Lauberhorn Racers Cancelled, Moved to Kitzbuhel

dachstein west skier wrote:Blimey just because us Brits can't get out there at the moment doesn't mean we should try to cancel the locals main ski events in the year. I was at Kitzbuhel and Schladming a few years ago for the downhill and night slalom tragic news and loss of revenue as major earners. Brits will be viewed with negativity if the virus causes a major lockdown preventing the locals from skiing and post Brexit won't be easy to get work next season. Fingers crossed they don't cancel the downhill will be watching Ski Sunday in anticipation of another podium finish for Dave Ryding Kitzbuhel his favourite course.

Except the slalom races have now been moved to Flachau!

The Hahnenkamm slalom that normally takes place on the day after the downhill has been replaced by a super-G, the current program is:

Friday, 22nd January 11.30 am: Worldcup downhill (Wengen)
Saturday 23rd January 11.30 am: Hahnenkamm-downhill
Sunday, 24th January 10.20 am: Hahnenkamm-Super-G

The Brits in Jochberg seem to have been on a ski course https://www.tt.com/artikel/17735254/corona-causa-jochberg-nur-skikurs-aber-keine-ausbildung-der-briten

Slalom being held in Flachau where the coronavirus rate is higher than in Kitzbuhel according to the locals.

The Sun seems to know a bit more about it at https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/uknews/13724246/brit-ski-instructors-blamed-covid-outbreak-parties-virus

As you would expect there are factual issues with article in the Sun. If you want to get some idea of what went on paste the link from my post above or this one https://www.vienna.at/tirol-britische-skilehrer-waren-eher-skischueler/6863669 into Google translate.

The Austrian authorities are concerned that the British skiers in Jochberg might have brought the B.1.1.7 variant into the region, hence the mass testing program. Over the next few days, 62,000 people from the Kitzbühel district are to be asked to take COVID-19 tests. https://www.tt.com/artikel/30773271/pcr-proben-aus-jochberg-ausgewertet-bisher-vier-positive-ergebnisse

The Swiss authorities are so worried about the B.1.1.7 variant that they announced further nationwide measures yesterday, in spite of falling infections. https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/massnahmen-des-bundes.html

Thanks is there a chance that if the testing results in high levels they will cancel the 2 downhills scheduled for next Friday and Saturday?

It will be interesting to see what the 'facts' are re Wengen. This is my information:
https://twitter.com/skipedia/status/1349715666782351361

The info we have on the alleged Wengen 'super-spreader' is that he arrived prior to 10 Dec (so no quarantine required) & was diagnosed positive on 23 Dec (so presumably contracted in resort from someone else)

Have you any evidence that this is the case? It is highly unlikely that the Cantonal Medical Officer for Canton Berne would have said "The regulation was clear: The super spreader from Great Britain in Wengen should have gone into quarantine, but disregarded this regulation. He only went into quarantine later." in a Federal Office of Public Health Corona virus press conference that was streamed live to the Swiss public. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3exlYTjGNM

Bear in mind that the Swiss authorities obtained the passenger lists from the airlines and if he had a mobile phone they will also know when and where it connected to the Swiss cellular network when he crossed the border.

Canton Berne is absolutely certain that he was the source and have issued a press release (in English) stating this: https://www.be.ch/portal/de/index/mediencenter/medienmitteilungen.assetref/dam/documents/portal/Medienmitteilungen/de/2021/01/2021-01-12-gsi-Mitteilung%20an%20die%20Bev%C3%B6lkerung-Wengen-englisch.pdf

If he did arrive before the 14th and can prove it he should inform the cantonal authorities asap. If the Swiss authorities decide to prosecute him it will likely be a lengthy and expensive business. The Swiss and UK governments signed a bilateral police agreement in December so the UK police might also be involved.