March 27, 2013 – FIS Has a Double Screw-up Weekend – FIS’s efforts to reject the athlete’s demands to bring the Falun courses under control so they would be safe, were lame as they attempted to take the position that no more changes would be made. The leader of the athlete’s group, which had very strong participation from the skiers, was the FIS Athlete Representative, Kikkan Randall.

Yes, she is one of the skiers, in case you don’t know this. She is to be commended for her leadership and determination in bringing this important matter to a mutual agreement between the two parties. The final decision was made the morning of the race and the skiers did not have time to preview the new courses.

This refusal is a SOP of the FIS – we are the bosses here – and you will do as we tell you to do – as we know best. Kikkan, had tremendous support from the skiers to the point they were ready not to ski.

I’ve seen this before – two years ago with the Woman’s ski jumping rejection – you talk about the “we are the bosses here and we know best”. The ladies found out as FIS and the IOC pounded them into submission.

Another time for this was back in the days of the skating revolution – very poorly handled by FIS – the infighting was exciting – but in fairness the right solution for all parties was finally arrived at.

It is a very old institution in years and very old fashion in how it goes about change. Very ego-centric – don’t push on us – because we shove back hard.

Canada’s Wrap-up Weekend – In the Classic sprints at Stockholm, Sweden I just wondered how the Canadian male skiers kept coming out for the heats after the qualifications on their waxable classic skis – the only team to do so. It was very apparent this was not the way to go and if you did, your day was over. Devon Kershaw and Len Valjas made it to the 1/4 finals and that was it. This happened a couple of times this season where the Canadians had waxed opposite to the other teams. The ladies all waxed and Dasha had a very respectable race placing 16th.

On the weekend races I think the team thought the plane home was on Sunday and not Monday as they had an awful lot of DFLs and DNFs.

Also, the Head Coach said in some of his interviews over the last few days that Valjas had not missed any races in the first five weeks of the season but he missed three races – Gaellivare, Kuusamo and Canada – remember he had that broken finger. Valjas missed another six races and did not ski the 50km in Oslo as I saw another quote saying he skied at every WC site. Don’t get me wrong he was the best skier of the year for the team.

Also, Babikov was the man for the team up until the end of the WSC – then he went home and got sick and and no more points the rest of the way – just like last year.

Here I Am Again (FIS Screw-up #2) – The pursuit races at the end of the series really sucked again – they had the potential to be the best finals of the mini series over the many years this format has been in place. There were three men fighting it out to win the overall WC – Northug, Legov and Cologna.

If they had all been standing on the start line together, it had the makings of a real old hoe down – fight to the death – get out the dueling pistols race. The women had a mini battle going on between Randall and Bjoergen to see who was going to end up in 3rd place in the overall WC. To put a title on this one – pure anti-climatic with the present format! You don’t know the actual outcome or see it happening.

One other thing about all these mini series finals, the bonus seconds going to the top skier putting him in a commanding lead position that no one over the history of the mini-series and TdS has been able to overcome.

Tell me this format is working, is exciting, and has the support of TV (it isn’t and it doesn’t) – races of this magnitude should not have to be tricked up, especially when the tricks are obviously not working.

Koos – I hope he and the USST coaches can come to grips with his becoming a team member, as he makes this a better team and the team will make him a better racer for next year. He and Newell will be a formidable pair in the team sprint – podium potential – if they can get it together this spring.

Kudos – To those skiers from both teams who go to the Canadian Nationals and the US Super Series – pass on the points and it is really good for all the domestics to get to see you in the lycra. I know it has been a long season, but your involvement plays an important part in their growth.

Talk To You Soon!
misterxc@aol.com