The FIS Speed Skiing World Cup will kick off in Vars (FRA) this weekend, from 30th January – 3rd February 2008. Vars will also host the FIS Speed Skiing World Championships in 2009, just a few days before the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Val d’Isère. This year’s World Cup is the first time that the world’s fastest skiers will compete in Vars. The best of the scene are scheduled to compete on the slope of Chabrières, including the 2007 men’s world champion Simone Origone (ITA), vice champion Philippe May (SUI) and bronze medalist Bastien Montes (FRA). Among the ladies, the favorites include 2007 world champion Sanna Tidstrand (SWE) and Tracie Sachs (USA). Some 10 nations and 50 racers will be competing.

After Vars, the season will continue in early March with the Velocity Challenge in Sun Peaks (CAN). This will be the sixth time that Sun Peaks is hosting a FIS World Cup event. Sun Peaks Resort is home to 9 members of the 200K Club and skiers from the resort have over 100 years combined speed skiing experience. Over the last 18 years “The Headwall Speed Skiing Track” has seen nearly 8000 speed skiing runs. In fact, Sun Peaks is the only venue continuously holding speed skiing events in all of North America.

At the end of March, 2008, the season will continue with the Häkki Jubilee in Salla (FIN), in honor of the long-time Chairman of the FIS Speed Skiing Committee, Kalevi ‘Häkä’ Häkkinen (FIN). The Salla event will be followed by two races in Sälen/Idre (SWE) in early April before which the tour will return to Central Europe for the races in Breuil/Cervinia (ITA) and the season finals in Verbier (SUI) from 14th-17th April.

FIS news
2.02.2008