FIS or ISF, more informations
José FERNANDEZ
Snowboard or Ski
Structures ?
Content of the document:
* Introduction 2
* F.I.S. ** I.S.F.
The past 3
The actual situation 4
The future 5
* Questions about a possible collaboration
with the ski structures 6
* Olympic Games / I.O.C. battle 7
* Arguments for the I.S.F. 8
* Statements
I.S.F. was built up by snowboarders 9
I.S.F. has built up snowboarding 9
I.S.F. focuses only on snowboarding 10
Statements for the I.S.F. 11
* Final comment 12
The choice is yours
Anzère, November 10th, 1994
Introduction
The following points have to be considered:
In most of the winter sport resorts, the snowboarders are recognised as experts for snowboarding.
The same occurs in the sport shops and ski schools which are trying to enrol snowboarders to attract the new clients.
In most of the countries the snowboarders are recognised as the experts of teaching methods for snowboarding.
Most of the time, the snowboard clubs or local structures are involved in the organisation of the competitions.
Some of our national associations were able to obtain a direct recognition through their respective national governing body for sport.
Why the snowboard structures couldn't achieve directly their own governmental recognition in each country and not through any other sports' association?
Remember this Chinese proverb which says:
"If you fight
you may loose;
if you don't fight,
you have already lost."
F.I.S. ** I.S.F.
1. The Past
1.1 The F.I.S.
The FIS was not interested in snowboarding as mentioned in the FIS Bulletin Nr.118 - 1/1993. Furthermore the FIS president Mr. Marc Hodler agreed to sign a letter of intend recognising the expertise of the partners in each respective sport. (reference made to the various meetings between FIS and ISF during the year 1992).
Only few ski federations (France, Nederland, Sweden, USA) had a snowboard department in their structures.
1.2 The I.S.F.
The Pro Snowboarders Association (PSA) is organising since more than 5 years a successful world-wide circuit. Since four years, in collaboration with the national snowboard associations (NSA).
The national snowboard associations did organise the sport in the various countries since over 12 years now (Japan was the first one, followed by Switzerland, France aso). The NSA's are more concentrated on the amateur side of the sport and also the recreational part.
1.3 Work for the youth
Everybody involved in snowboarding knows, that a snowboard production for kids under 12 years of age does exist only since two/three years. For example, the sale of the largest snowboard world wide company during the season 92/93 for this age group reached only 7 % of the total sale of the boards. From then on why organise races especially for them?
F.I.S. ** I.S.F.
2. The actual situation
2.1 The F.I.S.
The FIS-Congress in Rio (BRA), June 1994, decided to integrate the snowboard sport as a discipline of skiing. Before this, in June 1993, a similar decision was made by the FIS-Council.
Today, some of the National Ski Federations are really interested in snowboarding. Furthermore, only a few people inside the entire FIS structure (international or national) are really informed about snowboarding. The FIS members' federations had nearly no practice in the organisation of snowboarding. The FIS will have to educate its own personnel and also at the national level.
2.2 The I.S.F.
Today, 35 NSAs from 5 continents are members of the ISF. The members in the National Snowboard Associations are not only clubs (surf, snowboard, ski, skate-board) but also shops or companies. They also organise the education of their national TD, judges and race secretaries. The main power in their organisation is the race department at various levels:
- regional: Coupe de Suisse Romande, Copa della regione de Aosta aso,
- national: Austrian Cup, Japanese Championship aso,
- international: World Cup Masters in Breckenridge, Mt. St.-Anne aso.
The ISF structures include the professional racers, like for example the respected sports: basketball, tennis, golf and new formula 1. Within the ISF, amateurs and professionals are unified under the same and unique federation which governs their sport. Furthermore since 1994, the snowboard industry and the snowboard resorts are also members of the ISF.
This new way of thinking involve, in the decision process, each of the partners interested in the development of snowboarding and insure the best future for the sport.
With the ISF Media Network, the ISF produces and distributes the pictures from the races. Furthermore, this company (property of the ISF Members) is controlling the entire advertisement of the races and will be able to give the largest possible exposures to the snowboard races.
F.I.S. ** I.S.F.
3. The future
3.1 The F.I.S.
The FIS is trying to organise snowboarding, but why???
