Ski Federation Satisfied with Olympics Start

(ATR) International Ski Federation secretary general Sarah Lewis says that she is pleased with the organization and execution of ski and snowboard events contested in the opening days of the Sochi 2014 Games.

Lewis spoke to Around the Rings between runs of the ladies’ super combined at Rosa Khutor Monday. At the time, eight medal events at four venues, including the marquee men’s downhill and debuts of both men’s and womens’ snowboard slopestyle had been staged.

"It’s been a great start – the competition organization has been excellent, the logistics and the collaboration are working well," Lewis said. The FIS secretary general managed to attend parts of all events over the three days.

"I can only say good things, but there’s still a long way to go."

"There has been an incredible amount of energy that’s been used in these first few days and it’s a long haul, so we need to make sure that the last event is delivered with the same high level as the first."

Although crowds at the Rosa Khutor alpine venue have been enthusiastic during the men’s downhill and ladies super combined, the atmosphere has been somewhat more subdued than often witnessed at classic World Cup events in Europe or at previous Olympics.

"The large proportion of the public from Russia at the moment in alpine skiing are not medal contenders," Lewis explained. "It’s very different when you are cheering on your own athletes and of course creating atmosphere."

Russian flags have been flying and the crowd roar has risen for the few Russian alpine skiers who have raced in the two events. Alexander Glebov finished a respectable 23rd in the men’s downhill, while 21-year-old Elena Yakovishina was a surprising 13th in the super combined. Both received big cheers from the grandstand upon crossing the finish.

Lewis also addressed a gondola problem that occurred in the morning before the men’s downhill, causing the opening alpine ski event to start 15 minutes late.

These things can happen," Lewis said. "We’re dealing with a sport where you can have weather delays, technical incidents. It didn’t have any consequences on either the organizing or any other stadium loading in and out."

"It was a relatively small, minor delay, and it actually gave other persons a chance to get to the venue in good time."

During the start number bib draw the night before the men’s downhill, a mix-up drawing numbers resulted in FIS officials having to start over, altering part of the original order. Certain skiers, whose start positions were affected, were not thrilled about the mistake.

"I have to say that these things can happen and for those athletes that were upset, there were probably others that were thrilled," Lewis said.

Lewis discussed the keys for FIS and Sochi 2014 organizers to continue to have successful and well-executed events.

"It’s details – you really have to look into every detail to the finest possible level," Lewis said. "Even when you think you’ve covered everything, surprises come up.

Lewis advised that the ski federation has 99 technical officials in Sochi, is overseeing a record 49 medal events at four mountain cluster venues.

"We have such outstanding technical teams." Everyone is very focused now on Sochi and when I think back to my first games in this position in Salt Lake 2002, you had time to perhaps go skiing or check out an event from a different sport.

Germany’s Hoefl-Riesch Wins Super Combined; Mancuso Makes History

Maria Hoefl-Riesch became the first women’s alpine skiing gold medalist of the Sochi Games, winning the super combined at Rosa Khutor Monday.

The German veteran defended her Olympic title from Vancouver 2010, in an event that combines one run of downhill and one run of slalom.

Hoefl-Riesch was fifth after the morning downhill portion, but charged from behind on a difficult slalom course to take top honors with a combined time of 2:34.62, six-tenths faster than runner-up Nicole Hosp of Austria.

"Because everyone was expecting it (a victory), the pressure was really high; I tried to keep and cool and easy, but it’s not always possible," Hoefl-Riesch said.

"This feels like a fairy tale. I am so happy about winning gold."

American Julia Mancuso – who clocked the fastest time in the morning downhill 0.47 seconds ahead of Switzerland’s Lara Gut – skied a steady slalom to hold on for the bronze medal. It was the fourth Olympic medal for the 29-year-old U.S. ski racer.

Mancuso is the first U.S. alpine skier in history to medal at three consecutive Olympic Winter Games.

"It’s cool – Lindsey (Vonn) is breaking other kinds of records left and right, but if I can keep the Olympics as my thing, I’m pretty proud of that."

Written by Brian Pinelli

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