The first major test event for the 2014 Sochi Olympics was hailed as a success. Construction for the games may be behind schedule elsewhere, but the Alpine skiing venue is ready. "We could already have the Olympic Alpine events next week here with this organizing structure," men's World Cup director Gunter Hujara said during this weekend's downhill and super-combined races.

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Beat Feuz celebrated his 25th birthday in style Saturday by winning the first World Cup downhill race to be held on the Sochi piste that will be used for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Winner of the Lauberhorn classic in Wengen last month, the Swiss confirmed he was one of the very best speed specialists this winter, dominating his rivals to win in a time of two minutes and ...

Russian skiers appear more frequently on the World Cup ski circuit in Europe these days, their presence hard to miss at the upcoming Alpine test events for the 2014 Sochi Olympics. While a handful of Russians will compete in the men's downhill and super-combined this weekend, more than 10 women will race the following weekend in the same World Cup events.

The Rosa Khutor Alpine Center, which was built for the Winter Olympics in 2014, welcomed some of the world's top ski racers over the weekend. Many -- but not all -- reacted positively to the course.

Canada's Ben Thomsen gets 1st podium result on 2014 Sochi Olympics course

KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) -- Emerging Swiss standout Beat Feuz celebrated his 25th birthday in style Saturday by winning the inaugural World Cup downhill on the course for the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Didier Cuche called it "magnificent." Bode Miller was highly critical. Aksel Lund Svindal said the course for the 2014 Sochi Olympics was "what downhill is all about."

STEPHEN WILSON AP Sports Writer LONDON As the IOC's point man for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, French ski great Jean-Claude Killy knows exactly where to turn when he needs a helping hand. Just call Vladimir Putin. "I tell him my worries and, most of the time, in the next two or three hours, what I am asking is done," Killy said. "Very, very impressive." That's what you get when Russia's ...

As 2014 and the Sochi games near, the book was just closed on another great Winter X Games as athletes pushed the limits and boundaries of their sport en route to some firsts and some great performances. It isn't every day that you can see someone pull off a frontflip on a snowmobile or see two guys land triple-corks in a snowboard competition. It is even rarer yet to see a five-peat and a ...

Ski Sunday presenter Ed Leigh is wowed by Sochi two years ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics