Gigs_98 said:
Only one one month and a week to go before the next season starts. HYYYYYYYPE
Short news update for everyone who doesn't read the latest skiing news every week, like Austrians like me:
- There were rumors about Miller doing the 60th comeback of his career, but unfortunately he announced that at least this season he won't ski.
- Svindal's injuries after his crash seem to be worse than expected. He won't be able to make a comeback in the next months and there even is the danger he will never be able to participate in races again.
- Maze still hasn't said anything about a possible comeback. One and a half years ago she announced she won't ski for one season and then return to the world cup but her latest statement is that she still doesn't know if she wants to return.
- Anna Fenninger will never participate in a ski race again...since she married and is now called Anna Veith. She will make her comeback this year however she doesn't know yet if she will already be ready for Sölden
- Vonn will return to the world cup too. However she announced that her major goal for the season are race wins and not the overall world cup, since she wants to beat Stenmark's record of 86 wins. Nevertheless I don't think that means that much since Vonn in top shape usually wins so many races that she gets a factor for the overall world cup anyway.
I think thats the most important news. Right now I hope for a battle between Hirscher, Kristoffersen and maybe Pinturault for the men's overall world cup and Fenninger, Gut, Shiffrin and Vonn for the women's overall world cup. I think in the men's races there won't be a dominator for the speed disciplines since I don't see Jansrud getting into his late 2014 shape again. Therefore I think the best we can hope for is a good battle between the dominators of slalom and giant slalom and a very open super-g and downhill season.
In the women's world cup Shiffrin is probably the big favorite. Vonn said she doesn't want to focus on the world cup so she probably will skip a few races which is a disadvantage for her. Shiffrin however is by far the best slalom skier and will probably also win a few giant slaloms. Meanwhile Gut and Fenninger + possibly Weirather are all good in the same disciplines therefore there probably won't be one woman dominating in the speed disciplines which is why I think nobody will be able to beat Shiffrin.
Well someone is excited, eh?! A bit early for me to think about too much, but just enough to warrant a response.
I am not as into alpine skiing as I am nordic, but I certainly try to watch the races I can. To start, I really hope we see a good winter, with much natural snow and good conditions. I know that's a lot to ask for these days (years, really), but you live and hope.
Anyway, I am a fan of Maze, and unfortunately she was mentally and physically 'cooked' after the 2014-2015 season. She started slow that year, but peaked when it mattered most, won a couple more world titles and was going back and forth with Fenninger and won 3edals total. I think 2009-2015 she was a top 3-5 in every single discipline, and 2011-2015 she was arguably the best overall skier on the WC circuit, with 2013 being her best. She broke the all time points tally for a WC with 2000+ points, which is quite remarkable, if you ask me.
Long story short, I am not sure what she'll decide on, as this is a world championship season, and next year it's the Olympics, but if she does decide to race for another year or two, she'll pick her races and have a lighter schedule, focusing solely on winning more major medals. Not sure if she's as interested in winning more overall titles, perhaps a discipline title, but that would require more races, though doing more of one discipline and not the others would save energy, but that's just how I see it. I think it's 50/50 that she'll keep going.
Fenninger (now Veith) should be back to good form. She's still 27 and has another 5-6 years of top level skiing if she stays healthy and motivated.
Gut is even younger, but I don't think she's quite at Veith's level. Again, my opinion.
Not a fan of Vonn, but if she's in form, expect a few more speed victories.
Shiffrin will still dominate slalom. I just don't see anyone dethroning her. Perhaps there will be individual performances that she'll fail to win, but she is so consistent in the technical events, it would take another talent like herself to beat her or challenge her on a regular basis.
Weirather is also there, obviously. She''ll contend.
As I said in the beginning, I don't follow alpine in great detail, especially the offseason, but I'll go out on a limb and say the Austrians, Americans, Swiss, Swedes and a few sprinkles of Slovenians, Canadians, Norwegians, Weirather, etc will be competing for top placings.
The Men's field figures to be, as ever, an Austrian domination, particularly now that Svindal is out with that significant injury. Miller is retired. Ligety is 32 but the GS is still his strength and he'll compete tough. Kostelic isssss, retired as well, or what? I cheer for him, but I think he's too old now to compete for medals.
The Austrians will dominated again. Hirscher will do his thing. The French will offer some good residence, but the Austrians always have the advantage in terms of strength in depth.
The Norwegians, Jansrud and Kristoffersen will fly the flag in Svindal's absence and really, those are pretty darn good replacements.
Ligety will still have some juice left for the GS, and there will always be a podium here or there for Americans in the speed events. Probably another shock result from Andrew Weibrecht, the ultimate sandbagger! Doesn't do much during the season or a couple seasons, then shows up World's and wins a medal.
There are others that will play a role, but I'll leave it for someone else to continue!
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