Is it in order to:
- benefit from the "increasing popularity of snowboarding" as mentioned in the minutes of their meeting in Stockholm;
- use the image of snowboarding as a young and colourful sport in order to get a younger image for the FIS;
- find replacement disciplines to freestyle and speed skiing, which seems unable to become a mass sport.
- help the development of the sport???
In order to have this question answered, please call the FIS office in Oberhofen Switzerland.
But,
- why do the ski structures ignore the already existing work done during the last 12 years from the NSA's and the ISF?
- will they really fight for the success of snowboarding towards skiing?
- or do they want to control the development of snowboarding?
3.2 The I.S.F.
The NSAs are organising more regional races. They will also introduce in their races the "Youth" and "Junior" categories.
The ISF will organise the "2nd ISF Junior World Championship".
The goal is to have during the season 93/94 about 3'000 ISF races for amateurs world-wide. International, continental and national junior championships should be organised during the season 1994/95 (inclusion of these categories at the normal championships is possible).
At the same time the ISF World Pro Tour races will improve regarding to the number of events, the prize-money, the organisation and the media coverage.
The inclusion of the industry and the resorts in the ISF structures did conclude the construction of the ISF structures.
Questions about a possible col-
laboration with the ski structures
1) From the snowboard industry
* Who does finally decide about the sponsors? Are there advertisement's restrictions?
* Will the snowboard-pool be organised the same way as the so successful ski-pool?
* Who does decide about the snowboard-pool membership? Can the industry influence on how the snowboard-pool money will be spent?
* What will happen regarding the size of the company's logo on the board? This is now much bigger then in skiing; will the manufacturers have to change their logos?
* Will the industry have any influence or decision power inside the ski federation?
* Will the industry have any influence on the choice of the trainers, coaches or racers?
* What will happen if the snowboard industry doesn't support the ski federation's program? Will then the ski federations still support the racers and continue the program?
2) From the existing NSA's structures
* Who has the last word in a decisional process?
* Is a proposal from a committee definitive?
* Is the power of the Board of Directors or Directing Committee or Council stronger then the decision of the commission?
* How are the representatives elected?
* Would it be possible for the snowboard committee to have a snowboard representative inside the Board of Directors resp. Directing Committee or Council ?
* How will the ski federation finance the expenses for the snowboard committee?
* If in the future, there are no new incomes for the ski federation, will then the alpine or nordic racers accept without any restrictions that a part of their budget will be invested in snowboarding?
3) From the riders
* Who does finally decide about the sponsors? Are there advertisement's restrictions?
* What will happen to my actual sponsors and contracts?
* What will happen if the clothing doesn't fit to me, because of the colour or the cut? What will happen if the freestyle gloves doesn't work for racing? Am I allowed to choose another model within the same company or perhaps change the company?
* Who will pay for my training, travel, aso ... expenses?
* Who will choose my trainer or coach? What will happen if the coach doesn't correspond to my expectations?
* Who can prove me that I will be qualified for the Olympic Games?
* What will happen if the industry doesn't support the ski federation's program? Will I still receive the same support from the ski federation?
* Will the riders have a representative in any of the skiing structures? Are we allowed to create a riders association? If yes would we then have any rights given to us?
Olympic Games / I.O.C. battle
1. The Past
The FIS is member of the Olympic movement and the president of the FIS, Mr Marc Hodler (75) Switzerland is one of the vice-president of the International Olympic Committee.
In June 1993, there were only 25 national snowboard associations, from three continents member of the ISF. Therefore the ISF didn't fulfil the conditions from the IOC for an official application.
2. The actual situation
The FIS as IOC member federation is allowed to present new disciplines being part of their program. Each single discipline has to be accepted by the IOC (example: skiing freestyle with only two Olympic disciplines, without ballet).
During the winter 1993/94, there have been 10 other national snowboard associations asking for their membership in the ISF. Therefore with its 35 national snowboard associations on 5 continents, the ISF fulfil the IOC conditions.
In July 1994, during the Annual Membership Meeting in Les Diablerets (Switzerland) the ISF members unanimously decided to present an official application for the recognition of the IOC.
