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Show nnnn rnrir7n rrirs n op n m u l j to running gates Whoever said that skiing isn't a spectator specta-tor sport? In places like Germany, Austria and France, where skiing reigns supreme and top racers are held in the same regard as NBA or NFL players in the United States, watching a ski race has been elevated ele-vated to an art form. And when legends like Hermann Maier are on the docket, course-side spectator numbers can exceed 20.000 In spite of the fact that ski racing's following in the U.S. hadn't quite reached that same fever pitch, American ski racing, rac-ing, and especially the Chevy Truck America's Opening, holds just as many of the same spills, thrills and excitement for spectators as on the other side of the pond. "America's Opening is a great opportunity oppor-tunity for spectators to have easy access to the same level of competition that the world will be here to see during the Olympics in 2002," said em Greco, Park City Mountain Resort president and general manager. Following is a list of rips on how to best experience the races and events of the 2000 Chevy Truck America's Opening World Cup races. General Admission All holders of Park City Mountain Resort 2000-2001 Full Season, Midweek, Summit and Wasatch County Student, MP and Mountain Rewards passes receive free admission to the Chevy Truck America's Opening. Admission for all others is just $5 per person, per day. allowing ticket holders to watch from the sidelines of the race course. Lunch it the Races tickets Lunch at the Races, or MP America's Opening rickets, include a gourmet catered course-side lunch, admission to bleacher seating inside the Eagle Race Arena and special America's Opening memorabilia. This year's Lunch at the V, Races tickets are $20 for the giant slalom (GSl races on Thursday or Fnday (Nov. 16 or 1"). and $40 to watch the slalom competition on Saturday or Sunday (Nov 18 or 1)). Lunch at the Races tickets arc also available for both Saturday and Sunday for $70. General admission and Lunch at the Races tickets can be purchased at the resort's Sports Desk, located in the Ticket Building on the Resort Center Plaza, or by calling 435-647-5467. Where to watch the races Most Park City locals know the "dogleg" "dog-leg" the portion of the course w here C.B.'s Run veers to sk iers' right offers the best vantage point to see racers run the Eagle Race Arena from top to bottom. bot-tom. This area is not sheltered and requires some hiking to get to, so proper footw ear and attire is a must. And because of this summer's completion of the realignment of C.B.'s Run, several additional areas along the course below this area have been opened up for viewing view-ing the competition, though they do not afford the full-course vantage point of the dogleg. And, of course, lower down the course near the finish area allows both a view of the racers as they pass and the play-by-play action on the Jumbotron (large-screen monitor) capturing captur-ing the racers' runs from the starring gate to the finish area. Starting order The giant slalom and slalom races of America's Opening are run in a format w here a larger field of competitors participates par-ticipates in a qualifying run each day of competition at 10 a m. (On Sunday, Nov. 19, the women's slalom first run w ill be r 7V Pmoh m Von Nisi held at ! 0: 1 5 a m ) The top 30 finishers go on to compete in the second, or final, run at 1 p.m. The starting order of the first run is determined the night before the competition competi-tion at the Team Captains' Meeting, a closed meeting of FIS professionals, coaches, team captains, course officials and the America's Opening Organizing Committee Here, as w ell as at the public draws, the first 1 5 athletes to take to the course dunng the next day's first run is determined. The start order of the second run is a reverse of the top 30 finish times of the first run. Athletes w ho competes in America's Opening and other races on the Cafe dc Colombia World Cup circuit accrue points throughout the season for every race they participate in, as well as w here they place in each race. At the end of the season, based on these statistics, an overall World Cup circuit winner is determined. America's Opening holds particular significance because not only is it the first World Cup race reason in America, but it also serves to set the tone for the entire season. "America's Opening is where those who have trained hard all summer are separated from those who have not," said Tom Kelly, U.S. Ski T;am director of public relations. lyvorldcup |