Skiercross has lost it's identity...

tride

tride

Active member
Has anyone noticed the current state of skiercross? Seems that it's now nothing more than a retirement option for World Cup ski racers. The courses all seem to be built specifically for the Daron Rahlves-es of the sport, with zero focus on working transitions, pumping, riding berms etc. Now it's just a 4 man super-g with some "jumps" that are nothing more than things to absorb at speed.
It was good back in the day when the courses actually went up and down, and being able to catch and pump a transition would make a difference.
At least snowboard cross has a bunch of athletes who grew up as boardercrossers from the start and aren't just retired snowboard racers, seems like their courses are usually a lot more interesting too, with berms that actually get used because they put the gate in the berm instead of 6 feet away on the flats, gaps where people actually have to pop, and quick transitions to pump. A couple of years ago I even saw a snowboard cross where they had a shortcut jump line, but you had to flip or spin the jump if you took that line(I think they called it the "freestyle option" line). It was sweet watching some guy break out a backflip for the pass.
The XGames course last year was so damn lame, totally built for super-g ski racers and all the snowboarders hated it. Sure the high speed crashes are exciting to watch but shit, how about building a course that actually takes more than just tucking, performing alpine race turns and absorbing every lip on the course. There is a whole WC alpine circuit for that, so make the skiercross into something different.
It should be more like a motocross or boardecross course. Now they just look like super-gs in disguise.
Not trying to diss on racing or racers, because what they do is super sick in it's own right. I just think skier cross has completely lost it's identity and become a second hand alpine race discipline. Of course good racers should be able to come into skiercross and use their skills to do well, but it should be more about them having to adapt to the sport, instead of the sport adapting and catering to them.
 
So true. I never really though of it that way either. There's enough racing, some technical stuff like you mentioned would be cool.
 
I have actually ridden a skiercross course with my friends--sooooo much fun. I personally would love to see a switch skiercross race. That would be BALLIN and crazy at the same time.
 
skicross is sick cuz its like what people and kids actually do at their hill. they race their bros and jus haul ass and bomb shit, cept skicross is like organized. but ya some technical stuff would be sick
 
I don't think Skiercross has lost it's identity

It never was

freestyle, It has always been about racing. It is a race, right? But it is definatly not like any other kind of racing, and has NOT turned into a "4 man super G

with som "Jumps" that are nothing more then to absorb with speed"

I am and x-racer, and I've done super G's, and since I quit I've been skiing park, and a skiercross is nothing like either of them.

I did the skiercross at the tremblant spin last winter and In terms of diffeculty and balls it takes, a skiercross makes a super g look like a joke.

Skiercross brings the race, to the park, and is kind of a cross over between the two. Skiercross still has that hole competitive racing thing in it, and that is why it is attracting so many world cup racers, even though it is in the park. Skiers that race, are there to win, and will train hard for it when most park skiiers are more about being laid back and having a good time.

Skiercross is really competitive, and all about winning, that is why I think it is attracting more racers then park skiiers. Its too bad because they are really fun to do, and you don't need to be a world cup skier to do well. As long as your are a good skier, all it is, is having fucking balls of steel.

It is nowhere near "4 man super G

with som "Jumps" that are nothing more then to absorb with speed". Every course, and every feature changes every single run. Some of the racers got so desperate, they would fucking launch themselves off rollers with 80+ foot gaps, that wherent even meant to be gaped to catch up to the rest. It is not easy to judge how to make those gaps, imagine trying to hit every feature in the park, with the same speed. Judging how hard to absorb or pump of each roller, or jump is not easy. Try skiing at a 6 foot snow mound that hits a 50 degree angle at the top at 80 km/h while trying to pop as hard as you can to make the gap, all while keeping your balance. Not to mention if you undershoot you land on uphill of the next roller.

Your are not just racing through and absorbing every bumb and feature, if you did you'd be a solid 15 seconds behind the leaders. It all about knowing when, where, and how hard to absorb or pop, but most importantly, its about commiting, and having fuckin balls.

I think just about every skier had atleast one, if not more big wipeout in training, because when you fuck up, you fuck up hard. Insted of getting shin bang and landing on flats, you land in nets, on your head, or on uphill.

In one of my races one of my skis ejected just from popping off a roller, my din was at 13.

 
i went down the course switch once, there was only one jump but it was really fun and kinda scary going really fast into the berms
 
the jeep tour in telluride was pretty sick. the women weren't pumping the transitions as much as the men and then the skiers as much as the snowboarders. most of the girls were just pumping through stuff and on the stuff with to much lip they would just case. mens snowboarding was definetly the most fun to watch.
 
I race skier cross and I can tell you that its frickin awesome, and at times some races can be pretty cut throat. Running at speeds of 50+mph with another racer right next to you and behind you. Taking every turn and jump at those speeds with 3-4 other people at the same time, knowing that you can go down and hard at any moment....quite a rush.
 
I have... (he advanced to the final, I didn't.). The guy is fast as hell and obviously an incredibly strong skier. The post was not meant to take away anything from him or any of the racers. I have nothing but respect for him and anyone good enough to make it to a World Cup level in racing. And I think that he would still be competitive even in the older, gnarlier style courses.

But I still don't think it's right what they are doing to skiercross courses to accommodate the racers. At athlete meetings these days, all the requests are along the lines of "take the kick off of that jump" and "this transition is to steep and tight". Berms seem to be only on the course for show these days, they put the gates so far below them. And the jumping aspect now simply involves coming in way too fast and absorbing.

Snowboarding's approach to boardercross is so different, because top snowboardcross racers like Drew, Nate, Xavier, etc have always been boardercrossers and freeriders, so they want a completely different style course than someone who's entire background and career is only racing.

 
To clarify, I really like skiercross OK, I've been doing them for years. It's because I like the sport so much that this current direction it's taking bothers me.

What I'm trying to get at is that the courses are getting way too tailored for racers. Instead of racers need ing to learn a completely different skill set, the courses are geting so racer friendly that most World Cup racers can be competitive at skiercross instantly.

A top snowboard alpine racer will not instantly be competitive in a snowboardcross race, not even close. A top motorbike road racer will not be instantly competitive in a motocross race, not even close. But in skiing, the way the courses are going, any solid World Cup racers can and will be competitive in a skiercross pretty much right away.

If the motocross or boardercross approach was used a little more, then skiercross could actually have it's own identity. I just think it is getting too geared towards alpine racing at the moment.

I'm sure if they started putting paved corners in a motocross course, Charmichael and the boys would feel the same way.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top