The FIS Continental Cup season 2011/2012 in Alpine Skiing is commencing with the South American Cup (SAC) in Cerro Castor, Ushuaia (ARG) this week.

Despite the problem caused by ash following the eruption of the Puyehue volcano on the Argentinean-Chilean border, the season began on schedule on Monday in the southernmost ski resort of the world, Cerro Castor. A FIS level giant slalom was staged with more than 90 racers from seven countries. The series of races this week also includes two SAC events, one GS and SL each.

The eruption of the Puyehue volcano has mostly affected the city of Bariloche and its ski resort Cerro Catedral, with significant amounts of ash on the ground and the road from Chile as well as Bariloche Airport being subject to closure.

The South American Alpine competition calendar consists of several races in August, including those in Antillanca (CHI) on 13th-14th August, and at Catedral and Chapelco (ARG) on 20th-21st August, before moving to Valle Nevado (CHI) with the Brazilian championships from 24th-26th August.

As reported last week, another highlight event will be the first super Continental Cup in Freestyle ski cross organized by the Brazilian and Chilean Ski Associations in Nevados de Chillan, on 6th-7th August, with a large number of racers marking the start of this new event in South America and paving the way for future development of ski cross in South America.

The ski resorts in South America are all open with varying snow conditions, from normal snow levels in the central part of the Andes (Portillo, La Parva, El Colorado, Valle Nevado and Las Leñas), to a lot of snow in Nevados de Chillan, Antillanca and Ushuaia, and difficult conditions in Catedral and Chapelco. 
On the other side of the Southern hemisphere, "Down Under", the Australia-New Zealand Cup in Alpine Skiing will get underway at Mt Hotham (AUS) from 15th-19th August 2011.