evil betty

So qualification isn't done, and the last few spots are very close with essentially one more race to go. On the 6th and 7th Canada entered 6 racers in the lower tier North American cup races in Lake Placid. On the 11th there was races again in Lake Placid, Canada only entered 2 (articles say withdrew 4, start list on the 10th says 2 registered, whatever). If the total amount entered was above 20 then the ranking points for first start at 120 and go down incrementally, with only 2 Canadians entered there were 19 competitors so points for first only start at 90. The USA only has a shot at qualifying 2 sleds at this point, and Uhlaender appears to have had a shot at catching up to 2nd best among the americans. She came 1st, those 30 points really cost her if that is how the USA nominates their team. The best 17 countries get one sled, based on how their top competitor is ranked. is in 13th with 498 points, is in 14th with 480, 15th 475, 16th 468, 17th 457, 18th 456 and no one else has the ability to gain enough points. could have received 27 more points, 19 more, 21 more. So a big deal for them, and not appearing in the stories. The accusation is that Canada did it for their own gain, to protect Channell's chance of qualifying: the 6 countries with the highest ranked 2nd best slider get a 2nd quota. Channell holds the last spot at 512, Erlacher is next at 484. Both only race at the World Cup level. However, the next best after that is Simmchen at 391, who did race in Lake Placid and misses out on 25 points. Both her and her teammate would have to pass both Channell and Erlacher in the rankings for them to achieve a 2nd quota. A miraculous outcome, but that is what Uhlaender is accusing the Canadians of being afraid of. Could be, I don't think so but who knows.

I see, wasn't sure if they had internal trials like Canada had in the past. So Uhlaender will receive 84 points, more possibly if she races again, and Ro has one more race. So very understandable why she would be upset.

Other than the Reuters article it is all pretty badly presented. What I find comical is, if true, the Israeli and Maltese federations were upset. LOL, so far out of contention but mad about five to ten points when they need hundreds. and are right on the edge and lose key points so I would understand them being upset, but Uhlaender? All three americans would have to overtake the 3rd best british slider, it would take divine intervention to accomplish. So she is upset, but it is not rational to blame the Canadian coach. It must be very frustrating to not be racing in the World Cup, climb into the top 20 in rankings, and it still not be enough.

Yeah I was wondering the same thing, but both Canadians are crossed off the list. Whatever crossing off is meant to indicate.

I think you are right. I would not have seen it like that, but now it makes sense.

I saw that, really bizarre. I can't find anywhere in their qualifying document a rule for what they did.

To be fair, I did overlook one other possibility; the swiss 2nd best Simmchen, is actually the one who 120 points behind Channel, not the latvian, and she was in the race at Lake Placid. So, I suppose costing the Swiss 25 points so that it was harder for both of them to overtake Channel on the final weekend could have been a factor. Seems completely implausible as they are in life and death struggle to qualify one sled, and if Channel outperforms Erlacher than how good would both Swiss competitors have to be? Seems ludicrous, but maybe Cecchini is a worrier or just bad at math.

Less racers reduced the ranking points of 1st place by 30 points. Canada's 2nd best sled is 120 points ahead of a Latvian sled. No one in the NA cup race has any relevance at all to Canada. Only the Austrain Erlacher matters to them. The racers that could lose out, benefitted greatly by Canada entering many racers in two previous races. All of which are only competing to get one sled to the Olympics. Uhlaender may have been affected personally in her chances to go the Olympics, not sure what the American criteria is naming their team.

The interesting part of the article is the opening, about Uhlaender. She claims it dashes her hopes for making it to the Olympics? How? The americans have no rational chance of qualifying 3 sleds, so does losing 30 points deprive her of being nominated as one of the two americans ahead of either mystique ro or kelly curtis?

Yeah I read it, the reason that Canadian authorities probably won't even respond is because they know it makes absolutely zero sense. Channel is racing head-to-head with Erlacher of Austria, in the World Cup, to decide the fate of Channel. No racer in the NA cup could possibly have an impact on that. Coaches, and fans, I think will get that pretty quick. The next best 2nd best racer of an NOC is 120 points behind.

Frankly, you could make a case that Canada was boosting the chances of other countries in the Lake Placid races on the 6th and 7th by entering so many uncompetitive sliders. Those are the only two NA cup races that gave 120 points for the winners. Again, completely irrelevant to their own qualifying status.

Actually don't get it. What would the strategy be? The affected competitors are all the final few qualifiers and in no way impact Canada's chances to qualify two women. They entered two women who were competitive and withdrew others who were not. The result is reduced totals that could give the Latvian or Estonian competitors an advantage. Are they somehow involved with the Canadians in this? Should have mentioned it does help the Swiss and Danish competitors even more, but why would Canada care about that?

And I missed that Andžāne is still vulnerable; seven best scores total only 484 but 7th is a 28 so should be able to improve as last two results were both 110 points worth

Broke down some numbers of what is still in doubt: For 3 sleds men and women are done. For two sleds there is no competition left in men's ( doesn't enter a WC race and secures two?) but in women's its Erlacher vs Channel and Erlacher needs to finish probably four positions ahead in final WC race. For one sled, in men's, Takahashi or Yaw will have to enter a EC or WC race for the first time this year, or it is over. Even if they do they have to gain about 50 points over their current 7th best result, so they would need to score about 100. So men's probably done, unless Buff does not compete again, even then he could still make it. The women's final few placements could be chaotic and will really depend on who decides to race where on the final weekend. Looking at current 7 best results Schmied has 492, Johansen has 493, Delka has 524, and Burger has 538. For Delka to miss out then the lower two need to both finish top 20 in a WC or I think top 7 in a EC. They both have a 7th best score of 36 they have to improve on, and who knows if Delka will race one more time or not.

Hypothetically she could meet the minimum standards still with a high placement in the NAC event tomorrow. Seems unlikely to me, but still possible.