Skiers Speak Out Against FIS Reaction to Dangerous Race Conditions

Anna Fenninger (C) of Austria celebrates her victory on the podium next to second Slovenian Tina Maze (L) and third Lindsey Vonn (R) after the Women`s Alpine Super G race of the Alpine Skiing World Cup in Bansko, Bulgaria Photo:BGNES

After the Super-G races at the Bulgarian ski resort Bansko were cancelled on Friday and Saturday on account of the heavy fog, a number of skiers complained about the harsh conditions and the FIS reaction on Sunday.

Despite the similar situation, ski federation made sure that the competition went ahead anyway, thus posing a danger to a number of skiers, Reuters reported.

''It's a joke, this snow is way too dangerous to ski,'' US Lindsey Vonn said soon after the first start at the Bansko World Cup.

She stated that she had to slow down so as not to fall on account of the heavy fog over the Bulgarian ski resort, thus finishing on the 24th spot.

“The situation happened like in (2013) when I blew my knee out — they had the same situation when they had to delay the race and snow conditions were not good. But they [FIS] still pressed on,” she added.

Vonn, finished third in the Monday Super-G race, right behind world cup overall leaders Tina Maze from Slovakia and Anna Fenninger from Austria.

Germany’s 2010 Olympic champion Viktoria Rebensburg and Austria’s Nicole Hosp also criticized the FIS reaction. They added that competitions should not be allowed if they endanger the skiers.

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