Ligety admits equipment criticism was harsh

SOELDEN, Austria (AFP) –

US skier Ted Ligety competes in the first run of men’s giant slalom during the FIS Ski World cup in Soelden, Austria. Ligety secured the men’s first World Cup victory of the season in the giant slalom here on Sunday for his second successive win here.

America’s 2006 Olympic combined champion Ted Ligety admitted Sunday he may have been “overcritical” of new equipment rules which he has loudly opposed, after turning in a terrific performance on the new skis.

“I think maybe I was overcritical at the time about how skiable they are,” the 28-year-old told journalists after winning the opening giant slalom in Soelden with an exceptional 2.75-second winning margin over his closest competitor.

Ligety has raged against new International Ski Federation (FIS) rules requiring skis to be longer and narrower — reportedly to make them safer — insisting this was a step back in time.

This weekend’s races were to be the first test, as critics warned the giant slalom would be most affected by the changes.

But women’s giant slalom winner Tina Maze of Slovenia expressed satisfaction Saturday, after securing her third Soelden win, equalling the record of Austrian veteran Hermann Maier.

“I find the new equipment great. It works really well for me.”

Ted Ligety of US reacts after the men’s giant slalom during the FIS Ski World cup in Soelden, Austria. America’s 2006 Olympic combined champion Ligety admitted Sunday he may have been “overcritical” of new equipment rules which he has loudly opposed, after turning in a terrific performance on the new skis.

Second-placed Austrian Kathrin Zettel said she was also “very happy” with the new gear: “I feel comfortable with it. “

Ligety, the 2011 world champion in giant slalom, insisted however that the new skis required more strength and endurance as they turn with less ease.

“Fifty seconds in, you’re way more tired than you were before at 1min 30sec… fitness is a much bigger issue with these new skis.

“I’ve come to terms with the ski ability of it… but at the same time I think they are not any safer.

“I’d rather that there weren’t any regulations… I really don’t think we’d be doing anything so crazy outside of the bounds of what we normally actually race on within the rules if they open it up. But then maybe some cool ideas would come out of it.”

Still, his opposition spurred him on to train even harder, which led to his sensational win on Sunday.

“I knew I couldn’t be so critical and then suck this year… I definitely feel like I had to be on top of my game.”