Wengen Ski Sunday

The art of downhill skiing drama, catch you then.

To become a champion means more than play. It begins

To become a champion means more than pushing the limit. Gravity takes

hold at the bottom of the hill. It takes something very special to get

to the top of the podium. There's a certain irony that this

quiet, picture-postcard resort in Switzerland hosts

probably the most punishing, gruelling downhills

on the World Cup circuit. The crowds are flocking

to the finish area eager to see We are also in Flachau, Austria,

which plays host to the women's Chemmy Alcott has caught up

with Britain's Alex Tilley to find out how she's adjusting to racing

on the elite World Cup circuit. And we finish the programme

with the jaw-dropping spectacle Think slopestyle times two,

three, 20 or 30 even. The main point

have 20 or 30 skiers jumping over each other. You see all the big

jumps crossover each other. What happens if the calculations are

wrong? Somebody might get their head chopped off. Do not miss that later

on. First though, it's the race

from Wengen and it's our first The Norwegians dominating. They have

such a small team, but they are dominating. Svindal in scintillating

form. That year he had off because of the Achilles injury, it is given

extra speed. In the form of his life. Seems to have come to the

detriment of his team-mate. I don't think he would have achieved

anything without Svindal. Now he is back, he is almost pushing too hard

to beat his team-mate. This is the Austrian, one to watch. There are

the Italians. Christof Innerhofer, and Peter Fill. 34 years of age,

just had a child, given him extra determination to go fast. We are in

Switzerland, the Lauberhorn, the classic downhill race, never rule

out the Swiss Ron Holmes snow. As we know, the Lauberhorn

is the longest downhill on the tour. The longest downhill

on the World Cup, nearly five kilometres of quad-burning,

lung-busting, breath-taking action. Unbelievable drama. He has got it.

Oh, yes left it all on the level one. -- Lauberhorn. Because of the

new snow on the top of the course, we have moved the start down. Not

too much speed in the first two corners, work the skis around the

corners, setting up for straight into the jump. Just clipping the

bump as I went through, over the top. Hard on the left ski, as you go

round the corner. That is the toughest part of the course, right

there and then. Out of the gate, no warm up. They have done a great job

of clearing the new snow off the track. Another little jump.

Underneath the railway track. Out onto the glide. The gliding part of

the course will be so important today. With these new snow

conditions. Coming towards the S. Really working the skis through the

terrain here. The terms are so vital, from here on, straight and

fast. Through the speed trap. Out. Good light, good visibility. Over

the Silverthorne jump. Quite a hard landing. A latter terrain as you go

through the Austrian hole. Approaching the finish S, wide to

the net. Hard on your right ski, get nice and high. Pressure on the left

ski, over, the final run into the finish. Well, no one start, snow

this morning, now son, what kind of state is the course in? Because of

the lower start, no warm up, straight into the big flight, really

rough afterwards. That is the key part of the course, straight out of

the gates. That is Graham's verdict. Signed to put the races to the test,

this is the Wengen Downhill. COMMENTATOR:. Something rather

special on downhill day, for the Swiss and racing fans all over. The

scenery and the spectacle combining to make any unique sporting arena.

David Poisson in the gate. Shortened downhill this year. He has to start

on the flat. Still skating as he sets up for the cliff jump, one of

the classic obstacles in this classic men's downhill. Standing

hard on the left ski now. Low onto the flat,

three this ass. Through the railway line, into the tunnel. Into the fast

as part of the course. Clocking 143 climate is per hour. David Poisson

is going solidly in Wengen. The Silverthorne next. Excellent run so

far from the powerful Frenchman. Working hard, legs burning, not

quite as tough as normal. The short course, but still a real test for

these pros. Good run from David Poisson, from in the gauntlet down.

He will be hoping the new snow would not have slowed him down on the

technical section. Race number four for Austria, one of the veterans,

Klaus Kroll. Like speed skater, the momentum of the top of the course.

Dummy in towards the cliff jump. Beautiful flight. Solid landing,

standing on the right ski, he has to absorb the next stage. Klaus Kroll

has won in Wengen in the past. Taking this race back in 2011. This

part of the course named after one of the best of the last crop of

Swiss skiers. Out of the S. Clocking 143.8 kilometres per hour. He is

almost a quarter of a second quicker than David Poisson. Not the

smoothest landing of the Silverhorn. Looks pretty good shape as the tax

towards the line. He leads the way in Wengen by 11 hundredths of a

second. A veteran skier who knows this course like the back of his

hand. As soon as the classic downhill starts, Klaus Kroll

suddenly starts to come in form. Christof Innerhofer, from Italy.

