by Eddy » Sat Jul 10, 2004 10:17 am
I am not a PSIA or PMTS advocate; I am an ex-racer and now a master?s racer. I used to race FIS and I raced in college. All I know is what it takes to go fast, which puts all the subjective comments about skiing aside, because they mean nothing. The clock never lies. I have been racing for almost thirty-five years, and had intense racing training when I was a junior in the east. What I saw last season surprised me, as I had never seen it before. Diana Rogers, beat all the men at a Masters race in Rocky Mt. This was a full length FIS course, not an instructor?s race. Diana has been racing for three years and didn?t begin until she was thirty some years old. Something that Harald coaches is obviously working. I know he does a lot of boot and footbed work, but what Diana does is not just equipment.
I also know that Harald is still fast in the gates. I attended his fall Masters Camp. He jumps in the gates every once and a while, and all eyes are on him. He skis like a thirty year old.
At Telluride, even without training, he was often within one tenth of a second of young pro racers and National Masters Champions. Those who don?t race have not the understanding of what it takes to perform at these levels. Lurker, be realistic, Harald raced on the world cup with the Canadian National Team. This requires athletic ability most people don?t have and at a level of skiing you can?t possibly understand.
I ski with some very good instructors; they can not come close to putting down the times in a race course that Harald or Diana can produce. In regular skiing this doesn?t show up because the requirements to develop angles and forces as needed in racing are not there. Don?t be fooled buy free skiing video, as I know both Harald and Diana can bring it, when it?s needed. Why do you think Harald could still made the Demo Team in his forties, he out skied all the best instructors in the country, most twenty years younger. I know that Diana can do the same.