fis world cup events cancelled in squaw valley

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FIS World Cup Cancelled at Squaw Valley West Coast Drought Continues Robert Hornung

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Page 1: FIS World Cup Events Cancelled in Squaw Valley

FIS World Cup Cancelled at Squaw ValleyWest Coast Drought Continues

Robert Hornung

Page 2: FIS World Cup Events Cancelled in Squaw Valley

Those who booked a trip to Squaw Valley in hopes of catching the FIS World Cup ski- and snowboardcross events March 4-8 will be disappointed to know that the

events have been cancelled.

Page 3: FIS World Cup Events Cancelled in Squaw Valley

Conditions at Squaw Valley

The record-setting West Coast drought has dramatically limited precipitation in Squaw Valley, forcing the resort to

cancel the the first World Cup-level event to be scheduled at Squaw Valley in over 45 years.

Page 4: FIS World Cup Events Cancelled in Squaw Valley

Current Conditions

Page 5: FIS World Cup Events Cancelled in Squaw Valley

Current ConditionsWhile the mountain usually receives an average of 450

inches of snow per winter, this year’s accumulation has yet to reach 200 inches. The lack of precipitation appears

even more dramatic when one considers that 24 of the 140 inches of accumulation this year fell in a storm a couple of weeks ago and that February is primetime for ski season in

California.

This is the fourth straight winter that has dramatically fell short of the average.

Page 6: FIS World Cup Events Cancelled in Squaw Valley

Extended West Coast Drought

This lack of precipitation is “unprecedented” according to meteorologist Eric Boldt, who identifies a persisting high

pressure system off the West Coast as the barrier preventing storms from moving over the continent and into the area.

Normally these high pressure systems move more regularly, but this system hasn’t shifted in the last couple of years.

Page 7: FIS World Cup Events Cancelled in Squaw Valley

High pressure system keeping cold air at bay

Page 8: FIS World Cup Events Cancelled in Squaw Valley

Unfortunately, the effects of the drought go far beyond the World Cup events that were cancelled at Squaw Valley. While drought-stricken areas have received some rain over the last couple of weeks, it is mountain snow that, when melted, flows down into state reservoirs that provide a substantial amount of clean water. In California, this source provides over 30% of the

state’s water.

Drought

Page 9: FIS World Cup Events Cancelled in Squaw Valley

The decision to cancel is especially disappointing in terms of the publicity that the events would have given to the resort. Less than 10 years-old, both events were among the most popular at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Fortunately, the cancellation doesn’t mean a

complete shutdown of activity on the slopes; the resort will reallocate the resources that would have been

used for the World Cup events towards maintaining and improving the guest experience.

Read more at http://bobhornungiscfamily.com