Event organizers announced Wednesday that the men’s races at this year’s Lake Louise Alpine Ski World Cup had been cancelled. The races were set to begin on Nov. 26.
The International Ski Federation (FIS) blamed warm weather for the decision, saying the race track wasn’t able to meet Word Cup requirements due to poor snow conditions.
“Each World Cup race undergoes a snow control, facilitated by FIS, to determine whether or not the competition can take place or not,” a news release from the Lake Louise Alpine Ski World Cup explained.
“With a tough start to the North American ski season, led by variable temperatures in the Rockies, the bottom portion of the track has been heavily reliant on colder temperature for the resort to make snow.”
Despite work from volunteers and staff at the Lake Louise Ski Resort, weather wasn’t cold enough for enough snow to be generated for the race.
Race Chairman Brian Lynam said the decision was made early Tuesday morning.
“The snow control decision is set ten days before the teams arrive, and we were able to push that to five days before they arrive. So we’ve been monitoring the forecast, the amount of snow we’re been able to make and the snow that has fallen naturally.”
It’s the first time in 29 years that a Lake Louise World Cup race has been cancelled at the snow control phase.
“It is a big disappointment, but we’re pretty proud of our legacy … It is an outdoor sport and these things do happen.”
Officials are now working toward getting the track ready for the ladies Audi FIS Ski World Cup downhills and super G, along with Nor-Am events, which begin on Dec. 2.