The Birds of Prey Downhill in Beaver Creek, Colorado is one of the toughest Downhill races in the world. It might be a little shorter than most and is definitely shorter than the 2 ½ minute monster in Wengen, SUI. But it is action-packed thrill from the time the athletes hit “The Brink” just above Talon Turn to the finish.
The ride opens with a long flat, gliding section with some built-in rolls for about 25 seconds. This section is extremely important because you can be out of the race before you even get to “The Brink” by making a bad ski choice or lacking in gliding skills. The Americans always try to get up on “The Flyway” to test skis before the FIS closes the track usually 5 days prior to the first Team Captain’s Meeting. This is time and money well spent as I said. The skier needs to be at least in the game after these first 25 seconds.
You can’t get lulled to sleep watching the hill go by because it’s go time from there down. Shift gears with a couple of swinging Super-G sized turns into The Brink and Talon. Talon is where I was last year and is a visually intimidating pitch with a 90 degree turn at the bottom of it. It is an essential section because it sets up your speed and line for the rest of the race. As you break-over all you see at the bottom of the pitch is “A Net” at a 90 degree angle to your direction of travel. And even more, the correct line is to travel out away from where you want to go as long as you dare in order to use the fall-line of the pitch and pick up the road early that comes in from skier’s left. Then you can use your left foot to follow the road as you jump to the right into Pete’s and Pump House. Keeping elevation here is extremely important as you tuck and absorb small terrain past the Super-G start and the GS start into Russi’s and then Screech Owl. Russi’s is a long right foot turn around the 1st tree island and a left footer around the 2nd tree island below the GS start. Then flatten out for Screech Owl which is a little slapper of a jump headed into the flat. This flat between Screech and Golden Eagle is very, very flat and if any turn is blown up above the time lost will show up by the end of this section. This year the right foot roll is more in play before Golden Eagle because more swing has been put into the course to slow you down. But it makes it trickier to re-direct the skis and get them flat at take off. Golden Eagle can be a huge flight, sometimes 30 to 40 meters. You will land on the pitch and then head into The Abyss; which is named as such because it is always dark in there. Especially if it is a bright, cloudless, Colorado day and you fly from the bright sunshine at take-off to the shade of the The Abyss. This is where Aksel Svindal crashed and was injured two years ago. There is a large compression with a small “double” jump where you will jump off one roll and land on the back of the next then left foot turn of the Harrier Jump. Below Harrier, there is also a little bastard roll right in the transition to the right foot and then speed toward the Red Tail Jump and into the finish. You will need to stay aware here too because the compression before the jump can catch you if you don’t prepare with some length in the legs. Dreadful mistakes have been made prior to hitting this jump in the past.
So, you’re done. 1 minute and 45 seconds more or less. That coupled with the high altitude of the Rockies and you are pretty exhausted. Just enough energy to pee in a cup, get your skis and boots measured, pick up your trophy and check, do a press conference, share some champagne with your family, friends, staff and coaches and spin your recovery to be ready for the GS on Sunday! A simple life.
TOMORROW’S EVENT
The draw will likely play a large role tomorrow. With the temperatures to remain cold, the snow will stay crispy and have very sharp crystals; guaranteeing slow snow for the early guys. The track will hold up very well because Tommy Johnston (USSA Race Director) and the rest of the crew at the Beav will make it happen. So the big boys holding the top spots in the DH ranking will pick as late as possible and the rest of the top 30 will be hoping to draw between 23 and 30.
Who do you like in the race? Historically, this is a strong venue for the American boys. But also for Michael Walchhofer, Klaus Kroell, Didier Cuche and Defago. Cuche seems to like every venue so far this season so I would not count him out at all. And, aside from his awful crash in December of 2007, Aksel Lund Svindal has had great success here. And this season, although he is nursing a leg injury, he will love the snow. The snow texture, aggressive feel and extra cold temperatures will give him an advantage. It is a lot like racing in Norway and Sweden and he could do very well despite the injury. And while Heel and Innerhofer have not had great success here in the past, they have grown into real World Cup athletes with the passion to win. Keep an eye out for the two Sudtirolers! Walchofer drew 17, Kroell 18, Cuche 21 and Defago 20. Heel got 22 and Innerhofer is 12. Mr. Svindal, the King of Norway, drew 16.
