The postponement, a reasonable decision

The downhill race in Crans-Montana was postponed to Sunday first of all due to visibility and then because the piste was too soft. It was the best decision to ensure the safety of the athletes.

Patience was required on Saturday in the finish area at the Mont Lachaux piste for the over 12,000 spectators present. They waited for over two hours for the start of the women's downhill race, which was postponed several times due to a layer of fog that had enveloped the Valais piste. Although the race was finally due to start at 1pm, it wasn’t possible.

The passage of the openers, and in particular Arnaud Boisset, confirmed what everyone feared. The snow had warmed up too much and had become dangerous. The Valais local had a big scare, and was carried away by the soft snow layer that covered the track. His return to the finish area finally convinced the FIS to postpone the downhill to Sunday.

The Sunday super-G has therefore been replaced by a downhill. The good news is that temperatures are expected to drop significantly. It is expected to remain well below 0°C, allowing the track to harden and become World Cup standard, to the delight of the competitors, spectators and the organisers.

Video (in French only): SkiActu