12/02/2012 Ski Sunday

A city striving to mask a dark past, centuries of struggle put behind us.

The Winter Olympic Games... In 2014, the eyes of the world will again be

upon us and conflict will return once more to this great land. But

these are our battles we will encourage. First, in the shadows of

the mountains, the masters of speed are set to do battle. Klaus

Kroell... Bode Miller... And Didier Cuche... Racing to the final

frontier. Hello and welcome to the first ever Ski Sunday from Russia.

We are here behind the Ice Curtain to unveil the men's Olympic

downhill course. In just two years, this city will host the Winter

Olympics, and today we are at in this resort that will host the

Games. This mountain will be tested for the first time. Russians have

never held a world downhill event, and you can expect some different

terrain and conditions. Expect some icy encounter as between the

world's skiing powers. First time on Russian snow for a World Cup

downhill, that course looks beautiful. The it is very technical,

big sweeping turns with a lot of changes of terrain, some big jumps

as well. Who do you think it will suit? If I was going to compare any

course so far, I would say birds of prey, which Bode Miller won. He

will like this course. A let's talk about the man who did win in

Chamonix, Jan Hudec. He has had so many ups and downs, taking every

day as it comes, but I don't think he has the power and the drive on

this course to win. I will admit I was wrong on that one, but to do

you think this will suit? Austrians. Someone like Hannes Reichelt or

Romed Baumann. They are good technical skiers, and they can

drive through the turns. Exactly. There is one name we haven't

mentioned, Dider Cuche. He will be fired up. He was really upset with

Chamonix because he could not perform to the top of his ability,

whereas here he can so he will be driving for it. He doesn't care

about the Olympics, he is out of here. He wants to win the World Cup

downhill title right now. Graham thinks it is about the Swiss

cannonball - this is what the racers think. The course at the

moment doesn't make a nice downhill I think. It is good, we are here to

try and I think for the Olympics it will be nice. It is tough, very icy.

Would it suit you? Yes, the last two trainings were good for me. I

think I am set up for the icy slope. To stay on the line, that will be

the key for the first 45 seconds or the first minute. If so, you can

win, otherwise you have to fight. Do you think it has too many turns?

Probably, right now. This is the first time anyone has ever raced on

it, so they decided to build some big jumps and they have to do that

keep the speed down at the beginning. But it probably has too

many turns so it will be a little different probably for the Olympics.

They made it very icy, I am not sure if that was intentional.

don't think so. If it was, I think that person will be fired from his

job and they will have a different person for the Olympics because

nobody wants it like this. And know what the skiers think of this

course, now let's find out what our five time Olympian makes of it.

Take it away, Graham. It is very Immediately straight into what they

call the toboggan. Very, very icy. You have got to fight to stay on

the line. It is fast and bumpy down It is just like a vertical skating

rink. This corner gives you a slight chance to breathe. They call

this the Russian from bullying. -- trample -- trampoline. There are

some very tight turns as we are approaching the first brow. This is

the first one, called the lake jump. My legs are really starting to hurt.

One more jump to go. Over the last jump... Well, they have made that

absolutely brutally icy. There is not a section on the course where

it is soft at all. It is just very icy, and there are a lot of turns

at the top. Impressive stuff. Now it is time for the first ever

Russian World Cup downhill. Guiding us through the action, our

commentator Matt Chilton. The commentator Matt Chilton. The

Olympic course here has received mixed reviews from the racers, as

we have just seen the 3.5 kilometre course is very icy, set with some

tantalising twists and turns along the way. Time to find out who will

He is in trouble now, heading for the netting. Fisher gets tangled up,

he will be black and blue tomorrow. He had a problem coming through the

left-hander, but got it back, started the right hander, but it

was so bumpy his ski came off. It just goes to show how bumpy this

course is. Carlo Janka, the Olympic champion

from 2010 has all sorts of health and injury problems since then,

doesn't look comfortable here. He has a green light over the current

leader, and has an advantage of three-tenths of a second. Goes

uphill for a moment. A good speed. Travelling nicely. He'd just had

two training runs to get used to the track, it is new to everybody.

