sibhusky

?Cross training device = horse? By the way, mods, when I click on smilies above, I get a box that is empty.

I was thrilled to hear you are back on a race course!

Actually, I don't even know who is playing? Was it today? I thought it was usually the last Sunday in January. That's always a good ski day, but I had to work today.

Great to see her back in the gates.

Since the mods changed the subject prior to me seeing this thread, I didn't need to bitch, but ACCEPTED etiquette, both on this board and others, is to NOT POST results in the subject line of the posting. But, I guess those first graders couldn't tell you that.

I am still working my way through my supply of Dr. D's hydrocarbon "movie wax" and wishing I'd bought more.

What is this question about "cap times"? Saw that before and had no clue. Is it like par in golf or something?

More pictures! January 8

I was not trying to make a point, but to get information. His ski came off in that shot. Are you implying that the ski objected to his drinking so it left his foot or something? That was a short clip, I didn't see the whole race or even a clip of the first race. But, since YOU are linking the results of those races to his drinking, that must mean that before the ski came off (which I refuse to blame on alcohol) he was behind the time he needed to be at. So, was he running badly or not at that point? And I couldn't find the video you referred to with him slurring his words, give me a link. I am the last one to defend athletes drinking. And prior to everyone coming down all over him last year, I was not a Bode fan. And I wouldn't say I've become one. But, in my mind, everyone has just suddenly noticed what I said for years, his results are all over the map. He has ALWAYS been inconsistent, always lost equipment, DNF'd, etc. This is NOT NEW. I think the reason it's suddenly such an issue is everyone bought all that stupid Olympic hype and feels betrayed. Since I never thought this guy was any Messiah, I guess he didn't betray ME, so I don't understand the carrying on about Bode's lifestyle. Just pick another guy to admire. I still think Stenmark is THE GUY myself.

Well, in looking at that second run DNF on Sunday, it appears his ski just came right off for no apparent reason. How was he running at that point?

Crash course (very abbreviated). In both USSA and FIS, lower points are better. Basically, within each system there are two aspects: race points and penalty points. Race points are assigned based on the competitor's time compared to the winner, without regard to placement. All you care about is the time behind the winner. The more time difference, the higher points you get. Then there are penalty points. Obviously, a world cup race is a higher caliber field than a PA race. So, they look at the top competitors at a given race (top being based on past performance) and what points they brought into the race. If it's a World Cup race, the points will be low, possibly in the single digits. If it's a PA race, the points of the top performers maybe in the low hundreds or maybe down around 60 in a tough field. They assign points to the race itself (higher being a lower caliber race) based on who shows up. Once the race is run, the winner will get zero points as "race points", since they won, and then the "penalty points" that were calculated based on who showed up to race. Basically, the winner of a race pretty ends up just getting the points they showed up to the race with MOST OF THE TIME. Now, if the top competitors do BADLY, but finish the race, so that lower level competitors get times CLOSER to the top finishers, the lower level competitors will get lower points than they would have otherwise. Race points are added to penalty points for the race result. So, say a girl named Kate and her four twins show up, they all have 20 points. The average of those points (ski, I am just being simplistic here, so let's not split hairs) will be 20 and that will be the penalty for the race. (It's actually a LOT more complicated, but you get the idea). Now, Mary shows up at the race with 100 points, runs well down the list at the start. She finishes, however, within a second of Kate and her siblings. Kate gets zero race points plus her penalty of 20, and her race result is 20. Mary gets her race points (say they are 40 or whatever) plus the 20 penalty points, for a race result of 60. This is MUCH better than her points when she entered the race (100), so her points for the next "list" will be lower and she will have a better start position next time. The best two race results are averaged for each list that comes out. Lists come out periodically throughout the season and your start position is determine by these lists and your ranking against other racers across the US and (for FIS) around the world is based on these lists. That's the basic idea. In reality, it's much more complicated...if you don't race for a while, your FIS points will start to creep up as they assess penalties for not participating in races, plus each season there is a "true up" between FIS points and USSA points and your points in USSA from last season's finish will be increased as you start this season, etc. Anyway, the thing to remember is that newbies start at 990, and are gunning for zero. The first season they are highly likely to get their points down in the 300's, maybe even the 200's. Colleges are looking for racers with points down below 100. Each reduction in points is way tougher, that is, it is far more difficult to go from 80 points down to 70 than it is to go from 300 points down to 200 points as you are talking smaller and smaller time improvements possible as you get faster and faster. Remember it is all about TIME, not finish place. So, if you improve your "line" a bit, you cut time off the race. But as the more skilled competitors compete against each other, their "line" through the course will be more and more ideal and the time difference between each of the top racers will be within HUNDREDTHS of seconds of each other. Those hundredths of seconds get shaved and shaved and the race points for finishers at the top will be very close to each other. The last two finishers will more than likely be several seconds apart from each other, not hundredths of seconds. Hope this is some help. Here is a link to a race sheet where you can see these calculations. You'll see what the "penalty" was at the top. All the way at the bottom you can see all those calculations. The main part of the sheet you'll see the finish placement and the race points for each finisher.

