allison Posted February 13, 2002 Share Posted February 13, 2002 Every time the Olympics are on I am re-reminded of something annoying: The boys and girls run on 2 different DH courses. The boys get the "Grizzly" this time and the girls get the "Wildflower". WTF? Picabo...wildflower...riiiight. I have a theory as to why there are 2 courses but I'd like a bonafide real reason from someone who might be able to shed some light. I also continue to wonder why there is no high-performance ski gear for women, the only thing I can think of is that the manufacturers don't think they'd sell enough of it to make money. Still pisses me off. Men's gear doesn't fit (I'm mostly talking about boots) and women't gear..well, it's mostly just too mediocre. Anyone in the industry care to explain? And Sprayboys....if you're tempted...move along to the next one. I'm serious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Szyjakowski Posted February 13, 2002 Share Posted February 13, 2002 ahhhh yeah.all race gear is made for real man skiers you are right....duh, do all females buy only female rock shoes? Actually Picabo is a wimpass that is why the girls veered off on the DHcourse and went down easier terrane. No just kidding and no offense Picabo...reasons for easier courses is like all other sports in this great world that require and apply challenges of that caliber in physical abilities...look at sport climbing competitions and other none repetitios ball sports...why is the Ladies tour de France shorter and less gruelling....because gawdamn people in the high seats made it that way....and only you the female has anything to change about that. wow, I am actually rambling about nonsense right now and need to get back on task...putting off homework on PHat tuesday.... [ 02-12-2002: Message edited by: Szyjakowski ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vegetablebelay Posted February 13, 2002 Share Posted February 13, 2002 quote: Originally posted by allison: And Sprayboys....if you're tempted...move along to the next one. I'm serious! I don't think you get point of the Spray category... Also congrats on having over 50 posts in two weeks - that's Caveman and Dru numbers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allthumbs Posted February 13, 2002 Share Posted February 13, 2002 quote: Originally posted by allison: And Sprayboys....if you're tempted...move along to the next one. I'm serious! Gee, I guess you told us. Do you smoke cigars too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted February 13, 2002 Share Posted February 13, 2002 Picabo Street in TimbuktuDo I need to repeat that a boy named SueRockin to the beat of a kangarooLet me kiss your feet and forehead too. -Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Coffee Shop" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialed Posted February 13, 2002 Share Posted February 13, 2002 Glen Plake free skis on 215cm women's downhill boards only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon Posted February 13, 2002 Share Posted February 13, 2002 I believe it is because the racers aren't allowed on the course at a certain time period prior to the race. The teams are allowed to send forerunners down the course to check out conditions before the race, but I think thats it. So by having the women race a different course they don't have the advantage of sitting in front of the tv the night before the race analyzing how the conditions are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chucK Posted February 13, 2002 Share Posted February 13, 2002 quote: Originally posted by vegetablebelay: [Allison] congrats on having over 50 posts in two weeks - that's Caveman and Dru numbers! Are you the same Allison spray queen of the now-defunct WTA "trail-talk" board? If so, I think Caveboy and Droo got some serious competition! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allison Posted February 14, 2002 Author Share Posted February 14, 2002 Thanks to VB for the helpful and incisive commentary. Really appreciate it. Now, back to the matter at hand: The preview of the course is a fair point....now if the girls could at least get as steep a course as the boys, and as long a one, we'd be talking! As far as Glen Plake is concerned, well, that guy is a freak. Flame suit on. Spray queen? MOI? What ever gave you that idea? [ 02-13-2002: Message edited by: allison ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fern Posted February 14, 2002 Share Posted February 14, 2002 what difference does it make if the XX and XY courses are the same gradient and length if the men and women aren't competing against each other? should they do away with the 'men's' and 'women's' qualifiers altogether and throw everyone in the same race for the same medals? ... yeah! cut the whole Olympics in half in one go, then we can get back to the good TV (: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vegetablebelay Posted February 14, 2002 Share Posted February 14, 2002 quote: Originally posted by allison: Thanks to VB for the helpful and incisive commentary. Really appreciate it.