besides the racing, a full schedule of activities will be awaiting the white circus in Sölden. Dozens of press conferences, the announcement of the Skieur d'Or 2012 and various side events will ensure an exciting weekend at the start of the season.

In the traditional FIS Forum Alpinum 2012 scheduled for Friday, 26th October at 13:30 CET in the Freizeitarena in Sölden, FIS President Gian Franco Kasper and the defending FIS overall World Cup champions Lindsey Vonn (USA) and Marcel Hirscher (AUT) will meet the international ski media and answer questions under the moderation of Eurosport commentator Nick Fellows.

FIS news
October 25, 2012

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