The Matterhorn descent is threatened with debacle

Austria's head coach Marko Pfeifer chose clear words to express his opinion on the departure between Zermatt and Cervinia. “I wouldn’t say it’s completely pointless. But you certainly have to think, if you go at that point, that it's a fifty-fifty chance. You can catch a good week once. But whether you can do two races and two training sessions...?" said the ÖSV coach.

Pfeifer apparently doesn't believe that there will be racing in Zermatt/Cervinia on the weekend. He has already sent five of his athletes home, including Marco Schwarz. The all-rounder will instead train for slalom on the World Cup slope in Gurgl. If, contrary to expectations, the Matterhorn is raced, Schwarz will return on Friday evening. The November date was already criticized when it was announced. The weather is too unstable and the wind is too strong in autumn. A better date would be spring, but apparently there would be problems with accommodation then, say the organizers. Gran Becca presented herself beautifully on Wednesday. The athletes were thrilled by the panorama. © ANSA / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

The PR-soaked Matterhorn descent in Zermatt/Cervinia is apparently not a good thing. After last year's cancellation due to lack of snow, this year's edition is wobbling because of the threat of incessant snowfall. There is also strong wind in the upper part of the glacier. On Thursday, training on the 3,8 kilometer long Gran Becca had to be canceled due to heavy snowfall, and further rainfall and wind are also forecast for the following days. Friday training was also canceled due to strong winds and fresh snow.

However, we are still sticking to the racing program and hoping for suitable weather windows. A further cancellation of both races on Saturday and Sunday (11.30 a.m.) would be another PR failure for the organizers and especially for the FIS leadership around President Johan Eliasch, who absolutely want to realize the cross-border speed opening.

High prize money and customs officials at the border The races in Zermatt/Cervinia are accompanied by a few amenities that underline the special status of the race. The Swiss-Italian border is marked on the route by an archway where customs officers from both countries are posted. There's no shortage of prize money either: the winner receives 60.000 Swiss francs (62.506 euros) and a voucher for climbing the Matterhorn. If an athlete were to win both races, he would receive an additional bonus of 120.000 francs on top of the 50.000. Only in Kitzbühel, where you receive 100.000 euros for victory, can the alpine stars earn even more prize money. The Swiss downhill team waited in vain for training to begin on Thursday. © ANSA / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

In the event of a total cancellation, the OK team's efforts would have been in vain and even more grist would flow to the critics' mill. Many people see the event as just a gigantic marketing gimmick at the expense of the glaciers. “In times of climate crisis, it is absurd to use heavy equipment to accelerate the collapse of the last glaciers. “The FIS must finally stop this destruction and anchor glacier protection in the association,” Greenpeace expert Ursula Bittner reiterates the environmental organization’s position after proceedings regarding the preparatory work have been opened on both sides of the border.

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The Matterhorn descent is threatened with debacle

Fog, wind and snowfall threaten to become a PR disaster for the new FIS prestigious downhill run on the Matterhorn. Some athletes have already left. The problems were predictable. The impressive prize money for the winners is in danger of remaining in their suitcases this year too.

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