National Holidays and patriotism

Today is France’s Bastille Day and that country’s national holiday. The US had its own event ten days ago and this gets me thinking about the relation that could exist between these events and the sense of “patriotism” the general population can have in various countries. 

If there’s one measure that hard to quantify, it’s got to be Patriotism. In fact, it’s a blend of pride, loyalty, and willingness to defend one’s country, and it varies depending on how it’s measured. Several global surveys have tried to rank countries based on different indicators like national pride, belief in national superiority, and willingness to fight to defend it. 

Here’s a quick summary of what I found by looking at a variety of sources and surveys like YouGov, WIN/Gallup and ISSP among others... 

These rankings reflect more than just flag-waving—they’re shaped by history, conflict, national narratives, and even how comfortable people feel expressing pride. 

For instance, countries with recent wars or strong independence movements often show higher patriotism, while some developed nations may express pride more subtly or critically.
And you, how intense is your own patriotism?

Where Speed Skiing falls short

When I seriously consider it, Speed Skiing to me is nothing more than gliding into a straight line and ending with a hockey stop. A very crude exercise to which are added fearlessness, huge strength and balance to withstand high speeds, but no skills comparable to those used in Alpine skiing or even freestyle. 

Another observation is that in spite of being a demonstration event at the 1992 Olympics, the decision not to keep it in future winter Olympics was made for several key reasons. Speed Skiing was found to be incredibly dangerous. Even with the best safety measures, the speeds involved (well over 200 km/h or 120 mph) can lead to extremely high-impact forces in the event of a crash. 

A tragic death occurred during a training run at the 1992 Albertville Games when Swiss skier Nicolas Bochatay crashed. This accident, along with numerous other serious injuries in the sport, caused the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to renounce. 

A lack of widespread participation also stood against making Speed Skiing an Olympic event. The limited number and access to the venues didn’t help either and the spectator appeal was quite limited compared to other downhill events. It was essentially a straight line, without the turns and jumps making it visually entertaining for mass audiences. 

At the end of the day, the extreme danger, limited global participation, and specialized venue requirements ultimately led the IOC to decide against including Speed Skiing as a permanent Olympic discipline, despite its thrilling nature for some. 

So if in spite of all these considerations, this side of skiing still attracts you, and you’re a young speed demon with strength and balance galore, why not challenge this record? You only need guts, time and money and you should be all set. Good luck! 

More about Speed Skiing…

The "Kilometro Lanciato" (Italian for "Flying Kilometer"), now widely known as Speed Skiing, is one of the oldest and most exhilarating extreme winter sports, with a history rooted in the pursuit of pure velocity on skis. That quest for speed on skis began almost as soon as the sport developed. However, the "Kilometro Lanciato" emerged as a recognized discipline in the 1930s. The concept was simple: skiers descended a straight, steep, and well prepared slope, aiming to reach the highest possible Speed. Early records took place at St. Moritz, Switzerland, in the 1930s on The Corviglia. Mürren, in that same country, became another important early venue. 

Early records were set in the range of 100-130 km/h (60-80 mph) using basic wooden skis and leather boots, a testament to the raw skill and daring of the pioneers. After World War II, the sport continued to evolve and remained limited to the Alpine countries. 

Cervinia in Italy, Les Arcs and Vars in France and earlier on, Portillo in Chile became the places where these events were held on a 1.5 km long run with 762 meters of vertical with a start at 3,310 meters. What’s notable about that South American ski resort is that in 1963 North American skiers Dick Dorworth and C.B. Vaughn set a world record at 171.428 kph. This event happened in September 1963, reportedly "on the last day that Portillo was open that season". On October 1st, 1978: Another American Steve McKinney exceeded 200 km/hr for the first time, setting a new world record of 200.222 kph. On October 2nd 1987, Michael Prufer of Monaco set a new world record of 217.68 Kph. For a while, 

Cime Blanche at Cervinia was the place with its 1.6 km run with 860 meters vertical and a slope steepness of 31 to 35° and recorded quite a few World records as well (see yesterday’s blog). At Les Arcs, France, the KL took place on the Aiguille Rouge speed run, 2 km long with a vertical of 565 meters. That run was used when Speed Skiing was part of the 1992 Winter Olympics. World records we also set on this course, including speeds of 251 km/h by Simon Origone and 242 km/h by Sanna Tidstrand. 

