Not medaling at the X Games may not bode well for the top U.S. athletes as Skier X inches closer to its Olympic debut at the Vancouver Games, where it will be called ski cross.
But there's a more pressing concern for a rollicking sport that involves downhill, close-quarter racing with six-man heats on a layout featuring banked turns and jumps:
Attire.
Austrian and French racers on the World Cup circuit have begun wearing tight-fitting clothing too closely resembling speed suits that Alpine racers wear.
(X Games officials banned the clothing and no Austrian or French skier made Sunday's final.)
Reasons for the fuss:
Ski cross was founded by big-mountain freeriders who, Puckett says, "wouldn't be caught dead in a race suit."
Many Alpine disciplines, because the athletes all look the same in their Lycra speed uniforms, are experiencing flagging popularity.
Ski cross needs its own identity -- like that established by snowboard cross, which enjoyed a successful Olympic debut in 2006 -- and should be something the younger generation can relate to by being able to purchase the same clothing their favorite athletes wear.
Puckett and Hayer seem hopeful that the International Skiing Federation (FIS) will impose a more precise rule during spring meetings, banning any kind of form-fitting specialty clothing.
But if that doesn't happen?
"If they don't change the rule almost everyone will be in suits at the Olympics," Puckett said. "And I'm not so proud that I won't go to a suit if that's the rule.
"I'm not going to miss out on a gold medal because I'm too proud to wear a suit."
A snowboarder chimes in
Snowboarder X riders are concerned about similar developments in their sport.
Cautioned Nate Holland, who on Saturday won the event for the fourth consecutive year: "I wouldn't want to be the guy walking around after a race wearing a speed suit -- let me put it that way."
Last, but not least
T.J. Schiller was allowed into the men's skiing slopestyle competition as an alternate and won the gold medal. . . . Ophelie David of France edged Magdalena Jonsson of Sweden to three-peat in women's Skier X. . . . Tyler Franconia of Franconia, N.H., prevailed in the Mono Skier X final. . . . Winter X Games attendance through four days was 68,100, down from 72,500 in 2007.
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pete.thomas@latimes.com