The answer from the IOC was : (extract of the letter signed by Mr Felli Sports Director)
"In view of the fact that the FIS (federation recognised by the IOC) manages this discipline, may we kindly ask you to contact them directly in order to see how the athletes of your federation could be eligible for the Olympic Games."
Before the IOC Session in Paris, the ISF respond to the letter of Mr Felli, telling the IOC that it had been impossible for the ISF to meet with the FIS since June 1993. Whereas a lot of personalities did try it, nothing happen. Furthermore, Maître Rochat, president of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, did also try without more success.
3. General thoughts
It seems that up to today no official written statement, from the IOC Session in Paris, relates about a final decision on snowboarding.
Why should then the IOC decide for a federation which has no expertise in a sport, or discipline in favour of this discipline? Why did the IOC recognised biathlon in skiing as being part of the World Shooting Federation and not the FIS? Why could this not happen with snowboarding.
Arguments for the I.S.F.
1. You will work with Snowboarders for the development of the snowboard sport.
2. All ISF responsibles have been elected by the snowboarders
The professional PSA riders elected the PSA responsibles, the clubs and NSAs elected the ISA responsibles, the companies elected their respective representatives, the race organisers elected their resorts representatives.
3. Regional work
The decisional and organisational processes are based on a regional (continental) level. The division of the world in four regions, according to the winter sports' market have been proved as a intelligent way to look for the development of snowboarding. This means that inside the ISF each of the four regions has the same influence. No more three or four European countries with more decisional power then USA and Canada together.
4. Structures including all partners.
The power is shared between each partner interested in the development of the sport. But if Southern Hemisphere doesn't want to include the resorts in their structures, it will be their own decision.
5. Each partner exerts the same influence.
In each region, the member partners have the same decisional influence. Of course the inputs will be study, with the various consequences for each of the partners and then a common decision is worked out, for the benefit of the sport and not only one partner.
6. Only through the ISF system your kids will enter the races where Bauer, Brushie, Dunn, Jacoby, Scott, Denervaud, Haakonsen and others are competing.
Can you imagine your 8 years old kid ranked number 2456, on the same list as the world champion? The ISF point system allows it. Furthermore you don't have to start in international (World Pro Tour) events to collect points. And if you want to compete with the stars, you'll have to join the team, because they all will continue to compete in their own Tour governed by the snowboarders.
Statements
1. I.S.F. was built up by snowboarders
Jake Burton, snowboard legend "Burton Snowboards Inc."
The success and appeal of competitive snowboarding is a result of the efforts of the riders. Associations, media and manufacturers have contributed as well, but it is the riders who have made it happens and the ISF understands this. I've never seen an association where the participants (riders) have had more input in deciding ... The ISF is better equipped to provide this type of forum than any other potential association, because of the ISF's focus and hands-on relationship with the competitive riders.
Tanja Fischer, PSA rider, Germany
We need young people who agree to our sport and know about the problems in snowboard competitions. The ISF had enough troubles in the last two years growing up with the World Pro Tour. They, not WE went through together !!! We elected our president by knowing him. The ISF built up a great tour (example ISCHGL 93).
Ami Lundstroem, PSA Rider U.S.A.
I find it hard to believe that the FIS can give the same amount of leverage to snowboarders through their organisation as the ISF currently gives us in running our sport. One or two snowboarders on a board of directors is not the same as a board composed completely of people involved in the sport.
... the power that we have with the ISF, I can't even say that I've been very involved in the voting process and decision making that we as riders have available to us. I will say that I plan on becoming involved and exercising the privileges I am granted by the ISF from now on. Athletes should have final say in their sport as opposed to a money-making bureaucracy.
2. I.S.F. has built up snowboarding
Martin Freinademetz, PSA rider, Austria
This sounds very funny but in reality it is very sad. The ski functionaries totally ignore that there are already structures in the sport of snowboarding and that snowboarders like we are, already decided how the structures should look like. We also voted our representatives democratically but for sure not any of the ski guys.
Jake Burton, snowboard legend "Burton Snowboards Inc."
Historically, the ISF has been around international competitive snowboarding from the beginning. While the association has undergone structural changes as well as name changes, the core group of people and the soul of the association is the same as it was when competitive snowboarding had no more to offer than headaches and strife. Because snowboarding is now becoming a recognised sport, is it fair that the reward for all of ISF's hard work is that the sport be taken away from them?
