Back to the racing... where is all my kit?
The weather changed last night! Where is the sun, where is the hard snow, infact where is the white snow? It looked all blue today. This is the joy you have after using blue dye to mark the slope all week. The Gods must have heard this as the weather slowly deteriorated and the snow and rain reappeared at the end of the day. Three races left and if they can get done and dusted then it will be home time!
The three guys racing today may not have been challenging for medals but they were certainly there to give it there all. They made you proud to be British. The guys gave it there all to a man. This was all about experience and whether that is put to use in 2014 or on Saturday, these guys learnt a lot. To the journalist who felt that the World Championships are for the experience and the Olympics are for challenging for the medals, b@110ck$. British ski racing is in a stage of rebuilding, both administratively and also in terms of the team. Gone are Alain and Finlay. Both have been excellent ambassadors to the sport and continue to help: Alain has been doing the commentary for those whose red button has worked and Fin works with the young Scottish team racers, giving them the benefit of his experience. Fin would make a great Alpine Director - young, keen, fresh and with recent experience of what the World Cup is all about. I wonder whether the powers that be will buy into the idea that new people with a new and fresh approach is needed....hmmmm! Every one has a sell by date!
I was on the bus back from the race today and Bryon Friedmann, ex US Ski Team, was sitting next to me. We had been chatting in the Finish for the Women's Downhill and got talking about what we were off to do. Bryon was off to do some analysis for Universal Sports delayed transmission and then to play a gig for an American ski magazine. Before we went our separate ways he told me how impressed he had been with Jake Zamansky. I was sent the following background on Zamansky by my friend Doug Haney from the US Ski Team:
Jake earned a slot at the his first Olympics. He didn't make the U.S.Ski Team for the 2008 season, but wasn't satisfied with his career. So he raised some money and did the 2009 tour solo with help from our coaching staff. He scored World Cup points in three races and requalified for the Team. Then he put it all out on the line this season with the make it or break it attitude. He said it best in the Audi documentary. "I don't want to just go to the Olympics, I want to kick some ass." He has a lot of tattoos, those hurt. He starts 28 and still tunes his own skis.
Yes, you read that correct, here is a World Cup ski racer who still tunes his own skis! So next time you are standing at the side of slope and waiting for your Dad or Mum (yes there are some Mum's out there that tune their little darlings skis), some World Cup skiers still do their own! Zamansky finished in 31st.
The ski racing world is full of guys and girls who have a love for the sport and never say die attitude and this is great. Talking with my colleagues this evening, it is just a shame that some of the powers that be do not. Many of them remind me of the person that left their dog in the coat rack to be looked after as told in last night's blog.
Well the inquest for the Austrians has started and if they do not manage to take a medal in the slalom expect a number of the coaching staff to be pushed. BUT is it there fault or has the production line stalled? Is it further down the line where the fault is... Not or me to say but at the moment The British team is level pegging with the Austrian Power Team in the Men's Alpine Skiing Medal Table..... I do not expect it to be the same come Saturday, no offence Dave and Andy.
Seven down and just three to go! Then I hope to go and spend some time with the person who has supported me through thick and thin! Gotta go and start thinking about getting the washing done now..... Doing my skis would really be a new age man step too far but all credit to Jake! Maybe that is why he races World Cup and I ... tootle about!
