took a lickin' but still tickin' (d. rahlves related, a good maggot)

**ulty_guy** · 01-12-2005, 05:59 AM

firstly, i actually met daron walking down a street in chamonix on sunday. the world cup was in town for the kandahar downhill and subsequent slalom. he, his wife, and beautiful husky were taking a little walk through town sunday afternoon before leaving for Adelbolden. didn't even realize it was him till he was right next to me. anyways, i asked him to sign my jacket (the only thing i had on me) and we started talking. i remembered that we actually have a very random, common acquaintance and we just kept on talking about skiing, etc for a few minutes. he introduced me to his wife, asked me my names etc. certainly didn't even have to give me the time of day, but took a minute for a fan. a true maggot. i wished him (or jinxed him as the case may be) health and luck...

anyone catch daron's crash in the GS at Adelbolden yesterday? couldn't find any footage on eurosport.com, but having seen a replay of it, it was beyond gnarly. luckily he walked away just fine.

from skiracing.com...

...In what may have been the ugliest wreck yet this season, Daron Rahlves of the United States crashed violently near the finish line as spectators scrambled out of the way. He lay motionless in the netting, then got up, receiving an ovation from the crowd, and walked without limping to the finish, where he chatted with a relieved-looking Bode Miller.

"Some World Cup crashes are surreal like that one," said Miller afterwards. "He flew for 35 or 40 feet, and then landed and took off 35 meters or more. I think he did a 720 at least. I think he did a full rotation and was still going up when he should have been hitting the ground." ...[/skiracing.com]

sometimes the danger these guys are facing isn't always so obvious, but it's always there. good luck to D$ and all the guys and gals for the rest of the year.

**Jiehkevarri** · 01-12-2005, 07:15 AM

"Some World Cup crashes are surreal like that one," said Miller afterwards. "He flew for 35 or 40 feet, and then landed and took off 35 meters or more. I think he did a 720 at least. I think he did a full rotation and was still going up when he should have been hitting the ground." ...[/skiracing.com]

I saw it on local network's sport news. For me it looked like a flatspin 540 or somethings spinny-flippy like that...(after the bounce from initial crash!)

That kind of crashes show the amazing speed they've actually got...and that was "only" gs!

Cool story of meeting the man in person btw.