A sign of a return to downhill form. The man known as the Ice man. It is

a long one. It pops him high, lands solidly. Still in front, only just.

Most of the hard work is now done. The final jump has been built up

artificially. Carlo Janka at his home and dry, first for the moment.

Carlo Janka has had some problems with his back all season, not

really been on top form, but he really does like a hard icy

conditions and he looked like he was being very well down there.

the start for France, Adrien Theaux. He has had a couple of near misses

this season. A good top section for him. He comes from a high in the

French Alps, a winter wasteland or pin that part of the world. 119.5

kilometres per hour through the speed gun. He likes this course,

driving in these eastern European mountains. A lot of jumps, a lot of

hazards to deal with. The course is full of elements to test the races

downhill that they will race this season. Look at the speed now -

133.5 kilometres per hour through the gun, faster than Carlo Janka or

off the final jump. Adrien Theaux for France skis into first position.

A good run from him. Matching Carlo Janka all the way down the course.

He had a few little slips but a very good run, and just takes the

skiing is next up. He had four podium finishes since

before Christmas but he's since gone off the bile. He celebrated

his 24th birthday last week. Could his youthful enthusiasm help him on

yonder. We pick him up from the helicopter

further down the course. He won't mind the length of this

course. The new superstar of Swiss skiing. He has work to do here. Not

so clever so far. Half a second off the pace.

Looked good in the second training run held on Friday. He was second

quickest there. Getting bounced around. Had to try and thrust his

weight forward. That was a better line.

Early into the tuck. Let's compare Theaux who leads and

Beat Feuz who is on course. A massive jump there. He clipped the

control gate. Took a courageous line into that jump, as tight has

he dare. 1.20.8 through that speed gun. Will we speed an improvement?

He's pretty relaxed in the lower body. Absorbing everything that

comes his way. 1.36.93 the next split forte at a. A miraculous

middle section from the Swiss racer. He's turned ready red into green.

400ths of a second up now. Tucking at every available opportunity.

Winding down the windows there. He flew for miles! Further than

anybody. It's working for him. A long flight and he gives himself an

advantage of nearly half a second over Adrien Theaux. Beat Feuz's

brilliant season continues in Sochi. He leads the way. Six 10ths quicker

than Theaux. He really did not look like he was enjoying himself on the

top of the course. His outside ski was bouncing around. He wasn't able

to carve on that icy section. But on the big sweeping turns after the

Russian Trampoline he was able to let the skis run. Particularly over

the last section of the course, the two big jumps, he takes the lead,

Beat Feuz. Great on the lower part of the yours. I reckon he could

still go faster. Next to go is Hannes Reichelt from Austria. He

won the World Cup title back in 2008. He's never won a downhill

though he has come pretty close this season. He's got three podium

finishs to his name, including second place. But the technical

hours in Sochi will suit him. Step forward Hannes Reichelt for

Australia ra. Into the steep. Solid, nicely

underfoot there. Trying to main control over the bases and edges of

third of a second quicker than our leader, Beat Feuz. Reichelt really

looked the part in the first training run earlier in the week.

He was quickest of them all, ahead of Didier Cuche, with Ben Thompson,

the young Canadian, third fast nest the practise run.

Reichelt is ahead by miles! Three quarters of a second. A similar

line off that jump to the one we saw from Beat Feuz. Reichelt is in

trouble there but a good recovery. Incredible thigh strength. A couple

of free-style moves from Hannes Reichelt. Beat Feuz was

particularly quick on this section of the course. Reichelt is

struggling to match him. He is now a quarter of a second off the pace.

There really is no let-up on this course. It's demanding from start

to finish. Just a couple of three or four-second gaps where the

racers can tuck and refuel and then they have to get airborne again.

