I am sure you are all wondering where the blog has been. I have been driving to Vail the last two days to start our Mission Ridge Ski Team camp tomorrow. We drove pretty much solid from Wenatchee, WA to Vail. It was twelve hours of driving yesterday and almost eight today. But we are here and getting organized. I am going to jam on a quick preview and get it posted.
First, I want to congratulate Colby Granstrom, a Mission Ridge Ski Team guy himself, for qualifying for his first world cup through the time trial process last week in Vail. Colby will start number 60 tomorrow, so he will have his work cut out for him. But that is no different than breaking through into the FIS level or the NorAm level or the Europa Cup level. He has done it over and over in his career and needs to keep focused on what has gotten him there and not the surroundings and distractions at the World Cup.
FAVORITES:
Reinfried Herbst (AUT): To me he is the favorite. He is a slalom specialist, he has won here and his coach is setting. All of that should work in his favor. He starts six, which is not the best but he can stay close enough on run 1 to make a charge for the win.
Julien Lizeroux (FRA): While he has not only been a slalom guy throughout his career, he still falls into the category of a slalom specialist. Slalom is by far his most successful discipline and he has had some success in Levi. Julien was fifth last 
year here and with the number one bib could do some damage on run one. Plus, French coach Stephane Quittet will set the second run. He should be feeling confident.
Ivica Kostelic (CRO): He was second here last year behind Herbst and could compete again. He drew number three which will help him on run one. Ivica is a very solid skier and is as consistent as anyone out there.
Jean-Baptiste Grange (FRA): He has a chance but coming back from injury is a mental game as much as a physical one. I would give him until mid-season before he is able to knock down top five finishes again with any consistency. I think it’s just too early for him to have the mental trust to risk enough.
FROM OUTSIDE THE TOP SEVEN:
These guys are not necessarily dark horses but are not ranked in the top seven, so a podium finish is a big deal for any of them. I hate to lump any guys together but I think Mike Janyk (CAN) and Mathias Hargin (SWE) can do big things at Levi. It’s a hill you can charge and they do that, for sure. If they keep their heads on straight in a couple spots, they could get in there. Razzoli of Italy can definitely do well as can Marcel Hirscher (AUT). The men’s field is very deep in slalom right now and it can go any way.
CANADIANS:
I mentioned Janyk already who starts eight so he needs to take advantage of his first run. Julien Cousineau is coming off his best season and starts 14, which is absolutely his best chance to establish himself into the top 15 or better for the rest of the season. Brad Spence starts 25. I am not positive but that might be his best start position ever as well? These guys have no excuses; they just need to get it done. Paul Stutz goes 38, Patrick Biggs 45, Trevor White 50 and Ryan Semple goes 71. They all have their work cut-out for them to get a second run but White got it done on this hill last year so look for him to come out of the back. Things should hold up well enough for the guys starting before 50. These guys all need to prove their speed and their consistency at speed.
AMERICANS:
Ted starts 16, which is very nice for him due to his total point status. He can make a move from there. I just hope his boot set-up thing is sorted out so he can focus on skiing and skiing fast. He has had some trouble in Levi over the years but it is time for him to get over that and put it behind him. Our guys in the 30s are Bode in 32 and Will Brandenburg will go 35. Both of them can and need this race. Bode has just 18 slalom WCSL points from last year and probably needs about 60 points to get into the top three, which will put his start number in the special seed with Ted just after 15. Will needs to start building WCSL points to create another quota spot for the USST and to start establishing himself as a World Cup skier and get into the top 30 himself. Nolan Kasper starts 54 but he has none of his owns clothes or skis? I am guessing the skis because Janyk is listed in the list of thanks on Facebook. I guess he owes some thanks to Mrs. Vonn, Hailey Duke, Tessa Worley as well for sorting out some gear for him. I hope it is not, but I see this as too much to overcome at a World Cup. Colby, as I mentioned, starts 60 and Jitloff goes 72. Both of them will need all of our thoughts to get into run two from back there. Good luck to them and to all of the U.S.A. boys tomorrow!
Dark Horses:
As I already said, the slalom field is extremely deep. Look at where Granstrom is starting, and look around him. He is starting his first World Cup at number 60. He is surrounded by athletes who have scored World Cup slalom points before. And Mitja Dragsic (SLO) is starting two behind him and Mitja has had a season end WCSL rank as high as 16 in 2008. Some guys to watch are Akira Sasaki and Naoki Yuasa from Japan. They have a style that is really fun to watch because they take a lot of risk. They are coming out of 22 and 24 respectively and will push the limits. Watch for a comeback from Jens Byggmark out of the 30s. He’s been slumping for a while now and it’s time for him to pull it together. My favorite dark horse in this race is Kalle Palander (FIN), which seems like a cop-out but he has been out for more than two years and slalom is tough to come-back in with a shin injury. But the home crowd will help him along and he is as veteran as they come. I think he gets a second run and then moves up more on run two.
PODIUM: Herbst, Lizeroux, Hargin.
Good luck to everyone up there in the dark! I’ll be up at 3:00 A.M. watching the action!
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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: Pete Rugh
