FIS officials say Val d'Isere course prep is on track

A trio of FIS officials, led by World Cup women’s race chief Atle Skaardal, recently traveled to Val d’Isere to gauge the pace of preparation for the 2009 World Alpine Ski Championships.
A TRIO OF FIS officials, led by World Cup women’s race chief Atle Skaardal, recently traveled to Val d’Isere to gauge the pace of preparation for the 2009 World Alpine Ski Championships.
    “Construction work on the new Rhone-Alpes piste for the ladies is on schedule. Huge improvements have been implemented for the safety installations to remedy the problems revealed by the first test events last season,” Skaardal said. “The snowmaking system has also been improved. There is some more work to do but the organizing team has now obtained all the necessary approvals for the last adjustments, especially to the last jump before the finish. This should be done in September.
    “Everything is progressing as planned, and it seems that the main ladies’ test events scheduled for December can be held as per our calendar, which is crucial for the championships.”
    The women are scheduled to race downhill and super G the weekend of Dec. 15-16.
    In addition to a review of course construction work and safety installations, a team from Infront Italy that will be responsible for television production at the FIS World Cup events in 2007-08 was on-site to review the planned camera positions. While the host broadcaster of the championships will be carried out by the EBU through its French member, France Television, the December 2007 World Cups will also serve as test events, and France Television officials will be on-site to refine the television production plan for the 2009 championships.
    “On the men’s side, work on the so-called Face de Bellevarde is well under way. There is still some more to do, especially on the men’s downhill course, but the team is on plan,” said Helmut Schmalzl, FIS race director for the men’s speed events. “We will have another inspection in late September to confirm that everything necessary has been completed for the February test events for the men.”
    The men are scheduled to race downhill and super combined events Feb. 2-3.