Heavy Snowfall Forces Cancellation of First Men's World Cup Downhill at Matterhorn

Ralph Weber of Switzerland in action in front of the Matterhorn mountain during the men's downhill training race on the new ski course 'Gran Becca' at the Alpine Skiing FIS Ski World Cup, between Zermatt in Switzerland and Cervinia in Italy, 08 November 2023. EPA/JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

The inaugural World Cup downhill at the storied Matterhorn mountain will have to wait at least one more day after a race Saturday was canceled because of heavy snowfall and strong winds.
Race organizers called off plans for the men’s downhill soon after 6 a.m. local time at the new Gran Becca course that starts in Switzerland and finishes in Italy.
Another men’s downhill is scheduled Sunday on the high-altitude course that has yet to see a race because of weather issues, although a practice run was completed Wednesday under clear blue skies.
Back-to-back race weekends for men and women last year were canceled because of warm temperatures. This year’s races were scheduled two weeks later into November to seek more winter-like weather.
Natural snow has fallen in abundance since organizers last month provoked criticism from environmental activists and an investigation by local public authorities for excavating snow at a nearby glacier to help prepare the course.
The 3.8-kilometer Gran Becca was designed by Swiss former racer Didier Defago, the Olympic downhill champion at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.
It starts near Zermatt at an altitude of about 3,700 meters and crosses the border to finish in Italy at Laghi Cime Bianche at 2,835 meters.