Heavy Snow Blankets Soelden for Opener

SOELDEN, Austria (Oct. 23) - The rolling green fields above the Austrian mountain village of Soelden turned white overnight, with up to a meter of fresh snow blanketing the Rettenbach Glacier. Crews worked feverishly overnight to clear the alpine highway from Soelden to the glacier, with the piste opened for race and television support Thursday afternoon. U.S. Ski Team athletes relaxed at their hotel, cleared snow off the Team's Audis and played in the fresh falling snow. The women open Saturday, men on Sunday, with Universal Sports Network providing live coverage. Olympic champion Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) will be going for his fourth straight win in Soelden.