Cyprien Sarrazin, downhill king!

After becoming recently a consistent downhill winner, Cyprien Sarrazin, 29, wasn’t an instant success. Instead, he’s been toiling since 2016 on the French Ski Team. Beginning as a technical skier and dealing with multiple injuries, he switches to speed events in 2021 before he revealed himself as a domineering athlete in both downhill and super G this season and collecting six world cup wins to date, including a parallel victory in 2017 in Alta Badia, three downhills and one super G this very season. 

Unlike slalom or giant slalom, downhill is very elusive as it embodies a complicated blend of factors affecting both physical and mental performance, making it a truly demanding and thrilling event. It starts with its extreme speed placing huge pressure on the body to maintain control in navigating a complex terrain and forbidding the slightest error that could be catastrophic.

From extreme G-forces, to the duration of the event, the demands of precision in the trajectory and the fear of fall and injury add to the athlete’s mental pressure and messes up their focus. Then, there’s the mental part of downhill. The athlete must meticulously memorize the course's every feature, anticipating bumps, jumps, and changes in slope to shave crucial hundredths of second off their run. 

Likewise, the need to react instantly to changing conditions like wind gusts or variations in snow surface is vital for keeping both speed and line. The fact there’s only one run, compared to slalom or GS, adds mental pressure and the event’s long duration also demands total concentration and the ability to block out any distraction. 

Finally, there are weather conditions, like changing wind or snowfall, the choice of equipment (Sarrazin uses 223 cm skis instead of the regular 218 cm length) and good preparation can dramatically alter the course's dynamics and necessitate on-the-fly adjustments. I haven’t mentioned experience that is the asset of veteran skiers who can use it to make up for other shortcomings. 

Well done Cyprien!