Feb Outside Magazine cover - Lindsey Vonn

[Mabouya]

I like a good picture of an attractive female athlete as much as the next guy, but this sort of thing makes me at least a little bit uncomfortable. Why not show her in a ski outfit instead? That's still plenty sexy, and related to her sport and the whole Outside thing. I thought that by 2013 we were no longer treating women like this, regardless of how many impulse buys it will drive in airport stores.

Having said all that, yowza, what a babe...

[ldamelio]

Relax. She posed willingly - you are making an assumption that she is being 'treated' negatively somehow or that it's exploitative - it would be different if it were a spy shot of a private moment. You can find just as many magazine covers with guys with 6-pack abs. Attractive is attractive; birds and bees. It's what makes the world go around. Too much political correctness. If it were three hours earlier, this perception of an innocuous magazine cover could have been my thought for Get Your Grump on Thursday.

[Mabouya]

Relax. She posed willingly -
:
:
an innocuous magazine cover

I know, I know, it's not as if she had to do it, and it's not like prostitution or anything, where the "seller" is doing it feed a crack habit.

As far as whether or not this is truly innocuous, I'll defer to the sociologists and to women. It's not white slavery, but I don't think it's 100% harmless either.

And those pictures of 3% body-fat models with 6-pack abs? I don't like those either, 'cause I sure as heck am not going to look like that, no matter how much time I spend on my Roman chair...

[RickM]

Then shouldn't this make you uncomfortable too?

[Too Tall]

We love the Lindsey. Great American.

Hey...uhhh...let's not debate this with pictures of hotties. We are better than that.

[vertical_doug]

She was such a fierce competitor. But this year, she is a bit of a train wreck both on and off the piste. I just hope she gets it together for Sochi
In the meantime, I'm going to root for the new kid Shiffrin. How cool is this...
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/15/sp...ef=sports&_r=0

[Too Tall]

She was such a fierce competitor. But this year, she is a bit of a train wreck both on and off the piste. I just hope she gets it together for Sochi
In the meantime, I'm going to root for the new kid Shiffrin. How cool is this...
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/15/sp...ef=sports&_r=0

Good call. One in a million.

[JitteryJoe]

She was such a fierce competitor. But this year, she is a bit of a train wreck both on and off the piste. I just hope she gets it together for Sochi
In the meantime, I'm going to root for the new kid Shiffrin. How cool is this...
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/15/sp...ef=sports&_r=0

All due respect, Doug, sounds like you're putting (the lovely Ms.) Vonn out to pasture a bit prematurely. Granted she's had a not so placid personal life and has admitted to bouts of depression, but this year she's suffered a pretty severe intestinal infection and some pretty hard crashes, so taking time off (while admittedly unusual) might be just what the doctor ordered, so to speak. And how many of her competition would give their right arms for a "train wreck" of a season that includes 3 WC wins and isn't over yet? My money says she'll be on all cylinders at the world championships next month, never mind Sochi. You're right, though; Shiffrin is a comer for sure.

But to the OP's point, I don't disagree, but it's our society. You could spend all day/week/of your life coming up with similar examples. So, while Ted Ligety just tied the great Alberto Tomba's career record for GS wins, we won't be seeing him on the cover of 'Outside' mag in a Speedo any time soon (I hope!). But thanks for posting the pic!

[sk_tle]

She was such a fierce competitor. But this year, she is a bit of a train wreck both on and off the piste. I just hope she gets it together for Sochi
In the meantime, I'm going to root for the new kid Shiffrin. How cool is this...
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/15/sp...ef=sports&_r=0

Lance's PEDs do not work anymore. Time to call Bradley?

[Bingomck]

Great article on Shiffrin. Thanks for sharing

[vertical_doug]

Herman Maier and Lindsey are my two favorite skiers. I think the way FIS conspired to sneak Maria Reisch into the number 1 slot in 2011 really motivated Lindsey to destroy all comers last year. Her 2011 probably ranks as her best. It'd be good for her to catch her breath and recharge.

All due respect, Doug, sounds like you're putting (the lovely Ms.) Vonn out to pasture a bit prematurely. Granted she's had a not so placid personal life and has admitted to bouts of depression, but this year she's suffered a pretty severe intestinal infection and some pretty hard crashes, so taking time off (while admittedly unusual) might be just what the doctor ordered, so to speak. And how many of her competition would give their right arms for a "train wreck" of a season that includes 3 WC wins and isn't over yet? My money says she'll be on all cylinders at the world championships next month, never mind Sochi. You're right, though; Shiffrin is a comer for sure.

But to the OP's point, I don't disagree, but it's our society. You could spend all day/week/of your life coming up with similar examples. So, while Ted Ligety just tied the great Alberto Tomba's career record for GS wins, we won't be seeing him on the cover of 'Outside' mag in a Speedo any time soon (I hope!). But thanks for posting the pic!

[Mabouya]

Then shouldn't this make you uncomfortable too?

Heck yes, and it makes me mad, because there's no way in the world that he is the sexiest man alive.

There are tons of other guys out there WAY hotter than that.

[Matthew J]

Then shouldn't this make you uncomfortable too?

At one time it would have been quite an insult to compare Outside with People. Been a while since I bothered looking at Outside. Based on the OP, it appears the People comparison is apt.

[72gmc]

This, the Colnago thread, and the Nicole Cooke thread all relate for me. I may not like some of the shots but I have no issue with a female athlete recognizing the limited value of her sport (it's limited by the rest of us, after all) and taking advantage of her sexuality to increase her market value. When the conditions apply to men, men do the same. It's just business, and it's just smart.

I am personally glad she's done with her athlete/coach relationship and hoping she comes back at full speed.

[vertical_doug]

My knees hurt just watching this.



Schladming 2013 Super G

[Tomwd3]

My knees hurt just watching this.



Schladming 2013 Super G

I just saw that too. That looks terrible for ligaments.
Wish her best of luck.

[Britishbane]

MCL and ACL are torn: Y! SPORTS

[mainemike]

that looks awful. dam. she is quite an athlete and a true rise-to-the-occasion competitor. skiing at this level takes huge fitness, but the mental aspect of hanging it out there over and over is, to me, the real diff.

[Tomwd3]

Real bummer.
I'd read some of the outside article and some days in the off season she was in the gym 7hrs a day.
Impressive dedication. Those Alpine speed events are so incredibly hairy. Racers are always living on a razor's
edge and constantly pushing for more speed.
I hope to see her race again.

[Vlad Luskin]

I hear what you're saying and agree to a point. You may want to change your forum name, as it's incompatible with the views expressed in your post.

I like a good picture of an attractive female athlete as much as the next guy, but this sort of thing makes me at least a little bit uncomfortable. Why not show her in a ski outfit instead? That's still plenty sexy, and related to her sport and the whole Outside thing. I thought that by 2013 we were no longer treating women like this, regardless of how many impulse buys it will drive in airport stores.

Having said all that, yowza, what a babe...