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Watles set for the double Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup races over the weekend
Through December the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup was able, through a bit of luck and a lot of hard work by organizers and officials, to complete its full slate of races despite a dire snow situation through much of Europe.
Then January came, and with it no respite from the warm temperatures and scant precipitation in Europe, forcing the cancellation of the Watles, Italy, event scheduled for the second weekend of January and the La Plagne, France event slotted for the week after that.
However, thanks to some cooperation from the weather, some flexibility on behalf of the organizers, and a redoubling of efforts by all parties involved, Watles was able to present itself as a host for this upcoming weekend, covering for their initially cancelled event as well as adding a second race to make up for the event lost in La Plagne.
While some future SX events may still hang in the balance, first-time World Cup host Watles has saved the early part of January, to say the least.
A significant part of this good fortune can also be attributed to FIS grooming equipment partner Prinoth, whose revolutionary Leica Geosystems-equipped Bison X grooming machine has enabled the crew at Watles to best utilize the resources on hand, resulting in a stand-out ski cross track in conditions that would have been unsuitable in any other situation.
So, with an impressive track constructed and the athletes of the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup amassed in Sud Tirol and raring to get back to competition, we're ready to do just that.
On the ladies' side of things, Anna Holmlund lead the way into the holiday break with a stellar December that saw her score four podiums and one fourth-place result in five competitions, including back-to-back wins in Val Thorens, France. Were it not for a late pile-up at the final race of 2015 in Innichen/San Candido, Holmund would almost certainly have five podiums to her name already, and an absolute runaway lead on the World Cup standings.
However, even with her fourth in Innichen, Holmund's 410 points places her nearly 150 points clear of second-overall competitor Alizee Baron's (FRA) 264, while Heidi Zacher (GER) sits just behind Baron with 243 points.
Others to watch in ladies' competition at Watles include Kreischberg 2015 world champion Andrea Limbacher (AUT), who is coming off a win at the first race in Innichen, and Kelsey Serwa (CAN), who appears to be finding her stride after taking a hiatus from competition last season. And, last but not least, Serwa's teammate Marielle Thompson (CAN), the Sochi 2014 gold medalist and 2013/14 crystal globe winner, appears to be ready to return to competition after falling heavily in qualification and missing both races in Innichen.
For the men, Jean Frederic Chapuis (FRA) appears to be kicking things into top gear, as last season's crystal globe winner now has podiums in three straight races, including back-to-back victories earned at Val Thorens and Innichen. With 350 points, Chapuis currently sits atop the men's standings.
However, even with those three straight podiums, Chapuis only claimed the red World Cup leader's bib after his second-place finish at the second Innichen race, as Chris Delbosco (CAN) had owned the top spot on the leader board based on the strength of back-to-back wins and three straight podiums to open the season.
Brady Leman (CAN) was also able to leapfrog his teammate Delbosco at the second race in Innichen, and now the two Canadians sit in second and third on the leader board, with 305 points for Leman and 292 for Delbosco. With his worst result in 2015/15 a sixth-place finish, Leman has been easily the most consistent skier on tour so far.
Kreischberg 2015 world champion Filip Flisar (SLO) and Johannes Rohrweck (AUT) are also having strong starts to the season, sitting in fourth and fifth overall, respectively, but perhaps the most dangerous man to Chapuis is Victor Oehling Norberg, sitting back in seventh.
While Oehling Norberg's 146 points leave him more than 200 back of Chapuis and with a tonne of work to do, his impressive victory at the final race before the break at Innichen in a thrillingbattle with Chapuis – coming as it did after missing two crucial races due to back spasms suffered in Montafon – shows that he will again be a force to be reckoned with as the season progresses.
With Watles being a new addition to the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup tour it's anyone's guess as to who might have the advantage on the never-before-seen track. However, it seems safe to say that you can expect the like of Holmlund and Baron for the ladies, and Chapuis and Leman for the men, to be competing for top spot come time for the first race on Saturday.
Competition at Watles begins with two rounds of qualification on Friday and back-to-back World Cup races on Saturday and Sunday.
