The Kelly Effect - progressing women's freeskiing?

Unless Kelly messes up both her runs, it's hard to see anyone beating her. Mathilde popped up out of nowhere and is Swiss which means she can totally crush it in the air, but her rails aren't at the same level yet. No one else really has the consistency on rails and jumps that Kelly has.

If Kelly doesn't have a double yet, she's sure to add one by the Olympics.

Like female gymnasts, chances are she will plateau at some point. Growth spurts/hormones will play a part in slowing her progress, that's just natural. However, skiing isn't as intensive as gymnastics so it won't spell the end of her career like it does with most female gymnasts.

I would have liked Lisa as a dark horse if she hadn't been hurt this season. Coming off an injury, I don't like her chances as much especially considering her history of never putting down a clean run. She's the only other girl at the moment that has consistently put down big tricks in slope runs though they've never been as clean as Kelly's.

Giuilia Tanno and Johanne Killi stand a chance.

The future of girls freeskiing belongs to the younger girls - like Mathilde and Kelly. I expect there are plenty of under 10 yo girls out there who are just getting started and will be far better than the current competitors.

There's no doubt Kelly pushes others to up their game in all departments. And I'm confident she will adapt and dominate the Olympics.

In gymnastics, is there a noticeable difference between men and women in terms of style and precision?

snomasterThere's no doubt Kelly pushes others to up their game in all departments. And I'm confident she will adapt and dominate the Olympics.

On that note one of the more interesting developments from XGames Norway was Kelly trying that 14. It had to be the first time in a competition that she has been pushed to actually have to try something a little bigger than she maybe intended to try and get the gold.

And really it is the second time this season she has been challenged. At the time Lisa put down that double in Aspen I don't think Kelly had an answer. Kaya certainly had a chance to bump her to third as well.

Overall, I think Kelly's ability to spin both ways keeps dominating SS comps 10s all four ways is going to trump a double and whatever wonky, watered down, opp-way trick anybody else bobbles. But Big Air may elude her for a while.

When they announced Big Air initially for women I thought it was going to be a disaster. Fenway Park comp only reinforced that, but now things are looking up.

cultraraIn gymnastics, is there a noticeable difference between men and women in terms of style and precision?

Not as huge of a gap as there is in freeskiing. Men are stronger so can do more flips/spins but it's not nearly as noticeable as in skiing. I don't think style is really a thing in gymnastics...everyone basically looks the same. Girls may actually be more precise than the guys, hard to say though.

I mean womens snowboarding took off a couple years ago. An athlete that has it definitely pushes the other athletes but i think women are seeing whats possible these days and with good coaching its taking off across the board.

I think some of the comps in the next few years, the womens riding might be more interesting than the mens.

Well I agree. Seems a few years ago I would have been pretty close to being competitive with the women on the professional level. They're finally adding some gap and now when I watch the womens events it's more "yeah, I probably won't ever be doing that in my life.."
And it's a good thing. The aerials guys are doing are just getting too much, not that it's a bad thing but I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks it gets kinda boring to watch. Back in the day we laughed when a female skier was quoted saying she like so keep skiing to "the basics" but the level where they're at and approaching IMO is going to be better to watch.