AMERICANS:
MILLER: Aside from the win in 2007, what else has he done? Aside from winning 30 some-odd races over the years. All the fingers point at Bode when he fails, and the cheers are louder when he wins. He will do his best . I do not think he will win here, but I do think his ascent up the DH rankings starts here this year. His late start to the preparation period will hurt him still at this point but he will start to catch up. And watch out come February because he will be fresher than he ever has been in that month because he started late. Bode drew 8. He had a late pick and was likely left with 8. Not great with the snow how it is but he has overcome worse.
SULLIVAN: He is the team leader and bounced back from a disappointing DH in Lake Louise to get himself a little confidence in the Super-G last week. Sulli was 10th in December 2006 and has not done much since at BOP. It can be tough on him. Family is there, a lot of media attention and therefore some added pressure. He pushes the line too much and possibly thinks too much about the outcome when at home in Beaver Creek. I think he snaps out of it here with a strong finish. Sulli starts 27, excellent!
NYMAN: Steven has been 3rd, 2nd and 7th in the last 3 attempts at the Beav. The 7th last season was even more impressive as he had been battling back problems all prep period to that point and the back ended up shutting him down about 2 months later coupled with the crash in Wengen. The Stormin’ Mormon is back this week! Steven starts right behind Sulli which is not great because he will not get course information from Marco. But Fish will be down early enough to get a quick course report up to him. The finish guys and start staff will just have to be on it.
SCOTT MACARTNEY: Mac keeps coming back. He started his comeback last year here with 10 World Cup points and it could start here again. He knows this hill as well as anyone and just needs to execute his good, athletic skiing. The front of the boot stuff that allows his athletic skills to shine. Mac goes 33, really good in conditions like this.
ERIK FISHER: Fish started his run last year at BOP finishing 28th. It was just a few points but gave him the confidence to get that big body pointed down the hill in Val Gardena and in Kitzbuhel. Fish is a race-horse. He has the guts, no doubt and this hill plays right into his wheelhouse. Fish drew 23 which is fine. It is directly after the 3 minute TV break and the crew can get some work done in the turns. As long as the slip crews stay off the track on the Flyway and Screech Owl flat, all will be good.
ANDREW WEIBRECHT: He electrified the world in 2007 with his run to 10th place. Prompting even Klammer to state that Andrew was a “real” downhiller. Obviously drawing comparisons to his own style while winning the Olympic Gold in Innsbruck in the heart of Tirol in 1976. Andrew tried a little too hard last year to repeat that performance and put himself in the red room. But he has been skiing better and better technically and can come out of the back to make a statement again. Andrew starts 47.
WORM: Our friend Worm needs to step up to the challenge and score. Get him into race mode right now and get it done. I am sure there are internal discussions about whether or not to take him to Val d’Isere and Val Gardena based on this performance.
CANADIANS:
ERIK GUAY: Guay was 3rd here last year and is super solid. He has a great number at 15 so any adjustments can be made in plenty of time and he will have a good glaze on the flats.
MANNY OSBORNE-PARADIS: He is coming off the big SG win in Lake Louise and has loads of confidence. But I think the BOP has taken its toll on him and he will have a hard time overcoming his mental hurdles here. He starts 19.
ROBBIE DIXON: Robbie starts 30 which is a fantastic draw in this weather. He is a solid skier with excellent turning skills and plenty of guts. He can make it happen tomorrow.
Dark Horses:
I have only 2 for tomorrow out of the back besides the American boys.
Natko Zrncic-Dim(CRO): After today’s performance, momentum is on his side and he can punch in there for some points. “Nacho” starts 53.
Kjietl Jansrud(NOR): I love the way this kid skis. He is big and strong and fearless. He could make a late charge into the top 15 or so. Jansrud goes 56.
Podium: I like Cuche for the win, Defago second and Svindal third.
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