While normality is returning after a successful World Cup weekend at the Chuenisbärgli in Adelboden, the preparation for the next FIS Ski World Cup is in full blast only 30 km beeline away in Wengen. The first training took place already on Tuesday thanks to good snow and weather conditions. However, the track will be perfected until the last minute before the start of the Alpine combination on Friday the 13th at 10.30 am. As it was the case in Adelboden a lot of handwork is demanded since heavy machinery could damage the sensitive surface of the slope reveals Robert Lehmann. The experienced racing director already helped out at the World Cup Race in Wengen when he was still in school in the 1970’s. And yet he never lost the fascination for the longest downhill race of the World. „The slope has to be firm with maximum grip. However, blank ice would be unfavourable. Some parts of the track like the „Hundschopf“ or the „Kernen-S“ are known to every kid in Switzerland. Furthermore, the track is special since it is formed by nature and not artificially built by humans and machinery as it is the case for many other downhill slopes.“
How demanding the task will be at the Lauberhorn race depends on the weather, and it is snowing a lot now, shortly bevor the competition starts on Friday. Wind and snow can result in short nights and long workdays. Working days that are made easier with the support of the two crawler track Terratrac and the electrical implement carrier EC170.
We wish the organisation committee a successful run to the finish line in the preparation and good luck to the athletes and fun at the Lauberhorn on the longest Ski World Cup downhill race.