After two weeks of Worlds in Courchevel and Méribel, return to the World Cup. While environmental issues have come back to the table at the initiative of skiers: some have crossed the Atlantic for the second time this season, to race at Palisades Tahoe.
It is an idea of the president of the International Federation (FIS) Johan Eliasch to “conquer the American market”. With an observation, drawn up during the presentation of the calendar last June: “In Europe, interest in skiing is less strong in March, after the world championships. While in the United States, it is still important, the season being later. »
This is why, in addition to the traditional North American tour from late November to early December (Lake Louise, Killington and Beaver Creek), added this new American detour this season for gentlemen (Palisades Tahoe February 25-26 and Aspen March 3-5). Stuck between the Worlds in France, and the last stages in Slovenia and Andorra.
And raising several debates. In addition to the problems of “travel and jet lag”, mentioned in particular by Alexis Pinturault after world championships in nine rounds, it is above all for aerial and environmental questions that this journey to California and then Colorado raises questions.
Some Athletes Demand a Clear Carbon Footprint Plan
“It’s stupid”, “it’s not a good way to promote the World Cup”, comment some Internet users on social networks. Obviously, it is the impact on the planet of trips of this kind that poses a problem, in a season where several races have been canceled for lack of snow. Especially since, if some will chain the two stages in Palisades Tahoe and Aspen, for others, it is only a question of making a brief round trip to compete in a single race. For example, Sunday’s slalom for pure specialists in the discipline.
That’s a few more tons of carbon. What athletes have been up against lately. “I want to continue doing what I love, we have to do our best to keep it going, but I also want future generations to be able to do it”, assured the Norwegian double world silver medalist Aleksander Kilde on the sidelines of the presentation of a letter signed by some 140 skiers calling on the FIS to do more, on Sunday February 12th.
Halving its carbon footprint, the FIS has been committed to since 2021, but this collective of athletes including world champions Mikaela Shiffrin or Federica Brignone is waiting for a specific plan and “made public before the start of next season. “.
In the meantime, Kilde like all the best skiers on the planet have once again shuttled to the United States to launch their last part of the season.