Statements
Ami Lundstroem, PSA Rider U.S.A.
I think that the ISF has demonstrated the extent to which they care about snowboarders. The fact that they applied for recognition by the IOC as the official governing body of snowboarding goes further to prove that the ISF has goals for the future of the sport of snowboarding. The ISF has been involved in snowboarding from a time when many people were unfamiliar with the sport. For this reason they have been fighting an uphill battle until now.
Gary Pehrson USASA Board of Directors (former USSA member)
Yet, the IOC has shown a strong interest in snowboarding being in the 1998 Olympics mainly because of the solid growth and promotion of the sport through the International Snowboard Federation (ISF) and not though any efforts by FIS.
If you look at the sport over the past few years - where has the progress come from? ... Anyone ... knows it has come from the International Snowboard Federation (ISF)... They have continuously improved snowboarding as a separate unique sport.
... ISF has taken the sport from it's shaky first beginnings to the level of a highly professional organisation ...
3. I.S.F. focuses only on snowboarding
Jake Burton, snowboard legend "Burton Snowboards Inc."
As I mentioned previously, the fact that the "S" in ISF refers to "Snowboarding" and not "skiing" is significant. Snowboarders as a rule are not concerned about the future of skiing. While we respect skiers and skiing as a sport, we would prefer that the association which dictates the future of our sport not have any conflict of interest.
Archaic structures such as pools, when skiers'sponsorship dollars must be funneled through political organisations rather than directly to the athlete have no place in snowboarding. Let's face it: snowboarding is an individual sport and we don't need anymore politics than we already have.
Gary Pehrson USASA Board of Directors (former USSA member)
... It's just common sense to realise skiing is the top priority of a Ski Association.
... the possible motivation behind FIS versus ISF. Which one has the best interest of the sport as their top priority in their organisation. It's seems only logical that the FIS's top priority is skiing (which includes alpine skiing, cross country skiing and various forms of freestyle skiing).
Ami Lundstroem, PSA Rider U.S.A.
The ... ISF, was created to govern the sport of snowboarding. It is an organisation that deals exclusively with snowboarders, and is governed by snowboarders, industry representatives, and trainers who are intimately involved in the sport. As member of the ISF, snowboarders can vote on their board members. They can also attend board meetings. Through this organisation we have direct control of our sport.
... I like the fact that the ISF is a strictly snowboarder organisation, I can be assured that snowboarders will always be first on their priority list!
Statements
4. Statements for the I.S.F.
Jake Burton, snowboard legend "Burton Snowboards Inc."
The purpose of this letter is not to steam the FIS. The FIS has successfully governed skiing on a global basis for a long time. Snowboarding is a younger and a completely different sport, however, and we need an approach to the governing of our sport that is focused and fresh. ISF despite its youth, is better equipped than any organisation and to provide that type of leadership and for that reason I fully endorse their efforts.
Tanja Fischer, PSA rider, Germany
Snowboarding is a young sport and shouldn't be directed by our
"GRANDPARENTS"
Christian Savioz, ISF President, Switzerland (September 93)
... Furthermore, within the actual FIS structures, the snowboard sport would die as the ski-freestyle and speed skiing are doing.
Gary Pehrson USASA Board of Directors (former USSA member)
... And when looking at what is best for the continual growth of the sport it's just not the best way to go. A very strong message should be sent out: "The sport is not for sale!" The International Snowboard Federation (ISF) has shown it should be the leader of our sport at this time. The best thing any snowboarder can do is to understand the facts as they are today and get on the right side of the fence.
... It is time to show your support for snowboarding as a separate and unique sport that can stand on its own and thus, let snowboarders control their own future.
Final comment
... whereas the technic of snowboarding unifies the abilities from various other sports as:
surfing, windsurfing, skateboarding, gymnastics and also skiing.
... whereas the mentality of the youth and particularly the snowboarders shows a completely new way of life on the mountains with:
feeling of liberty and freedom, need of personal expression, building obstacles on the slopes.
... whereas snowboarding is a sport and not a discipline.
... whereas only experts of each respective sport organise their own sport, as example:
motorcycling responsibles organise motorcycling Grand Prix and no Formula 1 Grand Prix.
