Is there camaraderie among alpine tour skiers?

[New Daddy]

I don't follow FIS ski tour, but judging from the TV olympic coverage of the alpine ski races, I could feel some kind of camaraderie among the skiers from different countries. For example, Lindsey Vonn calling Maria Riesch her good friend and rival, or Svindal congratulating Bode with genuine smiles at the end of the combined.

In pro tennis, which I follow closely, you don't really witness that kind of "friendship" or "warmness" among the top competitors. You never hear Roger Federer calling Rafael Nadal his friend or inviting him for lunch.

A plausible theory is that in skiing, your obstacle is not so much your competitors as the natural obstacle - the steep trail and the gates. All competitors face the same obstacle, and whoever does it better on a given day comes out the winner. You don't have to think of beating someone; all you have to do is ski down what's ahead of you to the best of your abilities. So, you don't necessarily have to build animosity against your nearest competitors, which you can often find on tennis tour.

So, is my perception that there is more camaraderie among alpine tour skiers accurate?

 

[SkiDork]

another difference is the $$$$$

 

[x10003q]

I do not think anybody has been airlifted off a tennis court with an injury. The fact that racers have died while on the course puts it in a whole different catagory than tennis. They are not just competing with the other racers. They are competing with the mountain, the weather, the course conditions, the light, and all at speeds that we normally travel in a car. They all understand the risks for themselves and each other. The common enemy is the course not another racer.

There is also the "team" aspect of racing. It still exists at the WC level. That's why they get on the radio to help the next team racer. What you give might cause you to lose, but you might get it back in a different race. There is no "team" member helping you in tennis.

 

[TrailsEndChazyLake]

When watching a special on TV after Rahlves won the Hannekamm he and Bode had their shirts off in a bar and were bartending.,,,,and handing out shots....I think there is a lot of good times had on the FIS circuit!!!