Bansko hosts Alpine World Cup - Initial Report

28th February 2009

The alpine World Cup was hosted for the first time in Bulgaria in teh country's top ski resort of Bansko. Hosting the women's downhill and super G races.

"The downhill course is bordering on ridiculously turny," said U.S. Women's Head Coach Jim Tracy. "The hill itself is OK. This one middle section has these gigantic turns. It's like a super G with four traverses in it. It's challenging, for sure."

Bansko hosts Alpine World Cup - Initial Report

Austrian Andrea Fischbacher was fastest in training run on Wednesday (1 minute, 46.44 seconds) - more than a second and a half faster than the next in line, Fabienne Suter.

The top of the course winds around above treeline before traversing into the first steep pitch, taking racers straight across the fall line, then down a wide face followed by a long, right-footed traverse into the next steep pitch, with the highest speeds - probably not exceeding 112 kilometers per hour, Tracy said - coming on the bottom quarter of the course, which isn't nearly as bumpy as the top half. Despite the traverses, the pitches are significantly steep - with 30-degree slope angles or more.

Apparently getting to the race start is no mean feat either - A 2 miles long gondola ride to the finish area. Then you ride two chairlifts to get to the top.

Bansko Guide | Bansko Ski chalets

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