The Norwegian National Anthem, and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden

A few days have passed since my last post.

Some good walks from the Lagorai Hotel through beautiful Cavalese down to Lago di Tesero.

Walking through the park at the lower end of town with the most beautiful church, very pretty in the very deep snow! Then dropping down in the Alpe Cermis telecabine to the bottom of the valley, and walking alongside the XC trails. Stopped in Masi for coffee on day 2, waded through deep snow, and finally arrived after an hour or so, better for the exercise! The villages  in the bottom of the valley are real, lived-in farming areas, with a delicious smell of cows and woodsmoke.

Some more ski jumping, and on Tuesday a really enjoyable dinner in Predazzo with all the ski jumping judges, accompanied by an outstanding opera singer from the Milan Opera House whose name (I was assured) was Giuseppe Veneziano, but may not have been.

Many more Norwegian medals, another medal ceremony in Cavalese along with hundreds and hundreds of people. Fast getting the hang of the NOR national anthem. Sverre Seeberg one of the happiest guys around!

Enjoyed the spectacular arrival last night of the King of Sweden to our hotel in a cavalcade of six cars with a shed-load of luggage, had wondered why there had been a young man hanging around outside my door. The King is sleeping just along the corridor, and my room is under guard all night - presumably to stop him entering! His daughter, Crown Princess Victoria, has been here for two days, with husband and baby.

A good dinner with Ivo Greger, vet / SJ Asst TD from Liberec last night - very pleased that I know so many of these guys now. Everything seems a whole lot easier!

Hard to believe that there are only two more days before I leave, the whole thing has been just magical! Very much helped by the fact that the medical guys are always in the right place, and that they have had very little to do! I took Nicoletta to the top of the high jump, all she could say was 'o, mamma mia'! Dr Nardelli has been great, friendly and helpful, and very (exclusively) Italian. A couple of rides with Sarah Lewis have put some GBR skiing issues to rights!

View from the window of my room in the Hotel Lagorai, looking towards Lago di Tesero:

Will post pictures and some amazing video when I get home!

Extraordinary people...

Sunday 24th February

I'm becoming a bit of a cross country addict. The athletes are extraordinary, the races gruelling and fascinating, and often with close finishes. Today, after I don't know how many long minutes, the final member of the French team in the 4x5km relay beat the Norwegian guy by 0.4sec, the push of his leading leg just centimeters ahead of his rival!

On to the jumping hill, the first mixed team event at a World Championships, won by Japan. And a visit to the GBR team in their hotel in Molina di Fiemme, great to see our athletes!

Dinner with Gian Franco again, and Sarah, and then a walk with Matti Sundberg to the medal ceremony in Cavalese. A good viewpoint, a glass or two of good red wine, and on the way back a lovely view of the floodlit Alpe Cermis Tour de Ski slope, in light snow and moonlight....

Oh, and my medical team...
Nicoletta di Giuli, Dr Nardelli - and the Medical tent for athletes at Lago di Tesero

Oh, and my good friend Larry Gaul USA, with the man from Sochi, Nikolai:

Another great day!

Insider's Guide to Ski Jumping, 23rd February 2013

Well, today was amazing.

The XC Skiathlon events were gruelling to watch, must have been worse to be competing, but exciting finishes (first four places to NOR in the Ladies, the men's event won by a Swiss racer).

And then to the Ski Jumping in Predazzo. Men's 106m individual jump. My 'infinity' pass gave me access to the chairlift, and to the top of the ramp - so I watched the first few take off from the very top.

Then down to the coaches' tower. The guys with the flags... Welcomed aboard by Miran Tepes, and a spectacular view of the take off from the ramp, and guided at all times by Race Director Walter Hofer.

Then down a little further, and up into the main tower, judges on floor three, TV cameras on 4, and me on floor 5. Just below the take-off point, with full and spectacular views of the flights and landings. Honestly can't believe I had access to all of this!!

Finally watched the top 30 from the finish area, surrounded by Norwegians, all delighted because their guy won. Back to the hotel with Sverre and the NOR head of world Biathlon and his wife. A good chat with Gian Franco over dinner, and a hot shower (welcome after a very snowy evening) ended a spectacular day.

Val di Fiemme 2013

A nervous arrival...

Knowing almost nobody, but made welcome by Gian Franco Kasper, President of FIS, who persisted in introducing me to all and sundry as the 'doctor of doctors'. The Hotel Lagorai, perched on a cliff overlooking the valley, beautiful location, beautiful rooms and beautiful food.

An opening ceremony in Trento to delight the visual senses, magical aerial antics involving balloons, light shows and trapeze artists, with special focus on the walls of the tower of the Duomo. The history of the Dolomites, and the values of the local people.

A tour with Nicoletta of the medical services at each location, and a general warm welcome from all concerned. Dr Nardelli a linguistic challenge, but very friendly.

A warm introduction to Ski Jumping from Walter Hofer, and a trip by chairlift to the top of the jump, amazing to be right beside the athletes as they awkwardly shifted into position, and then to watch as they took off to fly!

Into the main competitions, the Ladies and Men's XC Sprint to start - winners from Norway (L) and Russia (M). Exciting to watch, and then on to Ladies SJ qualifications - a long day, and eventually called for a driver to take me back to the hotel.


An interesting visit to the SWE and FIN wax trucks, and then the standard wax cabin being used by AUT. A stark contrast.

Good welcome dinner, struggling a bit with a cold, but very much enjoyed the company of FIS Council members Matti Sundberg, Bill Marolt, Sverre Seeberg and Dean Gosper. Several courses, some good saxophone music, and a little clear grappa to finish.

Now getting the hang of it all. Into Cavalese for a haircut and a coffee, quick early lunch, and a driver to take me to the Lago di Tesero stadium to watch the massively exciting finale of the first Gundersen event, (NC 106m jump, followed by 10km XC, the start staggered to allow advantage to those who jumped furthest to allow the winner to be first to the finish). The worthy winner a Frenchman.

And then quickly on to Predazzo to watch the Ladies SJ finals, US winner and a great competition. Good medical support - thankfully not needed!

And then a lovely dinner with Gian Franco, Dean/Amanda, Sverre, Richard (founder of Eurosport). Dog sledding a good topic of conversation!

Ski Friends 2013 - SLO

Slovenia 2013

With Roman Sturm, Tugo, Gasper Zakotnik, Jaroslav, Olga, and Mika...!