The Polish Experiment

When I say “The Polish Experiment”, I’m not referring to Justyna Kowalczyk or if you are a MMA fan, Krzysztof Soszynski. No, I’m talking about the recent proposed race format from Vegard Ulvang and the FIS. In recent history, the FIS has attempted to tweak and improve the sport of cross-country skiing to win fans, viewers and potential sponsors. Ultimately, they have faced some criticisms, mostly regarding the pureness and roots of the sport. This is no more evident with the introduction of individual sprints in 1996 in Reit im Winkl, the gradual increase of mass-starts to replace the “pure” interval start; and recently, the proposed new race format for the 2012 World Cup in Szklarska Poreba, Poland.

If you haven’t heard, the proposed race profile will be a 10km race with the first 5km being uphill and the second 5km being all downhill. When I first read this, I thought FasterSkier had accidentally published on of their famous April Fools articles a little early/late. Sadly, I was not mistaken and it seems that I share the same sentimentality towards the issues as some of the athletes. Eldar Rønning recently blasted the proposal by saying that it was the biggest nonsense he’s heard. His teammates agree that the FIS needs to slow down bringing new ideas to the sport as it has “currently reached its limit for innovation.”

The problem I have with this race format that could never take place is rooted in the name of the sport; cross-country skiing. Cross-country has always been synonymous with difficult, undulating terrain (the exception is the Tour de Ski Final Climb). Not climb a giant hill then ski down, that’s why lazy people invented chair lifts. The other problem, is that cross-country is compiled of some of the most aerobically fit athletes in the world and downhill skiing does not exude that quality. I’m not trying to minimize alpine skiers, I’m just saying combining two sports is probably not the best idea. I respect what downhill skiers do (ie. thunder thighs), but we’re cross-country skiers here. It’s like comparing apples and oranges, or as the Thai’s say “same same, but different.”

Being extremely aerobically fit gives athletes the impressive ability to recover from maximal efforts much faster than your average human being. So how hard can they actually push themselves in the final 5km of this race format if it will be 100% downhill? I’ve never witnessed an alpine skier collapse from utter exhaustion after crossing the finish line, have you?

 

Justyna "Bambi" Kowalczyk

 

I also find it rather ironic that the FIS has planned this race in Poland, the homeland of Kowalczyk who has never been afraid to comment when a course is too easy. It’ll be interesting to hear how she reacts to the proposed race. Thinking about Kowalczyk and downhills, this could be her biggest challenge to date. When you see her on a descent, you almost cringe and watch in awe as an athlete as dominant as her can have such a hard time going down a hill. I don’t want to sound sexist, but half the women on the World Cup circuit are in the same position, they look like Bambi on ice.

Ulvang is looking to increase interest and he will succeed, but for all the wrong reasons. People will tune in just like I tune into NASCAR, for the inevitable crashes.

If the race does happen, it has to be executed perfectly. If it’s an interval start, it will be unfair whoever starts last at the downhill section will be rutted out due to the proposed slalom type gates added. However, if it’s a mass-start, the last half of the race could become a crowded version of Red Bull NordicX and the most competitive game of Chinese Downhill in recent history.

If this race did managed to get into the race calendar, my question is, who would win it? You have to think the prototype skier for a race such as this would be someone like Pietro Piller-Cottrer with his small stature and his experience in the C.S. Carabinier or someone who is tough as nails like Babikov or Sodergren. The women would have to be someone like Johaug, Størmer-Steira or Schechenko.

So what do you think? Is this a good or bad idea on behalf of the FIS. Currently, a poll on Langrenn.com shows that 74% don’t believe that the FIS should implement slalom into cross-country skiing.

Til next time, less than 30 days until Beitostølen!!!