Gong Show
The good the bad and the ugly should be our motto currently.
The downhill training run was canceled at 10:30 in the morning and there was no creative thinking, schedule readjustment or Herculean effort put into pulling off the downhill. Unfortunately, It was a made for TV event and just what the sport needed to propel it to another level in the public’s eye. Two titans clashing with the faster man walking with the globe for one last race. I am sure Bode would have been up for the challenge and has shown he is unstoppable when he has run without a major mistake. Super Bummer as I know how much the DH title meant to him and even more just the chance to compete for the title in one last race at a venue he has mastered more than once.
Onward, and I hope FIS and the organizers learn from this and at the very least add reserve days to the WC finals. If they cannot accommodate the athletes with this, then I believe the finals should not include speed events. Spring is a dicey time to be attempting to pull off top-notch speed races especially when the WC finals only has one training run for the DH.
The U.S. team showed a nice gesture by giving me the SG set. I set yesterday in complete mashed potatoes. It was very difficult to guess how hard the snow would be today and how fast the speeds would be. I had the peanut gallery following me as the girls ran an abbreviated version of the same course with a lower start so the coaches were sure to give me their 2 cents. I wanted to set a skier’s course for Bode knowing that he turns like no other. I liked the way the course turned out and had the conditions really been icy, I believe Bode would have shown who was boss.
As it turned out, the snow conditions were difficult with grippy sections, corn snow and a small peely layer. Bode was feeling good physically and fired up, but it did not all come together and he said his skis felt awful…grabbing, hooking and then breaking away. He never found his groove or rhythm. On the bottom he skied well but by this time he was quite uninspired and cruised. He ended up 11th Cuche was 14 and Benni 4th. Not exactly what I had in mind but the good part of the story is it was enough to clinch the overall title…What is up DOG? Cuche skied like a p*ssy, Reichelt hammered and then another Swiss athlete Albrect beat Cuche, so it bumped him to 2nd for the SG title….oops. I even heard the Swiss coaches told Cuche to cruise….oops again.
It was actually quite an uneventful day, but I have to say I am happy that I am not pulling my hair out for the last event, hoping he does what he needs to win the globe. There will be more to come…for now we are having a bonfire and bbq at the Bus. Should be a laugh.
Cheers,
Johno
March 13th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Way to go! It must have been an exciting day 4 all of you,and Im quite surprised u even took a moment and keep us posted with fresh news. So tnx for that and enjoy it … best wishes for GS and SL and a hell of the party on saturday!
Happy 1. bithday Team America!!! Bode show them all hes no. 1!!!!
BEST REGARDS from Slovenia
Tejci
March 13th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Johno, you set a wicked Super-G! For a while there I thought the attrition rate was going to be 50%…I know today’s performance was not how Bode wanted to clinch the overall. The number crunchers prevailed, but someone forgot to tell Daniel Albrecht. Good for him for skiing his best, Cuche should have done the same. Believe me, no one is going to remember these so-far woosy-ass finals, except as a frustrating footnote to a fantastic season. What ski racing fans will take away from this season are Bode’s ripping downhill runs at Bormio, Wengen and Kvitfjell. And we will never forget him skiing on the fence at Kitz and still managing to come in second. It is these moments of greatness that define Bode Miller as the Overall Champion. So, Bode, let the fat lady warble a little over the stats, you triumphed long before the finals. Go out there and lay it down in the GS and SL, not for points, not for titles, but for the pure joy of that perfect turn!
Congratulations, Team America!
March 15th, 2008 at 1:23 am
C’est finis. Sweet rest …and golf.
March 15th, 2008 at 7:31 am
Johno, I just read that you’re leaving. So very sorry to hear it, but I understand. Babies are only babies when they’re …babies, and if you turn away too long they grow up on you, and you missed it. Peace (and lots of giggly ruckus) to you and yours!
March 15th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Children are the biggest and best investment you’ll ever make. You’ve made the right choice.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Hi Johno I just heard that you will leave Team America - that’s a pity because your blog was the most informative thing I read since I am a ski fan. But I can understand that you will spend more time with your family. Enjoy the time with your baby – time goes by so fast – in one minute they are very small and in need of help and suddenly you have a schoolboy at home. I found that out with my own son he was growing up so fast. But I had the possibility to stay at home with him for his first two years. Anyway I wish you all the best with your family – maybe you will write a new blog next season.
Best regards from Styria!
March 18th, 2008 at 6:49 am
Johno,
Thanks for doing a difficult job exceedingly well, and for keeping us informed with your anecdotes and insights along the way. Bode and WCSN are going to have a very hard time filling your shoes. Best of luck in your next ventures!