Jit's Journal: Crunch time

Jit’s Journal: Crunch timeThe race season is now in full swing, and with it comes the ‘Crunch Time’ of January. It’s time for the guys on the team to start hammering at the races in Europe.

After an impressive display of skiing on the east coast in Hunter Mountain, New York the Europa Cup guys headed for Europe. The boys’ first stop was Hinterstoder, Austria. Jake Zamansky continued his fast skiing by finishing 8th in the GS with Jesse Marshall following him up in 23rd. Jesse finished up 21st in the SL the next day on what was described as a well prepared icy hill with many rolls.

Not too far from there in Spital/Semmering, Austria at a FIS -B race Erik Fisher stuffed another solid result into the bag as he nabbed a 4th place in the SG followed by Kevin Francis in 5th and Chris Beckmann in 9th. The guys then headed for Oberjoch, Germany for a Europa Cup GS and SL. In the GS it was Zamansky again leading the way in 18th. The next day in the SL it was ‘SL ace’ Drew Roberts holding the wheel for the crew as he finished 18th followed by Marshall in 20th.

Where are they now? Right now a few of the guys are in Sella Nevea, Italy where Chris Beckmann was the top finishing American on the day in 16th, after the first Europa Cup DH of two. Some of the guys also just got done racing some FIS-B races in Italy and will most likely continue racing in that neck of the woods; and finally a couple of guys will be racing the ‘mini Schladming’ night SL in Westendorf that many of the best World Cup skiers use as a tune up for Kitzbuehel. The difficult Europa Cup tour is in full effect and the guy’s are looking at many more days to come.

Now then, I have had a lot of questions about the Europa Cup and one of them is: What makes the Europa Cup so difficult? The answer is quite simple: depth. In the USA you’re lucky to have two guys at a race with their points under 20. In the Europa Cups if you have 20 points you start dead last. That’s because numbers 30-140 in the world are racing in that race. Throw in a bunch of World Cup guys from the top 30 and just getting a top 30 finish in a Europa Cup is like winning a NorAm by a second.

Just having the low points doesn’t get you anywhere either; you have to have Europa Cup points to start in the top 30 just as it is in the World Cup. You could have 9 points and start in the 30’s. So when Americans go over in January to race in Europa Cups they have no points and start dead last.

The conditions are a huge factor as the hills are rough and not as well prepared as those of the World Cups. Another thing that makes it tough is that there are no big crowds — nothing flashy or glamorous like the World Cup — it’s just a straight rock fight. That’s why I like it, because it’s a circuit that defines you and prepares you.

The final question I am going to answer is: What do you think about the Bode Miller controversy? In the end it doesn’t matter. I don’t care what he says in an interview, I care about what he does on the hill — which is usually giving me some fresh ideas for my skiing. The reality is that I will still be sitting in front television cheering him on, heart pounding with excitement, as he kicks out of the gate for another wild ride. Have fun, train hard, get after it!

-Jit

Tim Jitloff was the 2005 Sprint / Ski Racing Junior of the Year. He will keep his online journal here all season. You can e-mail him your comments or questions at jitskiracing@yahoo.com. To read more athlete journals, or to hear industry insiders in their own words, click here.