Marco Di MarcO, Fis Carving responsable, have sent the official request to the Executive Boarding of Fis, about the news for next season. The Ski Alpine Commission will take the decision about it at the end of maj, after the Fis Meeting in Dubrovnik (20-25 maj 2009)

Here the official letter

To the
FIS ALPINE COMMITTEE
Att.n Chairman TONI SAILER

Dear Chairman,

The International Fis Carving Cup Committee wanted to bring to your and to the council's attention, a new proposal concerning the carving discipline, which, this year completes its 10th year.
We, in fact, wanted to propose a new type of carving races, which, as we think, could have the potential to make the carving races more interesting to many alpine skiers, because of the lack of most of the differences that today separate these disciplines, such as the sticks, the three race lines, the race suit.

The SPEED CARVING (or SUPER CARVING) sees just one boa for each turn and a wide radius which allows a good speed - preserving anyway in the carving way of skiing, with a different line than the giant slalom would see.
It would be possible to use the sticks and also the regular race suit. The speed would be slightly lower than during a giant slalom, due to the smaller radius in the turns.
The course wouldn't have more than 25 turns, that way it remains a short competition, were, this time, only the race time counts.

The traditional carving competition would change its name in SLALOM CARVING. The formula would be changed in 2 qualifying races and a final race featuring the first 10 men and the first 10 women. Until now, there was also a semi final with the first 30 men and 10 women. With these changes it would be possible to run two races during a competition week end: on Saturday the SLALOM CARVING and on Sunday the SPEED CARVING. The formula of the Speed Carving schedules as well two qualifying runs and one final run for the top ten athletes.

Moreover this would make it possible to have a third competition: the combined. This means to be able to assign the points of three different races and not just of one and that would improve the suspense for the general ranking.
The SPEED CARVING (or SUPER CARVING) could be a good way to interest also those athletes, which since now were doubtful because of the huge differences between the Carving races and the rest of the Alpine disciplines. Many World Cup Athletes today already train with the buoys to improve their technique for the giant slalom, and the Speed Carving follows this idea.

During the summer the CO FCC will do new tests and write the rules for setting distances and methods. Rules that will be approved by the federal authorities, and than submitted to the Alpine Committee during the September meeting for approval.
In a second place the CO FCC is also asking to you, the Chairman, and the FIS Council, to officialize the FIS Carving points, we are keeping since the first races (they fix the start order and the possibility to compete).

This opportunity would honour the agonistic commitment of the athletes, which of course would at this point pay the fee for the assignment of the FIS code, payment you gently didn't ask since now. Official FIS points would also help to eliminate all little doubts concerning the status of the Carving races.
We are convinced that after 10 years of activity it is important to create something new and positive to interest more athletes, to entertain the public, the media and the sponsors.

Thank you very much for your kind attention

International Carving Committee
Giulio Rossi (ITA), Marco Di Marco (ITA), Mauro Robustelli (SUI), Karel Truglas (SLO), Thomas Kurdziel (POL), David Mencl (CZE), Hans Steiner (AUT)