First training sessions in Yabuli

A couple of hours before the Opening Ceremony of this 24th Winter Universiade, the competitors were already busy on the Yabuli slopes for the first training sessions.
Indeed, Yabuli will host five sports: alpine skiing, ski jumping, cross-country skiing, nordic combined and freestyle skiing.
The athletes’ village is almost full and all the participants are very impatient to compete.

The only problem they have to face at this time is the jetlag and the very cold weather conditions. We had -20 degrees (Celsius) this morning at the start of the first inspection for the downhill. Alpine skiers had to protect themselves and particularly their faces. Otherwise all the competitors were very satisfied with the quality of the slopes. The organisers had to re-arrange the schedule and to move the downhill one day before according to the weather forecast. More and more wind is expected over Yabuli and that’s why the programme will change.
Also, the freestyle-skiers made their first training at the ski-cross venue. Ski-cross is a part of the freestyle skiing which is an optional sport at this Universiade. This very spectacular event will be one of the highlights of these Games and no doubt it will gather very good skiers from all over the world. According to our technical delegate, the preparation of the venue was made on a very high standard. This international competition will be a first in China and that’s why the organisers don’t want to miss it.

The brand new K90 jumping hill was used for the first time by our students-athletes this morning during the official training sessions for the ski jumping (men and women) and nordic combined. This superb venue was build especially for the games. The organisers had no experience in ski jumping and had to work in close collaboration with the FIS delegates in order to offer excellent sport conditions to our students. We have to underline the fact that they made an excellent job as everything was ready on time. The jumpers were very satisfied with the quality of the venue and with the smooth running of the organisation.

The cross country stadium is almost ready and the organisers have still to arrange some equipment details in the main race office. This was not the skiers’ problem today as they were ready to start with the unofficial training.
Once again we have to thanks the organisers for their excellent work. The cross country slopes were well prepared and ready for the first competitions that will be held next Friday.

In order to be totally efficient, the OC organised some training exercises for the medical teams. Under the supervision of our medical delegate in Yabuli, Dr Thomas Crisp, an “in site” training was set up this morning near the downhill venue with some of the team captains. All of them were very satisfied to see how the medical services were able to handle this very particular exercise. We hope that we will not have to use this medical service during the competition but we have to know that everything is ready “in case of”.