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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful British Columbia
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Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 10, 2010 - 01:01pm PT
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2 days to go till the start of the games ! The temps are cooling down thankfully as it has been the warmest January on record I think, up here.
The BBC has printed a rather grim article, though entirely true, about Vancouver today. I am sure there will be a lot more said about the bad side of our sometimes not so fair city in the days to come
Vancouver: 'Drug Central' of North America
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8505061.stm
Fortunately the athletes will be more heavily monitored than the criminals
Olympic doping lab world's most sophisticated
http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/story/2010/02/09/spo-doping-ayotette.html
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Feb 10, 2010 - 01:16pm PT
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So Bruce, or somebody in Vancouver, how did Olympic snow events wind up being scheduled for Vancouver's North Shore ski hills, which haven't reliably held show since the last ice age?
Tami's image of changing the Snowboarding event to Hayboarding is pretty funny,
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 10, 2010 - 01:26pm PT
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One of the amusing things about the Olympics is that we keep getting told that the snowboarding and freestyle skiing events will occur at a place called "Cypress Mountain", on the north shore of Vancouver. The difficulty being that there is no such place.
There is a Cypress Provincial Park on the north shore. It is made up of three mountains (hills) - Black Mountain, Mount Strachan, and Hollyburn Mountain - and the valley between them, which is known as Cypress Bowl. So-called Cypress Bowl because there are 800+ year old yellow cedars on the southwest side of Mount Hollyburn. Serious big old trees, right above the road.
There is a commercial ski operation which operates downhill lifts on Black Mountain and Mount Strachan, and a cross-country area on Mount Hollyburn - Tami will perhaps tell us about the latter. The company calls itself Cypress Mountain, but none of the mountains have that name. You could say that events will occur on Black Mountain, or Mount Strachan, or at Cypress Provincial Park, but it is inaccurate to say that they will occur at "Cypress Mountain".
To add to this geographical confusion, there is a Cypress Peak about 30 km southwest of Whistler. It is visible from the Squamish-Whistler highway, much of the Callaghan Valley, and from parts of Whistler itself.
Yesterday the NYT had an article on the dearth of snow at Cypress Bowl, allegedly taken at "Cypress Mountain". In fact, it was taken on Black Mountain. The lack of snow there isn't surprising - probably two years in ten there is lots of snow there, two out of ten not a lot, and the rest are OK. The so-called green Olympics has taken to trucking and even flying snow in from Manning Provincial Park, 250 km east of here, to make up the deficit. Heaven knows what the impacts will be.
Cypress Bowl has a long and troubled history, beginning with it being logged (high graded) in the 1960s, which led to widespread protests, some of the first environmental protests in this area. It was then made a provincial park, with the ski area built on the clear cuts. Always somewhat marginal in terms of climate and weather conditions - the Olympics people can't say current conditions were a big surprise. The ski area was clumsily privatized in the mid 1980s, and given to an aggressive operator that was quite territorial. That led to things like "ski-ins" at the cross country area, and even arrests. In the 1990s, that owner proposed what it called a "master concept plan" and everyone else called a "monster concept plan". It essentially proposed unfettered commercial development in the park, notwithstanding the marginalities, and even sued the government. Sometime later the company was sold to a somewhat more civilized owner, and changed its name from Cypress Bowl Recreations to the geographically-inapt Cypress Mountain.
The sometimes uneasy history between Whistler/Blackcomb and the great wilderness of Garibaldi Provincial Park to its east is another matter. Suffice to say that the park was established in 1927, and first Whistler (since the mid-1960s) and then Blackcomb (early 1980s) have steadily encroached on the park. Facilities and operations. Some say it is symbiotic, some say parasitic. It overall seems to have benefited the companies much more than the park, and once again illustrates the fine balance that must be found between protection of parks and their values, and use. Not so very different from the debate highlighted in the NPR series on US national parks last fall.
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Fluoride
Trad climber
Hollywood, CA
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Feb 10, 2010 - 01:35pm PT
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bmacd -
Just read an article last night online about how they're rounding up the homeless there to try to keep them out of the spotlight's way. East Vancouver was where it was happening.
Here's a similar article, not as in depth as the one I came across (damn you twitter and your instant info, can't find it now):
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100210/lf_afp/oly2010canpovertycrime_20100210040405
That said, you still have an awesome city and it will be a killer Olympics. Can't wait. I love the winter.
You do have a lovely fair city, despite the challenges mentioned in this thread. I think many folks would love to be residents of Vancouver. It's one of the most gorgeous cities in North America. Jeez, just being that close to Squamish & Whistler alone gives me envy, not to mention universal health care! :)
Props to you guys - put on a killer great Olympics! Rooting for ya (except for events, in which I'm rooting for the USA).
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Hawkeye
climber
State of Mine
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Feb 10, 2010 - 01:37pm PT
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well,
despite the issues, i am pulling for a very great and successful olympics. i will be watching my 58" plasma in HD.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 10, 2010 - 01:55pm PT
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I met with some clients (non-profits) in the downtown eastside of Vancouver last week, and they said nothing about "round-ups". It is the sort of thing that the rumour mill there would quickly propagate, e.g. if someone's buddy got picked up for legitimate reasons, by the time the story got transmitted to the fifth or sixth person, it might be considerable exaggerated. It's a sad and strange place, and victimhood is a large part of its culture.
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MH2
climber
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Feb 10, 2010 - 02:03pm PT
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I thought snowboarders were rough cut. Wouldn't they prefer hay, maybe pour some oil on it?
There is genuine excitement in town. Can't be avoided when crowds form. But there is another view that our taxes get diverted and in exchange for that we receive encouragement to wear red clothes as an expression of Canadian pride.
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Hawkeye
climber
State of Mine
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Feb 10, 2010 - 02:07pm PT
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round up your homeless....otherwise, Palin will use those images to say "look, canadians may have free healthcare but they are all homeless! i know, because canada is my next door neighbor and they keep climbing the fences trying to get to alaska!"
trust me on this one...
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful British Columbia
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 10, 2010 - 02:21pm PT
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Fattrad, you could make a fortune up here with consulting services
One of the athletes I'll be cheering for is my former Whistler neighbors niece, Ashleigh McIvor a Ski Cross champion. (I lived in Whistler for 17 years)
I'll be out and about with my camera soon and try to capture some images of the Vancouver festivities for ST viewers !
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 10, 2010 - 02:22pm PT
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My general thoughts are that:
 We're in for the ride, might as well enjoy it.
The total bill will undoubtedly be at least twice what we've been told, and there will undoubtedly be hidden financial scandals.
Some useful infrastructure work got done, though how much of a priority it was. and whether we got good value, is another matter.
Vancouver and Whistler had no need to further promote themselves.
Looking at a 20+ year time frame, we were bound to have the winter Olympics sooner or later. So we're getting it over with.
There will undoubtedly be lots of disruption in the city, over the next few days particularly.
The only things worth watching (if I had a TV - sorry, Beth) are cross country, biathlon, ski jumping, most sled sports, long track skating and related things.
As a professional sport, hockey shouldn't be included in the Olympics. It has nothing to do with the so-called ideals of the games, which are in fact a rather commercial and authoritarian thing.
I'd rather watch paint dry than watch figure skating, short track speed skating (roller derby), or curling.
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful British Columbia
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 10, 2010 - 02:27pm PT
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The original premise for getting Whistler Mtn going as a ski area was to hold the Olympics there.
I really regret selling my place there ...
In spite of my opening post, I am very pro Olympics !
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful British Columbia
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 10, 2010 - 02:40pm PT
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Radical Riley, you are absolutely Right.
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hafilax
Trad climber
East Van
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Feb 10, 2010 - 02:41pm PT
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I thought it was more than a little optimistic to have the winter olympics in Vancouver. I felt that it was pushed by Whistler (in my conspiracy theory mind: bribed). AFAIK there is a maximum distance between the host city and the mountain on which the events take place. Whistler is pushing this quite a bit given the 2hr drive. They had to have a certain number of events on the Shore.
This is the worst snow year I've seen since I moved here in '98. I'm sure that they thought that they would at least be able to make snow at night but it's been just too warm. Man made snow is usually better for competition because it is hard making for consistency between runs. My prediction when they announced was that there would be too much snow giving no visibility at least on Whistler.
How about the auctioning off of Intrawest in the middle of the Olympics?
I get the feeling like the Olympics are going to fall apart soon or at least change drastically. With a budget of $1B for security alone it just doesn't make sense any more. The ticket prices are outrageous IMO and precludes it from being an even for the people. Short Track speed skating is 5 blocks from my house but there's no way I can afford $250/ticket for the nose bleed seats. I'm going to try to the box office on the day of some of the heats to see if a more reasonable price magically appears but I'm not holding my breath.
On the positive side I'm going to try and take full advantage of the free events especially the concerts by my favourite bands from Quebec. I walked around downtown last weekend and starting feeling the excitement. The light display at Vanier Park is neat and it's nice to see skating at Robson Square again. I'll have to see if I can get on the Zip-line there too.
Canada has been doing well in a lot of world cup events so there is a lot of pressure on the athletes. The luge team has been offered $500,000 to the first to win gold with another $500,000 going to the team. I find that very off putting. It must be difficult for the athletes to be caught up in all of the politics when all they want is to do their best.
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Feb 10, 2010 - 02:53pm PT
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On a more positive note, who are the local favorites from Vancouver? When our guys suck, I can cheer for them.
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JuanDeFuca
Big Wall climber
Peenemunde
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Feb 10, 2010 - 03:05pm PT
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When I was in Vancouver 20 years ago I had someone come up to me and try to sell me drugs. Saw Hookers in broad daylight down near the convention center.
Juan
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 10, 2010 - 05:38pm PT
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One of the many cute and entertaining things that's being done, in addition to Tami's Cirkids, is something called Vectorial Vancouver. A large number of big searchlights have been positioned on both sides of the harbour - about a dozen. They're on every night, all night. The public can go to the website (http://www.vectorialvancouver.net/home.html);, and 'design' a pattern. A few minutes later, they send you an e-mail telling you when 'your' lights will be shown, and it's also (gimmick) sent to whoever you select. The time lag can be several minutes or several hours, and of course you have to allow that the lights are only on at night, and the time the 'receiving' person will see them.
Here's my creation from last night, squandering untold kilowatts. I sent it to a cousin in Norway I recently stayed with.
Of course, most nights the lights will do little more than ensure that the clouds and fog have unusually good interior lighting. Timing is everything.
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golsen
Social climber
kennewick, wa
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Feb 10, 2010 - 06:34pm PT
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I will be chearing for a young US Alpine Skier, Tommy Ford from Bend, OR. I think he is 21 and is a former 16 and under US National Champ in SG, Sl and GS. My son raced with him at Mt. Bachelor. I heard he likes climbing too and he is built more like a climber than an Alpine Racer. Go Tommy.
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pyro
Big Wall climber
Calabasas
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Feb 10, 2010 - 10:19pm PT
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i heard Wayne Gretzky will light the games?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 10, 2010 - 11:14pm PT
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An inukshuk - an Inuit cairn, and symbol of the Olympics - being visited by troll friends from Norway. They have a lot in common.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 10, 2010 - 11:54pm PT
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I saw a bit on BBC on the drug scene in Vancouver. I like to think I've
been around but it was pretty shocking. Certainly not the Vancouver I remember from not long after Sir George's visit. What happened?
I skiied Whistler the year it opened and a few times since. Is there another major ski area in N America where they hand out plastic rain gear when you get on the chair at the base?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 11, 2010 - 12:14am PT
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You skied at Whistler in 1966?!
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hafilax
Trad climber
East Van
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Feb 11, 2010 - 12:56am PT
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Vancouver's drug problem is so visible because it is concentrated into certain areas that are also within spitting distance of some of the tourist attractions. I often wonder about people straying just 2 blocks from Gastown or Chinatown and winding up finding someone with a needle in their eye. It would be shocking.
To me a lot of those people are lost and the only real hope is to prevent people from ending up there in the first place. That's only going to happen through education and community support. A large part of the safe injections site is just that with the goal of getting people out of the cycle before they are too far gone.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 11, 2010 - 01:02am PT
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Vancouver and Victoria, even more so than cities on the US west coast, is something of a haven for the down and out. For the simple reason that one can usually survive the winter mostly outside. If you looked into the origins of say 100 people living in the Main & Hastings area ("skid road"), you'd find that many came from outside Vancouver, and a good number from outside B.C. It's an unholy nexus of problems, a sink for public resources, and has been with us for a century or more. And is almost an industry in its own right. Many of the people there have physical of mental challenges, addiction problems, family problems, are native, and on and on. Strangely, though, many feel that the area is their home, and despite being entirely reliant on public services, resist the possibility of gentrification of the area, which is creeping in.
There has at least been a half-decent effort over the last few years to provide reasonable housing in the area. The city and provincial governments bought some "welfare hotels" (don't ask), renovated them, and now operate them through various non-profits. It may just be another band-aid, and may just be Olympics whitewash.
Expect to see lots of Vancouver's downtown eastside in the next few weeks. It's an easy and quite dramatic story.
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Todd Eastman
climber
Bellingham, WA
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Feb 11, 2010 - 01:08am PT
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MH, what gives with the rubber duck? Is that what happens when trolls get soaked in warm coastal rains?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 11, 2010 - 01:14am PT
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I have a varied and eclectic collection of trolls, mostly made of stone. The large rubber UCSB duck was found at the FaceLift a year or two ago. The little yellow Tweetie Bird was found on a climbers' path at Innerdalen, in Norway. Some of the stone ones comes from Norway, some are Canadian. Pan-oceanic trollidarity and all.
They were quite happy to see the inukshuk, which is on the front lawn - the people upstairs were given it. Their kind of guy.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 11, 2010 - 01:19am PT
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You skied at Whistler in 1966?!
I thought it opened in '67? Anyway, the lift lines weren't
too bad, that's for sure. I still have the Head GS Comps I was on!
Vancouver was such a quaint peaceful place then. So was Seattle, lol.
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Feb 11, 2010 - 01:42am PT
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"Vancouver was such a quaint peaceful place then. So was Seattle, lol."
I used to say the same thing about the S.F. Bay Area.
"No matter where you go, there you are."
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Chief
climber
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Feb 11, 2010 - 02:10pm PT
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Good thread!
I keep wondering why a Canadian city that's renowned for not having a real winter was selected to host the games. The other thing I realize is that beyond Manuel Paradis, I have no idea who the Canadian athletes are I'm supposed to be excited about.
The media seems to be preoccupied with the plight of displaced and addicted aboriginals in the downtown eastside, the lack of snow at Cypress and the delivery of a billion dollar security system to deal with an imagined threat.
I keep forgetting these games are not about celebrating excellence in amateur athletics but rather, the promotion of a shamelessly greenwashed Liberal agenda to sell real estate and promote the private ownership and development of BC's sovereign assets, our wild rivers in particular. (I swear if I see Tzeporah Berman's ugly mug on another greenwash effort like that stunt on the bike, I'm gonna fekkin hurl!)
If there had been a provincial referendum, I'd have voted against the games. The Campbell government has been slashing spending on social infrastructure and has ripped the guts out of rural BC closing hospitals and shools. They've lied about the budget and are inflicting the HST on us to cover the bills for the "OweLympics".
Having said all that, I hope the athletes and visitors have a great time and enjoy the games.
Thanks for letting me rant.
PB
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Hawkeye
climber
State of Mine
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Feb 11, 2010 - 02:39pm PT
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i think the news should focus on you bent out of shape canadians, that would be a really warm welcome for all!
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Feb 11, 2010 - 02:44pm PT
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Sounds to me like us Yanks aren't the only ones with a less than desirable political situation. What a fekking quagmire. Who is calling the shots anyway?
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Chief
climber
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Feb 11, 2010 - 03:43pm PT
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Wayno,
Check out David Korton's book, "When Corporations Rule The World".
Eisenhower and Kennedy warned us about these guys along time ago.
Who's calling the shots?
How about, GE, General Dynamics, KRB, Boeing, Coke/Pepsi, Dow Chemicals, Monsanto, the pharmaceutical giants, big banks and the Chinese for starters?
PB
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hooblie
climber
from where the anecdotes roam
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Feb 13, 2010 - 02:28am PT
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opening extravaganza wrapping up. you canadians should be very proud. it's our good fortune to rub up against your country
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Feb 13, 2010 - 02:39am PT
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I was being facetious. I am fully aware of the situation. It's not pretty. Somehow, a sense of personal balance is all that keeps things from imploding.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 13, 2010 - 02:43am PT
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I just hope that the mechanical problem with the flame apparatus doesn't overshadow the death of luger Nodar Kumaritashvili. The news media is all too quick to lose perspective.
A rainy warm afternoon and evening in Vancouver, likely to continue for a few days, which does not bode well for events at Cypress Provincial Park (there is literally no such place as "Cypress Mountain", despite what you'll hear on TV), or Whistler. I went to the Scandinavian Centre with some friends to see the opening ceremony, and of course to speak some Norwegian. (Norway has more winter Olympic medals than any other country - and if that 'competition' was weighted for each country's population and economic size, it would be an even more lopsided result.) The centre has feeds from Scandinavian television, which provide some nice perspective, and also more coverage of the traditional nordic events.
There is a significant police and military presence in the city,especially downtown. The demonstration outside B.C. Place, the site of the opening ceremony, had about 2,000 people, but didn't quite get violent.
The Norwegian cross-country skier to watch is Petter Northug, who may win three events. Known for extremely strong finishes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petter_Northug
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Feb 13, 2010 - 02:56am PT
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I know things are just getting started but it seems this Olympic games has a kind of weird funk hanging over it. Maybe it's just the current economic/political situation or maybe it's just my paranoid underpinnings rearing their ugly head once again. Do you Vancouverites "feel" it? I surely hope I'm wrong. The weather?
Edit- I just got off work so I didn't read the "death" thread and just barely heard a blurb about the Luge accident. Bummer.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 13, 2010 - 03:07am PT
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The Norwegian cross-country skier to watch is Petter Northug, who may win three events. Known for extremely strong finishes.
Like we're gonna be shown more than 20 seconds of XC down here? Fat bloody
chance! We'll be lucky to see a couple of minutes of Nordie Combined in spite of
having some boys in that race. The only way they would show XC is
if they started using live targets in the biathlon.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 13, 2010 - 03:14am PT
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Yes, coverage of international sports events by US television isn't always fair and balanced. Canadian television isn't always much better, but I've know Americans living in border states who prefer to watch CBC or CTV coverage.
You can always try the Norwegian state television network for Olympic coverage - http://www.nrkol.no/video/index.html If I catch anything good, I'll let you know.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 13, 2010 - 03:21am PT
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Thanks for that link!!!! SWEET!
Now I can see Hopp normal bakke!
Ops, I guess I got too excited:
"Sendingene er kun tilgjengelig for brukere i Norge".
Oh well....
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 13, 2010 - 03:37am PT
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The weather seems to be cooperating, its gotten a fair bit cooler in Cypress Bowl for the mogul skiers and snowboarders.
I am not liking the show of force by 1500 anti Olympics protesters today downtown, that could get ugly in the days ahead.
I predict the Sliding events will continue, without another fatality but I am sure there will be more spectacular crashes.
It's a bad start for sure but I am positive. I think Chief was right on the mark about what a crass move it was keeping other teams off the sliding track till the last minute, that was poor form.
There seems to be a fair number of ski athletes that call Whistler home turf and not just Canadians so I am sure there is going to be some great head to head competition on the ski slopes in Whistler.
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Feb 13, 2010 - 03:58am PT
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I like this thread. One gets an increased perspective on a topic that too often gets "spun" way out of proportion. Current Events.
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Srbphoto
Trad climber
Kennewick wa
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Feb 13, 2010 - 11:23am PT
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I keep forgetting these games are not about celebrating excellence in amateur athletics
When did they start allowing amateurs compete? :)
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justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
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Feb 13, 2010 - 11:26am PT
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All I have to say is....the less said about giant towering Canadian totem ice-penises the better.
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cintune
climber
the Moon and Antarctica
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Feb 13, 2010 - 11:57am PT
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Can someone hire a French tutor for Stephen Harper?
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tinker b
climber
the commonwealth
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Feb 13, 2010 - 01:05pm PT
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tami do you have any pictures of your circus kids? i don't think it would be off topic to post them.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 13, 2010 - 01:09pm PT
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Well, the downhill skiing is postponed, due to fog.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/sports/olympics/14downhill.html?hp
There doesn't seem to be a lot new about Kumaritashvili's accident, although they are raising the wall at the final turn on the luge course, where he crashed, starting a bit lower, and making other changes to the course. But still (predictably) claiming the course was fine. Hopefully the news media will pursue this story.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/13/sports/olympics/13luge.html?ref=olympics
And a perspective on the opening ceremony. I particularly liked the poet, but couldn't figure out where the CirKids were. There was perhaps a bit too much glitz and nationalism during the ceremony, and it was somewhat annoying to see highly-paid professional hockey players march in beside the equally hard-working but poor amateurs. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/sports/olympics/14mcgrath.html?hp
Sadly, another Canadian soldier has been killed in Afghanistan - the 140th. Corporal Joshua Baker.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 13, 2010 - 01:59pm PT
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Agreed - the rendition of our national anthem by Nikki Yanofsky was somewhat grating.
It would have been nice had they gotten Leonard Cohen to perform his own "Alleluia", instead of k.d. lang.
I was a little perturbed by the portrayal of First Peoples, with the emphasis on singing and dancing and so forth. It seemed a bit patronizing, but as the four host First Nations had considerable influence on what was done, their choice.
