yeah, I gotta say I would like to see some more trick variation, but it's more the judging than the athletes that dictate the same run, which is the most technical thing the athletes can do given the course. It's easier for the judges to arbitrate who has the best double cork based on a few set variables than to decide between two completely different tricks where there is a lot more thinking involved. Wallisch put his hands down on the landing, so bam: points gone. Also I think bobby Brown was smart to just do the double cork 10, because he was able to hold the grab longer and stomp the landing better. If they could just go ahead and be creative instead of doing whatever they could to win for their sponsors and the cheque, I have no doubt those guys (and girls) would do it instead of throwing the same super tech high risk tricks as all the others, because I think that would be discouraging as an athlete. This is why movies and edits are so much better than comps. The skiers don't have to "win", they just want to produce the coolest segment they can that will be entertaining; fun to watch.
To play "devil's advocate", it could be helpful watching everyone do double corks/flips/same trick, because then someone looking to learn those tricks sees all the unique little tweaks and movements that each athlete does, which gives a more complete understanding of the trick. The individual is in the detail. Also, this way, judging is toward perfection of the trick, so it cuts down on sloppiness, and forces the athletes to be better skiers, because it makes sense that whoever has the best execution of the trick has the best stance and movement, so it does push the sport, just on a very minute level toward perfection, which of course is impossible to achieve, but damn it we try hard.
