Zermatt’s World Cup Calendar Exclusion Sparks National Team Training Prohibition and Turmoil

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Zermatt Bergbahnen’s Disappointment: Weather Woes and Elite Skiing Prohibition

The decision by Zermatt Bergbahnen to exclude elite ski teams from gate training this summer has sent ripples of concern through the ski racing community. This decision most significantly impacts Swiss-Ski, Switzerland’s national federation, which heavily relied on Zermatt as the world’s premier glacier speed training destination.

The root of this decision lies in a series of disappointments and challenges faced by the Zermatt/Cervinia World Cup Downhill, scheduled as the opening World Cup Downhill races over the past two seasons.

Despite substantial investments in infrastructure and securing a five-year commitment from the FIS, the Zermatt/Cervinia downhill organizers could not host any of the past eight calendared races due to relentless weather challenges. These setbacks led to the downhill’s exclusion from the 2024-25 Alpine World Cup calendar, leaving Zermatt Bergbahnen disheartened and reevaluating its priorities.

Zermatt Bergbahnen AG statement

In a press release, Zermatt Bergbahnen AG announced that the glacier training slopes would be available exclusively to National Performance Centers (NLZ), regional associations, and ski clubs preparing for the 2024/25 season, excluding elite national team athletes. This decision prompted a response from Walter Reusser, CEO of Sport at Swiss-Ski, who expressed deep regret over the exclusion of elite training in Zermatt.

Swiss-Ski response

Reusser emphasized the importance of Zermatt as a vital training location for Swiss-Ski and other national teams, noting its significance alongside Saas-Fee as the two best glacier areas in Europe for race preparation. The decision to redirect Zermatt’s training opportunities away from elite athletes has forced Swiss-Ski to seek alternative solutions for the upcoming season, highlighting the immediate impact of Zermatt Bergbahnen’s strategic shift.

“We extremely regret the decision of Zermatt Bergbahnen AG,” stated Reusser. “Now we will have to find alternative solutions, at least for this year. We now have to take our time to analyze the consequences of the decision to prepare for the coming season.”

This sentiment reflects the broader implications of Zermatt’s decision, which affect elite athletes and prompt national federations like Swiss-Ski to adapt swiftly to the changing landscape of Alpine ski training. As stakeholders assess the fallout and search for innovative solutions, the summer of 2024 marks a pivotal moment in Zermatt’s skiing narrative, emphasizing the challenges and opportunities inherent in the sport’s evolution.

information sources: skinews.ch, SwissSki and matterhornparadise.ch