...until the big race and to get into the World Cup mood, you can participate in the ORF-Ski-Challenge 07 at home on your computer.

ORF-Ski-Challenge 07? It may sound complicated, but don’t worry, it isn’t. ORF-Ski-Challenge 07 is a computer game that can be downloaded for free from the internet website http://skichallenge.ORF.at. It brings the most famous downhill pistes right into your own home, or should I say, computer. The start of the race series, which is held online parallel to the real World Cup, is of course in Val Gardena. As of last week, computer- or Ski-World Cup freaks were able to download the Saslong piste and practice their first curves of the winter.

Whereas the snow conditions on the cyber Saslong have been perfect since the first practice day, the real Saslong has only just been given the green light by the weatherman. But that is the only difference between game and reality. Well, nearly: Of course at home on the computer you need far less courage to race down the wall or jump over the world-famous Camel Humps. However, even on the computer the Saslong is particularly suited for the “gliders” of the SC:07-Racers. Good race times can only be achieved if certain key points are mastered to perfection.

From 28th November, it has been possible to practice on the cyber Saslong and from 9am on 15th December until 9pm on 17th December one can obtain the first World Cup points. Practically at the same time as the real races are taking place, the online-racers can challenge the international superstars. The next computer World Cup race will be held in Bormio (29th to 31st December), followed in 2007 by Wengen (12th to 14th January), Kitzbühl (26th to 28th January) and finally Aare (9th to 11th February).