ADELBODEN, SWITZERLAND — I’ve spent so much energy and time and work on trying to be one of the top guys in slalom, but I’ve only been able to manage one official finish (18th) in four races this season. My inability to make to the finish line has been incredibly frustrating.
I feel like I’m skiing fast, but even when the finish line is in reach, something goes wrong. I don’t even get mad anymore, it’s just depressing.
Slalom is so much more unforgiving than any other alpine discipline. I’ve made equally big mistakes in every giant slalom this season, if not bigger ones, but there’s just a little bit more time to react and recover in GS. There’s that much more space between the gates in GS, so when I make a mistake I’m able to overcome it.
In slalom it’s so much tighter and it’s a lot easier to go out of the race. I’m seizing every opportunity to go out, I guess.
The margin for error is so infinitesimal in slalom. You’re trying to take the fastest line, and that means coming as close to the gates as you can without straddling them or hooking a tip. When you do that, you run the risk of hooking or straddling. Staying further from the gate means you’re going to be slower.
In slalom, the difference between having the best turn in the world and going out is a matter of millimeters. You can be having the best run, with perfect direction, and a little bump of snow can push your tip up into the gate. It’s that close, every single turn. There were 62 opportunities in the course Sunday to blow out. I went out in the second run.
I know putting together two great runs could be right around the corner. Hopefully I’m saving it for the big races like next month’s Olympics. I know the potential and ability is there.
Olympic combined champion Ted Ligety reports regularly from the World Cup tour in collaboration with Denver Post ski writer John Meyer.
