World Cup not the forum for Linsdey Vonn to race men’s downhill, former Crazy Canuck Ken Read says

When it comes to World Cup skiing Ken Read has been there and done that.

Read has seen downhill skiing evolve from the wild and woolly days of the Crazy Canucks storming Europe with their take-no-prisoners style to today's modern, high-tech approach to the sport.

So it bears some listening when Read patiently explains why he doesn't think American racer Lindsey Vonn should ski against the men in the opening downhill race of the World Cup season at Lake Louise, Alta.

"You need to find the right forum for it,'' Read, who lists Kitzbuehel and Wengen among his five World Cup victories, said in an interview Thursday. "The World Cup, in my view, is not the right forum.''

Read isn't directing any disrespect toward Vonn. He appreciates her skill and courage.

"The woman who likely will become the most successful ski racer of all time wants to explore taking on new challenges, one of them, to be racing against the men,'' Read said. "I have no issue what so ever with that.''

Several FIS rules and some practical considerations stand between Vonn and the starting gate. The rules say no racer can compete on a course a week prior to their own competition.

If Vonn races in the men's downhill she wouldn't be allowed to compete in the two women's downhill races and a super-giant slalom held at Lake Louise the following weekend. That would potentially cost the four-time overall champion significant World Cup points.

Vonn has said she would forgo two training runs for the women's race to level the field. In Read's view that raises safety concerns because the women's course is laid out different.

There's also the issue of where would Vonn start in the men's race.

World Cup starting positions are determined by a points system accumulated over previous races. With no men's points, Vonn could be forced to be the last person out of the start hut, meaning she would face a course rutted and scarred by 60 or 70 previous racers. It wouldn't be a showcase for her talent.

Most of these issues could be fixed by an exemption or special rulings. That's where Read begins to fear for the integrity of the sport.

"At that [World Cup] level you are engaged in a serious pursuit of wanting to win titles, win events,'' he said. "It's an income for a lot of people. It builds towards world championships and Olympic Games in a very well defined, highly entertaining, widely followed format.

"To step in with something that is not part of the serious intent of the sport, at that level, it's out of place.''

Read said if true interest exists in seeing Vonn race against men maybe a special competition could be organized.

"If somebody wanted to have a battle of the sexes, if you will, I'm sure there would be quite a bit of interest in it,'' he said.

Many are of the opinion letting Vonn race against the men would generate huge publicity. Read doesn't want skiing to become a reality TV show.

"I'm just fundamentally against the fact the World Cup should be used for this type of approach,'' he said. "The World Cup doesn't need it.

"The World Cup has significant publicity. It has a wide following. It has a clear structure that is exciting, dynamic, interesting.''

During her career Vonn has recorded 11 wins and 17 podium finishes on the Lake Louise course.

Read, who is director of winter sports for Own the Podium, also sits on the FIS Alpine Executive. He is not a member of the FIS Council which is expected to make a decision on Vonn's request at a Nov. 3-4 meeting in Switzerland.

Let's say Vonn is allowed to race, and given a start position in the top 20. How would she fare?

"I think she would do just fine,'' said Read. "Where she would finish I really don't know, but I bet she would do fine.''