 Poster: A snowHead
|
Franz Klammer, gold medal downhiller at the 1976 Winter Olympics, spoke out yesterday against the design of race courses - and skis - which are "too fast" for safety.
"There has to be a limit like in Formula One where they are going from 10 cylinders to eight," said Klammer. "Speeds on the straights are way too fast, people are injuring themselves without even falling."
This report from CBS SportsLine.
----------------
If ski races were slowed down, would people watch them on TV? Clearly, the risk of injury in ski racing is significant - is Klammer's solution the right one?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
I prefer watching Super G to downhill, I think it's because in downhill the racers look to be around the point of being out of control, and not particularly graceful, whilst in Super G they are in bit more controlled and, to my eye rather more graceful. To be honest I prefer watching the snowy scenery behind the racers...but I think that's missing the point. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
I don't think a reduction in speed would be particularly noticeable to the viewer. You certainly can't tell in F1
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
David Goldsmith, A little while back I saw the footage again of his Olympic DH Gold in 76. There seemed to be almost no protection from the crowd or the trees lining the course... a few straw bales basically. Think I'd rather be going at today's speeds and have all the crash protection than a bit slower with nothing. I also think we see far fewer crashes now than we used to. The Hahnemkann, for example, was carnage (esp for the higher start numbers) in klammer's day.
At the same time, I understand the female racers are demanding to ski more men's courses to make it more a test.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
It all comes down to what the racers think. They are the ones participating.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
It's not so much that the speeds on the straights is faster, but that the better equipment allows the racers to take the turns faster, increasing the centrifugal forces exerted on them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Martin Bell, But do you think the courses should be slowed down?
Ian Hopkinson, My favourite to watch is slalom, followed by GS - I don't find downhill very interesting (sorry Martin), but I do think the best TV skiing is Super G which has all the thrills and spills for the general public, and the speed is more visible due to the turns.
I don't understand why people like watching crashes - I can always imagine what it feels like - ooouuuuucccchhhhh - perhaps I've had too many of my own? 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
downhill is sooo much better than slalom, can just about tolerate SuperG tho
and crashes, like in motor sports is funny, until someone gets hurt...
...then its hilarious
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
I have never been a great watcher of skiing on tv, but when i do, my feeling on the downhill is that the way to win is to ski closest to the edge. Like mentioned above, it looks very ragged and ugly.
Adam
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As long as the skiers want to do it, let them. I know a couple of downhillers whom, if ignored, their hunger for speed, they would prefer to be vegatables. They would take up Moto GP and push it there. This is what they need to feel alive, you and i are the lucky ones, our instinct to survive doesn't need this. Make it safer perhaps but make it quicker for sure. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
easiski, well, you can either slow down the courses themselves by making the turns tighter, which would have the downside of increasing those centrifugal forces - or slow down the racers' ability to negotiate those courses by increasing the minimum sidecut radius of the skis, which has the downside of "turning back" the equipment development clock. Or perhaps make the DH suits slower, by increasing the air porosity requirement.
Downhill is only interesting if very well covered by the TV - bad camera positioning can totally remove the elements of steepness and speed, and the size of the jumps. I also agree that it has become harder to watch because the time differences have become so minute that it's impossible to tell the racers apart.
Slalom, in that sense, is a little easier, because mistakes are still more noticeable. And is much better live, of course, because you can see the whole run.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
Might another acceptable way to reduce speed be less steep runs? Though I guess the feeling of tradition would be lost if different courses had to be used.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
easiski, Zielschuss is steeper, The Hanegg schuss is between 21 and 26 degrees, the Zielschuss is some 42 degrees but of course it's only about half the vertical drop
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
I wondered yesterday if the pressure to meet TV deadlines for scheduled live coverage slots might not influence the safety aspect, yesterday's conditions in Val were touch and go really for the Downhill to take place, Anja Pearson was being pretty careful in a chat just after her run but it was clear she thought the race - if not necessarily too dangerous - was certainly unfair.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
D G Orf, Yeah, but the zielschuss is very short with a nice flat bit at the bottom to stop - Hanegg is sooo scary if you straight line it from the bridge - don't forget that the bridge is a relatively modern thing - they used to jump the woodpath!! 
PG, I think you might be right - pity the racers don't get more of that money.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
easiski, It's funny, I'm not quite sure how one (the TV people that is) gets the speed/danger sensation across. I mean, to me, each individual pitch isn't that steep. You know, the OK's a lovely run.
At 20 miles an hour doing short turns and keeping control in place that is.
It seems to me that it's when racers enter that steep pitch already carrying 60-70 miles an hour of pace (in a different direction if we're being vector oriented) that it must become an entirely different game of skill and risk!!! [Pours stiff brandy at the very thought...]
What I guess I'm getting at is it must be really difficult to make into a TV sport. Although, I reckon so is F1 and that seems to have little trouble garnering sponsorship revenues.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
