ALPINE:

Opening Kitzbühel training washed out

Jan. 19, 2011 — The Canadian Press

KITZBÜHEL, Austria — Rain and fog forced organizers to cancel Wednesday's first training session for a World Cup downhill race on the Streif course.

The jury decided that the course will be closed for the rest of the day to prevent damage to the slope, which had been vulnerable after days of rain and high temperatures.

"The course is in a good condition now despite the amount of rain over the weekend," said race chief Peter Obernauer.

The training, which was initially planned for 11.30 a.m. (1030 GMT), had been put forward by more than an hour as snowfall has been forecasted for the afternoon.

A final training session is scheduled for Thursday. Racers have to take at least one training run before competing in a downhill race.

The 71st edition of the Hahnenkamm races starts with a super-G on Friday, followed by the downhill and a slalom the next two days.  S-Magazine