March 27, 2014 – It’s fun to think back or have a few quiet moments to think about the what-ifs. What if Kikkan [Randall] skied the whole TdS, which she missed, as did others, and we were to do some number manipulations. Was 3rd overall in the World Cup, which she achieved last season, possible. There are 30 WC races counting the TdS and Kikkan missed eight (8) scoring chances by not doing the TdS. Using her WC points/race average and applying it those 8 races, she would have finished 4th. But, no skiers on the women’s side did the whole Tour last year or this year. What this tells you – besides the fact that I just spent a couple of hours going back and forth from 2014 to 2013 – is that the skiers who manage themselves the best on the World Cup have fewer misses.

Kikkan, definitely had a better year last year, 2013, then she did this year, 2014. Her WC scoring point average per race last year was 47 pts and she had five 1st places, while this year her WC point average/ race was 42 pts with just three 1st places.

I wrote last month that I think Kikkan came into the year already tired, and was hanging on throughout the season.

Also, I’m betting big bucks on the fact that she WILL ski next year! But, also better managed, especially during her training season!!

The Ladies to the North – Lets take a look at the ladies to the north as in these manipulations, it has become quite apparent that there’s more smoke than fire. Neither of the two leaders of the program are skiing enough WC races to be in, or stay in, racing shape in my opinion. Reviewing how many races they’re not doing – less then half the WC schedule – Dasha [Gaiazova] and Perianne [Jones] are going to have to do about a 100 more training hours/year and another 10-12 races if they ever expect to live up to their own opinions of themselves. The program in Canada needs to reel in these two ladies and get them on track – if there’s any resistance then it’s best to cut them off, as they will affect the younger ladies coming along. After having said all that – they are talented, but the work has to be done.

Petter Northug – this is the second time in the last four years that he has gone off on his own – not signing on with National Team program in the Spring. Someone is waving big dollars in his face to get him to do it. Isn’t it ironic that this is also the second time that following this path that he wasn’t able to finish the season. I’ll bet it comes down to the same old thing – these people who are spending the money to support him also want lots of his time and therefore he compromises his recovery efforts. Money can be good if you don’t lose sight your goals.

Interesting – 12 out of 14 US Olympic skiers are at their Super Series/Nationals in Anchorage, Alaska – all picking up their own expenses. That’s the minus – the plus is capitalizing on all the hype, connecting with all the domestic skiers, having a high caliber set of competitions and passing on their points. Competitions have been fierce so far and the surprise is the winter-like conditions.

Skiathlon – I like this race and feel it should be lengthened for the women to 10km per discipline or should it be dumped for a mixed relay – a man and a women skiing 5km for each discipline. As a race, the skiathlon, done at the other levels of competition is a big ZERO! It takes a huge set up physically, lots of manpower and requires a lot of time for the wax technicians that aren’t in such big numbers at the lower levels of racing to get at least two pairs of skis per racer set up. I think the answer is obvious and should be fun experience for the racers.

Cheating and Interference – There is way too much skating going on in the classic races, especially the sprint races. Drammen’s sprint race was loaded with this, as skiers were trying to double-pole the whole course. It was very apparent on one of the straight stretches as I was watching on my computer.

Interference and leaving lanes in the final meters of races at the Olympics was also very apparent. Letters of reprimand are laughable – there is too much money at stake. The rules are clear and the action should be – DISQUALIFICATION – no questions.

One example was a interferance caused by Norway’s Astrid Jacobson to Sophie Caldwell (USA) on the back side of the course which was visible from the helicopter footage. With slow motion and stop action it would be easy to discern the level of the interference and the penalty needed to help correct this.

This is just another sport that needs video replay now that the dollars are getting sizable – not 2-3 years down the road – like the FIS is quite capable of doing. It is time to curb these misdeeds.

Talk To You Soon!