Watles competition program
Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup standings
Watles course drawing
GEPA Pictures (hi-res, for editorial use)
Source: fis-ski.com
Then January came, and with it no respite from the warm temperatures and scant precipitation in Europe, forcing the cancellation of the Watles, Italy, event scheduled for the second weekend of January and the La Plagne, France event slotted for the week after that.
However, thanks to some cooperation from the weather, some flexibility on behalf of the organizers, and a redoubling of efforts by all parties involved, Watles was able to present itself as a host for this upcoming weekend, covering for their initially cancelled event as well as adding a second race to make up for the event lost in La Plagne.
While some future SX events may still hang in the balance, first-time World Cup host Watles has saved the early part of January, to say the least.
A significant part of this good fortune can also be attributed to FIS grooming equipment partner Prinoth, whose revolutionary Leica Geosystems-equipped Bison X grooming machine has enabled the crew at Watles to best utilize the resources on hand, resulting in a stand-out ski cross track in conditions that would have been unsuitable in any other situation.
So, with an impressive track constructed and the athletes of the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup amassed in Sud Tirol and raring to get back to competition, we're ready to do just that.
On the ladies' side of things, Anna Holmlund lead the way into the holiday break with a stellar December that saw her score four podiums and one fourth-place result in five competitions, including back-to-back wins in Val Thorens, France. Were it not for a late pile-up at the final race of 2015 in Innichen/San Candido, Holmund would almost certainly have five podiums to her name already, and an absolute runaway lead on the World Cup standings.
However, even with her fourth in Innichen, Holmund's 410 points places her nearly 150 points clear of second-overall competitor Alizee Baron's (FRA) 264, while Heidi Zacher (GER) sits just behind Baron with 243 points.
Others to watch in ladies' competition at Watles include Kreischberg 2015 world champion Andrea Limbacher (AUT), who is coming off a win at the first race in Innichen, and Kelsey Serwa (CAN), who appears to be finding her stride after taking a hiatus from competition last season. And, last but not least, Serwa's teammate Marielle Thompson (CAN), the Sochi 2014 gold medalist and 2013/14 crystal globe winner, appears to be ready to return to competition after falling heavily in qualification and missing both races in Innichen.
For the men, Jean Frederic Chapuis (FRA) appears to be kicking things into top gear, as last season's crystal globe winner now has podiums in three straight races, including back-to-back victories earned at Val Thorens and Innichen. With 350 points, Chapuis currently sits atop the men's standings.
However, even with those three straight podiums, Chapuis only claimed the red World Cup leader's bib after his second-place finish at the second Innichen race, as Chris Delbosco (CAN) had owned the top spot on the leader board based on the strength of back-to-back wins and three straight podiums to open the season.
Brady Leman (CAN) was also able to leapfrog his teammate Delbosco at the second race in Innichen, and now the two Canadians sit in second and third on the leader board, with 305 points for Leman and 292 for Delbosco. With his worst result in 2015/15 a sixth-place finish, Leman has been easily the most consistent skier on tour so far.
Kreischberg 2015 world champion Filip Flisar (SLO) and Johannes Rohrweck (AUT) are also having strong starts to the season, sitting in fourth and fifth overall, respectively, but perhaps the most dangerous man to Chapuis is Victor Oehling Norberg, sitting back in seventh.
While Oehling Norberg's 146 points leave him more than 200 back of Chapuis and with a tonne of work to do, his impressive victory at the final race before the break at Innichen in a thrillingbattle with Chapuis – coming as it did after missing two crucial races due to back spasms suffered in Montafon – shows that he will again be a force to be reckoned with as the season progresses.
With Watles being a new addition to the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup tour it's anyone's guess as to who might have the advantage on the never-before-seen track. However, it seems safe to say that you can expect the like of Holmlund and Baron for the ladies, and Chapuis and Leman for the men, to be competing for top spot come time for the first race on Saturday.
Competition at Watles begins with two rounds of qualification on Friday and back-to-back World Cup races on Saturday and Sunday.
Watles competition program
Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup standings
Watles course drawing
GEPA Pictures (hi-res, for editorial use)
Source: fis-ski.com
