Nations Team Event Contested at Alpine Worlds

(ATR) It's up to Jacques Rogge now that the co-ed nations team event is in the books at theAlpine Ski World Championships.

The IOC president will decide at the end of this winter sports season whether to add the event to the Winter Olympic program.It is one of five possible new events that the International Ski Federation (FIS) has proposed to the IOC for inclusion into the 2014 Sochi Games.

The revised format consisted of a series of head-to-head giant slalom-type races on a shortened course.

Countries were seeded into brackets based upon World Cup points. Two male and two female racers were assigned per team per match, racing against each other in a dual format with a win scoring one point. In case of a tie after the completion of four runs, the nation with the best individual run time advanced to the next round.

Many athletes and a highly enthusiastic crowd filled the Kandahar Race Arena in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on Wednesday and seemed to enjoy the competitive races.

"It’s a cool event, I like the format and I think it’s fun to watch and fun for the racers," said Ted Ligety of the U.S. Ski Team, also among the favorites for Friday’s giant slalom.

"But with our racing schedule being so tight, throwing it in the middle of the championships is always hard. I think it would make more sense to have this as the last race."

The series of heats, which involved transporting athletes up the hill with four-wheel ATVs and snowmobiles, seemed to proceed smoothly.

"Logistically and operationally, it is quite complicated, but I think it was a total success," said FIS director of race operations Mike Kertesz.

"From the FIS perspective, we’d like to see it in the Olympic program," he said. "I think we have proven that it works and with nations competing against nations it is definitely a crowd pleaser, both in the stands and I think on television also."

France won the event by defeating Austria in the finals while Sweden bested Italy for third place.

"The atmosphere of the audience was great," said Sweden’s Anja Paerson. "We need that more often."

"I think it’s a really fun event, especially being with the guys," said three-time Olympic medalist Julia Mancuso from the U.S.

"It is almost like an exhibition and, of course, winning the team event is nothing like winning an individual event."

Mancuso was ambivalent about whether she would like the race to be included on the Olympic program.

"I don’t think it matters," she said. "If it’s in the Olympics great, and if it isn’t there, then I won’t be sad."

"I love the team event," said Mark Winkler, a resident of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and a volunteer with the organizing committee. "It is the best event for the audience since you can see it all the way from the start to the finish. In my opinion, it was the loudest event yet."

One significant blemish on Wednesday’s event was that four-time Olympic medalist Benjamin Raich crashed in a quarterfinal race, suffering significant knee injuries and ending his season.

"I had two great chances here, but unfortunately it is over now," said Raich, referring to the upcoming giant slalom and slalom.

"It’s a relatively serious injury. Such a thing can happen anytime and anywhere, even in training. This is obviously bad for everybody."

"After what happened to Benni today, we see that you have to stay focused even if it is a team event, something that we are not used to skiing," said France’s Cyprien Richard. "This race is obviously still part of the risk of alpine skiing."

Despite the unfortunate incident, the French racer from the winning team would still like to see the nations event contested on the sport's biggest stage.

"I hope to see this event at the next Olympics, and if not then, then in the future," he said. "We see similar team events in sports like athletics and biathlon. There is a place for a team event in alpine skiing."

Haitian Skier to Compete at World Champs

Jean-Pierre Roy is the lone representative from Haiti at these world championships.

Roy, 47, was born in Haiti but immigrated with his parents to Europe when he was just two years old. He grew up near Paris and began skiing through a school program at age eight.

Following a return visit to his homeland last October, the Haitian recreational skier came up with an idea to bring positive attention to the small and impoverished nation.

"When I saw all of this misery, I thought I had to do something for my country," said Roy during a Tuesday interview.

"It seems like the earthquake was just yesterday. I got the idea to go to the world championships and let the world know that Haiti is still there."

On November 6th, for the cost of 50 Euros ($68), Roy established the Federation Haitienne De Ski (FHS) with the FIS.

He competed in four qualifying races, earning points to become eligible for the world championships.

Along with his coach and manager, Roy walked into the Feb. 7 opening ceremony proudly carrying his country’s flag.

"It was a big emotion for me," said the Haitian. "I am here to hopefully give a positive vision of Haiti. It is very poor, there is cholera and political troubles. I want to communicate to all that Haiti is a nation that maybe we can talk about in a positive way."

Roy will race in a qualification race for giant slalom on Thursday and another for slalom on Sunday. Since he is the only racer from Haiti, there is a legitimate possibility that he could qualify for the main races providing he can complete the courses.

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.