Lack of snow, warm weather and no changes in the forecast threatens the cross country World Cup opener that according to the plan should start in Ostersund, Sweden in a week and a half, reports Norwegian newspaper VG.
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The Norwegian chief of cross country skiing Bjornar Hakensmoen does despite the problems not agree that the season opener comes too early.
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– We can’t predict the weather when the race schedule is made. I don’t believe that we normally need to start later. But maybe we could schedule the opening a bit further north than Ostersund, says Hakensmoen.
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FIS, The International Ski Federation, want the opener to be as early as possible to get the sport out in the media. Most ski equipment is sold as Christmas gifts in December.
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Ostersund has to cancel if they are not getting colder weather in the next few days. There is currently no back-up site and the season opener might therefore be in Kuusamo, Finland the following week.
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Good conditions at Beitostolen
It’s looking better for the Norwegian opener at Beitostolen this weekend. Cross country and biathlon skiers from 13 nations are entered for those races. There is 10-15 centimeter of natural snow at Beitostolen and the organizer has produced snow for a long time. They are also trucking in snow from nearby mountains.
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The competitions will be held in a 5-kilometer long loop.
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