In a surprising turn of events, the roller skiing community received disheartening news as the 2023 Roller Ski World Championships faced cancellation. The prestigious event, initially scheduled to take place in Otepää, Estonia, underwent a host change to Lazzate, Italy. However, unforeseen organizational challenges have now forced the event’s cancellation.

In mid-June, it was announced that Otepää had withdrawn as the organizer for this year’s Roller Ski World Championships. The decision came as a blow to participants and followers of the sport, who eagerly anticipated the competitions on roller skis.

A new host emerged in the form of Lazzate, Italy, raising hopes that the championships would still proceed. Nevertheless, the roller skiing community was met with another unexpected twist when news of the event’s cancellation surfaced.

Read More: New venue revealed for the 2023 Roller Ski World Championships

According to the press release from the FIS Roller Skiing Facebook page, the FIS Roller Ski World Championships in Lazzate, originally scheduled from August 10 to 13, will not take place as planned. The Roller Ski World Championships will be postponed to 2024, with details about the new host to be announced at a later date.

The announcement has not only affected the senior athletes but also impacted the FIS Junior Roller Ski World Championships. The Junior Championships were initially planned to take place in Lazzate, but now it will be rescheduled to FIS Roller Ski World Cup Madona in Latvia, set to occur on August 18-20.

The decision has undoubtedly disappointed the roller skiing community, particularly the Organizing Committee of the Roller Ski World Championships in Lazzate, which had put in significant effort and resources to host the event. Unfortunately, as revealed by Andrea Pizzi, Chief of Competition, unforeseen challenges related to financial backing led to the cancellation.

“For reasons beyond our control,” stated Andrea Pizzi, “the financial backing we counted on and which had given us the go-ahead to start with all the organizational machinery failed. However, I want to thank all those who have worked in every possible and imaginable way to be able to cope with this shortage. Still, unfortunately, we no longer have the technical time to guarantee the event’s success.”

Next Roller Ski World Cup – Madona, Latvia

For a comprehensive Madona Roller Ski World Cup events calendar, click here.

Roller Ski Test 

In addition to the thrilling competitions, we invite you to delve into our comprehensive roller skis review. Our experts have meticulously tested, compared, and reviewed a remarkable selection of nine pairs of classic roller skis and eight pairs of skate roller skis from leading manufacturers. Stay informed and make the most informed choices with our exclusive coverage of The Big Roller Ski Test 2023.

Read More: The Big Roller Ski Test 2023