World Cup downhill ski races tentatively scheduled for return to Lake Louise
Traditional men's season opener would be 2nd stop next year if confirmed
Men's World Cup downhill ski races are tentatively scheduled to return to Lake Louise, Alta., this year and continue over 30 years of racing there.
The international governing body of skiing's calendar has the men competing Nov. 22-26, 2023, at the ski resort in Banff National Park, but with a "to be confirmed" designation.
Lake Louise has been the traditional opener of the men's speed season, but it would be the second stop in 2023-24 after Zermatt-Cervinia, Switzerland, kicks it off Nov. 8-12.
Alpine Canada has replaced the traditional women's downhills at Lake Louise the week after the men with a pair of women's World Cup giant slalom races Dec. 2-3 in Mont-Tremblant, Que.
Alpine Canada chief executive officer Therese Brisson told The Canadian Press last year she wanted to keep a men's speed event in Western Canada.
Lake Louise was the lead option, she said, but only if changes were made to the event's logistical and financial operations.
"Alpine Canada's objective is to produce events that excite Canadians, that grow the sport and the fanbase, deliver an amazing experience for athletes and fans, are commercially sustainable, and support a strong legacy for the ski racing community today and into the future," the organization said Thursday in a statement.
"We continue to work with all stakeholders to find a commercially viable solution for a men's World Cup speed event in Western Canada."
Canada's alpine ski team is coming off a banner season with Jack Crawford winning a men's super-G world title and Laurence St. Germain beating U.S. superstar Mikaela Shiffrin for the women's world slalom crown.
Cameron Alexander earned world championship bronze in men's downhill and Canada also won bronze in the mixed team parallel race.