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hooblie
climber
from where the anecdotes roam
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Feb 13, 2010 - 02:10pm PT
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"particularly liked the poet"
me too anders, that's what put me over the edge to comment upthread.
as an american, i don't feel threatened in the rivalry for extravaganza, and we can muster some monologuers,
but the "please and thankyou" line, and the implication of civilty stopped me in my tracks.
what a towering achievement it would be, to be able to likewise make that claim, and make it so unimpeachably.
that's the finer point on my remark. i feel it really, really matters... how one conducts oneself, including as a national attribute.
i will rewind to his segment, it deserves further consideration
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Chief
climber
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Feb 13, 2010 - 02:16pm PT
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Opening show had some interesting wire work.
Hate to be the FX guys in charge of the hydraulics on the malfunctioning fire stand rig. Not exactly career enhancing.
(The First Nations, nature and animals thing was bordering on hurlworthy)
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 13, 2010 - 02:20pm PT
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The poet was Shane Koyczan, who calls himself a "slam poet". Here he is performing his poem from last night, called "We Are More". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQbQGn_rqTw It was originally commissioned for the Canadian Tourism Commission. Probably somewhere on the CTV or Vancouver 2010 website there's a video of him from last night.
The narrator, when there was one, was Donald Sutherland.
And "Both Sides Now" was performed by Joni Mitchell - she wasn't shown while performing.
And yes, something went wrong with the hydraulics last night. Hopefully it was simply an act of nature.
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 13, 2010 - 02:23pm PT
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Chief I wondered if you and your crew we on that, obviously not since there was a failure. Just read that the FX crew are having to shell out 95 bucks a day for parking to get close enough to the venue and deal with the 38 tonnes worth of gear hanging from the ceiling. Talk about getting gouged !
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 13, 2010 - 04:54pm PT
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Yes, there are reports of about 200 protesters marching through downtown this morning, breaking windows and spraypainting and vandalizing cars and businesses. Lions' Gate Bridge (the main one on the Vancouver - Whistler route) was temporarily closed. The police have arrested several protesters, but they may be reassembling elsewhere to resume their march.
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Olympic+protesters+cause+damage/2561452/story.html
On YouTube already (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En5F5Q2ny_c); - the protesters, some of whom are chronic if not professional, have learned that the police behave less aggressively when they know a camera is watching. And it's no secret that our police do sometimes over-react, and can be less than forthcoming about it.
FWIW, Vancouver has a long history of protest, from the Post Office riot in 1935 (http://www.vancouverhistory.ca/chronology1935.htm);, which led to the on-to-Ottawa trek by the unemployed, to the Rolling Stones riot in 1972, to the stupidity of the "Squamish Five" in the early 1980s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squamish_Five); to the Stanley Cup riot in 1994, to the APEC riots in 1997. There's something of a professional protest class, who always seem aggrieved about something. Probably not that many people altogether - maybe a few hundred. There's also some history of overly-aggressive behavour by the police and RCMP, which doesn't help.
The protests last night outside the opening ceremonies were apparently raucous but peaceful, with about 2,000 involved.
I was a bit disappointed that Betty Fox wasn't chosen to light the torch. The symbolism and history of the torch relay is nothing to be proud of, but her son Terry was an iconic Canadian, perhaps the iconic Canadian.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 13, 2010 - 05:23pm PT
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Thank you, and not at all. Come visit any time. We're maybe not quite so good at self-promotion, or tend to see things more as they are. But a good time will undoubtedly be had by nearly all, over the next few weeks. They're even forecasting quite good weather, starting by about Wednesday.
Traffic and parking are a bit of a challenge, but not so much if you stay away from downtown. All part of the package.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 13, 2010 - 05:59pm PT
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A slight segue - the ceremony last night was in English and French, and also some of the Coast Salish tongues. All are official languages in Canada, but English and French are the official languages of the IOC - everything must be in both.
French is useful on the west coast, particularly if you want to work for the federal government. It also boosts your chances of being accepted as an immigrant. Many younger people know at least some French, as the teaching of it has gradually improved. But French is far from necessary, and arguably a south or east Asian language like Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog or such is more useful, particularly in that social workers tend to do a lot of work in immgrant communities.
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sac
Trad climber
spuzzum
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Feb 13, 2010 - 06:27pm PT
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t*r,
As for the olympics... glad you find it FUN.
As a B.C er, I find it kinda well ... f, ing rediculous and
the coorp. agendas far too overwhelming.
You might have to be here to fully comprehend.
I don't own a T.V., and have been watching online. Being not used to commercials, it is overwhelming and an incredibly... commercial affair.
Kinda shocking actually.(perhaps to someone sin T.V)
It seems, a big richy rich party, to me.
The amount of money involved is ... one cannot help but think of better uses for it. I find this hard to ignore.
Yeah, FUN though.
Anyway, all IMO, in case anyone wanted to know.
Gotta go, speedskating is on(line).
Taking place at the new $178,000,000 oval in Richmond.
That's a whole lotta... FUN!
Peace
A.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Feb 13, 2010 - 07:29pm PT
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American TV coverage once again makes the games totally un-watchable.
I tuned in twenty-five minutes ago, hoping to see some competition of some sort, I'm not particular as to sport. I just want to see a game.
Instead, NBC has broadcast dozens of commercials, and a five-minute piece about how much the Dutch love speed-skating. But no actual competition.
I might love speed-skating too, if NBC could manage to show us some.
Jesus!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 13, 2010 - 07:58pm PT
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A Swiss ski jumper, Simon Ammann, won the first gold medal at the Olympics today. It was the third time he'd won the 'normal hill' event.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/02/13/sports/AP-OLY-JUM-Normal-Hill.html?hp
If you ever want a cheap thrill, go to the top of a ski jump and look down.
Chaz: CTV is the official Canadian television network covering the Olympics. They're at http://www.ctvolympics.ca/ Sounds like there's stuff to watch there. You can also try Norwegian Broadcasting at http://www.nrkol.no/index.html - check under "videos". You won't understand what they're saying, but they'll provide a quite different perspective on the games. Not much hockey, curling, or figure skating, thankfully.
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 13, 2010 - 08:07pm PT
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sac says: The amount of money involved is ... one cannot help but think of better uses for it. I find this hard to ignore.
Those expenditures actually provided jobs for quite a few Canadians. And a objective for dedicated athletes to aspire to world wide. The Olympics are globally cultural positive affair. That's a pretty good use of money imho.
Your definition of "better" may be different than mine, no big deal.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Feb 13, 2010 - 08:15pm PT
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Thanks, Guys!
I've always loved the Olympics, but NBC makes it so damned tough to watch.
They (NBC) do a good enough job televising football every season, but they forget all that every four years for the Olympics.
"Not much hockey, curling, or figure skating, thankfully"
Hahaha. Those are the sports American TV goes totally over-the-top on for some reason.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 13, 2010 - 08:17pm PT
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Canucklehead TV too, unfortunately.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Feb 13, 2010 - 10:13pm PT
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We haven't been treated to coverage of malcontents raising hell here. Good thing, too. ( full disclosure, I only spent about an hour actually watching Olympic "coverage" today )
There are only a handfull of countries who can host an Olympics without it being a complete disaster, such as Greece going bankrupt and China looking really sloppy sweeping their embarrassments under the rug for a couple weeks.
Canada, the U.S., Japan, and that's about it.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Feb 13, 2010 - 10:23pm PT
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France, Austria, and Norway had wonderful winter Olympics!
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 13, 2010 - 10:25pm PT
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So if I walk down the street and get punched in the face by someone in a black mask..... The feeling is inhibition and disenfranchisement from a democracy I like to participate in.
I knew sh#t like this was going to happen ...
Jim you aren't the dissenfranchisee, those thugs are. These same people would be doing the same thing no matter what the issue, they are professional dissidents. Vancouver is rife with them. They don't know how to make a better life for themselves so this is how they express their envy towards those who do.
Agreed Tami it's truly an embarrasment. Some arrests were made
Womens Hockey:
3rd Period
Canada 18 - 0 Slovakia
What a trouncing !!! Way to go girls !!
As I mentioned in another thread the local news rags in Whistler can be found here:
http://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/pique/index.php
http://www.whistlerquestion.com/
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john hansen
climber
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Feb 13, 2010 - 11:51pm PT
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Do you think they would let an Afganistani skier enter the Biathalon?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 14, 2010 - 12:03am PT
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They run up the score because if they're tied with another country after the round-robin, it's decided on goal difference. If there are two strong teams in a group, and two weak teams, there is little alternative. The classic scenario is that both strong teams beat the weak teams, and tie each other. So goal difference is key.
It would be very Canadian to win 6 - 1 or something, and allow the other team a courtesy goal. Not so good for winning.
As for the "protesters" - I saw some on television. It looks like it was a group of 150 - 200 of the usual noisy but mostly harmless sillies, with a 'core' of 20 to 30 nasties. People in black, with black masks, crying for attention and meaning, and causing trouble. Supposedly anarchists, but I'd guess Bakunin would have laughed at them. Seven got arrested, and it will be interesting to know who they are, from where.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 14, 2010 - 01:17am PT
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Vancouver Forecast
Tonight: Rain at times heavy. Amount 20 to 30 mm except 50 mm near the North Shore. Wind southeast 40 to 60 km/h becoming south 30 after midnight. Low 7.
Sunday: Periods of rain ending late in the morning then a mix of sun and cloud with 30 percent chance of showers. High 10.
Sunday night: Cloudy periods. 30 percent chance of showers in the evening. Low plus 4.
Monday: A mix of sun and cloud. High 9.
Tuesday: Showers. Low plus 4. High 9.
Wednesday: A mix of sun and cloud. Low plus 5. High 10.
Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud. Low plus 2. High 10 except 14 inland.
Friday: Cloudy. Low plus 4. High 10 except 15 inland.
Whistler Forecast
Tonight: Rain. Rain mixed with snow this evening. Low plus 1.
Sunday: A few showers ending near noon then a mix of sun and cloud with 30 percent chance of showers. High plus 5.
Sunday night: Cloudy. 30 percent chance of showers in the evening. Low zero.
Monday: Cloudy. High plus 4.
Tuesday: Showers. Low zero. High plus 4.
Wednesday: A mix of sun and cloud. Low minus 2. High plus 5.
Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud. Low minus 4. High plus 4.
Friday: A mix of sun and cloud. Low minus 2. High 7.
Issued by Environment Canada Saturday 13 February 2010
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MisterE
Social climber
Across Town From Easy Street
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Feb 14, 2010 - 01:34am PT
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meh.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 14, 2010 - 01:50am PT
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One mostly nice thing is the way so many are wearing white and red, flying flags, and so on. It's a little unCanadian - we don't go in for excessive displays of such things, unlike certain countries that need not be mentioned but which may lie to our south. Jingoism isn't a Canadian strong point. But it's still very colourful. Even Joe Biden got into the spirit, wearing a pair of the ubiquitous red mitts.
(No one can figure out why he was wearing sunglasses.)
And tomorrow, all the red and white will go well for Valentine's Day.
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 14, 2010 - 02:37am PT
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Well this is kinda fun, IOC google searches ...
enter the following search string into google
site:multimedia.olympic.org target
where target equals your interest - ie: vancouver whistler etc.
Example results:
http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_519.pdf
The overall grades for two (2) Applicant Cities (by order of grades) -
Salzburg and Vancouver – have been found to be above the
benchmark set at six (6).
Document dated July 11, 2002 Games awarded to Vancouver - July 2, 2003
2010 olympic games Public participation & festivities
jeezus wtf is going on in these peoples heads ? it's just a game buddy ....
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Feb 14, 2010 - 02:43am PT
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Nice flow on this thread. I have been busy at work this weekend with the Hallmark Holiday from Hell, so it's nice to come up to the fire and get a recap of the day in Vancouver. Keep it up boys and girls, this thread should have enough legs to get us through the Games.
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Chief
climber
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Feb 14, 2010 - 12:11pm PT
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How bout those gals on the moguls last night?!
Way to go Hannah, Jen and Shannon!
How about wee Chloe?
They were monsters in the bumps and the best skier definitely took the gold!
I think it's real unfortunate to see the level of expectation and pressure put on Canadian athletes with this "Own the Podium" crap.
Just let them enjoy themselves and do their best!
Awesome!
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426
climber
Buzzard Point, TN
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Feb 14, 2010 - 12:11pm PT
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A little less impressive than China opening and venuez, I must say. Canadian engineering won't even bring up 25% of the pillars to light the torch(!!!), but hey, it's the spirit of the games....insert "In Soviet China" joke here...
Great run by Hannah Kearney after a total choke 4 years go, that was ultrasvelte. Money run fo the gold biscuit with all the pressure clearly on!
Anyone see Ohno and Celski in short track? Wooooo! some jostlin in those final laps eh?
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 14, 2010 - 12:18pm PT
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Canada 18 Slovakia 0
What, there's no 'mercy' rule in hockey?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 14, 2010 - 08:12pm PT
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A Canadian, Kristina Groves, won a bronze medal in 3,000 m speed skating today.
Three of the people arrested during the protest yesterday have been charged. Two with assaulting a police officer, one (an American) with possession of a dangerous weapon and possession of a restricted weapon. The other four have been released.
A beautiful early spring day here, sunshine and warm almost all day. It looks like there'll be a bit of snow at Whistler on Monday and Tuesday, then sunny cool weather, gradually warming.
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Mimi
climber
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Feb 14, 2010 - 08:26pm PT
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The men's Nordic race was very exciting. A fifth US medal; Spillane winning silver. Had a cardio overload just watching it.
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tooth
Trad climber
The Best Place On Earth
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Feb 14, 2010 - 09:45pm PT
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First Gold on home soil! Yeah!!
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Maysho
climber
Soda Springs, CA
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Feb 14, 2010 - 10:45pm PT
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That Nordic Race was awesome!!! 3 americans in the top 6, unheard of...maybe will boost our sport a bit?
Can't wait for the nordic races to come, but first must wax for my local 15k race tomorrow...
Peter
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 14, 2010 - 10:50pm PT
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hahahaa that it's a Quebecker who won the "first gold on Cdn soil". Of course it's no surprise. Quebec puts WAY more money into the foundation levels of competitive sports then does the RoC.
Hmmm, I think that's pretty different from the way US athletes are sponsored, I don't think much if anything happens at the state level, I think it's all national.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Feb 14, 2010 - 11:00pm PT
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I gotta get one of those biathalon rifle slings for my .22. Maybe I'll get a bunch of them and put one on each one of my long guns.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 15, 2010 - 01:07am PT
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I'm fairly sure that US athletes get no direct funding from their federal government. Canadian ones, at least the elite, do. Although as Tami says, sport funding here is very inconsistent from province to province and sport to sport. There's lots of indirect funding, e.g. for fields and facilities, and of course school-level things. But there could probably be more at the recreation and development levels. The troubles of being a wealthy country...
They interviewed Alexandre Bilodeau tonight on television, and eventually brought in his whole family. Including his older brother Frederic, who has cerebral palsy - Alexandre says that Frederic is his inspiration. Frederic goes to many competitions with Alexandre, and was at the finish line today. Really very charming.
Otherwise, Bilodeau is a Canadian who happens to be from Quebec City. No more need be said on that difficult subject here.
In other news, Norway won its first medal of this Olympics today, a silver in the men's 10 km sprint biathlon, won by Emil Hegle Svendsen. Overall Norway has more medals than any other country in the winter Olympics, and needs only two more golds to have 100.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 15, 2010 - 01:16am PT
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Bilodeau deserved his gold but Colas got screwed IMHO; I think he
deserved 3rd not 6th.
I'm so pissed at NBC. We have to watch a bunch of BS instead of
watching Olympic history - the Nordic Combined.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 15, 2010 - 01:32am PT
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Prior winter Olympics medal-winners, by country:
# 1 Norway: 263
# 2 United States: 193
# 3 Austria: 162
# 4 Finland: 142
# 5 Germany: 125
# 6 Sweden: 108
# 7 Switzerland: 103
# 8 Canada: 96
# 9 Italy: 89
# 10 France: 72
# 11 Netherlands: 69
# 12 Russia: 58
# 13 Japan: 31
# 14 United Kingdom: 26
# 15 China: 22
# 16 Korea, South: 20
# 17 Liechtenstein: 9
= 18 Poland: 6
= 18 Hungary: 6
= 20 Czech Republic: 5
= 20 Belarus: 5
= 20 Bulgaria: 5
= 20 Kazakhstan: 5
= 20 Belgium: 5
= 25 Australia: 4
= 25 Croatia: 4
= 25 Spain: 4
= 28 Ukraine: 3
= 28 Slovenia: 3
= 28 Estonia: 3
= 31 Luxembourg: 2
= 31 Korea, North: 2
= 33 Romania: 1
= 33 New Zealand: 1
= 33 Denmark: 1
= 33 Uzbekistan: 1
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/spo_win_oly_med_all_tim-winter-olympic-medals-all-time
Which, considering that Norway has a population of about 4.5 million, and wasn't a very wealthy country until the oil and gas started to flow in the 1970s, is rather interesting. It may explain why the king, queen, and crown prince will all be here.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 15, 2010 - 01:41am PT
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It may explain why the king, queen, and crown prince will all be here.
Anders, they'll be up to see yous guys after they put in the obligatory
stop in Ballard! Get your priorities straight!
Of course, in Norway the best athletes either go into skiing or skating.
I'm not saying our skiers and skaters aren't great athletes but they're
not coming from the same talent pool. We gotta build some Holmenkollens
in Detroit and Chicago.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 15, 2010 - 01:59am PT
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Funny that no one else has noticed the strange resemblance between the 'official' Olympic emblem, the inukshuk, and trolls. The latter of course come from Norway, and are stone creatures. I mean, connect the dots. My theory is that in fact the inukshuks are Canadian cousins of the Norwegian trolls, and that they're all working together. There's even one in my front yard.
More evidence of the conspiracy.
You have to admit that it was a brilliant tactic, passing themselves off as an Inuit symbol, and tying everyone up in politically correct knots so they didn't see the obvious.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Feb 15, 2010 - 06:43am PT
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At least you guys get to watch the Olympics in your own time zone.
Japan was my best followed by Europe, but Pacific time which is 8 hours and one day behind us, is killing me. I watched the Nordic combined here from 4-6 am. But it was worth it!
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Feb 15, 2010 - 06:44am PT
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As for trolls, how about the theory that the Norwegians taught the Inuit about them a thousand years ago?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 15, 2010 - 01:11pm PT
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Funny you should ask. Canadian archaeologist and historian Robert McGhee recently published a book which draws together the various sources to put forward the theory that there was considerably more contact between the Norse Greenlanders and the peoples of northeast North America than has been thought. That is, based on excavations in Kalaalit Nunaat (Greenland), Ellesmere Island, Baffin Island, Labrador, and Newfoundland, examination of the sagas, and consideration of the broader context. His argument, which seems quite convincing, is that there was repeated contact, and the the Greenlanders regularly visited North America for timber, furs, walrus and narwhal tusks, and other resources, from about 1000 CE to at least the 13th century.
The inukshuk was originally a man-like object, used in particular to guide migrating caribou (reindeer) to places they could be slaughtered. The animals would see and perhaps smell the inukshuk, think "humans", and turn the way that was wanted. But they now also seem simply markers. And they sure look like trolls to me.
Did I mention that some of my family came from near Lillehammer?
It looks like they should be able to run the men's downhill this morning.
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426
climber
Buzzard Point, TN
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Feb 15, 2010 - 01:22pm PT
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I watched the whole Nordic Combined yesterday, it even motivated me to work out...maybe you were on USA or MSNBC watching womyn's hockey?
It was an awesome race!
I was amazed to see so many missed shots in the Men's 10k biathlon. Holy chokes! Must have been the conditions, looked crappy...
XC on now...
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Feb 15, 2010 - 01:36pm PT
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I'm thinking the wind was throwing off the shooters.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 15, 2010 - 04:35pm PT
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Norway now has two silver, one bronze. Lots more to come. Heiaa på Norge!!!
Canada being what it is, one of the articles in the paper today is titled "Canada's Olympic image is taking a beating in media reports".
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Canada+Olympic+image+taking+beating+media+reports/2565230/story.html What the news media in other countries are saying about Canada and the Olympics.
We just want to know that you really really like us. And we do care what other nations think of us, most of the time.
The other fuss is about the outdoor cauldron, with the flame. There are two cauldrons, one indoors at BC Place, one outdoors at Canada Place. So one question is what to call the contraption - it's stymied everyone. The other problem is that the outdoor cauldron is surrounded by a chainlink fence, which looked awful even before the usual suspects hung banners and flags on it, temporarily. So they're trying to decide what to do.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 15, 2010 - 06:37pm PT
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A Canadian named Mike Robertson has won a silver medal in something called snowboard cross. He was beaten by a Yankee.
(It would seem more Canadian to have an activity called snowboard happy, to me anyway.)
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 16, 2010 - 12:44am PT
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So, Anders, wazzup with the messed up ice at the speedskating
oval? If we can't rely on yous guys to make decent ice who
can we trust? Next thing I know somebody is going to tell me
my congressman has suspect scruples!
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slobmonster
Trad climber
OAK (nee NH)
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Feb 16, 2010 - 02:11am PT
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I'm waiting to see my college friend Hedda Berntsen compete in Ladies Skicross... for Norway.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 16, 2010 - 02:16am PT
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A mountaineering friend's daughter - from Whistler, too - is competing in the snowboard cross, and is in the top five in her event. So that could be fun to see.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Feb 16, 2010 - 04:45am PT
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I just read that the Canadian women's hockey team is playing the Norwegians on Wednesday. I guess either way it turns out, Mighty Hiker wins.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 16, 2010 - 11:54am PT
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The Norwegian men's hockey team is playing Canada today. It won't be quite as lopsided as women's hockey, in which Canada and the US are so much better than the other teams that the competition is really between them for gold/silver, and between everyone else for bronze. There are four or five men's teams which might win it all, although then another half dozen to fill out the group. Oh well, Norway is a small country, and can't win everything. Norway would, however, happily beat the pants off the Swedes. History, eh?
