Soelden giant slalom confirmed, Alpine Ski World Cup can start

Soelden Giants confirmed, Alpine Ski World Cup canò start

In the past few days, Soelden organizers were very concerned about the heat on the Rettenbach glacier, but temperatures dropped dramatically at the beginning of the week, so the slope could be prepared with artificial snow, and today the check by the International Ski Federation was positive.

Thus, barring unfavorable weather, the opening giant slaloms of the Alpine Ski World Cup are confirmed: the women’s will be held on Saturday, Oct. 28, and the men’s on Sunday, Oct. 29. Last year the women did not compete because of rain.

The Austrian resort of Tyrol and the glacier above it have been a fixed inaugural stop of the White Circus since the 2000-2001 season, but the first two races between the wide gates were held there in late October 1993, exactly 30 years ago.

This year it will be held for the 25th time a women’s giant and for the 23rd a men’s one. There have been three Italian victories, all among women: Denise Karbon in 2007, Federica Brignone in 2015 (for the Valle d’Aosta native it was the first ever World Cup success) and Marta Bassino in 2020, with Brignone second and Sofia Goggia sixth.