Features

Alex at the start of the race

The dramatic setting in Wengen

When I told my friends I was going away for the weekend to watch a ski race in Switzerland some thought it was really cool, others that it was a very long way for not much. Well, my Dad picked me up on his motorbike after school on Friday, we drove to the airport, and arrived at our hotel well before midnight.

The only bad thing was that Dad made me do all my homework on the plane.

First thing the next morning I was standing right by the start gate watching racers fling themselves down the mountain. It was really cool!

RACE DAY

Just before the racers started there was a display by some jets that was brilliant. They flew really close with coloured smoke coming out of the engines. I had to put my hands over my ears as it was so loud. It was a blue sky day and the atmosphere was wicked.

After watching a few racers start we skied down beside the course and stopped at a jump to watch the racers flying by. They were going really fast and you could hear them whooshing by in the air.

Next we skied to a place where loads of people had gathered. There was a big screen, loads of bands and BBQs. My Dad said it was called the “Hundschopf” and was one of the most famous sections of any race course. The skiers came flying over the hill in the air and then had to make a sudden turn. I got to see my hero Bode Miller do it. It was really exciting and the crowd was cheering really loudly and ringing bells.

It was funny because when another of my heroes, Hermann Maier, came along no-one cheered and some even booed. My Dad told me it was because he was Austrian and they are the great rivals of Switzerland.

I guess Manchester United fans don’t cheer on Liverpool.

SNOWBALLING THE SWISS

Best of all though we were watching the race from by the railway line and every time a train came by all the kids threw snowballs at the train trying to get them through the open window and hit the passengers. We all got told off by the adults but we carried on doing it anyway!!! It was such fun.

Next we skied down to the grandstand area where the skiers finished and it was great because again we got really close and it was great seeing them come over the last jump and hurl themselves over the finish line. There was also a big screen so we could see the racers coming and they got a really big cheer as they came into view.

Alex gaining on Miller...

After that we went into town for the medal presentation which was great too. Later I had pizza and my Dad drank beer.

The next day we watched the slalom which was great. By chance I saw Bode Miller going up in the chairlift in front of us and we were right behind him on the same lift which was so cool.

Best of all though the Downhill course was being taken down so me and my Dad we able to ski a bit of it. I have skied a bit of a World Cup Downhill Course!!

We were able to ski till the lifts closed at 4pm and then got the last flight back so I managed to see the race and not miss any school. So was it really cool or a long way for not very much? I will let you decide!

LINKS
www.interlakentourism.ch
www.wengen-muerren.ch
www.myswitzerland.com