The World Cup According to Grande: Women's Soelden Review

Before I start, I want to address comments on both my site and Ski Racing when my blogs are re-printed there.

I want to encourage everyone to comment as much as they feel is important on anything I write. I also would ask that if you have comments that make you emotional, you would make sure you please read the content of my post closely and understand it before going off the handle, and certainly before actually publishing your comment. I would also tell everyone that I am a fan of EVERY man and woman who races World Cup and any other ski race in the world. I understand the difficulty of the sport. I also think every ski company makes great stuff. But what I write about are questions that come to my mind when I see what happens or might happen on a specific day. SO, IF YOU MUST DISAGREE, that is fine. But please, leave personal attacks out of it. I do not know you and cannot identify you if you do not make it obvious to me who you are.  It is very easy to attack what I say when you hide behind an on-line identity. You have access to my website, my real email and my phone, so use those rather than hiding behind your alter-ego and try to rip my credibility. I do this for fun and a little bit of income (emphasize little) and I can stop at any time. But when someone threatens me or makes comments that make me uncomfortable then I have to wonder why I would continue.  So, please…think about what you write and who you are insulting, whether or not that might be considered out of line and last of all, whether you have the credibility to make comments at all. But please, leave the personal insults alone.

Beyond all of that, I watched that girls race today and it was not great. It was a start position race on run one and the gap was huge. A plus four-second differential will tell you one thing clearly; the hill was outside of the level of the field. Not necessarily Viki, Kati and Manu or all the way out to about 20th. But really, a lot of girls could not keep up the tempo that was demanded because gravity became too big. But the best girls also proved why they are the best. The can ski in both conditions, smooth and bumpy. They have the experience and confidence to knock down runs after lunch that are good enough to win the day.

I thought the course setting looked pretty good aside from Schwaiger’s delay in the middle of the pitch on run one. Honestly, I am not a fan of delays going with the fall-away. It makes it very, very tough and in the middle of that pitch that is super steep, well… I have to call BS on it. On the other hand, his girls were sitting right in front after his set so he did his job. So did Costazza  as Manu Moelgg made a nice move on run 2 to get to the podium.

Another thing about Soelden is that it is just not a fun hill. It’s fun to watch when you are there up close. And it is fun to try to prepare for because it is complex. But it is super difficult. Working on the men’s side for so many years we always tried to find way to get ready for it but we knew that it was going to be one of the toughest grinds of the year. We also knew that if it went badly, we had another month to get ready for the next one. The girls go to Aspen next…totally different hill and snow and one month later. Don’t sweat it and don’t read too much into it.

 POSITIVES

Viki Rebensburg (GER): She got the job done. She was gold in Whistler, she won here. She executed and she will be the favorite until Hoelzl knocks her off.

Kati Hoelzl (GER): She’s a better skier than all the rest of the top seven in GS. She should win the GS globe if she stays within herself at the right times and risks on the right hills.

Manu Moelgg (ITA): This one is difficult for me because I like Manu a lot. I have known her for about nine years and she does very well. But I get the feeling that her GS is energy based and not from a solid platform. At the same time I always root for her and I have to give her  a high-five. Hi Manu, I am sure the St. VIgilio crowd had fun!

Julia Mancuso (USA): A very nice show and a great second run. She changed her turn shape and pace from run 1 to run 2. Her tempo picked up and she ended up 12th, her second best ever at Soelden. It’s a really nice start for her on new skis and she changed her approach on run 2, to her credit. Nice job.

Lindsey Vonn (USA): Points is points. If you’re not happy, don’t worry. Points scored in tech events are points scored. You can use every one. I know you want to win every race but GS will take some work. Shorten the turn, get on the new one earlier and when the hills suit you, you will get it done.

Schleper (USA): I think it was a great start for her. It was a nice 4th place on the second run with a good start position. Build on it, get a good read on what was up and what was not and get ready for Levi!

Gagnon (CAN): What a scrappy second run! She could have gone out 5 times. I loved it! Great job MMG and see you in Levi!

Marmotton (FRA): Nice move, good work…be happy and you will keep moving up.

Jessica Lindell-VIkarby (SWE): Coming back from an injury, on an extremely tough hill, she did a great job going from number 40. I was impressed in that situation.

NEGATIVES:

I don’t want to dwell on it too much but I thought Nicole Gius (ITA) could have executed better as well as Chemmy Alcott (GBR). They just seemed to be lackluster the whole way both runs. They got two runs but I just felt no “try” out of either of them.

MPH was a disappointment. I am sure she will make up for it soon.

Levi is coming up in a couple weeks.  There is snow on the ground up here in the Pacific Northwest. I hope it’s falling where you are!

Wait, before I take-off. I got the top-2 right! Just in the wrong order!

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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.

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