1. Technical skills: You could call it the ability to ski, but more than that, “sense” the snow, be “one” with it and have all your moves perfectly programmed in your mind. Intelligent mileage, good coaching and a keen sense of observations are the essential building blocks for acquiring these skills.2. Physical fitness: That starts with a good body; then your muscles need to be up for the job. You need to train, run, bike, lift weights, do something significant to take the “Gs”, the constant pummeling and to drive these skis in the ice instead of having them drive you to exhaustion.
3. Mental attitude: You need to be in control of the situation and able to coldly and intensely focus and yet not care too much about the outcome. This is the dimension that at the end of the day makes the difference between athletes that step on a podium and those that are excellent, try really hard, but never seem to get there.
Of course, this doesn’t take into consideration a host of variables like visibility as well as snow, slope and weather conditions that affect racers pretty much equally.
In conclusion, I am now arbitrarily giving an equal one-third weight (33.33%) to each one of these three categories. Do you agree with it, or are you proposing a different split?
Posts
4 comments:
Your 3 main points are quite correct; obviously they also must include some other factors such as the positive or negative effect of a delirious crowd, as was the case with JB Grange’s slalom run today. He seemed “frozen” on his skis, while Julien Lizeroux (silver medal) was just the opposite and appeared transcended. He might have had nothing to lose while JB Grange was overwhelmed by too much media pressure. But as our common friend Denis Pasquier said: "when we’re strong, we’re strong!"
Anselme Baud, Chamonix France
The three main criteria you mentioned are correct, but for my part I'll add the importance of the equipment which today plays an important role in the final result. What percentage should be assigned to it? I believe certainly more than 10% for each event.
Skiing is often compared to Formula 1, without fine tuning the car, the best driver in the world can’t win!
Gérard Bouvier, La Ravoire, France
See February 16 blog
Your conclusions are right BUT
If you look at the Austrian Team, they are facing some other hardships such as:
a) The Press - the evening before a race (at every major event like Kitz/Wengen/Garmisch/World Championships, etc.) they go on TV , they’re asked about their "chances" to win, they’re even asked sometime what they they’ll dream the night before the race…
b) They NEED to win because it’s their job as they and their family live on this income – they’d be nobody later without success; a bit like Alfred Matt, a fabulous technical skier who never gained real success and acceptance in life. Now, look at the real good champs like Lindsey Kildow-Vonn or some of the other American heroes – there’re many - no one would even recognized them if they walked through their hometown!
They can easily develop, because nobody is behind their back when they cut their thumb while opening a bottle of champagne! Could you picture the scene if Ms. Zettl had this happen to her? It would have been an Austrian National disaster - worst then the financial crisis!
Look also at that cute Swiss girl - she was pulled out of the team to travel and train with Mom and Dad (I doubt is the best solution but at times it has worked - see Girardelli, Kostelic and in a way, Stenmark too.) In the end however, she’s better accepted by her team mates than the lonely winners in so-called "professional teams" like Austria, which by the way is an institution that is acting similarly to some organizations which still prevail in Sicily!
Now, look to the Germans - where its media put so much pressure on racers (I mean the German Southern Bavarian press) and destroying any creativity and winning motivation.
I also think that regional pressure plays a role - as I believe skiing is a still regional phenomenon in France – and did hamper the chances of the French team - especially after the 1st unforeseeable victory of Marchand-Arvier!!!
Anyhow, your list is OK, there are additional points I could make, but I’m happy enough the Austrians were pushed back into 2nd place because now some new success can be had at the next Championships! It’s always easier to come from behind and spring to a medium or high level (and important that the comeback is duly recognized) than to always remain on TOP. And why not the wording “The higher you reach, the worst the fall!!!”
All the best. Your Tyrolean friend,
Peter Schenk, St. Anton, Austria
Post a Comment