Rahlves, switches boots, bids adieu to Willi Wiltz

[CaddyDaddy77]

Rahlves sounds like he's going for the cash to me, not the spirit.

hope Willi stays on with the US team for teching, he's one of the best, and has demonstrated so in recent years, they would be foolworthy to let him go.




Changes for Team Rahlves: Tech Willi Wiltz is out, Atomic boots are in
By Nathaniel Vinton
April 15, 2004

Daron Rahlves has switched from Lange boots to Atomic, succumbing to the company's strong push to get athletes who already use their skis, bindings and plates to add the newly successful boot. Also, Rahlves has confirmed that he will not retain Willi Wiltz as his ski technician for the 2004-05 season.

Rahlves reports he was faster on the Atomic boots when he tested them in Norway in March, but said the decision was difficult nonetheless. "I have nothing but love for everyone at Lange and their boots," he says. "I've just found a great feeling and support from Atomic with their boots."

Rahlves added that being on the "full package" would give Atomic extra incentive to help him win World Cup and Olympic medals during the next two years. "Atomic is making it very lucrative to get on the full package," said one industry insider.

Rather than work with Wiltz next season, Rahlves will be using an Austrian serviceman who works within the Atomic factory on a daily basis. It's a decision that Rahlves said caused him sleepness nights. "We've done some great things together, and I love Willi no end," Rahlves says, "but he's not the full factory guy, and that's the next step to reaching the top"

Wiltz is taking time off for a vacation in Hawaii, and is unsure what he'll do next year. "It would be tough for me to go for 25th after aiming for first place," he said. "I'm not sure I want to look over my shoulder and see someone putting 'D' into his bindings. But I don't blame Daron. He needs to do what's best for him."

Rahlves stressed that it wasn't a personal decision. He says the next two years are the most important of his career, and that he needs a level playing field with his competitors if he's going to achieve his goals. Part of that, he says, was getting the inside track at Atomic. He felt that having an Austrian serviceman would give him access to the fastest materials and most up-to-date research.

"I've had a ton of skis," says Rahlves, "but they're not all up to par with the best race skis. ... And it's a huge load off not to have to test to find out which ones are the best. That's time I could spend better on training."

Fast skis are especially important for Rahlves; smaller than most of his competitors on the World Cup speed circuit, he's at a natural disadvantage on flats. "Daron's notorious for making up time on the rough, steep sections," said Atomic USA's Ed Guzman. "Willi got his skis fast for him on the flats, too. He's one of the best."

A sparkling record and charismatic personality have made Wiltz an enormous presence in American skiing. Wiltz prepared Tommy Moe's skis for his gold-medal run in the Olympic downhill at Lillehammer, Norway, in 1994, and saw Rahlves out of the start through most of the wins that have made him the most successful speed skier in American history.

Friendly Californians, Rahlves and Wiltz approached the World Cup as a team. "My best moment this year was Kitzbuehel," said Rahlves, referring to the week where he had four podiums in four races. "Willi was right there in the start, breathing almost as hard as I was. I love his passion."

The U.S. Ski Team is hoping to find a way to keep Wiltz on the staff. "All I can say is that I'm very conscientious right now about finding a space for Willi with our team," said head speed coach John McBride on April 13. "If I can find a way to keep him on, I will."

[dipstik]

weak, but hey, these guys do this for a living so they need to make the money while they can. I bet he's getting a huge check from atomic for being a full sponsored racer. Kinda like Bode and Rossignol, and how rossi developed a replica of the Doberman so that Bode could be a full sponsored racer.


It's too bad about Willi too, sounds like he and Darron were good buddies.

[CaddyDaddy77]

Not bashing Rahlves, just wishing the industry wasn't the way it is. Yes, alligning yourself with one manufacturer definitely will bring more dollars to the table.

Last year was the first year Rahlves was invited to the factory at the same time as the Austrian team, prior, the skis had already been picked through by the time he was able to choose his skis. results don't lie, fast skis are fast skis. Hopefully D will have a good year on the full Atomic line.

Aamondt is going back to Dynastar skis again, from Nordica for next season also.

[phUnk]

^^^^ Interesting. Caddy, how do they pick their skis out at the factory?

