The first World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup event of the year has had to be cancelled because of bad weather ©Getty Images

The first World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup event of the year from December 13 to 16 in St. Moritz, Switzerland, has been cancelled due to bad weather.

Martin Berthod, director of sports and events at St. Moritz tourism explained the circumstances behind the cancellation.

"The weather forecast for the week is not good and there is 50cm of wet snow that is too soft to ski on,” he said.

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“It would take one or two days to prepare the slopes and unfortunately we don't have the capacity to do so.

“We have been forced to cancel the race. It was a hard decision but it would not give us a good or secure race for everyone.

“It would be too dangerous to hold the race at this time.

“The forecast for Thursday is wet and Friday the winds are looking to be about 100 miles per hour and it may not even be possible to run the chair.”

The Swiss ski resort of St. Moritz had been set to host the first event of the World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup ©My Switzerland
The Swiss ski resort of St. Moritz had been set to host the first event of the World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup ©My Switzerland

Race director Allison Bombardier added: “The organisers have done an amazing job trying to get the races off for us but unfortunately mother nature was not with us this week.”

The next World Para Alpine Skiing World Cup event is scheduled to take place in Kuhtai, Austria from December 19 to 22. 

The World Cup events are key milestones for skiers ahead of the Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, which will be held from March 9 to 18.