Unmentionables
STARTHOUSE
The heart of the season has rushed by, and while there has been some exciting
ski competition, international governance has once again demonstrated how far out
of touch the organization is from the world of sport reality. After starting the season
by railroading a decision to change ski radii, based on patently phony statistics and
research, now the FIS is focusing on underwear, subjecting the governing body and
the sport to laughable, almost incredulous articles. “Knickers in a Twist” screamed
Tina Maze tells it like it is.
one headline. “Downhill hits the skids over plastic underwear row” barked another.
Controversy erupted when the Swiss Federation protested that Slovenian Tina Maze
was wearing performance-enhancing underwear when she finished second in a World
Cup super G at Bad Kleinkircheim. Interest heightened when Maze pulled a Brandi
Chastain move in the Cortina leader’s box, revealing her sports bra, on which she had
printed “not your business.” Permeability inspection by the FIS found Maze’s undergar-
ment legal but officials suggested it might be bad for the skin. Come on! A wishy-washy
press release from the FIS office said Maze’s garment was not forbidden but sug-
gested not using it. How ridiculous. The issue became even more embarrassing when
men’s World Cup director, Guenther Hujara, waved around some plastic underwear at
a coaches’ meeting, threatening an athlete’s immediate disqualification if plasticized
underwear were used. How professional.
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ART
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PHOTOGRAPHERS
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EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
SARAH TUFF
SENIOR EDITOR
HANK MCKEE
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
ERIC WILLIAMS
CONTRIBUTORS
EMILY COOK
DAVE PESZEK
TIM REYNOLDS
SUSAN THEIS
SKI RACING
INTERNATIONAL, LLC
CHAIRMAN/CEO
GARY BLACK JR.
CONTROLLER
ADELE SAVARIA
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