World’s best skiers are in Davos, Switzerland this weekend for two races of the cross-country skiing’s World Cup.
While the competitions themselves are aptly covered by experienced TV crews, there are many things around that simply don’t get televised.
Here is an effort to show you what does not meet the eye – or lens – of TV camera in broadcast.
And yes, it is a very good idea to come visit the place where the XC ski World Cup stage is being held – a few days before the actual event. You get to watch, ski along and even chat to some of the world’s best skiers – just be considered & polite.
Davos gained fame last century as town where uber-fancy tuberculosis sanatoriums were located (check out Thomas Mann’s “The Magic Mountain.”) Now it’s known primarily for its Economic Forum, The Spengler Cup – and its world class xc skiing event in December
Posters advertizing the event are everywhere…in the middle of the town you suddenly meet Charlotta Kalla, rushing to the ski stadiu m. Or was it out of the stadium?…must be out after allthe Davos Langlauf Weltcup stadium itself is not exactly massive – certainly no match to Lugnet in Falun or Holmenkollen in Oslo These gentlemen are preparing temporary railings, using time-tested materials – and methodsIt gets kind of busy at the stadium during the day with all the elite athletes practicing treacherous corners of its tracksThe stadium itself as well as all the tracks leading to it remain completely open to general public. This lady, for instance, is not a part of the team of Russian assistant coach Egor Sorin – she is just passing byAlex Harvey looks kind of cold in the morning Alpine chillAndrew Young of Team GB is ” travelling light” while his coach Jostein Hestmann Vinjerui has to do all the heavy lifting ?The apartments in these newly built houses by the tracks are for sale ( don’t ask – too many zeroes in price tags). Emil Iversen, however, is smiling – must be thinking of purchasing one off his World Cup victory bonuses ?
