VANOC concludes field of play testing for aerials, moguls and ski cross, prepares for snowboard sport event February 12 to 15

VANCOUVER, BC – While the world’s best athletes thrilled local spectators at the Canada Post Grand Prix at Cypress Mountain, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) conducted its operational testing in the areas of field of play, workforce and medical services. Approximately 300 athletes from 28 countries participated at the freestyle skiing sport event that ran Thursday, February 5 through Saturday, February 7, showcasing the three freestyle disciplines — aerials, moguls and ski cross. Testing will continue at the snowboard sport event, February 12 to 15.

 “Our teams on the ground have been pushed to the limit, working days and nights to meet the necessary timelines and logistical requirements of staging the event,” said Tim Gayda, VANOC vice president, sport. “This was a great chance for the Cypress Mountain guests to see world-class competitors at their best.”

Field of Play

Testing included timelines for building and designing, as well as grooming and maintenance of the competition courses. VANOC gained valuable insights into the complexity of on-hill transport of overlay equipment, including tents, power, fencing, scaffolding and camera equipment for broadcast and technology. All three courses were completed in time to meet the training and competition schedule for the event, and VANOC learned that an additional on-hill operational crew will be required at Games time to facilitate overnight work in the areas of on-hill transport.

Ski cross athletes, who will make their Olympic debut next year, raced for the first time on the newly constructed Olympic course.

“The course is amazing. It’s what we’ve all been waiting for for a long time,” said Chris Del Bosco, who led the Canadian men to a podium sweep at Friday’s ski cross competition. “I love the features, the jumps, the bank turns — there are a lot of places where people can make mistakes, which is a great test for a competitor’s all-round skiing ability.”

Competitors appreciated the maintenance on the freestyle mogul course, recognizing the efforts of the course workers.

“The course is great and the weather's been good all week,” said mogul skier Sho Kashima of the United States. “There have been lot of changes throughout the week but that's just because of the warm weather. The course workers have been doing a great job of adjusting to the weather all week.”

Workforce

A staff and volunteer workforce of over 700 (136 staff, 582 volunteers, 72 contractors and eight RCMP flag-bearers) worked through the week and will remain on-site for the upcoming snowboard sport event.  Volunteers gained experience and valuable insight in the realms of both sport and international competition, which will be a valuable asset at Games time. Field of Play sport volunteers, for example, participated in a sport-specific experience by maintaining the competition courses. This included chopping snow to keep the landing hill soft at the aerial venue, and side-slipping both the mogul and ski cross courses to keep them in optimal shape for competitors.   

Medical Services

The 32-person medical services team, comprised of ski patrollers and physicians, replicated Games-time field of play medical service levels, with medical personnel ski patrollers acting as first responders. Mock scenarios were also conducted to test response time, communication and evacuation procedures. The team will continue its testing throughout the upcoming snowboard sport event.

Transportation and Spectator Services

VANOC did not test any transportation or spectator services due to characteristic Games-time operational differences, however, VANOC, Cypress Mountain and the District of West Vancouver made best efforts to accommodate spectator interest wherever possible given the venue’s limited capacity. Spectator shuttle tickets for all three days of competition sold out. At the same time, skiers and riders who were on the mountain also had the opportunity to take in the competition.

“Staging an event of this size is a large and complex undertaking at any time,” said Gayda. “We’ve worked hard to ensure we have delivered an exceptional field of play for the world’s best freestyle athletes while respecting that the competitions are taking place during Cypress Mountain’s peak period when it’s operating at full capacity.”

Upcoming Snowboard Sport Event:

The snowboard sport event at Cypress Mountain scheduled for February 12 to February 15 will feature approximately 320 athletes from 20 countries competing in the halfpipe, parallel giant slalom and snowboard cross competitions. As VANOC will be operating under the same testing model as the freestyle sport event, the snowboard event will provide a further opportunity to learn and refine operations in the lead up to the 2010 Winter Games. Additional testing next week will include the “load-out” process, where all equipment and overlay are removed from the mountain, and the terrain at the competition courses will revert back to public ski terrain, both through grooming and snow moving.  

For more information on the snowboard sport event please visit www.snowboardworldcup2009.com. For more information on the remaining sport events taking place from February to September 2009, including how to purchase tickets, visit www.vancouver2010.com. Remaining sport events include:

FIS Snowboard World Cup
Date: February 12-15, 2009
Location: Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver

FIL Luge World Cup
Date: February 16-21, 2009
Location: The Whistler Sliding Centre, Whistler

WCF World Wheelchair Curling Championship
Date: February 21-28, 2009
Location: Vancouver Paralympic Centre, Vancouver

Hockey Canada Cup – Sledge Hockey
Date: February 24-March 1, 2009
Location: UBC Thunderbird Arena, Vancouver

IPC Cross-Country Skiing and Biathlon World Cup Final
Date: March 4-7, 2009
Location: Whistler Paralympic Park, Whistler

World Junior Curling Championships
Date: March 5-15, 2009
Location: Vancouver Olympic Centre, Vancouver

IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals
Date: March 9-14, 2009
Location: Whistler Creekside, Whistler

IBU Biathlon World Cup
Date: March 11-15, 2009
Location: Whistler Olympic Park

ISU World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships
Date: March 12-15, 2009
Location: Richmond Olympic Oval, Richmond

Hockey Canada Cup – Women’s Hockey
Date: August 31-September 6, 2009

Location: UBC Thunderbird Arena and Canada Hockey Place, Vancouver

About VANOC

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.

Contact
VANOC Communications
mediarelations@vancouver2010.com