It's almost like there are two events this week, the Olympics and the hockey Olympics.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 16, 2010 - 01:01pm PT
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The forecast for Whistler, from Environment Canada:
Issued: 5.00 AM PST Tuesday 16 February 2010
Today: Snow ending this morning then cloudy with sunny periods and 40 percent chance of rain showers. Snowfall amount 2 to 4 cm. High plus 4. Tonight: Cloudy. Low minus 1.
Wednesday: Clearing in the morning. High plus 4.
Thursday: Sunny. Low minus 7. High plus 4.
Friday: Sunny. Low minus 7. High plus 5.
Saturday: Sunny. Low minus 7. High plus 5.
Sunday: Sunny. Low zero. High plus 5.
Monday: A mix of sun and cloud. Low minus 1. High plus 5. Conditions will be equally good at Cypress Provincial Park, although it will be warmer, so there may be snowmelt problems.
You'll see lots of sunshine on television over the next few days.
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Chief
climber
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Feb 16, 2010 - 01:13pm PT
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Have I missed something or did Dale Begg-Smith clinch gold for most villainous and unsporting demeanour after Saturday's freestyle event? I hope the Aussies made him relinquish his Canadian citizenship when he jumped ship. His attitude reflects poorly on him, his country and the notion of healthy competition. We need more of Shannon Bahrke's energy and enthusiasm at the podium than the spectacle of Dale's pathologically sour mug. Thanks for letting me rant.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 16, 2010 - 01:26pm PT
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Say what you want about Begg-Smith, but it's pretty impressive that a self made multimillionaire can beat the pants off of full-time athletes who, aside from their sports skills, would be capable of at most a "you want fries with that" type job.
Seems to me that Begg-Smith really exemplifies the old Olympic spirit--a real gentleman who is good at sport and competing for the love of the sport and competition, rather than a trained professional who is just doing a job.
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klk
Trad climber
cali
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Feb 16, 2010 - 01:36pm PT
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Jingoism isn't a Canadian strong point.
Well Anders, you don't have much to be jingoish about.
Heh.
Except maybe the healthcare. And the TV coverage.
Nothing worse than being in the states during an Olympics, especially a Winter Olympics. Unless you want to watch the former football player interview the blond snowboarder instead of actually seeing some frickin sports.
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pc
climber
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Feb 16, 2010 - 02:07pm PT
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Blahblah, I agree. Much cooler to be a true amateur IMO.
And IMO I think he was justified in looking a little pissed (american version) when they awarded him Silver. He's so much better than the rest it's startling. It's about skiing bumps. Watch a replay of him doing it compared to the others. Frickin' different level.
pc
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Feb 16, 2010 - 03:04pm PT
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self made multimillionaire Begg-smith
It's been reported he made his money on spyware! There's a special place in hell reserved for asswipes that make money on the misery of others.
And he did not ski better than the others. I saw his hands drop behind him a number of times while other skiers were rock solid.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 16, 2010 - 03:39pm PT
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the Fet--I don't think your analysis of Begg-Smith's skiing is right even according to the judges who crookedly fixed it so the guy skiing for Canada won. Begg-Smith got a higher score for actually skiing, he just didn't go quite as fast, at least that's how I understood the (convoluted) scoring.
Actually the American Bronze winner looked the best to me, but that's probably cuz he crushed the jumps, which seem to be the most difficult part of it. Of course they're all great mogul skiers, but they don't look much better than the hotshots you can see at any local ski area, until they hit the jumps.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 16, 2010 - 03:44pm PT
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Bilodeau
Air score: 5.44
Turn score: 14.1
Time score: 7.24
Begg-Smith
Air score: 5.43
Turn score: 14.2
Time score: 6.95
Overall
Bilodeau 26.75
Begg-Smith 26.58
Heaven knows what the numbers actually mean. Their times down the course were around 30 seconds - there must be some formula for converting them. But it does show that Bildeau essentially won on time.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Feb 16, 2010 - 04:01pm PT
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I know that watching in slow mo you could see Begg-Smiths hands drop a few times which led to him getting in the back seat, then he'd drive his hands forward and recover. Some other guys hands did not move from the best position.
Subjective judging is always up for interpretation. I think it's lame that time contributes more to the score than air. It's a freestyle event for cripes sake.
Bilodeau was smoking fast.
But the American did the best airs so personally I liked his run the best.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 16, 2010 - 04:01pm PT
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MH--right, thanks for posting the above, that's shows the point that I was trying to make:
Begg-Smith got the highest score of all competitors for actual skiing (so I don't know what "the Fet" was talking about with his hands--whatever it was, B-S did well enough to have the best skiing style of any human being on the planet), the other guy narrowly edged him in air, and beat him soundly in speed.
The difference is speed--the only objective criterion--was enough that I'm going have reconsider my judgment that the Canadians cheated--the win seemed as fair as you're going to get in a judged sport.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Feb 16, 2010 - 04:04pm PT
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WILSON Bryon turns 13.8 air 5.46 speed 6.82 total 26.08
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 16, 2010 - 04:23pm PT
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Heaven knows what the numbers actually mean
Here's a number I can relate to, sort of (did a little downhilling):
Didier Defago: 1:54.31 - not much left to speculate about.
Average speed: waaaay fast!
And kudos to NBC for only showing about, what, 7 or 8 racers?
Geez, wouldn't want to let some real racing get in the way of
watching Bob Costas talk through the top of his head. I'd wager
they devoted as much time to that stupid snowboard Nascar imitation
as they did to the premier skiing event.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Feb 16, 2010 - 04:46pm PT
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Lot's of complaints about NBC's coverage. People want to see the competitions not so much BS.
Snowboard cross may have gotten more viewers than downhill. Sad.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Feb 16, 2010 - 05:01pm PT
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Here's a still of Begg-Smith in the backseat. He's got good form (which is subjective), but he makes mistakes.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Feb 16, 2010 - 05:10pm PT
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Last night's Men's Downhill NBC "coverage" existed of two Americans, two Swiss, a Norwegian and a Canadian.
That's it.
Six skiers.
The fact that I can remember the line-up points to how piss-poor the coverage was.
You would have to believe there were no Austrians, Swedes, Germans or Italians competing in the Downhill this year.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 16, 2010 - 05:23pm PT
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my email to NBC:
I have never done this before but your coverage, or non-coverage,
of the Mens' Downhill spurs me to do so. The premier skiing event
of the Olympics only merits the showing of 6 racers? Are you kidding me?
We have to watch moguls qualifying and endless segments of Costas opining
and our reward is 12 minutes of actual racing?
LAME!
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
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Feb 16, 2010 - 05:33pm PT
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What??!! The olympics are more than a mogul competition between USA and Canada?
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Feb 16, 2010 - 05:33pm PT
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Shame, too, Reilly.
Because they had some really cool camera angles this year.
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Chief
climber
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Feb 16, 2010 - 06:31pm PT
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Way to go Maelle! (Squamish girl)
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 16, 2010 - 08:29pm PT
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For those interested, some information about Maelle Ricker's family.
Her mother, Nancy, is a retired biologist and instructor, and an artist.
http://www.squamishart.com/Photography.htm
Her father, Karl, is a well known glaciologist and mountaineer.
http://members.shaw.ca/beyondnootka/biographies/karl_ricker.html
Her uncle, John Ricker, is a geologist and mountaineer, who wrote the first mountaineering guide to Peru, Yuraq Janka, in 1977. (No webpage that I could find.)
Her grandfather, William Ricker, was an eminent biologist who received the Order of Canada.
http://www2.fisheries.com/archive/publications/fishbytes/7-5.pdf
If you win the snowboardcross, do you get a snowboardhappy?
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tooth
Trad climber
The Best Place On Earth
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Feb 16, 2010 - 08:34pm PT
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Canada scores!!!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 16, 2010 - 08:40pm PT
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It was Norway 0, Canada 0 after the first period. A fair achievement for the Norwegians, given that none of them plays in the NHL, and all the Canadians do.
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tooth
Trad climber
The Best Place On Earth
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Feb 16, 2010 - 09:33pm PT
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Do the Canadians play in the NHL because they are Canadian, or because they are good?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 16, 2010 - 09:36pm PT
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Because they're good - about 2/3 of NHL players are North American, 1/3 foreign, including many Europeans. Most of the players on the strong teams play or played in the NHL, or play professionally in Europe. The NHL is considered the strongest league in the world.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 16, 2010 - 09:55pm PT
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^^^^^^^ AMEN! I mean the Up Close and Personals
got a little old but it seems that ABC at least showed
you most of the races that mattered. It seems they
even showed XC if it was a good race. NBC can't even
spell XC.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 16, 2010 - 10:18pm PT
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Well, the result was 8 - 0. Norway has to be satisfied with a 0 - 0 tie after the first period. Sadly, the Norwegian womens' team may be even more outmatched tomorrow.
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Maysho
climber
Soda Springs, CA
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Feb 16, 2010 - 11:00pm PT
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Actually I am pretty impressed with the XC coverage done by NBC, both at Torino and so far this time. Not harping on the US performance or lack thereof (hoping for some good sprints from Kikkan Randall, Andy Newall, and Torin Koos!), providing good info on the Euro stars, and great camera angles and cable cam usage.
Agree about the minimalist coverage of the Downhill, good cameras, could have seen many more runs!
Peter
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 16, 2010 - 11:47pm PT
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Peter,
The XC is only on during the day when some of us are
otherwise obligated.
So tonight we've been blessed with 40 minutes of guys in
sequins prancing to music badly arranged. Luckily the Lakers
are playing.
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Chief
climber
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Feb 17, 2010 - 12:05am PT
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Ouch!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 17, 2010 - 12:17am PT
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Since there is a strong possibility that Norwegian fish farms will wipe out BC's wild salmon, I'm not sure Anders should be celebrating his Norwegian ancestry. What made you think I supported fish farming, whether by Norwegians or anyone else? It seems just as poorly thought out as independent power producers, and indeed many aspects of B.C.'s and Canada's economy. Little vision, and it goes back more than a century. Alberta even worse - essentially owned by the US, and with too many wannabe Texans. So there. Not that we need to bore our American friends with this stuff here.
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Beatrix Kiddo
Mountain climber
Littleton
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Feb 17, 2010 - 10:37am PT
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I'll be up there this weekend! YEAH!!! I'm going to catch the women's freestyle skiing and probably a hockey game. I can't believe I'm going! Hopefully I'll have some cool pics to post when I get back.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 17, 2010 - 03:09pm PT
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If you're here for a bit and have time, send a PM and maybe a SuperTopo Vancouver Olympic gathering could get organized. You know, we could drink beer and watch hockey and BS about climbing and stuff. :-)
It is excellent weather, and should be dry enough to climb this weekend in Squamish. So you may want to bring shoes and harness.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 17, 2010 - 03:43pm PT
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Yeah, unless there is a change, it looks like US will take Gold and Silver, which will put it at the top of the medal count again.
I was getting worried for a bit . . .
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 17, 2010 - 05:14pm PT
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Britt Janyk is my former neighbours daughter, So have to say I am disappointed for her 6th place finish
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Feb 17, 2010 - 06:24pm PT
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Anders,
do you think those Norwegian curling pants are the next fashion statement for climbers?
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klk
Trad climber
cali
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Feb 17, 2010 - 06:38pm PT
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I plan to check the Olympic store at Hudson's Bay, to see if I can get a pair.
jeez anders, what did we ever do to you?
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Chief
climber
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Feb 17, 2010 - 07:08pm PT
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Jeez Jim, that was mean.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 17, 2010 - 07:24pm PT
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I must have posted too many old photos of myself on the "Climbing at Squamish in the 1970s" thread. But my mother doesn't dress me any more. And at least - unlike some people here - I never wore lycra.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 17, 2010 - 09:21pm PT
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Your vice-president Biden was here for a few days, eating rubber chicken and stuff. His motorcade got into a minor accident. And there's an article today titled "Mounties intercept 'infatuated' man within metres of U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden". A mentally ill man used forged credentials to try to approach at the opening ceremony, but got stopped. He's now in hospital, and won't be charged.
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Mounties+intercept+infatuated+within+metres+Vice+President+Biden/2577968/story.html
Maybe they used 'infatuated' because it was near Valentine's Day - it seems an odd choice of adverb to use of Biden. I'm sure he's a dandy V-P, but infatuated?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 17, 2010 - 10:53pm PT
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Marianne St. Gelais has won a silver medal in women's 500 m short track speed skating. All the better in that it is her birthday. The event was won by a Chinese skater, Wang Meng, who is world champion. Another Canadian was fourth.
http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/year+Gelais+wins+short+track+silver/2578445/story.html
Somewhere along the way - I missed it - our southern neighbours won some other medals, and now have four gold, three silver, and five bronze. Canada has two gold, three silver, and a bronze, and Norway has one gold, two silver, and two bronze.
Petter Northug, who won a bronze today, says he still has chances for five more medals in cross country.
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/sport/ol/article3523596.ece
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Mimi
climber
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Feb 18, 2010 - 12:36am PT
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Sheesh! The women are crashing on downhill right now! Two wild crashes in a row. Luckily they both walked off.
Vonn has taken the lead by about a half second. Wow!
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Mimi
climber
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Feb 18, 2010 - 12:56am PT
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Now back to women's downhill. Vonn has won the gold! Mancuso silver! Austria gets bronze.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 18, 2010 - 12:57am PT
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Funny, I thought this was a live thread, for those of us in home offices ("cubicle pukes") to while away the hours. But I guess we can combine it with tape delay and highlights versions, for more perspectives.
(And since when does anyone downhill ski race in daylight - at 10:00 PM?)
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Mimi
climber
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Feb 18, 2010 - 01:15am PT
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Good point Anders. It's live for us who had to leave home to work. You lucky dog.
Can't wait to see Shaun White's Double McTwist 1260 coming right up.
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Mimi
climber
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Feb 18, 2010 - 01:26am PT
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Now Tami, you know these kids today. The guy's amazing. I'm sure he coined it as it's one of his signature moves along with the double cork. He's coming up soon. He won the gold and apparently blew the field away including on his big victory lap.
A cute little Squamish boy just had a good run. LOL!
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MisterE
Social climber
Across Town From Easy Street
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Feb 18, 2010 - 01:26am PT
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Brutal womens downhill final, hope everyone is OK.
Yikes!
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Feb 18, 2010 - 01:29am PT
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This thread is way better than watching recaps on TV. Tami summed it up pretty well, this thread is crackin' me fekkin' up.
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Mimi
climber
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Feb 18, 2010 - 01:30am PT
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It's the backside 900 that gets me. Sounds way scary.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 18, 2010 - 01:57am PT
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Kudos to Shani Davis - a beautiful skater and a class act.
Lindsey Vonn is certainly great but aside from an inspiring
performance by Mancuso she wasn't pushed; a pretty weak field.
When's the last time an Oly downhill saw a 2.5 second spread between
first and third?
It is pretty clear Maelle doesn't know the words to "Oh Canada"!
Will she catch heat?
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nita
Social climber
chica from chico, I don't claim to be a daisy
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Feb 18, 2010 - 02:15am PT
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I have been totally enjoying the Olympics!....
So Tami..Mighty hiker, what exactly are the words to ..Oh Canada?
edit.. Tami, just saw your post...;-)
edit: So cool to see a fellow Tuolumne Meadows Employee do so well!
Head Coach, Bud Keene... GO Bud!!!! Yeah!!
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 18, 2010 - 02:18am PT
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Isn't "Backside 900" a route in Squamish ?
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Feb 18, 2010 - 02:23am PT
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O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love the McTwist.
With glowing hearts we throw a backside 900
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We fliffis, McTwist and backside 900 for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, next time buy a Zamboni.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Feb 18, 2010 - 02:36am PT
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With a navy like this, I'm shaking in my antlers.. haha.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 18, 2010 - 02:37am PT
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At the FaceLift, we'll tie you up, pour maple syrup on you, and leave you out for #46. That'll learn you.
Don't forget that the Star-Spangled Banner was all about the last time our countries fought - and you lost.
And the Canadian navy was fourth largest in the world in 1945.
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 18, 2010 - 02:46am PT
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Moosie you are very funny ! ....
In this early mornings news - "Colorado's Vail Resorts tops list of bidders for Whistler Blackcomb"
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville
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Feb 18, 2010 - 10:33am PT
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Shawn White's domination of the halfpipe was a bore.
If his competitors had a halfpipe (with a foam pit for bad falls!) at thier disposal all year there would have been a different outcome lastnight.
Edit:
I think ABC learned a valuable lesson about live open mikes when Shawn's coach told him "f*#k it dude, just f*#king send it" before his final run and after he had already cinched the gold.
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philo
Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
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Feb 18, 2010 - 10:48am PT
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HAHAHA the great Zamboni debacle. Look out Moosie they are on to you! Eh hoser.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Feb 18, 2010 - 10:57am PT
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I think I'll put some black feathers on my wrists when I tape up to climb today a la Evan Lysocek.
(Next week everyone will be doing it.)
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pc
climber
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Feb 18, 2010 - 11:50am PT
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FWIW "They" frickin' changed the words to "oh, Canada" a few years back. I had just gotten the old version nailed when they changed it. Now I just sing the french version. ;(
pc
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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Feb 18, 2010 - 12:24pm PT
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Actually Pud, I think most of the top snowboarders probably do have year round access to half-pipes and foam pits.
The big advantage Shaun had was that his was private, so he could come up with a trick in secret.
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pc
climber
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Feb 18, 2010 - 12:30pm PT
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SteveP, I think you're right. This sure paves the way for a fantastic new business for some outdoor types.
Snowboard Trick Recon! (SNoTR) Hire us and we'll deliver a video of your competitor's rad new tricks before anyone else as seen them.
Get the jump on your competition! Take the cheese out of their McKnarly!
SNoTR! Today!
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reddirt
climber
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Feb 18, 2010 - 01:56pm PT
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people who type in all caps are generally lame but
NBC USING MICROSOFT SILVERLIGHT IS THE LAME-EST!! (LOADED THE CURRENT VERSION OF THAT P.O.S. MULTIPLE TIMES & STILL NO VIDEO)...
AND NOT HAVING LOADED IT ON THE STUPID ITUNES PA$$ IS ALSO LAME. I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT BY NOW.
Where can I see the Vonn/Mancuso runs from last night?
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Dolomite
climber
Anchorage
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Feb 18, 2010 - 02:04pm PT
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I completely agree with pud re Shaun White. I admired his performance, but hell, a secret private half-pipe accessed by helicopter? It just isn't a level playing field. And yeah, I know, it probably never is a "level playing field," but I thought this was over the imaginary and ever-shifting "line."
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reddirt
climber
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Feb 18, 2010 - 02:10pm PT
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thanks Werner... still didn't work in Firefox (ok, so it's FFX 3.0.17).
it did play in Safari.
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Feb 18, 2010 - 02:11pm PT
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Try:
http://watchvancouverolympics.com
Can bypass F*cking NBC's block on actually showing the Games, and stream at least some stuff.
(Why does NBC buy the exclusive rights and then NOT use them? I don't get it, I'm dying to sit in front of the TV and watch nothing but NBC and their affiliates: instead, I'm learning how to use P2P networks and streaming from abroad?)
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Feb 18, 2010 - 02:18pm PT
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NBC should at least broadcast something live, especially here in the same west-coast time-zone.
If the Goat-Roper Channel can show us the Tour De France, live - from France - every summer, what's NBC's sorry excuse for their Olympic daytime line-up of soap operas and info-mercials?
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Beatrix Kiddo
Mountain climber
Littleton
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Feb 18, 2010 - 03:06pm PT
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Eh? If you guys do an Olympic beer night I will do my best to be there, eh? Sunday I don't have a lot going on eh? Saturday I'm going to the women's freestyle skiing and hitting a bar for the US/Canada hockey game eh? Then I'm solo for the rest of Sat night. . .eh!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 18, 2010 - 03:08pm PT
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In other, really really good news:
Norway has just won its 100th winter Olympics gold medal!!!111666
Tora Berger won the women's 15 km biathlon mass start. http://www.nrk.no/
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 18, 2010 - 04:42pm PT
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Berger's win, and Norway's 100th gold medal, are on the front page of Aftenposten, Norway's biggest newspaper. Very big news there, especially as it was in a cross country event. Here's excerpts, and a translation.
Tora Bergers første - Norges hundrede Tora Berger's first - Norway's hundredth.
86 år og 19 dager etter at Thorleif Haug kapret Norges første gullmedalje i vinter-OL, sørget Tora Berger for nummer 100 i rekken. 86 years and 19 days after Thorleif Haug captured Norway's first gold medal in the winter Olympics [1924 - Chamonix], Tora Berger provided the hundredth.
- Utrolig deilig! Det er synd at man skal stå å grine når man gjør det så bra, sier en følelsesladet Berger til NRK. Unbelievably delightful! It's sad that one should stand and cry when one does so well, said an overcome Berger to NRK. (Norwegian television.)
Tora Berger gikk ut med startnummer to og skjøt ned de 19 første blinkene. På siste skyting ble det derimot én bom og gullet var i ferd med å glippe. Tora Berger went out with start number two, and hit a bull's eye the first nineteen targets. On the last round there was on the other hand one miss, and the gold was finally won.
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/sport/ol/article3525420.ece
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 18, 2010 - 05:11pm PT
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A headline in the Guardian:
Vancouver Games continue downhill slide from disaster to calamity
It is hard to believe anything will surpass the organisational chaos and naked commercial greed of the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta or the financial disaster of the 1976 Games, which bankrupted Montreal, yet with every passing day the sense of drift and nervousness about the Vancouver Games grows ever more noticeable.
