Ski cross: crash, boom, bang
Snowboard cross, the sport itself, was one of the breakout stars of the 2006 Torino Winter Games on the simple theory that crashes are really fun to watch.
If a few crashes are really fun, logic holds that even more crashes would make for even more fun. Thus, coming to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, ski cross — same as snowboard, with the scramble out of the gate and then all the loops and jumps and turns and flying elbows.
Except, of course, on skis instead of boards.
And who’s this making a big play for the 2010 U.S. men’s ski cross team? Daron Rahlves, arguably the most successful American downill racer of all time, with 12 World Cup wins, 28 World Cup podiums, winner in 2003 of the famed Hahnenkamm downhill.
“It’s not just a renegade sport anymore,” Rahlves said Monday in a conference call with reporters ahead of a World Cup event next week at Lake Placid, N.Y., and the X Games later this month in Aspen, Colo.
“It’s an Olympic sport. Everyone’s coming to the table fielding great athletes,” he said, his remarks underscoring the podium results at the two most recent World Cup events in Europe:
Jan. 10, Les Contamines, France: Austrians first and third, Andreas Matt and Markus Wittner, Canada’s Chris Delbosco second.
Jan. 5, St. Johann, Austria: Switzerland’s Michael Schmid first, Austria’s Matt second, Sweden’s Tommy Eliasson third.
Also in the mix for the Americans, looking toward next February in Vancouver: Four-time U.S. Olympic skier Casey Puckett, fourth in St. Johann. And 2002 U.S. Olympic skier Jake Fiala.
Rahlves won the ski cross event at the 2008 X Games, Puckett the 2007 edition.
It remains unclear how many spots the U.S. will earn in Vancouver; qualification is under way now for up to four slots, U.S. coach Tyler Shepherd said.
The American cross effort has been bolstered by a healthy dash of common sense — bringing the boarders and skiers together for a combined training camp last month in Telluride, Colo. Shepherd also found an Olympic-style start gate for practice.
As a discipline, ski cross racing is unquestionably undergoing some growing pains. See Puckett’s blog right near here, for instance, in which he relates disputes over equipment — Lycra, yes or no? — and the “ice rink” that was the course at St. Johann. In another indicator of the sport’s growth, he said Monday, “You’re seeing the same guys at the top but you’re seeing more depth.”
If snowboard cross is any guide, however, ski cross promises to be the breakout sport in Vancouver. You want crashes? You like a sport where the winner might well be the last one standing?
“There’s more of an understanding among the athletes that we don’t want to kill each other,” Fiala said. “But you can get away with some things out there.”
He also said, “I think there are rules. I haven’t actually read them.”
October 6th, 2009 at 7:09 am
In 1978 I created and presented the very first “Skicross” event. The event was broadcast on TV. We were ahead of our time to say the least. I went on to present the format in Colorado, California and Michigan as well as at a World Cup event in Wisconsin to international skiers. But…..we started it as a “nordic” racing format. In other words, it was true motocross style-mass starts, obstacles, looping track UP AND DOWN hills. Everyone who saw a race said it was the best winter event they had ever witnessed. To this day, it is far better than “skier cross”, the alpine racing format you have presented in your article. Alpine folks stole the idea and made it an easy downhill race with no laps around a track, making it a simple video event.