Steve Schlanger’s Blog

Thanksgiving weekend is traditionally the first of the World Cup alpine circuit’s only two weekends in North America each season. The women take the stage in Aspen while the men run their first speed races in Lake Louise up in Canada. The following week they trade places with the women venturing north of the border and the men coming down to Colorado for one of their most popular stops in Beaver Creek. For the U.S. team, it is the only opportunity to enjoy competition and the comforts of home at the same time. The rest of the season is spent mostly in Europe with perhaps one quick trip back here or there. Mostly though, it is life in the Alps and Dolomites and one Euro ski village after another.

It’s a shame that there are not more stops on this side of the Atlantic. When you consider all of the fantastic venues and snow conditions that are here, it is truly regrettable. From up and down the Rocky Mountain range, over to the Wasatch, Sierra Nevada’s and north into British Columbia, the frustration grows for ski fans with every resort that rolls off the tongue on this list. But money, logistics, history and politics are a tough quartet to crack. There is no easy solution to this complex formula so for now we can take solace in looking forward to the Olympic games in Vancouver next winter and knowing that the skiers from North America know how to play well on the road. Bode Miller and Lindsey Vonn of course are the defending overall champions and the Canadian men’s and women’s teams are accumulating podiums and depth as they build toward the 2010 Games in their own backyard. These achievements have been largely accomplished on European soil so at least success is not being compromised by a lack of home games.

Anyway you look at it, it is nice to open up both the holiday season as well as the continuous racing portion of the alpine season on friendly snow. Speaking of the holidays, does anyone else feel like Thanksgiving is being phased out as an important holiday? I mean, the Christmas decorations have been up in the stores since Halloween for cryin’ out loud! Christmas shows are already on television and tree lighting ceremonies took place in the days just prior to Thanksgiving. People have been pushing up the start to their holiday shopping more and more as well. Some even camp out on Thanksgiving night to be the first in the stores the next morning. Many opening as early as 4a.m. where I live. Even Santa has been at a nearby mall for the last week. Insanity I say! Well, maybe not in the case of Santa. He seemingly has had more than his share of turkey and pumpkin pie over the years so he can afford to miss a holiday meal.

Look, I love the holidays as much as anyone. In fact, they are my favorite time of year. I simply feel bad for those who like to acknowledge Thanksgiving as something more than a speed bump on the way to their holiday office parties. What’s next? We swallow up Halloween and Labor Day as well? Why not just co-opt the 4th of July while we’re at it? Santa and the reindeer dodging bottle rockets would be a sight to see. Opening presents around the pool instead of the tree sounds pretty tempting.

Ahhh…..okay, the venting process is complete. Time to run. I’ve got skiing to see…plus, I’m obviously late to the mall!

Happy Holidays. (Thanksgiving included)

The season’s first World Cup slaloms were like the proverbial shot across the bow. The two gunners responsible for pulling the trigger? Bode Miller and Lindsay Vonn. The defending overall champions from a year ago put the rest of their respective challengers on notice. Forget about a crystal globe hangover effect. They have jumped out of bed with their goggles on and boots strapped. It’s game time.

On the tricky slopes of Levi, what Bode and Lindsay accomplished should transcend the context of a singular race. Given that the slalom discipline has not been kind to Miller the last few seasons and has always been one of the weaker components of Vonn’s game, consider their finishes in Lapland: second and first. Bode notching his first slalom win in four years while Lindsay secures her first ever World Cup slalom win. That’s demoralizing…for the rest of the field. It’s a sign that both Miller and Vonn are not taking a victory lap. They are not going down the same road to glory. They have decided to shore up the trouble spots and commit to comprehensive alpine success across all disciplines.

Last season they each grabbed their overall globes largely on the strength of their results in the speed events. So to see them come out and make such demonstrative statements in their first slalom races of the season is eye-popping. It says they are focused on not just winning the overall again, but doing it in true, overall fashion. They want to excel as legitimate five event skiers. In an era of so much specialization, when young skiers are brought along with a narrow focus in either tech or speed in many countries, watching Miller and Vonn take aim across the board is extremely enjoyable. Given the premium on training time and the energy it takes to sustain success in so many disciplines during a long season, it will be fascinating to see if they can keep the pace.

What is clear is that we are witnessing two of the greatest of all time, competing at the same time. It is not often that you get a man and woman from the same country who are at the very top of their sport at the concurrently like this, specially in a sport that the U.S. does not claim as its own like we would for basketball, football and many others. These are good times and this is a terrific start to what could be another magical season.