WORLD CUP QUARANTINE

“Because of COVID.” That’s an easy explanation for just about everything, including why no World Cup-level ski contests will happen on this side of the Atlantic this winter. FIS, skiing’s governing body, is keeping all competition venues in every discipline (including freestyle, alpine racing and ski cross) to Europe.

Casualties include two Canadian stops: a ski-cross event at Nakiska and the high-profile and long-running alpine speed races at Lake Louise.

The changes reflect both the impracticality of potential two-week quarantines and cutting travel costs for national teams, said FIS. To reduce congestion at events, FIS also separated men’s and women’s, and technical and speed races, as well as the cancellation of some head-to-head events. The actual number of races will remain roughly the same.

Racing will return to Canada, stresses Michelle Comeau, communications manager with the Louise event. “We are already into our planning to be back on track in 2021,” said Comeau.