This is how it continues on the Matterhorn: OK boss Julen: “We have a contract until 2026”

As Julen speaks, the wind whistles around his ears. The same happens with Beat Tschuor, the women’s head coach. He says: “It is extremely bitter, for everyone. The frustration is great. Maybe we have a small chance on Sunday, but it remains difficult.”

Saturday’s cancellation is grist to the mill of those who believe a November race in this high-alpine location is impossible. Julen answers: “That’s not right. In 2018 it was similar to now, we had three or four weeks of changeable weather like today. In 2020 it was perfect for almost a month. Overall, our long-term weather data shows that there are always stable but also unstable days. We are currently dealing with a storm situation not only here, but throughout Central Europe.”

The fact is: the keywords farce, nonsense and chaos continue to be bandied about when it comes to the races on the Matterhorn. There are also major environmental problems: the photos of the excavator working on the glacier in the run-up to the speed opening caused heated debate. Ultimately, the question arises more than ever: does this two-country event, which is praised as visionary, even have a future?

There is a five-year contract

The answer is quick: yes. All sponsors and also the host channel SRG have contracts for three, four or five years. “Our planning continues until then,” says OK boss Franz Julen. In addition to the solid financial basis, there is a five-year strategy between the associations involved: Swiss-Ski, FISI (Italian Ski Association) and FIS (World Ski Association). Everyone wants to complete the project successfully.

But what does strategy mean? According to information from Blick, it is more than just a strategy; there is also a written agreement. “Yes, the FIS, the two national associations and the local OC have signed a written contract for 5 years,” Swiss-Ski CEO Diegoüger and OC chairman Franz Julen confirm in unison.

March? No, it stays in November

The races on the Matterhorn will continue to take place in November – moving to March, which was considered by former ski stars Marc Berthod (39), Hans Knauss (52, Austria) and Felix Neureuther (39, De), is not an option. Even though the weather may be more stable. “The crucial reason is that the races would then not be financeable. The interest from sponsors is considerably lower and many are already thinking about the summer,” says Julen.

In addition, there are the increased efforts on the glacier, the fully booked hotels and the closure of the slopes to tourists, the 65-year-old explains. “We cannot transport the entire target infrastructure to the finish at 2,850 meters in winter. There is snow and the road used in the fall is a ski slope in the winter.”

The next dates in November are already available

The FIS is one of the driving forces behind the speed gap. For President Johan Eliasch it is even a prestige object. This begs the question: why doesn’t the FIS finally publish a long-term calendar, i.e. a provisional ski calendar for the next 3 to 5 years?

This used to be common; Many stakeholders have long been annoyed that such a calendar does not exist – after all, everyone wants planning certainty. Eliasch resisted this logical step for a long time, because he first wanted to push through his plans for central marketing. He didn’t get away with it – or not yet.

At the FIS autumn meeting in Zurich at the end of September, a calendar proposal until 2026 was finally presented and subsequently confirmed. Blick had insight into the calendars that were published. It shows that all Swiss breeds continue to exist: Adelboden, Wengen, St. Moritz and Crans-Montana. And that’s it: Zermatt/Cervinia. In 2024, the races will be on November 9 and 10 (men) and November 16 and 17 (women).

You want to critically question everything

Back to the foot of the Matterhorn, where the speed opening in the two-year balance sheet was not satisfactory from a sporting perspective. ‘That is undoubtedly the case. Despite the complexity of this two-country project, we were on top of our organizational game. We wanted to offer all teams good training opportunities in the run-up to the races and especially the competitions afterwards. “Unfortunately, nature has ruined our plans,” says Julen.

“In the coming weeks and months we will sit down with all partners and critically question everything. If further improvements are possible, we will address these as well.”

As far as improvements are concerned, Tuger already sees an issue that definitely needs to be addressed. “When it comes to sustainability, we have to become even more active and communicate more proactively. The excavator on the glacier is a good example of this. This work is necessary to fill the gaps and thus guarantee safety. We try to keep such work, which is essentially nothing new, to a minimum. By the time we explained this to people, many people already had the image in their minds that he would destroy the ice. Glaciologists also confirm that filling crevasses does not destroy the glacier.”

What is left in the end? The realization that the races on the Matterhorn will not disappear anytime soon. Discussions with insurers are also going in the right direction, he said.

And anyway: “With SRG, which produces the races, and the media rights partner Infront, we have very important allies who believe in this project. When it comes to our partners and sponsors, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Even during the men’s weekend, which had to be completely canceled, the mood in Zermatt was very good. People were happy with the beginning of winter, no matter how bitter it was.”

Is the project ‘too big to fail’?

Neither Zuger nor Julen fear damage to their image. “Last year there was also criticism and we had the best winter ever. The myth of Zermatt-Matterhorn, which has been built up for decades with our top tourist offering, is stronger than the World Cup races that were canceled due to too much fresh snow,” says Julen.

Zermatt Tourismus has even calculated that in 2022 alone the advertising value of the canceled quick opening was 93 million francs – with a potential reach of 3.5 billion people. Even if these numbers are even higher this year, they should always be viewed with caution. Nevertheless, the question is allowed: is Zermatt/Cervinia currently “too big to fail”? So too big and important to fail – rejection or not? “A good question,” says Zuger, smiling – he wouldn’t mind if it were.