World Class Meltdown

Don’t expect another victory from Alberto Tomba or more thrills from the U.S. ski team at the World Championships - unless the weathermen are wrong.

If they aren’t, odds are that alpine skiing’s big show will be called off today. Warming temperatures have created even more problems for an event in doubt for weeks because of lack of snow.

Temperatures overnight remained above freezing, and workers making late preparations walked around in shirt sleeves Wednesday. The forecast for the next few days also calls for warm weather, rendering nearly useless the resort’s 100 snow-making machines.

Weather problens have been the norm this season at European venues. The latest alteration of the schedule came Tuesday at Adelboden, Switzerland, where the dominating Tomba was precluded from continuing an amazing run when the World Cup giant slalom was postponed.

Marc Hodler, president of FIS the world body governing skiing - said the federation was leaning toward postponing the championships. Hodler had said for several days that he was 80-percent sure the event would go on as scheduled.

The two-week event is set to begin next Monday.

Tomba was expected to be the main story at the championships, where the surprising Americans hoped to continue their dominance of the women’s downhill. Picabo Street and Hilary Lindh have won two races each, the rest of the world but one.