A meeting between downhill racers and International Ski Federation (FIS) officials in Val Gardena, Italy last week became even more contentious after a run of serious injuries in recent World Cup races knocked several leading skiers out of the coming Winter Olympics.

The athletes presented some points that they think are important for the development and safety of Alpine Ski Racing, mostly centering around course preperation. Racers Didier Cuche, Michael Walchhofer, Scott MaCartney, Marco Büchel, Werner Heel and Aksel Lund Svindal met with FIS representatives Günther Hujara, Helmut Schmalzl and Mike Kertesz, who described the meeting as productive.

Issues highlighted by the athletes included jumps, specifically how important they feel it is that takeoff points are made easy to spot, that there is a smooth preparation of the snow right before the takeoff, and how flat landings should be avoided in the future.

In terms of speed control the athletes said turns do not automatically reduce speed. The combination of course setting and course preparation determines the speed. Smooth courses mean that racers carry higher speed through turns. In terms of gate panels and gates, the athletes argued for panels that are made to rip off more easily in speed events.

For racing suits the athletes highlighted the need to look for new technology in race suits and personal safety equipment. The question of whether there should be one manufacturer for all teams of race suits needs to be investigated, they argued. For course inspection the racers suggested the inspection should be divided in to two groups so it’s easier for them to inspect the line. They also argued that coaches, media and others should not block the racers’ view.

For skis, bindings, boots and plates, the athletes argued that if there is going to be a change in the rules for equipment, it should only be done after serious investigation by all stakeholders. Making the skis wider was most likely a mistake, and it is also time to proactively promote further development of safe bindings that open on impact, according to the athletes present. Since the bindings have developed little in the last 20 years, they also argued additional safety enhancements should be possible.

The athletes at the meeting wanted to see one professional medical team following the entire World Cup in the future. In terms of travel planning, the racers said that with athletes coming from different time zones and continents, there should be enough time to prepare fully before the next race.

Finally, the athletes felt that the course setting and preparation of the race hill are factors that should be changeable at short notice. However, when it comes to equipment changes and changes in protocol around races, they argued that these should be understood as long-term changes.

Racers that have been injured lately include the current defending downhill world champion, Canadian John Kucera. The Canadian team has been particularly hard hit, although athletes from several countries are out of the Olympics. Kucera broke his leg at Lake Louise in November, while teammate Jean-Philippe Roy injured his right knee during World Cup men’s action earlier this month in Val d’Isere. Other Canadian team members who will miss the Olympics due to crashes in Val d’Isere include Kelly VanderBeek, who crashed during World Cup training last week, and Larisa Yurkiw who injured herself earlier that week.

“This is a heartbreaking situation for the athletes, their families and all their supporters,” Alpine Canada president Gary Allan told Canadian media. “The Canadian team is not alone, almost all major ski racing nations have been affected by injuries this year. We were pleased to see the International Ski Federation taking the injury situation seriously, including meeting with athletes and coaches this week in Val Gardena, Italy. We look forward to impactful change occurring to help reduce the number of injuries occurring in our sport.”

This Val Gardena meeting represented a continuation of the two meetings on the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup tour initiated last season in Val Gardena and Alta Badia. This time around, the Alpine male representatives on the newly elected FIS Athletes’ Commission – Kilian Albrecht (Chair, BUL), Ivica Kostelic (CRO) for the men; Anja Pärson (SWE) and Marie Marchand-Arvier (FRA) for the women – facilitated the meeting, also selecting the participants and organizing the logistics.

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