A look ahead to the 2018/19 Southern Hemisphere Continental Cups

As the summer heats up in the north, it's hard to believe that the 2018/19 FIS Alpine competition season is well underway in the Southern Hemisphere. The very first FIS races of the new season have already been contested in El Colorado and La Parva, Chile; Tiffindell, South Africa; Chapelco, Argentina; and Cardrona, New Zealand. The month of August ushers in the opening Continental Cup series of 2018/19 with top-caliber racing in South America for the SAC and Australia and New Zealand for the ANC.

The South American Cup (SAC) kicks off first with technical races in Argentina, hosted at Cerro Catedral and Las Lenas from 14-17 and 25-27 August. More GS and SL races continue in Chile at El Colorado and La Parva through early September. The series includes downhill, super-G, and alpine combined races in El Colorado and concludes with technical events in Cerra Catedral.

The SAC will crown discipline title winners in all individual events this season including slalom, giant slalom, super-G, downhill, and alpine combined. Although the competitions are sure to attract talent from around the globe, the top-placing athlete from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela in the overall and discipline standings will qualify for a personal starting spot on the World Cup tour for the 2018/19 season.

The Australia New Zealand Cup (ANC) will start at the end of August in Mount Hotham, Australia, with both slalom and GS races. The series then shifts to Coronet Peak and Mt. Hutt, New Zealand, for the concluding technical and super-G events in early September. The two Coronet Peak slalom and giant slalom races for both men and ladies will be contested as part of the Audi quattro Winter Games NZ, a multi-sport international festival that brings seven winter sports together for New Zealand's largest recurring sporting event.

This year's ANC will crown discipline title winners in slalom, giant slalom, and super-G. The top-placing athlete from Australia or New Zealand in the overall and discipline standings will qualify for a personal starting spot on the World Cup tour for the 2018/19 season.

Stay tuned for news from the SAC and ANC races as they kick off later this month!