FIS Chief Race Director Markus Waldner Discusses the Issues: Alpine World Cup

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In a sincere interview with Ski Racing Media, the FIS Chief Race Director for the men’s World Cup, Markus Waldner, recently discussed the past, present and future. The experienced race director has a lot on his mind regarding adjustments necessary for the future of World Cup ski racing and shares his clear opinions.

Throughout his entire life, Waldner has pursued skiing, ski racing and sports. Growing up in Brixen in northern Italy’s Dolomite mountains, he learned to ski on a small hillside right behind his house and enjoyed ski racing in his youth.

He studied at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, and earned a Master’s degree in Sports Science. Later, Waldner coached alpine ski racing in Italy for eight years. He joined the FIS in 1997 as the European Cup coordinator and, next, as the Continental Cup coordinator responsible for the second-league cups on five continents. In April 2014, Waldner became the FIS chief race director for the men’s World Cup.

As the FIS chief race director, Waldner oversees all the men’s World Cup events and the men’s alpine skiing events at the Winter Olympic Games and FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

Could talk for hours

We sat together at Kvitfjell, Norway, after the team captains’ meeting the evening before the men’s downhill race in mid-February. The room was still buzzing with talk—coaches and organizers discussing the training day, the next race day and other matters.

The backdrop is serious: a season with many injuries, some of them severe, a tight calendar and too many race cancellations on top of that.

Based on his experiences from the past ten years and this winter, what are the essential things Waldner has learned through these years, and what could be helpful for the future?

“I could talk for hours, hours, because, if you watch the global picture, this is so big, so complex,” Waldner replies.

“We can talk about the ski resorts and their problems. We can talk about the racers and the generation-change of racers. We can talk about safety. We can talk about equipment—very important, crucial when it comes to injuries and so on.” He eagerly lists these relevant topics and continues without a pause.

The calendar

“I can start with the calendar if you want,” he says, but does not wait for a reply. The 60-year-old is friendly at the same time as he seems efficient and expresses forthright opinions. There is little room for vague talk when you head the top league for men’s alpine skiing and hold great responsibilities for the sport on a global basis.

“The connection with the calendar, what you heard this last season—the calendar is overloaded; yes, we know that. And we know that we have to react here, absolutely. I said it already many years ago: Less would be more. And this is also the big wish from the racers. The calendar is overloaded, then we start to talk about the impact of fatigue, you know.”

After the Lauberhorn downhill competition in Wengen on January 13, Waldner stated to the media that there would no longer be three speed events in a row at any venue while he holds the position of the chief race director.

Long-term vs short-term

Waldner describes the World Cup calendar as “quite solid” when he took over after Germany’s Günter Hujara in 2014. Hujara started working in the FIS in 1991. After three years on the women’s tour, Hujara became the men’s chief race director and oversaw the men’s events on the World Cup tour, Winter Olympics and FIS Alpine World Ski Championships for the next 20 years.

“The calendar was always planned long term, four years in advance. This is very important for the organizers because they need to make their investments. The teams need to know where the races are, in which continent, to plan their budgets and so on.

“Right now, the situation has changed dramatically. We have no more long-term calendars; we only have a one-year calendar. Decisions are made at the very last moment in the spring. We are moving to new venues, which is okay. But new resorts must be prepared,” Waldner says.

Organizers’ preparation process

“We had a process in the past; before you are in the World Cup calendar, you have to prove to be of the highest standard with second-league events like Europa Cups, Nor-Am Cups and so on. This process is not consistent – now we go straight to new resorts. This is not good because we cannot guarantee any quality,” Waldner explains.

He continues: “It is very difficult for organizers not regularly included in the calendar system to guarantee a certain quality and standard because the expectation is very high now.”

Waldner points out several issues event organizers must be able to deal with, which require high-cost investments. Two of the significant issues are snowmaking and snow removal. The snow conditions must be good and safe for World Cup competitions.

In addition, does the weather permit a race?

Mother Nature decides

Cancellation of events is a critical threat to the sport, mainly due to weather and snow conditions.  Waldner has seen considerable change over the past ten years, which worries him:

“We always had cancellations in the past due to lack of snow or weather issues. But what I realized last year, and especially this year – a lot of cancellations, yes – but the weather changed in very short periods! We faced minus 15 degrees (5 degrees Fahrenheit) in Kitzbühel and plus 15 degrees (59 degrees Fahrenheit) in Schladming two days later. This is the reality now. From full winter, we jump into summer situations with heavy rainfall,” he says.

