Skiing is facing a turning point

It's time we hit the brakes, because whoever brakes provides energy. This is called recuperation. The problem lies in the hand or, in the car, in the foot that presses on the brake pedal. Anyone who uses this frequently will simply not make any progress. And when you're at a standstill, it becomes really difficult to use the energy you're given as a gift. So braking is not that easy.

Ask the German Traffic Light Coalition. The three-color group is currently pushing hard to curb gas prices and has discovered that the mechanisms are not simple. The kick currently has no consequences. The braking effect will probably come into action next March at the earliest. Until then, it's like a car that's standing still. Nothing happens. And as you should somehow know in high politics, winter is pretty much over in March.

All of us who have had the mercy of an extremely expensive driving license have to learn how to brake. Simply pressing on it with force ensures a quick but very rough standstill at some point, because of course that depends on the speed previously achieved. Especially on wet roads, you should brake and let go in rhythm. It's somehow the same as sometimes in real life and would also be a system in winter sports that really needs to be used now. Braking is now the order of the day before you can let go again. Ski racing in October can and should no longer take place in the future. Events on the glacier in Sölden must now be a thing of the past. Sales thanks to early races This has been held on for far too long for many reasons. The industry in particular wants to advertise its products as far ahead as possible before the Christmas shopping season. Just putting the skis in the shop window is never enough. The aim is to use the racing drivers to show what great turns you can achieve with the models, although it is clear that a racing ski is not comparable to the one that is sold to the average consumer.

The International Ski Association (FIS) has always shown itself to be an adaptable partner. Especially now that the new president Johan Eliasch comes from the ski industry. The next weekend they wanted to do two spectacular descents on the Matterhorn. From Switzerland to Italy. Without border control. But nothing comes of it. Canceled, as was the women's giant slalom last weekend. It's been too warm this summer. It hardly rained. The glaciers are not retreating slowly, but are disappearing at a breathtaking pace. All of this is and was known. And yet they continued to hold the races. Against better knowledge. The Rettenbachferner in Sölden is steadily retreating. He could soon be gone. © APA / EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

The Rettenbachferner in Sölden is on its last legs. The sight is terrible. The snow band of the race track on it is a farce. Like a scarf to cover a festering throat. The length of the Aletsch Glacier in the Bernese Alps will soon be able to be measured with a meter stick. The ice surfaces of the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany, will soon be a thing of the past. Floods all over the world, not just in Asia, as we experienced so painfully in the Ahr Valley in Germany last year, are a daily part of the news. Tornadoes and hurricanes devastate regions. This is called climate change. None of this has yet penetrated into alpine skiing, which requires snow and mountains, because otherwise it would be difficult to ski from top to bottom. The brake pedal is far away. To the USA twice This season the entourage is even flying to the USA twice. Criticism of this seems to be reflected by the FIS leadership. And hoping that the associations will show a clear stance with a concerted action and forego starts on their own would be like firmly believing that the glaciers could recover overnight. Of course, the few turns in the snow are not to blame for the glacier death. The fact that the important water reservoirs are used for sporting events is no longer appropriate, because sport also has an obligation to set an example. The ORF camera stand in Sölden on Saturday: The women's race had to be canceled. © APA / EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

In addition, winter does not begin in mid-October, when lush green still dominates the colors in the valley and the foliage of the trees shines golden. It is somehow perceived when the first snow, as soft as powder, falls smoothly and lightly to the ground. We, humans, always want to outwit nature and are impatient, which is why new machines are constantly being developed to produce snow at higher temperatures. We are cutting down the rainforest, we are damming rivers or forcing them into concrete channels. Like in Poland, we are now heating with lignite again, which is probably more harmful to the lungs than a few packs of cigarettes. We litter the oceans with plastic and do everything, absolutely everything, that goes against all reason. We are constantly standing on the accelerator, true to the sports motto: Whoever brakes loses.

This has long since turned into the opposite. There doesn't have to be over 40 alpine races per season. Less could and should be more. And yet I'm willing to bet that the World Cup opener will take place again next year in Sölden in October. It's always someone else who has to brake. Selfishness beats responsibility. There are only losers.

About the person: Sigi Heinrich The renowned sports journalist, author and award-winning Eurosport commentator (including winner of the German Television Prize and the Bavarian Sports Prize) not only dedicates his column “Sigi's Spitze” to the entire diversity of sport. He also deals with topics outside of his usual profession. Sometimes very seriously, often with a mischievous wink and sometimes deliberately provocative. There should be something for everyone.

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

Skiing is facing a turning point

Suggestions

Comments (0)