Watching racers whizz through the Tofana schuss at top speed could be the signature image of the skiing world championships.
Wedged between two massive walls of rock near the top of the women’s downhill course, the schuss, or “chute,” hurtles skiers down the mountain at more than 130 kph (80 mph).
It’s where one lost edge or wrong move can mean the difference between a gold medal and a horrific crash. The schuss is also a big part of an endless array of spectacular scenery in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the resort known as the “Queen” of the Italian Dolomites.
The natural beauty of Cortina will be of special importance at these championships, with organizers hoping that the images from the slopes beamed around the world to TV viewers will make up