Skiers Rate First Experience at PyeongChang 2018 Venue -- On the Scene

(ATR) Customary to only competing in Europe and North America, the world’s top ski racers say that their first visit to PyeongChang has been a positive, interesting and cultural experience thus far.

Around the Rings is on-the-scene at the men’s World Cup downhill and super-G races scheduled this weekend at the new Jeongseon venue, the first official Olympic test event for PyeongChang 2018 organizers.

Norwegian Kjetil Jansrud had only positive feedback about his first few days in Korea prior to races this weekend.

"The first impression counts and so far, I’m impressed by Korea," said Norwegian three-time Olympian Jansrud. "They seem to be on point and seem to be ready for what’s coming.

"Accommodations are good, food is good, and they are very organized people it looks like in general."

"I think it’s going to be a good Olympics," Jansrud said.

The alpine skiers are the first athletes of any sport to come to Korea for competition two years ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

U.S. ski racer Andrew Weibrecht – who is seeking a medal at a third consecutive Olympics come PyeongChang 2018 – made the long journey despite his wife expecting to give birth over the upcoming days.

"It’s different than I expected it to be – it’s a lot more rural than I anticipated," Weibrecht said of the remote Jeongseon venue.

"It’s funny because everybody is super-friendly, but not a lot of people speak English so it’s the complete opposite of places we go in Europe where everybody speaks English, but they’re not necessarily happy to see you," Weibrecht said with a laugh.

"People have been great and it’s been a fun new experience," said the American super-G specialist.

Canadian racer Benjamin Thompson is taking a laid-back approach to the test event.

"It’s an Olympic test event so you know everything is going to be very busy and the bus is going to be by five or ten minutes late, so you just roll with it," Thompson said.

For U.S. veteran Marco Sullivan, the trip to Korea is also his first visit to Asia.

"We were on the bus with the Swiss and Austrians and we’re all laughing because we have no idea what the letters are and what people are saying," Sullivan said.

"The whole World Cup is out of their comfort zone a little bit, but the Koreans have been great as far as organization" Sullivan said.

The three-time Olympian added: "I think everyone has been enjoying it and the Koreans have been very hospitable.

The U.S. skiers have had so much fun during the opening sessions on the new course that they’ve started to name jumps after what they believe reflects local color.

Their unofficial names for the yet to be named jumps include Kimchee Kicker, Sushi Slapper and Egg Drop Drop. The upper part of the course is Udon Noodles, but the biggest, final jump has yet to be named.

"This is impromptu – I don’t know if they’ll stick," Sullivan said with a laugh.

The ski racers are also finding the positive aspects of a lengthy one-hour morning bus commute from the Alpensia village to the Jeongseon downhill venue.

"It’s a long ride to get here, but we have Wi-fi on the bus so that’s nice," said U.S. skier Steven Nyman.

"Everything has been running pretty smooth so far – we only went the wrong way on the bus for twenty minutes and then the guy realized it and turned around," said American racer Travis Ganong.

Nyman admitted it took some time for him to figure out the high-tech heating unit in his hotel room, but said that overall, the accommodations in Alpensia are satisfactory.

"It’s definitely better accommodations than some of the Olympic test events that we’ve had, so that’s good," Nyman said.

Nyman informed that his room does not have a bed frame.

"We only have mattresses – there are only two of us in the room and we have four mattresses, so I just put a mattress on a mattress and you got a bed. It’s fine," he said.

The racers’ adventures in PyeongChang will continue as a final training run is slated for Friday, followed by World Cup downhill and super-G races Saturday and Sunday.

Written by Brian Pinelli

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