RESPECT

After he won the World Cup GS in  Alta Badia yesterday, An Austrian Eurosport reporter asked Ted Ligety what were his plans,” I am going to go home and ski some powder and take out my snowmobiles.”  That really resonated with me as being the US Ski Team in a nutshell.  We are known for being more laid back and enjoying skiing for all of its benefits rather then just the racing side.  The only difference with Ted right now is that he is still laid back and humble but he is absolutely dominating the Giant Slalom World Cup.

Ted just won his third straight World Cup GS race, a feat that, as far as I can tell, has only been done by four men in the last 20 years.  The men to accomplish the feat are Alberto Tomba, Michael Von Gruenigen, twice, Hermann Maier and now Ted.  The only man to Go 4 in a row was Tomba back in 1991, a streak that spanned two seasons.

Giant Slalom is the core of ski racing.  It is the event that requires the most finesse and the most control.  All great champions have had GS success in their careers, Hermann Maier, the greatest of our generation,  used to crush the event. Bode Miller was at his most impressive, in my opinion, when he could put time on everybody in else in GS in between massive mistakes and still win races.  Michael Von Gruenigen was like a dancer on skis and was by the far the most consistent GS champion in my memory.   

It is an event that is not determined by fast skis or the size of the competitors, it is straight up skill and in that department Ted has been putting on a clinic this year.  

I am really stoked for Ted and his humble attitude, his skiing has been a great motivator for our team in a season where most of us have struggled to find our stride.  Keep it up buddy, it is fun to watch!