Winner of the downhill here in 2013. To minutes .29 .82 seconds on that

day. 2.29.282 seconds that they. He stands tall

. Comes out with good speed. Under the railway line. On his way.

High-speed, 142 Columbus is per hour. In a hopper was half a second

in front. He trails. It is close. It is a case of letting the skis

collide. That is nicely done. Christof Innerhofer home in second.

Missing the lead by seven hundredths. Seven hundredths of a

second, Christof Innerhofer not quite taking the lead. Skiing

brilliantly on the top part of the course. Carry great speed through

there. Did well on the finish S. Not course. Carry great speed through

fast enough on the glide. Next Peter Fill, the veteran racer, originally

he trained as a car mechanic before committing to Alpine skiing. Crashed

last year, but got the bodywork back in shape. If there is a faulty axle,

he will hope to turbo to victory. Peter Fill, the Italian, racer

number 15. Visibility in and out, bank of cloud. He's going to fly

here. Never won one of the classic

downhill is. Time to be running out, maybe today? Comes onto the

narrowest part of the course. The entry to the S. The entry out is a

little slower than he would have liked. Plunging down, the fastest

man on the mountain so far. 145.7 metres per hour. For lying through

this course. Struggling for dynamic balance. Managed to stay on his

feet, but would have given himself quite a scare at that speed. 15

hundredths behind Klaus Kroll at the last intermediate. He is sixth, .29.

He mistakenly Silverhorn Costin. Every funded point is taken.

Paris could do well this week. Look pretty solid in training. At silly

brute of a man. Not quite as comfortable as some of the others in

the air. He's taking chances, but Paris get the reward. A quarter of a

second quicker than Klaus Kroll. Now to the narrow gully. 106.3 onto the

entrance. The exit did not look particularly tidy. 75.2 kilometres

per hour on No Way Out. He is only just in front of Klaus

Kroell. 143 plus kilometres per hour. Silverthorne standing tall.

