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Messages 1 - 424 of total 424 in this topic |
Sketch
Trad climber
Langley, VA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Dec 20, 2013 - 01:31pm PT
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I figured I'd start a thread, considering this topic is going to be newsworthy over the next two months.
My opening salvo has nothing to do with athletic competition.
I'm curious about the political ramifications for the host country. Earlier this week, it was announced that Obama will be sending two openly gay delegates to represent the US at the upcoming Olympics. Most people considered this an affront to Russia's discriminatory policies and laws against homosexuals. Additionally, Obama will not be attending the Olympics. Both seem to be a slap in the face to Putin.
On a different note, Mikhail Borisovich Khodorkovsky was recently "pardoned" by Putin. While this was apparently done to make Putin look good, some experts are saying this transparent gesture won't fool anyone.... that Putin is just as dirty and underhanded as ever.
Back when China was preparing for their Olympics, they was a lot of talk about China not delivering the goods. In my opinion, China did a fantastic job. It definitely helped their international reputation.
With Russia, I expect they will put on a very mediocre Olympics. It will not help Putin's reputation. That's just my gut feeling.
What do you guys think?
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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Dec 20, 2013 - 01:54pm PT
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I'm curious about the political ramifications for the host country. Earlier this week, it was announced that Obama will be sending two openly gay delegates to represent the US at the upcoming Olympics. Most people considered this an affront to Russia's discriminatory policies and laws against homosexuals. Additionally, Obama will not be attending the Olympics. Both seem to be a slap in the face to Putin.
Just wondering which actual discriminatory policies and laws are there in Russia against homosexuals? Homosexuality is not outlawed there as far as I know. They even had some “Gay Pride” marches that were allowed in a few cities. They are usually not allowed though because the population strikes against them and they get violent sometimes, so authorities do not want to deal with this mess.
Free forum for all to post of course, but to mix a beautiful event like Olympics with politics is not a great idea. I am hoping to see a good show from all the nations and athletes competing against each other with class and respect, no matter from which country they are from or which sexual orientation they are.
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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Dec 20, 2013 - 02:22pm PT
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passes bill that bans the distribution of information about homosexuality to children
What is wrong about passing a bill that bans distribution of information about homosexuality to CHILDREN?
Personally, I think gay pride parades in US are way out of control. Fully nude people walking around during a public gathering is way out of line. I think if people learned moderation it would be much better. Respect gay rights, and respect the other members of community who do not care to see your junk out no matter if you are gay, straight, or a combination.
Are you Russian? No, Ukrainian.
Also Vitaly, if you are unaware of the institutional homophobia / oppression going on right now in Russia, I would imagine you don't pay attention to politics much.
And yes, I do not follow politics much. To me climbing is a way to keep my head out of that useless pile of sh#t that divides humans all over the world. But how can you be so sure about what media feeds to you if you do not even live there? When I watched Russian TV I was in shock about the kind of sh#t I heard about US. I think the media here does the same to Russia to make it seem way worse than it is. People should find ways to connect vs find ways to call the other country savage.
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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Dec 20, 2013 - 02:49pm PT
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Perhaps you can also tell us what units us all over the world?
Maybe it is international events like the Olympics, where people from all over the world compete in a a (hopefully) friendly and respectful manner. To me Olympics is an event to celebrate unity of all nations. World is whatever YOU make it out to be IN YOUR HEAD. To me Olympics is a great event I used to watch when I was a kid. Without caring about from which country the athletes were, what orientation, they showed some great stories about what some went through to get where they were. Actually in a way I liked how they showed Olympics back in Ukraine, they did not focus on JUST Ukrainian athletes, and showed off and talked about everyone. I liked it that way.
Anyway, Russia is a third world country, so why are you surprised that the way people view the world is different there? In US the Civil Rights Act was passed only in 1964 and blacks were allowed to vote only in 1965! And racism and homophobia still lives on in many communities. If you fill your head with everything that is WRONG OUT THERE IN THE WORLD you will not have enough time to enjoy the beauties of this world. Anyway, I stated my view and do not care to argue any longer. Carry on...
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hotlum
climber
Oregon
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Dec 20, 2013 - 03:31pm PT
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Anyone know the actual conditions right now? Is there plenty of snow at the venues?
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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Dec 20, 2013 - 04:31pm PT
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To me climbing is like meditating. Helps to keep out of useless internet debates about politics. Debate about gay rights in a country where I do not vote and never lived seems especially moronic, to me. There is no reason for me to get worked up over Russian politics. Only reason I opened this thread is because it is titled “2014 Winter Olympics,” and if it was titled “Gay rights in Russia” I would not open it. As I stated above, Olympics to me is an international event where me as a spectator learns the positives about other nations and athletes. It is a place for unity, not a place to point fingers at other participants and laugh because we are so superior. That is why I replied and stated my opinion. When I opened the link to that article I also remembered when in Health Ed class a transgender person came in to speak to our class (Health Ed). I was 14 back than and though it was inappropriate. Don’t see the need for members of sexual minorities to address classes filled with 14 year olds with intention to prove it is normal to cut your penis off and replace it with a vagina/hormonal therapy. So obviously I do have opinions, but tend to avoid useless online arguments with other members of the site because I am not here to talk politics. I am here to get excited about climbing, and I respect opinions of others, even when I do not agree with them. Is that ok with you?
