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A look Back at 2009 World Cup and World Championship Men's and Women's Ski Cross

Ski Cross will make its Olympic debut at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games and for first time viewers I'm sure there will be many thinking "ski racing gone wild." Well, there really is a method to the madness and there are rules covering interference and disqualifications.



Understanding Ski Cross

Ski Cross is a skiing competition event where skiers race in a mass start group of four on a course of bumps and turns best described as a vertical snow covered motorbike "motocross" venue (from which the official name Ski Cross and similar monikers "skicross" and "ski-X" are derived).

All race the course individually for qualification and then are grouped into "heats" or group runs of 4 skiers based on the timing of the qualification run. Each heat race is sent off on a signal and the racers head down as fast as possible - mindful that interference when skiing or passing can lead to disqualification.

The first two racers in each heat advance to the next round and so on until there are only 4 competitors for the medal final determining the order of 1 - 4 finishers.

2009 Ski Cross Competition Review

In any premier head-to-head sports competitions where the best of the best compete, there are favorites and "Also Competing." Examining past performances can provide a lot of insight into future competition results.

However, on any given day a "dark horse," pumped up and coming out of the blue - can win.

Taking a look at who came out on top and who almost won in recent competitions is a good place to start to get a feel how the probable 2010 Olympic Ski Cross competition may stack up.

Here is a look back at the 2009 Men's Ski Cross competition

The 2009 World Cup Men's Ski Cross Competition Standings (as determined on the FIS World Ranking List):

1 KRAUS Tomas CZE 392
2 DELBOSCO Christopher CAN 384
3 LEWEN Lars SWE 423
4 BARR Davey CAN 299
5 ZANGERL Thomas AUT 295
6 HAYER Stanley CAN 235
7 PUCKETT Casey USA 220
8 KOLLER Patrick AUT 206
9 NIEDERER Armin SUI 195
10 MATT Andreas AUT 184

What Can We See Here

Tomas Kraus had a commanding 3 World Cup first place finishes during the 2009 season but was a disappointing 23rd at the World Championships. In fact Kraus, Stanley Hayer and Armin Niederer were the only top ten ranked aerialists not to show up in the top 15 at the Worlds. Hayer and Niederer both finished ahead of Kraus.

The 2009 World Ski Championships Ski Cross Competition:

1 MATT Andreas AUT 1000.00
2 ZANGERL Thomas AUT 800.00
3 BARR Davey CAN 600.00
4 DELBOSCO Christopher CAN 500.00
5 PUCKETT Casey USA 450.00
6 FABRE Olivier FRA 400.00
7 KOLLER Patrick AUT 360.00
8 WITTNER Markus AUT 320.00
9 RAHLVES Daron USA 290.00
10 KERR Errol JAM 260.00
11 LEWEN Lars SWE 240.00
12 TAKIZAWA Hiroomi JPN 220.00
13 STEFFEN Andreas SUI 200.00
14 LEMAN Brady CAN 180.00
15 SCHMID Michael SUI 160.00


What Can We See Here

Austria put 4 guys in the top 15 with Canada right there with 3 top 15ers led by Barr and Delbosco who could both be strong favorites at the home court in Vancouver. Casey Puckett and Rahlves are both coming on strong and I wouldn't be surprised to see a medal among them 2.

Here is a look back at the 2009 Women's Ski Cross competition

The 2009 World Cup Women's Ski Cross Competition Standings (as determined on the FIS World Ranking List):

1 DAVID Ophelie FRA 666
2 HUTTARY Karin AUT 385
3 MCIVOR Ashleigh CAN 381
4 SERWA Kelsey CAN 320
5 GUTENSOHN Katharina AUT 319
6 MURRAY Julia CAN 279
7 CLINE Aleisha CAN 277
8 SERAIN Emilie SUI 262
9 BOULANGEAT Meryll FRA 255
10 JOSSERAND Marion FRA 212

What Can We See Here

Ophelie David had 6 first place finishes in the 2009 World Cup Ski Cross events attesting to her huge point spread. Remembering the mass start you might take note that 4 of the top ten finishers were from Canada and yes there are rules for interfering and blocking but it should make for some great competition at Vancouver.

The 2009 World Ski Championships Ski Cross Competition:

1 MCIVOR Ashleigh CAN 1000.00
2 HUTTARY Karin AUT 800.00
3 BOULANGEAT Meryl FRA 600.00
4 FARIC Sasa SLO 500.00
5 SERWA Kelsey CAN 450.00
6 SERAIN Emilie SUI 400.00
7 DAVID Ophelie FRA 360.00
8 ILJANS Magdalena SWE 320.00
9 LUEDI Sanna SUI 290.00
10 MURRAY Julia CAN 260.00
11 JOSSERAND Marion FRA 240.00
12 KVINLOG Gro NOR 220.00
13 MARSAN Clara AUT 200.00
14 POLESCHUK Danielle CAN 180.00
15 OWENS Jenny AUS 160.00

What Can We See Here

Ophelie David preceded the Worlds competition with 2 consecutive golds and she won the following World Cup event and she was also the 2007 World Ski Champion yet finished 7th here. So, that's why they say "on any give day." Figure that against this being Asleigh Mcivor's first win ever on the World Cup circuit. Also Canada was well positioned here again with 4 in the top 15. I wouldn't bet against seeing the Maple Leaf over the podium at the Vancouver Ski Cross.