FasterSkier Forums » Racing

1. sailguy
   Member

   Canada has just achieved something that we have dreamed of for years. We finally, at this Olympics, have the team depth that allows us to make last minute choices about who gets to race on a particular day.

   For the team sprint, George Grey didn't get to try to repeat his bronze from last year's world cup after his best distance result of the season. Stefan Kuhn had an amazing day at the individual sprints, but didn't get picked either.

   The real pain starts with the 50k. Brian McKeever has been chasing the dream of skiing at the Olympics after dominating the paralympics. With four other skiers who have top tens on the world cup or Olympics this year, he won't get to ski here.

   The Norwegians, Germans, and Italians have been facing this problem for years. Each country has brought skiers to Olympics who left without getting a start.

   <b>I think the Canadian coaches were right to pick the four fastest, irrespective of historical or emotional pressures. What do you think?</b>

   Posted 1 year ago #

2. OldManWinter
   Member

   I'm sure opinions will be all over the place on this topic. Team selection is always a dicey matter...Whats best? How do you know who is going to be fastest on a particular day? Point totals from the past year? Nationals results? Performances in other Olympic events (picking whoever is 'hot' at the moment)? Choosing athletes whose abilities best suit the discipline, conditions and course? I think that the team has to support whatever the coaches decide, whether they agree or not. However my vote is for leaving emotion out of the equation. If the interest is in obtaining the best results, you want your strongest horses in the race with the best chance. However, knowing who your strongest horses might be on a given day, I think, is an imperfect science.

   Posted 1 year ago #

3. Cloxxki
   Member

   I've told Brian McKeever's story in any semi-on-topic discussion in every day life for the past few weeks. So, I am a fan.
   That said, if he'd gotten the start, and proved capable of merely staying on his feet and in the pack for most of the time, he'd effectively have disqualified his level of handicap as paralympic elegible. I'll accept the handicap, the challenges it brings him in his everyday life, let alone top elite level sports, but if you can perform Olympics with it, you're not handicapped for the sport at hand.
   A friend of mine has a similar condition, legally blind, disallowed to drive a car, etc. She can ride a road bike pretty well. Many have problem with that, even with 20/20 sight. Just as my lack of balance and grace will keep me from being a great skier. Is there a paralympic class for general clumsiness?

   Huge respect to Brian McKeever, I hope he'll focus his attention to Sochi, and winning world cups on the way there. Seems his eyesight is after relentless practice now apparently one of his lesser obstacles towards greatness. There are no medails for that, but he is rewarded for it every second he gets to ski as a person that loves skiing.
   I'd be honored to ever be beaten by Brian in a race, Olympian or not.

   Posted 1 year ago #

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