FIS removes Lake Louise from the 2023-24 Alpine Ski World Cup calendar

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation has removed a provisional men’s run at Lake Louise, Alta, from its calendar for next season, Alpine Canada confirmed Friday.

Skiing’s governing body initially allowed the men to compete at the ski resort in Banff National Park from November 22 to 26, but with a “to be confirmed” designation.

But Alpine Canada’s president and chief executive officer Therese Brisson said in a press release Friday that time had run out to secure funding for the races.

“We have been working with various stakeholders since last season to find solutions and despite some progress we have run out of time to confirm funding early enough to run the event for the upcoming 2023-24 season,” said Brisson.

She said Alpine Canada remains committed to a speed event in Western Canada.

Lake Louise has been the traditional men’s speed season opener, though it would have been the second stop in this campaign had it continued.

Alpine Canada had already replaced the traditional women’s downhill run in Lake Louise the week after the men’s with a pair of women’s World Cup giant slalom races on December 2-3 in Mont-Tremblant, Que. Those races are confirmed.

The Canadian alpine ski team has had a stellar season with James Crawford winning a men’s super-G world title and Laurence St. Germain defeating American superstar Mikaela Shiffrin for the women’s world slalom title.

Cameron Alexander took bronze in the men’s downhill world championship and Canada also won bronze in the mixed team parallel race.