--- UPDATE --- The attempt to start the competition today or last night has been postponed due to fog and snowfall and the resulting poor visibility ---
Since the article from last week, little has happened in the contest area, at least in the Alps. In contrast to the last few years, this time it is not the lack of snow, but the continuing heavy snowfall that has forced the organizers to postpone the competitions. As a result, the 2* FWQ in Kappl/Tyrol planned for Saturday 20.01.18 had to be postponed to February 3.
The current situation in the Hakuba Valley
On the main Japanese island of Honshū, the entire FWT circuit and a few older, relatively well-known, wildcarded snowboard pros (Travis Rice is now also back) are waiting in the Hakuba Valley for the start of the 2018 contest season. Over the past few days, heavy rain up to high altitudes has led to a problematic snow situation. Now it looks as if renewed snowfall tomorrow, 23.01.2018, could allow a contest to take place.
For us Europeans, this would mean a start time of 00:15, in the coming night from 22 to 23.1! However, a final OK will only be given at 5 am (local time), as guides will ride the face at 4 am to test its actual suitability. Accordingly, it will be announced during the course of the evening, probably from 10 p.m., via the known channels whether the contest will take place or not.
