According to the internet, the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup is the top international circuit of alpine skiing competitions. Its first ever race was held in Germany, in Berchtesgaden to be exact, in January 1967. However, to the athletes competing in these tough and intense races, the World Cup means so much more. Some would probably consider an overall win more precious than a gold medal at the Olympic Games. The crystal globe trophy weighs a whole 9kg with the individual discipline trophy weighing in at 3,5kg.
Every year, the top skiers of the world compete in six disciplines, the Downhill, Super-G, Giant Slalom, Slalom, Super Combined and Team Parallel Slalom. In every race, points are awarded to the top 30 racers and at the end of the season, the competitor with the most points wins the overall cup. Individual cups are also awarded for each discipline. Most of the races are held in the alpine countries in Europe but the tour also has stops along the way in Scandinavia and North America.
Slalom is considered by most, to be the superior discipline, as it's the most technically challenging. It's about very short turns through the blue and red gates, quick thinking and fast movements. Usually the skis used are very short. The Giant Slalom is also a technical discipline. It involves a greater distance between gates and larger skis. The two speed disciplines are the Super G and Downhill. In the Downhill, skiers reach speeds of around 130km/h and use weight, as well as aerodynamic positioning to bring the fastest time down the hill. The Super-G involves a little more turning through wide set gates. The Super Combined discipline measures the fastest time from a downhill race and a slalom race. Since the physique of speed skiers and technical skiers are very different, the Super Combined is a tough discipline, that not many skiers compete in.
So far, in the 2014/15 season, Austrian Marcel Hirscher leads the overall World Cup ahead of Norwegian Kjetil Jansrud and German Fritz Dopfer. In the women's, Slovenian Tina Maze is more than 200 points ahead of all-American girl, 19 year old Michaela Shiffrin and Austrian Anna Fenninger. Other successful skiers this season have been Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR), Felix Neureuther (GER), Alexis Pinturault (FRA), Kathrin Zettel (AUT), Eva-Maria Brem (AUT) and Lindsey Vonn (USA). Sadly, viking Aksel Lund Svindal (NOR) and Bode Miller (USA) have been missing from the circuit so far but with the World Championships in Vail/Beaver Creek (USA) just around the corner, we're sure to see some great skiing by all competing nations.
Watch "Streif - One Hell of a Ride", to see how 5 athletes prepare for one of the toughest races in World Cup history. And find out more at www.fis-ski.com
No comments:
Post a Comment