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Dec 20, 2013 - 04:32pm PT
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Besides what else is there to talk about.... bouldering?
That would be cool. Bouldering does unite many of us Bruce;-)
I worked right in the middle of the Vancouver/Whistler Olympics. Thought it was gonna be the worst, it was actually an amazing experience. So much fun & so many great people from all over the world enjoying our backyard- kind of.
Gotta say though, out of all the countries, of all the guests, from all around the world-The Russian teams & support were the most pretentious as#@&%es to deal with, it was really quite amazing & actually quite funny. When we would serve them we would play games to see if anyone could actually get them to smile- nobody could! Cheapest f*#ks too when it came to leaving a tip! I'm sure it's an elitist thing there to be involved in the Olympics & to them, anybody here who was not was just a peasant or at least that is how we were treated. I'm sure that there is lots of great people there but the impression they left on many around here by the representatives they sent was that people are not equal. I got the vibe that there probably isn't much of a middle class there.
Anyways, there was talk up until last summer about Sochi not having their venues ready & a chance that the previous host would host again? But apparently they just plowed through some villages, banishing the residents from their homes with no retribution or warning & destroyed some wildlife preserves without more than a short environmental assessment to get their hwy in place so it looks like all systems are a go. Apparently the Russian mob makes great contractors & know how to get sh#t done quick! I'm sure they will put on a good show if there isn't a revolt!!
http://nosochi2014.com/news/mgimo-meeting-highlights-russian-worries-about-circassian-campaign-against-sochi-games.php
http://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/europe/russia/The-Zoich-Olympics.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/10414885/Sochi-chaos-behind-the-scenes-of-worlds-most-expensive-Winter-Olympics.html
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Dec 20, 2013 - 06:32pm PT
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Putin's easing up all right. That's a classic Russian military maneuver
before a big attack. And as regards Khodorkovsky that is a classic pick-pocket's
ploy - distract the mark while you pinch his wallet. The same with the
Sochi games. Putin is using that as a juicy lure for the Chechens to bite on.
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Bullwinkle
Boulder climber
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Dec 20, 2013 - 06:48pm PT
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Really? sending over a Champion Tennis Player, one of the Best to ever play the game is a slap in the Face? You've got issues, but we all know that. . .So I guess if the majority of Americans feel that Black people shouldn't vote, it's okay?
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GDavis
Social climber
SOL CAL
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Dec 20, 2013 - 06:53pm PT
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JCVD, Putin and the Last Emperor in one shot?
Too much asskicking clumped together.
Putin on the Ritz...
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GDavis
Social climber
SOL CAL
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Dec 20, 2013 - 06:57pm PT
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Russia's politics are f*#ked up. Let's not pretend they aren't.
Who cares if its 2 lesbians? Or 2 black people or 2 PHD's or 2 babies or 2....
If Obama (which, I understand, no one likes right now) chose someone just to stir the pot, and the pot is stirred by the presence of homosexuals, is Obama really the bad guy here?
Maybe because he drone strikes children. Not because he thinks anti-gay policies are lame.
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Bullwinkle
Boulder climber
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Dec 20, 2013 - 06:58pm PT
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It has EVERYTHING to do with making a Statment, by sending over TWO Gay Champions Obama is saying it doesn't matter what your sexual orientation is. . .But you dont seem to be able to grasp that, or much else. . .Anyway your slur (Lesbos) shows us who you really are, a frightened little man. . .
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rectorsquid
climber
Lake Tahoe
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Dec 20, 2013 - 07:25pm PT
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Do a bit of research before condemning Obama for not going to the Olympics:
WASHINGTON - President Bush is so emphatic about going to the Olympics in China that one might think flying halfway around the globe to attend the games is what presidents do.
But never before has an American leader shown up at an Olympics on foreign soil. And Bush is doing more than just dropping by. He is planning to soak in as much as he can, with large blocs on his Beijing schedule devoted to watching athletes compete.
Maybe the gay delegation is a bit of an insult, but not attending the games is not a meaningful event. Bush was the only one to do it and only that one time. It would be unusual for Obama to attend, and probably a security nightmare for him.
Dave
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GDavis
Social climber
SOL CAL
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Dec 20, 2013 - 07:33pm PT
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Its obama continuing the decline of the USA abroad is what it is really.
Wouldn't this
hurt our foreign image more? just curious.
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crankster
Trad climber
South Lake Tahoe, CA
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Dec 20, 2013 - 07:35pm PT
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Ron, the foreign policy genius. It's a wonder the State Dept. doesn't have a hot line to his house.
The President made the right call regarding he Olympics. He has not attended any others.
And Ron, he has made the US much safer. You're wrong again.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Dec 20, 2013 - 07:36pm PT
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I'm sooo concerned about our nation's image in Butthurtistan.
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GDavis
Social climber
SOL CAL
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Dec 20, 2013 - 08:13pm PT
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How does that differ from Owens and Hitler- not much. But then we ended up going to war with Hitler. Wanna go to war with Putin???
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Dec 20, 2013 - 09:45pm PT
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Bruce, I had a few friends who rented their places to the fuzz as well. Pretty sweet deal, I wish I woulda jumped on it but there was no way in hell I could get outta work for the month of feb. let alone during Olympics.
