Lack of snow threatens slalom opening
Webcam picture from the slopes at Levi.
Warm weather and lack of snow across Scandinavian threatens the beginning of the ski season.
There were great conditions on the Rettenbacher glacier near Sölden as the Alpine World Cup began with its first race of the year, but in Finland the snow was scarce, and now the joke seems to be on the second World Cup race. Norwegian Alpine skiiers Kjetil Jansrud and Aksel Lund Svindal are to take part in the race, considering it will still take place.
“The situation is not bright. We have big challenges. The hill where the World Cup will be on the 12th and 13th of November, should be white with snow, but it is green as if it were the middle of summer. The weather forecast for the next day and the next week is not positive. It’s going to be difficult to produce much snow here in the near future,” says race director Mikko Saarinen.
“If we are to follow the rules, we must have snow on the ground sometime during the course of Thursday. If the forecasts are positive, this can be extended somewhat, but the timetable is very tough to work with,” he added.
It has been common for Levi to host the first World Cup slalom in the last few years before the ski circus moves to the United States and Canada.
Norway has had its own onslaught of warm fall weather, which may cause other complications in the ski season. On his blog, Aksel Lund Svindal posted the above webcam pic and added: This is a webcam pic from Levi FIN where they are supposed to host the next World-Cup race. First snow control is set for tomorrow. Inside tip (which in this case means you’re not blind); not happening. So where’s the winter??”
