In the not so lofty sphere of non-TV driven alpine FIS racing: A race 'codex' is needed to send an athlete out of the gate for a training run or a race run. A codex signifies it is FIS sanctioned, overseen by a FIS TD and an appointed Jury. In the case of DH, each race run and each training run has their own codex number assigned.This bullshit with FIS, OSV, and the special treatment for Kriechmayr is, I hear very ugly. It will no doubt blow over, but it shows that FIS/WC is a very “old boys club” and that the oldest alpine nations, particularly Austria, are king. I have heard coaches saying that “money had to change hands on this one.” Half joking, half serious.
There are very good, sound reasons for requiring training runs. Safety. Regardless of your experience or world ranking. It sets a terrible precedent. Racers have died, or become vegetative crashing in the sport.
i don’t give a shit WHO it is, that he’s the defending FIS champ, or Austrian.
BAD call. Wrong decision.
SameFeuz
Kilde
Mayer
Such a bigger event when it is from the top.Postcard day in Wengen.
The racers definitely were feeling it at the end... noticed a couple rubbing their quads at the end, like I do after about 10 runs.A LONG one today. Wow. Not much left in the legs at the finish.
Disagree, respectfully. These are "interesting" times and I'm perfectly OK with some bending of the rules to allow an athlete to participate so long as you're respecting covid protocol. It's not like he lied on a visa form or faked a positive test.This bullshit with FIS, OSV, and the special treatment for Kriechmayr is, I hear very ugly. It will no doubt blow over, but it shows that FIS/WC is a very “old boys club” and that the oldest alpine nations, particularly Austria, are king. I have heard coaches saying that “money had to change hands on this one.” Half joking, half serious.
There are very good, sound reasons for requiring training runs. Safety. Regardless of your experience or world ranking. It sets a terrible precedent. Racers have died, or become vegetative crashing in the sport.
i don’t give a shit WHO it is, that he’s the defending FIS champ, or Austrian.
BAD call. Wrong decision.
Disagree, respectfully. These are "interesting" times and I'm perfectly OK with some bending of the rules to allow an athlete to participate so long as you're respecting covid protocol. It's not like he lied on a visa form or faked a positive test.
Racers die or crash even if they've taken training runs. It's downhill skiing, it's inherently dangerous.
Plus, it's not like they don't use the same run every year at Wengen, and Kriechmayr has won it before. I would hope that any skier would get the same treatment, regardless of where they come from...
He looked pretty sharp in winning today, seemed like he took of all his time coming out of the Alpweg. He barely hit the brakes, whereas I saw some pretty panicked snowplowing and check turns from some others. I was cheering for Beat, as usual. Just love that guy.
US speed team was anchoring the bottom rungs, unfortunately.
Can’t believe you’ll get much argument here on Nyman. He should have “retired” or “been retired” after he was injured in 2017.I think it’s time for Nyman to follow Janka’s lead.
Good post. I respect your opinion.
However…..I think it sets a very problematic precedent. In terms of Vince, he is a star, obviously knows the hill. Knows the actual surface, and the exact set? Maybe not, but it does not change much. One can make all sorts of cases to support it. All of the athletes, or the huge majority do.
I think it’s problematic as you move to lower WR skiers, to hills where things can vary quite a bit, etc.
This rule had always been deeply dug in the sand. Now…no longer. There is already talk that if needed, with birth of Feuz’s child impending, they may do the same if needed so that he can race Kitz. With the obvious support of all. I can see that, and it’s hard and harsh not support it.
Question is, I think, where do you draw the line? Perhaps you need to have raced the hill before? I don’t know…..
Good point. These are strange times. Getting COVID is not something than any of the field likely wants. We have seen that at least in some cases it derails their program, even in the best cases with “just a quarantine.”
Will be great if/when the virus is not a factor. In the meantime the numbers of coaches, techs and athletes with and without face masks kind of surprises me…..
Was just thinking….maybe they ahould amend the rule, due to COVID, then strongly enforce again if possible. Later years?
And yeah, USST speed was very “ugly” today. I think it’s time for Nyman to follow Janka’s lead.
interesting to watch the rebuild of CAST. Yielding very apparent results. They are young, for the most part.