Sölden expects 30,000 fans for World Cup opener

Sölden expects at least 30,000 spectators for this weekend’s Alpine skiing World Cup opener, ORF reports. Fresh snow has given the Rettenbachferner glacier, above the town in the Ötztal valley, a wintery feel ahead of the races.

Final preparations were under way on Friday. Race director Florian Scheiber said the team was well prepared, adding that the World Cup opener had been held in Sölden for 30 years. He is optimistic about the forecast and hopes the weather will not require difficult decisions.

Ötztal Tourism managing director Oliver Schwarz said the public holiday on Monday also pointed to a strong turnout. The late-October date has drawn criticism, but has remained a fixture in the Alpine racing calendar.

Eight athletes from Tyrol are due to compete. Six women will start Saturday’s giant slalom, including first-time Sölden World Cup starters Natalie Falch, Valentina Rings-Wanner and Leonie Raich, each of whom will be accompanied by a fan club. The Rettenbachferner course features a steep section with a gradient of up to 68 percent, known as “the Wall.”

Women’s head coach Johannes Zöchling said the team had moved closer to the world’s best during preparations, crediting continuity in the coaching staff for helping build confidence.