Winds defeat Birds of Prey World Cup downhill

Wind speeds in the 20-30 mph range and gusting considerably higher caused postponements and the eventual cancellation of the Birds of Prey World Cup downhill at Beaver Creek, Colo., Friday (Dec. 3).

“The winds were blowing up and down the hill,” said Sasha Rearick, the head men’s coach for the U.S. “At that Golden Eagle jump, if an athlete were to catch a gust of wind that was the major factor. It would have been dangerous.”

He said the decision to cancel was a good one, but one he said, ” … makes me want to cry. there is so much work put into this race. All the work over the past month from the race crew, the volunteers. It just so sad.”

He said the course was in superb condition other than the wind. “The snow was perfect, the track was awesome. It just makes me want to cry.”
 
While Beaver Creek has had weather challenges before, including the cancellation of the entire BOP weekend in 2001, the only cancellation on the books is from the 2008 super combined that was moved to Val d’Isere. The site had never previously lost a downhill.

Officials pegged the estimated cash cost of $200,000 for the cancellation, a figured tied just to the day and not the costs in time and money for preparation.

There will be no official word on a rescheduling of the racee until the coaches and officials meet for the Team Captains Meeting scheduled at 5pm.