As for athletes village, a friend had the contract to frame them all. They seriously got to screw the pooch & took their sweet ass time, making sure to milk it for all it was worth. Deep pockets surround the Olympics like not many other things in this world.
BTW feb 2010 was some of the greatest times I ever had on Whistler mountain, ski tourists were non existent. La Niña delivered heaps of pow & we had the hill to ourselves the entire time. Creekside was closed but there was an increased bus service (every 4 min) so I spent the month riding the south western aspects to the valley & catching the bus back to the village. We renamed $1,000,000 ridge $2 ridge & got to break a lot of trail into a lot of usually beat down, Aussie pillaged runs. Some great fun I wouldn't have traded for any amount of cash now that I think about it.
The thing that's funny is that Sochi is a summer resort, they might not even have any snow!
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Dec 20, 2013 - 09:50pm PT
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The last olympics was awesome!
My favorite part.
[Click to View YouTube Video]
And then they won 31 medals.
Is that DMT on the left?
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Dec 22, 2013 - 06:03pm PT
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see how the majority view Russian politics ... which curiously enough mirrors Duck politics.
Dude, you can't be serious. Do you really think the majority of Americans
think that Russian politics is even remotely as important as Duck politics?
SHEESH!
And, furthermore, being a geographer I distinctly recall a poll done of
US college juniors which showed that only 40% could find Moscow on a map.
(within the time limit, of course)
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Dec 22, 2013 - 06:09pm PT
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The real question about the Winter Olympics, as usual, is if team Canada is going to kick USA or Russkie ass in the gold medal hockey game.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Dec 22, 2013 - 09:11pm PT
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So nobody's gay in Russia? I'm not sure I understand what this thread is about anymore. Definitely looking forward to some gambling on this thread if these Olympics actually happen tho!!
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Mimi
climber
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Dec 22, 2013 - 09:19pm PT
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"We think he will get what he deserves, more bad PR are a place in hell along with all the other right wing losers."
hahahhaa! Really good, Dr. F.
Something tells me the same old arguments will be going on down there in a more heated way. And by then, both sides get pitchforks to drive home their arguments.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Jan 28, 2014 - 04:07pm PT
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http://www.cbsnews.com/news/winter-olympics-2014-should-americans-go-to-sochi/
Olympics start next week. What's the deal here? Is the above link just a ploy so the Americans can save face & not lose in hockey again? Or is it a preemptive excuse for when they do lose that they were under to much pressure? Why is it assumed that the terrorists only want to attack Americans anyways. Time will tell!!
Still no gambling either! That's what this thread should be all about!
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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Jan 28, 2014 - 05:46pm PT
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OK Ryan,I will take the USA vs Canada,if they get to play each other,in hockey .
What would you like to bet,say a local microbrew?
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Wilbeer, just saw this now. You are so on, local 12pack sounds great! We can figure the rest out later.
Hopefully the US team has more comfy digs than we do. Looks like the media buzz on the sochi scene is less than flattering for team Putin. What an embarrassment to the IOC buncha greedy, corrupt SOB's! These are going to be the most jingus Olympics ever!
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/no-light-bulbs-no-shower-202446023.html
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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Allright,Ryan you are on.
I am not going to chant,usa,ever.
Edit;Sorry about them digs,kinda.
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bigbird
climber
WA
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I personally blame the Russians for the radicalization of the chechen separatists... It started as nationalist conflict for independence... But the russian military gradually killed off the moderate leadership leaving a power vacuum for the radicals to take over...
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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^^^ well duh, everyone knows that big bird. But this is about the Olympics that are just about to start there- so you want to gamble or what?
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John M
climber
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I just want to see some olympics. Is that so wrong? Thoroughly enjoyed going to the 1984 olympics in Los Angeles. Talk about a huge difference between the fans at the olympics and the fans at a raiders/rams game. Been to both, would never go to a football game again. Talk about animals.
I had a blast at the olympics.
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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The real question about the Winter Olympics, as usual, is if team Canada is going to kick USA or Russkie ass in the gold medal hockey game.
Those games will be entertaining to watch. I think Ruskie will beat the hell out of rainbow-lovin westerners, just because they are more manly.
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thebravecowboy
Social climber
Colorado Plateau
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still though, his name IS Putin, after all.
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karen roseme
Mountain climber
san diego
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Save homeless dogs from being killed in Sochi!
Struggling to survive in a harsh winter, begging for scraps of food ... the life of a homeless dog in the Russian city of Sochi is not an easy one. And, sadly, it's becoming even harder and more dangerous.
As the 2014 Winter Olympics approach, authorities in the host city have employed a 'pest control' company to manage the 'catching and disposing' of dogs in the city.
Describing the dogs as 'biological trash', the company's owner said they would likely be killed with poison or traps.
http://www.animalsaustralia.org/take_action/save-sochi-dogs/
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Srbphoto
climber
Kennewick wa
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did anyone else see the segment on NBC where a reporter and an internet security expert opened 2 new (still in the box) laptops (one Mac and one PC) in their hotel room in Sochi? They logged onto the hotels wifi and created fake account information for the reporter and went to lunch. At lunch, they were using a new smartphone. While having lunch the smartphone got hacked. I am not sure if the phone was logged onto a wifi hotspot or if they were using cell service. When they got back to the hotel both (yes, even the mighty Mac) had been hacked.
