Are: Officials optimistic about racing Monday

ARE, Sweden — Jan-Erik Hedström admitted it’s an uphill battle (literally) when it comes to clearing an alpine race course that’s been the victim of balmy temperatures, wind and snow, snow, snow. 
    “If the weather is against you, it’s against you,” Hedström, the organizing committee’s chief of race for the men, said during a Sunday evening team captains meeting at the Holiday Club in Are. But Hedström and Guenter Hujara, World Cup men’s race director, both remain optimistic that the men’s super G will take place Monday.
ARE, Sweden — Jan-Erik Hedström admitted it’s an uphill battle (literally) when it comes to clearing an alpine race course that’s been the victim of balmy temperatures, wind and snow, snow, snow.
    “If the weather is against you, it’s against you,” Hedström, the organizing committee’s chief of race for the men, said during a Sunday evening team captains meeting at the Holiday Club in Are.
    But Hedström and Guenter Hujara, World Cup men’s race director, both remain optimistic that the men’s super G will take place Monday. The race was postponed from the opening day of the World Championships on Feb. 2.
    If the course isn’t ready by Monday, the men’s super G will be run Tuesday at 10 a.m. and the women’s super G (postponed from Sunday) at 12:30 p.m.
    Organizers aim to start the men’s race just before the Lillbranten steep pitch, roughly 300 meters below the normal start or at the top of Backfellet. A second reserve start was not scheduled. The new start does fulfill racing regulations because it will have a minimum of 32 direction changes, Hujara said.
    He also told team captains they shouldn’t expect a “clean, clean” course, meaning the snow will be soft and speeds could be slower.
    More than 800 volunteers have spent at least the past two days digging out safety fencing smothered in snow. Snowcat drivers were on 14-hour rotations working to clear the course.
    “We’re going to continue to work through the night to achieve what we think is doable,” Hujara said.
    Forecasters say the balmy and snowy weather finally will turn colder and clearer on Monday, with winds decreasing and turning east. Temperatures will drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit and stay put through at least Monday, World Championships meteorologist Pia Hultgren said.
    It’s been frustrating and busy, Hedström said, but considering the conditions, spirits have remained high among the hundreds of volunteers clearing the course.
    “I think for some of the volunteers it’s been kind of adventurous spending all day digging and pulling out A-net and B-net,” he said, adding that the volunteers (as much as anyone) want so see this event be successful.