[CaddyDaddy77]

Originally posted by phUnk
^^^^ Interesting. Caddy, how do they pick their skis out at the factory?

I could butcher it, but here's a much better expanation. I'm a big fan of conditioning the shit out of a ski before they even touch snow, it makes a difference, also learning more about what production numbers are fast for certain years, Alkasqualik helped me a ton with Salomon stuff, and think that it works well.



By Bill McCollom


Fast Skis are the stuff of myths, lore and superstition. Seemingly the products of black magic, Fast Skis inexplicably materialize, and just as mysteriously disappear once their karma has been exhausted. But while magical, elusive and (for most of us) nearly impossible to obtain, Fast Skis definitely exist and most certainly matter.

Take, for just one example, a women's World Cup super G last year in Innsbruck, Austria. The racer who finished 29th was less than two seconds behind the winner. In last year's world championship giant slalom race at St. Moritz, Switzerland, only 0.04 seconds separated the gold medal from the bronze. In speed events at St. Moritz, as in those at Beaver Creek, Colorado -- at both venues, the top portion of the course is flatter than Kansas -- the outcomes of races are largely determined in the first 30 seconds, even before racers break out of their tucks.

So it's no wonder that the search for Fast Skis consumes many dollars and endless hours of labor. Many racers wouldn't think twice if offered a Faustian arrangement guaranteeing the fastest skis on the circuit. "Damn Austrians" could well be the ski racing sequel to "Damn Yankees."

Fast Skis are not just the subjects of fantasy. Last year's World Cup overall and downhill winner, Austrian Stephan Eberharter, used just one pair of downhill skis all season. Daron Rahlves, the American skier who was the runner-up in the 2003 downhill standings, hit the mother lode of Fast Skis when he won back to back races at Kvitfjell, Norway, in March of 2000 and proceeded to race on those skis until they were reduced to hairy shreds several years later. U.S. speed star Doug Lewis jealously guarded his bronze medal skis from the 1985 World Championships at Bormio, Italy. Bill Johnson's "Red Sleds," on which he won the 1984 Olympic gold medal in downhill at Sarajevo, were legendary. And Johnny Spillane skated to a gold medal on a pair of secret-weapon skis at last year's world championships (see story, below). As Rahlves says, "You just pray to get those skis that are rocket ships."

Prayer may help, but racers and tech reps will be the first to admit that the pilot is the primary key to success, followed by the hours of preparation that go into every pair of skis before they even hit the downhill track. Nonetheless, the quest for the fastest skis is a year-round endeavor, involving untold hours of base preparation, waxing, more waxing, testing, testing and more testing.

NOT CREATED EQUAL
Tom Parks, Fischer USA's director of alpine competition promotion, noted that all skis are not created equal. And this is true even with skis from the same manufacturer. "The base material comes in rolls and then is cut to fit the skis," explained Parks. "Despite coming from the same company and being made of the same material, some rolls are faster than others."

Other factors affecting the speed of a particular pair of skis are hard to identify. "Maybe there are differences in the wood," offered Rahlves.
"The wood core is common to all speed skis," Parks said, "but the types of wood will differ, composites will differ, along with the density of the metal layering. All these factors will affect speed."

Once the ski is assembled, the factory test teams identify the fastest skis on multiple trips down the speed track and, according to Parks, "If the three ingredients of base, grind and service preparation come together, you'll get the magic skis that go like an SOB."
Not just any Hans Mogul can waltz into the manufacturing plant and pull out a pair of factory tested speed skis. Willi Wiltz, longtime USST serviceman and now Rahlves' private technician, said, "No one is going to get the best skis until the world knows who you are. If you're not in the top 10, you're a piece of s---." In fact, getting Fast Skis involves overcoming a persistent "Catch-22" problem -- you can't get Fast Skis unless you are the best and you can't be the best without Fast Skis.

Over the past few years, U.S. racers such as Rahlves (Atomic), Bode Miller (Rossignol), and Kirsten Clark (Fischer) have let the world know just who they are by achieving international rankings in the top five. And to the victors go the spoils -- the key to the kingdom of hand-picked skis. And to the remainder of the U.S. team go their high-speed hand-me-downs.

