A Note on Straddling

Everyone:  Stop straddling in slalom.  Simple.  You know when you do it, and if you don't turn yourself in you are failing.  Boot topping is one thing.  Straddling is another.  It's almost always the same people, just like it's always the same people breaking tips on SL skis and bending instep buckles.  Stop it.  Stop pinching the line.  Give yourself more room above the gate and bring some shape to the gate.

Incorrect:

Coaches from other teams shouldn't feel obligated to video you because they think you're going to straddle and not turn yourself in.  Contrary to popular myth, there is no rule about disqualifying yourself, so if you straddle, stop being such a crybaby and get yourself on the DQ list at the end of the run.

Incorrect:

And even though the skier pictured above has been roundly criticized by his peers via Facebook, we still put this here as an example of what not to do.  Straddling is a conversation that happens with yourself.  One of those moments in life where it's pretty likely that nobody will know the difference.  But if you just drive away after backing into another car in the Walmart parking lot at 3 AM on a Tuesday, you're still a douchebag.  Do the right thing.  Turn yourself in.

Incorrect (Note that most of the following offenders DID turn themselves in):

So now that we're all perfectly clear what it looks like, STOP DOING IT.  And if you do it, DQ yourself so that the angry mob doesn't despise you.