They are telling people that if the go to Sochi to remove any personal info from your computers, tablets etc. or better yet, don't use them.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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srb, that's assuming you have heat in yer hotel room. I heard a reporter
on the radio yesterday say how he had no heat and his buddy had no hot water.
You couldn't have paid me to go to these games.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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WTF, sounds good-you are on too!
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karen roseme
Mountain climber
san diego
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Some good news!
SOCHI, Russia — A dog shelter backed by a Russian billionaire is engaged in a frantic last-ditch effort to save hundreds of strays facing a death sentence before the Winter Olympics begin here.
Already, hundreds of animals have been killed, with the local authorities apparently wanting the stray dogs cleared from the streets before Friday’s opening ceremony.
While the authorities say the dogs can be wild and dangerous, reports of their systematic slaughter by a pest removal company hired by the government in recent months have outraged animal rights advocates and cast a gruesome specter over the traditionally cheery atmosphere of the Games.
The handling of the matter has also sharply undercut the image of a friendlier, welcoming Russia that President Vladimir V. Putin has sought to cultivate in recent months.
“We were told, ‘Either you take all the dogs from the Olympic Village or we will shoot them,’ ” said Olga Melnikova, who is coordinating the rescue effort on behalf of a charity called Volnoe Delo (roughly, Good Will), which is financed by Oleg V. Deripaska, one of Russia’s billionaire oligarchs.
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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The portraits, showing Mr. Putin shirtless and riding a variety of mammals, adorn the walls of virtually every hotel room constructed especially for the Olympics and were created at a cost of over two million dollars, Olympic officials said.
Omg if I was not at work I would be laughing my ass off. How do you even think of that...I guess they wanted to make sure there would be at least one MAN in the room watching over the luly luly boys from the west.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Yeah so funny that a hotel with a floor less lobby & no hot water still managed to make sure topless Putin portraits are in every room.
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Karen
Trad climber
So Cal urban sprawl Hell
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Sounds like the cult of personality still exists in Russia if Putin's pictures grace all the hotel rooms.
Damn the people to Hell for killing innocent animals.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Karen, you're talking about Russians. Put it in perspective.
They can handle hell.
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John M
climber
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Americans kill dogs every day. We just round them up on a more regular basis.
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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Sounds like the cult of personality still exists in Russia if Putin's pictures grace all the hotel rooms.
Not all. It is probably like 1 or 2 hotels. They have to make fun of Russia somehow. Personally when I lived in Ukraine I never saw two toilets without a separation wall. But someone found two toilets like that somewhere and made a huge deal about it all over the net.
It is sort of sad how many haters there are. Or photos of all the signs that are not in perfect English grammar. OOOOO what a surprise, people in this country do not speak English.
This thread should be re-named LET'S MAKE FUN OF RUSSIA and someone should start a thread that is on actual Olympic games...
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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The dual-toilet shitters: One is for pissing, the other is for sitting and shitting. I doubt they're intended to be used at the same time.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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The septic system can't handle toilet paper??
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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LET'S MAKE FUN OF RUSSIA
Well, you gotta admit, Vitya, that for $50 BILLION one might reasonably
expect halfway decent accomodations. Oh, wait, I forgot that about $40 Billion
went into the pockets of Puta's cronies.
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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one might reasonably
expect halfway decent accomodations.
So why are you complaining? Extra money went on those half nude Putin paintings! :)
Next year I hope to be your secret Santa ;) muahahaha
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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I ain't complaining cause I ain't there! I've stayed in the very best hotels
there and they were stoopidly expensive but not as good as a Hampton Inn
except in the case of the Metropole and the Astoria which got bonus points
for historic factors. Picked up the phone to call a Russian friend and the
line was all goofy - sounded like people talking in the background. I kept
asking,
"Is Edik there?" (in russian, duh)
Finally this dude starts yelling at me, "This is the bla-bla police station,
you dumbfuk!"
Nothing like a direct line to the cop shop, eh? And no extra charge either!
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John M
climber
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Anyone on the Taco actually been in the Olympics? As an Olympian.. Or been a coach?
( micro nut.. your post on the creationist thread was too funny.. haha. you are doomed Vitally. OT from now on.. haha )
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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I believe Micronut was in the Olympics for swimming?
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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http://m.voanews.com/a/1843380.html
For just 17km (10.5 miles approx) of highway built for the Olympics in Sochi it cost more than 2.5 billion. The entire cost of the Vancouver 2010 games was 7.5 billion!
The total transportation link cost was 8.7 billion! Yikes!
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Reeotch
climber
4 Corners Area
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Yeah, right! ^^^^^^^^^
I wonder what small fraction of that actually went in to transportation.
Looks like the Russians have learned the meaning of PORK!
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steve shea
climber
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I think Bode won the first training run of the DH. He has been skiing speed well lately!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Sochi Olympic Winter Games at root of residents' housing woes
Russia relocated hundreds of residents in preparation for the Sochi Olympic Games. Dozens were evicted, their homes and land seized.
By Sergei L. Loiko
February 6, 2014, 5:00 p.m.
SOCHI, Russia — Half a mile away, thousands of people waved flags, held balloons and cheered Thursday as the Olympic torch passed by. Nina Toromonyan stood in the gray rubble that remains of her home and cried.