It was not ever thus. As recently as 2000, Rahlves called the chances of getting Fast Skis "a crap shoot," and he still bristles at what he considers a slight by the Atomic test team at the 2003 world championship super G, when nationalism trumped altruism. Rahlves is convinced that the test teams withheld information that the older skis with thin edges, which Eberharter and Hermann Maier rode to gold and silver, were running the fastest. "It's tough; they want Austria to be good," Rahlves said. "But I'm now getting good support, and they're treating Willi well."

Fast Skis FOR TEAM USA
This turn-around in the support by the manufacturers did not come by chance or by rankings alone. After years of inconsistent service and, at times, strained relationships with the factories, the USST took the initiative.

"After the 1998 Olympics the U.S. team took over service responsibility," said Alan Ashley, vice president of athletics for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. "We made the commitment to provide our servicemen more opportunity to go to the factories and establish relationships; we allotted more time and resources for testing; we hired personnel to help coordinate service from the factories."

And to further boost the U.S. effort, money still talks. "The Austrians used to be taken care of first," said Eduardo Guzman, race director for Atomic USA, "but now there is an awareness of taking care of other markets, and the U.S. market is so influential around the world."

In the case of Rahlves, being number two in the world in downhill also helps. He gets second pick behind the top-ranked Eberharter. After the Atomic test team identified a number of Fast Skis, Wiltz made the trip to Altenmark, Austria, and hand picked 16 pairs of downhill skis and nearly as many pairs for super G. "I looked through tons of skis," said Wiltz. "I'm mainly checking flex and consistency of the base. We'll test these skis against those from last year, which we know ran well."

And then the real work begins. Wiltz brings the skis back to his home in California and starts compiling layer upon layer of conditioning wax to each pair of skis, which Wiltz affectionately calls "layers of love."

"Each ski has its own personality," Wiltz said. "The base has to become shiny with no bumps or hairs, and then it's time for Daron to ski the piss out of them. The ski has to get broken down a bit by skiing on it for two or three days, and then -- BOOM -- they take off and then you can tell the difference."

'SKIING IN' THE SPEED
That happened this summer in New Zealand, over the course of the last three weeks of August. Said Rahlves, "Now I'll free ski and put on the miles. I can't wait. Willi will set up a glide track and monitor all the variables like timed sections of training. It's not really a science, just a lot of hard work. I get to know each pair of skis and get psyched when I see the numbers. I know they're going to run."

In a change from the previous four seasons, Wiltz and the private technicians for Bode Miller and Kirsten Clark will now be paid by the factories instead of the USST. That's good news for the athletes, provided they are able to maintain the servicemen who have been so instrumental in their success. Said Rahlves, "They offered me a factory serviceman, but I told them I wanted Willi and that's the way it's going to be. Willi works his heart out for me."

Speaking on behalf of the USST, Ashley said, "This move will give them (the servicemen) more access to the factory and their test teams. This is an awesome commitment and will bring the greatest visibility for the skis."
Rahlves has every intention of doing his part to that end. "We want to be the best in the world." He paused and then added, "I just love to see that shiny, black base -- Fast Skis rule the world."

[phUnk]

Thanks!

[Plakespear]

Originally posted by CaddyDaddy77
just wishing the industry wasn't the way it is.

Hey, if you were getting paid to ski, would you care what brand of gear you were using, as long as it worked?

[CaddyDaddy77]

Originally posted by Plakespear
Hey, if you were getting paid to ski, would you care what brand of gear you were using, as long as it worked?

No, I wouldn't It's just harder for companies outside of the big 3 to make a dent in WC (3 being 1 Salomon, 2 Atomic, 3 Rossignol)

Fischer had some pretty significant gains as acompany when Bode was under wing, but he moved to get new equpment faster, and more customized.


Mostly I was pointing out Wiltz and his uncertainty, the job is not exactly a galmorous one, and he may not even be with the team this fall. Good techs are hard to come by and Rahlves saw the difference in his performance this year.

