Austria's government criticizes the early start of the Ski World Cup in Sölden

Bild oben: The webcam image from October 24, 2023 of the Gaislachkoglbahn middle station in Sölden clearly shows: There is no snow at all!

It is extraordinary that the Austrian government is publicly criticizing the holding of the Ski World Cup in Sölden, i.e. in its own country, next weekend. Given the warm October and the complete lack of snow, it is simply too early. The criticism seems really justified given the pictures.

The 2023/24 Ski World Cup calendar is set. The Alpine ski racing program for the winter of 2023/24 is being planned long and carefully by the FIS, the international ski association, and cannot simply be thrown out of the window for nothing. The athletes also prepared intensively for their sport in the summer and trained extensively. Now they are looking forward to the start of the Alpine Ski World Cup 2023/24, which will and should start this weekend, as usual, in Sölden, Austria.

Especially in the Austrian media such as Laola.at, Vol.at, DerStandard.at or Kurier.at, the Austrian government is critical of the “early” start in Sölden, which is understandable given the completely snow-free ski region.

„Wir haben die heißesten Oktobertage gehabt, die jemals gemessen wurden“, sagte Leonore Gewessler (Grüne) am Montag im Ö1-Morgenjournal. Für die Umweltministerin ist es auch deshalb „unverständlich, warum man auf Biegen und Brechen an einem Skistart im Oktober festhalten muss“. Gewessler appelliert an die FIS, ihre Zeitpläne zu überdenken. „Das versteht keiner, warum jetzt schon auf den letzten Gletscherresten Ski gefahren werden muss.“

The coalition partner ÖVP also expressed a critical voice. “If the pictures that are being transported do not show a snowy landscape, that must also be questioned,” says ÖVP MP Johannes Schmuckenschlager. The President of the Lower Austrian Chamber of Agriculture advocates that the start of the World Cup in Tyrol be “moved back a bit”. The FIS says that it is monitoring the climate situation and will adapt to new circumstances in the long term.

In view of the absolutely precarious snow conditions, the International Ski Federation (FIS) really needs to think again and probably reorganize the schedule in the long term. Last winter the races in Zermatt and Lech/Zürs had to be canceled due to lack of snow. This means that the six races between October 29th, 2022 and November 13th, 2022 were completely canceled. This must not become the rule now. And let's be honest: a ski race without snow is not something that spectators and fans like. With events like this you are doing yourself and the sport a disservice.

The Rettenbach glacier in Sölden on October 24th, 2023 (webcam)

Leonore Gewessler, Austrian Federal Minister for Climate Protection (Greens) criticizes the “early” start of the Ski World Cup in Sölden