The huge winter storm that hit some 10 days or so ago laid the foundations for this winter sports extravaganza with racers and fans form all over the globe descending on this huge ice sheet close to the Italian border. The fan clubs really are some to behold arriving with instruments, costumes and in some cases livestock. The women are racing on the Saturday, the men go on Sunday, whilst the Saturday night party is sure to create some pale faces on Sunday – Solden parties hard and the annual FIS season opener is a mighty big affair. There is also the opportunity to ski on the twin Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers before and after the racing, not a bad sideshow for October.