Think you can ski like a World Cup racer?
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Denis - DCSki Supporter 
November 9, 2008
Member since 07/12/2004 🔗
2,350 posts
David
November 10, 2008
Member since 06/28/2004 🔗
2,444 posts
That run was amazing. Just goes to show how strong a guy like that is. I remember when he did that, his coaches were not happy with him..... Of course, when have they been? Thanks for posting!!
fishnski
November 10, 2008
Member since 03/27/2005 🔗
3,530 posts
Bode is a diehard..Still racin & even winning. After watching Denis's posted vid I Followed up with a youtube vid showing a race this year where he slid along a barrier & still won!
Norsk
November 10, 2008
Member since 05/13/2003 🔗
317 posts
Of course, for us middle aged folks, this is still THE run:
Klammer Innsbruck 1976
Denis - DCSki Supporter 
November 10, 2008
Member since 07/12/2004 🔗
2,350 posts
Fantastic. Thanks. I didn't know that was available.
David
November 10, 2008
Member since 06/28/2004 🔗
2,444 posts
Norsk, that guy was 100% out of control about 95% of the time. How the heck did he stay upright the entire time?
Denis - DCSki Supporter 
November 10, 2008
Member since 07/12/2004 🔗
2,350 posts
Here's another one from Kitzbuhel 1984;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9GG02RvV0Y

Kitzbuhel is considered the toughest and most dangerous downhill course in the world, one that would probably not be run as a DH course if it were proposed today because it is so dangerous, however because of its long tradition they run it every year. Winning it is considered a greater achievement by far than winning the Olympic DH. Klammer won Kitzbuhel 4 times including 3 in a row. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Klammer

Nevertheless I think "The Kaiser" will be remembered longest and best for that 76 olympic run. I saw it on late night TV, not live but in the day's wrap up narrated by Jim McKay. He chose to announce the result before showing the film. It went something like, "Today I witnessed the greatest and most thrilling performance I have ever seen in sport. Watch now the Gold Medal run of Franz Klammer." He had the disadvantage of drawing the last starting position and having to deal with a course deeply rutted by the previous racers.

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/winter02/gen/feature?id=1307959
Crush
November 10, 2008
Member since 03/21/2004 🔗
1,283 posts
Originally Posted By: David
Norsk, that guy was 100% out of control about 95% of the time. How the heck did he stay upright the entire time?


david - no

he was never out of control. you mistake athletic skiing with rec skiing. he is making gross adjustments to stay in balance, to stay "on tip-toe". when you carry a lot of speed and energy, you have to act this way; there is a lot of momentum and speed in a relatively small space/time to operate in.

he was simply making the correct adjustments and keeping up with the terrain. i often see rec skiers make this mistake in understanding ... they think "well that pro skier looks like that so what's wrong with what I do?" there is a lot of difference.

this is a perfect example of a racer skiing literally at 100% ability, and such a beautiful thing; mind only concentrating on winning, body doing its utmost to make it possible.
JohnL
November 11, 2008
Member since 01/6/2000 🔗
3,563 posts
Denis,

Amazing skiing, but IMHO, the greatest display is Bode turning on his inside ski up the side of a retaining barrier in a DH race in the past two years. Saw it on Utube. Freakish.

Franz in '76 at Innsbrook... In my best Michael Wilbon imitation, greatest exhibition of sport greatness. Ever! Most home town pressure. Ever!

Maz in 1960. Nope.
Do you believe in Miracles?. Nope. But pretty durn close.
The Giants win the pennant. The Giants win the pennant. No.
Kirk Gibson in 1988? Nope.
The Goal in 1970? Nope.
MJ's several dagger shots (against GU in 1982 and Utah in 200x?). Nah.
The Catch in late 1980's for San Fran? Not even close.
Lorenzo Charles and the Stanford tubba player? Lucky plays.
Doug Flutie? Grow five inches and mebbe.

Most important lesson about "The Run." Skis must be in control and fast, body is optional. Lesson to be applied at only the highest levels.
JohnL
November 11, 2008
Member since 01/6/2000 🔗
3,563 posts
Preliminary link to the Bode event I was talking about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW4Ja-XF9Ow

On further inspection, looks like it was more outside ski than inside. I'll try to find the vide that seemed to emphasize it was the inside ski.

But on further, further inspection, there was definitely some inside ski balance.

Amazing.....
JohnL
November 11, 2008
Member since 01/6/2000 🔗
3,563 posts
Link to the Bode's full race.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4mmebo1LJs

Just read all of the posts on this thread. Mr. Fish and I were talking about the same race.

Greatest recovery ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjMsvSof5O8

That is why you do all those stupid drills that coaches and instructors have you do...
JohnL
November 11, 2008
Member since 01/6/2000 🔗
3,563 posts
Another entry to the greatest recovery ever.

I screamed when I first saw it (live??? - prolly not since it was a practice run?) because I thought I was seeing someone die right in front of my eyes. Scared the beejeesus out of my roommate at the time. (My screaming, that is.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbqTxlHR2P4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q03LTXfLrTE

Edit: Desparado is just as cheesy in Japanese as it is in English...

Ski and Tell

Speak truth to powder.

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