Simonhöhe joins 2021/22 snowboard alpine tour

After two successful European Cup events in the past seasons, Simonhöhe will now hold races at the highest FIS level, joining the FIS Snowboard Alpine World Cup for the first time in 2021/22 season.

Alongside Bad Gastein, the competitions in Simonhöhe will be the second Austrian stop on snowboard alpine tour in 2021/22. The individual parallel giant slalom competition as well as the team event are scheduled to take place on 15-16th of January, wrapping up the first part of the season and acting as the final test ahead of the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.

This winter sports highlight event for the Carinthian region was presented this past weekend by the Governor and Sports Officer of Carinthia Peter Kaiser, Regional Tourism Councillor Sebastian Schuschnig, ÖSV President Karl Schmidhofer and Regional Sports Director Arno Arthofer.

Kaiser described the FIS decision to award two World Cup races to the Simonhöhe as "good news" for Carinthia. Since the competitions are the last ones before the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, the anticipation for the event is already very high. "On the part of the Carinthian sports family, we will do everything we can to ensure that both the athletes and all fans will have unforgettable days. Carinthia will also show its best side in winter," said the governor.

"It is a happy day for our state. Such a leading sporting event has a strong international appeal and will generate a great deal of interest in Carinthia," said Sebastian Schuschnig. It is a strong signal at the right time and a great distinction for the local tourist location. "We also have a high quality in the small ski areas," emphasized Schusnig.

ÖSV President Karl Schmidhofer expressed his joy that two World Cup races for parallel snowboard racers in Austria will take place next winter in Bad Gastein and in Simonhöhe: "I was deeply involved in organisation of the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships in Kreischberg and Lachtal back in 2021 so I am happy that we were able to find a new destination to be included in the 2021/22 World Cup calendar.”

The head of the organizing committee, Werner Schöffmann, thanked the ÖSV for the unanimous decision to award Simonhöhe as a World Cup venue and also thanked the public for their support. "Today is a jubilee day for the entire Carinthian snowboard family. The Simonhöhe has meanwhile developed into a true snowboard home for many athletes. We will be able to welcome the world's best snowboard athletes in Carinthia in January," said Schöffmann.

State sports director Arno Arthofer was enthusiastic about the development at the Simonhöhe: "What has been built up so far with personal commitment and manageable use of funds is admirable. We are supporting the project on the part of the state with full conviction and are already looking forward to the Carinthian snowboard elite to be seen at the home world cup.”

In fact, with Sabine Schöffmann, Daniela Ulbing, Alexander Payer, Fabian Obmann and Aron Juritz, Carinthia makes up a significant part of the ÖSV World Cup team. For Payer and Schöffmann, it is dream come true: "If someone had told me a few years ago that we were going to do a World Cup race on our local mountain, I would have said they were crazy. But now the time has come and I'm super happy about it", said Sabine Schöffmann.

The Central Carinthia region and the municipality of St. Urbans have also pledged their support. "This is a unique opportunity to make the region and the Simonhöhe ski area known nationwide," said St. Urbans Mayor Dietmar Rauter.

“Snowboard Alpine tour is looking forward to the World Cup premiere in Simonhöhe,” said FIS Race Director Uwe Beier, “The strong Austrian team deserves a second home stop on tour and it will be the final event and the last chance to qualify for the Games. The competitions in Simonhöhe will round up an exciting first half of the season, while leading straight into the pinnacle parallel giant slalom race of the year in Beijing.”