Way off that jump and Reichelt is now behind. He had an advantage of

three quarters of a second but he trails now by 0.87. Kite still be

good enough for a provisual podium place for Hannes Reichelt. He is

skiing into sixth. Not quite. More than a second slower.

What a massive disappointment for Hannes Reichelt. Really good on the

top section. He had a massive lead over Beat Feuz. When he came into

the Russian trampoline he had the sunshine as well, good light, but

on the big five sweeping turns he lost his way and lost the power. He

didn't carry the speed over Bear's Brow. He lost time from there all

the way to the finish. A big disappointment.

Next up can Didier Cuche, whose farewell tour continues in Russia.

Since announcing this season would be his last the Swiss has dominated

the men's downhill with another win in Kitzbuhel.

Le will want the sign off his Didier Cuche is on his way. He is

hoping to move further ahead of his rivals with a decent result here.

Looked pretty soldier nid training. -- looked pretty solid in training.

He was reputedly offered 1 million euros by his ski manufacturer to

stay on and race another season. He rolled his eyes and said, "I'm sure

they can find me another job which doesn't involve taking life-

threatening risks on steep mountain sides around the world." I think he

really has had enough. It is not so much the racing but the hours of

preparation that have taken their toll on Cuche. Doesn't want to do

jump! There is no-one better or more majestic in flight than Didier

Cuche. 122.1 through the gun. He's the man

to beat in the question for the season-long downhill World Cup

title. Beat Feuz, the young Swiss, 136.89.

Cuche, 37 years young, is 8 tenths of a second off the pace. That

wasn't such a good jump. The winner for the fifth time

earlier this season. Loves it step and fast. Enjoys the big rollers

and the long flights. He's got good speed here. 134.4 for Didier Cuche.

Flew 65-70 metres there. Cuche is nearly home. 8th position today for

Didier Cuche. 1.3 slower than Feuz. A big disappointment for Didier

Cuche. He doesn't have to worry about the course for the winter

Olympics but he's lost a lot of ground to Beat Feuz. It looks like

the strongest challenge will come from his own team-mate. Miller is

next up, looking for a second downhill win of the season. He

topped the podium in Beaver Creek before Christmas but has struggled

since. The American though has nine World Cup wins to his name and can

never be ruled out. Chuing gum, standing tall.

-- chewing gum, standing tall. The look belies the determination

which is pretty much unmatched. Miller is away, at full pelt at the

top of the course. He was critical of the setting, in other words the

position of the control gates. Said it was a bit tame. What happened to

the down Hills of old where people used to crash. He questioned

whether he would have the motivation to race here at the

Olympics, but if he continues in this vein and wins in 2012 he might

get some motivation to remain and go for the Olympic downhill gold

shaves, including last weekend in Chamonix. Flapping like a bird as

he flew there. Beat Feuz, 117 through that speed trap. Looking

good for Bodie. Fourth quickest in one of the

training runs earlier in the week. Is there enough strength and

stamina in his 34-year-old legs to keep up this pace? He's starting to

struggle. A slopping-looking jump from Miller. It's been green all

the way. It might not be though as he comes through the last 25

seconds of this downhill run. Miller drawing on all his reserves

of strength to try and keep it up. 131.3 through the gun. A couple of

kilometres per hour slower than Feuz. It's a tired-looking Miller

who comes off the final jump and hits the finishing line in third

position. He's right in there again. Bodey Miller, superb on the top of

the course. He instead the training runs he didn't like it, that was

too Turney, but he was good on that section. Ran out of speed a bit

towards the finish. That's what made the difference. Took a massive

flight off the late jump, perhaps a little too far, but just couldn't

quite keep the speed going until the finish. Next to go is clause

Kroell. He's the nearest challenger to Didier Cuche's lead at the top

of the downhill rankings. Last week he won a requestioneded match. Can

he continue the form on to this new report. 50 kilometres inland from

the Black Sea resort of Sochi, which will be the official host of

Kroell will still be on the team then.