Unlike almost all other nations at the WC level we have no govt. subsidies for the team. The depths of the Austrian teams are in part due to the fact that they can afford to slowly work their teams thru the Europa circuts and gradually bring them into the WC. We tend to give a year or two and then throw our kids to the WC circut, lots of problems get in the way. Tommy Moe was suspended twice for toking up in his early days. Chad Fleischer used to disapper for days on end, shit like that.

Just wishing that he program would develop to what it could be, we have a good stable of skiers right now. Like a race-horse if they go too fast too early they won't make it to when they should peak, they will burn out. Lots of our kids burn before they ever get a chance to shine.

Bring Willi back.

[ak_powder_monkey]

First I'd like to say I don't like atomic they are slow, really slow, compared to fischers (in the xc world anyway) second I understand not wanting to test skis all the time, testing skis when you should be skiing sucks although I think that knowing yourself what the fastest skis are and why they are fast is very important this of course is all from an xc standpoint where atheletes have to tune their own skis in World Cup (correct me if I'm wrong). It appears that Rahlves is taking a risk an is not selling out. Skis are obviously very important in Alpine skiing especially in tight races. I don't know quite what makes an alpine ski fast, but what I do know is that it was awesome to watch this guy ski switch across the return of the champions finish line

Skier: Rahlves Photo: Me

[Plakespear]

Originally posted by ak_powder_monkey
this of course is all from an xc standpoint where atheletes have to tune their own skis in World Cup (correct me if I'm wrong).

You're wrong. Nordic teams have ski techs just like the Alpine teams do.

[CaddyDaddy77]

Originally posted by ak_powder_monkey
First I'd like to say I don't like atomic they are slow, really slow, compared to fischers (in the xc world anyway) second I understand not wanting to test skis all the time, testing skis when you should be skiing sucks although I think that knowing yourself what the fastest skis are and why they are fast is very important this of course is all from an xc standpoint where atheletes have to tune their own skis in World Cup (correct me if I'm wrong). It appears that Rahlves is taking a risk an is not selling out. Skis are obviously very important in Alpine skiing especially in tight races. I don't know quite what makes an alpine ski fast, but what I do know is that it was awesome to watch this guy ski switch across the return of the champions finish line

Skier: Rahlves Photo: Me

Nice pic pow-monkey.

As PlakeSpear mentioned WC XC get techs just like the others. You might want to pick up something like Ski Racing if you want to get tech tips and understand a bit more on both the XC and Alpine side for what makes Skis fast, they have a section each issue usually adddressing just that.

Rhalves isn't selling out, he selling in, eliminating others and going to a single sponsor, idea being greater contact and response from the sole manufacturer, Atomic. If you read that article, you can see it's just recently we have really had the opportunity to actually get hte fast skis. The skis aren't going to take you from 44th to 1st, but can make the difference between 1st and 2nd.

Ski manufacturing has come a long ways, but if you have ever been on a "fast ski" it's different, the press was warmer, the temprature perfect, the epoxy just right, the base material was harder, thinner, whatever, they all combine to make a fast ski.

If you watch closely Rahlves sometimes skis on skis that aren't this years models, some have been re-topped, meaning they have this years graphics but are in fact an older ski. From memory I think he won the Kitzbuel on an older pair of skis, they were just in his mind faster on that course.

Conditions distate different skis as well, new snow, man made, old snow, all effect the decision to select the pair that will glide the best. I don't know a lot about XC, but know a fast ski is a fast ski, care for race skis the way they should be and fast skis are in the works, conditioning and proper waxing and brushing are the keys to success.


Sorry for the rant, maybe intially I didn't really mean D was selling out, just a little flustered he let Wiltz go, hope he made the right choice.

[steved]

Originally posted by Plakespear
Hey, if you were getting paid to ski, would you care what brand of gear you were using, as long as it worked?

...and any additional feedback from the field never hurt any company.... It's great work if you can get it....how can anyone criticize for spending some time with the Competition...?

[ak_powder_monkey]

Originally posted by Plakespear
You're wrong. Nordic teams have ski techs just like the Alpine teams do.

