Four instead of two traditional speed races on the Saslong; a serious accident with a happy ending thanks to a perfectly executed emergency rescue protocol; and a business year with positive end results: on Wednesday evening, the Saslong Classic Club reviewed a turbulent 2018/19 sports year as part of its traditional annual general meeting.

President Rainer Senoner opened his annual report with a photo of Marc Gisin. The Swiss ski racer had fallen in the downhill and was seriously injured. Thanks to a perfectly executed emergency rescue protocol, Gisin has fully recovered from his accident. In the beginning of May, the Swiss skier visited the emergency rescue team Aiut Alpin and the organizing committee to express his deepest gratitude. The photo was showing Gisin with representatives of the Saslong Classic Club and the rescue organization.

"Unique in the more than 50-year history of our races was that we hosted two women’s races. We stood in for Val d'Isère in December and seized the opportunity. The fact that Nicol Delago, from the Val Gardena/Gröden valley, was able to finish on the podium is of course the icing on the cake. I would like to thank everyone in the OC, as well as the helpers and not least our partners and sponsors, that we all mastered this additional challenge together - be it from a sporting or financial point of view - and I am proud to be able to lead this committee", said Rainer Senoner also adding the FIS races at the beginning of December with more than 260 athletes among the highlights of the past season.

Four new honorary members

Franco Soppelsa and Hubert Winkler were honored for 20 years of membership in the OC during the general meeting of the Saslong Classic Club. In addition, Willy Demetz, Luis Demetz, Hansi Felder and Florian Mussner, who could not be present in person, were awarded honorary memberships.

But finishing one season is equal to starting the next. Therefore, Rainer Senoner also provided an outlook on what’s new in the upcoming winter. The 50th anniversary of the 1970 World Ski Championships will be celebrated as part of the 2019 Ski World Cup. The Super-G start will be moved towards the Sassolungo/Langkofel mountain in view of a possible two-run sprint downhill race but will remain at the same altitude as the Sochers chairlift. Additionally, the Saslong Classic Club wants to redefine its communications strategy to appeal to new target audiences. "Our goal is to constantly improve ourselves. This is the only way we can maintain our high standard," concludes Senoner.