.... whereas within the last 12 years, only the ISF members did develop snowboarding.
... whereas the ISF 1993/94 strategy for development was followed by most of the ISF member countries by:
organising races in for the youth, sending competitors to the 1st ISF Junior World Championship, sending Junior teams to the Nations'Cup, including the industry and the resorts in their structure.
Regarding today's achieved level of professional work within the ISF organisation and its members, in June 1994, the ISF General Membership Meeting (National Snowboard Associations, racers, resorts and industry) decided unanimously to pursue the existing work by applying the philosophy:
the snowboard sport
by the snowboarders
for the snowboarders
Peter Foley
irrelevent. The real question is who is doing the most for the riders now.
It's not the ISF.
Clic Lab Newbie
What's with all this stupid snowboarder vs. Skier Crap...
..grow up..
p.s. gotta problem?....don't mail me, post it!
Gen Kanai
(Peter Foley) wrote:
hmmm. You wanna back up your arguement here or are we supposed to guess.
if you dont support statements like this, no one will give you any credibility.
Tell us why the ISF isnt helping the riders and we'll consider your arguement.
--
Gen Kanai // gka...@wolfe.net // gen.m...@dartmouth.edu
DoD#1458 // Calamari Club #004 // CB700SC!
"Don't knock on Death's door. Instead, ring the bell and run.
Death hates that..." --unknown
Peter Foley
writes:
>Tell us why the ISF isnt helping the riders and we'll consider your
arguement.
Cost:
For a top competitor to compete on the ISF world tour for one year this is
how the expenses break down:
ISF Membership $1000
Travel $10,000-$20,000
Coaching $4000-$10,000
Entry Fee's $100-$150 Per event
For a member of the US national team this what it costs to compete on the
FIS tour:
USSA membership $60
FIS Membership $0
Travel $0
Coaching $0
Entry Fees $0
If a competitor is not a member of a national team then it costs them 50
Swiss franks per day (around $35) for food lodging and lift ticket and
there are no entry fees.
Sanctions:
The ISF is controlling which contests its riders can compete in. If a top
ISF rider wanted to compete in a FIS event (which many of them do). They
would face a 2 year suspension from ISF and Huge fines. Upwards of $50,000
in the case of Mike Jacoby. What happens if next the ISF decides that
extreme contests are too much competition for them, will they sanction
their athletes for competing in those too.
FIS is open to all competitors ISF, FIS, and allows it's competitors to
compete in any event they choose.
Peter Foley
>The difference here is between corporate sponsorship of individuals vs.
>corporate sponsorship of national teams. Big fucking deal. In fact,
>corporate sponsorship of individuals sounds like a *better* idea:
Yeah the big fucking deal in America is that very few ISF riders are making
any money. $35,000 is a large amount to get from sponsors and a huge
burden for any but the biggest snowboard companies. If a rider actually was
able to get that amount it all goes to expenses anyway. In FIS that is
actually money the rider gets to keep.
The real difference is corporate money that benefits athletes or corporate
money that benefits promoters. I don't know how the money works in the ISF
now, but when I was on the ISF board, the ISF signed Ballantine as a
million dollar sponsor and not one dollar of that money went to prize money
or subsidizing athletes. The FIS has made it a priority to make it
affordable for the athletes and they put the money towards them.
>national teams lead to entrenched national attitudes about style and
>training regimes, as demonstrated by the Canadian National Ski team's
>refusal to compromise on training methods with one particularly
>talented ski racer. She's now winning race for Hungary (or something)
>because the Canadian coaching establishment insisted on having their
>way.
This has happened in skiing in the past and all I can say is that we are
doing everything we can to prevent this kind of situation from occuring in
snowboarding. For instance you don't have to be a member of a national
team to compete on the FIS World Cup, and it still only costs 50 swiss
franks a day (around $34.50 U.S.) for food lodging and lift tickets no
matter what your world ranking is. So, if you choose to hire your own
coach, have no coach or are a member of your national team it is far more
affordable to compete with FIS than ISF, because FIS puts money toward
athletes.
One of the biggest benefits of national teams is that funding of an athlete
is based strictly on results. You don't have to be a self promotion
wizard, you can concentrate on snowboarding. Right now it seems that the
only people who make money in this sport are the ones who gain noteriety by
thrashing not by being good at snowboarding.
