Sochi is about to make a mark in a big way on the world-class alpine racing map. The 2014 Olympic venue hosts its inaugural Audi FIS Ski World Cup competitions this season, providing a sample of what’s to come on the bigger stage.

The World Cup makes its debut in Sochi with men’s downhill and super combined races on 11^th and 12^th February 2012 and the ladies do the same the following weekend, on the 18^th and 19^th.

Both the men’s and ladies’ European Cup tours stopped in Sochi for the first time in February 2011 for downhill and super-G racing, although the start of the men’s DH course was moved down for race time due to heavy snowfall and acute avalanche risk.

Racing takes place at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Resort, near the small town of Krasnaya Polyana. With the Games in mind, Rosa Khutor, located on the northern Aibiga Ridge, was just constructed in 2003. The Sochi courses – the men’s and ladies’ of which are separate – were designed by former racer Bernard Russi, who also designed the famed Birds of Prey downhill course at Beaver Creek, among many other famous sites.

Both men’s and ladies’ courses will take place on Rosa Khutor’s black slopes with the finish area situated at 940 meters above sea level.

Located along the Mzymta River, the town of Krasnaya Polyana lies about 40 kilometers from the Black Sea and about 60 km from downtown Sochi. With the Caucasus Mountains looming above it, the area has been a popular heliskiing destination for the last decade.

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