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From the Olympics Toward Tomorrow

Shinano Mainichi

Alpine Skiing (Downhill, Super-G, Combined) Venue

Course Information

The downhill course prepared for the Olympics has a total length of 3,270 m, a maximum gradient of 31 , three jumps and high-speed turns, and gradual undulating slopes. In addition to a sense of speed, it incorporates plenty of technical elements. The vertical drop is 925 m, and from the starting point one lift up from Usagidaira with an elevation of 1,765 m, competitors will ski all the way down the course to the finish line on the Kokusai Course in one go.

Let's take a look at the highlights of the course (refer to illustration) from top to bottom. Mr. Hitonari Maruyama (Chief of Race for 1996 FIS World Cup in Hakuba) expects that competitors "will probably fly 70 m from the Alpine Jump, the largest of the three jumps. It is almost the same as the Normal Hill of a Ski Jump. After this jump has been cleared, the competitors come to a undulating canted slope created by piling up snow. It requires the technique to maintain a line through this section.

The "Rabbit Traverse" which heads towards Usagidaira also requires care that the line be kept. Once past the high-speed turn near the gondola station, competitors have a chance to rest. It is only a momentary, however. The "Panorama Line" that runs under the lift has a series of tight turns. The competitors have gained much speed by now. Although not having the spectacular nature of a jump, course selection in the next "Russi '98 Jump" is an important point in the race.

Competitors will probably jump 50 m from the "Russi '98 Jump" near the 1,700 m mark. Compared to "Alpine" the distance in the air is shorter, but next, competitors are faced with the "Adam's Bowl" high-speed turn. Competitors will keep their jumps low, and the greatest highlights here are speed control and the conquering strategy before and after the jump.

When reaching the final section, the competitor come across a gradual slope. There are undulations, and competitors are unable to see the next slope. A vital point is to maintain the shortest course until they come out of the "Vacuum Tube," where the course becomes narrow. Having gained speed, the competitors are faced with a series of turns. They are then faced with the "Kamoshika Jump," the final difficulty to be overcome. Competitors are expected to jump 60 m, before soaring to the finish down the steepest part of the slope which has a gradient of 31 .

Men's Super-G

The Super-G is carried out on the upper section of the Rabbit Traverse of the Downhill course. It starts from 1,490 m, and competitors ski a vertical drop of 650 m.

Women's Downhill

The Women's Downhill course is 2,654 m long, and has a vertical drop of 781 m. Competitors ski down in one go from the starting point at 1,680 m to the finish line between the Hakuba Kokusai Course and the Sakka Course. The course was designed by Bernhard Russi (Sui), gold medallist in the men's Downhill at the Sapporo Olympics, and in addition to the combination of steep and gradual slopes, the two jumps, high-speed turns, and switching of rhythm required make it a very difficult course.

Let's take a look at the highlights of the course (refer to illustration). Competitors who have left the start house with a view of Hakuba Village's street-scape immediately afterwards reach speeds of 100 km/h on the straight line slope "Kurobishi."

From "Sodeguro" to "Rabbit's Foot," skiers must overcome a series of high-speed turns, making it the first point which tests ski control and skill. "Rabbit's Foot" is a gentle slope, but the big ups and downs part-way along and the small undulations mean skiers cannot relax. This section requires a correct crouching position to reduce air-resistance by rolling the body up into an egg-shape as well as the technique of making the skis glide.

When the competitors come out into the "Panorama Course," which is a little wider, they come up to the "Panorama Jump." After they have cleared this jump, the most difficult part of the course awaits. This is the "Sun Terrace Hairpin" which curves sharply to the right. Competitors who skied the official training course on the 25th said, "the strong centrifugal force means that one's body goes in the opposite direction to that which one wants it to." How smoothly competitors can get through this turn without losing speed will decide winners and losers.

That which will be tough for competitors who have a build-up of lactic acid in their legs is the "TATEKKO" which has a narrow distance between poles, and whose turns to the left and right must be carried out rhythmically. It is immediately followed by the "Umadome Jump" from which competitors jump approximately 30 m. In the final "Sakka Wave" there are a series of undulations immediately before the finish line. We can expect to see the undulations on this gradually sloped section to result in unexpected time losses.

While courage and the ability to make decisions with split-second timing go without saying, this course also requires highly developed techniques such as precise turning and accurate line selection.

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Copyright 1999 The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun