Jeongseon Alpine Centre

Jeongseon Alpine Centre
Jeongseon Alpine Centre is located in South Korea
Jeongseon Alpine Centre
Jeongseon Alpine Centre
Location in South Korea
LocationGariwangsan (mountain), Bukpyeong-myeon, Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, South Korea
Coordinates37°28′26″N 128°36′36″E / 37.474°N 128.610°E / 37.474; 128.610
Vertical   825 m (2,707 ft)
Top elevation1,370 m (4,495 ft)
Base elevation   545 m (1,788 ft)
Longest runMen's downhill
2.85 km (1.77 mi)
Snowmakingyes

Jeongseon Alpine Centre (Korean: 정선 알파인 경기장) was[clarification needed] an alpine skiing area in South Korea. It was located on the slopes of the mountain of Gariwangsan, in Bukpyeong-myeon in the county of Jeongseon.

Overview

Jeongseon was a venue for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, hosting the alpine speed events of Downhill, Super-G, and Combined. It accommodated 6,000 spectators. The technical events of slalom and giant slalom were scheduled for Yongpyong Resort in the county of Pyeongchang.

The capacity of the venue was 6,500 (3,600 Seats / 2,900 Standing).[1]

The men's downhill started at an elevation of 1,370 m (4,495 ft), with a course length of 2.857 km (1.775 mi), to a finish area at 545 m (1,788 ft).[2] The vertical drop of 825 m (2,707 ft) surpassed the minimum drop of 800 m (2,625 ft) required by the International Ski Federation (FIS). The women's downhill had a length of 2.388 km (1.484 mi) and a vertical drop of 748 m (2,450 ft). In the initial plan, the men's course was projected to start at another Jung-bong (peak) area, an elevation of 1,430 m (4,690 ft), but was integrated with the women's course starting at lower Ha-bong area, with some environmental criticism and protests.[3]

The venue Gariwang mountain is one of the most remote areas in South Korea.

The centre officially opened in 2016 on January 22, two weeks prior to its first events, men's World Cup speed events.[4] The downhill on February 6 was won by Kjetil Jansrud of Norway with a time of 1:41.38,[2][5][6] and the super-G the next day was won by Carlo Janka of Switzerland.[7][8]

The women tested the Olympic venue in 2017 with two World Cup speed events in early March. Both races had the same podium finishers with Sofia Goggia of Italy in first, Lindsey Vonn of the United States in second, and Ilka Štuhec of Slovenia in third.[9]

Ecological Issues

Environmental groups raised concerns surrounding the deforestation from the slopes of Gariwang mountain to build the Jeongseon Alpine Centre. Officials claimed it is necessary as it is the only slope that could accommodate Olympic requirements and the forest was to be restored after the games were done. Environmental groups were skeptical as the forest includes old growth of ancient and rare species.[10]

A nearby stream was diverted into a reservoir at the base of the ski runs.[11] The reservoir supplied water used to create artificial snow for the ski runs.[11]

Post-olympics

Jeongseon Alpine Centre was closed and facilities were partially dismantled.[12]

The cable cars were reopened to the public in January 2023 for a two-year run, after which time complete dismantlement of facilities and restoration of the mountain is planned.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Jeongseon Alpine Centre : PyeongChang 2018 Venue". Archived from the original on 2018-02-01. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  2. ^ a b "World Cup: 8th men's downhill" (PDF). Jeongseon, Korea: International Ski Federation. February 6, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 6, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  3. ^ KOC chief vows successful Games Archived 2011-09-10 at the Wayback Machine - The Korea Herald 2011-07-26 by Oh Kyu-wook
  4. ^ Higgins, Sean (June 9, 2015). "Men's Alpine World Cup 2015-16 calendar confirmed". Ski Racing. Archived from the original on November 3, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  5. ^ "Jansrud takes first ever KOR downhill". International Ski Federation. February 6, 2016. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  6. ^ Higgins, Sean (February 6, 2016). "Jansrud asserts dominance in Jeongseon downhill". SkiRacing.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2016. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  7. ^ "World Cup: 5th men's super G" (PDF). Jeongseon, Korea: International Ski Federation. February 7, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 8, 2016. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  8. ^ Higgins, Sean (February 7, 2016). "Carlo Janka wins tricky Jeongseon super G". SkiRacing.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2016. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  9. ^ Hall, Gabbi (March 4, 2017). "Goggia, Vonn, and Stuhec return to podium in Jeongseon". Ski Racing. Archived from the original on March 5, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  10. ^ "Olympics: Olympic organisers destroy 'sacred' South Korean forest to create ski run". The Guardian. 3 January 2018. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  11. ^ a b Swain, Diana (23 February 2018). "Pyeongchang's most controversial venue: A cautionary tale for future Olympic Games". CBC News. Archived from the original on 23 February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  12. ^ "Government decides to dismantle PyeongChang Olympics ski slope, restore forest". The Korea Times. 11 June 2021. Archived from the original on 25 January 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  13. ^ "'복원? 개발?'...4년 갈등 끝 개장 앞둔 가리왕산 케이블카". YTN. 5 December 2022. Archived from the original on 25 January 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.