December 06, 2011 (Davos, Switzerland) – Like many other ski destinations across Europe and Scandinavia, Davos, Switzerland, the site of the next stop on the FIS World Cup xc circuit on December 9-10, has been suffering from a lack of snow. World Cup teams have been in town for a number of days now and have been limited to skiing on the sprint course, which was laid out using artificial snow a week or more ago.

Conditions have improved somewhat, however, with the recent arrival of some natural snow to the area and conditions are set to improve over the next few days. In spite of the improving snow situation, FIS and the Davos organizing committee are leaving nothing to chance and have shortened the courses for Saturday’s distance races. The lack of snow and shortened courses hasn’t deterred the world’s best from attending the Davos event, however, with the Norwegians, for example, sending a full team.

Davos World Cup, 2010 © FIS

FIS Shortens Individual Start Races
The free technique individual start races of Davos (SUI) on Saturday, 10th December will be shortened to 15km for men (originally planned 30 km) and 10km (originally planned 15km) for ladies due to the current snow conditions. The races will be held on a 5km loop.

“The OC Davos did a great effort to prepare the courses in the past days,” said Jürg Capol, FIS Race Director Cross-Country. “Unfortunately the snowfall in the past two days was not enough to be able to prepare the 7.5 km loop therefore we decided today to reduce the distances to a normal individual start competition of 15km and 10km.”

Norway's Marit Bjoergen © Nordic Focus

Norwegians to send full team to Davos
Norway will be featuring their  best distance and sprint team skiers in Davos. Distance skiers have been training in Davos since last week, after the Ruka Triple in Kuusamo, Finland. Marit Bjoergen and Petter Northug will lead Norway’s squad for the upcoming World Cup action. After the victory in the team sprint in Düsseldorf, Mari Eide got a World Cup ticket for Sunday’s Free technique sprint.

Ladies

– Marit Bjørgen, Rognes IL
– Therese Johaug, IL Nansen
– Vibeke Skofterud, IL Slitu
– Kristin Størmer Steira, IL Forsøk
– Marthe Kristoffersen, IL Varden
– Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen
– Ingvild Flugstad Østberg, Gjøvik Skiklubb
– Heidi Weng , IL i BUL
– Maiken Caspersen Falla, Gjerdrum
– Mari Eide, Øystre Slidre IL

Men

– Petter Northug, Strindheim IL
– Sjur Røthe, Voss IL
– Tord Asle Gjerdalen, Fossum IF
– Finn Hågen Krog, Tverrelvdal IL
– Chris Jespersen, Byåsen IL
– Martin Johnsrud Sundby, Røa IL
– Petter Eliassen, Byåsen IL
– Øystein Pettersen, Lillomarka Skiklubb
– Ola Vigen Hattestad, Ørje IL
– John Kristian Dahl, Strindheim IL
– Eirik Brandsdal, Kjelsås IL
– Johan Kjølstad, Skogn IL
– Anders Gløersen, Rustad IL
– Pål Golberg, Gol IL, sprint