November 07, 2011 (Norway) – Norwegian media are reporting that the organizers of the FIS World Cup opening races in Beitostolen have begun making snow, in hopes of having a race course prepared for the event, which is scheduled for November 19-20. Conditions are less than ideal, however, with high humidity and overnight temperatures just below zero. Dry conditions and temperatures below -5C are what are normally needed. With continued mild weather in the forecast, the window of opportunity to save the Beitostolen World Cup is rapidly closing. A decision on cancellation by FIS and the event organizers will be made this Wednesday. FIS Race Director, Jurg Kapol, is reportedly giving Beitostolen a less than 50% chance of pulling off the event.

In the meantime, discussions are under way about potential alternative venues. Osterund (SWE) has been mentioned as a candidate, and the Canadian team, among others, is currently training there, but Osterund has said that they do not have the snow to host the event, and are preserving a stockpile for a World Cup biathlon being hosted there later in the month. A recent photo by Devon Kershaw and posted on Twitter would seem to support that claim. Meanwhile, the resort of Sjusjoen (NOR), about 100kms east of Beitostolen, says it has the snow needed to host the event, but has not received a request from FIS to do so.

Beitostolen is not the only race venue in Scandinavia plagued by a lack of snow. Other staples on the FIS early season calendar, such as Bruksvallarna (SWE) and Muonio (FIN), are also coping with poor ski conditions. Both have been juggling training and race schedules and formats in hopes of going ahead with FIS races planned for this weekend.

In Bruskvallarna, for example, a number of classic events have been shortened and, in some cases, changed to freestyle events, and FIS sanctioning is reportedly in doubt if organizers proceed under the current conditions. In Muonio, meanwhile, organizers have closed their 3km loop of snow on Monday in order to repair and preserve the track, to the chagrin of the growing number of skiers who have gravitated there for training, including the members of the Craftsbury Green Racing Project. Muonio has also been forced to change race formats by shortening some of the classic events and replacing some with freestyle events.

See the Beitostolen World Cup event web HERE.

See the Bruksvallarna event web site HERE.

See the Muonio event web site HERE.