Interesting discussion about cost savings in ski racing and the true answer is that some things will not and have not changed. Most issues are easily addressed with a common sense approach and the rest are simply too complex and hard to solve.

Equestrian and car racing are expensive, ski racing is mostly likely third. Trying to save money in ski racing takes the will of the ski resorts first and foremost as the vertical integration of these resorts and the fact that they are conglomerates means we need them on board as a huge partner/sponsor. They control lifts/lodging/meals on the hill, etc. If they were to get even more behind ski racing this would be a huge win.  

The ski resorts play the biggest and most important role and they do a lot; it’s just a matter of if they can and will do more. What they can do or offer is unique to each club and region/resort, so having a pro in the office to help ensure this relationship is solid can go a very long way.

Equipment manufacturers. I have no clue what skis cost to make and what needs to happen. Sponsorships are long gone, so once again this becomes a subsidy issue. But even more importantly is how do we ensure we get a primary container of good skis vs the mediocre gear that makes its way to the US after Europe plucks through all the good material. Good equipment is more important than the cost of equipment.

There are also the parents and athletes out there that will hit every camp and every race, but they will buy bad equipment to save dollars. Don’t skimp on equipment and do not let anyone sway your equipment decisions because you have a supposed “in” on the good stuff or get a “sweet” deal.  Don’t let a coach influence you for gear unless it is also from a top tier manufacturer. If you get paid to use your gear this is a different conversation but don’t waste your time or money on bad gear.  Everyone knows what works and then there are the outliers. Stay away from the outliers and anyone who knows ski racing knows who they are. That’s spending money wisely, not saving money.

The best money you can spend, the most amount of time you should take, and the people you want to work with the most is for/on your ski boots. So many athletes have boots that are too big, too stiff and if these two are correct many athletes have no idea what their canting setup is like.  The most important piece of equipment is your ski boots.  It is your connection to the skis and the snow so spend the money here and buy good used skis. Bob Olsen is incredibly good at boot setups, PJ Dewey is very good and I was recently with Dane Spencer who is really working hard on boot setups now for athletes. Please believe me when I tell you that ski boots are the most important and are a small cost/investment in your skiing endeavors, especially on a comparative cost basis.

If you race too much, it’s really simple, your coach is clueless. Spend your time and money being ready to race, and when you race, be ready to go fast and be competitive. Racing is great, and I do not discount the important place it holds in ski racing. Do not get humiliated and frustrated, be ready, be confident and then go racing. Chasing points you cannot earn and racing instead of training — assuming you should be training instead — will always be detrimental to your long term skiing success.

We spend our time on worthless and meaningless agendas instead of focusing on one thing. Support athletes who ski race and focus on the ones that are fastest for their age in any given year or time of year. If you make the cut, great, and if you don’t do well there is always next week, month or year. We update points every two weeks and we should be updating/shuffling our kids the same way. Not annually. This will not save our development budgets money, but it will ensure dollars spent are being spent on those that have earned the right to compete and this will also help subsidize some of the athletes who need help the most.  

I believe a big issue facing today’s ski racing is the inability to hand pick athletes that I know are ready to compete. As a coach, I cannot pick and choose my athletes for racing and if ski clubs, athletes and parents were willing to take a longer term view of how to achieve success in the sport, it would pay big dividends and save a lot of money. Being on skis is easy, racing is easy and I say this because the hardest part of the sport is spending the time and money on what is more important and valuable. Mental training, physical training, nutrition, etc. Outside of very organized clubs or academies, ski racing is a seasonal sport. If you are a FIS racer this is not the case, and I cannot stress the importance of having a plan that is year-round, well balanced to incorporate all the necessities to become a good ski racer and includes a race plan solely dependent on how the plan is being executed.

Can’t afford to go to Europe? Maybe it’s time to find a new sport because that’s where the sport is played, so do yourself a favor and learn to speak German and get a hold of some money or a sponsor or plan on being a really fast skier because that is reality.

Ski fast, win, get noticed and go somewhere in the sport. Ski slow, go unnoticed and go nowhere in the sport. Money does not dictate how fast you can ski.

It’s that simple and why we have people thinking the more we handicap the system will allow for more opportunities for more people are wrong. I know way more people who are not and have not been successful with money than those without. Having a plan, executing the plan, spending money where it is best spent based on the plan and of course continual dialogue with your coach/s to ensure the plan is on track. Instead of costs we need to focus on the plan because that determines the cost. Goals for the athlete drives the cost.

I am so over all the concerns, rules to level the playing field. It’s way too many people chiming in that shouldn’t have a voice and we need to listen to people that have “been there and done that” in the sport. At least in doing so you will get honest answers not wishful thinking.

My son ski races, loves it and I will do whatever it takes to give him the opportunities and sacrifice our quality of life and living so he can pursue his dream. Are others too selfish, proud or expecting a handout? Will you or do you sacrifice how you live your life to give your child an opportunity? It’s a fair question and for me that answer is yes to both my time and my money. I am also prepared to support him until he is 23.

My number one concern for this sport is the 19-23 age demographic who are in total no man’s land. No USST to train with, PG programs do not have good enough peer groups and this means either go ski for school (which you can’t because all the euros get the spots) or quit. This is a pathetic position our country is in and that is where the sport is completely upside down.

We have our best, brightest and most mature racers, we have invested so much time as coaches, parents and clubs yet they graduate, the team doesn’t take them and now they are on their own with substantial costs to try and break through. The athletes did what we all wanted and asked and then it was over. There are not too many athletes that will/do have a promising career after they graduate but there are certainly enough we kick out of the nest for it to be of huge concern for me. Garrett Driller is one of our best SL skiers in the country, yet he isn’t on the US Team and cannot afford to spend the winter at all the highest level domestic and international competitions. He is just one example of the many and we must change this to continue to have a pipeline of depth for our country.

We walk away from them when we need them most and more importantly, they need us most.

We need to focus more on mentality than the cost. This is a change in coach, parent, club and athlete mentality. Believe and commit to being the best and when you think you are not good enough, guess what, you are not, so quit.

The USST does not owe anyone anything, a ski club does not owe you anything, nor does anyone else. What is owed is your time, your commitment, your dedication and belief in the ability to be the best. If you have that mentality, you will find the right program for your son/daughter.

That is what is missing…a belief in believing and a commitment to being great and we need to get away from people thinking others are going to solve problems that, quite frankly, will not and cannot be solved. Being great also takes money. Think about it in terms of getting a great education or the time and money to be top tier in any other sport.

Can we please stop focusing on costs and start focusing on the more important variables that we can and do control.

This letter was submitted in response to our series on cost. Have some thoughts on this? Send a letter to the editor. If it’s good, we’ll publish it. Letters to the editor are wholly the opinion of the author. Ski Racing Media does not endorse, edit, or fact-check letters to the editor.