Waldner points out that such dramatic weather changes make it difficult for race organizers to create snow conditions and race hills with the very high standards expected by the racers. He believes the racers and the ski industry need to change their expectations and thinking:

“The whole world is talking about climate change, and we face this climate change every day. All the stakeholders, and the ski racers especially, need to start understanding that we need to accept this.  We need to adapt. If we get the snowfall, of course, we cannot offer you a super icy slope. It is an outdoor sport. We need to start to understand this concept, to adapt.”

Waldner thinks race organizers have reached a high level in general but that they also face their limits:

“Mother Nature is stronger, very simple. When it starts raining, then it’s tough. Mother Nature shows us our limits.”

Reduce cancellations

Waldner has seen a change over the past ten years in how the weather and climate has affected ski racing, which brings him back to calendar planning:

“You’ve seen the best example this year. The calendar was not good. We know that some races will be canceled, because if you schedule a certain way, you face a certain risk. It must be changed. We need the right schedule in order to reduce the risk of cancellation,” the experienced race director says.

Waldner highlights the early-season races in Finland as a positive example: “Winter has already started; it’s colder. So, the risk of losing this race is less.

“We need to be very smart with calendar planning. We need to watch nature now. We know in which continents and resorts we can manage a race, or at least reduce the risk of cancellation. It will be crucial in the future,” he points out with conviction.

The stakeholders

There are potential pitfalls associated with many race cancellations. With increasing cancellations, the interest in alpine ski racing will decrease. As a result, fewer spectators will be watching live at the venues and via broadcasts. Fewer viewers mean fewer people watching advertisements and products on display.

While many stakeholders’ interests play an important part when planning the World Cup calendar, Waldner believes necessary changes in the calendar will happen. He explains that he views this issue as extremely important right now:

“If you start to lose too many races, I am confident that all the stakeholders will start to understand, because the TV rights holders also have big issues with the sponsors. The sponsors are jumping out if they see that we are not delivering. Very simple. They will move away. So, we need to guarantee, or at least reduce, the risk of cancellation. We are really on the edge,” Waldner states.

The high risk of cancellation faces both the newer venues and the classic resorts, Waldner says. Unfavorable weather conditions are starting to hit broadly, which moves us to the next topic on the race director’s mind.

Investments

To handle the frequent and considerable temperature fluctuations and extreme weather patterns, resorts hosting World Cup races and championship events must invest in equipment that can quickly produce or remove large amounts of snow.

“The way to face climate change is by investing. Lift companies have to invest in the latest-generation snowmaking systems and cooling systems, but it is connected with money,” Waldner says. He continues:

“This is the only way to face extremely warm periods that are coming: water reservoirs, cooling systems. The resorts and venues before Christmas, if they are lucky, have three to four days where they can produce snow. You need to have such a good snowmaking system that you can produce enough snow to be ready within three days. Val Gardena, Alta Badia—they’ve invested so much money that they can produce snow in 48 hours.”

However, for resorts to make significant investments, they need to know that they will host World Cup races for several years and receive the income the events will provide. They cannot make extraordinary investments for just one year on the World Cup calendar.

Higher altitudes

According to Waldner, many people propose moving races to higher altitudes to ensure colder weather, snow and race conditions. However, he points out that high-altitude locations can also bring challenging weather situations.

Before Christmas, a temperature inversion frequently occurs, defying standard weather patterns by causing the temperature to rise with altitude. This weather pattern results in warmer temperatures in the mountains with colder conditions in the valleys, explains the South Tyrolean. He continues:

“Going higher up also means we go above the tree border, and then you are more exposed to fog and wind. Also there, you increase the risk of cancelling.  So, it’s very complex.”

A perfect calendar?

If Waldner could decide the schedule, where would the season start and how long would it last?

“The season is very short,” he responds before outlining the major building blocks of the World Cup season:

“The most important classic events are in January. The end of December through January is the highlight. In February, you have the big events, championships, Olympics, and then it’s over. We have the Finals, but this is a final ski festival.”

The accumulation of many races over a short period, which Waldner describes as “overloaded”, might result in the public no longer watching ski racing. He believes too many races can make the sport boring, whereas fewer races can keep the interest higher for when there are competitions.

Number of races per discipline

How many races per discipline does Waldner see as a good number?

“We’ve talked many times (before) about eight per discipline—something like 32 total. Now we talk about 45,” Waldner replies.

“When we build up the calendar, we need to consider travel load and balance of disciplines (between) speed and tech, but especially the distribution of the races. (We need to) not have three blocks of speed in a row (but rather have a) distribution so the racer can have time to recover. Very important!” the race director points out.

Waldner says all the national ski associations (NSAs) must cooperate to rebuild the calendar with fewer races, but he knows it will not be easy.

