Soelden Giant Slaloms On, In Spite Of Austria's Indian Summer

The International Ski Federation (FIS) on Thursday confirmed the season-opening World Cup event in Soelden is on, in spite of unusually high temperatures at the Austrian venue.

Vienna, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Oct, 2018 ) :The International Ski Federation (FIS) on Thursday confirmed the season-opening World Cup event in Soelden is on, in spite of unusually high temperatures at the Austrian venue.

"Positive snow control for Soelden," said a statement on the official FIS website Thursday, just over a week before the cream of the alpine skiing world meets to contend a women's and men's giant slalom.

Temperatures on the 3,000 metres-high Rettenbach glacier, which has hosted the season-opener since 2000, have been approaching the 20 degrees Celsius mark.

The unusually high autumnal weather has given organisers a logistical headache.

But the Austrian Ski Federation (OSV) claims race preparations -- moving tonnes of conserved snow to prepare a race-ready piste -- have gone well.

"Considering the difficult circumstances, the snow conditions are really good," said a statement by the OSV.

"We have completed the base preparations for the piste." FIS race director Markus Mayr confirmed he has given the green light to the venue, but added: "Now we just have to create a piste that is in line with the demands of the World Cup.

"There's still a lot of work to do before the first race on Saturday. The weather in the coming days could be decisive."The women's giant slalom, in which Germany's Viktoria Rebensburg is the defending World Cup and Soelden champion, is scheduled for Saturday.