OP/ED
Deaf Ears
Guenter Hujara
SOELDEN — It really doesn’t matter what you
think, or whether FIS research provides a cred-
ible basis for decision — ski lengths and radii
will be changing on the World Cup next season.
Like it or not, the FIS has unilaterally mandated
the change.
Continental Cups, Europa, NorAms, and Far
East Cups will get another year of grace from
the FIS decree. No decisions have been made
regarding non-continental FIS races and junior
levels as to when the changes will be required.
Constantly citing safety and pointing to data
provided by the Oslo Trauma Research Center
(OTSC), Guenter Hujara, director of the men’s
World Cup said: “The facts are the facts. If you
want safety, this is a step you have to take.”
The OTSC injury sample came from a very
small universe: World Cup athletes only. The
study included injuries from training and com-
petition, recording athletes who were out for 28
days or longer over a five-year period. Knee inju-
ries accounted for 38. 6 percent of the accidents.
Whether that is a fair sample for all levels of FIS-
regulated competition — World Cup through J2
— is subject to criticism as far too narrow. Suffice
it to say that by going back only five years, the
study involved injuries only since the advent of
shaped skis. The FIS did not report studying the
rate of injury before the introduction of shaped
skis and has showed no scientific data to dem-
onstrate if the current five-year World Cup injury
rate has increased over the previous five years.
Scientists at the University of Salzburg deter-
mined through a subjective study of 63 experts
that the main risk factor was the “system ski, bind-
ing, plate, boot,” among five identifiable problem
areas. None of the experts were identified and
none of them, apparently, were women, as no-
tably pointed out by Swedish star Anja Paerson
at a meeting with FIS officials, researchers and
athletes. Women were glaringly absent from the
project and the research presented.
While the FIS contends that technical engi-
neers can arrive at a radius solution for women,
the fact that women — athletes, coaches and of-
ficials — were so blatantly ignored not only sug-
gests that the FIS doesn’t care about women,
but also completely derails the validity of the re-
search. Women’s views very likely could have
influenced the findings, perhaps substantially.
GEPA
SkiRacing.com OC TOBER 31, 2011 | 5
