A Boston Blickbild Exclusive
From now on Czech slalom specialist Sarka Zahrobska will be Sarka Strachova. She was married last weekend and decided to change her name completely instead of hyphenating it. Austrian skier Regina Sterz totally baffled fans, commentators, her teammates, and even her trainers when she changed her name from Mader to Sterz (see this story about Sterz). Now it looks like the World Cup will be even more confusing for everyone. The others have already reported this story. But, as usual, the Blickbild has its unique perspective on Sarka's marriage. One of our intrepid reporters caught up with Sarka Strachova for this interview. Let's find out what she has to say.
BB: Congratulations on your marriage. We at the Blickbild wish you a long and happy marriage.
Strachova: Thank you.
BB: Why did you decide to take just your husband's name and not hyphenate your name like many of the other women on the World Cup?
Strachova: Sometimes the TV commentators and announcers at World Cup races speak rather quickly. Try saying Sarka Strachova-Zahrobska five times fast and see what happens.
BB: Sarka Strachova-Zahrobska, Sarka Strachochva-Zahroba, Sadda Strateh---
Strachova: Exactly! I can easily imagine the Eurosport commentators, especially the British ones, stumbling over my name if they hyphenated it.
BB: So you are not using Austrian skier Regina Sterz as your role model?
Strachova: Well, I do admire Regina and the rest of the Austrian team. She is a great skier. But no, she is not my model for changing my name.
BB: And your intention was not to confuse the fans?
Strachova: No. I saw what happened with Regina last season. It just shows what happens when people in the press don't do their homework.
BB: But in Regina's case she didn't inform the press that she changed her name. It wasn't the fault of the press, it was hers. Even our intrepid researchers got fooled by Regina.
Strachova: I figured if I went to the press now, there would be enough stories that by the time the World Cup season starts, people will get used to my new name. Fans, commentators, and even your intrepid reporters will have about six months to realize who I am. Nobody should be confused.
BB: Do you think that the International Skiing Federation (FIS) will require women to hyphenate their names when they get married in order to avoid confusion?
Strachova: I don't think that they will pass any new regulations about women changing their names for next season because there will be so many other new rules. (see this story.) Even if the FIS passed a rule about hyphenating names, Regina and I would probably be grandfathered in. But you never know with the FIS.
BB: Do you feel that you and Regina Sterz are trend setters and other women in the World Cup will stop hyphenating their names?
Strachova: It's nice to be someone who's a trend setter, but I don't think that will happen. Lindsey Kildow changed her name to Vonn and nobody cared or was baffled. Of course in America people don't care about skiing. Americans care more about Lindsey's relationship with Tiger Woods than about her skiing.
BB: Speaking of Lindsey Vonn...Are you worried that the United States will bomb your country?
Strachova: No. I read that Sarah Palin wants to bomb my country in retaliation for the Boston Marathon bombings because she confused it with Chechnya (see this story from the Daily Currant ).What does that have to do with Lindsey Vonn?
BB: Have you heard that Lindsey Vonn plans to sue Slovenia because of Tina Maze's performances and records last season?
Strachova: Yes. It is all over the sports press in the Czech Republic. We all think it is a big joke. Do you think that it will really happen or will it be thrown out?
BB: Our intrepid research staff just found out that the lawsuit will go through. However, there is a big backlog in the courts in Vail, so it will be a long time before the case actually comes to trial.
Strachova: But why would the USA bomb the Czech Republic? Even if Lindsey Vonn won her lawsuit, we have nothing to do with Slovenia. Anyway we are no threat to the USA because the Czech Republic is a country with a very small ski team.
BB: Lindsey Vonn's father, who is also her lawyer, thought that Slovakia was Slovenia when shown a map of Europe and asked to locate Slovenia. Slovakia is next door to the Czech Republic.
Strachova: Oh dear! Didn't he learn geography in school?
BB: Evidently not. Are people in the Czech Republic preparing for war in case it mistakenly gets invaded or bombed because someone couldn't find either Slovenia or Slovakia?
Strachova: Uh...no. I would hope that if US soldiers want to invade or bomb Slovenia, they will look on a map first and then go to the correct country.
BB: Onto another subject. The scoring system in Alpine skiing will change next season. The fastest racer may not necessarily be the winner. (see this story ) Over the summer will you work on your form and making sure that your speed suit, helmet, and boots don't clash?
Strachova: Yes. Even my skis, gloves, and poles will be perfectly color-coordinated. I may not be the fastest skier, but at least I will earn all of my appearance points. In addition, I will be working on having perfect form in my races.
BB: Sarka, I want to congratulate you again on your marriage and wish you success next season. It was a real delight talking with you today.