Keeping his body up to the wind and that would have slowed him down a

fraction. 700th of a second behind Klaus Kroell. Standing on that right

ski and he dips the inside edge of the left ski into the snow, looking

for purchase and speed. He has got second, 500 of the second out. Paris

is so good on the top part of the course, really lives on his skis. He

stands so clean on his edges. He loses it on the Clyde. There was

missed just above which would have slowed him down slightly, losing out

by 500th of a second. Svindal, the best downhill racer of the season so

far. Can he win in Wengen? Smooth and soft on the landing, standing on

the right ski. Already, nearly four tents of the second Dan Klaus Kroell

of Austria. He comes in as prerace favourite,

carrying good speed in the way in and out, under the railway line,

Svindal is going like a train. Now, we follow him on the relatively flat

section. 103.3, this shot delivered courtesy of the helicopter and you

can see the misty conditions, the fog thickening on the bottom part of

the course. It is something of a journey into the unknown here. For

them. -- for Svindal. Now we pick him up in slightly cleaner air. Look

at the time difference, Svindal going even quicker. Does not matter

about the missed, Svindal is out to prove he is the number one. The

about the missed, Svindal is out to classic Wengen downhill, he is going

to take some beating today. Svindal absolutely ripping it up on the

Lauberhorn in Wengen. Hard on that left ski, he has plenty of strength

left in reserve, Svindal will lead, 1.5 seconds faster than Klaus

Kroell. That is unbelievable. Everyone else has been coming down

hundreds of a second apart. Svindal destroys them, 1.5 seconds. That is

what happens when you get the best gear in the world on the fastest

skis. He carried speed through, and his skis just took off on the

gliding section. All the speedy had on the top just multiplied all the

way down the course. Completely unbeatable. Next ago is the Austrian

number one Hannes Reichelt. He loves this classic course. Can the

Austrian make history here today? Hannes Reichelt, winner 12 months

ago. Look at him go there. Hannes Reichelt is after this one. Flats

start, he is wanting the speed, he is wanting to fly. The cliff jump,

soft, solid landing. Hannes Reichelt clocks 19.03 as he clatters that

control gate. Narrowest part of the course. Coming towards where the

race can be won and lost. Not too fast on the way in for Hannes

Reichelt. On the exit, it is pretty quick actually, 79.7. Diving under

the tunnel, picking up speed all the quick actually, 79.7. Diving under

time. He is just over a quarter of a second behind Svindal as he skis off

into the fog. This is getting to be a tricky situation for the

organisers because the weather is in and out all the time. How will

Hannes Reichelt emerge through the mist? Next split at the bottom and

he is still in touch, Hannes Reichelt has dealt with the

difficult visibility quite brilliantly. 16 hundredths mind

Svindal, potentially on his way to second place. Can he get the right

side of Hannes Reichelt -- temp was -- Svindal's time? Hannes Reichelt

towards the finish. The Austrian would love to put one down and win a

race in Switzerland. It is close, he is second, he has just missed it. I

said Svindal is almost unbeatable but Hannes Reichelt came close. He

will be happy with that ahead of next week's race in Austria. In the

start up as last year's start up, kettle jams road. -- kettle jams

the weather drifting in and out, waiting for clear air. Kjetil

Jansrud is released from the start at the top of the race but look at

the weather he has to deal with. This was clear for most of his

competitors. Advantage for the early starters as Kjetil Jansrud hits the

fog. He lands it sweetly enough, good turn. He stands and flies. The

current leader is Svindal. They have enjoyed a very healthy rivalry in

the Norwegian camp and on the World Cup circuit for the last five or so

years. They push each other to new heights week after week. As Kjetil

Jansrud comes flying down. His chance has gone, he is more than a

second and a half behind his team-mate, Svindal. He will be

breathing easy at the foot of the course as he watches that time

flashed up on the big screen. No danger to his lead from his

compatriot, Kjetil Jansrud. He is dealt a cruel card with a sudden

shift in the weather. He will finish dealt a cruel card with a sudden

safely enough. More than two seconds slower. I am sure that if Kjetil

Jansrud had started early in the race today, he would not have skied

so closely. That run was purely down to the conditions. When it gets flat

like that, you are getting hit by all of the bonds you cannot quite

see. When it is sunny, you can see the bonds and works to rain and

generate speed. That is just bad luck for Kjetil Jansrud. There was

another delay for fog on the course. With 30 required to skied before a

result was declared. An anxious wait for those at the top and bottom of

the course. The mist then cleared sufficiently for the race to

continue. Everyone was much slower than the leader. This skier was keen

to show off his safety airbag. We have a race now? As Banks left the

start heart, his question was answered in the affirmative. Another

Norwegian waited patiently for his turn. He had a superb finish of 15,

further proof of Norway's attacking Viking strength and more. Victory in

the Lauberhorn classic downhill. Svindal, the man of the season so

far. You were not quite able to defend the title from last year? It

was a good run nonetheless? I think my run was really good. Svindal had

a better one. It was really close. It was 19 hundredths. I am really

happy to be again on the podium. What is it like to ski into a bag

happy to be again on the podium. fog like that? It is really scary,

it is the same when you go with the car at 120 or something else. It was

on the limit of the safety because I did not see really the next gates,

and so I was thinking, OK, Svindal did it so I can do it also. It is

definitely that day-to-day when conditions are coming in and out so

it is tough skiing. I was lucky enough to have decent conditions.

Myself and Hannes Reichelt were able to pull away from the rest of the

pack by quite a margin. It is not a perfect day to win, you want to win

-10 degrees, blue skies, no wind, so there is no debate. But nice to

finally have one. As proceedings draw to a close here in Wengen, the

women have been racing. Alex Tilley, 26 in role, the first female British

racer to take on a World Cup tour since Chemmy Alcott. The two of them

met up before Friday night's slalom. 13 years ago, I was a rookie racing

my first all-time season on the World Cup tour. I was young,

determined and hungry for success and in Alex Tilley, I see those same

traits. I have known Alex since she was a junior and it is really

exciting seeing him mature as a racer. Since last year, she has

teamed up with new coach Noel Baxter and her natural talent was always

there but the confidence she now has through having someone like Noel

believing in her, is making all the difference. It is his strength, she

can attack courses like not many other girls can. When it is a medium

pitch and good swing to the course, she has that strength to call on.

