Snow shortage turfs ski event

Ein Calgary rik Guay is the most decorated alpine skier in Canadian history. He doesn’t profess to have a degree in meteorology or environmental science.

But the 2011 world downhill champion routinely travels the planet in search of the white stuff. And he is hardly surprised by the first cancellation in 30 years of the men’s Lake Louise World Cup due to lack of snow.

“There is no doubt in my mind that global warming is playing a role here,” Guay, 35, wrote in a text Wednesday morning to Postmedia. “As skiers, we’ve watched the effects on the glaciers and early-season snowfall.

“It’s sad to see — makes me question whether I should put my daughters in a sport that might not have a future.”

The International Ski Federation (FIS) scrubbed the men’s event Wednesday after a last-ditch check of the course that annually hosts the only Canadian stop on the World Cup circuit.

The top of the track is in excellent shape, but the bottom is not up to standard.

“Despite the tireless work from volunteers and all Lake Louise Ski Resort resources pointed toward generating enough snow for the race, Mother Nature didn’t co-operate,” Alpine Canada said in a written statement. “Inconsistent temperatures remained above freezing too often, eliminating the chance to make the required snow.”

The men’s downhill race was scheduled for Nov. 26 followed by the super-G on Nov. 27. This is the first time FIS has cancelled the Lake Louise men’s races during “snow control” in 29 years.

“The decision is obviously something we’re pretty sad about,” said Dan Markham, director of brand and communications at the Lake Louise Ski Resort. “Usually too much snow is the problem.”

The top male racers in the world routinely hit speeds of 120 km/hour, so the track must be able to hold up to 5070 skiers a day ripping down the course faster than most cars on the adjacent TransCanada Highway.

More snow is expected in the coming weeks, so organizers expect the women’s races to go ahead as scheduled from Dec. 2 to 4.

The resort is opening on Friday for the general public.

Ottawa ski racer Dustin Cook wonders why the race committee couldn’t wait a little longer for Mother Nature given Environment Canada is calling temperatures around the freezing mark in the next four days.

“I look at the term climate change, and I think that’s definitely affecting things,” Cook said. “But also it’s just early in the year.”

Lake Louise traditionally serves as the World Cup season-opener for the men’s speed events. Cook, 27, is coming off a catastrophic knee injury. He has spent the last year visualizing his first run down the picturesque Rocky Mountain track.

It will all have to wait for another day.