Strachova: Thank you. I made a complete recovery from brain surgery last year. After that I knew that I could survive anything, even an interview by one of your intrepid reporters.
The Boston Blickbild. Our motto is: We look on maps before invading other countries.
The Boston Blickbild is on Facebook. If you enjoy our unique perspective on World Cup Alpine skiing, please like us on Facebook.
BB: Congratulations on your marriage. We at the Blickbild wish you a long and happy marriage.
Strachova: Thank you.
BB: Why did you decide to take just your husband's name and not hyphenate your name like many of the other women on the World Cup?
Strachova: Sometimes the TV commentators and announcers at World Cup races speak rather quickly. Try saying Sarka Strachova-Zahrobska five times fast and see what happens.
BB: Sarka Strachova-Zahrobska, Sarka Strachochva-Zahroba, Sadda Strateh---
Strachova: Exactly! I can easily imagine the Eurosport commentators, especially the British ones, stumbling over my name if they hyphenated it.
BB: So you are not using Austrian skier Regina Sterz as your role model?
Strachova: Well, I do admire Regina and the rest of the Austrian team. She is a great skier. But no, she is not my model for changing my name.
BB: And your intention was not to confuse the fans?
Strachova: No. I saw what happened with Regina last season. It just shows what happens when people in the press don't do their homework.
BB: But in Regina's case she didn't inform the press that she changed her name. It wasn't the fault of the press, it was hers. Even our intrepid researchers got fooled by Regina.
Strachova: I figured if I went to the press now, there would be enough stories that by the time the World Cup season starts, people will get used to my new name. Fans, commentators, and even your intrepid reporters will have about six months to realize who I am. Nobody should be confused.
BB: Do you think that the International Skiing Federation (FIS) will require women to hyphenate their names when they get married in order to avoid confusion?
Strachova: I don't think that they will pass any new regulations about women changing their names for next season because there will be so many other new rules. (see this story.) Even if the FIS passed a rule about hyphenating names, Regina and I would probably be grandfathered in. But you never know with the FIS.
BB: Do you feel that you and Regina Sterz are trend setters and other women in the World Cup will stop hyphenating their names?
Strachova: It's nice to be someone who's a trend setter, but I don't think that will happen. Lindsey Kildow changed her name to Vonn and nobody cared or was baffled. Of course in America people don't care about skiing. Americans care more about Lindsey's relationship with Tiger Woods than about her skiing.
BB: Speaking of Lindsey Vonn...Are you worried that the United States will bomb your country?
Strachova: No. I read that Sarah Palin wants to bomb my country in retaliation for the Boston Marathon bombings because she confused it with Chechnya (see this story from the Daily Currant ).What does that have to do with Lindsey Vonn?
BB: Have you heard that Lindsey Vonn plans to sue Slovenia because of Tina Maze's performances and records last season?
Strachova: Yes. It is all over the sports press in the Czech Republic. We all think it is a big joke. Do you think that it will really happen or will it be thrown out?
BB: Our intrepid research staff just found out that the lawsuit will go through. However, there is a big backlog in the courts in Vail, so it will be a long time before the case actually comes to trial.
Strachova: But why would the USA bomb the Czech Republic? Even if Lindsey Vonn won her lawsuit, we have nothing to do with Slovenia. Anyway we are no threat to the USA because the Czech Republic is a country with a very small ski team.
BB: Lindsey Vonn's father, who is also her lawyer, thought that Slovakia was Slovenia when shown a map of Europe and asked to locate Slovenia. Slovakia is next door to the Czech Republic.
Strachova: Oh dear! Didn't he learn geography in school?
BB: Evidently not. Are people in the Czech Republic preparing for war in case it mistakenly gets invaded or bombed because someone couldn't find either Slovenia or Slovakia?
Strachova: Uh...no. I would hope that if US soldiers want to invade or bomb Slovenia, they will look on a map first and then go to the correct country.
BB: Onto another subject. The scoring system in Alpine skiing will change next season. The fastest racer may not necessarily be the winner. (see this story ) Over the summer will you work on your form and making sure that your speed suit, helmet, and boots don't clash?
Strachova: Yes. Even my skis, gloves, and poles will be perfectly color-coordinated. I may not be the fastest skier, but at least I will earn all of my appearance points. In addition, I will be working on having perfect form in my races.
BB: Sarka, I want to congratulate you again on your marriage and wish you success next season. It was a real delight talking with you today.
Strachova: Thank you. I made a complete recovery from brain surgery last year. After that I knew that I could survive anything, even an interview by one of your intrepid reporters.
The Boston Blickbild. Our motto is: We look on maps before invading other countries.
The Boston Blickbild is on Facebook. If you enjoy our unique perspective on World Cup Alpine skiing, please like us on Facebook.
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