It's official. The longer, less sidecut skis proposed because of safety concerns will be implemented as planned. The FIS made the announcement Dec. 7 on its' webpage.

The text reads: "Following additional consultation with expert bodies, the FIS Alpine Executive Board has now confirmed the final new specifications for alpine ski racing equipment to be valid from the 2012/2013 season onwards. The additional review was mandated by the FIS Council following proposals for modifications from the ski industry."

The specifications can be found here.

"The most important thing is that we move forward," said U.S. men's coach Sasha Rearick in an interview published in the current issue of Ski Racing. "My main goal is to ... figure out how we can take this as an opportunity for us to take a step forward when we start competing on these skis."