ALPINE SKI WORLD CUP. SESTRIERE, Italy – The waiting game doesn’t get much more drawn out than it was for the women’s World Cup downhill in Sestriere on Saturday. After about 15 centimeters of snow fell beginning Friday morning and a very thick fog hovered all day, canceling downhill training, Saturday was met by similar conditions. Officials and race crews worked around the clock trying to make the race happen but the fog remained, so by the last possible start time – 15:00 – the race was finally cancelled.

Visibility was zero at 10:30 a.m. from top to bottom of the Kandahar course when the race was originally slated to kick off. Near the base of the mountain, however, the sun was trying to poke through the fog and officials continued to push the start time back in hopes that the fog would eventually lift. There were windows of hope in the form of sun and blue skies but the fog never completely lifted and visibility remained impossible on the racecourse.

During the long wait for the weather, some athletes attempted to do slalom training on other parts of the mountain. Others – the Austrians, Canadians, Swiss and Canadians, spent part of the day in the tent at the finish area watching the men’s World Cup action in Chamonix. The Americans, French and Italians spent most of the day at the lodge near the reserve start at the top of the course.

The forecast is calling for slightly better weather on Sunday, when organizers will attempt to run the downhill race again. Following Friday’s cancelation of the second downhill training run, the ladies only had one clear day of downhill training in Sestriere.

Check back for more information regarding a start time for Sunday’s race.

FISalpine.com
Saturday 29 January 2011

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