And so forth. The English press is nothing if not contrarian and hyperbolic, but like most boomerangs, this one may come back at them - the 2012 Olympics are in London.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 18, 2010 - 05:19pm PT
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^ ^ ^
I don't get it, what's wrong with the games? Some weather problems, so what?
Are there problems occurring that aren't being reported on NBC? I've followed the games half way closely, and except for the luge death, everything seems fine.
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hafilax
Trad climber
East Van
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Feb 18, 2010 - 05:55pm PT
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3rd gold for Canada: Christine Nesbitt in the 1000m women's long track speed skating by 0.02s!
They tried to use more environmentally friendly surfacing machines for the olympic oval but they're obviously not nearly as reliable as the tried and true zambonis.
The women's downhill was frightening yesterday. The super combined went much better today.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 18, 2010 - 11:45pm PT
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Armies always march on their stomachs. The Norwegians take their bread very seriously, and get quite passionate about it. So they brought in some bakers, and are using a bakery in Squamish (half way from Vancouver to Whistler) during the Olympics, to make bread. About 120 loaves a day.
We're talking about a rich dark bread--rye, oats and barley combined in the same loaf -- that not only sticks to the ribs but provides an added reason to get up in the morning. Four different types of loaves are baked daily to give Norwegian Olympians that added energy boost. - Amund Skrutvold
Best of all, an inside source has gotten me a loaf!
There are some good boutique bakeries in Vancouver and Squamish, but I guess they wanted it to be Goldilocks bread - just right.
http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010wintergames/Norwegian+bakers+cook+healthy+Squamish+loaf/2569669/story.html
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WBraun
climber
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Feb 18, 2010 - 11:47pm PT
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All this nationalistic bullsh'it don't do sh'it.
Only the results mean anything all the rest is just talking smack and a total waste ......
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 18, 2010 - 11:50pm PT
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Werner, have some (Norwegian) bread. It's good for you.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Feb 19, 2010 - 12:01am PT
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It could be worse.
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Chief
climber
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Feb 19, 2010 - 01:49am PT
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Took a stroll from Kits through downtown this evening with Ms. Chief and the hound, caught Sid the Kid's winning goal in the shootout. Robson Street and the Granville Mall was teeming with happy humans and the city's never looked more beautiful. Couldn't have enjoyed ourselves more.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 19, 2010 - 01:56am PT
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However could it have come down to a blooming shootout with
the Swiss? Looking past 'em a tad perhaps? Good thing you
have Brodeur.
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reddirt
climber
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Feb 19, 2010 - 11:58am PT
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How 'bout some co-nationalistic sh'it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFbY4w2r2c4
Live taping of the Colbert Show in Vancouver. Michael Buble and Colbert sing the American anthem with Canadian anthems lyrics.
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pc
climber
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Feb 19, 2010 - 12:03pm PT
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Nice one Red. We could do worse than be absorbed by the Canooks. ;) eh?
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klk
Trad climber
cali
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Feb 19, 2010 - 12:21pm PT
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i used to live in kits beach.
for all the headache it must be to get out of town now, i think it'd be amazing to be in town for the olympics. sorry to miss it, actually.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 19, 2010 - 12:39pm PT
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Yeah, people have been creating balanced rocks at English Bay for years and years, some of which look something like inukshuks or trolls. Since long before the Olympics. The balanced ones are a finicky art form, given the dynamics.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 19, 2010 - 02:33pm PT
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Environment Canada's Whistler forecast:
Issued : 11.00 AM PST Friday 19 February 2010
Today: Sunny. High 7. Tonight A few clouds. Low minus 5.
Saturday: Sunny. High 7.
Sunday: Sunny. Low minus 5. High 7.
Monday: A mix of sun and cloud. Low minus 3. High 8.
Tuesday: Cloudy with 40 percent chance of flurries or rain showers. Low minus 1. High plus 5.
Wednesday: Cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries or rain showers. Low minus 1. High plus 5.
Thursday: Flurries or rain showers. Low minus 2. High plus 4.
And, to brighten up everyone's day:
You could even play chess on them.
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aldude
climber
Monument Manor
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Feb 19, 2010 - 04:01pm PT
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"figure skating without the quad is just ice dancing" ...E. Plushenko !!
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hafilax
Trad climber
East Van
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Feb 19, 2010 - 05:14pm PT
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They need some jester hats to go with those pants.
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zeta
Trad climber
Berkeley
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Feb 19, 2010 - 05:51pm PT
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wow, so impressed by the US skiers this year! and despite all the media criticism of Bode Miller from the last Olympics, I love to see him getting 2 medals this year! Always nice to see a comeback...and glad to see media paying attention to other US skiers besides Vonn. Good job to Mancuso (2 silvers) and Weibrecht!
love the ski races!
and Plushenko just seems to be such a sore loser. but that quote is pretty damn funny
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reddirt
climber
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Feb 19, 2010 - 06:06pm PT
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oh Mighty Hiker - (I didn't read all of the 283 posts before this)
are you rooting for Canada or Norway?
Do you consider yourself Norwadian or Canawegian?
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 19, 2010 - 06:33pm PT
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Not really sure why anyone cares much about the curler's pants: they "burst" onto the scene last year as worn by Big John Daly, golfing legend.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 19, 2010 - 06:36pm PT
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Subject of course to Werner's approval, I root for everybody. I want the best athletes to win, and cleanly - I really don't care where they're from. Subject to that:
One is supposed to support the home team (Canada), within reason. (If they hack their way to a gold medal in hockey, I won't.)
How can one not root for Norway? Big part of their culture, very successful at it.
Norway and Canada don't really compete in many things, so one may support both. (We all agree that the Norwegians have won the trousers competition.)
I'm mostly interested in cross country skiing, biathlon, long track speed skating, ski jumping, and sliding sports, and much less so in other sports.
(I wonder if Daly wears a speedo under his pants?)
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enjoimx
Big Wall climber
SLO Cal
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Feb 19, 2010 - 06:37pm PT
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Does anyone know WHERE you can watch clips of events that already took place? I missed the Super G and would love to see it!
Please help!
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
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Feb 19, 2010 - 06:46pm PT
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I tried the NBC site and it made me load some crappy plug-in that does not work. If you can't find clips on the interweb then you will have to watch Bob Costas tonight on t.v., just like how they did it about two decades ago.
Awesome skiing!
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enjoimx
Big Wall climber
SLO Cal
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Feb 19, 2010 - 07:10pm PT
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Ok thanx...heres what you have to do to see full recaps:
Go to: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/live-full-replays.html
Go to Video
Click Full Event Replay tab
Download the CRAPPY microsoft Silverlight video player, send a complaint to microsoft, and try to enjoy the glitchy video.
Edit: Then you may have to create an account with password. What a horrible process. They are effectively making the olympics only available to customers who pay for cable television. This is HORRIBLE!
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Feb 19, 2010 - 09:29pm PT
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Got to hand it to the crew shooting those tracking shots at the bottom of the ski jumps.
Very graceful work. The TV viewer really gets the best seat in the house.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 20, 2010 - 02:37am PT
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(I wonder if Daly wears a speedo under his pants?)
Uh, I think he wears Depends.
Bravo Aksel Lund! Det var Bra!
Bravo Bode for showing some class!
Bravo Andrew Weibrecht!
Tough course!
More controversy: the Brit Skeletoner Amy Williams and her
aerodynamically 'enhanced' helmet. It was deemed 'gud' on a
symantic fineness. However, since she won by .6 or so those
'ruffles' couldn't have made that much of a difference; maybe a
couple of hundredths although I doubt it. She would have to hold
her head almost motionless for them to work as they do on a wing.
Much ado about nothing.
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Feb 20, 2010 - 02:58am PT
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Oh shite, I just checked back in on this thread and realized I missed a bunch, so after some random glances of Werner berating some popular culture or whatever and Tami saying something about a skinflute, I realize I am unprepared to read what I have missed. I think I will print it out for tomorrow's steamer session....
Keep it up, I'm loving it.
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reddirt
climber
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Feb 20, 2010 - 01:26pm PT
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the 3+ hours of the women's downhill is at http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=3b91985a-7c42-4040-ae4f-4a0e8528ca07.html#womens+downhill
I's unplugged, no commentary. A 30ish minute wmn's downhill encore w/ commentary is finally on iTunes for 99¢
All access to other full replays not only requires shi++y silverlight, but requires you to be a "qualified customer" (ie, pay for a cable pkg that includes NBC, which I don't) via one of a slew of providers. Glad I don't since if I did watch it on TV, the coverage, from what I've heard has been & continues to suck really badly.
At least NBC isn't in the business of producing products like cars, power tools, medical stuff... cos they would have killed & maimed people w/ the shi++y lack of quality.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=22540674997
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reddirt
climber
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Feb 20, 2010 - 01:51pm PT
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my Network-Security-Industry partner surfed around on some industry blogs & said that silverlight is likely here to stay...
the analog TV w/ digital converter box is NOT showing W's superG. At least they're showing skijumping (edit: I meant W's ariels). And they did a cute little piece on the Chinese team & their tow-headed blue eyed Canadian coach.
I read some comment somewhere (FB?) that they were sitting in VT a few nights ago picking up CTV broadcasting signals... and loving the coverage.
this time next year, if I turn the TV on hopefully I'll be able to p/u CTV...
(edit: Tami you can read that last statement as I'll buy ya a beer in person ; )
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 20, 2010 - 03:57pm PT
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Another lovely day here. My troll is waiting for more good news.
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tooth
Trad climber
The Best Place On Earth
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Feb 20, 2010 - 08:57pm PT
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Is it me or do these mascots all look a little "wide-eyed"?
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 20, 2010 - 09:10pm PT
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The NBC News trumpeting of the US medal count shows up the sad state of
math ability in this country. Let's see, 6 golds for the US and 5 for
Norway. That's 1 per million Norskies, right? Then I guess we should
have 300 golds by my math, n'est ce pas?
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Captain...or Skully
Social climber
Last clip of Lichen Lunch
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Feb 20, 2010 - 09:13pm PT
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I don't even have a TV....just a dead box.
Will the games start soon?
Will I miss anything? Does anyone even care?
are my shoes untied(again)?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 20, 2010 - 09:30pm PT
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No problem, Kirk - I don't have a TV either. Though I sometimes visit my dad and watch a bit. There's lots on the net.
In fact, seven out of eight of the Norwegian medal-winners are from Trøndelag, in central Norway. A district with about 400,000 inhabitants. Which means that the US would have to win several thousand medals to even come close.
http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010wintergames/Trondelag+talents+take+owning+podium/2590954/story.html
And yeah, those fuzzy things are somewhat lame and infantile - but then, I don't think we're the target market. They're a bit like some of the overbred small dogs, designed to retain infantile features.
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Captain...or Skully
Social climber
Last clip of Lichen Lunch
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Feb 20, 2010 - 11:29pm PT
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Thanks for the Laugh, Anders.
Maybe all the other figure skaters can be pushed into the hole, too?
I just don't get figure skating. It's ok, I guess, But why SO much of it?
And whatinHell is Ice Dancing all about? It's kinda just more prancin' around, right?
Be better if it was combined with Hockey.
Now that'd be a challenge.
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Feb 21, 2010 - 12:43am PT
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Be better if it was combined with Hockey.
Hey Cap'n, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq9z0PFfD9M
It's bowling compared to hockey, rather than figure skating, but the comparison stands.
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 21, 2010 - 01:09am PT
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Walked around Downtown Vancouver today, took a few snapshots. Seemed like millions of people on foot everywhere ....
Spring has sprung for sure up here.
Unreal number of people out walking around. Most of them had accents or were speaking another language it seemed, but locals out in force too. Every cafe and restaurant had a lineup, every single one.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Feb 21, 2010 - 02:33am PT
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Tricky Swedes in the men's 3,000 m. cross country. Ganged up on everyone else as a team and got the gold and bronze. Pretty interesting to watch although the snow was horrible and a third of the starting group didn't finish because of the 54 degree heat.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 21, 2010 - 03:18am PT
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The NBC News trumpeting of the US medal count shows up the sad state of
math ability in this country. Let's see, 6 golds for the US and 5 for
Norway. That's 1 per million Norskies, right? Then I guess we should
have 300 golds by my math, n'est ce pas?
Sorry, but your "logic" is whack. The US is not an alpine nation--HUGE parts of the US couldn't care less about the Winter Olympics or any of the sports in it.
You seem pretty dumb, so let me illustrate with an example: which country has more people living within training access to a nordic ski jump?
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MH2
climber
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Feb 21, 2010 - 03:41am PT
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Cherry blossoms! All right!!
What are all the people doing downtown?
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Feb 21, 2010 - 12:51pm PT
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Perhaps we should have a Trøndelag vs. Vermont competition!
By my count, Vermont has 3 medals, one of each. GO GIRLS!
(Hannah Kearney, Hannah Teter, and Kelly Clark).
(with a population of ~ 600,000).
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Feb 21, 2010 - 01:59pm PT
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Actually, some of the athletes in highly specialized sports like speed skating and figure skating DO come from southern states. Or, at least they were born there.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/teamusa/browser/index.html
(Don't trust the database, though, it has flaws! For example, snowboarder Kelly Clark moved to Vermont at age 8 and graduated from high school in Vermont, but is listed under Rhode Island and California, so go figure.)
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 21, 2010 - 04:15pm PT
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Dear BlaBla,
Yeah, I'm pretty dumb for assuming anybody has any sense of irony or knowledge of geography,
let alone a sense of humor.
So for the sake of argument how about you post your rules for what consitutes
"living within training access to a nordic ski jump?" Off the top of my head I can think of prolly
at least 5-6 times the population of Norway who live within the 4-5 hours many wouldn't
think twice about driving to go gamble their life savings away or could
instead drive to jump off a 60 meter hill. Actually, that number is now
higher with the addition of the Whistler jumps so you could add one more
'Norway' with the population of W. Washington. Too bad they tore down the
jumps that used to be up at Mt Baldy near LA.
That would be what, 5 more Norges?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 21, 2010 - 10:22pm PT
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Canadian Melissa Hollingsworth won her second silver medal today, in 1,500 m long track speed skating.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 21, 2010 - 10:43pm PT
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Re ski jumping: I was thinking more of hills in a metropolitan area (such as within 1 hour), not 4-5 hours. That is, a distance where kids can jump every day, not just on weekends. In Colorado (where I live), that's just Steamboat, which is not tiny, but is pretty damn small.
I should not have called anyone "dumb"--I am a patriotic American and got carried away responding to what I perceived to be an insult against the American athletes, who are doing an amazing job (as are many others).
Norway definitely does "punch above its weight," but it's not quite fair to compare the entire population of the US to Norway when so much of US doesn't participate in these sports. I guess all those Norwegians are skiing and jumping and skating and what not (good for them).
Just watching the ice dancing as I write this--anyone else think that Scottish brother-sister thing is a little weird? Maybe I've just got a prurient mind.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Feb 21, 2010 - 11:08pm PT
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The times are changing and not in ways Mighty Hiker will like.
The Canadians lost in hockey against the U.S. but won in ice dancing.
I hope we don't read in the future that the decline and fall of the nation began with this event.
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Captain...or Skully
Social climber
Last clip of Lichen Lunch
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Feb 21, 2010 - 11:13pm PT
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I liked your vid, Ghost. Awesome!
Combinations can be cool! I've always thought that golf courses & cemetaries could be combined, too.
It'd be like pinball, sorta.
Ice Dancing, Yarrrr.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 21, 2010 - 11:15pm PT
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As for geography and demographics. Every Norwegian lives in a country with 4 - 5 months of winter, where skiing is a huge part of the culture. Most Canadians (80% = 24 million+) live in a similar country, where unfortunately hockey and curling get far too much attention. Our natural strengths should be cross country skiing and speed skating - we only have real ski jumps at Callaghan Valley, Calgary, and Thunder Bay (?). Probably 1/4 to 1/3 of the population of the US lives in border or mountain states, or New England. That is, maybe 100 million. (No idea about ski jumps in the US - a better test is probably cross country areas.)
Hannah Kearney says she is half-Canadian, as her mother is from Canada. A fair number of the athletes compete for other than their home country, sometimes on passports of convenience. There's the Canadian who competes in moguls for Australia, because he had a snit. One of the US figure skating pairs is made up of a Canadian and an American. And of course lots of people in the Maritimes, New England, and southern Quebec have family on both sides of the border. Athletes also train with other teams and in other countries, e.g. Aksel Lund Svindal from Norway, who until recently trained in Canada. Which is all good, in that it helps de-emphasize the nationalistic aspects of these competitions.
The thing to watch, clearly, is the east Asian nations, as they make concerted efforts in certain sports - short track speed skating, figure skating, all the trick skiing and snowboarding events, cross country skiing, etc. The Chinese reportedly funneled a large number of young gymnasts into these things, on the basis that kids who were already very used to jumping and twisting and tumbling could probably figure out the ski/skate thing with some work.
Several of the ice dancing couples from Canada are brother-sister, and I read somewhere that two are partners in real life, but skate with the others. Must get interesting.
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Captain...or Skully
Social climber
Last clip of Lichen Lunch
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Feb 21, 2010 - 11:17pm PT
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What can we say?
Canadian chicks are hot. WooHoo!!!
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John_Box
Ice climber
Bellingham
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Feb 22, 2010 - 12:35am PT
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Anyone got an non NBC live stream of the game. I'm in the states and haven't been able to get most links to work.
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MisterE
Social climber
Across Town From Easy Street
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Feb 22, 2010 - 01:04am PT
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Just an awful transition by NBC from the luge to the last 20 seconds of the USA-Canada hockey game. And not much else but commentary and an empty hockey field.
What the hell is that?
Thanks for nothing.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 22, 2010 - 01:10am PT
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The Stawamus Chief has been patriotically decorated for the Olympics, as you'll see if you look closely in a photo of the Grand Wall today.
I don't know that we need to be encouraging people to hang signs and things on the Chief - a slippery slope. But this one seems modest and reasonable.
And I got some good Norwegian bread in Squamish today. Bread is a big part of the culture there, so they brought two bakers with them, and took over the Golden Crust, a small bakery in Squamish. They make several hundred loaves a day, and ship them to Vancouver and Whistler. The excess is sold at the bakery. I had a good chat with the bakers, and they were nice enough to let me buy six loaves. Mostly for friends and such, of course.
It was a very nice early spring day in Squamish. I got in some scrambling and hiking - both prospective partners bowed out at the last minute, but managed anyway. I timed the drive in terms of Olympic traffic, and it took only an hour each way.
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 22, 2010 - 01:46am PT
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I don't know that we need to be encouraging people to hang signs and things on the Chief - a slippery slope. But this one seems modest and reasonable.
Mr. Anders ... you better knock back a few shots of Jaegermeister before you view this video
Maelle Ricker Gold Medal Rocks Squamish Climbers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHphpgIgZ1Q
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 22, 2010 - 01:55am PT
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Thanks, Bruce - not news. The sign was up for about half an hour, then removed. I believe that those responsible are well aware of the related issues, which is why it was quite temporary.
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MisterE
Social climber
Across Town From Easy Street
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Feb 22, 2010 - 02:04am PT
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Nice, Anders!
Men's Bobsledding = Big Men In Tights.
Meh.
Edit: Big congrats to "The Bear" for his record, nonetheless. ;)
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 22, 2010 - 02:21am PT
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Somewhere when I wasn't paying attention, those Norskies won some more medals. The current winners (G/S/B):
U.S.A. 7/7/10
Germany 6/7/5
Norway 5/3/4
South Korea 4/4/1
Canada 4/4/1
Austria 2/3/3
Russia 2/3/3
France 2/2/4
Switzerland 5/0/2
Sweden 3/1/2
Netherlands 3/1/1
China 3/1/1
Poland 0/3/1
Italy 0/1/3
Slovakia 1/1/1
Czech Republic 1/1/2
Japan 0/1/2
Australia 1/1/0
Latvia 0/2/0
Belarus 0/1/1
Slovenia 0/1/1
Croatia 0/1/1
Great Britain 1/0/0
Finland 0/1/0
Estonia 0/1/0
Kazakhstan 0/1/0
And in other news, Canada's women's curling team lost to China.
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philo
Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
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Feb 22, 2010 - 11:08am PT
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I think Olympic Hockey sux donkey balls! If I wanted to watch a pack of overpaid prima donnas play hockey I can just tune into the NHL. Oh wait, it is all the same players anyway. What ever happened to the ideal of amateur athletes in the Olympics? The last time Olympic hockey mattered was in 1980 when a band of unpaid collegiate players took on and defeated the most organized athletic machine on the planet. The inclusion of pros in the Olympic games is a travesty that cheapens the noble intent of the games. Are we as a nation so desperate for the pompous bragging rights of Olympic gold that we can destroy the purity of the games. ? I'd like to see a reversal in the rules that would again ban professional athletes from participating in the Olympic games.
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Srbphoto
Trad climber
Kennewick wa
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Feb 22, 2010 - 11:35am PT
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philo - the problem was certain countries were allowed to have pros and others couldn't. The 1980 hockey was a perfect example. Also if it is truly about the best , you have to allow pros.
That being said I agree with you.
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philo
Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
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Feb 22, 2010 - 11:55am PT
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You are right, some Soviet Block teams were essentially pros. But we used to stand for a higher ideal. And we beat them none the less. The Olympics are about the best. The best amateur athletes.
All the Olympic athletes should be held to the same standard. If Bode or Apollo raced professionally they would be banned from Olympic competition. Why do we need a double standard?