“There is so much interest behind it,” he says. “But we need to react because this (season) is an alert. Too many injuries, too many injuries!” he exclaims.

Click on image to enlarge

Racers’ “secret” meeting   

The competitors also want change. After the men’s mid-February World Cup weekend, news spread that top speed athletes from various national teams had met secretly in Kvitfjell without coaches, FIS representatives, or others.

Top competitors from various national teams sat down and discussed their concerns about the World Cup race schedule. The racers no longer want a double downhill in Kitzbühel and Wengen, according to the Tiroler Tageszeitung on February 19 and Laola1.at on February 20. In addition, the Zermatt-Cervinia downhill competitions are not among the racers’ favorites. Snow conditions and weather have led to the cancellation of all eight World Cup competitions scheduled there in late fall during the last two seasons.

Waldner confirmed to Tiroler Tageszeitung that the racers had organized the meeting.

“It is good that they have talked together internally. They are on the same page and have discussed a lot of points. They want to have a say in the calendar planning. That is their right. After all, they are the ones racing. Everything they say is justified,” Waldner stated, according to Laola1.at on February 20.

According to the Austrian media outlets, the head coaches also held a meeting in Kvitfjell and want changes in the race calendar planning. The athletes’ and head coaches’ goals include quality over quantity at the World Cup events.

Safety installations and protective equipment

The high number of injuries calls for a closer look at what can be improved to increase racer safety. In addition to adjusting the World Cup race calendar, safety installations and protective equipment are essential.

According to Waldner, safety installations, such as air fences and slip skirts that line the racecourses, are of a very high standard. He confirms this in comparison with installations in summer motorsports like MotoGP and Formula 1.

The gate panels have also gone through a significant evolution over the past several years, Waldner points out. “In the past, when you straddled (with your arm), you nearly broke your shoulder or your arm. Now, they’ve developed panels that release very easily. So, there is a big evolution behind many details,” the race director explains.

Additionally, there are significant developments in the protective equipment for the racers, according to Waldner. He mentions the commonly used back protectors and plastic pads worn to protect the racers’ bodies, as well as airbags and cut-proof undergarments.

Airbags and cut-proof undergarments

The FIS Council has decided that athletes must wear airbags during World Cup downhill and super-G events, beginning with the 2024-25 season.

Waldner says the decision has not come without discussions and some resistance, “even if the best skier in the world is using (the airbag) and feels comfortable and is winning all the races. So, it’s not an aerodynamic disadvantage,” Waldner states, citing Marco Odermatt as an example.

“I am 100% sure that an airbag really can absorb forces and reduce severe injuries,” Waldner says regarding especially tough crashes.

Some media reports indicate that certain World Cup racers hold divided opinions on whether the airbag enhances safety or potentially poses a more significant risk in specific situations.

According to Waldner, not all racers support using airbags and cut-resistant undergarments because they think they restrict their mobility or are uncomfortable. Also, he says some NSAs might hesitate to support mandatory measures because this protective gear is expensive.

Can’t FIS decide?

What about FIS? Can’t the governing body for international skiing and snowboarding decide mandatory rules for safety garments?

“The FIS is the NSAs,” Waldner points out. “We have one president, but FIS is the NSAs.”

The FIS comprises 135 national ski associations that have applied for membership, and NSA representatives are members of the executive boards and committees within the FIS.

If FIS is going to apply new safety regulations, the members of the national ski associations must agree to that because they decide, Waldner says.

If an NSA does not want a new regulation, they can block it. “It was always like this. It was like this in the past with the skis, radius and so on. It is not always easy to make these big decisions,” the experienced chief race director explains.

Reduce the risk

Still, Waldner hopes for change after this season. There are injuries every season, he points out. But he sees this World Cup season, with its many injured superstars on both the women’s and men’s side, as an urgent situation which he hopes will make discussions and adjustments possible.

The goal for the adjustments is not to avoid injuries, he says, “because this sport is connected with injuries. It is a high-risk sport. Otherwise, we’d play ping-pong. Here, everybody goes up (to the start) and knows the risk is there.

“We can reduce the risk; that is our job. But we need to stay together.”

Aggressive equipment and ice

Waldner is concerned about the increasing aggressiveness of ski equipment and the forces this creates related to the risk of injuries.

“The ski industry produces more and more aggressive equipment,” the chief race director points out. “It’s the whole package: It’s the ski boot, the plate, the binding, and the ski itself. We need to talk about the full package,” he explains eagerly.

