New School World Cuppers Don’t Like Old School Skis
By Michael Frank, Adventure Journal on November 23rd, 2011
Pro ski racers are seriously enraged about new rules put down by the International Ski Federation (F.I.S.) for this coming year of World Cups that will make them race on seriously old-school sticks. American Ted Ligety said the reduced sidecut and greater length mandated throws the skis back 20 years, to an era long before the advent of today’s easier turning parabolic models. More than 80 percent of pros agree with Ligety, and he’s suggested that a revolt might be in order — to ski on shaped skis and get D.Q.’d in order to make a mockery of the F.I.S. One thing’s for certain: If gated skiing goes to skis that are even more divorced from what the masses shred, it only makes the races seem even less relevant to next-gen skiers.
It also divorces the competition racing from what it is for, marketing and R&D. Much of the racing efforts are there to get the brand’s name out to the public. The other side is the R&D, new tech is tested on the track, or slope in the case of sking, refined, and adjusted to fit the mass market both economically and production cost.
Who cares? Let the racers stand around all morning waiting for their chance to ski old-school skis on groomers. I’ll be shredding off-piste on my fatties.
Just when you thought that ski racing could not get any lamer… F.I.S. has figured out a way to make it even worse!
As bode says: “This is ass-backwards”
@racersareidiots. You do your thing, us racers will do our thing. stop being so ignorant and grow up. Wow you shred off piste on fatties. I’m sure any of us could out ski you any day no matter what the conditions. Do you think Ted or Bode don’t like hitting the woods? Obviously they love to, they have chosen to race for the joy of competition and the thrill of being the best they can be. Grow up and stop being such a one sided prick.