M SL Åre 2019

[Swede]

So wrapping up the World Championships 2019 with mens SL. 1st was set by Hirschers coach (this is determined by country ranking and also by ”lottery”, French coach will be setting 2nd). As there are no super steep sections at the bottom of the mountain, this is voll gas pushing it all the way. Setting is a little tricky in sections with pace shifts. Temps down and it was a little colder over night. But surface will be a challenge after bib 20ish.

 

[NZRob]

https://www.fis-ski.com/en/alpine-s...ry/record-7th-world-title-for-marcel-hirscher

A good day for Austria

 

[Muleski]

I'll talk results later, as I know that our folks in the Western USA are still skiing a LOT of powder, and will probably be watching they race when the get off the hill. Quite day for some. Disappointment for others.

So, USST, we failed to enter a single male SL skier in the FIS World Champs. I realize that we have no men ON THE TEAM who are SL specialists, etc., but we could not identify 2-3 in the pipeline who might benefit from the experience?

Project 26 is interesting. The next seven years to ramp up will be as well.

I thought no red white and blue, given the podium and four from one country in the top six, was pretty sad. Ohh.. Pintu is a different red white and blue.......

 

[Started at 53]

USST is a freaking joke. Show me a major sports franchise that fields a current team basing every roster postition on 7 years out?

I’ll wait for someone smarter than me to name that franchise. Clearly USST can’t be the only “team” in the United States that would have this type of idiotic planning.

I know I have been outspoken about this in the past, but it just baffles me that they continue with this stupid plan/project.

Tom Brady is 40 something, clearly his birth year NEVER allow him to participate in the super bowl in 2019.... Oh wait, the Patriots try to win every game they enter. The Patriots are trying to win NOW.

For Christ sakes, let’s get this sorted out!!!!

I am a firesale guy.... CLEAN HOUSE and get a new team in there. And I am NOT talking about the skiers, I am talking the USST management.

Why would any perspective donor give money to this program. What do we have.... ONE skier who is a threat to win or even be on the podium on a regular basis? ONE!!!! Shiffrin!!! The entire United States of America only has one freaking skier who can compete for top three finishes week in and week out.

USST is an embarrassment

 

[HardDaysNight]

^^^Beyond amazing. Better hope Shiffrin doesn’t injure herself or you can close the whole USST shit show down!

 

[NZRob]

^^^Beyond amazing. Better hope Shiffrin doesn’t injure herself or you can close the whole USST shit show down!

It's actually almost unbelievable. 472 ski areas, +/- 10 million skiers, enormous resources, outstanding sporting pedigree in just about everything....

 

[Started at 53]

It's actually almost unbelievable. 472 ski areas, +/- 10 million skiers, enormous resources, outstanding sporting pedigree in just about everything....

Wanna get the fastest skiers on the team???? show up with a stopwatch, the clock does not lie, ski fast and you are on the team. SIMPLE

Furthermore, the USST’s disdain for NCAA skiers is farcical!!!

Who in their right mind could justify this system? And who in their right mind would donate money to this poorly conceived plan???

The BOD should be embarrassed!!!

And YES the BOD is complicit in this disaster of a plan/project... They have allowed it to continue.

 

[Moose32]

Gene had a view on this back in 1969

 

[Started at 53]

Gene had a view on this back in 1969

Great movie, he did not like Redford, but Redford was fast, and he got to ski.

 

[D Lamour]

When they get stuck like this Tiger should just auction off starting spots to well-heeled donors and parents. $50k starting bid, winner gets a bib in the World Championships. It's an easy hill, maybe you could beat the Kenyan or Thai skiers?

In fact just save the 4th spot on the team for the donor and let them sponsor the other three skiers. No more a farce than Schleper perpetually competing for the Mexicans into her 60s.

 

[James]

Jesse Hunt was briefly interviewed on Nbc sports. First he mentioned how great the team had done at the championships with four medals. Then of the men's slalom no show, he said no one met their criteria. He didn't elaborate on that. Then he yammered about the future.

Medals:
Shiffrin 3
Vonn, practically diasabled, 1

 

[4ster]

Bummer for Pintarault
I really like watching Noel ski. Hope he continues to get faster.
Myhrer is also fun to watch & still skis great at 36.
Austrians were on fire!

Spoiler: Michael Matt

 

[James]

Nice job by Michael Matt.
Did the Austrian men make up for the women?
Olympic channel pretty pathetic. Only have the 1st run on demand so far.
Results:
Run 1:
http://medias3.fis-ski.com/pdf/2019/AL/0135/2019AL0135RLR1.pdf

Run 2:
http://medias3.fis-ski.com/pdf/2019/AL/0135/2019AL0135RLR2.pdf

 

[Muleski]

The sad thing is that we have guys, and "girls" who are not o n the team, and who ARE in USST uniforms during WC starts. Paula Moltzan and Brian McLaughlin are two who were at Are. There are 3-4 guys who are paying their own way {along with their parents} AND other ladies doing the same who would have acquitted themselves just fine. Keep in mind that you are limited to four entries in each event. Unlike a WC where depending on location you might see 10 Austrians, etc. The field is MUCH weaker because a lot of the top ranked skiers in the world {think top 50} are not there.

