“Unfinancial”: that’s why Zermatt doesn’t want any races in March

“This hurt me especially for CEO Christian Ziörjen, his team and the more than 500 helpers who did a great job. But we are not giving up, after a short break the machine is running at full speed again towards the women’s race,” said Julen combatively.

SRF meteorologist: “Pretty sunny and dry”

The problem: There is also no stable high-pressure area in sight for the women’s descents next weekend. Jürg Zogg from SRF Meteo tells Blick: “It should be quite sunny and dry on both days. The question for Saturday is whether the fresh snow that fell the night before can be cleared from the slopes in time. The meteorologist explains that he is more optimistic for Sunday. “I suspect there could be at least one departure.”

Zogg’s words are a balm for the wounds of the Matterhorn organizers. Julen: “These promising forecasts also correspond with those of our weather experts. From Thursday we are optimistic.” According to FIS regulations, at least one training session must be completed before a descent can take place – the one on Wednesday is likely to be difficult, but on Thursday and Friday it would probably be possible for Corinne Suter (29) and her colleagues to get started to be able to go.

Five-year strategy, but no contract

As Zermatt organizers focus on the next tasks, many are already wondering what will happen next with the Matterhorn races in 2024. Will it even go ahead? Julen makes it clear: “We have a five-year strategy with the FIS, the Italian and Swiss ski associations.” It is not a contract, but for him the agreement is clear – and also a matter of honor. “We also constantly discuss what we can improve. The exchange is excellent.”

The fact is: Julen has little interest in the suggestions of former top skiers Marc Berthod (39), Hans Knauss (52) and Felix Neureuther (39) to postpone the races until March. He always emphasized that. He gives four reasons that speak against it. Firstly: the whole thing would not be financeable: “The FIS asked us if we could go into March. But that doesn’t work because our sponsors want to advertise summer sports, but not skiing. Nobody wants to invest in winter sports in March.”

This was completely different before November; all sponsorship packages for the speed opening were sold within three months.

The second reason that, according to Julen, speaks against the March races: the enormous effort on the glacier. “Then we would first have to push away four to six meters of snow to get to the glacier. The columns must then be secured in the same way as during the fall.”

Thirdly: in March the hotels are full and there is no room for the ski entourage – neither in Zermatt nor in Cervinia (It). And fourth: Because, unlike November, the entire ski area is currently open to tourists, the mountain railways have to prepare 360 ​​kilometers of slopes night after night. “We can no longer provide the Gran Becca in the way necessary for such an event.”

Either way, it’s clear: the races on the Matterhorn will still be talked about – when there are finally races. They would be like salvation.