Comments on: USSA Announces 2010 Olympic Team

By: amerho

amerho — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:33:12 +0000

Too bad for Rebecca Dussault, she should have been named to the team. She is skiing faster than anyone right now.

By: nordic_dave

nordic_dave — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:38:19 +0000

Thoughts and prayers going out to the “Kuzz” on gettin’ another spot next week!

By: davord

davord — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:13:14 +0000

I knew they could not take as many as they would have had in previous years, and as you point out spots could get reallocated. I never new of the exact numbers however, and as you say that is yet to be determined although looks set right now. I can tell you I imagined more than eight people, that is for sure. I was trying to be optimistic. The first time I heard of the new FIS quota system was in the summer, but obviously things can change each month or even every week during the ski season. I definitely did not analyze the procedures and articles on how the team is chosen in detail any more since then, only was hearing rumours, and was following results. Discretions can be controversial, but the US ski team has always done a good job with that, so if there is still time for that, then it shouldn’t be a problem. I hope that makes sense!

By: FasterSkier

FasterSkier — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:42:21 +0000

Hi Davor – You obviously have not been following the Olympic selection news over the last months. Pete and John could not take more. The US currently has a quota of 8 for the Olympics. That is decided by the FIS quota system.

If other nations do not take their full quota those spots get reallocated. That happens next week. The US will likely gain additional spots during reallocation, at which point the team will grow.

Finally there have been several articles on how the team is chosen, and while FIS points is a primary criteria, coaches are permitted to use discretion, opening the door for endless speculation and discussion.

By: davord

davord — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:37:47 +0000

Aren’t these news or announcements official? I mean once they have named the eight skiers, isn’t that final? I realize all of the scenarios and possibilities with other nations pulling some skiers out, and I am surprised that they didn’t take one or two more skiers, but from the way Farra and Vordenberg were quoted, it seems to me like this is it. I think all of the scenarios and point calculations are nice and dramatic, but at the end of the day the way they pick the team is by FIS points list, which war gonna happen one way or another (or more importantly in this case, straight from the NRL #4 list), so I guess from that perspective this is the best team they could have chosen. However, I totally agree with you Flakenordic.
Congratulations to all who made the team and good luck in Vancouver.

By: flakenordic

flakenordic — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:12:10 +0000

I still believe that Garrott Kuzzy should be added to the team.

By: mandlim

mandlim — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:27:00 +0000

Congratulations to all the new and old olympians. Tough job making the selections, but they appear fair. As we all know through the great reporting of Fasterskier, more spots are likely and we can see more of our favorites named to the team. For all those who put in the effort and hard work to reach the dream, much appreciated.