Alpine skiing: Vonn asks permission to enter men's downhill race

[St. Bear]

Interesting...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/06/us-alpine-skiing-vonn-idUSBRE8950BS20121006

(Reuters) - American Lindsey Vonn has asked the International Ski Federation (FIS) if she can enter a men's downhill race in Canada this season in an attempt to revamp the image of women's alpine skiing.
The four-times overall World Cup champion sent a letter to men's race director Gunter Hujara, asking him about the possibility of competing in the men's downhill at Lake Louise, Alberta, where the first speed events of the season are taking place.

 

[marcski]

Interesting. I believe it is one of the "slower" races of the circuit....gliders, such as Vonn, do well there and she has had a lot of success on that course over the years....

 

[TheBEast]

Hhhhmmm interesting point on training and racing on the course the women are then going to race the following week.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Ughh.....

Terrible idea.

She's not going to come close to winning.

Publicity stunt.

Michelle Wie.

 

[deadheadskier]

I wonder how far back of the men's winner she would finish.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I wonder how far back of the men's winner she would finish.

If FIS approves it, we should have a pool.

My guess is DNF, because she's extremely competitive and I think she would push the envelope way too much (Bode-style). But assuming she finished? I'll go with 3:41 back.

 

[steamboat1]

Rejected.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie...ME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-11-03-16-27-56

 

[Polarizor]

Dammit. That would have actually been interesting. I would have watched for sure...would have been great for both women's and men's DH ratings. Maybe they could let her forerun and not be "officially" in the race? How she would make out would depend a lot on the course and weather. Sometimes wind resistance/terminal velocity is a bigger factor than inertia/weight.