By hook or by crook: Long live the ski circus
The reason is not a positive one, but the public discussion about it is. October was the warmest since records began. The Alps are a climate change hotspot. The glaciers are receding more and more. They are dying. But not the ski circus. As if all the changes didn't exist, the traditional schedule is being maintained. And they are fighting the inevitable with unbelievable force using excavators. A battle that cannot be won. And leaves deep wounds in the fragile ecosystem of the high mountain landscape.
The national treasure of alpine skiing fell completely behind in the face of the heated discussions about environmental compatibility and meaningfulness at the start of the season in Sölden last weekend, where the excavators were still raging on the Rettenbach glacier shortly beforehand. Criticism came not only from climate protection organizations but also from FIS boss Johan Eliasch (who was in Thailand at the time). "I also don't understand who is interested in ski races in October and why we are skiing on glaciers without snow. I hope that the ÖSV is open to a postponement," he said in an ORF report. The circus couldn't get much more absurd.
Behind the early start to the season, which simply no longer corresponds to today's circumstances, are economic calculations and the multi-million euro business with winter sports and tourism, which they do not want to do without.
https://news.pro.earth/2022/11/28/der-sterbende-winter-in-den-alpen/
Ski association to become a climate pioneer
Together with former Austrian ski racer and human rights activist Nicola Werdenigg, Greenpeace criticized the early start of the Ski World Cup in view of the comparatively high temperatures in October, little snowfall and glacier destruction and repeatedly reported on the massive construction work on the glacier in the run-up to the event. Instead of endangering nature and fuelling global warming, the International Ski Federation FIS must become a climate protection pioneer, the environmental organization demanded.
"Skiing and nature conservation are being played off against each other here. Our glaciers must not fall victim to prestige projects," said Greenpeace spokesperson Ursula Bittner. "In order to straighten the road for the Ski World Cup and maintain its width, it was obviously decided to completely remove the affected part of the glacier and refill it with rubble and artificial snow."
FIS and greenwashing?
The international ski association claims to be climate-positive - i.e. to save more CO2 than it emits. According to Greenpeace, it mainly finances non-transparent projects and thus falsifies its own carbon footprint. Greenpeace economic expert Ursula Bittner: "When it comes to directly protecting the environment and the climate, the FIS is failing. The glacier in Sölden was removed for the Ski World Cup and in Zermatt, Switzerland, some illegal work was carried out on the slopes. This has nothing to do with climate protection. It's high time that something changed."
https://news.pro.earth/2023/04/24/offener-brief-an-fis-praesident-eliasch-greenpeace-international-fordert-echten-klimaschutz-statt-ablasshandel/
It makes little sense
"I'm not an expert," says Mikaela Shiffrin, "but I know enough to be able to say: What we are currently doing makes little sense." She is calling for a change to the race calendar and for the start of the season in Sölden to be moved back. "To what extent should we adapt our environment to a schedule that we want to have? Or should we adapt our schedules to the environment?" the exceptional athlete recently asked. Olympic champion Lara Gut-Behrami from Switzerland agrees with Shiffrin: "We have less snow in November and a lot in April. For many athletes, it would make sense to start in mid-November." The current date is "not logical".
Some Austrian sportswomen take a similar view. The former Austrian ski racer Werdenigg is now joining Greenpeace and ski racer Julian Schütter in their demands to the FIS: together they are calling on the international ski association to take five immediate measures to make skiing more sustainable. For example, the race calendar should be postponed and high environmental standards created. This is the only way to protect glaciers and other sensitive ecosystems.
Criticism from politicians
The Austrian Environment Minister also expressed her criticism: "We have had the hottest October days ever recorded", said Leonore Gewessler (Greens) on Ö1-Morgenjournal on Monday. For the Environment Minister, it is therefore also "incomprehensible why we have to stick to a ski start in October by hook or by crook". Gewessler appeals to the FIS to reconsider its timetable. "Nobody understands why we have to ski on the last remnants of the glacier now."
Our pro.earth. Conclusion:
Somehow the situation reminds us of trying to swim in a pond that is drying up. Because the event is being marketed and a lot of money is involved, it has to take place at all costs, come what may. To achieve this, massive interventions in the environment are accepted. And a lot of money is used to artificially produce everything that no longer comes naturally from the sky due to climate change. And that worsens the general situation of the pond and its surroundings. When will we stop doing this? When will we reach the limit of absurdity? We urgently need to rethink old traditions and habits. Even when it comes to big business. Even when it comes to the national treasure of skiing. Otherwise we can only say: welcome to Absurdistan.
https://news.pro.earth/2023/07/26/klimawandel-in-den-alpen/
