Soft snow conditions forces postponement of women’s Olympic super-combined Alpine race

First Olympic delay: Women’s super-combined

WHISTLER, British Columbia — Snow conditions forced the first event delay at the Vancouver Olympics on Friday, postponing the women’s super-combined Alpine ski race that had been scheduled for Sunday.

A new date was not immediately announced.

A heavy overnight rain made the course soft and unsafe, leading organizers to cancel training runs planned for Friday and also Saturday when the men’s downhill race is scheduled on the adjacent slope.

“The snow is too heavy. Of course, safety is always our first priority,” women’s race director Atle Skaardal said. “We don’t have a chance for the training run (Saturday). We need to give full priority to the men’s downhill.”

The status of the men’s marquee race remains in jeopardy.

The forecast called for overnight rain and temperatures above freezing along the course, conditions likely to keep the snow too mushy for racing.

“Right now we need the temperature to go down,” men’s race director Guenter Hujara said. “If it remains the same I can say for sure there will be no downhill (Saturday).”

More rain, snow, winds of 50 kph (31 mph) and temperatures of 6 degrees Celsius (43 Fahrenheit) were expected around the 11:45 a.m. scheduled start time.

Skaardal said the men’s race organizers faced a huge challenge.

“It will be an extremely difficult day for maybe the most important event of the games in terms of Alpine skiing,” he said.

The storm cycle was expected to begin leaving Whistler on Sunday morning, when a training run for women would likely be easier to carry off than the men’s downhill medal race.

Race rules insist that the super-combined event — comprising a downhill run and a single slalom leg — cannot be held until all racers have completed a downhill practice session.

The first women’s training run Thursday was scrapped after only two skiers because of heavy fog and snow. After two delays Friday, it was again called off, along with men’s downhill training.

The women were able to inspect the course, though.

“If you get frustrated now then you will lose the games,” Sweden’s Anja Paerson said. “We’re having a good time, doing some free skiing, getting the hours going. We will race, but it depends on which day. We’re just trying to prepare and not think too much.”

The delays are benefiting U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn, giving her badly bruised shin more time to heal. She skied down the hill for a second straight day.

“The course is in pretty rough shape due to all the warm weather and rain,” Vonn reported on her Facebook account. “The course crews are doing the best they can but it’s hard to overcome Mother Nature.”

Skaardal said decisions on the men’s downhill would be taken before any plans for the women could be set.

“We need to be a little patient and see what happens (Saturday),” he said.

Officials have rejected an option to coat the Franz’s Run women’s course with chemicals which would harden the snow into racing condition.

“We haven’t even seen the opening ceremony yet,” Skaardal said. “It’s too early to destroy the hill with any kind of chemical.”

He said a dry night with clear skies would cause temperatures to drop and freeze the snow within hours.

The forecast currently calls for “decent” racing conditions next Monday and Wednesday, Skaardal said.

The ideal combination of sunshine and minus-degree temperatures is expected next weekend.

Skaardal said it was unrealistic to expect to run the program on schedule at Whistler.

“Everyone knows it’s a very challenging site for Alpine skiing because of this climate,” he said. “But we still have a lot of time and we are very positive about the coming days”