Kvitfjell takes over the women’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup speed event originally scheduled for Narvik

In a quick pivot to preserve the 2026/27 women’s Alpine Ski World Cup speed calendar, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has confirmed that the Norwegian resort of Kvitfjell will host the women’s downhill and Super-G races from March 10–13, 2027.

The races, originally scheduled to be held in Narvik, Norway, were relocated following the Narvik Local Organizing Committee’s (LOC) decision to withdraw due to construction timelines and potential safety risks at their venue.

The New Schedule in Kvitfjell

The relocated event will maintain its original mid-March dates, capitalizing on Kvitfjell’s experienced organizing staff and proven World Cup infrastructure. The updated schedule for the Kvitfjell women’s speed block is as follows:

• Wednesday, March 10, 2027: Women's Downhill Training

• Thursday, March 11, 2027: Women's Downhill Training

• Friday, March 12, 2027: Women's Downhill

• Saturday, March 13, 2027: Women's Super-G

• This reallocation ensures the women's tour retains its crucial late-season speed events just ahead of the World Cup Finals.

Why Did Narvik Withdraw?

The decision to pull out of the 2027 World Cup was made by the Narvik LOC following a FIS inspection on October 8–9, 2026. During the inspection, FIS Race Director Peter Gerdol noted that "nothing is ready" at the Narvikfjellet venue.

Faced with ongoing construction to upgrade the mountain's infrastructure, the LOC determined that they could not guarantee the venue would be fully completed and safe in time for the March races.

“For a World Cup event we simply cannot afford to take chances,” local organizers stated, emphasizing that the decision was driven by risk management and security reasons, rather than a lack of sporting capability.

Context: The 2029 World Championships

While the cancellation is a temporary setback for Narvik's World Cup ambitions, local organizers and the Norwegian Ski Federation stressed that it does not affect their primary goal: hosting the 2029 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

Narvik won the bid to host the pinnacle event in 2029, and the ongoing construction that forced the 2027 cancellation is part of a massive, long-term infrastructure project designed to elevate the resort to championship standards.

By pulling out of the 2027 test event, the Narvik LOC aims to ensure that their resources are fully concentrated on delivering a flawless World Championship. "It is about ensuring that our resources are used in a way that provides the best possible conditions for delivering a championship of the highest international standard," the LOC explained. "We have great confidence in the project, in the venue, and in Narvik as a future host of the World Championships."

In the meantime, the experienced team at Kvitfjell—a regular stop on the men's speed circuit since the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics—will step in to ensure the women's World Cup tour continues seamlessly this March.