The World Cup According to Grande: FIS World Cup Back in Action!
World Cup back in Action!
When you look at the early training run action in Crans-Montana and Kvitfjell, keep some things in mind. The athletes who only raced the speed events at the Olympics got out of Whistler and Vancouver quite a while ago. Some went to Aspen and raced some NorAms if they are Canadian or American. Some went home after their big show. The Europeans definitely flew home to start training and possibly take part in some Europa Cup and local FIS races. But my point is to watch for some of the 4 event skiers to be a little run-down, looking to conserve some energy. In some cases they might not attend these races, looking to find some energy to make a run at technical globes in Garmsich. Look at where the big 4 event skiers ended up in run 1 in Crans. Were they were on a relaxed run, a high-speed inspection even? The very top of the board looks like a who’s who in who’s that? And that likely will not change until race-day.
The other thing to watch in Crans is the battle between Lindsey Vonn and Maria Riesch for the DH globe. They are in a two-woman battle for it and Lindsey has a big lead. She just needs to keep Maria in her sights to lock it up before Garmisch even starts.
There is one young-lady we need to pay attention to in Crans-Montana. Her name is Laurenne Ross and she is from Bend, Oregon. She finished 28th in St. Moritz just before the Olympics. Then she went to Aspen for NorAms and the US Alpine Championship Downhill where she won 3 races and was 3rd twice. One of the 3rd place finishes was in the National Championship DH behind Leann Smith and Stacey Cook. No matter what level the races, she is on a roll. When confidence is high, it can lead to those big breakthrough races. That huge jump in performance we all look for and hope for. Don’t be at all surprised to see her jump into the points again and quite possibly into the top 20. If Laurenne makes that kind of appearance in Switzerland this week, I think you could argue that the USA women are the best speed group in the world. Switzerland is really the only other team who can make that type of claim. The Americans have far more DH points that the Swiss and vice-versa in Super-G. But the addition of Laurenne to the team depth would be making a statement going into next season.
The Race for World Cup Finals
Only 25 athletes qualify for World Cup Finals plus World Junior Champions. There is no replacement for injury or otherwise. As well, those with 500 Overall points in the current season can race all of the disciplines. Behind the scenes, all the coaches and athletes know where they stand for qualification into World Cup Finals. Everyone wants to make Finals. It is a drag to be sent home from Europe or have to race NorAm Finals when you see yourself as a World Cup racer. It is a blow to the ego. I have seen it so many times and it hardly ever works out well. But that is also part of the game and the athletes need to go home and do their best at NorAm Finals, US Nationals and Spring Series to secure the very important FIS point results to improve their world rank or as back-ups results.
There is one race that will play itself out in Crans-Montana. A finals berth is within reach for 2 of our American girls, Chelsea Marshall in 28th and Leann Smith in 32nd. Both will need to score deeply into the top 15 to move up enough to make it. Leann likely needs to score a top 7 or so to make it and would need some help from the others around 25th to make it. Anna Fenninger(AUT) is in 25th right now with 60 points in DH. Chelsea sits in 28th with 50 points. The scenarios are many but obviously she needs at least 21st and needs Fenninger, Martina Schild (SUI) and Andrea Dettling(SUI) all get shut out. So again, Chelsea will need to go pretty deep into the top 15 to make sure she gets in. It will be a tough move for her but a big result could get it done. Beyond that, Lindsey, Julia, Stacey and Alice have it locked up. It would take an awful series of negative happenings to knock Alice out of the top 25.
Further, there are a number of women trying to gain 500 points to be able to race all the disciplines they want to race. Fabienne Suter needs just 14 points to get it done and I would doubt seriously if she does not. Kati Hoelzl needs 53 points but she appears not to be in the Kombi race in Switzerland as it is likely that she is not interested in racing the speed disciplines in Garmisch. She has no points this season in either pure speed event. Liz Goergl needs 55 points and she is more than capable of getting that many points this week. She could be on the podium in the Kombi and get it done right there. Ingrid Jaquemod (FRA) is 82 points out of 500. That is a lot of points, 6th place twice does not get it done. And Andrea Fischbacher is 109 points out and she showed in Whistler that she is capable of winning a Super-G so she might be able to pull it off.
All in all there is a lot to look forward to in Crans-Montana. A lot will be figured out as the girls’ race toward the FIS World Cup Finals in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Garmisch should be a great preview of the 2011 World Championships.
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Greg “Grande” Needell grew up ski racing at Stratton Mountain,
Vermont. After graduating from SMS he skied for NCAA Division 1 St.
Lawrence University in Canton, NY where he was co-captain in 1986. Greg
returned to SMS to coach there for five years serving as the Head
Women’s Coach as well as the Head J2 Men’s Coach. He then moved to
Mission Ridge in Wenatchee, Washington in 1992 to become the Program
Director and Head Coach of the Mission Ridge Ski Club. In 1997, Greg
became the Head Coach at Mammoth Mountain, California.
In 2002 Needell was asked to join the U.S. Ski Team staff as a World
Cup SL and GS coach. From 2002 to 2008 Needell helped lead the U.S. Ski
Team Men to 43 wins, 105 podiums and 264 top ten finishes. Now at the
helm of Alpine Race Consulting, Needell offers his knowledge and
experience to clubs nationwide.
About the Author: Eric Williams
