Alice Robinson

[blackthorn]

"And here's to you, Alice Robinson
Kiwis loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa....... "

Her results have improved through the season culminating in GS gold. She is great to watch.
There have been previous comments about her skiing. I think she looks better at this end of the season. I suspect she is not trying to force things so much, and seeking early angles more than pressure, especially when looking at the number of DNFs she had earlier in the season.

What do others think about her current form and how it might relate to her technique?

It is a wonderful end to her season, which for her and all the WC skiers has been disruptive. Her future remains bright.

[jbotti]

Amazing speed when she is on. Very high risk approach. And she is incredibly inconsistent. But consistency can improve as she is really young. But you can look at other super high risk GS skiers (Luca D"alprindini comes to mind) and many never learn how to dial it back when they need to.

[jbotti]

I have seen her race quite a bit more this season. I have also watched her in speed races and in some of the downhill training runs at the Olympics. I have come to one conclusion, she is nuts! She is taking crazy risk in every race and I mean crazy. The few times she pulls it off, she wins and its unreal to watch. But I just don't think its sustainable and as the DNFs add up, it gets harder and harder mentally to have any confidence in the approach. It's unclear as of yet, whether she can ski under control and still be fast. Of course the bigger issue with her total reckless abandon is that for sure she is headed for a major injury. Considering that we can count on one hand those that have had serious crashes/injuries and came back and were the same skiers. able to ski fast without fear (Vonn, Bode, Svindal, Goggia maybe a few others) it's not a promising outcome for her career.

On that note, Goggia is pretty nuts also. One has to wonder whether she will be able to walk past 35 with the constant damage she is doing to her body.

[h.harb]

Alice Robinson is a mess, she has to charge and attack beyond her capabilities because her technique and boot setups are terrible. As John says, she will end her career with injuries. I predict she will be helicoptered out. Her coaching and support team have no idea of how to fix her. If I were her new coach; I know it would take at least a full year to be able to change her skiing.

[blackthorn]

The 2021/ 2022 season including these Olympics have produced very inconsistent results for her.
I do wonder if the artificial snow produced in these very cold dry conditions make her even more vulnerable to her technique and setup limitations, and full on charge and attack.
It would be great if she and the team around her could overcome these challenges.

[blackthorn]

"And here's to you Alice Robinson ..........."

She is much more consistent so far this season and winner at Kronplatz. Her speed on the upper shallower part of the course was the best, and she held it together on the steep. So, her technique and precision seem to be improving, and she has always been fearless on the steeps.

[jbotti]

Right now after her win in Kronplatz, she is leading the points standing in GS. Its perhaps a little misleading because 2 of the best skiers are injured (Shiffrin and Vhlova). But she is ahead of Brignone, Hector and Gut (all excellent GS skiers). So there is no doubt she is more consistent and has made some good progress from either a win or a DNF (where it was mostly DNFs). I think Harald still thinks her boot set up isn't right.

[blackthorn]

I had been thinking her setup was looking better, and I wonder, in addition, if her coaching team are trying to pare her back a bit from what often appears as a "hell for leather" approach.
I will put on my PMTS lenses and have a closer look in slomo at her boot set up from my armchair.
When I watch Shiffrin I am in awe of her superb technique and control even as she pushes the limits.

[blackthorn]

I had another look in SloMo and made some notes for myself. I don.t want to "Flood the zone with ..........") as it really is beyond my expertise.
JB - you said "I think Harald still thinks her boot set up isn't right."
I am interested in what the perceived issues might be. However I wonder whether it can be seen, or get a clue, just by looking or whether one really as to redo things from the ground up ie boot fitting, alignment, field testing etc etc.