Simply throwing in the towel, and basically saying "since we can't medal, we won't won't even enter, is foolish, IMO.

Additionally the number of this skiers who were once IN the USST system, then were dropped, and have clawed their way back, or close, on their own is "pretty large." Brian and Paula. Hig Roberts, Mark Engel, Robby Kelley, Lila Lapanja. MIchael Ankeny{who gave it up,} and on.

NCAA skiers? The number racing this week in Are, both current student-athletes and former ones is huge. Americans? Brian and Paula. Canadian women? Three. Canadian men? Three. Norwegians? Three. Swiss? Tanguay Neff, current Dartmouth athlete. The BS about USST athletes being Dartmouth students is just that. Dartmouth admits any USST athlete and they they typically go a quarter a year. 10 year plan. But the lion's share get it done. The kids who were full time students, skiing on their college teams and reaching the WC is impressive.

If it works for all of these other countries it should work for us. I think it's a wasted resource. And that the USST "fakes" a level of support. Still considers it to be like the Junior Varsity, second class citizens. Nothing new.

 

[James]

Paula Moltzan had a very respectable result in the slalom, 18th.
Is there some restriction against putting non US Ski Team people on a US entry?

 

[Ross Biff]

The sad thing is that we have guys, and "girls" who are not o n the team, and who ARE in USST uniforms during WC starts. Paula Moltzan and Brian McLaughlin are two who were at Are. There are 3-4 guys who are paying their own way {along with their parents} AND other ladies doing the same who would have acquitted themselves just fine. Keep in mind that you are limited to four entries in each event. Unlike a WC where depending on location you might see 10 Austrians, etc. The field is MUCH weaker because a lot of the top ranked skiers in the world {think top 50} are not there.

Simply throwing in the towel, and basically saying "since we can't medal, we won't won't even enter, is foolish, IMO.

Additionally the number of this skiers who were once IN the USST system, then were dropped, and have clawed their way back, or close, on their own is "pretty large." Brian and Paula. Hig Roberts, Mark Engel, Robby Kelley, Lila Lapanja. MIchael Ankeny{who gave it up,} and on.

NCAA skiers? The number racing this week in Are, both current student-athletes and former ones is huge. Americans? Brian and Paula. Canadian women? Three. Canadian men? Three. Norwegians? Three. Swiss? Tanguay Neff, current Dartmouth athlete. The BS about USST athletes being Dartmouth students is just that. Dartmouth admits any USST athlete and they they typically go a quarter a year. 10 year plan. But the lion's share get it done. The kids who were full time students, skiing on their college teams and reaching the WC is impressive.

If it works for all of these other countries it should work for us. I think it's a wasted resource. And that the USST "fakes" a level of support. Still considers it to be like the Junior Varsity, second class citizens. Nothing new.

For the independent racers without national team support, what pressure or influence is exerted for them to be kitted out in national team uniforms......kind of free publicity for the national body without any quid pro quo! Do any other national bodies require independent racers to wear the uniforms of their countries? Just seems a little lopsided to me.

 

[Muleski]

FIS requires it at the WC and WCH level. Like requiring the National Federation logo on the helmet.
Keep in mind what when racing in those races, the USST is picking up the tab, financially, and providing support while there, as well. You race in a WC, and family friends that we know have felt like they are pretty much part of the team....at that time.

 

[Swede]

Track was about a second slower (scientifically proven ) after 20ish skiers. Top held but mid to bottom got beat up).
Everything has already been said about Hirscher, but the best skier got the gold. One of his Austrian team members seemed almost relieved that he showed some ”human” signs and actually didn’t ski that fast in 2nd (he didn’t need to). Pintu won the moral silver, but no one will remember that.
From a Swedish perspective, disappointing but expected. Muhrer has not had the speed this season. His curve has been going downwards. It was realistic. Hargin in a completely different position. Dropping out of the seeded group after two bad seasons. Question is if he can muster the strength to bounce back? There are flashes of great skiing, like in the team event and skiing the 5th fastest run in 2nd SL (when the track was in better shape). Not qualified for the city event tomorrow night in Stockholm. Right after the race he said ’I’m done’. But that was in the heat of the battle. Not really any other SL skiers in the pipe. Looks like a couple of miserable years ahead. There are a few of young guys, Kristoffer Jakobsen has speed, but all over the place right now with lots of DNF:s. We’ll just have to have fun with the ladies instead.
Now I say bbye to this crap weather and head down to Italy to see if the weather is so f****n great as they claim

 

[Primoz]

Weather downhere is great.... +10c, sun and stuff like this. Not so sure skiing is all that great, as at 12:00 it's all wet and soft already, especially on slopes and mountains faces that have sun.
PS: Sweden men team... yeah it's pretty weird to look that, especially considering only few years back, you had 6 or 7 guys in top 20 (probably top 15), and then now all of a sudden all is gone.

 

[Ross Biff]

FIS requires it at the WC and WCH level. Like requiring the National Federation logo on the helmet.
Keep in mind what when racing in those races, the USST is picking up the tab, financially, and providing support while there, as well. You race in a WC, and family friends that we know have felt like they are pretty much part of the team....at that time.

Thanks for the clarification Muleski. So maybe not really possible to be a truly independent racer on WC or WCH stage. There goes my dream! I guess there is always World Pro Skiing...