In all probability, the season’s first FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup slalom events will be organised as planned at the Levi ski resort in Finnish Lapland in just over a week’s time, that is if yesterday’s weather forecast was to be relied upon.
The forecast promised gradually increasing frost, which would enable the maximal use of the artificial snow equipment.
"We are in a positive frame of mind right now. It seems we have a realistic chance of manufacturing enough snow by Wednesday evening next week", Levi competition director Tapio Kokko commented on Thursday night.
Yesterday the temperature at Levi was already a couple of degrees below freezing, and the automatic snow fan system was put into service.
"The equipment was set off on Wednesday. There is some white stuff coming from the fans, though the accumulation is still minimal", Kokko stated.
Kokko estimated that the use of manually controlled snow cannons could commence on Friday. By then the weather should be cold enough.
According to Kokko there was already one or two centimetres of natural snow in Levi yesterday. "Sure it’s pretty, but from the competition point of view it is more of a nuisance."
On Saturday the International Ski Federation (FIS) technical chief Hans Pieren will pay an inspection visit to Levi. The decision whether to organise or cancel the following weekend’s competition will be made by Sunday noon.
By Sunday there need not yet be enough snow for racing, but the organisers have to be able to estimate whether they can produce enough snow by Wednesday evening.
The events will be held on Saturday 10th (women's slalom) and Sunday 11th November (men's slalom).
Cancellation would naturally be a major blow to local businesses and hotels.
