This spring, a specially selected committee comprised of the members of the FIS Council and perhaps others will be reporting recommendation for change to the full FIS Council. The subject is the alpine World Cup. While the group and its deliberations have been kept very hush hush, some indication of their findings emerged in and around the World Cup Finals in Lenzerheide.
    From what was revealed in casual conversation, few of the recommendations tread new ground. The consensus is to have a season comprised of a smaller number of World Cup races over fewer weekends. Each discipline would have an equal number of races, most likely eight over a 12-week period. Each venue would hold three races. Additionally, but not as concrete, are discussions proposing limiting the number of racers from a nation in a single event to four or five competitors.
    The major change contemplated has the World Cup season culminate at a World Championship, which would be held the last week of February and would conclude in early March.
THIS SPRING, a specially selected committee comprised of the members of the FIS Council and perhaps others will be reporting recommendation for change to the full FIS Council. The subject is the alpine World Cup. While the group and its deliberations have been kept very hush hush, some indication of their findings emerged in and around the World Cup Finals in Lenzerheide.
    From what was revealed in casual conversation, few of the recommendations tread new ground. The consensus is to have a season comprised of a smaller number of World Cup races over fewer weekends. Each discipline would have an equal number of races, most likely eight over a 12-week period. Each venue would hold three races. Additionally, but not as concrete, are discussions proposing limiting the number of racers from a nation in a single event to four or five competitors.
    The major change contemplated has the World Cup season culminate at a World Championship, which would be held the last week of February and would conclude in early March.
    According to committee sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, no changes could occur before 2011, as calendars have been set and contracts signed with various venues until then.
    While there are numerous considerations that will be debated before any changes are accepted and made public, there is no question that the FIS and the member federations need to effect change. In many spots around the globe, the financial support for the alpine World Cup is waning and in some cases economically tanking. In major markets such as the United States, the alpine World Cup coverage is minimal despite the United States having one of the strongest teams on the circuit and its best in years. Poker, fishing and bull riding generate far more viewing interest and television coverage.
    In central Europe, where alpine ski racing is vastly more popular than the rest of the world, the genesis of World Cup ratings difficulties came with breakup of the state-run television monopolies. The proliferation of television channels offered Europeans choices unavailable in the past and the multiple viewing options dealt alpine World Cup ratings a body blow.
    Unfortunately, most changes suggested by this committee are likely to be fought tooth and nail. Change, any change, will gore a number of oxen. Over the years, the White Circus has become a lifestyle option for many and a very comfortable one at that. Some World Cup venues have offered individuals the opportunity to make an easy living. The alpine World Cup dole has been very generous over the years.
    The traditionalists will argue that things are fine, just look at the audience World Cup alpine skiing generates in Austria. As with anything, change is uncomfortable, but in this case the FIS may have little choice if it is willing to glance into the future. Looking back in the skiing tides of time, there are only a few who recall how difficult it was to get alpine skiing to become a part of the Olympic Winter Games. Today the FIS must listen to IOC President Jacques Rogge. He is proposing to create a “junior” or teenage Olympics in the near future. He is a proponent of snowboard and pushed to get skiercross into the 2010 Vancouver Games.
    Pay heed, FIS. The IOC is looking at ways to generate young audiences. The alpine World Cup is run by sedentary old men and its audience is growing older by the day. It may be more than a shame to waste the opportunity that will be presented to the full FIS Council this spring. Lack of change could signal to both sports fans and the IOC the run of the first “World Cup” circuit is over. If it denies the challenge of change, members of the FIS may take notice when alpine skiing is no longer accepted as a Winter Olympics sport, and that may not be far in the future. — G.B. Jr.