Men's Slalom

We have had a couple of days off and so it was good to be running the final individual event for men.  Our weather has held but the ladies had moved up their Alpine Combined (DH/SL) event one day due to a poor weather forecast so it was a busy day for alpine events.

At the draw the night before, this was the top 30.

 

.....and this was the last 3.

 

Not too many alpine athletes start in the Olympics with 999 points but if leads to world peace, I am for it.

Again, I was at the start. With a field of 108 athletes, we had to break up inspection into 3 groups again. I had a couple of Canadians in the third group here waiting for their inspection period to open.

 

Even broken into three groups, a 108 athlete inspection is crowded on an Olympic slalom course.

 

Irma ensure that the bibs were in good hands....

 

They have installed a CamCat system that runs the entire length of the Slalom course. I was chilly with the breeze at ground level but it must have been freezing for the tech adjusting the elevated system. I can imagine the overhead shots are great.

 

There was a bit of an issue with the installation of the slalom gates. There were a few that weren't drilled in 'perfectly' vertical. The Chief Race Director even got involved.

 

At the conclusion of the 1st run, there was time for a brief break before the 2nd run inspection. This would be the CBC-made famous Canada Man aka Lance - a fellow Sled Dog.

 

Here athletes wait for the opening of 2nd run inspection...and yes, the North Koreans were late to inspection again. The turnaround time from being the last 2 on the start list was a bit tight. The second run field size was just 53 as the course took its toll on half the field.

 

I know that a race happened because many folks saw it on TV...I know both these guys.

 

 
 
 
There were a number of people in the start tent who were taking pictures as the last racer, a North Korean, left the gate.....including me.

The final result was pretty exciting as the fastest racer from the first run Marcel Hirscher, skied out in the second run.  I will remember watching (or more precisely listening to) silver medal winner, Zenhaeusern as prepared to go out of the gate.  Fore 90 seconds before starting, he would growl like a bear in the start tent. I am standing next to him and all his coaches and the cameramen are all behind him are killing themselves laughing (silently) but because he can see my face - I have to stay 'serious'. What can I say - his race prep worked and he was on the podium.

 

 

 

At the end of the event, in the Jury/IF Lounge, Chief Race Director Markus and Bernhard Russi share thoughts about the race....


or about how they can score tickets to the Gold medal hockey game.

B.