Half a second. This is very respectable racing from Klaus

Kroell.. A little chance to refuel. Cuts through the air. Good

Kroell. He is in seventh place, another top 10 result for the

Austrian. In the start, Benjamin Thomsen from Canada, an exciting

young prospect. Just five feet seven inches tall, 12.5 stone, not

your typical downhill racer. He is one of the poor men of the circuit

as well, last summer he lived in a warehouse next to his father's

masonry business and collected comes on bottles to redeem are the

local recycling depot next door to gain extra cash. Eventually his

friends took pity on him, held an auction and raised 15,000 Canadian

dollars to keep him on the road. A good investment following those

excellent results in Chamonix last weekend. A good start here. Now he

has gone a little further away, 0.7 to one down, but he was quick in

training. -- 0.71. A good jump. Oh my word, that was long. He took out

this huge amount of the track by clearing it in the air! Remarkable!

Benjamin Thomsen flies again. Second! Brilliant again from young

Thomsen, picking up their huge amount of speed on the course. He

came to the fore in Chamonix last weekend and he has really stamped

his authority on this course. A brilliant run for the Canadian.

There for first World Cup downhill race in Russia is won by Beat Feuz

with another fantastic result for Office for the reigning champion,

Didier Defago, who finished down intent. Aksel Lund Svindal could

only finish in 13th place, and Jan Hudec finished way of the place in

24th position. At the top it was really rough, a bumpy. Usually I

can perform better in these positions but sometimes you can

only do so much. I knew I just have to keep charging, put my head down

and go for it. It is unbelievable that the first win here where the

Olympic Games will be in two years, it is unbelievable. In the end it

was youth rather than experienced that won the game. It was not the

top technical part of the course that was the key, it was the big

sweeping turns that won him the race. It bodes well for him come

the Olympic Games. Britain's Shelley Rudman is the skeleton

World Cup champion after finishing third in the final race of the

season. The race in Canada which took place on Thursday was won by

her team-mate, but Shelley Rudman secured enough points to take her

first overall title. So British prospects for Sochi 24 team is

looking promising. We will be back next week for the women's downhill.

Press your red button straight after today's show for the men's

super combined. As you may have noticed, downhill skiers are a

breed apart. Their fear knows no bounds and they have adrenaline on

tap. They are the undisputed kings of the Mountains... I used to think

that, until I met this man. If you want to be a real alchemist, you

have to climb the rock face. I always fight my target, and I just

went for it. The idea is the grandfather of Alpine faces. Its

German translation has been renamed "murder Wall" but man has always

strived to conquer the greatest challenges. The first successful

ascent of the north face in 1938 was made in three days. Reaching

the summit remains an incredible achievement, but the development of

speed climbing has produced results that are simply mind-blowing.

climbing is a sport. You start, you run on a slope. You are not walking.

It is very dangerous if you make a mistake and you fall off, then

there is only one ago to the limit. I made my strategy. The lower part,

the first 500 metres, that is not steep and you have to go as fast as

you can. But then there are parts in which you should not be too fast.

Mistakes are possible. Sometimes your foot slipped a bit, but if you

have good ice access you can move fast. Can you feel the rock with

your pick? Yes Camino 100%. If you move too fast, a mistake is

possible. I a lot of people would look at this and say it is insane.

Was there any point you scared yourself? A know, I was never

scared. People call me an extreme climate, but I am not extreme at

all. What I am doing is totally normal for me. You control the

situation, it is the perfect run. You stand on the whole with your

crampons, and you look down and there is air below but you believe

on this edge because I am standing here, I am not falling off. A one

of the things that struck me is after that incredible exertion on

the vertical face, you reach the snowfield at the last part of the

climb, and you are powering up there, literally running. Yes, it

burns, it hurts, but I am almost there and you try to go as fast as

you can. Pushing the limits. Yes, just do what you can't. -- can.

