FIS controller Hans Grogl inspected the Maribor slope this morning, determining that there was not enough snow in the lower part of the piste.

Following the inspection, Grogl commended the organisers for the efforts they had invested in preparations so far but said that they could not compete against the weather.

Slovenia has seen rather warm temperatures in the past days, when temperatures reached about 10 degrees centigrade during the day and did not fall below the freezing point during the night.

This prevented organisers from using snow canons on the Maribor piste, whose finish lies at only 330 metres above sea level.

The cancellation did not come as a surprise considering the weather, and there has been a lot of talk about Kranjska Gora taking over in the past couple of days.

"Kranjska Gora is also an official backup location for the Golden Fox and such a decision was expected," Golden Fox Secretary General Srečko Vilar said. "There is enough snow... and the piste is practically ready."

Kranjska Gora took over the Golden Fox already six times in the past due to lack of snow in Maribor. Twice, the Golden Fox races were held in Bad Gastein, Austria and Jahorina, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The only problem could be accommodation, as the resort is fully booked over the holidays. Therefore spectators and teams are likely to stay in the nearby lakeside town of Bled.