She recalled her elation in 2007 when her city was selected to host this year's Olympic Winter Games. She imagined that wonderful things were coming. She didn't think that riot police would throw 13 family members out of their three-story home to make way for a new highway two miles away. The compensation they received wasn't enough to reestablish themselves, she said.
"There is nothing I hate so much as these Olympic Games, which made me and my family a miserable bunch of bums," said the small, frail 63-year-old.
Yuri Maryan, head of Sochi's nongovernmental anti-corruption coalition, said dozens of people suffered similar fates in the years leading to the Olympics, which open Friday. Legislation known as Law 301 allowed the seizure and demolition of privately owned plots of land and buildings in preparation for the Games. It never took into account the consequences for people living in Sochi, he said.
"It was a very Soviet way of doing things: anything for a noble purpose," Maryan said. "Given the ample corruption around this theme, the project became a disaster for many families."
Toromonyan said the police showed up Oct. 23 wearing black masks and armed with Kalashnikovs and clubs. They pushed and kicked everybody out of the house at gunpoint.
One officer dragged Toromonyan's older sister by the hair as she kicked and wailed. Toromonyan's 63-year-old husband, Karapet, tried to intervene but was clubbed and forced to the ground, she said. One of the frightened grandchildren, 9-year-old Grisha, pleaded with the policemen: "Please, don't shoot, don't kill us." His mother tried to calm him, saying it was just a movie being shot and no one would get hurt.
Toromonyan had lived in the house since 1970, when she married Karapet. She still carries a yellowish piece of paper with a stamp indicating the property, slightly more than half an acre, was given to her father-in-law to honor his bravery in the army in World War II. She said she had shown the paper repeatedly to bureaucrats and judges, but to them it was worthless.
Officials and judges decided that in accordance with Law 301 the house and the land were in the way of the new Sochi-Adler highway. Adler is the site of Olympic venues. It did not matter that the highway had already been built before the house was demolished, passing a good two miles from the house.
Officials saw no violation of the law in Toromonyan's case.
"In accordance with that law we have relocated more than 1,000 people and we paid good compensation or offered them other housing," said Sergei Somko, deputy chief of the Olympics department of the Krasnodar regional administration. "Very few people complained, and when they did it was up to courts to decide what should be done. Those houses that were initially built with violations, or illegally, were not entitled to compensations."
Toromonyan has no proof, but thinks that someone with good connections will swoop in and buy the plot of land.
The three families, including four children, who make up the Toromonyan clan received the equivalent of $152,000 in compensation. They divided it equally but couldn't buy a house for any of the families, who now are renting cheap apartments in Sochi. Toromonyan, her husband, their daughter and granddaughter are renting two rooms in an unfinished house down the hill.
Toromonyan comes to the ruins every day to feed the family's dogs and cats, which are still there. As are the two houses flanking hers; officials said those were not in the way.
Angela Zilberg, a 42-year-old real estate developer, said she also got in the way of the Olympic juggernaut. Two apartment houses she built in central Sochi with the funds of more than two dozen families who lived in them were demolished in October because they did not fit the new image of Sochi, she said. Officials said that both structures, built in 2010, had code violations.
The police and demolition teams arrived in the middle of the day and in a pouring rain threw all the furniture they could out of the houses without waiting through an appeal period, Zilberg said.
"When I met personally with the judge a few days later, he told me privately, 'They would have rolled me into concrete and asphalt if I had ruled in your favor,'" Zilberg said. "I was initially so naive as I had all my documents in order and couldn't believe they would do this with new houses. But they falsified some documents in court."
Zilberg and her tenants never received any compensation. More than that, she was ordered to pay a $100,000 fee per apartment house for demolition. She has refused to pay.
The Olympic torch relay that attracted so many people Thursday circled the streets of Sochi but avoided Poselkovaya Street, which for the last three years was popular with trucks delivering supplies for the highway construction. The activity eventually made the street impassable.
Neighbors say Irina Berezina, 42, fell into a mud pit on the road and died last May before an ambulance could get to her. Her grief-stricken husband died three months later, they said.
Poselkovaya Street remains dangerous.
Ulyana Goretskaya, 27, said doctors wouldn't brave the street to reach her sick child last week. "So we had to carry her to the hospital in our arms over these slippery and treacherous boards underfoot," she said. "What if there is a fire? No one will save us then! And the builders are in no hurry to repair our street."
People are not the only ones suffering. Stray dogs reportedly have been mercilessly exterminated.
"Games or no Games, we have to keep stray dogs under control," said Alexei Sorokin, head of a regional pest control company.
Witnesses say animal control workers not only shot the animals but also poisoned them.
"The authorities are trying to resolve by the most brutal methods the problem of stray dog overpopulation in the area," said Nadezhda Mayboroda, who runs a dog shelter that opened two weeks ago outside Sochi, a long distance from the Olympic Park. She said the poison affects the dogs' ability to breathe, and they suffocate.
Of the more than 100 dogs in the shelter, about 60 have been brought by volunteers from the Olympic Village in the last two days, she said.
"Our shelter will not save all of them, as the state needs to devise a whole new strategy about them," Mayboroda said, "But the state has other more important issues on the agenda now, as you know."
sergei.loiko@latimes.com
Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
It should be pointed out that Toromonyan is Armenian and Zilberg is Jewish.
Probably not a coincidence.