Starting with bib 85, finished SECOND at Mammoth with FIS points in the forties. The guy is 50 years old. GO, PHIL!!!!!!

Wow, I really feel for you guys, I can't imagine how upset I would be at this point!!!! A couple of years back some of the Western areas gave discounts for season passes for the season following our bad winter for those who had bought passes for the bad winter. It'd be nice to think that a Pocono area would do that. And since Blue is owned by IntraWest or whoever bought them, have they offered skiing at their sister resorts to passholders?

Is this a trick question like "Who's buried in Grant's tomb?" I wonder why the CB basket check is only free to SNOWBOARDERS who rent equipment? Is that a reflection of the quality of the skis they are renting?

Final Slalom, first run:

In a word, no. The first GS helped her FIS points slightly, but none have helped her USSA points. Of course, she didn't have dryland training or ANY skiing until she got here mid-December, so it's not surprising. At this point in her career, it's not about "moving up", it's just about enjoying the race. School is just too much work for her to spend time preparing for races anymore. Sad, but it's reality. Unfortunately, you get to an age where you are up against kids who are still hoping they'll make the US Ski Team, not a lot of happy amateurs. We hope that she will just keep her hand in until she can qualify for Masters racing.

Coverage is good. So good in fact that going down the face in some flat light I had NO idea I was on a large boulder until I started to come over its top and oops, there was all this rock. Didn't fall, but added some more scratches to my bases (nowhere near as bad as I expected). The NWS is forecasting that the mountain will get 28 more inches between now and Monday morning. I have to work the next three days, but will have all that nice stuff to play in on Monday. Yesterday was FANTASTIC on the face. The snow was dense enough to provide support and light enough to not worry about catching an edge in the chop. Young men who were more athletic than I were popping down without a stop whooping.

They used to race together at CB. I think it's more likely that Siblet will get fatties someday for the backcountry.

Not that often. I used to try it now and again when it was just Friday and Saturday, but as it gets darker the nuts come out in force. I like the 5 to 6 PM time, but by 7:30 there are drunks bombing straight down the hill and it is DEFINITELY not as well lit as Camelback was. So, combine soft snow and someone straightlining and you don't even know they hit you until you are in heaven.

Well, on a normal day they are closing the lower lift at 4 because by 5 you need lights. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the lower lifts are open until 9.

A day with no fog, first time in 2007, hit F11 to maximize screen

Here's the link to the FIS site. I don't know any names on your team.

Yeah, I like that last one best myself. I've decided to show her all that are taken and get the one she likes the best. She's pretty fussy. The kicker is, she did better yesterday. Today's course was supposedly "cursed". Two girls left on sleds, there were endless long delays, some girls came down crying, one of the top contenders gave up three gates from the bottom....

But, wait, there's more. These are today: