A snowstorm has created problems for World Cup skiers ahead of Thursdays sprint races in Changchun, China. Norwegian skistars Hjelmeset and Svartedal have spent more than 30 hours at the Beijing airport.
Chaos in Changchun
FasterSkier · February 14, 2007
Hjelmeseth, Svartedal and the rest of the Norwegian skiers that traveled directly from Norway have finally landed in Changchun after traveling for more than 48 hours.
– I just talked to (coach) Vidar Lœfhus and the athletes were now out jogging, says Aune.
The competitions are starting already tomorrow afternoon and that’s of course not ideal in regards to the time change and jet-lag.
– It’s difficult to predict how this will affect us tomorrow, but all the countries luckily have the same problem. It’s only Neumannova and the Chinese team that are already in Changchun. We arrive around midnight tonight, explains the sprint coach.
Not used to snow
The athletes have had plenty of time for other activities
– We have played cards, watched movies and been in the pool. It’s obvious that the airport crew in Changchun aren’t used to lots of snow, concludes Ulf Morten Aune.
The sprint is on Thursday while the 10/15 kilometer freestyle is Friday.
Editor’s note: The US team arrived in Japan more than a week ago.
Source: Langrenn.com