Hmmm that really does make more sense. Waxing for classic when its 33° F and snow/ raining ----------> Giant pain in the ass not to mention the sticky thumbs from klister

[ak_powder_monkey]

Originally posted by CaddyDaddy77

Ski manufacturing has come a long ways, but if you have ever been on a "fast ski" it's different, the press was warmer, the temprature perfect, the epoxy just right, the base material was harder, thinner, whatever, they all combine to make a fast ski.

Fast skis make such a difference anybody who ever XCed on say some rossi deltas and some ficsher RCS' will tell you that fast skis make a huge difference, myself going from circa 1989 fischer CS 178 cm skate skis to some 2002 195 cm SCS' took about 3 minutes off my 5 k time. Also in XC especially Camber makes skis really fast, as well as side cut (Fischer skate skis have the best skate cut ever)

Conditions distate different skis as well, new snow, man made, old snow, all effect the decision to select the pair that will glide the best. I don't know a lot about XC, but know a fast ski is a fast ski, care for race skis the way they should be and fast skis are in the works, conditioning and proper waxing and brushing are the keys to success.

Absolutely, usually our top skiers have like 10 pairs of skis that the coaches test wax and retest to get the best possible ski. every pair is slightly different and has slightly different bases and different redisual wax thus making every pair slightly different and used for slightly different applications

[dipstik]

Where do you find this stuff Caddydaddy? It's interesting. I've heard rumors that the reason some ski companies are putting their name/logo on the base of the ski is because sponsored racers were using a different ski, and using only their sponsors topsheet (unbeknownst to the sponsor). I actually believe this because I was speaking to a Dynastar race rep on epic and he told me that Dynastar makes a lot of the Rossi race skis, and I guess they just throw down a rossi topsheet before they ship them out. Makes ya wonder what the hell kind of skis you are actually getting in the stores.

[Alkasquawlik]

Originally posted by dipstik
It's interesting. I've heard rumors that the reason some ski companies are putting their name/logo on the base of the ski is because sponsored racers were using a different ski, and using only their sponsors topsheet (unbeknownst to the sponsor).

Yeah this shit happens all the time. In racing and freeskiing. I remember when JT was 17 and heading out to AK to go film for Sick Sense, he got a pair of Explosives, covered the ski in K2 stickers and even carved out the Volkl logo on the bases. Filled the gaping hole with P-tex and he was on his way.

Also Rossi and Dynastar are nearly the same company and their race skis are nearly identical for the past 5 years.

Every pair of K2 Downhill skis you've seen in the past 5 years are Atomics with a K2 topsheet.

They'll find a place for Willi, he's a legend. He'll probably be doing Marco's and Bryon Friedman's skis next year.

[Dexter Rutecki]

Originally posted by Alkasquawlik
Every pair of K2 Downhill skis you've seen in the past 5 years are Atomics with a K2 topsheet.

Not sure I've seen a K2 on the WC since Bode left 'em.

[Alkasquawlik]

Over a couple of beers with Daron on Sunday night, he explained to me the whole entire deal with switching techs and boots. He switched because he said the Atomics are a better boot now. He's been testing Atomic boots for years now and was never 100% satisfied. But he said after some testing in Norway, Atomic finally hit the nail on the head. It wasn't a spur of the moment money based desicion. Secondly, he explained why he chose a new tech and it really does make a lot of sense. Willi is an awesome guy, I've known him for years, but he just doesn't have the connections, insight and control over skis that Daron's new tech has. Daron's new tech can watch a ski be made from a slab of wood to final product and then pick whatever the hell he wants at anytime. Daron said his new tech is in Austria already running in and prepping his skis for next year. He said it's a different level of commitment that a factory technician has.
(Tangent Side-Note) The factory techs are dedicated, so dedicated that they were in Snowbasin Utah three years before the Olympics getting data on Utah snow.

[CaddyDaddy77]

Thanks Alka, cool explanation. Not that it should be a surprise that Atomic is making a better boot, the Lange WC boot is based off the mold that's 20-some years old, with new buckles. And it still is the most dominant boot on the tour.


I guess you can't really go wrong with someone that has the opportunity to watch the process from begining to end and hand pick the skis.


As you mentioned before, hopefully Friedman will pick up Willi. Bryon has a lot of talent, I think he will stomp it in years to come.