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Italian expert quite satisfied with Universiade snowboard venue

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-17 11:11

MAOERSHAN - Italian snowboard expert Claudio Fabbri on Monday showed his satisfaction with the competition course for the upcoming 24th Winter Universiade in northeast China.

The 34-year-old Italian, who was busy working on the snowcapped hill with his shovel, told Xinhua, "The slope here is well built but it still needs some adjustment."

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The Maoershan ski resort, a remote town in northeast China, will host the snowboard competition in the Winter Universiade.

Fabbri, a professional coach and technical director from Courmayeur, a famous ski resort in northern Italy, came here early this month to guide his Chinese counterparts to shape the snowboard cross course.

"The competition level is mixed at the Winter Universiade. There are some top athletes, like the European Cup winners, but there are still some players in medium level.

"So I have to watch and test the slope to make sure each roller and bank placed at the proper position. Then the riders could race much better and get safety reassurance," said Claudio, who once gained fame by steering his local school team to storm into the European Cup.

The bi-annual sport gala for the university students will raises curtain on Wednesday. It features in 12 sports and 82 events, attracting some 2,100 athletes from 42 countries and regions.

With its spectacular ice sculptures, snowcapped hills and a glittering downtown full of skyscrapers, the host Harbin, China's well-known "ice city", won the bid in 2005 to host the Games.

On the prospect of winning the bid to host a first ever winter Olympics, the Italian praised the quality of the course, but added that the host needed more experience.

"Though the snow in Maoershan is man-made, it could still meet the demands for the top-level event like World Cup.

"But for the Winter Olympics, much more work and experience are needed as snowboard and some other sport just made a start in China." said the Italian.