Has anyone noticed the current state of skiercross? Seems that it's now nothing more than a retirement option for World Cup ski racers. The courses all seem to be built specifically for the Daron Rahlves-es of the sport, with zero focus on working transitions, pumping, riding berms etc. Now it's just a 4 man super-g with some "jumps" that are nothing more than things to absorb at speed.
It was good back in the day when the courses actually went up and down, and being able to catch and pump a transition would make a difference.
At least snowboard cross has a bunch of athletes who grew up as boardercrossers from the start and aren't just retired snowboard racers, seems like their courses are usually a lot more interesting too, with berms that actually get used because they put the gate in the berm instead of 6 feet away on the flats, gaps where people actually have to pop, and quick transitions to pump. A couple of years ago I even saw a snowboard cross where they had a shortcut jump line, but you had to flip or spin the jump if you took that line(I think they called it the "freestyle option" line). It was sweet watching some guy break out a backflip for the pass.
The XGames course last year was so damn lame, totally built for super-g ski racers and all the snowboarders hated it. Sure the high speed crashes are exciting to watch but shit, how about building a course that actually takes more than just tucking, performing alpine race turns and absorbing every lip on the course. There is a whole WC alpine circuit for that, so make the skiercross into something different.
It should be more like a motocross or boardecross course. Now they just look like super-gs in disguise.
Not trying to diss on racing or racers, because what they do is super sick in it's own right. I just think skier cross has completely lost it's identity and become a second hand alpine race discipline. Of course good racers should be able to come into skiercross and use their skills to do well, but it should be more about them having to adapt to the sport, instead of the sport adapting and catering to them.
