The Problem With Ski Racing
One could, actually, make the argument that skiing is one of the most misunderstood and dangerous sports in the world. I would even argue it is #1 in both. Now, of course, I am biased here, as I come from ski racing. But, if you really think about it, there could, really, be some truth to it.
That is the argument I would like to make, at least. But, let’s build it up. First of all, skiing is misunderstood in so many ways, that you could start this argument from a lot of different angles. To begin with, a lot of people that I know, that have skied before, or are fans of the sport, have kids who ski, are ski instructors (?) assume that they understand the sport. I can assure you, they don’t. Consider this example:
In my second shot at the World Cup – Zagreb, Croatia, 2020 – I was 0.11 seconds slower than the skier who was leading that run – Ramon Zenhæusern[1] - up to the first split (which was at 8.68 seconds). I ask you to try and time the stopwatch on your phone to get exactly 0.11 seconds. You will get it, but this is just for you to get a feel for how short that is. Then do it at 0.84, then 1.33, then 2.47. Those were my splits from sectors 2 & 3 and the finish, respectively. Placing me 39th and just outside the Top 30 (who get to do the second run). So, I missed out on the Top 30 by 0.51 seconds. Here comes the thing that many people don’t understand: Even though I was only 2.47 seconds behind the leader, I don’t know what it feels like to ski at that level. 2.5 seconds in the ski-world are “miles”. Even though it is “nothing” in reality. So the problem is, then, that it is misunderstood by the people who no idea about skiing, because it’s so far away from anything they know (and everybody just “looks the same”), that it’s just “ridiculous/crazy/stupid/boring”, but it’s also misunderstood by the people who used to do it (or who’s kids are doing it and they’re very passionate about it), because they assume that they understand the sport at a high level – just by watching it or having done it in some way 5/10/20 years ago.
Adding on to my example from above:
I’ve progressed significantly as a skier since that day in Zagreb, 2020 up until the end of my career at NCAAs in Steamboat Springs, 2024. Very easily possible that I’ve gotten 2.5 seconds faster than I was back then. Does that mean I know the feeling of being the fastest in the world? Of course not. Why, because the sport has developed so much in those 4 years, that the guy who led the first run that race, and finished second, is not even in the Top 30 in the world anymore at this point[2].
So, the, unfortunate, conclusion is that the circle of people who actually understand the sport becomes very small, very quickly; which carries its own issues to which I might get back to at another point. But, for now, let’s leave it at that. Next comes the dangerous part.
If I put you in a, to you, completely new sport which you’ve never done before, and let you try it out, on your own (without an instructor) for let’s say 5-6 hours – at the easiest level in that, respective, sport – I can’t imagine a sport where you wouldn’t be fine; physically. Even when considering the most dangerous sports in the world. Combat sports can, of course, not be left out from this conversation. However, even with combat sports, starting at the very easiest level (even without the instructor or ANY prior exposure to combat sports) you will, likely, stay unharmed. Jiu-jitsu – positioning, and technique work on a ragdoll. Boxing – shadow boxing. Muay Thai – shadow boxing. And on goes the list.
Now, if I put you on skis, by yourself – without an instructor to teach you – on the easiest hill you can think of, for 5-6 hours, without having waterskied/surfed/snowboarded before, my odds for you getting injured are 8-2[3]. The number of injuries that can happen for a newbie are, without the proper guidance, numerous (e.g., concussion, broken leg, broken arm, dislocated thumb, dislocated shoulder, ripped meniscus/ACL – and here we’re talking withing the first 2-5 minutes of someone being on the hill). And, while I know that I might be plain wrong to assume that skiing is the most dangerous sport in the world, I think that my logic – at least in this regard – makes sense.
However, it doesn’t stop there. In skiing[4], at a higher level, the amount of risk involved is actually hard to comprehend, even for me who’s been skiing since I was four years old. You could be feeling like you have the run of your life, during which you might hit a small rock, that dulls your edge just enough to where you cannot feel it – that is, until you hit some small patch of ice that you couldn’t see, because you skied into the shadowy section (of which the odds of happening are not that unlikely). And, poof – you’re off flying down on your side/belly/back at 60 km/h or more with nothing but a helmet and back protector[5]. Those risks probably double/triple when we talk about park-skiers or freeriders (i.e., avalanches, gnarly landings, etc.).
So, what is actually my mission here? Good question.
Mainly, I am not trying to actively scare people away from skiing/ski racing. Quite the opposite. The goal, here, is to actually build/open up more of a conversation around skiing, and especially ski racing[6], in the hopes of getting people more excited about the sport (again[7]). These two topics from above were, basically, just some fuel to start the metaphorical fire of the conversation. As of today, in my opinion, too many bubbles have been created. On the one hand you can argue that that’s a good thing – it’s healthy competition. Don’t get me wrong; I love competition! However, there is too little transparency when it comes to ideas and approaches. This might sound contradictory to what was written above, as I’ve made the claim that a lot of people talk and they don’t know what they’re talking about. However, I’ve never said that that’s a bad thing. What is a bad thing, is people who don’t know what they’re talking about, talking to other people who don’t know what they’re talking about, spreading ideas that they all agree on. But ideas need to be challenged. Coaches saying stuff like “I’ll send you this program, but don’t even think about forwarding it to someone” (as if they’ve discovered the holy grail), athletes bad-mouthing other athletes’ approaches/programs, only certain teams being allowed to use skidoos at X ski area, and the list goes on and on – a tribal, idealistic “us versus them” mentality. I believe, that is something that is holding the sport back, and can be changed by more transparency.
I don’t know how regularly/irregularly I will be writing something here. All I know is I love this sport, and I wish I can do, at least, a small part in getting more people to love it as well. Because, at the end of the day, how can you not be romantic about ski racing[8]?
Thank you for reading!
Leon.
[1] A very nice behemoth of a Swiss Man.
[2] Which I, still, see a good likelihood of changing – aka Ramon getting back to the top. Never count out someone who’s been that good.
[3] Subjectively, of course. I, highly, doubt there is enough data to get odds on this. Also, I am not a 17-year old who looks up every single thing on ChatGPT, so it can think for them.
[4] And here I’m, actually, referring to any and all forms of skiing (i.e., freestyle, freeride, etc.).
[5] And an air-bag (whose, actual, safety is still TBD) in speed (as per new regulations), and cut-resistant underwear (also, per new regulations).
[6] And, possibly, some stuff from Psychology/Neuroscience related to ski racing.
[7] Search “Marcel Hirscher Schladming 2012” on YouTube, and you’ll see what I mean.
[8] Absolutely stole this from Moneyball.