 Poster: A snowHead
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Ladies and Gents, the bitter temperatures this morning was a reminder that winter is really on its way and Soelden is now 12 sleeps away! So it is that time of year when the FIS ski thread gets refreshed for the season ahead.
Welcome back to the 2023/24 installment of the white circus 
What a season last one was, world records broken and Mikaela Shiffrin showing no signs of slowing down! The rise of a new swiss legend, Marco Odermatt showing he is equally at home in the speed and tech disciplines! Also the worrying signs of the impact that global warming and climate change is having on the sport we all love and cherish.
Looking forward to the season ahead there will be an exciting new venue on the calendar - the season opener for the speed athletes on the "Gran Becca" the controversial Matterhorn Cervino Speed event, a new piste designed by retired swiss racer Didier Defago, that will see the athletes push out of the gates at 3850m at Gobba di Rollin above Zermatt descending to Laghi Cime Bianci above Cervinia for the finish
What else is happening this season:
For the men this year we lose the November stop in Lake Louise and the Kitzbuhel combined event. However, we get an extra downhill in Kitzbuhel and Chamonix. As for the Women the only change is the loss to the combined event in Cans Montana, in exchange an extra downhill will take place at the Swiss venue.
The season will wrap up in my personal favourite resort of Saalbach-Hinterglemm, the hosts of the 2025 Ski World Championships
Next Race Men
| Quote: |
Soelden, Austria
29 OCT - M - GS
rest of schedule at end of this post |
Next Race Women
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Soelden, Austria
28 OCT - W - GS
rest of schedule at end of this post |
Latest news
Defending Champions
| Discipline | Athlete | M/F | | Overall | Marco Odermatt | M | | Downhill | Aleksander Aamodt Kilde | M | | Super G | Marco Odermatt Kilde | M | | Giant Slalom | Marco Odermatt | M | | Slalom | Lucas Braathen | M | | Overall | Mikaella Shiffrin | F | | Downhill | Sofia Goggia | F | | Super G | Lara Gut-Behrami | F | | Giant Slalom | Mikaela Shiffrin | F | | Slalom | Mikaella Shiffrin | F |
Racers hanging up their boots
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Johan Clarey
Matthias Mayer
Travis Gangnon
Steven Nyman
Marie-Michele Gagnon
Tessa Worley |
Where to Watch
Schedule
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Mon 16-10-23 11:57; edited 1 time 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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@extremerob, thanks for kicking off yhis usually interesting & useful thread.
Is there any/enough snow for the opening events?
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Mon 16-10-23 11:46; edited 2 times in total
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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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A new SL race for the men this year in November. Unfortunately I have to work that day so can't go and watch! 
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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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@extremerob, just to point out that in the UK at least the Eurosport app coverage has been incorporated into the Discovery+ app (which as well as all the Eurosport sports coverage also includes many other general interest programmes). The Eurosport coverage is included in the Standard subscription (£6.99/month or ￡59.99/year) but note it's not included in the cheaper Basic subscription (￡3.99/month or ￡39.99/year ). Also note that if you get your broadband from BT then it's included in the package.
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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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| ster wrote: |
@extremerob, thanks for kicking off yhis usually interesting & useful thread.
Is there any/enough snow for the opening events? |
The guns are blowing in Soelden and Rattenbach is looking white - haven't heard anything in terms of snow control.
As for Zermatt/Cerivnia what I have heard is that it is in much better conditions than last year - they have been running some training over there - we did not have the crazy heat like last summer - so this looks positive.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Alastair Pink wrote: |
| @extremerob, just to point out that in the UK at least the Eurosport app coverage has been incorporated into the Discovery+ app (which as well as all the Eurosport sports coverage also includes many other general interest programmes). The Eurosport coverage is included in the Standard subscription (£6.99/month or ￡59.99/year) but note it's not included in the cheaper Basic subscription (￡3.99/month or ￡39.99/year ). Also note that if you get your broadband from BT then it's included in the package. |
thanks updated the first post to reflect this!
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| extremerob wrote: |
| As for Zermatt/Cerivnia what I have heard is that it is in much better conditions than last year - they have been running some training over there - we did not have the crazy heat like last summer - so this looks positive. |
Hopefully. We were in Zermatt for it last year when it got called off. Shouldn’t complain I guess as then it didn’t disrupt our skiing. But would be interesting to see it run.
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| extremerob wrote: |
| The guns are blowing in Soelden and Rattenbach is looking white - haven't heard anything in terms of snow control. |
Soelden needed snowmaking, it looked like this 10 days ago:
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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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| rjs wrote: |
| extremerob wrote: |
| The guns are blowing in Soelden and Rattenbach is looking white - haven't heard anything in terms of snow control. |
Soelden needed snowmaking, it looked like this 10 days ago:
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My understanding from my boss (via the local news) is that they're reporting all fine, that bare patch will be filled in by moving snow around and that everything is on track to go ahead.
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10 days later...
More natural precipitation expected later this week - hopefully FL will be lower than 2800
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Finger crossed Zermatt Cervinia will happen this year,
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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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@extremerob, agreed, that is not a good idea. Unless perhaps when the cold weather comes they make sufficient artificial snow to be put back on the glacier to replenish in full the amount previously removed! Although I doubt that is practical.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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October skiing and racing in the Northern Hemisphere is drawing to a close.
Global boiling has won.
