Rain, lack of snow endangers World Cup classics

WENGEN, Switzerland (AP) _ Steady rain in Wengen and a lack of snow in Kitzbuehel, Austria, are endangering the big classics in Alpine skiing's World Cup. <br/><br/>Next week's races in Chamonix,

Tuesday, January 9th 2007, 10:45 am

By: News On 6

WENGEN, Switzerland (AP) _ Steady rain in Wengen and a lack of snow in Kitzbuehel, Austria, are endangering the big classics in Alpine skiing's World Cup.

Next week's races in Chamonix, France, another mainstay of the men's World Cup, were canceled Tuesday.

In Wengen, where races are scheduled from Friday to Sunday, heavy rain overnight damaged the Lauberhorn course, home to the longest downhill on the World Cup.

The length of the course is making repairs difficult.

``On the first 300 meters we've got a slushy layer of 2-3 centimeters, which is the worst thing you can get,'' World Cup race director Guenther Hujara said Tuesday. ``The rest of the slope is very wet.''

If temperatures drop below freezing, the slushy layer can turn into an icy crust that skiers can break through, creating holes on the course. If it doesn't freeze, the course becomes a mess.

Workers were temporarily cleared from the course because walking in the slush creates permanent ``ice sculptures'' that are impossible to get rid of once they freeze.

``I've been doing this for about 25 years, but I've never experienced such high temperatures during this period,'' Wengen chief of race Urs Naepflin said.

Warm temperatures, reaching up to 54 degrees Fahrenheit, are predicted for the next couple of days.

Though the forecast is for drier conditions, strong winds are also expected, which are just as problematic. High winds make downhill racing dangerous because they can blow racers off course, especially as they come off jumps.

A super-combi is set for Friday in Wengen, followed by a downhill on Saturday and a slalom on Sunday. The first downhill training session is scheduled for Wednesday.

Confirmation of the Kitzbuehel races _ a downhill, super-G, slalom and traditional combined event scheduled for Jan. 26-28 _ is expected next week.

Hujara said the Chamonix races, a super-combi and downhill scheduled for Jan. 20-21, could be moved to Val d'Isere, France.