 Poster: A snowHead
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The stage is set. The 2006 Winter Olympic downhill is on Sunday at Sestriere. The first training run (won by Daron Rahlves on Thursday) was followed by a second training run on Friday (won by Klaus Kroell of Austria), which Rahlves did not attend. A third training run is scheduled for Saturday.
This report from SkiRacing.com
The course is considerably more 'technical' than many expected of Sestriere - plenty of jump action. The air of satisfaction from the world's elite speed merchants is noticeable. Graham Bell, former Olympican, reported 'sheet ice' at the top of the course in his BBC preview screened on Friday.
The pundits are busy speculating on whether Rahlves can pull it off. Here is a piece by Devin Gordon for Newsweek on the Rahlves - Miller rivalry: the US would certainly like to bring home the medal, but ...
... What about the Austrians?
And where is Britain's Finlay Mickel going to place. Within the top ten? Better than Martin Bell's famous 8th in Calgary, 1988?
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sat 11-02-06 13:26; edited 2 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Marco Brunel, Michael Wahlcoffer !!! and Darren Ralhves - In that order.
Finley to attain top 10.
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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?
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Ralhves. Then any two Austrians. 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Buechel, Maier, Miller with Mickel in the top 7 ...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I can't see past The California Kid. It would be wonderful if Finlay places in the top ten.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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[Training run results can be accessed on This FIS page. The third and final training run is in progress, so the results should be posted up this afternoon]
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Buechel, Walhoffer,Maier, Ralhves, Buder, Miller, Mickel in that order (possibly)
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There was plenty of jousting for start numbers in the final training. Reports:
Yahoo! News ... SkiRacing.com
How much will start numbers influence the result?
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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.
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| Quote: |
How much will start numbers influence the result?
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really depends on a number of things, how stable the course temp is does it rise or drop over the lenght of the event, does the line become slicker with use, who has been down prior and gives radio info back up the hill, how pissed miller (and anyone with him) gets tonight
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Ralhves
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Noel baxter is apparently in it! 3.5 ish seconds behind Finlay, who must have been somewhat disappointed to be out of the top 30. Roger Cruikshank sems to have been disqualified in the final training run, but the Aussies seem to be doing remarkably well.
I would have a small E/W bet on ghedina to pull something off. that would be a great swan song.
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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.
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| easiski wrote: |
Noel baxter is apparently in it! 3.5 ish seconds behind Finlay, who must have been somewhat disappointed to be out of the top 30. Roger Cruikshank sems to have been disqualified in the final training run, but the Aussies seem to be doing remarkably well.
I would have a small E/W bet on ghedina to pull something off. that would be a great swan song. |
Not sure whether Finlay's time was tactical or him going flat out, but there were a lot of racers who braked heavily before crossing the finish line in the final training run. Start list for tomorrow has Finlay starting at 2, Strobl at 4, Walchhofer 10, Maier 15, Miller 18 and Rhalves 20. Not sure if these start numbers bear any relation to the qualifying times - calculation of the start list is a mystery to me!
I don't think that Noel Baxter is racing - he doesn't appear in the start list. Cruickshank starts at 33.
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Looks as if Bode almost slalomed the run-in to the finish! Virtually a second slower than anyone else over this short section - having had the fastest splits through much of the race, he as good as pulled up to finish back in twelfth equal.
The training runs are purely tactical these days. Bit annoying really.
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You know it makes sense.
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Why would you want to race later??? 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Rahlves
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Poster: A snowHead
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Looks like there are some interesting competitors taking part other than the usual suspects. Towards the back of the field racers who have barely crept under the 100 FIS point mark in the discipline will be lucky to get to the bottom within 10 seconds of the winner. On a technical course I hope they don't get too carried away  ... Some don't seem to have even raced a FIS downhill this season.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Rahlves.Miller will either ski a blinder,or make a complete pigs ear of it.He's managed to place himself behind a couple of big guns;but Rahlves follows him.He(Rahlves)is out of it after this season,and will be looking for the blaze of glory.Its possible only the Austrians could spoil his party?
Finlay,would dearly love him to do well.A top ten place is always on the cards but,going second,he has little to aim at(other than the clock)and little to inspire him.He will put in a solid performance,but the likes of Miller and Rahlves will 'bust their guts'.Thats the difference.
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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?
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Kroell, Buechel, Rahlves... but not necessarily in that order.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Wouldn't write off the Olympic champion Strobl despite his unplanned early start. Just occasional all the tactical training runs can rebound on competitors, though the preferred start bibs are around 10 to 15 today. It could be really close, there are plenty of racers in with a chance in a one-off race like this. That's the beauty of the Olympics, it can produce a real surprise occasionally....
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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20 minutes ago 2 helicopters landed in the field at the bottom of my garden and picked up the Swiss team!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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chris, they'd been sleeping in a field? I know the Swiss Fed has been cash-strapped recently, but all the same...
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PG, they have been staying in a hotel in Monetier (2 miles from here). The helicopters are on there 3rd trip now ferrying the stragglers.
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Hot tip from a man on the spot? Hermann Maier... (Echoed by Luc Alphand too apparently)
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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.
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So no takers for Finlay to come storming down to surprise everyone at bib no. 2 and set a pace no on can match?! 
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chris, are they all fairies or gnomes? 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Much as I'd love Finlay to get a podium position, it's not going to happen, I think he'd be happy with a top 10 place which if he pulls all the stops out he could just manage, Rahlves has been really good this year and has to be in with a good chance of getting the gold, Miller could be on the podium but only if he doesn't crash or do something equally stupid, likewise no one should right off the Herminator, his willpower alone give him a good chance of getting that gold medal
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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.
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No medal for Finaly then............ down into fourth
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rahlves now on course - likely to be better than miller - but we'll see!
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You know it makes sense.
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well didn't make it... so a european winner!!!!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Wow! Deneriaz!!
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Poster: A snowHead
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wow - what a finish!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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What happened? I was recovering from a party with booze, lol.
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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?
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rob@rar.org.uk,
From nowhere..!!!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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The underdog came through. Congratulations to those concerned, it's never over till the fat lady sings. it was no small margin on a tracked out course either. (Don't want to give away results).
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Where'd he find that speed?!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Considering he'd had his knee put back together just over a year ago as well, amazing performance. He didn't put a ski wrong from top to bottom.
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slikedges,
Dunno, he just got faster and faster
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PG, , I can't find that original quote of yours on the medal table  What an incredible run , and to his credit not a one-run wonder this week .... even if his results haven't been great this year ...
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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.
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aww, I did feel sorry for Walchoffer though, I would have been happy for him to have won it - a nice guy!
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Excellent race. Well worth getting up early for....
And my I also congratulate the commentary team, especially after the bashing one of them has been getting elsewhere...
David Vine? Gimmie a break...
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FAQ