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Srbphoto
Trad climber
Kennewick wa
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Feb 22, 2010 - 12:20pm PT
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I don't know about speed skating but skiers win prize money at the World Cup level. At the end of Jan. Bode had won 42,000 EU and Vonn had won 221,000EU
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philo
Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
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Feb 22, 2010 - 12:59pm PT
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The McLympics
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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Feb 22, 2010 - 01:17pm PT
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As far as ski jumps in large metropolitan areas, the Park City one is 20 mins from downtown SLC, and there's one in Bloomington, MN, a close suburb of Minneapolis.
So there's at least two places where kids could easily train.
For that matter, basically all the winter sports could be done within a half-hour drive of downtown SLC.
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Feb 22, 2010 - 01:48pm PT
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Huh? Bode makes tons of money professionally on the World Cup, he IS a professional. Plus all the endorsement money... for Apolo, Bode, Lindsey, the snowboarders. Shaun White's annual income is estimated at $6 million!
Buy I digress... isn't anybody else excited for the Dutch speedskaters?!? They love speedskating in Holland, and I'm glad they've got gold medal winners to celebrate! (even though I personally like Shani Davis, he seems like a class act)
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 22, 2010 - 01:50pm PT
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Olympic_Committee
Revenue
The Olympic Movement generates revenue through five major programs. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) manages broadcast partnerships and the TOP worldwide sponsorship program. The Organizing Committees for the Olympic Games (OCOGs) manage domestic sponsorship, ticketing and licensing programs within the host country under the direction of the IOC. The Olympic Movement generated a total of more than US$4 billion in revenue during the most recent Olympic quadrennium (2001–2004).
The IOC revenue averaged for one year of the quadrennium (2001–2004) would place the IOC at about position 169 on the list of 200+ countries in the 2009 GDP List using the numbers from the 2009 CIA World Factbook GDP ranking.
Philo sez:
The Olympics are about the best. The best amateur athletes.
Ethical compromises will continue to be made regarding the definition of what the Olympics are really all about in order to facilitate growing IOC revenues each quadrennium.
http://www.olympic.org/content/The-IOC/Financing/Revenues/
Olympic Revenue Distribution
The IOC distributes over 90% of its revenues to organisations throughout the Olympic Movement to support the staging of the Olympic Games and to promote the worldwide development of sport. The IOC retains less than 10% of its revenue for the operational and administrative costs of governing the Olympic Movement.
National Olympic Committees (NOCs) (in 2010 this means VANOC )
The NOCs receive financial support for the training and development of Olympic teams, Olympic athletes and Olympic hopefuls. The IOC distributes TOP programme revenue to each of the NOCs throughout the world. The IOC also contributes Olympic broadcast revenue to Olympic Solidarity, an IOC organisation that provides financial support to NOCs with the greatest need.
The continued success of the TOP programme and Olympic broadcast agreements has enabled the IOC to provide increased support for the NOCs with each Olympic quadrennium.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 22, 2010 - 03:40pm PT
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It's not so much boorish as stupid - and prolly drunk.
Uhhh, how does "stupid" and "prolly drunk" contradict "boorish"?
And the link from fattrad shows a bit of a cover up or at least trying to put more positive of a spin on this than is really possible: the Canadian curler tried to pass it off as the fans not knowing the etiquette, but they sure knew to keep their mouths shut when the Canadians were curling.
Has the "Ugly American" been replaced by the "Ugly Canadian"? I wouldn't say so based just on this one incident, but I would like to hear a straightforward apology rather than disingenuous spin.
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Hawkeye
climber
State of Mine
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Feb 22, 2010 - 03:49pm PT
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lets all admit it, a drunk boorish canadian is still way better than a drunk merican....
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pc
climber
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Feb 22, 2010 - 03:51pm PT
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Blahblah, I'm with you on that one. I'm truly sick of top athletes and in particular professionals not having an absolute blast doing what they're doing. It's not like they're selling vacuum cleaners door to door or something else worthy of being cranky and generally thugish.
From Wiki: Sportsmanship is an attitude that strives for fair play, courtesy toward teammates and opponents, ethical behaviour and integrity, and grace in victory or defeat.
As a Canadian I cannot root for our hockey team with players like Chris Pronger, the antithesis of sportsmanship, on it.
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Hawkeye
climber
State of Mine
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Feb 22, 2010 - 04:38pm PT
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pc, there are jerks like that in any sport and or occupation for that matter.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 22, 2010 - 05:44pm PT
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Norway has won another gold, in the 15 km mens' team sprint free cross country. Yippee!
Petter Northug was on the team, too.
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TwistedCrank
climber
Ideeho-dee-do-dah-day boom-chicka-boom-chicka-boom
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Feb 22, 2010 - 05:56pm PT
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All that jibber jabber aside
Only 1445 days until Sochi 2014 Games begin!
Where the fug is Sochi?
And can I get some decent ale and a fat doob there? Inquiring fans what to know.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 22, 2010 - 10:30pm PT
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Crank,
Sochi is just down the road from a couple of recent war zones -
who knows but it could have its own within 4 years. It is on the
Black Sea and if you think Vancouver had warm wacky weather then
you will love Sochi - palm trees are native there! You might be
hard pressed to get a decent ale there and the chronic isn't as
plentiful as hash; course you wouldn't want to get busted there
either unless you wanted to devote 20 years to learning Russian.
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Captain...or Skully
Social climber
Last clip of Lichen Lunch
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Feb 22, 2010 - 11:34pm PT
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Man, I hope they start soon.
I can't wait to see the 'Lympics.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Feb 23, 2010 - 12:04am PT
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Congratulations to the Canadian ice dancers who were the first North Americans to win gold in that event. The Americans did well with silver but could not match the Canadians for artistry and soul.
The Russians took third.
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Todd Eastman
climber
Bellingham, WA
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Feb 23, 2010 - 12:52am PT
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We are coming up on Wednesday to stay with friends in North Van and catch the Large Hill Nordic Combined and the 50k. It looks like the sun is about to retreat behind the rain clouds so out comes the rain gear. The Canadian XC team has skied really well and I expect the relays and the distance races the last day could go really well for them.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 23, 2010 - 02:51am PT
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"Ice dance?" Well, I guess we'll take our golds however we can get them.
The colourful curling culottes are at http://uk.loudmouthgolf.com/pages/about_us.html
Went for a stroll downtown tonight, as it may be the last nice evening for a while. Quieter than the weekends, of course. Lots of people milling about, some street entertainment, a few too many loud drunk adolescent males, too often wearing hockey raiment.
Here is the famous outdoor flame, the main reason for the trip - hard to get good photos during daytime.
As reported, surrounded by a chainlink fence and other barriers - quite tacky and embarrassing, even though it's supposedly to protect the press centre, which is next door. (Lots of security around.) Probably too late now to can the klutz who planned it. It really is a lovely setting, looking over the harbour and toward the mountains and Stanley Park - but for the fence.
Some of the barrier and fence visible here - about 2 m high.
The struts of the flame contraption are lit up, which is quite pretty.
So we waited in line for the viewing area that VANOC very rapidly built off to one side - the witticism was "Mr. Furlong (head of VANOC), remove that fence!" The first photo was taken from there, and here's another more colourful one. The blue smurf is actually a VANOC volunteer, of which there are myriads throughout the city and venues.
We walked all over, mostly to say we'd been there, then had a look at the Vectorial Vancouver searchlights - I posted some info about them way back. Here's a somewhat poorer photo.
It was interesting to see what each person had programmed for their 30 seconds - we sat and watched for a while, at English Bay near the Aquatic Centre. Sadly, the lights may not be very visible for the next few nights.
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Chief
climber
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Feb 23, 2010 - 12:21pm PT
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While we're distracted by the razzle dazzle of the Olympics, agreements, accords, compacts and MOUs are being signed and legislated.
PAY ATTENTION! WE'RE LOSING BCs COAST RANGE TO PRIVATE POWER PRODUCERS.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 23, 2010 - 05:58pm PT
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Canadian Ashleigh McIvor has won the women's ski cross. She is from Whistler, too. http://www.vancouversun.com/
As those of you who've visited Vancouver may have noticed, the horns at Canada Place (formerly at the BC Hydro building) play the first four notes of "O! Canada" at 12:00 noon each day. They can be heard through much of the city, not just downtown - originally air raid sirens, I think. Anyway, they've been doing the same every time a Canadian wins a gold medal. It was quite deafening last night - we were only a few hundred metres away.
Speaking of BC Hydro, and hydro power, and so-called mini-hydro developments, and Bute Inlet, and...
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 23, 2010 - 06:20pm PT
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Bump for my favorite hometown Whistler female athlete Ashleigh !
My top pick wins gold !!
Tonight we crucify the Germans in the hockey rink ...
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MH2
climber
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Feb 24, 2010 - 01:09am PT
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A view of the excitement in Vancouver, host of the 2010 Winter Olympics
Canada vs. USA, Canada's Hockey Place, 21 Feb, 4:40 pm...........Canada vs. Canada, ACT Theatre, Maple Ridge, 21 Feb 7:30 pm
Excitement building in downtown Vancouver
Cypress Bowl was not the only location renamed for the Winter Olympics. This site was formerly the front yard of the West Van Rec Centre.
The blue fence is for security. Getting to the sauna required passing a police checkpoint. I unshouldered my pack to show the contents: beer, wine, several dilators, 8 tubes of K-Y, and other articles. Before I could open it, the police asked, "Any explosives in there?"
"No."
"Okay, go ahead."
Another event in Spirit Square
A closer look at the excitement in downtown Vancouver.
Around the corner from the excitement
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 24, 2010 - 01:13am PT
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The current medal winners' standings, in order of most to least successful country (numbers rounded).
1. Norway 17 = one medal/286,000 citizens 2. Austria 10 = one medal/837,000 citizens
3. Switzerland 8 = one medal/974,000 citizens
4. Slovenia 2 = one medal/1,027,000
5. Latvia 2 = one medal/1,124,000
6. Slovakia 3 = one medal/1,807,000
7. Sweden 7 = one medal/1,334,000
8. Estonia 1 = one medal/1,340,000
9. Croatia 2 = one medal/2,218,000
10. Netherlands 6 = one medal/2,765,000
11. Canada 11 = one medal/3,092,000
12. Czech Republic 3 = one medal/3,504,000
13. Germany 23 = one medal/3,555,000
14. Belarus 2 = one medal/4,745,000
15. South Korea 10 = one medal/4,977,000
16. Finland 1 = one medal/5,356,000
17. France 10 = one medal/6,548,000
18. Poland 4 = one medal/9,525,000
19. Australia 2 = one medal/11,083,000
20. USA 26 = one medal/11,875,000
21. Italy 4 = one medal/15,069,000
22. Kazakhstan 1 = one medal/15,776,000
23. Japan 3 = one medal/42,476,000
24. Great Britain 1 = one medal/62,000,000
25. Russia 13 = one medal/110,918,000
26. China 5 = one medal/267,200,000
This would be even more useful if it included all top ten performers in each event, perhaps weighted, and if GDP per capita and national mean winter temperature were factored in.
Anyway, now we know who really owns the podium.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 24, 2010 - 01:15am PT
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I think the real excitement today was at the Nordie Combined site, eh?
Historic silver for the US! Hvor var Nordmennene? Katastrofe!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 24, 2010 - 01:25am PT
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And recognition today for figure skater Joannie Rochette, who is in third place after the women's short program. Her mother died suddenly on Sunday, but she decided to skate anyway. Apparently a very emotional performance and crowd.
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Chief
climber
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Feb 24, 2010 - 02:01am PT
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The Canucks and Russians tomorrow. Choice!
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 24, 2010 - 12:58pm PT
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Ashleigh's pretty cute all right, but our gold medalist ice dancer Tessa Virtue is suh-MOE-kin' hot!
Now talk about The Agony of Defeat! Did you guys hear about the coaching error that cost dutchman Sven Kramer the gold? During the 10K speed skate, his coach pointed him to the wrong side of the oval! He had the gold medal in the bag, but was disqualified for going the wrong way on the course! Wow, what a terrible disappointment.
But the real story of courage yesterday was that of Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette. Her mom died of a sudden heart attack only two days ago at age 55. Joannie went out last night to skate the short program, and got a personal best score. She's in third place going into the final free skate which is tomorrow night. Good on her!
Congrats to the men's hockey team, now that they're using the right goalie. Big game with the Russkies tonight, HUGE game. Right up there with the 1972 Canada-Russia series. Our loss to the Merricans the other night was the most-watched sports program in Canadian history. Swiss are playing the Merricans this aft - GO SWISS!!
And what can you say about the curlers?? [Besides Cheryl being my favourite Olympic MILF?] With any luck, a couple more golds.
Speaking of which, you Merricans ought to watch out. Yous guys are only a single gold medal ahead of us [7 vs 6] and we've got some bad-ass women's bobsleigh drivers goin' today.
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 24, 2010 - 01:06pm PT
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Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!!! Damn straight, Virtue is my all-time favourite, however my motives are knott entirely pure!
And speaking of figure skaters, you know I'm a trombone player, right Tami? Well, I am thinking I would like to play the Tuba.
Sven said he was tempted to go the right way, but that's not his job. His job is to follow his coach's instructions. In the heat of the moment, the stress, he needs to focus on skating, and the coach on the route. He'll do OK on sponsorship, he's already got a gold.
[her name is actually spelled "Tugba"]
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 24, 2010 - 01:11pm PT
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Big game with the Russkies tonight, HUGE game. Right up there with the 1972 Canada-Russia series. Does that mean that the Canadians will hack their way to victory, as in 1972? When Bobby Clarke was instructed by the Canadian assistant coach that Valeri Kharlamov (the leading Soviet player) needed "a tap on the ankle" during the sixth game? And Clarke obliged, fracturing Kharlamov's ankle in a blatant attack?
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 24, 2010 - 01:25pm PT
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Wow, Anders - I was completely unfamiliar with that story. That was pretty lame, all right. It is something conveniently omitted from the history books.
This link is quick and easy to read, and tells pretty much the whole story:
http://proicehockey.about.com/library/blhenderson-clarke.htm
None of that tonight, lads. Just go play hockey.
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Chief
climber
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Feb 24, 2010 - 02:00pm PT
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Geez Anders, what a fun wrecker anecdote!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 24, 2010 - 03:07pm PT
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Well, as with the medals/nation numbers, I'd rather see things as they were, without contrived rosiness. The 1970s were a particularly ugly era for gratuitous violence in hockey, and Bobby Clarke and the Philadelphia Flyers epitomized it. There will always be an asterisk beside the 1972 series win because of the things that he and other Canadian players did. Ironically, the original name for it was the "Friendship Series".
Canadian hockey didn't restore its tarnished reputation until the Canada Cup of 1987.
Interestingly, during the 1960s Canadian teams in the world championships and Olympics were truly amateur, for the most part university students. They were coached by David Bauer, who was a Catholic priest, and renowned for their sportsmanlike behaviour. The Canadian teams usually came in second or third or fourth, with the entirely professional Soviets winning. But they certainly stood for the supposed ideals of the Olympics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bauer_(ice_hockey);
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 24, 2010 - 03:25pm PT
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The Canadians in 1972 simply weren't able to acknowledge to themselves or others that the Soviets were a better team, and so hacked them into submission. It has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with fair play and sportsmanship - the Canadians were poor losers, and even poorer winners.
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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Feb 24, 2010 - 03:39pm PT
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According to a quote from that article, if he hadn't learned how to play dirty, he never would have left "Flin Flon". Which apparently is a real city in Manitoba and is now known for being the initial home of Canada's govt sponsored medical marijuana farm.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 24, 2010 - 04:21pm PT
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Reilly, real Canadians climb, and mountaineer. Though I did once participate in an athletic event which half-plausibly billed itself as a world championship.
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 24, 2010 - 04:34pm PT
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Holy frig! Your hockey team JUST GOT ROBBED!
Clearly that was a goal. The puck BARELY crossed the line with 0.1 seconds left on the clock. Amazing. What a tough break. I'm very sorry.....
KNOTT!!!!!
GO SWISS!
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nature
climber
Tucson, AZ
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Feb 24, 2010 - 04:36pm PT
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it wasn't a goal. It was clear from the overhead camera.
the puck has to be completely across the line. clock was at 0.0 when the puck started crossing the line.
32 shots on goal to 8 shots on goal.
WTF?
oh yeah... GO RUSSKIES GO!!!
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 24, 2010 - 04:42pm PT
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Wow! He's right. That's amazing. The "world feed" camera showed the time at 0.0, but the puck not completely across the line. It might have been a goal had the clock not run out.
It doesn't get any closer than that! Thank goodness they made the right call. You'd hate to go down for a bad referee decision.
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nature
climber
Tucson, AZ
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Feb 24, 2010 - 04:45pm PT
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I'm glad they got it right.
Still 32 shots on goal vs 8 shots on goal. WE'll only need one goal. That Heller is a good goalie.
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pc
climber
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Feb 24, 2010 - 04:46pm PT
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- No live NBC TV coverage that I can see of the US/Swiss game. Lame.
for later today...
Go Russia! I'm almost as sick of north american hockey today as I was back in the mid/late 70s. The game needs to be changed. Bigger rink, harsher penalties. Get asshats like Pronger out of the game.
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pc
climber
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Feb 24, 2010 - 04:51pm PT
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Thanks for the link Nature. I'd checked it out but couldn't see the puck with the shitty resolution/connection I got.
Still 0-0?
edit, guess not looking above again.
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nature
climber
Tucson, AZ
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Feb 24, 2010 - 04:51pm PT
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that move by Ryan! whoa!
1-0 USA USA USA!
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nature
climber
Tucson, AZ
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Feb 24, 2010 - 04:52pm PT
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Hit the post. hmmmm
uh oh... did they get robbed. hmmm
2-0.
doh!
guess not
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 24, 2010 - 04:53pm PT
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Holy frig! Can't you guys have any ROUTINE goal??? Gads, what a nailbiter.
GO SWISS!!!
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nature
climber
Tucson, AZ
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Feb 24, 2010 - 04:54pm PT
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whoa... off the post for the swiss. Dang....
BS penalty.
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nature
climber
Tucson, AZ
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Feb 24, 2010 - 04:58pm PT
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killed!
how many shots on goal with that power play?
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nature
climber
Tucson, AZ
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Feb 24, 2010 - 05:01pm PT
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GO RUSSKIES GO!!!111169
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 24, 2010 - 05:04pm PT
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It's just a game.
Isn't it?
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 24, 2010 - 05:20pm PT
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Congrats to the Merricans. The best team won, no doubt.
Bring on the Russkies!!!!!!!1111111111111111111111
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nature
climber
Tucson, AZ
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Feb 24, 2010 - 05:21pm PT
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wow! what a game.
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 24, 2010 - 05:22pm PT
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Major battle, The Swiss are on fire ....
Congrats USA ! Keep building your delusions of glory while you can.
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nature
climber
Tucson, AZ
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Feb 24, 2010 - 05:26pm PT
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Maybe you should start talking smack after you beat the Russians? ;-)
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 24, 2010 - 05:30pm PT
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nature's photo makes him look like he'll be goalie in sledge hockey during the Paralympics.
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 24, 2010 - 05:50pm PT
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Ka-CHING!! Clara Hughes picks off the bronze in the women's 5000m speed skate! Woo-hoo! Her sixth medal in three olympics. She also won a medal or two as a bike racer in the summer games. Edit - FOUR olympics!! First meal was in 1996, and here she is, still winning medals fourteen years later! Woo-hoo!
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 24, 2010 - 07:47pm PT
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SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE!!!!!!!!!!!11111111111111111
OK, back to the action:
"It's Vuckov to Wankov across to Jerkov, Jerkov over to Pissov, Pissov back to Vuckov..."
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 24, 2010 - 08:07pm PT
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The Russians are falling apart, 2 goals for Canada in 46 seconds. 3-0 Canada
Meanwhile the Americans are secretly struggling with their lurking fear of Luongo ...
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pc
climber
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Feb 24, 2010 - 08:08pm PT
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I predict OT
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 24, 2010 - 08:41pm PT
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THE ICE IS RED WITH BLOOD!! RUSSIAN BLOOD!!!
Man, this is one crazy game. 6-2 for the Hosers, and we're not even halfway through the second period.
Losing to you Merricans was the best thing that ever happened to the Canadians. Hope to see you in the Gold Medal Game.
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tooth
Trad climber
The Best Place On Earth
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Feb 24, 2010 - 08:48pm PT
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7-2!
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 24, 2010 - 10:00pm PT
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Congrats to the Swede curlers! I verily hope we will be buying you beers tomorrow!
And best of luck to the Shagadelic Cheryl [almost alliteration, eh?] as they battle the Swiss Misses tomorrow.
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 24, 2010 - 10:01pm PT
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7-3 Canada over Russia in mens hockey. No one predicted that kind of wash out against the once mighty Russians.
Canada is finding it's stride, with every game it plays.
The Americans need to prepare for utter humiliation ...
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 24, 2010 - 10:02pm PT
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Turn about is fair play, eh? It was most assuredly utter humiliation when we played the Merricans the other night.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 24, 2010 - 11:16pm PT
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Yawn.
But it was a lot of fun watching the womens' bobsleigh.
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GDavis
Social climber
SOL CAL
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Feb 24, 2010 - 11:50pm PT
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Did anyone watch the Nordic race??? Holy cow! Go Norway!!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 25, 2010 - 12:06am PT
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I saw some of the mens' 4 x 10 km relay at the Scandinavian Centre. An amazing finish by Northug - now he has one gold, one silver, and one bronze. Norway just about had a national crisis when he came 41st in an early event, due to waxing problems. He's favourite for the 50 km on Sunday.
It shouldn't be overlooked that Clara Hughes won a bronze in speed skating today. She is the only athlete ever to have won more than one medal in both the summer and winter Olympics. Two bronze in 1996 in cycling, bronze in speed skating in 2002, gold, silver and bronze in speed skating in 2006, and now another bronze.