Were you genuinely amazed when you saw the time? I looked at the time

and I thought it was not possible, the watch was broken. I checked the

second one at the same time, and I was amazed. He had smashed his own

record for a solo ascent of the Tiger's north face by over an hour.

Many believed it was a record only he could touch, but in spring last

year, Daniel Arnold reach the summit in just two hours 28, almost

20 minutes quicker. That is something you have to accept. You

can never compare the different records because the mountain is

always different. I've free climbed the whole face, he pulled the ropes.

I am proud, I was the first who really pushed it to that limit.

Climbing without the rope, it is just pure snow, you can't cheat

anything. It is just you and the the last snowfield towards the peak

is one of the most impressive things I have seen on an athletic

and a filming level. In 2014, Sochi will also host the Paralympics, and

one British skier hoping to make his debut his former Royal Marine

Pete Dunning. Graham met up with him earlier in the season to hear

I can remember everything that happened on that day it up until

the point of impact. If you are the leading vehicle, you don't know

what is on the ground in front of you. You have just finished the

mission, turning back to Camp Bastion. Another 10 days, and I

would have gone home. We were under heavy contact. Basically my vehicle

started to burn, and that was it. Four years ago, Lance Corporal Pete

Dunning was about to complete his second tour of Afghanistan when the

vehicle he was in drove over an explosive device. I was blown about

15 metres. Pete was critically injured, and the driver was killed.

The news crew was filming in the area at the time and captured his

fight for life. It was pretty touch and go, wasn't it? Yes, I was

literally knocking on the door, but thank God no one was in that day,

quite literally. It could have gone either way, within a split second.

At what point did you realise the extent of your injuries? I don't

remember the first week or so. I remember snippets, but it was

really about a week and a half after when I'm really properly came

around and had my family around me at the bed. I was laid up in bed,

no legs, I couldn't sit up, I had fractured my spine. There were

times when I thought I'd just don't want to be here, I don't want this

to be my life. What made you decide to take up one of the most

dangerous sports in the Alps? Curiosity, really. When I was going

through rehabilitation, they helped injured personnel get back into new

sport they have never tried before. I decided skiing was for me. The

opportunity came up to do two weeks in Bavaria skiing, and I thought

why not? Pete has gone on to become a member of the British Paralympic

skiing team, and he is not the only member of the squad with a military

background. Do you think servicemen are particularly attractive to

skiing because of the danger of the sport? I think so, yes. Being

injured, it is just what the military love, so when you are

hurtling down a mountain it is really exciting, you get the

adrenalin rush and everything. It is also good rehabilitation for you

because obviously, for me to walk on these prosthetics, you need good

balance. I am on one ski so that is good balancing, so, if nothing else,

it is good rehabilitation. I know a lot of guys on wheelchairs and they

say it gives them a real sense of freedom to travel a whole mountain.

It is, because people who can just leave the wheelchairs at the bottom,

they can get on the chairlift and off they go. They can be on their

from 9am until the mounting closes basically. It is a fantastic

feeling, that freedom you have. Empty-handed in Vancouver two years

ago, Team G B is still waiting for its first Paralympic Alpine skiing

medal. The squad is growing in strength and depth. There is a

massive amount of servicemen who are going through what you have

gone through. Do you think this will be the main feeder for the

disabled teams? Definitely because clearly injured military, I

personally think, are some of the best athletes to have. We are

determined to be the best, and we are fit, young - some more us - so

we have still some way to go in the sporting world. Looking back, what

were your overriding feelings? people think it is the most strange

thing to say, but I think getting blown up is one of the best things

that happened to me. I am such a different person, more focused, and

more determined than anything now to achieve what I want to achieve,

getting into the Paralympics, and progress from there. what a truly

incredible story of courage. What gets me is when he says getting

blown up is the best thing that happened to him. It is truly