After the FIS European Cup (EC) for Alpine Skiing already kicked off at Reiteralm (AUT) with two super-Gs in November and staged its traditional indoor slaloms for ladies and men, this time in Germany's Wittenburg, the racing season is currently underway in the north of Europe: Levi (FIN) last week hosted two men's giant slalom races while the ladies raced technical events at Funesdaelen (SWE) including a slalom moved from Trysil (NOR).

The ladies' EC rankings are now led by Emelie Wikstroem of Sweden ahead of the Austrian trio consisting of Carmen Thalmann, Bernadette Schild and Michaela Noesig. On the men's side, Switzerland's Patrick Küng is in the lead thanks to his great speed races at Reiteralm, followed by Petr Zahrobsky (CZE), another speed racer.

The EC racing will continue for the men in Val Thorens (FRA) with two technical races this Wednesday and Thursday and for the ladies, as of Friday, in Kvitfjell (NOR) with a GS, and the first speed races of the season. The men's EC races in Lenzerheide (SUI) have been cancelled. The GS will be replaced in Kronplatz/San Vigilio (ITA) on Saturday, 12th December, a day after the already scheduled GS on Friday. The slalom is definitely cancelled.

The 2009 Alpine NorAm Cup (NAC), a stepping-stone tour for aspiring World Cup racers on that side of the pond, opens this week in Colorado with men's races at Loveland Ski Area and ladies' races in Aspen from 30th November-3rd December. After the technical races in Colorado, the NorAm season will continue with the speed opening at Lake Louise (CAN), followed by further races in Panorama (BC, CAN). After New Year's, racing will continue in Val St Come (QC, CAN), Sunday River (USA) and Mt St Anne (CAN). In late February/early March it will be Aspen's turn for the second time before Burke, VT / Waterville Valley, NH will stage the finals in mid-March.

Following on their success in Lake Louise, the Canadians opened the Nor-Am Cup season with victories by Marie-Pier Préfontaine winning both of the ladies' two GS in Aspen whilst Julien Cousineau and Mike Janyk won the men's two slaloms in Loveland. The Nor-Am's continue with the men switching to GS races in Aspen for the next two days as the ladies head to Loveland for two slalom races.

Please note athletes winning event titles as well as the overall title in the Alpine Skiing Continental Cup races earn fixed World Cup starting places for the following season.

FISalpine.com
Wednesday, 2 December 2009