On “a very important day for us,” according to the director of the 2011 World Ski Championships organizing committee, Peter Fischer, the new double chairlift was inaugurated with Felix Neureuther taking the first ride and then skiing on the widened race track.

“There have been doubts from several sides that we would be able to finish Gudiberg in time for the World Ski Championships,” said Fischer. “Now, the new lift is ready for operation, the operating license in on hand, the new functional building is finished and at Christmas the slope will also be fully primed. We are absolutely on schedule with our preparations.”

The Gudiberg arena will host the slalom and super-combined competitions. The first chair of the new lift has been named for Felix Neureuther who won the slalom on the hill last March. Chair two is named for his father, Christian, who won on the track in 1974. -HM

Neureuther is pictured with his mother, triple Olympic medalist Rosi Mittermaier, set for the ride up the new list to the slalom hill. OK GAP 2011 photo.