The ski slopes for the 2014 Olympics got a cautious thumbs-up after the first international test event Friday, though a second competition had to be canceled due to the threat of avalanche after heavy snowfall.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who attended the downhill competition with President Dmitry Medvedev, insisted the course was as good as those in the Alps.
''I asked the guys about it today and they say that in comparison with Austria, Switzerland it's excellent,'' Putin said, referring to race competitors. ''The specialists say it's one of the best slopes in the world.''
International skiers and ski officials involved in a stage of the second-tier European Cup at the Rosa Khutor resort praised the men's downhill run, noting the course was wide and safe, but said it currently lacked more technically challenging elements. That was due in part to the closure of the run's upper echelons, which had accumulated snowdrifts of up to 3 meters in places, said international ski federation race director Markus Waldner.
''It was crazy. ... The upper part, the most difficult technically, we could not test, because it was closed because of this avalanche problem,'' he said, adding the dangerous conditions ruled out the scheduled super-giant slalom event.
He said Russian ski officials needed to consult with international experts on improving the course's avalanche defenses.
''That's I think the main issue for the preparations for the World Cup,'' he said, adding that Sochi would host the top-tier event next February.
The winner of Friday's men's downhill, Manuel Kramer of Austria, told The Associated Press, that ''the general feeling we have is that the slope is very good,'' but added the snow was a little too soft for perfect racing conditions.
''The slope is not too technical, but there's good gliding,'' he added.
Kristian Haug of Norway, who finished 42nd, said the width of the run took out the fear element that squeezes top results out of the top athletes.
''You feel a little bit safer when you ski here compared to the European slopes, which are really narrow in places and you have fences and trees passing by a meter away. ... When we will start from the top it's going to be really good.''
Waldner said Russian technical staff who looked after the course worked exhaustively to get it ready in time, but lamented the overly lavish breakfasts that Russian caterers offered to the athletes.
''We don't ask (for) caviar and champagne, we need a sports menu like spaghetti and macaroni, he said. ''We just need carbohydrates and a piece of meat and we're happy.''
Sochi, a year-round resort on Russia's Black Sea coast, is about 40 percent through the building work needed to construct all Olympic facilities from scratch. This year is slated to be the most work-intensive in the run-up to 2014, with constructors targeting 70 percent by year-end.
