Alpine Ski World Championships Put on a Show

(ATR) Many considered the 41st World Alpine Ski Championshipsa success, an event that might have served as an early dress rehearsal should Munich win hosting rights to the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Jean-Baptiste Grange of France tookthe men’s slalom Sunday to drawcompetition to a close in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Munich 2018's ski venue.

Following the flower ceremony, a closing celebration was held as Garmisch passed the torch to Schladming, Austria, who will next host ski racing’s marquee bi-annual event in Ferbruary 2013.

All events other than women's giant slalom went as scheduled, and enthusiastic fans packed both the Kandahar and Gudiberg Race Arenas. Nightly medal ceremonies in town were followed by live concerts.

Transportation plans seemed to work efficiently with no significant traffic delays. Overall, it appeared organizers did not encounter any substantial problems.

"Garmisch put on a fanstatic show," said U.S. Ski Team head coach Sasha Rearick following Sunday’s slalom.

"The volunteers and course crews really had to work hard with adverse conditions," he said in reference to soft snow surfaces on the courses – the result of mild temperatures –particularly during the final week of the event.

"In general, I had a great impression, and it was a great atmosphere," said Munich 2018 bid chair Katarina Witt, herself a four-time world champion.

Witt was in attendance Saturday for the women's slalom final in which defending champ Maria Riesch finished fourth, capping offa disappointing fortnight for the double gold medalist from Vancouver.

"Maria Riesch was the local hero, so of course she gets a little more applause, but when the Austrian and Swedish girls were skiing well, they were getting the same reaction," Witt said.

"This is fantastic and as an athlete makes you want to come back."

No fresh snow fell during the 14 days of the championships. However, a light snowfall began shortly after Sunday’s slalom, leaving the Olympic city covered in white as many skiers left town Monday morning.

Italian Men, Austrian Women Lead Medal Tally

Following last winter’s disastrous Olympics, Austria led the overall medal count with eight –four of them gold –while Italy was second with six and France third with four.

On the women's side, Austria’s Elisabeth Goergl was the star of these championships, singing at the opening ceremony and then upsetting favorites Lindsey Vonn and Maria Riesch to win gold in both the downhill and super-G.

Italy’s Christof Innerhofer led the individual medal count with a gold in super-G, silver in super combined and bronze in downhill.

France won the popular nations team event, a discipline still under consideration for the 2014 Sochi Olympics by IOC president Jacques Rogge.

Accommodating the Media

The main press center, located a short drive from each of the two ski venues, was home to 500 print and digital journalists as well as 200 photographers throughout the championships.

"It was hard preparation and I think maybe these were the best conditions even in alpine world championships for the press," said press chiefGerd Rubenbauer,a 30-year veteran of television and radio who began his latest role almost two years ago.

When asked about the possibility of major international alpine skiing events returning to Garmisch-Partenkirchen as part of the 2018 Olympics, Rubenbauer responded: "From our side, we could only show that we are prepared. Now it’s not in our hands. I think 80 percent of the people who will vote don’t know Garmisch-Partenkirchen and don’t know alpine skiing and that’s a great question mark."

Break Before Championships?

Unlike prior to last season’s Vancouver Olympics, before which athletes had nearly two weeks off to rest and prepare, there was not a single open weekend in the International Ski Federation's schedule leading up these world championships.

Eleven events were contested over 13 days in Garmisch. The tight and grueling schedule both before and during the two-week event prompted head coaches to formally request to FIS that a break is granted prior to the next world championships in 2013.

"We put forward a proposal to have a seven-day window before world championships, which I think is necessary to prepare and re-group before such a big event," said U.S. head coach Sasha Rearick.

The FIS World Cup Tour continues this weekend with the men competing in Bansko, Bulgaria and the women in Are, Sweden.

The 2010-11 season wraps up with World Cup Finals in Lenzerheide, Switzerland from March 16 to 20.

Written in Garmisch-Partenkirchen by Brian Pinelli.