From the outside looking in, a SuperG looks so much simpler than a Downhill. Shorten the track, set the course, let the athletes inspect and then let ’em race.
But for us at our Lake Louise World Cup, it is a bit more than that….
- We have to finish a ‘late start time’ Downhill – which this year, will go down in history as Epic.
- Have a set crew ready with SuperG gates & panels to assist the course setter.
- The course is set – which, because it is not on the DH line, will be on softer and ‘snowier’ parts of the hill and will require more slipping and shoveling.
- Safety systems will have to be adjusted to match the set.
- The Jury & coaches inspect and ‘help’ the setter tweak the course set.
- The start façade & associated gear – timing, camera equipment, start tent and corral all need to be moved and re-built at the SG start.
- Advertisement banners need to be repositioned as cameras are adjusted for the new course set.
- Departing Sled Dog volunteers need to be checked out of the LL Inn before an early breakfast – after a long week of work.
- The athletes get 90 minutes to inspect the course and mess up the dye program and create new berms.
- Crews slip, shovel, rake, quad and snowblow snow off the new line and spill zones continuously before the first forerunner tests the track.
- The SG starts early (11 am) to accommodate the Beaver Creek event and to ensure teams can get back to YYC to fly back to Europe on Sunday night.
- Noram crews start arriving and during race time, logistics activities start tearing down WC hardware and setting up Noram gear.
- At the conclusion of the SG, we give back to LLSR a large portion of the race course as we pull (and roll) B systems and air fences off the course from Timing Flats to the Finish Corral.
- The Finish corral, towers, banners, crash pads, video wall, broadcast booths, tents and scaffolding have to be moved off the hill.
Poof – just like that we have a SuperG.
Here is the Finish area at 9 am this morning – a sunny, frosty -16 morning.
Yup, SuperG is easy.
One of the very important legacies of our World Cup efforts is to provide a safe speed experience for junior racers from across North America and from a number of other nations in this week’s Noram Downhills and SuperG’s. I know there are a number of (tired) Sled Dogs who are staying behind to assist with the Norams as do the World Famous Net Monkeys. Our legacy is not just providing the teams with a safe track to race on but also to impart Sled Dog knowledge – track prep & maintenance and how to stay safe ‘inside the fences’ to the incoming volunteers. Nice work, all.
Nama-ski,
Brian
brian.Lynam@winterstartevents.com