Actually he's never really all smiles... he was really really nice guy few years ago, when he came to WC. He was polite, nice, acting like normal person. Now, and now I mean for few years already, he's complete asshole. He's the biggest most important person on world, and if it's not his way, he's gonna make it be his way. Only problem he has is Hirscher, who shows him every week, at least 4 times a week, that he's just not yet biggest and most important person on world. On the other side, his serviceman really is nicest person on world, and sometimes I actually feel sorry for him having to stand such a guy
Hirscher has some quirks, but all in all he's really really cool guy, complete opposite of Kristoffersen, but even he has a slip or two with media. But it's kinda normal. With so many interview these guys do in any kind of situation and emotional state, it's normal you slip from time to time. But in my mind that's no reason to send anyone home. Thing with French is, that they try to emulate Norwegians, and currently being good team with well understanding teammates is the thing, so they want to be just like them... but it just doesn't work, and this "trying to be just like attacking Vikings (they even call themself attacking croissants... yeah super original I know)" is probably reason for him to be sent home.
I've seen him on multiple occasions in the surf off San Onofre. He was always a class act at those times and I know some nice guys who aren't in that situation. I remember more than one guy condescendingly offer to teach him to ski but he handled it well.I love the insight we get here....nice to know Hirscher is a good guy, thanks @Primoz. Most of the world class athletes I have met are, some definitely are not. I was told last night that a certain older, famous snowboarder is a real ass. He seems on TV to have matured into the role of statesman and great champion, but the insiders assure me he has not.
It would be ironic for Shiffrin's guy to be seen as one of the bad guys. A very good source told me if you could pick a brother-in-law out the whole lot of the skiers, you could do no better than Mathieu Faivre.
However in the words of one of the USST coaches who texted me this week: "It's awful how much we suck, and what pussies we are. I'm excited about the young........"
This is one guy who should stick around.
You want to keep a coach who labels his athletes as pussies? Really?
Excited about the young? He's not a coach. He's opportunistic. They're the worst.
Out of context. The reference is that most American skiers are so thrilled to make the US Ski Team that they plateau and produce mediocre results for a decade-plus or until their parents pull the plug and stop paying $35-50k per year “dues” for them to keep racing.
What makes the next wave of athletes any different under the same leadership?
Sorry, but we are not just "some Internet forum", don't they know who we are???@Lifer
A fair amount of info comes my way. I have a lot of friends in this world. They don't expect me to post on "some Internet forum."
Personally I'd rather we had more rather than less personality from athletes.....
I don't know what to say about this..
I don't know what to say about this..