ALPINE SKIING: Louis Muhlen-Schulte will be making his Olympic debut in the men's giant slalom at the Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre.
It’s been a long road to the Olympics for the 23-year-old, who moved to the USA from high school and joined the Montana State University, USA, ski team before making his international debut in 2014.
"I have had a dream of competing as an alpine skier in a Winter Olympics for as long as I can remember,” Louis said.
“Regardless of the many changes throughout my life, skiing has always been the one thing that I refused to let go of."
There will be 89 racers taking on the ‘Ice River' course with all of them needing to clear 49 gates in the fastest possible time. Its start gate is at an altitude of 1925m and has a vertical drop of 424m to the finish line.
An event dominated by athletes from the USA, Austria, France, Norway and Switzerland - Louis will have to bring his best skiing to the table.
He will be the 43rd athlete to push out of the state gate, giving him the opportunity to get a clear feel for the conditions based on the experience of other racers.
Skiers will hope for clear skies to ensure distance visibility. Cooler temperatures help riders on hard-packed snow which avoid uneven conditions in the lower sections of the course. Icy areas in the steep and high-altitude part of the run, especially close to the flags, will prove to be a challenge for many competitors.
Tune in to Channel 7 or 7plus to watch Louis compete from 1:15pm AEDT.
Shannon Knaus
#HaveAGo
Alpine Skiing
CAN YOU SKI IN AUSTRALIA?
Yes! There are 10 Ski Resorts in Australia that are easy to access.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Skiing is very affordable to #HaveAGo. You can rent all the equipment you need which is a low-cost way to try snowsports.
WHAT KIT DO I NEED?
All you need to get going is skis, poles, ski boots, a helmet, snow jacket, gloves and pants. All these items can be rented from ski shops to help get you started without having to buy everything for your first time.