[ 02-13-2002: Message edited by: allison ] I'd say "you're welcome" but I'll bet that's sarcasm Strange that I was singled out in any case [ 02-13-2002: Message edited by: vegetablebelay ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not_a_climber Posted February 14, 2002 Share Posted February 14, 2002 Two reasons: either there aren't enough girls doing high performance skiing, or they don't complain enough to the manufacturer about their equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted February 14, 2002 Share Posted February 14, 2002 quote: Originally posted by fern: what difference does it make if the XX and XY courses are the same gradient and length if the men and women aren't competing against each other? should they do away with the 'men's' and 'women's' qualifiers altogether and throw everyone in the same race for the same medals? ... yeah! cut the whole Olympics in half in one go, then we can get back to the good TV (: You mean if there was no Olympics they'd have more Simpsons on???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolyn Posted February 14, 2002 Share Posted February 14, 2002 didnt the guys ski on the wildflower today/night? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineK Posted February 14, 2002 Share Posted February 14, 2002 quote: Originally posted by carolyn: didnt the guys ski on the wildflower today/night? Yep. In the alpine combined the men ski there slalom on the lower section of the wildflower run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialed Posted February 14, 2002 Share Posted February 14, 2002 quote: Originally posted by allison: As far as Glen Plake is concerned, well, that guy is a freak. Flame suit on.[ 02-13-2002: Message edited by: allison ] DUH!! THE DUDE HAS A MOHAWK! Glen Plake flies his freak flag high. But since he's old school bad ass and funny as hell and can ski the shit out of bumps in 215cm women's downhill boards he's an icon. Just trying to say that not all women's ski gear is weak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Parker Posted February 15, 2002 Share Posted February 15, 2002 Allison, I posed this question to the tour guide when I visited the ski jumps and bobsled/luge runs in January. The women lugers and bobsledders start lower than the men. He replyed that mostly this was due to "tradition." They have just been doing it that way for so long, that they keep it that way. It's probably the same for the downhill. I think years ago there was a bigger difference in abilities between the men and women. Now that difference is not so much and I agree there is a case for them to run the same exact courses. This year is the first year for womens bobsled so maybe in the future when there are more women participating they will both start at the top. While, the impression is that "the women can't handle the higher speeds", keep in mind that downhill races are often won or lost on the flats. The flats are equally as technical as the knarly turns. It is possible also, that the FIS is concerned with preventing an abundance of crashes. Keep in mind that the Olympics are a little different than the World Cup. Generally, they don't want a knarly course for the Olympics because there are countries that send athletes that would never make it onto the world cup circuit. Remember the ski jumper Eddie the Eagle from Britain? The Grizzly course (I skied it in Jan.) is by far one of the knarliest courses ever run in an Olympics. The start of the Wildflower wasn't that much lower and the course was fast too. It did have some slower sections but like I mentioned, those are tecnical too. Although not readily noticeable on TV, the start to the mens was by far the steepest I have seen and it was pure ice. I skied it and can say if you were at the top standing still and fell over, you wouldn't be able to stop sliding for about 500 vert feet. In Utah, they had no choice other than Snowbasin to put the downhills and meet the minimum specs of a downhill course. It needs to be a certain vertical drop, length, width and time overall. It is likely that the minimum specs (due to tradition) are different for men and women. Also, the IOC prefers a course more like they had in Sarejevo. That is why Bill Johnson won there; he was a great glider. I don't think he was the best downhiller that year. I really hope that women's ski jumping is an up and coming sport. I see no reason why they can't include them in the Olympics some day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Figger_Eight Posted February 15, 2002 Share Posted February 15, 2002 Anybody remember the movie PCU? Just wondering... [ 02-15-2002: Message edited by: Figger Eight ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texplorer Posted February 16, 2002 Share Posted February 16, 2002 A couple of thoughts on this subject come to mind. First in the olden days there was the false notion that women just couldn't handle what men can when it comes to sports. Women were given easier courses and such. In the past sports and competition were primarily seen as a man's realm. We are seeing the remanants of these stereotypes finally giving away but in some cases they are slower to go. Even now there are less women in sports than men and most women view sports differently than men. Men and women's bodies are different but most of the difference in competition is from these past notions of the daintiness of women. We are becoming more and more equal in competitions but people will still enjoy watching women's sports for their gracefulness and beauty and men's for their power. As for me I will climb with anyone but a hot girl on the sharp end of the rope is much more pleasant to look at than any guy's ass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RURP Posted February 17, 2002 Share Posted February 17, 2002 This is RURP: The explorer of Texas said: "As for me I will climb with anyone but a hot girl on the sharp end of the rope". Why do you not like the hot girls? RURP has spoken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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