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Karen
Trad climber
So Cal urban sprawl Hell
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Still angry at Zola Budd for tripping my hero Mary Decker:(
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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the Ukraine didn't need any help from Washington to destabilize.
That started when Stalin exterminated the kulaks and moved in ethnic Russians.
Putin is a bad guy, and really good at it!
Obama is a good guy, and really bad at it!
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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The last few Olympics I am just so struck by how amazing our young new adult generation is. I want each and every one of these kids to have the time of their life. To go home with something solid and incredible to draw on through their lives.
Have a blast kids..you are making the world a better place by just being what you are.. together.
I feel that way a bit when I stop by the SAR site in C4 also.
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mike m
Trad climber
black hills
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Was driving and listening to talk radio all day hearing how messed up it would be, and have to admit I didn't think I would like it. But I find myself very fascinated by it. The area looks amazing with palm trees on the coast and 5000 meter+ peaks near by. I bet there is some awesome climbing to be had.
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John M
climber
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Good stuff Nita
I love the bobsledding photos
the helmets are a crack up.
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Karen
Trad climber
So Cal urban sprawl Hell
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Opening ceremony BORING !!!!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Didn't watch it but the pics looked impressive.
Where did the anglo world come up with that lame word 'biathlon'?
In Norwegian it is called skishooting.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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In Moundhouse gangland they call it drive-biathlon...
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Rudder
Trad climber
Costa Mesa, CA
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Opening ceremony BORING !!!!
The coverage didn't help.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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I really liked the opening ceremony. That young girl was fantastic, and the technology for the floor graphics was something never before accomplished. I can imagine it may be used in future theatre, dance and circus performances to really add another dimension.
I agree that the Lauren Polo sweaters were tacky.
It was surprising just how many athletes had cel phone cameras taking it all in, but I did notice that many of them were pretty much just holding he things up and were still very present for the awesome honor they were experiencing in being welcomed to the Games.
It would also be really nice if the mass media could get over the nit-picking and prejudice and focus on the spirit of the games.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Shawn White is a pussy. Dropped out of slope style the day before because he knew he wouldn't win & wasted a spot someone else could have had. Luckily for the yanks that Sage kid is awesome, he had a really great run & stomped everything. He deserved the gold for sure. White will probably still win halfpipe tho even tho his ego deserves otherwise.
Really impressive seeing the level those slope style dudes are shredding at, wow!
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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That DH course is insanely impressive. The first jump into very steep right traverse then compression with a hard left?? WOW Super world class course. Seems well designed though such that likely crash areas have nice runouts. Hope no one gets hurt bad.
Rewards immense strenth to weight ratio. Helps even out the weight advantage of the really big guys. Gonna be some spectacular crashes.. even more DNFs
Bode looks the best, but even he is not rock solid through that traverse.
BTW in XC, speeds have gotten amazing on downhill portions. May see 50mph.
XC??? jeeze
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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I agree climbski2,that actually looks like a hairy DH run,should be fun watching.
50mph nordic,that also should be fun to watch .
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tom Carter
Social climber
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Hey
Anyone have any good links to "Action video" I would appreciate it very much.
Having a hard time finding real footage to events.
How about that Bode!!!!!
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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NBC owns the rights here,so you have to go elsewhere unless you want to pay.
If you do not:
http://gofirstrowus.eu
It takes a bit to navigate,but keep closing the junk and you will find it.
I could be arrested for this. HA.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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I think you would be well advised to go to Norwegian TV for XC coverage.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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WTF!
Alpine freestyle arials is gone.
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WBraun
climber
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2014 Olympics is the Putinators showcase.
I do hope he fore runs the downhill course at bad ass top speed ......
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sempervirens
climber
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Watching Olympics on-line, need help:
I bought the $30 Satellite Direct internet service. Downloaded their app. and it won't play continuously, stops n' starts. I've got flash player 12.0. which does not have the "Enable/Disable Hardware Acceleration" setting. Adobe Flash questions page explains they removed the setting in this version and plan to put it back in future. Any idea, anyone?
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Awesome .. thanks. No Problem..am registered so have full access.
Maybe I'll get to see another American win the DH.. last one was a guy I actually skied with a bit and his brother was a friend. Nothing can beat that.
Noticing that moguls are still using pretty straight skies..
Not the place to get locked into a carve for sure.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Nyman.. couple bobbles, didnt hurt to much, Decent run.. not good enough I think..Much better than practice.
MAN everyone is looking so much better in real race than in practice.
Ganon USA .. solid run.. But best yet to come
France gets first DNF
Temps on lower course may becoming an issue.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Bummer... pushed so hard up top..
Snow is getting slower on lower mountain.
Didnt do himself any favors opening up on the jumps...
Ganong may hold on to Bronze in these conditions..
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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lol noticed thaT
Svindal edges it out for Bronze.
I suspect that is it..not likely any more challengers for top 3 ..
Lower mountain deteriorating.
One American left.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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heh was wrong an impessive top was enough to hold through bad bottom conditions for a new 2nd Innerhoff
Bottom part of the course is toast. That is what you get with coastal mountains with palm trees at the bottom. Should have started the race earlier.
Defago might have won if he started earlier, Nah Inerhoff would have won by far..both screwed by changing snow conditions.
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pyro
Big Wall climber
Calabasas
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figure skating!!
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Lollie
Social climber
I'm Lolli.
