The World Cup ski racing schedule begins this weekend on the Rettenbach Glacier above Solden, Austria.

The season's opening giant slalom races will take place on October 27-28 and the organising committee is working hard to deliver a grandiose anniversary event at the second try. The first attempt, at the 10th anniversary of the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup Opening in Solden last year, was literally washed away by the warm and heavy rain just days before the event, but now the weather forecast promises a significant fall in temperatures with the freezing point dropping down below 1000m of altitude as from Thursday.

Atle Skaardal, FIS Chief Race director for the ladies' FIS Alpine World Cup, said ongoing work and current conditions on the race course on the glacier looked very promising.

"I am looking forward to a solid start for the season in Solden. A good start there, as it looks like we'll have, will help us get us well on our way to having a great season," he said.

Bulgaria's 21-year-old Maria Kirkova will take part in Saturday's giant slalom, said Edi Reichhart, technical director and head coach of the national alpine ski team. Thanks to BFSki's sponsors, Bulgarian National Television will screen live 16 out of 40 starts of the 2007/08 season. Eurosport is also covering the season, except for the rounds in Austria.

The next venue is in Levi, Finland for both women's and men's slaloms. Next the skiers are moving to North America. Men will compete at Lake Louise, Canada (November 21 to 25) and Beaver Creek, the US (November 27 to December 2) while women will ski in Panorama, Canada (November 24-25), Lake Louise (November 28 to December 2) and Aspen (December 4 to 9). After that the caravan comes back to Europe for the rounds in Austria, Italy and France. The season ends in the middle of March 2008.

Preparations are well underway in Bormio (Italy) for the World Cup Grand Finals which will feature the last races in four events (slalom, giant slalom, super-G and downhill). All men's and ladies races - ladies for the first time since 2003 - will be held on the famous Stelvio slope. The schedule will conclude with the nations' team event on March 16.

The 2006/07 Men's World Cup was won by Aksel Lund Svindal from Norway with Benjamin Raich (Austria) second, Didier Cuche (Switzerland) third, and superstar Bode Miller (US) at a disappointing fourth. Austria dominated the Women's World Cup 35 events with Nicole Hosp as champion, Marlies Schild second and Renate Goetschl fourth and between them, Julia Mancuso of the US at third.