>Boycott the FIS and the USSA: don't allow the skiing establishment to
>take over snowboarding.
This attitude is ridiculous. There is so much about skiing that can be a
benefit to snowboarding. Snowboarding would have never been invented
without skiing because as Mike Kidevaeld says "Snowboarding is not
transportation." Look at everything about your board from design to
materials. I would imagine that you don't mind riding chair lifts. Maybe
you'll have to boycott metal edges and p-tex bases next. Big snowboard
companies like to promote this anti skier attitude, I wonder if they hope
that if ski companies build higher quality snowboard products than them,
snowboarders will settle for second best and buy from a snowboard only
manufacturer. I wonder if the ISF is promoting this anti skier attitude
so that riders will settle for second best and let the ISF rip them off for
a few more years.
Peter Foley
>While you're right about the cost of competition, you're absolutely wrong
>about the riders wanting to race on the FIS tour. No one wants to race
>that tour because with several exceptions there aren't any good racers or
>races. Plus, US Skiing is in money trouble now. Pretty big time, if I've
>heard correctly.
Oh Lee, First of all the races on the FIS tour last were great the
organization was incredible. I didn't see you there but I geuss that's how
you like to report things. I think you would be surprised at the quality
of the competition, but for sure the depth isn't there yet. I think you
might have to eat your words about nobody wanting to race FIS. As far as
US Skiing is concerened the old management spent a large part of an
endowment and now they have restructered and are repaying that. They
aren't in debt to anyone but themselves. The Snowboard team has some
strong sponsors. Nice reporting though, you Journalist you.
Crispin Cowan
Peter Foley <pfo...@nyc.pipeline.com> wrote:
>ISF Membership $1000
>Travel $10,000-$20,000
>Coaching $4000-$10,000
>Entry Fee's $100-$150 Per event
Uh-huh. And how many riders actually pay $35,000 per year to compete?
If that were actually the case, then the ISF World Tour would be
dominated by 45-year old guys with too much time and money on their
hands and an anxiety about a receding hair line :)
The ISF is charging those amounts, but the rider isn't paying, his
sponsors are.
>For a member of the US national team this what it costs to compete on the
>FIS tour:
>
>USSA membership $60
>FIS Membership $0
>Travel $0
>Coaching $0
>Entry Fees $0
All this stuff didn't suddenly become free, it's just being paid for by
someone else--the USSA sponsors.
The difference here is between corporate sponsorship of individuals vs.
corporate sponsorship of national teams. Big fucking deal. In fact,
corporate sponsorship of individuals sounds like a *better* idea:
national teams lead to entrenched national attitudes about style and
training regimes, as demonstrated by the Canadian National Ski team's
refusal to compromise on training methods with one particularly
talented ski racer. She's now winning race for Hungary (or something)
because the Canadian coaching establishment insisted on having their
way.
Boycott the FIS and the USSA: don't allow the skiing establishment to
take over snowboarding.
Crispin
-----
Dr. Crispin Cowan, CS post-doc, Synthetix Project
Oregon Graduate Institute | Electronically:
Department of Computer Science | analog: 503-690-1265
PO Box 91000 | digital: cri...@cse.ogi.edu
Portland, OR 97291-1000 | URL: http://www.cse.ogi.edu/~crispin/
What goof decided that the number of days in a week should be a prime number?
CRASHmedia
>do). They would face a 2 year suspension from ISF and Huge fines.
While you're right about the cost of competition, you're absolutely wrong
about the riders wanting to race on the FIS tour. No one wants to race
that tour because with several exceptions there aren't any good racers or
races. Plus, US Skiing is in money trouble now. Pretty big time, if I've
heard correctly.
But, the best will win, no doubt. We just have to wait and see what
happens I guess.
CRASHmedia
>First of all the races on the FIS tour last were great the
>organization was incredible. I didn't see you there but I geuss that's
how
>you like to report things. I think you would be surprised at the quality
>of the competition, but for sure the depth isn't there yet.