She can snap the terms of which is why she can be a solid top ten

skier. I whizz found when it was one-on-one with a coach, it was

quite an intense environment but you also become very good mates as well

and you can see that. You have to switch off from skiing as well. You

cannot be at Dejagah's throats all the time. There has to be a mutual

respect there and a good relationship as well, not just

coach-athletes, super intense all the time. What do you do when you

are not skiing? I benefit a lot from just relaxing. I like a bit of alone

time. Embarrassing as it is, I have this colouring book and I get

totally involved in it! It is not that cool! But it really helps me

relax. You talk about that alone time but the other Brit on fire now,

Dave Ryding, he is very much like that as well. How does that benefit

you? We spent a lot of time together this summer which was really cool

because I have always seen him and thought, I don't know anyone that

has worked harder than him. For thought, I don't know anyone that

to see that first-hand and try to keep up with that was definitely a

learning experience and really cool to do. We have had two giant slalom

this season, in Austria, you smashed them both. You qualified and in the

end, you got that top 20. It was a tricky one, such a-me for the first

time getting into the top 30 and then, crashing out second run... To

do it in the end and up my game and get a top 20, it was huge. After

that qualification, a few frustrating months, how did you

handle that? In all honesty, not very well! It was really hard for me

and for my coach as well, very frustrating. We got honest with each

other and ourselves and said, we need to just relax and let it happen

almost. Going into this season, your goal was a top 30, how does it feel

to take it off the list already? It is awesome, ultimate goal is top 15.

I want to drive on and achieve that but a big relief. Encouraging for

the future. Training is done, inspection is done, you feel good,

attack from the back, OK? Come on. Welcome to Austria. Inevitably, in

ski racing, the field is divided between those who are elated and

those disappointed. Today would not be the day of Alex Tilley.

It is a ruthless sport, you have to risk to qualify, what happened? I

wanted to go out and focus on my technical skiing, which I succeeded

in. Maybe a bit too much respect of the top, silly mistake at the

bottom, but that is Lal. Alex fared slightly better, but failed to make

it through to the second run, finishing a disappointing 45th. Dave

Riding skied into a bridge in 16th place in the slalom. Henrik

Kristoffersen's domination continued, taking his fourth World

Cup victory of the season. If you want to see more of the night

slalom from Flachau, this week's Ski Sunday

Extra is on iPlayer. On Friday and Saturday,

we have live coverage of the half-pipe and slopestyle

finals from the Laax Open. Also on Saturday, we've got live

coverage of the women's In alpine, progression pretty much

boils down to getting In freestyle, it's

about going bigger. So big, jaws are left agape

and minds are blown. Ladies and gentlemen,

I give you Legs of Steel. We are in the Tyrol region of

Austria, heading to meet up with 25 of the world's best freestyle

skiers, to meet up for what will be a very special event. Did not take

much persuasion. I knew right away I would go. The pressure on this one

is big. The risk factor, you are creating something really special

and unique. In 2011, 13 members of an elite freestyle skiing crew went

all out to impress. The spectacular multi-skier jump went viral, and the

rest is history. Now they are back with reinforcements and a plan to

take things to the next level. Gents, how are you. This is it, the

design. This technical drawing is a lot different from the one you sent

us. I am no physicist, that does not look like it would work. That is

just sketches, how we see it from a rider's point of view. When we do

that stuff, we go way more with a gut feeling. It is then the

company's job to build it, and transform it into engineering

sketches, that obviously works to build. I am not going to lie, I'm

quite looking forward to seeing this. Me, too! The footage from the

first project was rectangular. With three times the number of jumps,

twice the number of skiers, the level of ambition for this one is

truly breathtaking. Malaysia, here we are. That is not your average

snow park, what are we looking at? Faces make a jumps, we have built.

Magath. The main point of the shoot is to have 20, 30 skiers jumping

over each other. is to have 20, 30 skiers jumping

the park you will see is to have 20, 30 skiers jumping

jumps, crossing over each other. What happens if the calculations are

wrong? Someone might get their head chopped off. A loss of Jeopardy? Are

you nervous? My biggest concern for this shot, if someone falls over in

the middle of that. If you are deferred guide to land on the jump,

you have another ten guys behind you running the risk of hitting you.

