Athletes, coaches and management throughout the alpine ski racing group debate the equity and the communication course of surrounding the brand new FIS Wild Card addition to the 2024/25 Guidelines for the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup. There are differing opinions. Daniel Xmas, FIS athlete consultant, tells Swiss media that he was not consulted concerning the rule, contradicting different media experiences.
The Wild Card – in Temporary
The brand new FIS rule (article 3.2.1) states that “a Wild Card might be granted to athletes who’ve gained both a World Cup Total Globe, an Occasion Globe (DH, SG, GS or SL underneath the situation of a minimal of 5 (5) World Cup victories), Olympic Gold Medal (Particular person) or World Championship Gold Medal (Particular person).”
The brand new rule permits earlier high racers who determine to return to the game, reminiscent of Marcel Hirscher, to enter the World Cup with out being ranked among the many first 150 athletes on the legitimate FIS factors listing within the self-discipline in query or throughout the first 30 on the World Cup beginning listing (WCSL) in SL, GS, SG, DH or AC.
Additionally, a Wild Card holder might begin instantly after the highest 30 in World Cup races for a complete season as an alternative of beginning additional again within the subject by their FIS rating factors when returning to the World Cup.
A latest Ski Racing article offers additional particulars concerning the Wild Card.
Daniel Xmas: “Nobody spoke to me.”
Earlier European media experiences, which Ski Racing Media used as sources, have said that athlete spokespersons with the FIS, Daniel Xmas and Verena Stauffer, mentioned the Wild Card rule with FIS employees this spring.
On August 2, Swiss slalom specialist Daniel Xmas, who is likely one of the representatives, tells Swiss newspaper Blick.ch that this isn’t the case:
“Nobody spoke to me about this earlier than the FIS Congress. And had they requested me, I’d have mentioned no to this wildcard seeding for previous champions, though Marcel Hirscher undoubtedly represents added worth for our sport,” Xmas states, in response to Blick.ch.
AJ Ginnis Not Happy
Moreover, the 2023 slalom World Championship silver medalist, GreSki’s AJ Ginnis, is sad with the communication surrounding the Wild Card determination, in response to Blick.ch:
“If the FIS claims they mentioned the brand new rule with the athletes, it’s unfaithful. Within the WhatsApp group, which all of the technical specialists within the World Cup are members of, nobody knew something about it. That jogs my memory of final yr when the FIS wished to introduce the staff mixture. Again then, too, the World Affiliation introduced that they’d spoken to the athletes, though that didn’t occur,” the Greek racer tells Blick.ch.
Swiss Ski President Sees Advantages
The president of the Swiss ski affiliation, Swiss Ski, is extra optimistic in direction of the brand new rule, in response to Blick.ch on August 2:
“From a purely sporting standpoint, I can perceive that the athletes are frowning at this determination. Nonetheless, from an financial standpoint, the wildcard for Hirscher represents a possibility for all racers. A number of million extra folks worldwide will tune in to the tv feed when a champion as nice as Hirscher makes his comeback in Sölden. And with higher TV scores, the market worth of all starters will increase,” Swiss Ski President Urs Lehmann says, in response to Blick.ch.
