Uncertain Future for PyeongChang Olympic Downhill Ski Course

(ATR) The PyeongChang men’s Olympic downhill was contested on Thursday, the 15th anniversary of the IOC Evaluation Commission visit to inspect the Jeongseon venue proposed in the 2010 bid.

Racers and officials spoke highly of the mountain venue, which was first used during a test event two winters ago.

But it appears unlikely that the slopes will be ever be used again for racing and it is most likely too steep for recreational skiing in South Korea.

IOC Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the day, while praising the venue.

"It’s a brilliant day and what a race, so yes, we’re extremely happy," Dubi tells Around the Rings. "We saw a lot of happy faces with the spectators, the Olympic family, so it’s a great race day. And it’s a great venue."

Considering that three alpine skiing races have been postponed over the past four days due to uncooperative weather, Dubi admitted Thursday’s glitch-freedownhill was a major relief.

"With so much happening during the Games, it’s always stressful and will remain stressful to the end, but obviously when you have weather like this and a super race like today it is a relief," he said.

Winds Affect Racers

Many ski racers agreed with Dubi that it was a great race, although winds did increase after the top 15 of 57 racers left the start. Twenty-seven nations in total were represented.

"It wasn’t like tornado-style like it has been the past week, but it was mostly a headwind and after running it fourtimes my speed felt about five to ten kilometers less," said U.S. skier Jared Goldberg.

"It was a fair race, but maybe for the later numbers it was not really good because the winds picked up," said Italian Dominik Paris, who finished fourth.

The elite racers were uncertain about ever returning to the Jeongseon venue for future events. They don't consider the course challenging enough and don't like the long travel distance from Europe and North America.

"Probably not. It’s an incredibly good venue, but it is not a classic downhill which I think this entire field really enjoys skiing – something a little more difficult," said Bryce Bennett, the top American finisher in 16th.

One of the day's highlights was when the lone South Korean racer Dong Woo Kim crossed the finish line to loud applause as his nation's flags flew proudly.

"I heard so many cheers and I even got goose bumps because of the crowd – I could see the flags and people and am surprised that so many people came to cheer for me," Kim said, just before posing for photos with the South Korean cheerleaders.

New IOC Executive Board member Nenad Lalovic, one of numerous IOC members and NOC officials who joined FIS president Gian Franco Kasper and secretary general Sarah Lewis, enjoyed the close race and sunny mountain weather.

"This is a reward, what we have today," Lalovic said. "I like very much the way they organized the state of the venues. Some people say there is not much winter atmosphere, but I would disagree. We are on top of the mountain, but in the city venues there is lots of atmosphere."

Written and reported by Brian Pinelliin Jeongseon

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