This story originally posted at http://warnernickerson.com/ 29.10.2011
Solden, Austria – Having Ted and Lindsey walk away with the first two victories of the season at our new home base here in Solden was glorious. The Austrian Ski Federation is furious that Solden is the Official European Home Base of USST. It’s been pretty funny to watch. Peter Schrocksnadel, the Austrian Ski Federation President, said in a press conference, “It’s like St. Moritz, Swtizerland sponsoring the Austrian Ski Team.” Austrian nationalism is certainly the culprit for the disdain. However, Oliver Schwarz, the Cheif Executive of the Otztal Valley Tourist Office, explains, “The US TEam with Lindsey Vong, Ted Ligety, Julia Mancuso, and Bode Miller have the highest profile on the racing scene and we want to attract international visitors to our resorts. They are the rock and roll stars of ski racing.”
Schrocksnadel is threatening to change Solden as the venue for the World Cup Season Opener next season because of their involvement with teh USST. It’s exceptionally funny to see the Austrians Ski Federation up in arms about it, when they cannot be sponsored by one ski area themselves. Solden sponsors a number of local Austrians on the national team, while other regions and ski resorts sponsor other members of the team. If the Austrian Federation took on a resort as a sole sponsors the country would be even more upset. The moral to this story is that there are way too many huge egos in ski racing. This is just another example of how they are clogging up the ski racing world. “