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Curling starts tomorrow! :-)
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pyro
Big Wall climber
Calabasas
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curling I couldn't get into reminded me of ice fishing!
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nita
Social climber
chica de chico, I don't claim to be a daisy.
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Curling, the most hipster sport at the Olympics.
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James Wilcox
Trad climber
Goleta/Virginia Lakes
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Well, I hope the athletes have a good time. I was excited for the countries there for the first time.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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So enjoyable watching a legend in his time perform exceptionally.
Evgeni Plushenko
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John M
climber
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So what do people think about the change in rules in the Olympics that allowed professionals to enter? I understand that it was in response to the way many communist countries treated their athletes, but there is just something about it that bothers me. To me an amateur athlete is hungrier for the gold then many professionals. The Shawn White incident comes to mind. I believe we have to support out amateur athletes, but the full on professionals don't belong.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Not sure where you draw the line. No sponsorship allowed? No Scholorships? Just gotta eek it out on your own and sponge off friends or family? Not allowed to make a living off what you love to do while the competition organizers make millions?
I want to see the best. Shawn Whites can add or detract from the games.
Like any individual athlete.
The vast majority of athletes here really are amateurs. Little chance of winning from nations many could not identify on a map. Fine youngsters experiencing the time of their life. Inspiring their towns and nations.
This spirit means the world to me.
Have a blast kids. Its a rare time you can never quite have again. Live it.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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When is snowshoeing going to be an olympic sport...?
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Todd Eastman
climber
Bellingham, WA
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I believe we have to support out amateur athletes, but the full on professionals don't belong.
So rather than garish professionals you would prefer a bunch of millionaires and other entitled folks play sports in their unlimited free time like the old days...
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John M
climber
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So rather than garish professionals you would prefer a bunch of millionaires and other entitled folks play sports in their unlimited free time like the old days…
I believe there is a middle ground, where countries support their amateur athletes.
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fosburg
climber
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Athletes need some form of sponsorship to compete at the highest level, there's no question. As a spectator, it's great to appreciate the result. The olympics are commercial; that's how it is.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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If you encountered a beggar who was wearing gold chains and a $500 pair of shades, would you think he needed your handout?
A lot of our impoverished athletes seem to sport some expensive jewelry.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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America's nordic athletes are essentially amateurs financially speaking due to the lack of money going to the nordic sports...A local homeboy , John Teller , America's best athlete in skier cross , wasn't sure if he was going to sochi until a few days before the games...A few strings were pulled and now he's going...Politics and money...
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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It is quite sad how much little money is going into sports that are not watched on TV. Biathlon, skiing etc is not getting much funding. Even take climbing for example. It is so awesome, but only a few are able to live on the road with sponsorship money. You either got to save up and take a long trip (likely lose healthcare, career growth opportunities, income etc) or be born rich. A lot of these sports are not for poor. I mean I can't imagine many people in Ukraine are doing sports like speed skating, curling, snowboarding, or luge.
So more money/training facilities = more athletes performing obscure sports.
By the way the opening ceremony was fantastic. Really enjoyed it.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Someone needs to tell our track-and-field guys to back away from the gold jewelry. Seriously.
I quit contributing to the Olympic Committee the same month I started, when I saw all the gold jewelry our track team was wearing. They didn't look like they needed any more of my money to me, especially when I own zero jewelry - gold or otherwise.
Why wear any jewelry? Especially something as heavy as gold? We practically employ NASA to engineer a way to shave two grams off a pair of racing cleats, and then our stupid track athletes throw it all away by loading themselves up with as much of the heaviest metal they can obtain.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Bravo to the proud Polak Stoch for a great jump for the 70M gold. 3.5 meters beyond anybody!
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
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Man those Rooskies got some good ice skaters. Tough, real tough.
Go Gracie Gold!!
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weezy
climber
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Feb 10, 2014 - 12:13am PT
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jamie anderson is a hottie.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Feb 10, 2014 - 12:43am PT
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Eight skiers in The Olympic Downhill. That's it? Just eight in the whole world could qualify? And three of them were Americans? Used to be there were two or three dozen skiers competing in the Olympic Downhill.
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command error
Trad climber
Colorado
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Feb 10, 2014 - 01:00am PT
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After all the neg hype Sochi is turning out as an A+ athletic party.
HD cams everywhere makin it real.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Feb 10, 2014 - 01:00am PT
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I think Chaz was commenting on NBC's only showing eight skiers, which is about the norm, sadly.
I think Bode and Svindal just tightened up from the pressure.
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
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Feb 10, 2014 - 01:04am PT
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Any way you cut it Bode Miller choked big time. I feel bad for him.
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John M
climber
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Feb 10, 2014 - 01:09am PT
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1/2 second between 1st and 8th.
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WBraun
climber
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Feb 10, 2014 - 01:11am PT
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Any way you cut it Bode Miller choked big time.
You don't know anything about alpine ski racing saying that.
Bode does not see well in flat light.
Therefore he'll misjudge more.
You guys ever ski raced in all different conditions both visible and snow???
Then you would know .....
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
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Feb 10, 2014 - 01:19am PT
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Jamie Anderson in the clutch on her last run nabs the Slopestyle Gold.
She nailed every part of the course.
Slopestyle sweep for USA
You don't know anything about alpine ski racing saying that.
Maybe not. But I know the difference between 8th and 1st place in any sport.
