ALPINE SKI WORLD CUP. Unusually warm autumn cancelled the Levi World Cup event this year. As October came to its end there was no snow anywhere in Finland, even though the snow cover ought to reach Lapland by this time of the year according to the statistics of the Finnish Meteorological Institute. When the weather forecast didn’t show any cold front for the next several days, Audi FIS Ski World Cup at Levi had to be cancelled.

Picture shows the snowless alpine skiing competition slope in Levi, November 3, 2011. Organizers and FIS cancelled the Levi Alpine World Cup event on Thursday. Slalom events of the Alpine World Cups were scheduled in Levi on november 12 and 13. REUTERS/LEHTIKUVA/Janne Koskenniemi (FINLAND)

”The decision was clear in the end, since there was no snow on the race hill on the day of the snow control and the forecast didn’t promise any significant cold front. We can’t postpone the races by a week, since the speed events in Lake Louise (CAN) would be too close in the calendar”, admits General Secretary of the organizing committee Mikko Saarinen.

World Cup Levi 11th Nov 2010 (photo: Jkpromo Oy/ Patrick Forsblom)

According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the mean temperature was clearly above average in the whole country in October. October was the eight month in a row, when the mean temperature in Finland was above the long term average. The deviation was great especially in the north of Finland, where temperatures were over four degrees warmer than normally. The other Nordic countries currently lack snow, too.

“The situation was looking promising until last Friday, when the forecast changed. Even with the highly efficient snow-making installations, we simply had no chance when it’s not cold enough”, commented Hans Pieren, the designated snow controller and FIS Race Director for the men’s technical events.

“It has been extraordinarily warm in the whole of Europe for this time of the year. We highly value the efforts put in the experienced Levi team for this year’s competitions, and already look forward to returning to Finnish Lapland in November 2012”, added Günter Hujara, FIS Chief Race Director for the men.

The International Ski Federation is currently evaluating options for rescheduling the slalom events. Further information will be provided by Sunday 6th November.

Levi stays in the calendar

FIS informed in the autumn meeting in Zürich that Alpine World Cup begins now and in the future with the three winter classics – Sölden, Levi and Lake Louise. Levi as the slalom opening of the Alpine World Cup is sealed at least until year 2015 in the calendar.

The cancellation of this year’s event doesn’t threaten the future.

”We will naturally open the discussion with FIS whether we can do something about the place in the calendar. But the competitions stay in Levi and there will be no chances to that in the near future”, commented assuredly the Managing Director of Ski Sport Finland Janne Leskinen.

The highly awarded event organizational skills and this time of the year for skiing favour Levi World Cup as the Slalom Season Opener. Along with the FIS also the athletes and audience have been very pleased year after year. 

Levi Events Oy Ltd. www.skisport.fi
Thursday 3 November 2011

For more information

October weather statistics in Finland: www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/lokakuu.

October weather statistics at Levi: https://www.levi.fi/fi/levi-info/saatiedot/edellinen-kuukausi.html.

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