Saalbach Hinterglemm has stepped in for the third time in a row as an alternative venue for canceled ski races. On this occasion for Kvitfjell and Wengen. From the 5th to the 7th of March, two Downhill races and a Super-G will be held at the venue of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2025.
Saalbach Hinterglemm has shown great determination in recent years to take up the challenge if there are last-minute gaps in the race calendar: As a spontaneous replacement venue for the canceled World Cup races in Sölden and Val d'Isere 2018, with only six weeks of preparation time, or as a replacement venue for the canceled World Cup races in China 2020 with less than two weeks preparation.
This time the current regulations make the organization exciting: "Without a supporting program for spectators, traffic and catering concepts, we will naturally lose a large portion of our organizational workload. However, we will take care of the strict implementation of the COVID-19 prevention concept of the ÖSV in all areas", Alois Hasenauer, Mayor, and Head of the Organising Committee said.
A significant challenge, however, is the World Cup team's accommodation. In previous years, a high occupancy rate caused difficulties in finding accommodation. This extraordinary winter sees closed hotels without staff. Wolfgang Breitfuß, Director of the Saalbach Hinterglemm Tourism Board: "We have made inquiries with our accommodation partners to secure beds. The situation is not a particularly easy one, as to get a tourist business up and running, a lot of preparation is needed in terms of staff planning, food supplies and so on. We are happy that our partners are motivated and so flexible to enable us to organize the World Cup races".
The Saalbach Hinterglemm Ski Club, with Piste Manager Fritz Steger and Chairman Bartl Gensbichler are already working at full speed on preparing the Schneekristallpiste on the Zwölferkogel in Hinterglemm. "We are delighted to be able to host three more World Cup races this year. Our team is in top form and has already commenced work on the racetrack. I am confident that we will be able to conjure up a perfectly groomed racetrack in the next two weeks. Of course, this is a great opportunity to further prepare our team for the 2025 World Championships. The only thing that can really throw a spanner in the works is the weather. But even in this case, we know what we have to do to make the race possible".
Saalbach Program
Wednesday, March 3rd: 1st Downhill Training
Thursday, March 4th: 2nd Downhill Training
Friday, March 5th: Downhill (Replaces Wengen)
Saturday, March 6th: Downhill (Replaces Kvitfjell)
Sunday, March 7th: Super-G (Replaces Kvitfjell)
The FIS Council awarded on October 3rd, 2020 Saalbach Hinterglemm as the venue for the Alpine Ski World Championships 2025.
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