That is not only going to hurt you, it'll hurt everybody else. Wow! I am

not joking, standing looking across here, absolutely petrifying. The

company told me it is the biggest one they have made. Some of the

biggest jumps in competition where the Olympics late style jumps at 26

metres, this is four metres bigger. I wanted to show you something. When

we build the jump, what we do, we go up onto the take-off, where you are

about to start. We throw snowball as far as we can. That determines how

fast we have to go at the jump. Honestly? That is how we do it.

Putting people's lives on the line with the strength of your arm. Does

not sound like science, but let's have a go. Oh, yes. The snowball

made it, the skier can make it. Apparently. With the build finally

complete, testing could begin. After some tentative runs, confidence

grew. As do the ambition in finding the limitations of this pretty mess

of the park. -- of this but he When you are pushing boundaries, you

risk crossing the line. There we go, unfortunately he took a

pretty big it, came up short, landed sideways, throwing him into the

landing, knocking himself out. He has come back around, the helicopter

taking him last little, should be OK. -- taking him to the hospital.

The reminder of how dangerous it would be. His concussion meant he

was out of the running for the main event, but with the weather closing

in, morale took another blow as conditions deteriorated and

everything was put on hold. The weather is not ideal, patches of

blue, kind of, not really. Oh, dear. Ready to go. Not really ready to go.

Here is your high country forecast, checking in, 101.3. Little bit of

cloud, little bit of sun. We will head up there, keep our fingers

firmly crossed for a bit of action. Is it part and parcel having weather

like this smack you have travelled all the way from Australia? It is

part of this, but it is fun hanging out. There you go, ever the

optimist. The weather is not ideal, really. We will see, maybe we will

punch through the cloud, more or less blue skies at the top. Fingers

well and truly crossed. What do you know? Our prayers were answered.

Here, boys. You have to have a trusted everybody

involved in the shoot, trust people filming to get the shot, the shapers

have done their job, and the angles matchup, not going to fly into each

other. We will figure it out, it'll have to be calculated, otherwise

skis may be getting heads. They will not win anything at the end of it,

but being part of something a lot bigger than one run in the

competition. I want people to stand up and clapped Emma wow, this is

sick, this is free skiing, I want to do it. Right, this is it, two years

in the planning. Time for the big one.

Dropping in three, two, ones ago. -- one, go.

# Have A Little Help From My Friends - Van Morrison.

Now, before we leave you, it's time for Ski Social.

If this week's selection is anything to go by,

the future of British freestyle in particular looks very bright.

14-year-old Thea Fenwick has been ripping it in parks and on plastic.

Likewise George Waite - nice grabs George.

Fox, aged six, is loving the Chill Factor-e.

While six-year-old Ralph is clearly not listening to his dad.

Our favourite clip this week was five-year-old Travis Henderson.

He will be knocking out Mike Ross rocket method. I have not seen you

do that yet. Next week. My challenge has been met by Scott Fraser. You

have to be set another one. How about a backscratching? You have to

mix it up with new school. Backscratching to truck driver. Grab

both of those skis in front of you. Keep sending us your pictures

and videos, using the hashtag Ski Sunday - we love

seeing you guys in action. And send us your questions too -

we've got time for a couple Norwegian Saint wants

to know the secret behind the Attacking Vikings' success

despite their relatively small Well, who better to answer that

than Attacking Viking Kjetil Thank you for your question, I will

try to once of it. If I knew, we would be 100 skiers, not three. It

is a cultural thing, training hard, we go out even though it is raining,

doing that not just when you are on the World Cup team, but when you are

eight, nine. In addition to being halfway intelligent, taking care of

the people around you, good team spirit. That is how we have it.

Working out nicely for us. We have an interview with him in next week's

show. Finally, Archie wants to know how

to progress from parallel Two tips. Of a shallow another

gradient, so you don't get freaked out by the additional speed.

Secondly, let the skis do the work. Let the radius cast them out. Roll

the skis on to the edge, think pressure, big toe on the outside

key, little toe on the inside. We're out of time, but join us next

week for the biggest race The downhill from Kitzbuehel,

raced on the infamous Hahnenkham. Amongst the biggest races you can

win in skiing. It is a race that has made a lot of legends. Wow. Big

attack from the great man. He takes it down here. Always one mistake you

are in the hospital. The crashes big. It is as much racing against

the hill is against another racer.