Peter,
I realize that as a ex-racer you may see the enjoyment American FIS racers
and halfpipers get in competiting against people they know they're going
to beat (since it wouldn't happen in ISF World Cups). But it's difficult
for me to understand how you (a coach of all things) can say that the
competitions were good when "for sure the depth isn't there yet." I mean
maybe Joe Montana would like to QB a Pop-Warner team and break some
records, but I don't think he'd call it "good competition." (Okay, I'm
going a bit over the top here.)
You're right about me not going to any FIS competitions. Unfortunately,
the $media$ doesn't seem to care about it yet. I'm sure they will.
However, I did attend nine ISF events last year (U.S. Open included) so I
have a pretty good feel for the competition level we're talking about.
Contrary to your obvious slanting of my words, I don't have any personal
interest in which organization become the "official" body. I just know
what I was told when I spoke with US Skiing officials, and they A.) didn't
know what they were talking about. B.) Didn't understand the snowboard
industry. And C.) (which I believe is worst of all) didn't even care that
they didn't know. Oh yeah, and D.) they were quite pompus about all of it.
Now, granted, this may have changed over the past season. It seems like it
would have too, actually. And I'll be following all the proceedings (as a
journalist of course) but when people say that many racers want to race
FIS I just had to argue because it just isn't true. Some yes, many? No.
But thanks for the jousting. It keeps me honest. Keep on rallying around
your flag Peter. I hope you're on the winning team what ever happens.
late.
Lee
Crispin Cowan
Peter Foley <pfo...@nyc.pipeline.com> wrote:
>In article <3v6qpj$s...@reuter.cse.ogi.edu>, Crispin Cowan writes:
>>take over snowboarding.
>benefit to snowboarding. Snowboarding would have never been invented
the question is which political organization you want to run the
thing.
I just thought people might like to know something that I read recently
in the Summer ish of Snowboard. US Snowboarding was kind enough to
publish an ad listing their sponsors, who included Morrow, Yellow Bus,
and Smith. So now you know who to boycott if you don't like the skiing
establishment running snowboarding :)
I'm actually quite surprised. I thought Morrow would have known
better. The list notably did not include any other major snowboard
company, just a lot of soft-goods names. I'm *really* surprised that
Rossi wasn't there.
SkiRaceInt
Lee--
Where's your big multiplex-multimedia-multihuevos web site?
Anyway, I thought I'd point out that the parallel slalom, super G and
halfpipe competitions at Mt. Ste. Anne represented the only true ISF event
in North America last year: The APSS tour events really shouldn't count as
ISF World Series (the equivalent of FIS World Cup) events.
Although Ted and Jerry have done an impressive job of getting the APSS
points included on the ISF World Tour points list, the APSS events do not
follow ISF rules for course requirements, homologation or prize money.
Needless to say, the Europeans are fairly ticked to have Mark Fawcett and
Jasey Jay Anderson finish second and third on the overall points list
after they (Fawcett and Anderson) competed nearly-exclusively in APSS
events.
As you well know, there were several instances where the Cross M team was
the only real competition at the APSS events (often making up half the
field). If it wasn't for Thomas O'Brien, the Cross M team would have swept
all the events in Vermont.
(Let's see...small fields dominated by a single team. Sound like FIS?)
Now, I don't want to get into some flame-out about accessibility, culture,
prejudice, tradition and politics among competing snowboarding
organizations: It misses the point.
There are only about 2,500 athletes (at most) who compete in snowboard
competition in the U.S., and the vast majority of those compete in
freestyle events. There are maybe 600 athletes who regularly compete in
alpine style events.
There are five organizations which compete for this pool of athletes:
USSA, USASA, APSS, PSA North America and the ISF. Of course, there is some
redundancy here (the PSA N.A. is really the ISF, for example), and that's
the point. The competing organizations do more to confuse snowboarders
than they do to support them.
Unless these organizations can find some way to work together, the number
of snowboarders who compete will likely decline. After all, why bother
competing at all when companies are more likely to sponsor you if you can
lay a wicked shifty method off a thirty foot cliff than if you can do a
McTwist in a halfpipe?
If the media (ESPN, Transworld, SR, etc.) really cares about snowboard
competition, they should establish a board competition summit, hire a
sports conflict mediator, and set deadlines (most likely in relation to
the next Olympics) to create a single, unified organization in the U.S. to
manage the sport.
Get to work, already....
Perkins Miller
Pipe N Gate
Ski Racing International