Despite all possible efforts by race organizers, Saturday's Audi FIS World Cup giant slalom in Adelboden, Switzerland was ultimately cancelled due to poor weather. The final decision was made at 1:55pm local time with less than ten racers of the first run unable to start due to a lengthy hold initially because of a fall and then because of rapidly moving thick fog and lack of visability on the mountain.

"We had a clear option for the last starting time of the second run at 3:15 pm," said FIS Chief Race Director Guenter Hujara. "That meant that we would have to start the last guys from the first run at the latest 2:00 pm. At that time the fog was too thick. No chance to start them and that meant cancellation for the race today."

Initially, the first run was scheduled for 10:30am, but as a result of the inclement weather and flat light on the piste, the start time was delayed significantly for one-hour and fifteen minutes.

"It's a jury decision," said Hujara. "We had many issues to solve before we could run the first run with delays. The fog was so strong it was not possible to keep the start time."

At 11:45 am, the race officially began from a lowered start. Start house and television camera positions also had to be moved thus delaying the process.

"In my opinion I heard (the first run) went well and was very exciting," he said. "And then at the end of the first run fog moved in again and we had no chance to start the last guys so the first run could not be completed."

Hujara said that contingency plans were to try and move the race to Monday, but after consulting with both the Adelboden Organizing Committee and the host broadcaster SF, it was determined that it would not be possible.

"It's a very tight schedule going from here to Wengen," Hujara said.

With inclement weather expected to continue throughout the region, the first downhill training run in Wengen, site of next weekend's FIS World Cup events, has been moved up from Wednesday to Tuesday.

Hujara is optimistic that the Adelboden giant slalom could potentially be re-scheduled for later on this month in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.

Brian Pinelli
FISalpine.com
Saturday 9 January 2010

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