"The International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) has announced that the Freestyle World Cup events originally scheduled to take place at Deer Valley Resort in Utah from January 16-18, 2026, will be relocated due to unfavorable early-season weather conditions. According to the press release by FIS, the Aerials competition will be moved to Lake Placid, New York, while the Moguls and Dual Moguls events will be held at Waterville Valley Resort in New Hampshire."
"Given the substantial snow volume, infrastructure, and operational resources required to safely deliver a World Cup-calibre moguls and aerials venue, current conditions do not allow the event to be delivered at Deer Valley to the standards required for elite international competition." - FIS press release FIS said the decision was made after persistent warm temperatures and insufficient snowpack significantly hindered snowmaking efforts at Deer Valley."
"The 2025-26 season until January 18 is a critical Olympic qualification period for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. After the cancelation of events at Idre Fjäll, Sweden, for financial reasons, and Bakuriani, Georgia, for political reasons, the successful staging of these events is vital to allow for athlete qualification. FIS emphasized that athlete preparation, safety, and competitive integrity were central to the decision to relocate the events."
FIS moved the January 16–18, 2026 Freestyle World Cup from Deer Valley Resort to Lake Placid (Aerials) and Waterville Valley (Moguls and Dual Moguls) because warm temperatures and low snowpack hindered snowmaking. The relocation was intended to ensure a venue that meets World Cup standards and to prioritize athlete preparation, safety, and competitive integrity. The timing falls within a crucial Olympic qualification window for Milano Cortina 2026, and recent cancellations at other venues increased the importance of staging these events. Deer Valley’s long history of hosting was affected by an unusually early date and a reduced preparation window.
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