What's up with the ABC World Team Selection Process?

Check out feedback we have received to the editorial by clicking

It started off as a rumor at Nationals, but it spread like wildfire that Ron Scarpa wasn't going to be at the Nationals and would most likely get kicked off the US Elite team because of it.  Now it's official.  The ABC Board voted not to let Ron Scarpa ski on the US Elite Team or as an Independent in either the Senior or Elite Worlds.  The Elite, Senior, and Junior teams were selected the day after the Nationals, and here is how they turned out (this is unofficial since it has not been posted on the ABC site yet):

Lane Bowers is skiing on both the Senior Team and Elite Team?.  What is going on? 

I don’t know what everyone else thinks when someone starts talking about a Junior or Senior level of a sport, but here’s my two cents.

Junior to me means an athlete under age 18 that is up and coming, but has yet to reach their potential.  Senior infers that an athlete is in the twilight of their career and no longer performs at the highest level of a sport due to the affects of father time, but they are still competitive and have a desire to stay in as long as possible. 

It is my belief that if an athlete is performing at the highest level of a sport, they should be competing at the highest level (i.e. the Elite Team).  Any barefooter that can ski at the highest level, and decides to compete at a level everyone considers a notch below can only be doing it because they either think it’s an easy victory, think they can post a record that is unreachable, or just wants another trophy for their collection.  What they don’t realize is that they are putting their whole reputation on the line.  Let’s take Lane Bowers for example:  Lane has just “tried out” and been put on both the Senior and Elite teams.  He’ll ski for the USA at the Senior Worlds this coming October, then turn around and ski for the US Elite team next February at the Elite Worlds.  If Lane doesn’t win the overall Gold at the Senior Worlds, he’ll walk away looking foolish since he claims to be the best all around Elite footer.  If he does win the Senior title, it will be a hollow victory because we will expect him to win.  There is no way for Lane to walk away with anything more than a trophy to mount on his wall.  Lane needs to be thinking more about who he is putting off the team in order for him to compete at both Worlds. 

Question #1:  WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU THINKING KEEPING RON SCARPA OFF THE US TEAM? 

I don’t care if Ron broke every rule in the book with regards to skiing or not skiing Regionals or Nationals.  He is the ultimate pinnacle and most idolized footer in our sport yesterday and today.  He is to barefooting what Jack Nicholas is to golf.  He has promoted this sport and trained more skiers than any other coach, and he has more titles on his resume than any other skier.  He should be exempt from ever having to “Try Out” or "Meet the Requirements" for anything.   The ABC should be bending over backwards to make sure skiers like Ron Scarpa and Keith St. Onge are taken care of and motivated to stay in the sport.   Ron has brought the sport to where it is today, and Keith St. Onge is taking it where it needs to go.  Every other skier can only dream of skiing like these guys, be as personable as these guys, and promote the sport like these guys are doing.  Ron has proven to be the most professional and most consistent competitor the US has to offer.  Anything less is unacceptable. 

Question #2:  Why require skiers to ski in Team Trials of it really isn’t a competition?

Was everyone that was eligible for the Worlds invited to try out for the US team, or was the team pre-selected, and the try-outs basically just a show for the coaches?  I think the ABC needs to be a bit more forthright with the process of selection for the US Team. Questions like: Who was on the selection committee? What skiers were on the long list?  What was the selection criteria?  If the team is selected by committee, why is it a requirement to attend a team trial, especially if the ABC doesn’t cover costs of travel, and lost business or wages due to their team trial participation requirement?

I would be more interested in a process that allowed the likes of Billy Nichols, Mike Salber, Andrea Eggert, Sherri Morse, Dawn Farrell, Chris Sternagel, Kevin Towers, or any other Open level skier to compete head-to-head for the Senior team.  Publish the requirements to make the team in advance and see who steps up to the plate.  If you are an active Open Pro level skier eligible to ski in the Senior division, you should be given the option of trying out for either the Senior or Elite teams, but not both.  Team try-outs could be based on the performance at the Nationals, not a separate event.  It would be much more interesting watching the Nationals if we knew certain skiers had even more at stake based on their performances.  You would really see who could stand up to the pressure.  The Nationals already has the two-round elimination format, making it perfect for Team trials as well.  Having the trials the day after Nationals, after the crowds are gone, with all but no pressure, seeing as the athletes know they are all but on the team is not an adequate and all encompassing tryout.  Any skier that has won a World Title in the previous 4 years, and is still competing, and wishes to compete at the Worlds again, should be exempt from trying out.  They should get an automatic bid to be on the team because they’ve earned it.  I think Scarpa would be the only skier to qualify.  If Keith would win a Worlds title next year, he would have an automatic bid for the 2006 Worlds.  The other team positions would be up for grabs to the skiers that perform when it counts.  If  you face plant, you go home with the rest of us.

What's you're opinion on this topic?  Email us your thoughts.

Chuck Gleason - Editor