All is not lost.
Yes, several February alpine skiing events have left the state because of inadequate snow conditions for racing. Ironically, it was decision that had to be made 10 days before the events — before the recent storms and colder temperatures that hit the Wasatch Front.
But despite the no-snow worries, one can still find quality winter sports events through the remainder of the month — some as early as this week.
Olympic-style action returns to Soldier Hollow, with Thursday's opening of the U.S. Biathlon Championships. Weather woes had some wondering if the event was also to be relocated out of Utah, but the combination of natural snow, artificial snow and the trucking in of snow from higher elevations have the course ready.
Also, the Super Series alpine skiing circuit — billed as the highest-level competition series in the United States and featuring world-class international fields in a stepping-stone program for future World Cup racers — will call Utah home for several championship events this month.
The women will race for Super Series titles in the slalom Feb. 7-8 at Deer Valley Resort and in the giant slalom Feb. 9-10 at Park City Mountain Resort. The men follow with their finals in the downhill and super G events Feb. 25-27 at Snowbasin Ski Area.
The women's Super Series downhill and super G races that had been scheduled for last weekend at Snowbasin were among the several local events that had to be scrubbed. The downhill was canceled outright, while the super G race was moved to Montana.
Also victims of poor racing conditions were two women's World Cup events and three major races — the slalom, which was to be contested Sunday at Deer Valley, and the downhill and super G, which had been set for Feb. 10 and 12 at Snowbasin. Course conditions at the latter forced the relocation of both "packaged" events, even though Deer Valley boasted better snow conditions for racing.
The three races have been rescheduled for Feb. 10-12 at Santa Caterina, Italy.