a viable proposition.”
Her article continued: “The [dual] format is tailored so the
drama fits onto small, easily accessible hills. An unspectacular
stage, perhaps, but one that lends visibility to the sport. Spectators become familiar with the racers as the day progresses,
seeing them perform not in a single blinding flash, but over and
over again.”
That exact sort of drama sucked in spectators last January,
when the Munich City Event drew 25,000 fans. The current format borrows strongly from the old pro days, essentially pitching
two racers against each other, but now on an 18-gate, 200 me-ter-long course that takes an average of 16 seconds. The biggest change from the traditional World Cup is that athletes may
race eight runs to reach the podium. The biggest controversy
is that the starting list is gleaned from the previous day’s top 16
men and top 16 women from the WC overall list, combining all
disciplines.
“Seems a bit unfair to just invite the top 16, when World Cup
points are awarded,” says racing legend Phil Mahre, arguably
the biggest name to find success at both pro and World Cup racing before retiring in 1984. “The calendar prior to these events
will have a great impact as to who will be competing. If there
are more speed events, GS, super G and downhill skiers will
have an advantage to qualify. If there are more GS and slalom
events then [tech skiers] have the advantage.”
Mahre says that the head-to-head format takes a different
mindset than a traditional World Cup race. “You’re racing a person, not the clock, and mind games can be played,” he says.
“You only have to ski hard enough to advance. Fewer risks,
more calculation, saving something for the later rounds. If you
have to qualify, then it’s more like a standard race. Best time
in qualifying usually gives you an easy round or two before the
top guys advance and come together. Even in the pros, when
you’re dealing in hundredths, it made a difference. If you are
behind, there’s a chance you’re going to get a snow shower
Ivica Kostelic outgunned Julien Lizeroux for the win last January in Munich.
every other turn from your competitor.”
In all, the format is gaining traction with the racers. Ivica Kostelic’s evening in Munich was a show of scrappy calm reminiscent of Bernhard Knauss. After his win, Kostelic told Universal
Sports: “It’s very elegant. You can sleep in the mornings, chill
out, race in the afternoons. It’s really nice – it’s a new exciting
system and it works really [well].”
But Kostelic was a winner. Bode Miller, who placed third nonchalantly, told fisalpine.com: “This is not a World Cup. It’s a
great event, it’s awesome. It’s fun to ski. We all agree, it’s exciting and fun but it’s simply not a World Cup.”
A Much-Needed Shot in the Arm
When Christin Cooper wrote her 1896 article, her husband,
Mark Tache, had left World and Europa Cup racing for greater
success on the pro tour. Currently, the couple splits their time
between Bozeman, Mont.; and Aspen; and while Cooper is
now a network race commentator, Tache has stayed involved
as a coach.
URBAN LEGENDS
