3 February 2003

The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2003 St. Moritz-Pontresina, Engadine for two weeks from 1st to 16th February.

Ten disciplines
This is the fourth time that St Moritz have hosted the championships and it will be the largest sports event ever to have been held in Switzerland. The 10 exciting races will all be carried out on Corviglia, the "home mountain" of St. Moritz. The situation of the racing slopes is truly spectacular, with all races taking place above tree-level and leading to the finish area on Salastrains.

The Start of the Men's Downhill race is located atop Piz Nair, at an altitude of 2,836 m. above sea level. Along its first few meters, the Start slope lies at a gradient of 45°, which equates with a 100% drop.

In a mere 7 seconds, it takes the racer to a speed of around 137 km/h! The view from the Start down to the Salastrains Finish some 800 m. below is equally breathtaking.

The races, which will be carried out from February 2 to 16, 2003, will be surrounded by a varied side program. Every day, the pedestrian zone in St. Moritz Dorf will become the focal point for socializing alongside a multi-facetted enter-tainment program. Ahead of the prize giving and drawing of starting numbers, both an "Ethno Show" and the "World Championships Swiss Music Festival" will be warming up the audience on the schoolhouse plaza. Well-known Swiss bands will be appearing within the Festival program.

On racing days, spectators in the immediate vicinity of the finish area on Salastrains will be treated to live music by the Stefan Berger Band and also to culinary delights. To enthuse them further, spectacular air shows with para-gliders and hang-gliders are scheduled. The racing is to be covered on Eurosport and the BBC's Ski Sunday and the official website.

[Source: Neil McQuoid - ifyouski.com]

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