Crans-Montana, Switzerland cancels night race due to energy crisis
The Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana in the French-speaking canton of Valais was forced to do so cancel its annual FIS night slalom.
The event was scheduled to take place on January 11, 2023 and is an annual highlight for international alpine athletes who strive for an invitation to this exclusive event for the world elite every year. The event is also a crowd favorite as it is designed in an exciting knock out format. Last year’s winner was the Swede Kristoffer Jakobsen.
The organizers emphasize that the decision was difficult, but that the race could not be held given the energy crisis in Europe. The Swiss federal government asked all companies and individuals to reduce their energy consumption by 10% by March 2023, and the lighting needed to hold the night event would have sent the wrong signal during a global energy crisis.
The organizing committee is confident of being able to hold the event again in 2024. In the meantime, the other FIS events, such as the women’s downhill world cup on February 25-26, 2023, will not be affected and will be held as planned.
Crans-Montana is a regular at the FIS World Cup and will hold the coveted title World Championships 2027. The ski resort has just received a loan from the local canton to rebuild the finish area for a total of CHF 14.5 million (USD 14.5 million). The last time Crans-Montana hosted a World Cup was in 1987, 40 years earlier.
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