“Like Bambi on ice”: the combination slalom heats up people’s minds

Combined slaloms are usually held on non-slip snow surfaces, so that even speed aces and less experienced slalom runners have a chance. On Monday the opposite was the case in Cortina. The originally compact snow was watered to such an extent that it turned into bare ice. Apart from the slalom specialists, this presented all athletes with (too) a big task. Only 16 out of 30 riders among the women reached the finish, while among the men it was at least 23, with some athletes retiring after failing.

Numbers that underline that the slope, which was simple in itself, was made too difficult. Kajsa Vickhoff Lie is of this opinion. “Me and Ragnhild Mowinckel were sitting at the start and saw two of the three forerunners eliminated at the start,” the 22-year-old told Norwegian radio NRK: “It was a lot smoother than I thought. I really tried to fight, but I just couldn't. I was like Bambi on the ice.” Her opinion is supported by the fact that specialists like the Austrian Franziska Gritsch couldn't cope at all and were given over 45 seconds in just under 4 seconds of driving time. Sharp criticism Mowinckel, the 2019 bronze medalist, has harsher words. “I think it was idiotic to water the slope, especially since it’s hard enough as it is. That’s my opinion,” says the Norwegian. The conditions on the Super-G slope, where there was no watering, were excellent. “That was cruel, I have to say. I thought there was some snow on the surface, but it was an ice rink,” says Mowinckel. She and the other speed aces had no chance. “I think we would have had an incredibly beautiful slalom if the conditions had been like those in the speed races,” concludes a disappointed Lie.

Despite the criticism, it is clear that the best three athletes, Mikaela Shiffrin, Petra Vlhova and Michelle Gisin, prevailed. They naturally disagree. “If they hadn’t watered, the conditions would have been pretty difficult,” Shiffrin said. “Given the men after us had a race, the surface had to hold. The conditions were almost perfect, but it was difficult,” states the American. She showed on Monday that she can cope with all circumstances and is therefore the deserved gold medalist.

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“Like Bambi on ice”: the combination slalom heats up people’s minds

The Alpine Combined at the Ski World Championships in Cortina is being criticized - and not because of the mode, but because of the piste preparation of the slalom slope.

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