(Pyeongchang, South Korea) – Today’s FIS Ski World Cup Giant Slalom event at YongPyong in Pyeongchang, South Korea marks the third time the World Cup has visited the region in recent years. The event has been portrayed as a showcase for Pyeongchang’s 2010 Olympic bid and the YongPyong facility that is designated as the prime venue for the bid’s alpine events was decked out in promotional banners and flags.
About 750 spectators, many waving Pyeongchang 2010 flags or holding signs, cheered loudly when an opening address mentioned the Pyeongchang bid. The noisy ski fans were clearly in favour of hosting the Winter Games in 2010. At the close of today’s race many children ran to their favourite skiers and some were rewarded with autographs on their “YES! Pyeongchang” flags – a good indication that Korea’s youth is ready to embrace winter sports in the region.
A heavy overnight snowfall covered the hard, icy YongPyong Rainbow Slope with soft snow causing poor conditions for skiers and eleven of them were unable to finish their first runs. The race had been delayed one hour due to snow and fog.
The race was won by Michael Von Gruenigen of Switzerland who told reporters after the race that he thought the conditions were too bumpy. However, he likes the venue because of his success here with two wins and a second place finish in three starts.
Third place racer Bode Miller from the United States had his own concerns and described the conditions as “insane”. He said that he hoped conditions would improve before the slalom event scheduled for tomorrow.
Erik Schlopy, 17th place finisher from the United States told GamesBids.com that although today’s conditions were poor, the ski venue itself is good. He’d still prefer the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver because it’s closer to home.
“The skiers are having problems accessing the Internet and calling home – and long distance charges are about $2 a minute” Schlopy said while waiting for a computer terminal that he had discovered in a small media office. He also had concerns with the food that was available to the racers which is often traditonal Korean style.
Snow also caused poor road conditions causing delays for spectators and the media. Some reporters had concerns about the media facilities and transportation between the main media center and the race venue.
Some International Olympic Committee members were present at the event and saw that there is plenty of snow and lots of passion for skiing in Gangwon province. But if Pyeongchang is chosen to host the Games in 2010 they will likely need assistance from the FIS and IOC to create World Class ski events.
