- Joined
- Dec 29, 2016
- Posts
- 75
The drawlist referenced above is how the seed board is setup up prior to drawing the actual startlist. Later, (5:00pm est) at the pre-race Team Captain's meeting, Shiffrin will wear bib 6 tomorrow.
www.fis-ski.com
Track/snow prep for tomorrow's GS will be an excellent case study. Its been over 24 hrs since the air temp has been below freezing. The 1/10 of an inch of moisture today is always helpful, except when followed by snow, which insulates the warmer surface underneath and keeps it from freezing - effectively a mushier non race surface. Without new snow, chemical treatment would be easy. With the new snow, chemical prep will have to wait.
The forecast prior to athlete inspection is temps to drop 10+ degrees aftef 1am- down to very lower 20s with light snow continuing. Heavy snow to diminish after 1am. Windy.
Surface prep by machine will be required. Too wet to move by hand. When to groom? Now. Begin working the new snow in with the moisture. Stay ahead of the snowfall. Open the wet layer underneath to be mixed with the new snow. Hoping the new wet snow will bond and tighten with the damper undersurface.
Timing is everything. Having an undisturbed prepared snow surface at least 12 hrs prior to sunrise is the norm for lower levels of racing - the goal is a durable track, consistent surface throughout the entire field of athletes. Based on the forecast, final machine surface prep may be as late as 3am- or later... add the discussion/decision of when or whether chemical prep needs to be considered - during grooming, or as a final prep... at a lower level of racing, delaying the start time by 90 minutes would allow the surface to tighten substantially.
The best of the best are on site. Their job is to create a world class surface underfoot. If they miss, it wasn't for lack of expertise. Mother nature will have won again.
My guess: 1st run results for the top 15+ will closely mirror their running order. The 2nd run will have a more consistent surface. Regardless, all athletes will be challenged.
World Cup Courchevel (FRA)
Track/snow prep for tomorrow's GS will be an excellent case study. Its been over 24 hrs since the air temp has been below freezing. The 1/10 of an inch of moisture today is always helpful, except when followed by snow, which insulates the warmer surface underneath and keeps it from freezing - effectively a mushier non race surface. Without new snow, chemical treatment would be easy. With the new snow, chemical prep will have to wait.
The forecast prior to athlete inspection is temps to drop 10+ degrees aftef 1am- down to very lower 20s with light snow continuing. Heavy snow to diminish after 1am. Windy.
Surface prep by machine will be required. Too wet to move by hand. When to groom? Now. Begin working the new snow in with the moisture. Stay ahead of the snowfall. Open the wet layer underneath to be mixed with the new snow. Hoping the new wet snow will bond and tighten with the damper undersurface.
Timing is everything. Having an undisturbed prepared snow surface at least 12 hrs prior to sunrise is the norm for lower levels of racing - the goal is a durable track, consistent surface throughout the entire field of athletes. Based on the forecast, final machine surface prep may be as late as 3am- or later... add the discussion/decision of when or whether chemical prep needs to be considered - during grooming, or as a final prep... at a lower level of racing, delaying the start time by 90 minutes would allow the surface to tighten substantially.
The best of the best are on site. Their job is to create a world class surface underfoot. If they miss, it wasn't for lack of expertise. Mother nature will have won again.
My guess: 1st run results for the top 15+ will closely mirror their running order. The 2nd run will have a more consistent surface. Regardless, all athletes will be challenged.
