Swiss skiers underdogs in Bormio

Bormio is host to the 2005 world championships Keystone

Switzerland’s top skiers are hoping to salvage a mediocre season at the world championships, which got underway in the Italian resort of Bormio on Saturday.

The 14-strong Swiss ski team are attempting to at least equal their modest record at the last world championships two years ago in St Moritz.

It was two years ago that Silvan Zurbriggen took silver in the men’s slalom event, adding some colour to a rather lacklustre performance by the Swiss team on their home turf.

The other Swiss to have made it to the podium that year were Corinne Rey-Bellet, Marlies Oester and Bruno Kernen.

2003 was a far cry from the 1980s when the Swiss dominated the championships. In Bormio in 1985, the Swiss walked away with eight medals, after stealing the show two years earlier in Crans-Montana with a haul of 14 gold, silver and bronze.

It has been the men who have regained a little of their past form under coach Martin Rufener. They have already reached the podium five times in four different disciplines this season.

“The arrival of Rufener has brought a certain élan to the team and has bonded the racers together,” said former Swiss downhiller, William Besse.

But Besse says the Swiss chances have been hurt by the absence of Didier Cuche, who is out with an injury. “Didier was the team locomotive,” Besse told Swiss television.

Didier Défago, Bruno Kernen and Silvan Zurbriggen have the best chance for medals in Bormio.

Weak women

The women’s team is less hopeful.

It is much smaller than it has ever been in the past few decades, with only five athletes competing at the championships.

But the 2003 version was good for a surprise with Rey-Bellet and Oester reaching the podium.

“They’re under a lot of pressure,” said Besse. “But anything can happen on any given day. Sonja Nef or Sylvianne Berthod could pull off a surprise.”

For the first time, there will be a team competition. Gold will go to the country whose athletes win a competition consisting of Super-G and slalom events.

Each country can put forward a minimum two men and two women skiers per race.

swissinfo

Key facts

The world championships take place over 10 days from January 29 to February 13 in the Italian ski resort of Bormio.
Switzerland is sending 14 athletes – nine men and five women.
Silvan Zurbriggen, Didier Défago and Bruno Kernen are given the best chances for a medal.