While summer is in full swing in the Northern Hemisphere, FIS competitions have started in the southern part of the globe.
Down Under
In Perisher (AUS), there was exciting racing on 22nd and 23rd July 2017 with the opening competitions of the FIS Cross-Country Australian New Zealand Cup (ANC) featuring four different winners across four competitions.
Phillip Bellingham and Barbara Jezersek (both AUS) each claimed victory in the freestyle sprint while Katerina Paul (AUS) won the 5km classic and Philippe Nicollier (SUI) edged out the locals to win the 10km classic.
According to Patrick Thorne/the SnowHunter, it has been a snowy July in Australia with ski areas reporting up to 30cm of fresh snow over the past days. The snow has come as a welcome relief after one of the two warmest Junes this century.
This week, big names in snowboarding, including local hero Alex Pullin, will be at Mt Hotham (AUS) to compete in the first races of the FIS Australian New Zealand Cup in snowboard cross on 27th-28th July.
Meanwhile, Mt Buller (AUS) is gearing up for the opening competitions of the FIS Freestyle ANC in ski cross from 31st July-4th August.
The first Alpine Skiing ANC events will take place from 21st-25th August in Thredbo (ANC).
Neighbouring New Zealand will see its first ANC competitions from 15th-18th August 2017 in Cardrona with ski and snowboard halfpipe events. Meanwhile, the resort is gearing up for one of the world’s top winter sports events, the Audi quattro Winter Games from 25th August-10th September, which will also mark the start of both the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Cup 2017/18 seasons.
Some areas in New Zealand delayed opening in July, but the past few weeks have been increasingly snowy with some big snowfalls in the last seven days.
Click here for the ANC calendar across the FIS disciplines.
There are plenty of additional FIS races scheduled in Mt Buller (AUS), Cardrona, Coronet Peak and Treble Cone (NZL). Click here for an overview.
South America
Most ski resorts in South America had a slow start to the season at the beginning of July, until a massive snowfall took place in the Southern Andes and conditions have changed to allow for good skiing with 1-2.5m bases and 5-20 cm of fresh snow in recent days, according to the SnowHunter.
Traditionally, August marks the beginning of the FIS South American Cup (SAC) competitions and Alpine skiers will kick things off with giant slalom races from 1st-3rd August in Chapelco (ARG). Slalom and giant slalom races will follow a week later in Cerro Catedral (ARG).
On the same weekend, the opening competitions of the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard South American Cup will be held in La Parva (CHI).
Click here for the SAC calendar across the FIS disciplines.
Meanwhile, in October, Cross-Country skiers will be competing in Roller Skiing races in Sao Carlo (BRA). This will be the third season these popular events are held in Brazil.
There is a comprehensive programme of FIS races scheduled in El Colorado, Antillanca, Corralco (all CHI), Chapelco, Cerro Castor, Ushuaia and Caviahue (ARG). Click here for an overview.
South Africa
On the African continent, Tiffindell (RSA) is scheduled to host FIS slalom races, citizen races and National Championships and Junior Championships from 28th July-4th August.
From a snow perspective, there have been natural snow storms in southern Africa and low temperatures have allowed the resorts to carry out snowmaking to open their pistes.