Mikaela Shiffren is having a disastrous games.
I’m watching the slalom and trying to work out how the red and blue poles work.
The obvious conclusion is that the skier goes to the left of the red poles and to the right of the blue poles (or vice versa). However that is not quite how it appears to work. There are some places where both a red and blue pole are positioned right next to each other and the skiers pass them both together on the same side. So maybe then there are actually two of each colour acting like a series of out of kilter gates you ski between. But looking at the course I can see there are clearly single poles without a similar coloured partner near them so it’s not that. And then there are some poles that the skier is clearly ignoring. For instance, at the very end of the Olympic course there are two red poles one of which you’d be mad to try to slalom around.
Does anyone know how it works?
Yes, two poles of the same color form one gate to ski through, alternating between blue and red gates. But the angles between those poles change constantly, and this can be confusing because sometimes blue and red poles stand right besides each other, and it can look like the skiers ignore some poles while they actually ski through the gates legally.
Seems like it would be a real problem for colorblind skiers. Are there any and if so, how do they do it?
Frankly, I’ve never thought about that question, but I’m sure that there have been colorblind skiers in the history of the sport, I think it’s a not so rare handicap in general. How they do it? I don’t know, but I think that pro-skiers can “read” a slope from experience and just know what course makes sense. Before the run, they always do an inspection of the slope after the gates have been set.
Thank you. That had crossed my mind but some parts of the course don’t look like it, unless the gates overlap each other? So might you have four poles in a straight line down the slope alternating red, blue, red, blue? So effectively when you hit the first blue pole in that sequence that is actually the moment you are passing the red gate and then you have to go outside of the red gate in order to pass through the blue gate.
Does that even make sense outside my own head?
No, not really, but you can have four poles in a straight line, red-red-blue-blue, with the inner red-blue poles standing very close together. You often see those combinations in speed passages of the slalom.
Okay that makes sense. I feel if I did a slalom course I’d have stop every now and then and try to work out the legal route down! I guess it’s instinctive for these athletes. Thanks again.
As I mentioned, the skiers all inspect the course after it is set, and they all ski it mentally before the actual run. Yes, in the run itself it’s instinctive, I’ve been watching ski races for almost 50 years and don’t remember ever having seen a skier confused by the course. The placing of the gates is an art in itself and depends on all the intricacies of the terrain and the steepness of the passages. It’s always done by actual coaches of the skiers. I think the right to set the course gets determined by drawing lots. It’s a big advantage because the respective coach can build the course according to the strengths of their own athletes.
Spoiler because I don’t know if you have watched today’s race already to the end:
The second course today was set by the coach of later winner Petra Vlhova.
That really doesn’t seem at all fair.
My sister just read me something that said one of the Russian skaters tested positive for some drug or other. The medals won’t be awarded until that’s dealt with.
That is called a flush.
Here’s a video that describes how to ski the various types of gate combinations. The video is more about how to ski them, but it gives some insight into what you are skiing.
Been a long time since my racin’ days, but there are ‘Open’ gates and ‘Closed’ gates. Open ones are where the two sets of poles are across the hill. Closed ones are positioned down the fall line, like you see in the video above.
On TV, it can be quite confusing with the camera angles and such, but if you could see an overhead shot, it’s very clear where you need to go. Also, look for the blue lines painted on the snow. Gives you a good idea of the course. (We didn’t have that shit when I raced. Woulda been nice!)
In some racing contexts they only include one pole for the Open gates, the other is implied.
user name checks out.
Not really, I’ve never raced in my life. But I married a former racer and coach.
Congratulations Nathan Chen! His last performance was awesome.
I love Chloe Kim. She just casually takes a couple of years off after her gold medal to go to college at Princeton then comes back and crushes the competition to get another halfpipe gold.
We’ve been watching him for four years of competitions where he never lost, and I’m relieved he didn’t choke on the Big Stage, like someone else with high expectations. Nice to see him do good.
And go Chloe!
Uncalled for.