LAKE LOUISE – The white circus isn't stopping in Lake Louise this year.
FIS has removed the tentative men's Lake Louise world cup downhill races from the 2023-24 calendar following months of speculation, Alpine Canada confirmed Friday (July 14).
In a media release, Alpine Canada president and CEO Therese Brisson said the economic model for the Lake Louise world cups has been “challenging the past few years.”
“We share in the disappointment of the race stakeholders, our fans, and specifically our athletes, sponsors, and volunteers,” Brisson said. “We want to thank all our sport and funding partners, including the governments of Alberta and Canada, as well as the incredible volunteers who have supported this event for so many years. We remain committed to a men’s speed event in Western Canada and will turn our attention to identifying solutions for the 2024-25 season and beyond.”
Brisson added there had been "some progress" to find solutions, but the national governing body ran out of time to secure funding early enough to host the event this upcoming season.
As of Saturday (July 15), a new location hasn't been announced to replace the Nov. 25-26 downhill and super-G races at the Lake Louise Ski Resort.
The men’s event at the iconic Banff National Park location, which had a “to be confirmed” indication next to it when FIS released its schedule in May, was the last domino to drop in the ongoing Lake Louise world cup saga.
Since last summer, speculation had risen that Alpine Canada and FIS would be moving away from the iconic ski hill in Banff National Park.
Last December’s women’s speed event in Lake Louise was the final one for the foreseeable future, as well. It is replaced with a women’s technical event on the other side of the country in Mont Tremblant, Quebec.
In a previous article with The Canadian Press, Brisson said the cost to run world cups in Lake Louise was expensive and exceeds $1 million, including $400,000 for snow-making at the resort.
Lake Louise hosted its first world cup in March 1980. From 1994 onward, the race has been a staple on the ski world cup circuit at the Lake Louise Ski Resort and featured star athletes such as Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin.
Closer to home, Canadian athletes who race “The Lake” include world championship bronze medallist and Canmore’s Jeff Read and Olympic bronze medallist Jack Crawford.