Report from the Krasnaya Polyana

Re-reading the previous reports from Sochi, made sure that none of them I have not been able to ignore the topic of weather - except now he would not. Well, how else, if you have something to say? Naturally, the Olympic facilities, located in the coastal cluster, do not care what's going on out there outside the window, but the stadiums of the Mining Cluster (where we are, strictly speaking, are) dependent on the vagaries of nature very much. So, the last two days of snow on the Red Glade did not stop. All covered with snow so that the General Directorate of MOE in the Krasnodar Territory issued a warning about an emergency that, in the mountains in the Greater Sochi and road Adler - Krasnaya Polyana - Psluh avalanche. Over the past day has fallen more than half of deposits - are involved in the avalanche of full power, and the Olympic road clearing is almost non-stop.

Skiers, snowboarders, the master of freestyle and Paralympic skiers, these days especially affected - the beginning of the competition is regularly shifted in time, but, in spite of difficult conditions, yet spent.

That's Alexei Petukhov, after the victory in the individual sprint freestyle in the finals of the Cup of Russia in skiing, lamented the weather.

- Result of liked it, but frankly, it was very hard - he said. - Due to heavy snow on the track was deep snow, and sometimes at a distance was very vague. On the last ascent was thinking that I would do and I will tear jerk, but no such luck. Half of the rise took place, and climbed into his head, only one thought: there is still the same!

The same thing followed by Petukhov could repeat all the other contestants, including winner of the women's individual sprint, Natalia Matveeva.

It changes

Alexander Belkin these days among journalists in great demand. The reason is clear: 29-year-old snowboarder was the first Russian winner in the pre-Olympic test phase international competition European Cup by winning on Friday in the snowboard park, "Rose Farm" starts in the parallel slalom.

- After the failure in the parallel giant slalom, followed later success in slalom certainly took a little stress? - The first question is Belkin.

- There is. If you evaluate all ten races, held in the slalom, I think I worked hard on the "four". We could, and all the podium to make a purely Russian, sorry, did not work. But all the guys tried hard, especially after the failure in the giant slalom. If we evaluate the Olympic track, it is quite high. Although, of course, there are certain drawbacks. What? Maybe we should make it a little more abruptly. Who is the audience, in fact, only see the start and finish, and the battle in the middle distance is ignored. But the time for adjustments is still there.

- But you will agree: Over the past few years, Krasnaya Polyana has changed beyond recognition.

- Of course! And these changes are very visible. Three years ago, the situation here was different, and I have heard many unflattering reviews. And now came up the slope, and seemed to come at least the World Cup.

- Winner of the Cup of Europe Belkin for the next two years may still be selected to the Olympic team?

- I'd like, but do not know how to get it all done. Anyway, hope that this victory will give me some confidence. Now louder begins to assert itself youth. And the guys who have long been the core team, now I have to go to an even higher level, so as not to lose his place in the elite. The development of snowboarding in Russia becomes more noticeable with each passing year.

- You - the leader of the European Cup, and the overall win in the next season can already participate in the World Cup.

- Yes. Two years ago I was second in the overall standings, but then this position is not given the right to act in the world cup. Now the situation has changed, and makes its way into the elite top three of the European Cup.

Two silver medals at the weekend in a board-won cross-country Anastasia Asanova, in both cases, losing only one of the world leaders in this type of program Canadian Dominique Malte. True, the 21-year-old Russian woman was planning to make a success.

- Still want to be the first! Standing on the podium in second place, of course, it's nice, but always expect more, especially at home - said Asanova. - I think that at this point to me a little is not enough physical fitness, so in both finals, I let go forward Malte just shortly before the finish line.