We all make choices. With skiing, and more specifically ski racing, we make choices about many things. Training venue, training conditions, travel days, days off, using or not using an opportunity that is presented. When you look at the contrasts in these choices, they do not seem like much. Like they will not make much of a difference. But when you look at a sport that is measured in hundredths of seconds, and probably should be measured in thousandths, these decisions make all the difference. Between 1st and 2nd, 3rd and 4th, 30th and 31st. All the placings that really matter in World Cup and all ski racing usually are decided by very small margins. So when to fly, where and when to train, when not to train, what to eat and when, hydration, sleep, when to do conditioning and what time to do so all play a role. What can inspire? What can call to question? All these things make a difference. This is what the coach does in approach to a race. To make these choices but also to take advantage of relationships, call in favors. To give their athletes the best possible chance to take advantage of their opportunities. When you do all of these things well, all you have done is give your athletes the opportunity to excel. You are not and are never guaranteeing anything, but you can help them succeed by making better decisions.

All of that being said, we are just days away from free skiing day on Friday in Aspen. Teams are spread throughout North America training and making decisions. There are some things I would most likely take into consideration. The first is geographic proximity to the race. Why? Short travel time into the race, similar snow temperatures and texture, more control over days off, avoidance of air travel to name a few. So if you were going to race in Aspen why would you fly from Europe and go to Canada to train? It's like flying from the USA or Canada and prepping for Alta Badia in Norway! But yet teams do this. And even here in Colorado you have differences. Vail is closer to the same elevation of Aspen than Loveland or Keystone. It is even closer geographically. Sleeping at higher elevations has a negative effect on recovery. Even if by only 1000 feet. My opinion is that everyone who has trained at Vail this fall is at an advantage at Aspen. Does it mean that the people training here will prevail in Aspen? No, of course not. But it does give them an advantage.

In talking to Jeff Kai, the Program Director of the Aspen Valley Ski Club, the race hill is well prepared with excellent man-made snow and they injected the hill today. The temperatures have been great here and the water will take very well. They have 2 more days to prep the surface and make it smooth for the ladies' race. I do not think it will be overly slick as their plan has been good. With good but not extreme temperatures and night and good care of the hill.

So who has trained here a lot? Poutiainen, Maze, Drev, Hoelzl, Vonn, Zettel, Kirchgasser, Schild, Leinonen. Maria Riesch just got here so she is fighting some jet lag and training. Mancuso maybe did 2 days here in the last couple weeks, Schleper? I haven't seen her here. Hometown and all... Decisions, I am not criticizing, just observing. And I am sure there is a valid reason for every single decision made and it does not make them incorrect. But it does allow for 2nd guessing.

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Greg "Grande" Needell grew up ski racing at Stratton Mountain, Vermont. After graduating from SMS he skied for NCAA Division 1 St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY where he was co-captain in 1986. Greg returned to SMS to coach there for five years serving as the Head Women’s Coach as well as the Head J2 Men’s Coach. He then moved to Mission Ridge in Wenatchee, Washington in 1992 to become the Program Director and Head Coach of the Mission Ridge Ski Club. In 1997, Greg became the Head Coach at Mammoth Mountain, California.

In 2002 Needell was asked to join the U.S. Ski Team staff as a World Cup SL and GS coach. From 2002 to 2008 Needell helped lead the U.S. Ski Team Men to 43 wins, 105 podiums and 264 top ten finishes. Now at the helm of Alpine Race Consulting, Needell offers his knowledge and experience to clubs nationwide.

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