Replying to The Kelly Effect - progressing women's freeskiing?
I think this was mentioned in the past, but it seems to be taking hold this year. Doubles started popping out of the woodwork and the overall trick level seems to be escalating. Things that girls weren't motivated to even try previously are having to be trotted out to compete with 12s and 14s.
Mathilde double and bio 9 the other day had to be the cleanest tricks I've ever seen a girl put down. May be tough to string together a entire slopestyle course with that precision, but you see a new level of motivation among the top part of the field.
I've yet to see Kelly do a double, but it has to be in her arsenal in some form. When does she decide to amp her run up with a little more variety? The judges have been awarding her precision and ability to spin both ways pretty flawlessly, but does she win every SS comp with the same spins and typically killer rail skills? Does the field get even more motivated this summer and catch up? Moreover, does Kelly plateau?
A year ago I had her Olympic win in the bag, but now it seems a few girls are really trying to amp up their game. Kelly will likely win anyhow, but at least it won't be a total blowout.
Click to expand post