Super-G Is Postponed Again; Tripleheader Next on the Schedule

HAKUBA, Japan — Let’s ski three?

With the Olympic Alpine clock ticking and organizers at wit’s end, Sunday’s men’s super-giant slalom was postponed, this time because of fog.

The race was rescheduled for 8:45 a.m. Monday morning in Hakuba as part of what will be--yes, weather permitting--a historic Olympic alpine tripleheader.

If the weather clears, as projected, the men’s super-G, women’s downhill (10:15 a.m. local time) and the women’s downhill combined (12:30 p.m.) will all be raced Monday.

The Alpine events have been perfect in this respect: None have gone off as scheduled.

Postmen can work in rain, sleet, snow or fog, but ski racers can not.

Sunday, fog was the culprit. International Ski Federation rules stipulate that racers in a super-G must be able to see at least four gates ahead.

“I went into the starting gate and looked down the course and it was like having vertigo,” American Daron Rahlves said.

Rahlves, the U.S. skier with the best medal chance in the super-G, said the delays have reminded him of the movie “Groundhog Day,” in which each day is repeated over and over.

Time is running out in Hakuba, with the men’s and women’s Alpine slalom events scheduled to begin Wednesday in Shiga Kogen, a three- to four-hour drive.

Organizers have two days left to complete four speed races. Yet, if all three races can be completed Monday, that would leave Tuesday to race the women’s combined slalom and--believe it or not--put the Alpine races back on schedule.