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Chief
climber
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Feb 25, 2010 - 12:13am PT
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Easy there Bruce.
The Canucks who regularly play in that building have a bad habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Miller's Killer and I'll believe it when I see it!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 25, 2010 - 12:40am PT
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The other cool thing about bobsleigh is that they have extremely cool rides. All the sleighs are done up quite colourfully. I didn't quite see one with shark's teeth, or anything along those lines, but both sleighs and costumes are lively.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 25, 2010 - 01:22am PT
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Just read about the very unfortunate circumstances surrounding Manusco and the Giant Slalom run. Can't really fault the race officials for making Vonn crash, but the handling of it after that seems a bit, perhaps, opportunistic?
If you can't "own the podium," you can try to play spoiler for the US.
Maybe I'm reading to much into it, but why the hell did they want to make Manusco take the gondola up for her re-run?
Article is here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/sports/olympics/25ski.html
Edit--bmacd, thanks for the information. I guess it was just a general screw up / bad luck.
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Mimi
climber
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Feb 25, 2010 - 01:48am PT
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I want to drink beer with German women bobsledders. And I bet they could climb a mean wide crack. Several crashes tonight.
As the American goalie said after beating Canada, "We'll prolly see them later, and they're going to be mad."
Canada beats Russia! Radical! USA handles the Swiss.
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 25, 2010 - 01:49am PT
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blahblah yes you are reading too much into it.
From what I have seen at world cup ski events on Whistler, the race officials, whom are out on the course are multinationals, managing race operations, heavily weighted with Europeans. These are most certainly FIS personnel (International Ski Federation) on the course. Just like it's NHL referees on the ice officiating the Olympic hockey games.
Someone did get their wires crossed though, because the Gondola on that side of Whistler mountain is not nearly as fast a method to get back to the top of the race course as it would be on a snowmobile.
Anyway I am 99% certain it's not the "Canadians" running the race course, it's the FIS supplying the manpower and expertise .
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 25, 2010 - 02:03am PT
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Many of the female athletes seem to be real women. I would happily go into a random dark alley with some of the women's bobsleigh teams.
In the unending coverage of the Olympics, there was an article about Lindsay Vonn, who has apparently modeled and such. The article suggested that her photos might have been enhanced, so as to have her appear slimmer. But that in fact most of the Olympic women were better role models in terms of body type than those often seen in the news media.
Today's joke, regarding women's figure skating: "Yeah, she's a lead pipe cinch".
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Mimi
climber
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Feb 25, 2010 - 02:08am PT
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Is bobsledders correct? Or is it bobsleighers or perhaps both? Anders?!
Gotta get this right.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 25, 2010 - 02:25am PT
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It seems to be spelt (spelled?) bobsleigh. One word.
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Feb 25, 2010 - 02:29am PT
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What about tense? Today I bobsleigh. Yesterday I bobslid.?
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Mimi
climber
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Feb 25, 2010 - 02:31am PT
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This thread is beginning to bobslip.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 25, 2010 - 02:46am PT
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And just who is bob, anyway? It just sleighs me.
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Feb 25, 2010 - 02:56am PT
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Chuckle....
Guffaw...
Bob was actually BOB, an acronym for Bolshoi ot Boroslav. Russian for bigger than Boroslav, who, I understand, wasn't that big.
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Mimi
climber
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Feb 25, 2010 - 03:00am PT
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Goodnight, Bob. See you on the morrow.
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 25, 2010 - 12:18pm PT
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OK, you Merricans - watch out. We're tied with yas for gold medals at 7, and we've got curlers and hockey players coming up in the next few days!
So far, only Soren has had the courage [stupidity] to wager me a six-pack of King Cobras on the men's hockey. Anyone else wanna take a pop at the total number of golds?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 25, 2010 - 01:06pm PT
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I will bet a two-four of any good beer that:
1. Canada will win a gold medal in one or more of men's curling, men's ice hockey, women's curling, and women's ice hockey.
2. The top nation in terms of medals/citizen will be Norway.
3. The USA won't be in the top 10 nations, in terms of medals/citizen.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 25, 2010 - 01:09pm PT
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So what happened to Finland? They used to be rather
respectable but they have one silver I think so far.
Are they all too busy playing with their cell phones
these days?
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andy@climbingmoab
Big Wall climber
Denver, CO
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Feb 25, 2010 - 01:17pm PT
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My wife is Finnish, so tomorrow's Finland-USA hockey game is going to be a very tense time at my house. The Finland-Czech game last night was really something. I've never seen a team kill as many penalties as Czech did, but it did eventually catch up with them.
Finland had some doping scandals with winter olympians, especially with their traditionally strong cross country ski team. It'll take them a few years to really recover from that.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 25, 2010 - 01:46pm PT
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I also noticed Mighty's notable absence since Sweden beat his
boyz in the 4 x 10 relay yesterday. I hope he's ok.
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 25, 2010 - 02:51pm PT
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WOW! What a game of curling!
Miriam just didn't have it today, and Cheryl Bernard had just enough. So we're in the Gold Medal match against the defending champs, Sweden! Woo-hoooooo!!!!
Gold Medal match tomorrow afternoon!
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 25, 2010 - 03:09pm PT
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Well, ol' Anders will be happy - his girl just ski-skated across the finish line carrying the Norwegian flag - congrats.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 25, 2010 - 03:50pm PT
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I will bet a two-four of any good beer that:
. . .
3. The USA won't be in the top 10 nations, in terms of medals/citizen.
If even 1% of Americans gave a damn about what you call "bobsleigh" (this is a US website so you should use US spelling) or curling or whatever, your point No. 3 might be slightly interesting.
Hockey is as close as you're going to get to something any appreciable number of Americans care about--it is a minor, inconsequential sport that few Americans with any real athletic talent would participate in, but at least it is a sport.
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 25, 2010 - 04:04pm PT
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If Mighty Hikers interpretation of medal statistics based on population had any merit, it would be in general use, but it's not. Anders has discovered a favorable statistic for his beloved Norway, fair enough if you are a troll ...
What is interesting, is how tight the gold medal count has become between the top 4 nations is playing out. Germany leads the top 4 by one gold medal.
By descending rank in total medal count, the gold medal distribution is relatively even till 5th place:
28 USA = 7
26 Germany = 8
19 Norway = 7
15 Canada = 7
13 Russia = 3
11 Austria = 4
10 Korea = 5
10 France = 2
08 Swiss = 6
Looking at this list, to me, the surprise contender is Korea.
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TwistedCrank
climber
Ideeho-dee-do-dah-day boom-chicka-boom-chicka-boom
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Feb 25, 2010 - 04:16pm PT
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Lindsey Vonn broke a fingernail.
Brwahhhhhhhhh.
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 25, 2010 - 04:38pm PT
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I didn't realize what a huge points spread there is going into the women's free skate tonight:
http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-figure-skating/schedule-and-results/ladies-free-skating_fsw010101pB.html
Joannie Rochette from Canada is in third, two points behind the Japanese girl in second but a huge seven points behind Yu-Na from Korea. The fourth and fifth place girls are seven points farther back. It looks like the only "battle" will be for the silver medal.
So maybe Joannie can do like Elizabeth Manley, and come from third to take the silver.
Do it for your mom, Joannie!!!
Now, Bring on Kevin Martin and the curlers!!!
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 25, 2010 - 04:51pm PT
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America seems to like Bronze but the only thing that matters is Gold. No, the "Own the Podium" slogan implies that gold, silver, and bronze all get counted (they're all on the podium), so USA is still whuppin everyone else's ass by Canada's own admission.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 25, 2010 - 05:43pm PT
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Just back from lunch with my father and an aunt - he is 84 today.
Riley, to be quite specific, I'm a Canadian and was born here, as were both of my parents. My ancestry is 1/4 Norwegian, 1/8+ Swedish, 1/8+ hybrid American, and half north German. Which makes me a pretty typical Canadian, but with close ties to family in Norway. I've spent some time in Norway climbing, going to school, visiting relatives, and teaching climbing, and can get by in Norwegian.
I throw in the information about medal rankings so as to add another perspective. IMHO, there's too much facile nationalism (and simple commerce) associated with the Olympics, and it should be downplayed. And any statistician would tell you that medal rankings purely based on number of medals/country are meaningless - as they say, god always fights on the side of the heaviest artillery. Factoring in number of top 10 finishers, population of each country, GDP per capita, and perhaps something like percentage of population living in or within 100 km of areas with a mean winter temperature of freezing or below gives a more balanced perspective on this. That it happens to highlight Norwegian achievement is all the better, but I'd do it if Fiji was in first.
It's best if all athletes do well, and do their best, regardless of where they're from.
The Finnish lack of results is rather surprising. Like Norway, a small country that usually does very well in the winter Olympics.
As for boorish behaviour by some drunk Canadian hockey fans - well, as I said earlier, I'm no fan of hockey, and believe that its place in the Olympics should be similar to that of soccer in the summer. That is, hold a separate world championship from time to time, and at the Olympics only allow players under 22 or 24. As it stands, it's almost like there's a hockey championship happening, associated with a lesser event called the Olympics. Many Canadians have greatly exaggerated views as to the importance of hockey and our national psyche, and at present are acting out a somewhat childish anti-Americanism in their behaviour.
And although curling is a fun social game, it is out of place in the Olympics.
It was relief to go to the Scandinavian Centre yesterday and see something other than hockey on Danish and Swedish TV.
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 25, 2010 - 06:36pm PT
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Hey Anders,
Look at the Merricans - taking gold and silver in the Nordic Combined. What happened to you Scandinavians?
Well, that's eight golds for them to our seven. But Kevin Martin is looking pretty darn good. And Cheryl *always* looks good!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 25, 2010 - 06:48pm PT
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Well, Marit Bjørgen won her third gold medal today, in a relay.
Also, Jacques Rogge, the head of the IOC, said today "Women's ice hockey must improve if it is to remain on the Olympic program".
Current medal standings - the five countries with the most medals.
USA 8G, 10S, 12B = 30
Germany 8G, 11S, 7B = 26
Norway 7G, 6S, 6B = 19
Canada 7G, 6S, 2B = 15
Russia 3G, 4S, 6B = 13
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 25, 2010 - 07:42pm PT
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Hey wanker!
Looks like you Norwegians are gonna meet us in the Gold medal round of curling. At least, they'd better win up three points going into the tenth end.
So, um, care to make a little carbonated liquid wager?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 25, 2010 - 07:53pm PT
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Alexandre Bilodeau is donating $25,000 of his prize money from winning the mens' moguls to the Canadian Association of Pediatric Health Centres for Cerebral Palsy Research. (His brother Frederic has cerebral palsy.)
Jenn Heil, who won silver in womens' moguls, is donating $25,000 to Plan International's "Because I am a Girl" campaign, which focuses on educating girls in developing nations.
And Clara Hughes, who won a bronze medal in womens' 5,000 m speed skating, is donating $10,000 to the Take A Hike Foundation, which gets troubled youth outdoors.
(I keep looking for a photo of the two Bilodeaus at the finish, but can't find one. It was on TV, and a fine bit of poetry.)
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hafilax
Trad climber
East Van
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Feb 25, 2010 - 08:39pm PT
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Canada wins women's hockey!
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 25, 2010 - 08:49pm PT
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Which begs the question - does anyone really care?
I feel more excited by the girls' bobsled wins, why knott girls' hockey? Anyway, congrats to the girls!
Eight golds, eh? I don't hear any of you Merricans putting any beers on the line over total golds....
They're putting the silver medals on the Merrican girls, not a smile to be seen. They're all fighting back the tears. Good effort, girls - be PROUD of your silver! It's a medal!
OK, there - assistant captain Chu gave a big smile and a wave. Oooh, supercute blonde smiling too. There we go, Brianne - good on you.
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golsen
Social climber
kennewick, wa
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Feb 25, 2010 - 08:58pm PT
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My ancestry is 1/4 Norwegian, 1/8+ Swedish, 1/8+ hybrid American, and half north German.
Whats a hybrid American? Is your gas green? Or do you run on electrical power?
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 25, 2010 - 10:07pm PT
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Well, buddy blew it - Kyle Nissen in aerials. Went from first place to fifth place. No medal there tonight.
Well, on to the free skate, for some real courage and drama, no doubt.
Not that it wouldn't take huge burly brassy balls to do those insane jumps on skis. I got sweaty hands just looking at the take-off ramp!
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 26, 2010 - 12:09am PT
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Well, Joannie Rochette managed to hang in there and get her bronze medal. Congrats! Yu-Na Kim was simply amazing, a true champion.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 26, 2010 - 12:13am PT
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Joannie Rochette of Canada has won the bronze medal in women's figure skating, to an enraptured audience. Yu-Na Kim (South Korea) won the event, and Mao Asada (Japan) was second. There was little doubt that Kim and Asada would somehow be first and second, but Rochette's poignant performance was her best ever at the world level - four days after her mother died.
Rochette skated second-to-last, after Kim and Asada, and at that point was in third. The emotional pressure on the last skater must have been immense.
As for Canada v Norway in the men's curling final - pretty hard to know what to think. The unspeakable in pursuit of the inedible, possibly?
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 26, 2010 - 12:13am PT
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Holding the GS in those conditions yesterday was a travesty.
They would never run a World Cup race in those conditions.
The same holds true for the Nordic Combined today.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Feb 26, 2010 - 12:26am PT
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It seems to me that the women's figure skating had a lot of great life lessons to teach both genders this year. Joannie Rochette skating four days after her mother's unexpected death and the girl from Georgia falling four times on the ice and still continuing to the finish with great artistry.
And you guys still prefer curling? Huh?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 26, 2010 - 12:31am PT
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Hey, don't look at me.
At least figure skating is intensely athletic, even if the judging is notoriously subjective.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Feb 26, 2010 - 01:02am PT
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The new judging system seems to have solved most of the subjectivity problems.
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philo
Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
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Feb 26, 2010 - 01:05am PT
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Incredible heroics on the Vancouver Ice tonight. Man those ladies can skate!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 26, 2010 - 01:57am PT
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Gold and Silver for Demong and Spillane!
I never thought I would see this day. My life is complete!
I have an emotional stake in this as my best friend in Alaska, Bela Bodnar,
was on the '76 team with Koch and Caldwell.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 26, 2010 - 01:57am PT
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The International Olympic Committee will investigate after some of Canada's women's hockey players celebrated their gold medal by drinking beer and champagne on the ice, the Associated Press is reporting.
Photos taken by Canwest News Service show some of the players sitting on the ice, wearing their gold medals after the 2-0 win over the United States at Canada Hockey Place.
Players also smoked cigars, the AP is reporting.
Gilbert Felli, the IOC's executive director of the Olympic Games, is reported to have said he didn't think drinking on the ice is a good promotion of sport values.
"If they celebrate in the changing room, that's one thing, but not in public. We will investigate what happened," Felli told the AP. http://www.vancouversun.com/
Cigars?! On the ice?!
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GLee
Social climber
MT
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Feb 26, 2010 - 02:09am PT
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Congratulations to Joannie Rochette, the Canadian Womens's Hockey team, and all atheletes Norwegian in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics!!!!
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 26, 2010 - 10:57am PT
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Hopefully the Canadian women's hockey team went out in a blaze of glory and that's the last time we'll have to see this travesty in the Olympics, at least until there are more than 2 teams that can play the game.
The incredible run up in the scores of both US and Canada against other teams was sickening and about as against the spirit of the Olympics as you can get.
The Canadian team's atrocious behavior was a nice icing on the cake of tackiness.
Anyway, here's a good site I came across that gives each countries chances of medaling in the various events:
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Olympics/Olympics-blog/2010/0226/Vancouver-Olympics-medal-count-US-chances-for-Day-15
It's got a US bias (being a US site) but talks about other countries.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 26, 2010 - 11:04am PT
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^^^^^^ Word! (about no more wimmen's hockey with only 2 teams worthy)
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 26, 2010 - 11:40am PT
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Some of those woomen would fit in really well in the BOOT DEPARTMENT at MEC.
Tami you are frickin hilarious !
So is blahblahblah, but in a different way.
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hafilax
Trad climber
East Van
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Feb 26, 2010 - 11:41am PT
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The issue is probably that Coors and the maker of the cigars aren't official sponsors.
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Seamstress
Trad climber
Yacolt, WA
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Feb 26, 2010 - 12:22pm PT
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We had a fantastic time at the games. We go to BC two or three times a year, and it was the easiest border crossing ever - 2 cars ahead of us.
For the local who complained about the price of short track tickets - our tickets were $50, bought in the lottery, seated next to the press area, and saw the men's 1500 meter prelim, semi and finals. Most excellent entertainment with the greed for the gold knocking out two Koreans allowing the wiley Ohno and kid Celski to medal.
Got on to the Sea to Sky highway the next day and had the most stress free trip up. We saw about 100 cops and about 5 other cars. Arrived at Whistler at noon. Excellent skiing in crappy light for two days. The hill was empty, skied right onto the lifts, enjoyed bowls without being bowled over...
We walked to the ladies downhill and were very impressed by the venue. Who knew that it was a combination ski jump and downhill? 7 of 31 DNF's, and this is mostly a blue run for the public. Two medals for the Americans, including one of my favorites Julia. Beer, wine, and coffee all available at 8:00 AM. Could the weather be more perfect for spectators and competitors? No. Outdoor sports will always have weather issues, and you can't have a couple of weeks of events without having some bad weather. It was perfect for the outdoor events I had tickets to see.
The nordic venues were fantawstic. I can block out the sound of my husband complaining about the long walk in and appreciate the beautiful setting. Thoroughly enjoyed the international crowd, chatting with the Aussies, Scotsmen, Canadians, Americans, and Danes standing next to us. None of us had a contender in the biathlons, so we rooted for each other's countrymen.
I would give the whole experience a 9 out of 10. The blemishes were few:
Poor execution of mass transit in Vancouver. Any time you leave thousands of foreigners, many not savvy urban people, figuring out how to negotiate mass transit with lots of changeovers - very messy. It took a ridiculous 2 1/2 hours to get back to our car 6 miles away from Pacific Coliseum. They were loading two buses at a time, with dozens of buses lined up on the street with thousands of people getting wetter by the second.
Intrawest - why shut down half your food service because it won't be busy enough when the world is on your doorstep? The lines at lunch on Whistler were long while a significant part of the normal food services were closed. Out of the 100 ski days I have on this mountain, these were the worst for getting food.
Mass Transit in Whistler - should have used a dual hub system instead of a single hub. Everyone was trucked into Whistler for the buses to all venues. We managed to talk one Olympic Park driver to make a drop at Creekside, saving half the bus two or three more rides to get back to their lodging. The service was not close to what was promised (30 minutes vs. 15 minutes)on the website, and it was not acknowledged. We often walked it, wearing dark clothing, in the dark rather than wait forever only to be passed by a full bus. Pick-up points were changed without announcement, ....They did provide lots of volunteers who mostly knew how to navigate - but maps with stops noted would have helped enormously. Seems they did not get all the buses they expected and many were not mountain worthy.
Gougers - we paid a very high rate for the lodging that we rented. We noticed prices in a freefall just before the games, and significant availability. Very few gifts were bought for families and friends as most souvenirs were overpriced. $30 cotton t-shirts - forget it.
I returned home, with all my pocket warmers unopened, backpack full of fleece and down that never was used, a suntan, and 2,000 pictures of 4 events. Thanks for the hospitality.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 26, 2010 - 12:49pm PT
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Canadians? Drinking Coors?
That must be why the IOC is investigating. No real Canadian would drink such swill.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 26, 2010 - 12:54pm PT
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mh--there must be ass loads of people who seem to be Canadians but must not be "real" Canadians. In the mega-mergers in the beer industry, what is now Miller Coors was Molson Coors for a time. I believe Molson and Coors made each other's swill in their respective countries.
Edit: I see they're still doing business under Molson Coors.
http://www.molsoncoors.com/
Ha ha ha--must be enough to make a real Canadian's blood boil, seeing their iconic national brand being reduced to the lever of American McBeer.
Think I'll enjoy me one of those 24 oz. cans of "Canadian" (made by Coors) this evening when I'm watching US pick up some of those speed skating medals!!
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 26, 2010 - 01:33pm PT
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Like, we rock, eh ?
pass the mary jane, Shelley
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Feb 26, 2010 - 01:45pm PT
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Ah c'mon... a few ADULT hockey players drinking beer on the ice, after winning the gold medal, after the fans had left...
IN A VENUE THAT SELLS BEER!!!!!
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Chief
climber
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Feb 26, 2010 - 01:45pm PT
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Ms. Chief and I have been enjoying the Olympics very much and celebrating the accomplishments of all the athletes, no matter what flag they represent. There are however some sobering considerations.
Whistler's Pique Magazine printed Ms. Chief's letter and with her permission, I'm posting it here.
Perry
Letter to the Editor
I watched the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, they reflected what I believe Canadians love about our country and what it is that soothes our souls. That being the wide-open spaces of prairies and oceans, vast forests of conifers and maples, wild rivers and wildlife we share this land and water with. I'm pretty sure these are also the images we have hanging on our walls, sitting on our window sills and in our photo albums.
Unfortunately these are the very same icons we exploit to fulfill our insatiable needs.
In British Columbia we have cut down the majority of these conifers, and in the process destroyed vast amounts of fish habitat resulting in collapsed runs of the Pacific Salmon which feed the Bears we hunt for trophies, and the Whales who's habitat we pollute with our capital city's raw sewage.
We cry that our debt is not our fault, demand someone else pay for our children and parents, insist we should have high paying jobs, and complain that Canadian made products cost too much.