October racing is all but over.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Eurosport are only showing the first run on both Saturday and Sunday.
Instead, top Northern Irish snooker.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@PrimroseAndBlue, discovery + ?
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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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| PrimroseAndBlue wrote: |
Eurosport are only showing the first run on both Saturday and Sunday.
Instead, top Northern Irish snooker. |
But as I commented in this thread, the Discovery+ app is covering both runs live on both Saturday and Sunday.
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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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| Alastair Pink wrote: |
| PrimroseAndBlue wrote: |
Eurosport are only showing the first run on both Saturday and Sunday.
Instead, top Northern Irish snooker. |
But as I commented in this thread, the Discovery+ app is covering both runs live on both Saturday and Sunday. |
Indeed, it's just annoying that they treat the sport with so little respect. Was it last year where they skipped a second run to show highlights of a motorbike race from two years previous?
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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At least we know what the main topic of conversation will be tomorrow
I'm sure he will be back at some point.
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Don't think anyone would have guessed that for the list of retirees this season! He'll be missed from the tour, exciting skier to watch.
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@swskier, there's no doubt that competing at world class level in most sports requires a single minded determination to work through all the rigorous training and to face the challenges, both physically and mentally. Lucas has presumably decided that at the moment he isn't enjoying the World Cup race circuit so has decided to step back from it, all credit to him, at the end of the day it's his well being that is the most important thing. Wishing him all the best in the future.
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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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Sad, but he's got to live his life as he wishes. Sometimes a break helps (and on that note, isn't Meta Hrovat back?)
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I wonder what impact this will have on Atle Lie McGrath, the two of them are very close friends, training partners, from the same ski club, and happen to have birthdays two days apart!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Bro is sulking after losing.
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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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@Alastair Pink, he talked about feeling free, and I can imagine how intense it must be to compete at that level. Perhaps he'll just be able to enjoy his skiing and maybe move towards freeriding or something of that ilk?
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It would be hilarious if he did a Giradelli and re-emerged as the Brazilian ski team.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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@Harrow lady, yes, according to Wikipedia Braathen is the son of a Norwegian father and a Brazilian mother. His middle name 'Pinheiro' is Portuguese for pine tree, paying tribute to his mother and his Brazilian heritage.
So if he fancies racing on his own terms away from the Norwegian team structure (as Bode Miller did after falling out with the US team organisers) then yes he could race for Brazil, although of course he'd have a much smaller support team for ski preparation etc.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Last Sunday I shared a t-bar up at Hintertux with Sarah Bennett from the Canadian ladies team. She's on a come back from an in injury last January and running bib 53 today. So she's the one i'll be hoping makes the 2nd run for the first time.
I was actually in the queue with all 4 of the Canadian ladies team, and they were all very friendly.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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I think she did though I lost track a bit at the end. Always some chaos with Goggia! Really hope she's on top form this season, so exciting when she's fired up.
Italians looking super strong in general!
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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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2nd run live coverage starting on Discovery+ now.
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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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@Alastair Pink, does it have commentary? Watching on Eurosport - legacy customer! - and it is ambient...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@ElzP, yes, the usual English commentary team. ( Nick Fellows and Finlay Mickel)
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Ah ha! Thanks!
Probably being very slow on the uptake but we've just switched to the website rather than the old player and have commentary.
Edited to correct/add - also tried still on the app but using an android box rather than through the tv, then had to change from ambient to English commentary. In case that is useful to anyone else watching on the eurosport...
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Incidentally I was wondering about how they are now able to display continuous (well updated every second by the looks of it) time graphics on the screen that shows how far ahead or behind they are from the current leader (in between the official split time measurements) but the commentator said the racers' ski boots now contain a chip from Longines (that presumably communicates by radio the racer's position and/or velocity?) 
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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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| Alastair Pink wrote: |
| Incidentally I was wondering about how they are now able to display continuous (well updated every second by the looks of it) time graphics on the screen that shows how far ahead or behind they are from the current leader (in between the official split time measurements) but the commentator said the racers' ski boots now contain a chip from Longines (that presumably communicates by radio the racer's position and/or velocity?) |
Think it was possibly the world champs in Courchevel where they first used that technology. Makes it interesting to see how they're faring vs the leaders.
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Norway’s Mowinckel becomes first skier to be disqualified under new rule banning fluorinated wax
Norway’s Ragnhild Mowinckel left the finish area of the season-opening women’s World Cup race in tears Saturday after becoming the first skier to be disqualified for a forbidden type of wax on her skis. Mowinckel, a two-time Olympic silver medalist from the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, had finished the first leg in sixth place before her skis failed the mandatory post-run test by FIS officials, who took her out of the competition.
A rule in effect this season forbids the use of fluorinated wax in the pre-race preparation of skis. FIS banned the substance from its competitions after years of debate about the potential harm fluorinated wax can cause to health and the environment.
“We must find out what happened. We are not trying to cheat, because that is the worst thing for me,” Mowinckel told Norwegian broadcaster TV 2.
The decision left Mowinckel’s equipment supplier Head in disbelief.
“The worst case has happened. We have absolutely no explanation,” Head race director Rainer Salzgeber said.
Mowinckel’s ski technician had her skis “with the exact same preparation” tested by FIS officials two days ago, according to Salzgeber, adding that “everything was green. Now it is dark red.”
Fluorinated wax has been used by ski technicians for decades, not only in Alpine but also in cross-country skiing.
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FAQ
