Estonian cross-country skiers get only five tickets to Olympics, the sprinters not having done longer distances this year.
Ski team Sochi dilemma: who goes, who stays
21st January 2014, 16:10
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«The list to get Sochi Olympics is absurd – the better you do at World Cup series, the worse off you are,» complained Estonian Ski Association sports director Raul Olle, upon hearing that Estonia may only send five cross-country skiers to the games. On account of those backing out, one extra ticket may perhaps be acquired – but no more.
Yesterday, the Olympics list was closed down. While at other sports, all went okay – two alpine skiers, one ski jumper, and four biathlonists get to go – the cross-country folks are obviously not satisfied with merely five places.
«This past week-end, three Estonians made it to World Cup points in Poland, but we did not get any additional Olympic tickets, rather dropping a couple of dozen notches in the waiting list,» criticised Mr Olle.
That’s true. On the waiting list, Estonia has the numbers 23, 42 and 49. Guided by opinion of the ski coach Mati Alaver – that, for the whole bunch, the states will waive 30 tickets then to be granted to those willing to accept them – Estonia might send the sixth skier to Sochi, but that will be all.
The reason things went wrong, for Estonia, is that Olympic ratings reckon FIS-points from sprint and long distance skiing alike. According to that, our best is Triin Ojaste, who, by the way, brought Estonia its fifth ticket to Sochi.
«For us, the sprint coach Christoph Schmid’s system, that sprinters will do no long distances this year, proved fatal,» said Mr Olle.
Blame whom you will, one must accept the situation. But who, then, are the five who get to go? And the possible sixth one?
Mr Olle is not about to speculate with names: «We will have to talk it over, with the coaches. And fast. On Tuesday, we will present the team to be confirmed by Ski Association board.»
In reality, there’s not much to discuss. As the team will have to include a lady, Ms Ojaste topping the Estonian Olympic list, she is going. Then the best sprinter Peeter Kümmel, best long distance doer Aivar Rehemaa and, based on World Cup points, also Karel Tammjärv. Thus we have four, the remainder needing to be discussed.
The fifth and sixth might be Algo Kärp and Raido Ränkel, but in which order? Sports principles would dictate that Mr Kärp come first; even so, Mr Ränkel can do skating and classic alike, also having the advantage of being younger. Still, both will probably get to participate, as the extra place is awarded. The sevenths spot, should that happen to come, would evidently be divided between Siim Sellis and Piret Pormeister.
But then: every skier may take along one support person: coach, service guy, physiotherapist. According to Mr Olle, cross-country skiers would need at least four or five service guys, in Sochi: «The conditions are so complex, there. Some must be waxing the test skis, the others test them, others still prepare the competition skis... Can’t be done with a small bunch.»
With five wax guys, only one ticket would remain. The ski coach Mati Alaver is not worried and stands ready to give his place to someone else: «I may stay at home in peace, I have been at Olympics before. I will in no case be fighting over tickets.»
Mr Alaver stepping aside will not help much, therefore the skiers are in for a bargaining session with Estonian Olympic Committee and the others sports.