Well, while you sit and watch your flat screen TVs, on your no money down sofas, drinking the beer you bought on credit while your children play one of their fifty games of Nintendo, ask yourself what you've done to make Canada the place you just shed a tear for, then ask yourself what you'll do different tomorrow to make it a better place, and if the answer is nothing then you should ask your self which ones of the icons on our wall you're willing to live with out.
Nadine Beckham
Squamish BC
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 26, 2010 - 02:21pm PT
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Good one, Perry and Nadine!
It was disturbing that most Olympic events were held in one provincial park (Cypress), or on land taken from Garibaldi Provincial Park over the last 40 years for Whistler/Blackcomb - and that there have been few if any mentions of it in the news media. Given that the government promotes what it calls sustainable tourism, and indeed has now branded B.C. as "The Best Place on Earth" (really - they have the trademark), you'd think they would at least pay lip service to the importance of parks and wildernesses.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 26, 2010 - 02:55pm PT
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The reason they ran up the scores is because goals matter in the end if you are tied in someway. And please donKt take anything away from these girls, the Americans especially worked very very very hard to win Gold and who gives a sh#t if the other countries sucked this bad. They should be ashamed not the winners, so f*#k u blahblah.
Maybe the people who should be ashamed are the people who included an event that is only taken seriously in 1 country (Canada) and not taken seriously in another (the US) but which is huge, rich, and puts lots of emphasis on women's sports due to federal mandates (and other reasons) and so can still field a respectable team. No one one else in the world seems to care, which is saying a lot in a world full bobsledders, curlers and other pursuers of ridiculous enterprises.
I am glad this is the last time we will see this travesty, unless the rest of the world decides it wants play the game at something approaching a competitive level.
And you are really sick for saying that those poor girls from those other countries should be ashamed, I'm sure they did the best the could against insurmountable odds.
PS: I don't care much about hockey (being a somewhat normal American) but I am really, really hoping the US beats the Finns and then somehow beats Canada just to teach some of you arrogant jerks a lesson.
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nature
climber
Tucson, AZ
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Feb 26, 2010 - 03:54pm PT
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6-0 woowooo!
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nature
climber
Tucson, AZ
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Feb 26, 2010 - 04:08pm PT
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9 of 12 power play kills.
Canada needs to get there.
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Chief
climber
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Feb 26, 2010 - 04:15pm PT
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I'm all for free speech and a "modless" forum. Lord knows I've done my share of ranting here and elsewhere. I do have to confess though, the level of conversation here is at times....well...disappointing and somehow unbecoming of all of us. Can we work on that a bit?
Back to Olympic hockey.
Don't be jinxing the Canucks with any talk of meeting the much to be feared Yanks, we've got our hands full this evening.
Peace
PB
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Feb 26, 2010 - 04:20pm PT
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Talk about an earth shaking game!
I was dozing through the U.S. versus Finland hockey game at 5:30 in the morning here and we had a 6.9 earthquake with the epicenter less than 10 miles from my house. Now there are tsunami warnings up all over East Asia. It felt like three separate rolling earthquakes where the house literally feels like its surfing on undulating ground. A lot of rumbling noise too.
Whoever plays in the finals, it won't top that as far as I'm concerned!
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 26, 2010 - 04:29pm PT
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Bmacd, that photo is FABULOUS!
Yeah, your hockey team is looking good, no doubt. We, um, have some Slovakians to take care of first. We'll be along in a bit.
LOVE the "champagne bottle" of Molson Canadian beer - classic. And the cee-gars. Love it! For whatever reason in marketing, we do not have a viable home-brew light beer here in Canada. When you think light beer, you think Coors light. I actually don't mind the stuff.
Here's something else you Merricans will find amazing, I sure do: Miller Genuine Draft is marketed in Canada as a premium beer, and you pay extra for it! Little do the Hosers know it's the cheapest swill in the states you can buy. I can't stand it, way too fizzy on the wall when it's warm.
Remember that 90% of the Canadian population lives within a hundred miles [or is it 100km?] of the US border, so we have grown up watching US TV all our lives. When Merrican beer first hit Canada, they would always slowly zoom in on the label to finish up at "Alcohol 5.0% by volume" because the perception among Canadians is that Merrican beer is watery.
Hey you Hosers - if girls were going to drink light beer, what else would it be besides Coors? They have Blue Light and Bud Light in the bars, one of which is US, but you don't really see the stuff in cans or bottles much, do you?
And hey - yous guys who don't like Molson Canadian?!
Like, take OFF, eh?!
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hafilax
Trad climber
East Van
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Feb 26, 2010 - 04:34pm PT
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Funnier still is the price people pay for Stella, Heineken or Becks which aren't all that much better.
Microbrews all the way. Isn't Elsinore a micro? ;-)
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 26, 2010 - 04:46pm PT
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PTPP: Miller Genuine Draft is not at all a discount beer in the US, it is the same price at Bud and Coors, which are often times referred to as "premium" domestics.
At at SIGNIFICANTLY lower price point are many beers such Pabst (and a whole bunch of other legacy regional brands that are now made in the same place), Bush, and Miller High Life (not MGD), and othes.
All of the above would be known to any American beer drinker (not talking about a beer snob, talking about a real beer drinker), so glad I could clear that up for you.
Back to the Olympics: you Canadians are finally starting to ruffle my feathers.
Check out this article:
Johnny Weir responds to mocking broadcasters
http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/02/26/johnny.weir.mocking.ppl/index.html?hpt=Sbin
Talking trash in hockey is one thing (although those female goons shown in the picture above are a bit much), but I thought Canada was such an open, tolerant, accepting place. Ha.
Edit, back to beer:
In bottles or cans, huge brands are Coors Light, Bud Light, and Miller Lite. Pretty much every mega brand that has a regular beer has a light beer too, and light beer significantly outsells regular beer (so much so that "light" almost goes without saying as the default nowadays).
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Chief
climber
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Feb 26, 2010 - 05:12pm PT
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If they get past the Slovaks, screen Miller and go high and right boys!
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 26, 2010 - 05:23pm PT
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Hey Anders,
We just kicked your Norwegian ass! in men's pursuit speed skating!!
[Or at least the 1/4 of your ass! that's Norwegian]
Aw right, it's the Merricans vs. the Dutchmen! C'mon you wooden-shoe-wearin' canal-skatin' mo-fo's - kick some Merrican ass!
Well, I'll be buggered - it's gonna be another US-Canada gold medal final! Congrats to the Yanks!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 26, 2010 - 05:49pm PT
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Riley apparently needs to cut down on his red meat and/or beer intake.
Current medal standings of the five countries with the largest number of medals:
1. Norway 20 (= one medal/243,000 citizens)
2. Canada 17 (= one medal/2,001,000 citizens)
3. Germany 26 (= one medal/3,145,000 citizens)
4. Russia 15 (= one medal/9,462,000 citizens)
5. USA 32 (= one medal/9,649,000 citizens)
As noted earlier, this should probably also be adjusted for things like GDP/citizen, % of citizens living in or within 100 km of places with a mean winter temperature of freezing or below, and include the top ten in each event, rather than top three. But Canada is barely in the top ten overall, and Russia and the USA are duking it out for 22nd and 23rd. It was courteous of the Norwegians to allow the Canadians a victory earlier today - magnanimous victors and all. I guess when you're that good, you can afford to be. No other country is even close to them.
Ice hockey is boring, contrived, and violent, and in its present form has no place in the Olympics. It's an embarrassment to our country that of the two 'sports' which supposedly represent our national character, and are getting grotesquely over-emphasized, one is ice hockey and the other is curling - which isn't even a sport. I had hoped that both Canada and the USA would lose today, to spare us more ice hockey nonsense. Well, maybe part of my wish will come true.
The Norwegian curlers' clown trousers are a fitting comment on the game of curling.
But hey, it's all fun and games, isn't it? No one takes any of this seriously, I hope.
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bmacd
Trad climber
Washedup, Hasbeen, BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 26, 2010 - 07:20pm PT
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No one takes any of this seriously, I hope.
Just you it seems, try and be positive for the finale here Anders. It's almost over ....
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Feb 26, 2010 - 07:25pm PT
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That Bernard on the Canuck Womens Curling team is super-hot IMO!!!!
Not super-model kinda hot, I never liked that type, just babe-alicious!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 26, 2010 - 07:36pm PT
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Norway won the gold medal in the men's 7.5 km biathlon relay today. Their anchor skier was Ole Einar Bjørndalen - it is the 11th medal he has won in the winter Olympics. Austria was second and Russia third. Canada 10th.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 26, 2010 - 09:38pm PT
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Canada won the silver medal in women's curling, defeated by the Swedes in overtime. How Swede it is, apparently.
The Canadian women's hockey team has apologized for its on-ice post-game celebration last night. A spokeswoman didn't say "We wanted to drink Howe Sound Brewing beer, but couldn't get any. And the part about the cigar being Cuban simply isn't true, although it was a fatty." OK, I made that last part up. They were having a good time after they thought everyone had left, but there was some snoopy photographer there.
1/8+ plus hybrid American. My father's mother's mother was born in Wisconsin. Her parents' names were John Wesley Chapman and Mary Josephine St. Louis. Which suggests English and French ancestors, but as they were born in the 1850s, could mean almost anything. I will see if my father can add to this. We know more about my father's father's family, back to 16th century or so, and my mother's family.
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 26, 2010 - 09:57pm PT
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I'm with Bluering - Cheryl Bernard is MILF-O-Licious! Congrats on her silver. {sigh}
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 26, 2010 - 11:34pm PT
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And guess which country just got its TENTH GOLD MEDAL, and now has the lead in number of golds???!!!!!!!!!!!1111111111111111111111
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful, BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 26, 2010 - 11:36pm PT
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PTPP holy smokes ... Unbelievable !!
we are in the lead with Gold medals, wow ...
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 26, 2010 - 11:37pm PT
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OK just watched short track 500m, Canadians won gold and something else.
They DQ'd Apolo Ono for making the slightest, most inadvertent contact with one of the Candadians who was blocking him as Apolo was going to pass from 4th to 3rd place.
I don't know much about the sport, so can someone who does tell me if that was a legitimate ruling or was it another case of "hometown" judging?
It also looked to me like the Canadian who won knocked over the Korean who was leading until he wiped out, but again, I don't know enough about the sport to say much.
DOUBLE EDIT--BREAKING NEWS--JUST HAD AN INTERVIEW WITH ONO: HE CALLED OUT THE CANADIAN REF AS MAKING A BIASED DECISION BASED ON NATIONALITY. WOW! A CLASS ACT LIKE ONO WOULD *NOT* MAKE SUCH AN ACCUSATION LIGHTLY.
Edit--goddamit, now that US-Canada hockey game is going to be incredibly important for the gold medal count (US is looking pretty good for overall medal count, but I admit gold meal count is worth "2nd place" objective).
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 26, 2010 - 11:57pm PT
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Blahblah, I am incensed that this speed skating coverage was not available for me to watch live! I can flip between channels, I'm a guy. Sheesh.
I did not see the race, but no doubt it will be shown in detail now that the hockey game is over.
Here is what the Toronto Sun wrote:
"In replays Ohno could be seen giving Tremblay a nudge with his hand, causing the chain reaction crash."
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 27, 2010 - 12:00am PT
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Ono ABSOLUTELY put his hand on the hip of the CA skater. If that's ground for DQ, then it was justified. I just don't know the rules.
Sounds like you Canadians are getting screwed on TV coverage just as we are here in the US, I can't fathom why Canada TV didn't show the 500m finals, it was really good with two, somewhat independent crashes at the end.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 27, 2010 - 12:05am PT
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Canadian Charles Hamelin won two gold medals in short track speed skating tonight, the 500 m, and the 5,000 m relay. Another Canadian won a bronze. The 500 m event is being described as "chaotic".
Canada now has 10 gold, 7 silver, and 4 bronze. The newspapers noted today that 14 medals had been won by Canadian women, six by men, and one joint.
It looks like Canada may make it into the top ten medal-winning countries after all. Of the countries with the most medals, the current standings are:
1. Norway 20 medals (one per 243,000)
2 - 7. Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland, Latvia, Sweden, Estonia
8. Canada 21 medals (one per 1.62 million)
9 - 13. Finland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Netherlands
14. Germany 27 medals (one per 3 million)
15 - 21. Belarus, South Korea, France, Australia, Poland, Russia, Kazakhstan
22. USA 34 medals (one per 9.08 million)
23 - 26. Italy, Japan, Great Britain, China
Admittedly, some of those countries aren't famed for their winter weather or wealth. But Canada and Norway are fairly similar in climate and economies, as is much of the USA.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 27, 2010 - 01:30pm PT
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Women's 30 km cross country today, men's 50 km cross country tomorrow. Nice to see the Olympics ending with the events that more than anything epitomize their spirit, and winter sport.
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micronut
Trad climber
fresno, ca
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Feb 27, 2010 - 02:10pm PT
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I know this is gonna make some of the northerners angry, but Canada has had an uncanny ability to "advance" or win medals on Canadian Referee judgements throughout these games. The short track has been the most obvious, on more than one account. Canadian skaters advancing on tacky calls.
Has anybody else seen or felt this way. I was a full time athlete for many years and lived and trained at the US Olympic Training Center in the 90s. I am all for purity of sport but am well aware how desperate countries get for their "medal count" to shine. Korea did it a fair amount in Seol (boxing), China was a mess, it was probably even seen in Atlanta or Squaw.
It just seems that in these games Canada kinda does what it needs to get the medal. Shady? Am I alone here?
By the way, country medal counts are kinda lame in my opinion. The individual athletes tend to think they are for the couch potatoes back home really.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 27, 2010 - 02:35pm PT
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micronut--yes, hometown reffing has got lots of attention, you're not the only one to notice it. But I don't think this is unique to this Olympics, I think it's business as usual. There is even "legal cheating" (not sure what the right phrase is) by things such as allowing Canadians to go down the bobsled track MUCH more often than the rest of the world.
Many of the reffing calls seem more-or-less defensible on an individual basis, but when they ALWAYS go in the Canadians' favor, we sort of start to figure it out.
That's why it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT for US to win in hockey tomorrow--to give the Canadians a much needed dose of humility once and for all (or at least for 4 more years)!
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Chief
climber
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Feb 27, 2010 - 02:54pm PT
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I'm looking forward to a great hockey game and don't want to see anybody humiliated. The best team will win and right now it doesn't look like it's the Canucks.
Peace
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gonzo chemist
climber
a crucible
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Feb 27, 2010 - 03:07pm PT
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Radical,
the Canadian guy was TOTALLY pushing off of the Korean (or was it Chinese?) guy's hip as well!!! If Ohno got DQ'd, then the Canuck should have got DQ'd as well!
either way, the speed skating relay is AWESOME! that sh#t is INTENSE!
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Srbphoto
Trad climber
Kennewick wa
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Feb 27, 2010 - 03:19pm PT
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So stop you whining America...a country of 30 mill is kicking the sh#t out of a country of 330 million....But have solace, you guys are great at third place..
I thought we had the most medals of any country. Actually, it's amazing how well the USA has done. It wasn't that long ago when about the only thing we would medal in was figure skating or an occasional ski medal.
Oh Canada, Wait til the summer Olympics
Bejing 2008- USA 110 medals (1st place). Canada 18 medals. USA's 36 gold doubled all of Canada's
At least you did better than Iran, Israel or Togo.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 27, 2010 - 04:24pm PT
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The Norwegian team's medal in the 4 x 7.5 km biathlon yesterday was Norway's 300th medal in all winter Olympics. The USA has 248 total.
During their on-ice party after the game on Thursday, one of the Canadian women's hockey team even drove the Zamboni. There was a picture of it in the paper today - but she forgot to take off her skates! Must have been quite a sight.
micronut had some good thoughts just upthread, which express some of the things I've mentioned, in a different way.
I know this is gonna make some of the northerners angry, but Canada has had an uncanny ability to "advance" or win medals on Canadian Referee judgements throughout these games. The short track has been the most obvious, on more than one account. Canadian skaters advancing on tacky calls. I don't know enough about short track speed skating to commment, but I believe that it's the international sport federation that chooses the referees and judges for all events. I believe that you can find who the judges are for each event on the VANOC website, and that they have various processes to ensure no one judges his/her own country. Whether there is some "home" or other distorting effect is beyond me. Short track speed skating seems a rather random event, in terms of results.
By the way, country medal counts are kinda lame in my opinion. The individual athletes tend to think they are for the couch potatoes back home really. The Olympics are a sometimes unsavoury intersection of commerce and nationalism. The athletes put up with it, and even feed it - it pays the bills. But many of the athletes are more international than national. They may come from a given nation, but sometimes have mixed parentage, sometimes compete for another country, and in their residency, training, and competition lives are largely pan-national. But commerce considerably distorts it all.
It has been both amusing and dismaying that some suggest (even when sober) that I'm unCanadian for what I've said about ice hockey and curling. Sorry, guys - get a life, and get some perspective.
Even if medals are won by countries rather than athletes, that still doesn't factor in the other things I've mentioned upthread - top eight/ten finishers, population, proportion of population living in snowy places, GDP/person. The "winning" countries, on any rational basis, include neither Canada nor the USA. And it's no secret that the winter Olympics are largely about richer, northern, white and/or brown countries.
It was quite amusing reading our papers today. So far on every day of the Olympics they've shown the various countries, in order of the total number of medals won. Every day, every paper. So essentially USA, Germany, Norway, Canada, then Austria. Today they're suddenly showing Canada as #1 - because it has more gold medals. Pretty tacky.
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 27, 2010 - 04:51pm PT
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ELEVEN - gold!
ELEVEN - gold!
ELEVEN - gold!
Take that, you eight-gold Merricans!
Now, what do we Canadians have on tap for further golds today?
4-man bobsled - we're in second by 0.4 seconds behind you guys. A tough one to win, but you never know
Gold in Men's pursuit on the speed-skating rink! Rumour has it we won a gold in a similar even last night, but I have YET to see the TV footage. Bloody wanker TV stations. Dutchmen just knocked out the Norwegians to take bronze. Canadians just barely beat the Merricans. Go Canada!
Some sport that nobody knows nor cares about - side by side snowboard slalom. Well, we're in the final
And then of course, there's Kevin Martin and the men's curling team.
Woo=hooo!!! Go Canada!!!111
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 27, 2010 - 05:20pm PT
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TWELVE TWELVE TWELVE
TWELVE TWELVE TWELVE
TWELVE TWELVE TWELVE
TWELVE TWELVE TWELVE
Jasey Jay Anderson is our twelth gold medal!
Holy frig, what a race. Side by side snowboarding slalom, our dude was behind 0.76 seconds. So what happens is that his gate opens 0.76 seconds behind the leader's, and they race for the finish line together. AMAZING. Buddy comes from behind to take the gold!!
Woo-hooo!!!
And did I say,
"Tuh-WEL-vuh!"
And may I point out that the number 12 is 50% bigger than the number 8?
I don't think no one's gonna catch us!!! HOSERS GO FOR GOLD!!!!!
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Srbphoto
Trad climber
Kennewick wa
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Feb 27, 2010 - 07:09pm PT
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4-man bobsled - we're in second by 0.4 seconds behind you guys. A tough one to win, but you never know
Oh yes we do know! USA=Gold
Canada=Bronze http://www.sadtrombone.com/
Edit for gratuitous wooting: WOOT WOOT!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 27, 2010 - 07:53pm PT
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The new Norwegian trousers, part of their psychological warfare against the Canadians. This time a subtle, discreet grey interspersed with red and white. Although it might have been somewhat more patriotic to have retained the blue/red/white version, given that those are the colours on Norway's flag.
Canada ahead 3 - 2 after six ends.
Heia Norge!!!
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 27, 2010 - 08:15pm PT
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Congrats to the Merricans for their gold in the sledding. Und a big raspberry to ze Chermans who beat us for the silver by 0.01 seconds. Dang.
Those Norwegian curler guys better have something special hiding in their fancy-pants, cuz they're down two in the middle of the 9th.
Or else it's th - th- th- [I can't dare to speak it yet]
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 27, 2010 - 08:39pm PT
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THIRTEEN GOLDS FOR CANADA!!!!!11111111111111[
Olympic champion country!! Woo-hoo!!!
Thirteen ties the most golds ever won by any country in a Winter Olympics. And we got one more chance tomorrow in men's hockey to beat it. [Of course, when that other country got 13, they probably didn't have side by side snowboard slalom - sheesh]
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 27, 2010 - 08:45pm PT
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Hopefully the Canadian team won't fail the post-event urine test - curling while unimpaired, a blood alcohol reading of below .05.
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 27, 2010 - 08:50pm PT
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Guess I'm buying the first round, eh, Anders?
Woo-hooo!! I'm goin' curling tomorrow morning! Will likely get my first beer by about 10:30am!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 27, 2010 - 08:58pm PT
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Thirteen ties the most golds ever won by any country in a Winter Olympics. It might be more meaningful (if not rational) to look at the number of golds/medals won as a percentage of the total awarded, especially given the many events that have been added over the last 15 years. Not that anyone is particularly rational about objectively measuring national Olympic performance.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Feb 27, 2010 - 08:59pm PT
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You better play well if you're gonna 'dress' like that!
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 27, 2010 - 09:10pm PT
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Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring on the bagpipers!!!
And one more beer!!!!!! Here comes the Hoser flag! So like, take OFF, eh?!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 27, 2010 - 09:58pm PT
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I could have them made in China for 20 bucks and retire in Regina. And have you been to Regina?
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 27, 2010 - 10:10pm PT
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"Pete, I keep saying thay your avatar pic, when looked at in the small version, looks like a guy in jeans bending over and showing his butt."
Well that's better than the Princess* said - she thought I'd pissed my pants.
*Princess of the El Cap Bridge
Thirteen is a very lucky number!
