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 for the upcoming Worlds in Japan, John Aalberg to comment on the Sapporo courses.</p>
<p>John, are the Olympic courses used at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City (that most skiers believe are pretty darn tough) “easy†compared to the ones you have been involved in designing for the upcoming Sapporo Worlds?</p>
<blockquote><p>The Sapporo courses are tough, but you can classic up most all the hills. The hills are longer than at Soldier Hollow, but Sapporo is at sea-level! The courses are a little “old fashion”, but it will be good for the pursuit and mass-start since there is a good chance that the field will break up more, and create interest racing. We might see group skiing then a big sprint the last kilometers, but there are also chances for the not so typical finish sprinters to “go for it†and break it up and avoid a mass-sprint.</p></blockquote>
<p>Are there only up and downhills?</p>
<blockquote><p>You'll see that there are some long, flat sections as well especially on the 5 km loop.</p></blockquote>
<p>When were these courses built?</p>
<blockquote><p>Most of the courses were built in 1990 for the World University Games, but we changed them up quite a bit on 50% of them when laying the competition courses for this Championship. How they ski in and out of the stadium is new, but only about 3 km of new trails had to be built.</p></blockquote>
<p>What about the sprint course?</p>
<blockquote><p>The sprint courses are also exciting in and around the large Sapporo Dome. It will be interesting to see if the skiers will double pole or wax for the classic individual sprint.</p></blockquote>
<p>World Championship schedule — Source FIS</p>
<p>Feb 22 – Sprint Classic<br />
Feb 23 – Team Sprint Free<br />
Feb 24 – 30 km Pursuit Men<br />
Feb 25 – 15 km M Pursuit Women<br />
Feb 27 – 10 km Free Women<br />
Feb 28 – 15 km Free Men<br />
Mar 1 – Relay 4×5 km Women<br />
Mar 2 – Relsy 4×10 km Men<br />
Mar 3 – 30 km Classic Mass start Women<br />
Mar 4 – 50 km Classic Mass start Men</p>
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