Langely McNeal Eliminated From Winter X Games Over Clothing Violation

This isn’t how American Skier X racer Langely McNeal wanted to remember her appearance at the Winter X Games Aspen 2012. The X racer was disqualified Sunday after she qualified for the six-woman final.

McNeal was wearing a band on her thight as a tribute to fallen freeskier Sarah Burke and and elastic bands around the cuffs of her pants.

The announcement of her disqualification came after French skier Marielle Berger said the X Gamer’s attire choice allowed for an unfair aerodynamic advantage.

Officials for the X Games said it was not the Sarah Burke tribute band but the elastic ankle bands that led to her disqualification, in a statement sent from the Winter X Games PR department they stated:

“Following the women’s Skier X semifinal, a protest was filed after the race by another competitor stating Langely McNeal was in violation of the Winter X Games equipment and clothing rules specifications. It was determined McNeal was in violation of these rules and was disqualified.

“Specifically, McNeal was wearing an elastic band around each of her pant cuffs, tightening the pant material closer to the body, which is a violation. McNeal’s disqualification was not connected to the Sarah Burke band worn around her thigh.”

According to McNeal she learned of the protest after the fact, she was about to hop on a snowmobile for a ride when ”Someone grabbed me and said, ‘You’re being protested for your outfit,’ ” McNeal said. “I was really confused because I’m wearing my mom’s ski pants and I’m the only one out there without a spandex suit.”

Under official Winter X Games clothing rules ESPN writer Devon O’Neil states:

“No straps, fastening devices or other methods can be used to tighten the suit material closer to the body.” The rule also states, “The gap in the material must be a minimum of 80mm/3-1/8 inches, measured everywhere around the circumference of each leg at the mid-thigh to the top of the boot …”

McNeal says she believes her clothing still met the 3 millimeters rule:

“I had a hair tie on my boot, but your pants have to be, I think, 3 millimeters off your boot, which they definitely were. And I wish they had a measuring tool; I definitely would’ve passed. I asked for one, but they didn’t supply one.”

Marielle Berger filed the dispute which then allowed her to enter the finals round.