Today, this event is now run in Vars, France on the Chabrières run 1.4 km long for a vertical of 435 meters. Its steep start (45°), makes it not only one of the steepest in the world, but also the fastest with a current world’s speed record of 255.5 km/h is held by France’s Simon Billy since March 23, 2023. 

The women’s record is held by Italy’s Valentina Greggio since March 26, 2016, with a speed of 247.083 km/h. Unquestionably, the Chabrières run is cut for speed, with a launch ramp and ultra-steep upper section. It’s the gold standard for speed skiing. Tomorrow, we’ll see why this form of skiing remains so marginal... 

KL at Cervinia 50 years ago

Just half a century ago today, we concluded a short stay in Entrèves, near Cervinia, Italy where the “Kilometro Lanciato” or Speed skiing, took place. In this event, skiers descend a steep, specially designed course aiming to ski as fast as possible. 

Speeds are measured over the last 100 meters of the course. The Cervinia track hosted many early competitions and record attempts. Speed skiing required specialized equipment, including aerodynamic suits and helmets, and specially designed skis. 

This was the tail end of my first year with Look as their head of racing and we had the American Steve McKinney on our bindings; he had won last year’s event, setting a record of 194.384 km/h. 

Joël Gros, who knew Steve and was familiar with the US Pro Tour, asked to come for the occasion accompanied by his wife Jane. Evelyne, my soon to be wife, was there too. 

The weather was beautiful and the Matterhorn, breathtaking, as always, but in the end, it’s Bernard “Pino” Meynet that won the day clocking at 194.384 km/h, beating Steve McKinney who reached 192.719 km/h. If you want to know more about places where Speed Skiing is practiced, read tomorrow’s blog.

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Our new, American Pope

After Pope Francis ignored the perk during his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV is at Castel Gandolfo for a break to restore his “body and spirit” as he recently said. It’s a return to a centuries-old tradition that brings the new pope to that summer residence perched at 425 meters, above Lake Albano, offering cooler air and calmer atmosphere than Rome’s summer heat.

Aside from this cool news, the new Pope has been vocal and consistent in addressing the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran since the start of his papacy in May 2025. On the War in Ukraine he condemned the war as “senseless”. He also expressed solidarity with Ukrainian Greek Catholics during a Jubilee pilgrimage, acknowledging their suffering and urging faith amid adversity. In his very first Sunday address as pope, Leo called for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian aid. 

Following US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June, Pope Leo issued a plea for peace, warning that war only “amplifies problems” and causes “deep wounds”. He’s also condemned the logic of “bullying and revenge”, urging all parties—including Israel, Iran, and the US—to pursue dialogue and diplomacy. Not much of the Papal interventions have been reported through a media that’s been largely obsessed with Trump. 

Besides these stances, Pope Leo XIV could drastically deepen his impact by leaning into the Vatican’s unique role as a neutral body and spiritual authority. He could for instance convene an Interfaith Peace Summit by bringing together senior leaders from Christianity, Islam, and Judaism—especially those with influence in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and use it to condemn violence and call for ceasefires, humanitarian corridors, and negotiations. 

He could also launch a Global “Peace Pilgrimage” Campaign with interfaith partners to host synchronized events—prayers, fasts, and public forums—focused on peace in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran. Then there’s always a more active, direct engagement with political leaders challenging arms buildup and the erosion of international law. From a religious standpoint, he could also support bishops, imams, and rabbis in conflict zones with resources and platforms to counter hate speech, promote reconciliation, and protect civilians. 