Race hills were not so icy in the past, but the race surface has become increasingly harder and icier over time. According to Waldner, the national teams’ request for fairness led to this development. He explains:

“Our sport is not fair because (bib) number one has one condition, number two has different conditions. Can you imagine with number 30?” Waldner asks rhetorically. “To make it as fair as possible, we started to manipulate the snow to make it harder. The development of this course preparation was going in an extreme direction. And together with this topic of fairness, the equipment developed.

“On these very icy conditions, a very aggressive setup can be fast. So, you see, we are turning the dial here,” Waldner says while cranking an imaginary dial.

The limit

“If you want to perform, you need to push this package to the limit. In the past, Franz Klammer was also going 140 km/h down the Streif on the finish pitch. Speed (going) straight was the same. But we now have three times more speed in the turn and more power—all the forces. And this is thanks to the snow preparation in connection with the equipment,” he states.

“If you make the slope softer, they could not prepare the equipment in such an aggressive way, but they would complain.

“A solution? No. Because we turned this little dial too far, and nobody wants to go back. Nobody wants to,” Waldner says with concern. “The problem is, bottom line, that we have too many injuries, not (only) on the World Cup, but on lower levels.”

Downhill safety

While some injury-related topics are yet to be resolved, other measures have been successful.

Two years ago, the FIS Race Director for men’s speed events, Hannes Trinkl, and then-FIS Technical Expert Atle Skårdal talked with Ski Racing about safety measures, such as a new philosophy in downhill course sets and terrain and measuring the profile and trajectory of downhill jumps. Has this been working positively?

“Yes, especially with the profile measurements of the jumps,” Waldner says, and shares that the FIS still works very closely with the involved staff at the University of Innsbruck. “We can estimate the course of the jumps with the right profile. This helps a lot. We can compare (with) how the jump looked the season before.”

Racers’ safety

Waldner, in consultation with jury members and the organizing committee, is responsible for deciding whether to start or cancel a downhill training or a race when the conditions might challenge the safety of the racers.

Organizers must arrange an official training run on every course section used in the downhill race to ensure a race can take place on the entire run. Also, the racers must have started in (but not necessarily completed) at least one official training run to be allowed to start in the downhill race.

If it is impossible to complete official training on the whole course before the race day, there are two options, according to Waldner: To organize a training run on the missing section on the morning of the race day, or to race only the section already skied by the athletes.

The FIS and organizers maximize everything to conduct training in the days leading up to a downhill race. Several factors must be considered. Waldner clearly states that training does not occur if safety cannot be  maintained.

“It is always difficult to know where the limit is, but the decision is always taken in consultation with the organizers, the weather forecast, and the teams can also be consulted for a general opinion,” Waldner explains.

The best interest of the sport

If you follow World Cup skiing over time, you might notice it: Regardless of Waldner’s decision, somebody will say it is wrong. What does Waldner think about this?

“You cannot make everybody happy! If you decide like this, all the guys are not happy. If you decide like so, then they are not happy,” he says, pointing to various views and interests within the sport.

How does Waldner deal with this professionally, and how does he manage to stay in this situation?

“This is our job. If you are a referee, you have a jury,” he says, pointing out that he works with his colleagues in these situations. “You make decisions for the sport in the best interest of the sport all the time.”

The race director says there is no room to consider racers’ individual interests. “We need to make sure that the global event, the whole event, is as fair as possible. That we deliver. You can’t ask: ‘What do you want to do?’ Or you ask the top 15, ‘What do you prefer?’ Then you’ll get 15 different opinions. Our goal is really for the best interest of the sport.

Not easy

“This is not easy,” he says, pointing out that criticism comes from all sides, “but we know there are personal interests behind it.” He mentions the cancellation of the men’s slalom in Bansko, Bulgaria, earlier this winter as an example, where the race was cancelled after the first 31 skiers in the first run due to heavy rainfall. There were strongly divided opinions on whether a cancellation was necessary.

“We have to hold our line because we need to make sure that the whole sport stays as fair as possible,” Waldner says to describe his decisions.

Passion for skiing

With his extensive background, which experiences from the past help him make decisions?

Waldner replies with enthusiasm but also concern:

“I was born in the mountains. I started skiing at two years old, like most of the guys, growing up in the snow. I did all these jobs connected to ski racing, coaching, studying for a degree in Innsbruck at the sports university, and then many years of coaching, 15 years in the (FIS) second league in five continents, and now ten years in the World Cup, so this is my life. My life!

“Every day, you go out and you learn a lot. Every day you learn something, but sometimes things get repeated. And when the same mistakes are made, it makes me tired. But we can’t always change everything because there are too many interests. It’s heavy, you know. It’s not new.”

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