Ski World Cup First Time

[daguilarh]

Hi everybody:
This is my first message and first thing I want to do is to introduce myself. I'm a staff photographer of Spanish EFE news agency. I ussually shoot news, mainly politics, and sports also, but almost only basketball.
Te point is that I've been assigned to cover a Ski World Cup competition next weekend, and it's the first time in my life I must shoot skiing. Although I'm an expert skier, I've never thought of taking pictures in a ski competition, I don't like mixing pleasure an work http://forums.photographyreview.com/images/smilies/smile.gif
So, I'd thank any advice you can give me: ¿What's the technic?¿Is a 300 mm lens enough or should I carry a longer one?¿Does the WC organization assign you a spot or must you look for your shooting point? In that case ¿How should I choose the best spot?¿Should I carry my skis or I won't use them?The coming of a skier to the shooting point is predictable or is is a matter of luck?

Any information would be useful
Thanks in advance to eveybody, and greetings from Spain! http://forums.photographyreview.com/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif

[primoz]

Hi there :)

You are lucky because there's "just" GS and SL races in La Molina. Downhill and Super-G would be harder to shoot, especially if this is your first time. But nevertheless it's not all that hard.

My first suggestion is to check wire or even our web for some skiing photos (http://www.photo.si/advanced_search1.php?searchtype1=category&condition1=like&searchstring1=s&andor1=and&searchtype2=sup_category&condition2=like&searchstring2=alpskiing&andor2=and&searchtype3=caption&condition3=like&searchstring3=&lenb=60) (yeah I'm so modest :P). You will see what to expect and what are "standard" skiing photos.

Technique? It's nothing special, just as any other sport. It's a bit faster but still no big deal. Only difference is that it might get "a bit" cold :) For GS and SL 300mm is long enough. For SL you can actually do fine with 70-200, but it depends on your position. Normally I don't shoot GS and SL races with anything but 300mm, and just to be sure I put 70-200 and 1.4x converted in my bag, but I rarely use them.

About position there's few things to consider. One is FIS priority list. On this there's about 95 of us, and with this, you have place on course (there's maximum 40 photographers on course, but it can be less if conditions are bad). Without spot on priority list, you are hoping you get access to course, but based on this for who you are working, there shouldn't be problem. There's never half of shooters from priority list on spot.

Next, once you get course access bib, is positioning. You find your spot on your own, except for finish area, where one or two spots for photographers are assigned, and you can't shoot from somewhere else. With this, experiences from previous races are extremely helpful, but since you don't have them, I will try to explain few things ;) Find spot a bit under fault (I guess that's right word in English for spot, where terrain goes from flat one to steeper one). This way you get nice clean background. But it depends how course is set. Sometimes gates are exactly on fault, sometimes meter or two before, and sometimes meter or two after. This last situation is perfect. Try to imagine how skiers would ski. If you know something about skiing, it's really helpful. Main point is to search for gates which they will hit hard. Now this is up to you, if you can picture in your head how they will ski. Personally I don't have problems with this, but spending almost all my life on skis, helps "a bit" with this ;)

After you are set, about 1 hour before first races, race director (Atle Skaardal) or his assistant (Markus Mayr) skis down the course, and if anyone of those two will think you are on dangerous place, they will move you. You don't argue, but you pick your gear and move. These people are long enough in skiing to know what is safe and what is not. And next to that, they have authority to kick you out of course, which is something you probably don't want ;) But both of these guys are great guys, and it's easy to work with. After that it's just waiting and being bored for about one hour.

How to come to this spot? Personally I ski down the course. I have no idea what "expert skier" means for you, so I can't tell you if you should go or not. There is one thing to consider though. Normally courses are so icy, that normal people don't even dare to slide down, and even less to ski it. My choice are racing gs skis with race tuned edges, and I don't have problems (when I go skiing for fun, icy tracks are my favorite thing anyway :mrgreen: ). If you have some crappy skis with flat edges, I don't suggest you to try your luck there, but I'm sure you know what you are capable on skis and what not. If you are, then going down on skis is easiest way. Another thing which is obligatory are crampons. You should leave your skis and backpack behind safety net, so you are not allowed to shoot from skis. Normally crampons are obligatory, and this year it's even stated in FIS rules. Before crampons were suggested, but not obligatory on some races. But nevertheless, no matter if it's not written in press center, I strongly suggest you to use them. You will feel much much safer with crampons then without.

I guess that's long enough. If you have any other question, drop me mail (mail will be in private message in few mins), and good luck with those two races. I wish I would be in La Molina, but I will be waiting for another week for men's WC in Val Gardena/Alta Badia.

PS: Check you private messages in little while ;)

take care, primoz

[superdiver]

Check out Primoz work, its the standard for ski shots! Just amazing stuff!

[jamesb84]

Primoz mate, very modest of you!! :D ;)

I'd check out his work though...possibly check out Getty and AFP too for some examples of what the best in biz (aside from Primoz) can do

The only advice i'd give you is to get out there, enjoy it and make some good mates with people who cover the ski season for a living, there are some characters who follow skiing, and golf, and rugby...

Enjoy it, and I'll definitely be looking at the agency to see whats there...

James.

[DC Fan]

Reuters photographer Mike Blake (http://blogs.reuters.com/photo/2008/12/02/the-most-difficult-sport-to-shoot/) has similar observations on ski racing, from the wire service's photo blog (http://blogs.reuters.com/photo/2008/12/02/the-most-difficult-sport-to-shoot/) and from the Sports Shooter site. (http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/1886)