Zermatt disaster: Not a single ski race has taken place yet

The whole mess could become a big laughing matter if Zermatt doesn't come up with something soon. This world-famous Valais health resort is trying to become a destination for the Alpine Ski World Cup races and has been awarded the contract by the international ski association FIS and now, when it comes to holding these races, they suddenly say, “It doesn't work, there's too much wind and too much snow.” And this hasn't just been a problem since yesterday, but since the last and therefore first season. A ski region that can't hold its ski races? Well, I wouldn't exactly call that a successful advertisement for the holiday and ski region. As a ski tourist I wouldn't even want to go there! That's really damaging to the good reputation and you have to ask yourself: Don't those in charge know this ski region? What were those responsible thinking?

All four ski races in 2023 - two men's downhill runs and two women's downhill runs - had to be canceled because of the strong wind (and also because of the snowfall for the men). The wind up there at around 3,800 meters is not an exceptional phenomenon, but a permanent problem. Why on earth would you design a race on a slope plagued by strong gusts? What this says about the designers and organizers is clear: there is obviously a lack of competence when planning a ski race.

Zermatt has to act for next season and propose a new route, otherwise I'll see black. The fact that the lack or excess of snow can be a problem, of course, happens here and there, but the fact that there is constantly too much wind on a route is a novelty and you have obviously made a bad choice. And in this way you become an international laughing stock as a leading ski region that cannot hold ski races. Former ski racer Hans Knauss, as a ski expert at ORF, also expressed his concerns about the canceled men's races on TV. He made comments to that effect and wondered whether it was really a good idea to have a race (for political reasons) from Switzerland (Zermatt) to Italy (Cervinia), starting at around 3,800 m and ending at around 2,800 m m should end. The route is therefore above the protective tree line. That's something.

They probably thought too much about the political dimension and the international reputation of the destination than about the natural conditions. Anyone who has skied at 3,000 m or higher knows the problem with the wind. It can really blow and blow, whether you like it or not, and protection against the wind consists of either staying in the hut or, if possible, going into the wind-protected slope, because there is no wind up there natural hold and doesn't just stop blowing. I can only shake my head at the organizers and planners who considered such a race in a place where a World Cup race and especially a downhill race cannot be held given such wind conditions. I know Zermatt as a very friendly holiday destination, but so far the story with the World Cup races has been a shot in the foot, a shot that clearly backfired. It's high time for those responsible to wake up and act and come up with innovations next season, otherwise that's it for World Cup races and a good reputation as a ski destination.