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Alpine Canada reacts to world cup bypassing Lake Louise, athletes training in Switzerland

"It certainly wasn't the first change in the schedule and I'm certain it won't be the last."
20191130 World Cup Downhill 1567
Jeffery Read of Canada looses balance in the air during the men’s downhill event in the 2019 Lake Louise Audi FIS Ski World Cup on Saturday (Nov. 30). EVAN BUHLER RMO PHOTO⁠

LAKE LOUISE – As the alpine world cup calendar will officially bypass North America this season, Alpine Canada said athlete participation is voluntary and the governing body is "preparing to react" to evolving world conditions.

In a unified decision, it was announced Aug. 20 the 2020-21 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season will be exclusively held in Europe due to COVID-19 and the virus’ ripple effects, bypassing three North American stops.

Alpine Canada’s president and chief executive officer Therese Brisson said Lake Louise was prepared to host, but last Thursday’s bombshell wasn’t unexpected. Looking at the global picture, with travel restrictions and quarantines in place, specifically in North America, it made things “too unpredictable” to ensure athletes were able to compete.

“The alpine ski team is fully focused on preparing for a successful world cup season leading up to world championships in February,” said Brisson. “It’s certainly a season where we’re preparing to react.

"It certainly wasn't the first change in the schedule and I'm certain it won't be the last."

Brisson added the health and safety of the athletes is paramount and their participation in the upcoming season is voluntary.

Canadian alpine athletes landed in Switzerland on Aug. 10 to train on summer glaciers as part of a prolonged seven-week camp, about double the time of a regular camp, to make up for lost training.

Canmore’s Jeff Read is one of the speed skiers overseas sharpening his game before the season, where he's expected to hit top-30 results and qualify for the world championships in 2021.

The 22-year-old said it was surreal seeing empty airports on the way to Switzerland, which has looser laws for the pandemic than Canada. Despite missing a chunk of training due to COVID-19, he thinks Canadian athletes will be in a good spot this season against their biggest rivals in Italy, Austria and Norway.

"It doesn’t seem like anyone's holding back [from training]," Read said.

For training on the Swiss glacier, COVID-19 guidelines are in place such as mandatory masks and social distancing measures for waiting to go up a line. Read is happy to oblige and glad to be back on the snow.

“It’s been five months and five days since I last skied around a gate,” said Read. “It was my longest time off race skis since I was about 10 or 11.

“I had to get creative [in Canmore]. I made a home gym with my brother (Erik, also on the national alpine team), and we’ve been working out in the backyard all summer. Despite the change, I’m really excited.”

As every race will take place in Europe this season, Read was “definitely bummed” to hear about the Lake Louise relocation, saying its atmosphere is amazing.

“It sucks. In the back of our minds, we knew it might happen because of regulations in Canada and we don’t have as much of a pull like in the NHL,” he said. “It was definitely a special feeling coming to Lake Louise.”

Last week’s announcement to realign the three North American alpine skiing tour stops (Lake Louise and USA’s Beaver Creek and Killington) to existing technical and speed venues in Europe will be revised and updated following FIS meetings from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3.

However, Read said the realigned Lake Louise event is being considered for Val-d'Isère, France, which has a historic past for the Reads and Canada. One of the Crazy Canucks, Ken Read, father of Jeff and Erik, was the first non-European and first North American to win a world cup in men’s downhill in 1975.

“It’s a cool fact,” said Read. “That track, I’ve fortunately been able to run a European Cup on it.”

Last May, the FIS Alpine Skiing Committee discussed the possibility of moving to a European-only season in 2020-21. A task force was created to work on a contingency plan in case regulations restricted sporting events and international travelling limitations made it impossible to deliver a classic world cup season.

Among the decision-makers to relocate to Europe were the hosts of the Lake Louise event, Winterstart Events Ltd. and the Lake Louise Audi FIS Ski World Cup organizing committee. The organizers said it was disappointing, but health, safety and risk management were at the core of the reasoning.

“Coming to the decision not to hold World Cup ski races in Lake Louise in 2020 was difficult, but we know it’s the right thing to do for the benefit of everyone involved,” said race chairman Brian Lynam in a press release.

“We have worked hard to exhaust all possibilities and this decision did not come easily. We do wish all of the World Cup athletes and European race organizing committees a safe and successful season, and we look forward to hosting our events again in 2021 at the Lake Louise Ski Resort.”

Dan Markham, communications director at Lake Louise Ski Resort, said the ski hill fully understands the reasoning to relocate and said the resort will carry on for the season.

“There might not be a world cup [in Lake Louise] this year, but it’ll be back next year – fingers crossed - and we’ve got some great new terrain and a great new lift for people to look forward to,” Markham said.

As for Alpine Canada, it's business as usual until further notice.

Brisson said the governing body is focusing priorities and adjusting plans for athletes and the business side of things.

"We're just preparing accordingly, and that's one of the things I love about our team is we're ready to go and focused on preparing for that great season and world championship - however that looks," Brisson said.


Jordan Small

About the Author: Jordan Small

An award-winning reporter, Jordan Small has covered sports, the arts, and news in the Bow Valley since 2014. Originally from Barrie, Ont., Jordan has lived in Alberta since 2013.
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