FIS Ski Cross World Cup soon to kick off in Arosa (SUI)

The FIS Ski Cross World Cup is about to return with the first events of the 2020-2021 season scheduled in Arosa (SUI). Back-to-back short-course events for men and women will be held under lights on December 15-16.
 
Two-time Olympian Sami Kennedy-Sim will be in the start gate coming off the back of her best World Cup campaign last year, finishing the season ranked 9 overall in the Ski Cross standings. Doug Crawford will take part in the Men's events. 

Snow Australia's Alpine Director and OWIA Ski Cross Program Head Coach Shawn Fleming said our athletes were glad to be back on snow, training with the other teams in preparation for the season openers.
 
"Our athletes are doing well, they're excited to be over in Europe and very much looking forward to the World Cup season to start."
 
Fleming said that so far the team has been able to navigate successfully the challenges related to the COVID-19 outbreak in Europe and the uncertainty it is creating around World Cup events and schedules.
 
"For us it really hasn't been much different from other years. COVID-19 obviously plays a role in our new daily behaviours and adds to some logistical challenges, but things like low snow, inclement weather, injuries and illnesses have always been a part of our training and planning considerations.
 
"We are used to being on the road and self-sufficient for months on end, even in 'normal' years, and we understand the risks associated with COVID-19. The team is positive, just finishing up the last training block and excited to be getting back to racing in Arosa and Val Thorens, before the Christmas break."
 
Once competition wraps up in Switzerland the FIS Ski Cross World Cup circuit will move to the French resort of Val Thorens for two more races on 19-20 December. For Australian skiers these events are also an opportunity to score precious points that will count towards Olympic qualification for Beijing 2022.
 
"The main goal for the season is to take advantage of every opportunity, at each World Cup, to maximise our results.
 
"On the men’s side specifically, it is to qualify in the top-32 and build some points towards Olympic qualifying. Unfortunately the World Championships in China have been cancelled so we will need to wait and see if a replacement is scheduled this year," Fleming said.
 
Earlier this month FIS decided to cancel the Freestyle Ski & Snowboard Championships originally scheduled in Zhangjiakou (China) due to ongoing travel restrictions and quarantine measures imposed in China. FIS is currently looking at alternative hosts for the event. 

A full preview of the FIS Ski Cross World Cup is available on the FIS website.