Eurosport columnist Kristian Ghedina, a winner of 13 World Cup races in his illustrious career, looks ahead to the season as the racers head to North America this weekend for the first downhill of the campaign.

The alpine skiing World Cup circuit opens today at the Austrian resort of Soelden with American star Lindsey Vonn leading a host of skiers with one eye firmly set on Olympic glory.

The 2010 Winter Games fall in February 12–28, bissecting the season which sees the women race 34 competitions and the men 35 in 25 resorts in Europe and North America.

“From the first race in Soelden to the end of the selection period in January it’ll be impossible to ignore qualifying for the Games,” acknowledged Swiss men’s head coach Martin Rufener.

It is all systems go for the opening World Cup event in Soelden following a positive weather bulletin.

Concerns were raised as a fortnight ago there was a significant snowless gap from the bottom part of the glacier to the finish area.

However, a cold front brought significant snowfall at the right time and the FIS have issued a positive bulletin.

In many places, the dry cold snow was additionally watered by hand so that we can prepare a compact and even base for all athletes,” said Hans Pieren, FIS race director for the men’s technical events.

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