Likewise, encourage interreligious councils in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran to issue joint statements and mediate local tensions. With strengths in moral clarity and global reach, it’s my belief that Pope Leo holds the power to translate his words into coordinated action, especially with other faith leaders and be instrumental in shifting the narrative from retaliation to reconciliation. 

As Pope Leo gets ready to intervene more forcefully for peace, I wish him a rejuvenating sojourn at Castel Gandolfo!

Living with snobs (part three)

By now, some of my reader may think “I just don’t ever want to deal with, or live among snobs!” While I recognize that dealing with snobs can be incredibly frustrating, there are some strategies that can help us, ranging from full disengagement to subtle redirection. 

My first recommendation would be not to take their stinking behavior personally. Instead, understand that the way they act is usually a reflection of their own insecurities, not a true assessment of your worth. They need to belittle others in order to rise over them, and this comes from their own issues. 

Now, don’t ever forget that big, handy tool: Never, ever engage or argue with snobs! Debating with them is pointless. They're not usually interested in a genuine exchange of ideas; they want to assert their superiority. You'll rarely "win" by arguing their specific point of "superiority." Instead, use humor (gentle or disarming if possible, never mean). 

A lighthearted, non-confrontational, or self-deprecating joke can sometimes neutralize a snob. For instance: Snob: "I can't believe you've never heard of [obscure band/author/dish]." You: "My cultural education clearly shows some gaping holes! What else am I missing out on?" (Can be genuinely curious or subtly ironic). 

You can also change the subject, when the snobbery starts, steer the conversation to a neutral topic or one where you know they have no basis for snobbery. You can also try a polite, indifferent, bland agreement by responding with a noncommittal "Oh, really?" or "That's interesting" without giving them the satisfaction of a reaction or argument. Don't provide fuel for their fire! 

When the snob becomes genuinely offensive or crosses a line, you might want to address it directly but calmly with responses like, "I'm not comfortable with conversations that put people down." or "We seem to have very different tastes, and that's okay." As always, try also to find common ground or areas where their snobbery can't apply. If they're a food snob, maybe you can talk about the universal experience of enjoying a simple meal with loved ones. 

Avoid seeking their approval and don't fall into the trap of trying to impress them or prove your worth. Their approval isn't valuable because it's based on superficial and often false metrics. Finally, limit your exposure to this category of human beings. If a particular snob is consistently draining you or eating your time, it's okay to limit your interactions with them. 

Ultimately, dealing with snobs effectively is about protecting your own peace of mind and self-esteem by refusing to play their game of hierarchical judgment. Good success!

What leads to snobbery? (part two)

To do a good job, I should put my “Shrink Hat” on, but I can’t find it anywhere! Right, snobbery is usually rooted in a mix of psychology, insecurity, and social conditioning. Most of the time, it begins with insecurity and low self-esteem. That’s often the primary driver. 

By putting others down or elevating oneself, a snob attempts to feel more secure and important. It's a defense mechanism to mask their own vulnerabilities or doubts about their worth. Besides that, there’s also a desire for status and belonging, we’re all social creatures, and the desire for rank, acceptance, and belonging is powerful. 

Snobbery can be a misguided attempt to secure a place in a desired social group or climb a perceived social ladder. The trait can either be inherited or learned. Some can learn snobbish behaviors from their environment, families, or peer groups. If they grew up in an environment where status and judgment were highly valued, they might adopt similar attitudes. A lack of empathy also acts a fertile ground for turning into snob with a reduced ability to understand or share the feelings of others. 

It then becomes a lot easier for snobs to dismiss or belittle people without feeling much remorse. Then, when people are ignorant, narrow-minded, have limited perspective, believe that their ways of doing are just superior instead of different, they become intolerant of alternative views. 

To close that list, snobbery can also be a form of compensation for perceived lack in other areas of life; for instance people struggling professionally might overcompensate by being a snob about their hobbies or tastes. Similarly a deep fear of not blending in or not being special can lead to a desperate need to differentiate oneself, often by highlighting what others lack. 

In the next blog, we’ll explore practical ways we can live with snob without getting too much aggravated...