With over three months left until the start of the Audi FIS World Cup in Jasna, preparations are already in full swing. Organizers have already completed part of the work, having modified the finish area for this prestigious event.
Compared to 2016, when the World Cup took place on the northern slopes of the Low Tatras without restrictions for fans, there have been some changes in the resort. "The finish is oriented in a different direction; it's a more advantageous and safer area for the racers. Spectators are also closer to the finish and have better contact with the racers. We are also building a large position at Priehyba for the viewers, from where there will be a view of the entire slalom course and almost the entire giant slalom track," explained the racecourse commander for the World Cup, Maroš Kupčo.
The operation of the ski resort requires a large number of machines to groom the tracks, and for top-level races in Jasna, even more are needed. "We have agreements with companies that manufacture these machines to bring us more. Whether it's for preparing the competition track or for transporting various items along the track. We anticipate that at least five machines will be solely dedicated to the preparation of the World Cup," it was announced from the preparation team.
Good news for the general skiing public is that in connection with the races in Jasna, access to certain parts of the slopes will only be restricted for a short time. "It turns out that around January 12th, we will close both the competition and training tracks," Kupčo revealed.
They will also get the chance to ski on the slopes immediately after the elite skiers from around the world. "The races are on January 20th and 21st, and by January 22nd, skiing could resume on the training track, and a day or two later, also on the competition track. We have experience that the tracks should last longer during the season because they are compact and don't break up as quickly. The hardness won't be as intense as during the races, but they will last longer," the organizers informed.