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Feb 27, 2010 - 10:43pm PT
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Along the way, there was plenty to like in Vancouver, if not always the weather.
Best quote from the MYT article Mighty Hiker quotes and the games in general.
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Chief
climber
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Feb 27, 2010 - 11:12pm PT
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Even Harper admits our boys are going to have to play their best to win against in his words, "the most consistent team".
He's going to be there to see it in person.
Do you think Obama will watch the game?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 28, 2010 - 12:00am PT
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The men's 50 km cross-country is traditionally the last event of the winter Olympics, the grand finale. It will be interesting to see how it goes tomorrow, particularly whether Petter Northug can win a fourth medal and/or second gold. I'll have to watch it on Norwegian TV's website.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 28, 2010 - 12:04am PT
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I can't prove it, but I feel 99% sure that Obama couldn't care less. Basketball is his game. The dude grew up in Hawaii (and Indonesia) and hockey (and every other sport in Winter Olympics) is foreign to him.
Trust me when I say this, and I'm not promoting any racist BS one way or the other but as someone who has gone to lots of Colorado Avalanche games and keeps his eyes open--black Americans care about as much about hockey as they do about curling (the difference is that most, although by no means all, likely have at least a very general sense of what hockey is).
Obama may well *pretend* to care because, as a politician, he has to pretend to care about what his constituents care about, and some Americans have a mild interest in hockey.
As I am typing this: there is a joke on NBC--
knock knock
who's there
Canada
Canada who
Can-a-dyou open the door please?
I don't care if you do win in hockey, that about says it all!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 28, 2010 - 12:10am PT
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Well, blahblah, you've posted 21 times to this thread, which suggests that you, at least, are an American (USAnian?) who cares about winter sports and hockey.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 28, 2010 - 12:15am PT
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I was talking about Obama, not me.
I am praying to whatever deities I can think of that US WHIPS CANADA BIG TIME!!!!!
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Feb 28, 2010 - 12:18am PT
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Somebody is going to get pucked.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 28, 2010 - 12:23am PT
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In a hockey game, I'd pick the trad climbers over the gym climbers any day.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Feb 28, 2010 - 12:29am PT
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The team sporting the fewest teeth usually wins.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Feb 28, 2010 - 05:27am PT
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No Tsunami in Japan!
I guess I'll just have to watch the Olympic hockey game to get a little excitement now.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 28, 2010 - 03:24pm PT
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Petter Northug of Norway has won the men's 50 km cross country, nosing out German Axel Teichmann at the finish. It is his second gold and fourth medal of the Olympics, and Norway's 11th gold. A fine traditional finish to the Olympics, which Norway has dominated.
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/sport/skisport/article3542309.ece
It illustrates how hockey-insane Canada is that I got this information from Norwegian media.
I was just out for coffee and a walk, and was dismayed to see large numbers of young men buying beer and hopping on the bus downtown. Hopefully they'll behave, but I wouldn't bet on it.
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful, BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 28, 2010 - 03:26pm PT
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Just a reminder about the last USA canada game. The shots on goal told the story, 45 for Canada, 23 for the US. Brodeur wasn't up to the goaltending task. Luongo is.
May the best team win !
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 28, 2010 - 05:05pm PT
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Petter Northug was in 14th place at the 45 km mark in the 50 km, but had another of his trademark explosive finishes, and won in 2:05:35.5. Teichmann's time was 2:05:35.8, and Johan Olsson of Sweden won bronze. Tobias Angerer of Germany and Canada's Devon Kershaw finished in a near dead heat for fourth.
Amazing - 50 km, and decided by 0.3 seconds. A fantastic finish to the Olympics.
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful, BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 28, 2010 - 06:47pm PT
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The streets are alive with jubiliant UBC students screaming here ! Superb hockey game.
Congrats to all medal winners of every nation ! 14 Gold medals by one nation is the new winter Olympic record set by Canada. There could be no better grand finale !!!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 28, 2010 - 07:18pm PT
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Enough of the fudged numbers. Canadian athletes and teams won a total of 14 gold medals, out of 86 = 16.3%. For some preceding winter Olympics:
2006 - Germany: 11/84 = 13.1%
2002 - Norway: 13/80 = 16.25%
1998 - Germany: 12/69 = 17.4%
1994 - Germany: 10/61 = 16.4%
1992 - Germany: 10/57 = 17.5%
1988 - Soviet Union: 11/46 = 23.9%
1984 - East Germany: 9/39 = 23.1%
1980 - Soviet Union: 10/38 = 26.3%
1976 - Soviet Union: 13/37 = 35.1%
There are many more events now, and you also have to factor in national populations, per capita GDP, and % of population living in or near snowy areas, and perhaps other factors, for it to mean anything.
To look at it another way:
1952 - Norway: 7/22 = 31.8%
14 golds may be a record in absolute terms, but isn't in most others.
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful, BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 28, 2010 - 07:35pm PT
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There are many more events now, and you also have to factor in national populations, per capita GDP, and % of population living in or near snowy areas, and perhaps other factors, for it to mean anything.
So why bother continuously posting incomplete stats, crunch the numbers and dont post anything else in this thread till your have completely achieved your mission to numerically discredit an outstanding performance by YOUR COUNTRY
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 28, 2010 - 07:35pm PT
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FOURTEEN!!!!
Scooooooooooooooooooore!!!!!!!111111111111111111
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thedogfather
climber
Somewhere near Red Rocks
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Feb 28, 2010 - 07:40pm PT
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USA 7 CANADA 6 SWEET
sitting back, getting popcorn waiting
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Srbphoto
Trad climber
Kennewick wa
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Feb 28, 2010 - 07:43pm PT
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US, Canada shine atop Winter Games medals tables
By DAVID CRARY (AP) – 55 minutes ago
In a remarkable show of depth and talent by the North American neighbors, the United States won the overall medals race at the Vancouver Olympics with 37 — the most ever by any country at the Winter Games.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Feb 28, 2010 - 07:52pm PT
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As with the previous poster, I'm merely pointing out that the question of which nation "won" the Olympics is an open one. If the question is a proper one to ask - it may not be - then let's be somewhat rational about it. National pride is fine - clearly Canadian athletes did very well, and I'm glad that they did. But don't get carried away with it.
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 28, 2010 - 07:54pm PT
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Yeah yeah yeah. "Close" only counts in horseshoes, grenades, and the Olympics.
But there is only ONE winner!! And the number would be FOURTEEN!!
Go Canada Go!
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thedogfather
climber
Somewhere near Red Rocks
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Feb 28, 2010 - 08:04pm PT
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OK one last fun point. I almost feel like a troll.
If you score a touchdown in football and the other team hits 3 field goals which are worth less points, who wins? If the runner on your team wins a cross country race but your competitor gets paces 2 - 6, which team wins? If you score 10 3 point baskets and your foe scores 20 2 pointers, who wins?
And finally, does a curling gold have the same weight as a 50k cross country gold? That's like shuffleboard equaling a marathon.
As a non-hockey fan, I loved watching that one for sure! What a perfect ending instead of a blowout by either.
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful, BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 28, 2010 - 08:06pm PT
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No Anders, there is no question as to who the winners are, you can tell by the medals they all now own, who the winners are. Then total that by country, it's exceedingly simple
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 28, 2010 - 08:21pm PT
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Oh yeah. Anytime anyone starts rationalizing like that .... well, you know.....
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 28, 2010 - 09:38pm PT
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Wow - Russian national anthem in the closing ceremonies - GREAT choral music! {shivers}
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Roger Breedlove
climber
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
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Feb 28, 2010 - 10:04pm PT
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Excellent idea, Riley. But there need to be approach-cross events, on steep approaches.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Feb 28, 2010 - 11:21pm PT
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Congratulations to all Canadians for a great games and of course for your golds and your hockey.
Thanks also for Joannie Rochette and all the great scenery. Thanks for the humor in the closing ceremony (yes the beaver and flying moose were a bit much) and thanks for thanking the indigenous people of the area for the use of their land at the beginning of that ceremony. That would be a wonderful precedent for all nations to follow.
Now alas, we have to return to ordinary life. It's going to be a big let down getting back to normal again, but it was worth it!
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 28, 2010 - 11:48pm PT
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Like, how about those giant beavers and the inflatable moose balloons? Dancing mounties and birchbark canoes and table hockey! It just doesn't get any more Hoser than that, eh?
Everyone say, "Beauty."
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Riley, there there - it's OK. No need to take it seriously, now is there? Everything's going to be alright. Just try to keep some perspective, eh?
And yes, I appreciate that all you hockey fanatics may have had a drink or two, hence your enthusiasm. I forgive you, and perhaps should know better than to provoke you with perspective. Although the fact that you had no interest in the amazing finish in the men's 50 km cross country this morning speaks for itself. Petter Northug won more medals than any other man at the games (two gold, one silver, one bronze), and of course Marit Bjørgen won more medals than any other female (three gold, one silver, one bronze).
But as they're not Canadian or American, and it doesn't involve hockey, maybe it's not important.
The 50 km finish is at http://www.nrksport.no/meisterskap/vancouver_2010/1.7016710 - except that the video is constantly unavailable, even though it's 6 AM in Norway.
I don't have a TV, but saw some of the closing ceremony at my father's. It was nice that they brought all those stars back from Los Angeles to perform, although when they showed the inflatable beaver and moose I started to get worried about pink elephants.
The entire downtown was and is blocked off this afternoon and tonight - even buses aren't getting through. Downtown is a peninsula, except from the east - access only by bridge.
Despite PTPP's repeated hoots of FOURTEEN!, I remain amused that until Friday, Canada's newspapers, television stations, the Canadian Olympic committee, and the "Own the Podium" people all insisted that it was the total number of medals won by a country that counted. As they had been for years. Suddenly, when it seemed possible that Canadians might win the most gold medals, the important number became only that of gold medals. Luckily, the CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee is honest about it, and said "We're not going to fool anyone and say, 'We've changed our mind, it was gold all along.' That's not fair."
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tooth
Trad climber
The Best Place On Earth
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It's called being thankful for what you got and celebrating it!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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I am sure hearing a lot of sirens tonight. Three in the last half hour - and I live in a quiet neighbourhood far from downtown. There was very little traffic when I was out an hour ago. Seems unusual. Anyone else?
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GDavis
Social climber
SOL CAL
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Still, one of my favorite parts was Norways gold in the Nordic cross. Yowza!!!!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Just in case anybody is wondering why Marit Bjørgen
wins so many ski races.......
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Maysho
climber
Soda Springs, CA
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I'm with you Anders, the nordic events rule!! I was on the edge of my seat for every stride of the 50k! How about that Anders Veerpalu, 39 years old, master of the classic, matching 24 year old Northug stride for stride on the final hill, sure he can't hang with the kids on the final sprint, but finishing 6th, and only 6 seconds out, totally proud! And the Canadian skiers were awesome, no medals, but a lot of top 10 finishes, solid.
I was psyched for Marit Bjorgen's great comeback, but also for Justina Kowalcyk, she always skis with heart, great win in the 30k.
Speaking of heart, can you believe Petra Majdic, bronze in the sprint right after a fall in warm up that broke 4 ribs and punctured her lung? That kind of double poling not to mention breathing that hard puts a ton of stress on the chest cavity, yikes!
I was happy with the coverage, but it helped having my girlfriend with a dvr and flatscreen, record the nordic events in hi-def, and to fast forward past the commercials and fluff.
Good job Canada for pulling it off so well!
Peter
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Fun video reddirt!
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Awesome fun Olympics...
And for the record, I'd have loved to watch more Nordic events, think that Petter Northug is amazing, but those feckers at NBC don't show Nordic unless the US is winning a medal (or, you happen to have a DVR and/or sit home all day, and even then it is iffy...)
Even online, I can't watch Nordic thanks to NBC. I already wrote them 2 hate letters...
But otherwise, great job to Canada for these Olympics, and looking forward to the winter games in 4 years!
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful, BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 1, 2010 - 12:50pm PT
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Sorry but this is my last post on this thread and it is not going to be a good one.
It looks like the Whistler RCMP may have contributed to the death of a UBC Student last week during the games.
http://www.whistlerquestion.com/article/20100227/WHISTLER01/302279970/1030/WHISTLER/ubc-student-dies-after-arrest-in-whistler
February 27,2010
Authorities are investigating the death of a University of British Columbia student who perished suddenly two days after being arrested for being drunk in public in Whistler.
The student, who was arrested on Tuesday (Feb. 23) just after 5 p.m., fell several times after being lodged in Whistler RCMP cells, Vancouver Police spokesman Sgt. Peter Thiessen said in a statement issued on Friday (Feb. 26).
The man was released on Wednesday (Feb. 24) at around 3:30 a.m. and returned to Vancouver. He was found unconscious in his UBC residence early Thursday (Feb. 25) and was rushed to hospital, where he died a short while later, Thiessen said.
Vancouver Police are investigating whether the falls that occurred while he was in police custody had anything to do with the man’s sudden death. Officials with the RCMP’s Lower Mainland Regional Police Service asked Vancouver Police to investigate, the statement said.
see also this CTV link - click here -
Anyway it was a great Olympics, except for the luge death and now this.
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Maysho
climber
Soda Springs, CA
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Cleo,
Check again, it seems like this morning they have lifted the registration requirement and all the nordic race video is open access.
Yeah it sucked that the coverage was always in the afternoon, had to get a friend to record it. But the coverage was decent, good info from the commentators generally and calling it real, not worrying much about the americans.
Peter
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Chief
climber
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"fell several times after being lodged in Whistler RCMP cells"?
WTF? Over!
Q. How many of Vancouver's finest did it take to throw the unruly drunk down the stairway?
A. None, he tripped.
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Peter - thanks!
Better than watching TV before bed... sounds good.
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful, BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 1, 2010 - 02:49pm PT
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This "murder", really got swept under the rug Tami, I noticed an article in the campus paper this morning while having breakfast. It's been reported on the back pages elsewhere, but looks like another RCMP killing of a totally innocent young person in British Columbia is going to be pulled off consequence free again.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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A report on the last athlete to finish the 50 km cross country yesterday, Jonas Thor Olsen of Denmark. He and Francesc Soulie of Andorra were neck and neck at the finish, about 20 minutes behind Petter Northug. They even had a photo finish, and the judges had to rule on it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/01/sports/olympics/01last.html?ref=olympics
The death of the student on Friday is being investigated by Vancouver city police. He was arrested by the RCMP in Whistler on Tuesday for being drunk in a public place, and released early on Wednesday morning. The police report that he fell several times while in custody, and had a head injury. It seems premature to speculate as to what happened beyond that.
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Vancouver+police+investigate+death+student+after+arrest/2620826/story.html
It's some improvement that the RCMP had conceded that another police force should investigate such matters, after claiming for decades that they could investigate themselves just fine. But we still need an independent public body with power to fully investigate the police.
And, as Jim says, on to the Paralympics, which arguably epitomize the Olympic spirit even better than the main event.
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Chief
climber
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BC's Liberals are going to deliver their post Olympic budget tomorrow.
Brace yourself. It's expected that tomorrow's provincial budget will be about all the things we can't afford anymore because we hosted the games.
I hear from a good source that BC Parks is going to be shut down, no budget, no staff, no park facilities.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Yes, provincial budget on Tuesday, federal budget on Thursday. Although the economic news here is generally reasonable, my guess is that both governments will bring in austerity budgets, and that interest rates will rise by summer.
As to the true costs of the Olympics and all the related public expenditure - well, the Auditor General will eventually tell us. Undoubtedly more than we were told.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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I hear from a good source that BC Parks is going to be shut down, no budget, no staff, no park facilities.
B.C. Parks has been dying the death of 1,000 cuts for ten years, due to budget cuts - although the amount spent on parks is trivial in comparison to the budget. It is a provincial embarrassment, given their responsibility for managing over 13% of the province, much of it wilderness, and given the pressure for development of and non-sustainable activities in those parks.
Many of the events at the Olympics occurred in Cypress Provincial Park. Many more happened at Whistler, on land taken from Garibaldi Provincial Park and given to the ski area over the last 30 years - quite a lot of land. Garibaldi Park is one of the few large wilderness parks in the world close to a major urban area. Despite this, there was virtually no mention in the news media during the Olympics of the existence of these parks, or parks generally in B.C. Indeed, we were continually told that events were taking place at a non-existent "Cypress Mountain" - although the names of the mountains comprising the park have long Black Mountain (where most events occurred), Hollyburn Mountain, and Mount Strachan.
There was a half-page article in the Vancouver Sun during the Olympics, about the name of Mount Garibaldi (!). Nothing more about the park, or about how the Olympics might affect it.
The provincial government did have "outreach cabins" during the Olympics, to encourage people to learn about the outdoors and environmental initiatives. Not at Cypress, or downtown, or Whistler. Far far away, where no tourist was likely to go. One at SFU, one at BCIT. It would have been a golden opportunity for the province to promote parks. It did have a general "feel good, outdoors" advertising campaign, but that's all.
It does all fit in with a government agenda of promoting supposedly green tourism, and development in parks. Not to mention privatization. Expect bad news tomorrow for our parks.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Incredible story!
I am reminded of a bumper sticker from North Dakota - "40 below keeps the riff raff away" !
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Mar 13, 2010 - 01:15am PT
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Tonight the Paralympic winter games began. The opening ceremonies were at BC Place, and are being televised tomorrow - hopefully they didn't have any problem getting it up, as it were. About 500 athletes are competing in the various events over the next ten days, about 1/3 in Vancouver and 2/3 in Whistler. The Vancouver Sun has been full of informative articles about the events and athletes - http://www.vancouversun.com/ They already have up a report and photos from the opening ceremony.
The overall 'presence' of the Paralympics seems to be about 10% of that of the Olympics, but is apparently growing in relative terms, and of course that's still quite a lot. We get about 50 hours of live TV coverage here, and all the sledge hockey games involving Canada are sold out, as well as the opening and closing ceremony and other events. So hopefully it will all go well. I wonder if the Paralympics will proportionally generate about 10% as much interest on SuperTopo as that of the Olympics?
Apparently they're having enough snow at Whistler that they're concerned about road transport.
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Ben Harland
Social climber
Baltimore, MD
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Mar 16, 2010 - 12:48am PT
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MH writes:
Does anyone know why men's and women's curling are separate? Given the nature of that game, why isn't it unisex?
I'm a bit late here, but that's an interesting remark. I wonder when climbing will become unisex. Clearly, some women are up in the highest ranks of climbers. My best guess is that the chief difference seems to be some level of participation.
I look forward to seeing Lynn Hill's and Hayley Wickenheiser's in curling.
Ben
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Mar 16, 2010 - 02:15am PT
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Current medal standings in the Paralympics (G/S/B/T):
Russian Federation 6 6 3 15
Ukraine 2 2 3 7
Canada 2 3 1 6
Germany 3 2 0 5
Belarus 1 0 3 4
Austria 2 0 1 3
Norway 0 2 0 2
United States 0 1 1 2
Australia 0 0 2 2
Italy 0 0 2 2
http://www.vancouver2010.com/paralympic-games/
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Mar 20, 2010 - 12:28pm PT
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The current medal standings at the Paralympics (G/S/B/T):
Russian Federation 9/12/7/21)
Germany 10/5/6/12
Ukraine 4/5/6/17
Canada 7/4/3/14
United States 2/5/2/9
Slovakia 4/2/2/8
Austria 3/2/3/8
Japan 2/1/5/8
Belarus 2/0/5/7
Norway 1/3/1/5
Italy 0/2/3/5
France 1/1/1/4
Spain 1/2/0/3
Switzerland 1/2/0/3
Australia 0/1/2/3
New Zealand 1/0/0/1
Finland 0/1/0
Czech Republic 0/0/1/1
Poland 0/0/1/1
One Canadian, Lauren Woolstencroft, has won four golds medals in the skiing events, and may win another today. That would tie the record of five golds for one athlete at the winter Paralympics.
Last night Norway beat Canada 2-1 for the bronze medal in sledge hockey. The Norwegians scored with three seconds left in the game. The US is playing in the final today against Japan. Jim will be attending, and said he'd post a report.
The closing ceremony, Sunday at 7:00 PDT in Whistler, will be broadcast nationally.
A Swedish curler was suspended for using an illegal drug, which turns out to have been something that he has been prescribed for years for high blood pressure. As to exactly how any drug could help a curler....
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Mar 21, 2010 - 11:40pm PT
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The Paralympics have now ended. Final medal standings:
Russian Federation 12/16/10/38
Germany 13/5/6/24
Canada 10/5/4/19
Ukraine 5/8/6 19
United States 4/5/4/13
Slovakia 6/2/3/9
Austria 3/4/4/11
Japan 3/3/5/11
Belarus 2/0/7/9
Italy 1/3/3/7
France 1/4/1/6
Norway 1/3/2/6
Australia 0/1/3/4
Spain 1/2/0/3
Switzerland 1/2/0/3
Finland 0/1/1/2
Sweden 0/0/2/2
New Zealand 1/0/0/1
Korea 0/1/0/1
Czech Republic 0/0/1/1
Poland 0/0/1/1
Next, the Pay-Olympics, or as Tami calls them, the Owe-Lympics.
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Beatrix Kiddo
Mountain climber
ColoRADo
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But it sure was a fun party!
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MH2
climber
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But it sure was a fun party!
And especially so for those receiving the $4,300,000,000
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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What a surprise! Everything cost more than they said it would, the bills aren't all in, and they announced it on a Friday afternoon in July.
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mazamarick
Trad climber
WA
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Jul 10, 2010 - 10:48am PT
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That's OK, you guys have tons of money according to CBC News. "Canada's banking system and economy didn't experience the bubble like the US or Europe." So go ahead, knock yourself out, spend a little dough and remember what a great party it was.
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