Every other competitor had the same conditions.
He was strongly expected to take 1st place , he took 8th . This is a choke, in any sport, at any time , under any conditions.
I would have loved to see Miller kick ass. But he choked.
In the interview he mentioned the bad light. He shouldn't have said anything about that and just congratulated his opponents.
BTW I remember watching Mayer's dad downhill in the Olys back in the 80s. The whole family are major kick -asses in the sport.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Feb 10, 2014 - 01:21am PT
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If you watched NBC, the Olympic Downhill consisted of only eight skiers - three of whom were American. And they ALL had perfect runs - each one better than the one before. Not one skier had any problems. Not one skier crashed.
NBC could ruin a wet dream!
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John M
climber
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Feb 10, 2014 - 01:25am PT
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thats a bummer. I have no tv, so didn't see it. . coverage over the years just doesn't seem as good as when I was a kid.
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nita
Social climber
chica de chico, I don't claim to be a daisy.
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Feb 10, 2014 - 01:26am PT
|
Jamie Anderson in the clutch on her last run nabs the Slopestyle Gold.
She nailed every part of the course. ++
Sharka Pancochova...bad ass..
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Todd Eastman
climber
Bellingham, WA
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Feb 10, 2014 - 02:02am PT
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I don't know when they started making the run in to the lip of the jump a full blown slot track. Perhaps I just noticed it but that's odd.
It's only been in the past 30+ years..
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Feb 10, 2014 - 02:06am PT
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Local girl Jamie Anderson makes us proud. That is so sweet and powerful.
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bergbryce
Trad climber
South Lake Tahoe, CA
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Feb 10, 2014 - 02:32am PT
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She crushed that run. She is from a great family in South Lake. Very happy to see her do well and make us all mega proud.
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John M
climber
|
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Feb 10, 2014 - 02:44am PT
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Every other competitor had the same conditions.
He was strongly expected to take 1st place , he took 8th . This is a choke, in any sport, at any time , under any conditions.
I would have loved to see Miller kick ass. But he choked.
I disagree with your conclusion. Conditions change and can favor one person over another. just because you practiced well doesn't mean you should do well, not if conditions change.
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
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Feb 10, 2014 - 03:19am PT
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I disagree with your conclusion. Conditions change
Do you have information that the lighting or surface conditions were variable enough on competition day between the top 8 competitors to result in a clear , measureable disadvantage for Miller?
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
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Feb 10, 2014 - 03:34am PT
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Just watched Felix Loch win men's singles Luge.
Gold for Germany. I think Germanys first medal in these games.
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Lollie
Social climber
I'm Lolli.
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Feb 10, 2014 - 08:06am PT
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First games in curling.
Sweden won against Great Britain (the Scots). Good as the Brits were world champions.
The Swedish male team also won their game towards Switzerland.
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Maysho
climber
Soda Springs, CA
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Feb 10, 2014 - 08:39am PT
|
No other nordic fans here? How about Dario Cologna? Full on ankle surgery mid November, off snow till New Years, and powers ahead over the final hill to win the 30k pursuit!
Can't wait to watch Kikkan Randall sprint on Tuesday!
Peter
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philo
Trad climber
Is that light the end of the tunnel or a train?
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Feb 10, 2014 - 09:16am PT
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Do you suppose that the scintillating sport of Curling would be more watched and appreciated if the women took a wardrobe cue from the beach volley ball ladies?
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Feb 10, 2014 - 10:06am PT
|
Bode did not choke go back a couple pages Ward where I was posting results and impressions in real time. It was clear by about the 6th guy down the course that the lower mountain was rapidly deteriorating. Last nights coverage was not the real coverage. 2 nights ago I watched every racer online. Commentary was poor both nights. DH is hard to judge when watching it without the splits because often the fastest guy looks just on the edge of control, Watch for a large amount snow getting kicked up by a bad carve, watch the line (hard or impossible without overhead angles) , don't worry about hitting gates, dont open up in the air.
After the 4th or 5th racer The bottom splits were just dumping time for every racer except svindal. It was clear the snow was getting soft fast.
There is a reason you want to earn early bib numbers in racing.. usually 5th through 15th. You want a couple folks to go first for reports then you want to get down before the course gets rutted. This course fell apart faster than most due to a very warm lower mountain. They should have started the race about an hour earlier. Visibility was getting worse on most runs too.
Bode got screwed in the bottom. He did not choke. I dont know if he would have won.. nobody does or ever will. He made a couple errors, got sideways, lost his edge a bit in the middle and funky and open off the last jump. Visibility and soft snow can cause those errors very easily. The gate clipping was not an error as many reported.
Several of those racers really stepped up their game on that course, Some great skiing yet the splits on the bottom just kept getting worse and worse.
For example The guy who had the best run by far got 2nd. Started 20th and simply blew everyone out of the water up top.. It was spectacular, then lost about a second on the bottom with no mistakes I could see, to barely hold on for Silver.
Stop reading articles by folks who don't know anything about racing.
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weezy
climber
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Feb 10, 2014 - 12:41pm PT
|
maybe Dario Colonga got on the Ammon McNeely Accelerated Ankle Rehab program?
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John M
climber
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Feb 10, 2014 - 12:57pm PT
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Do you have information that the lighting or surface conditions were variable enough on competition day between the top 8 competitors to result in a clear , measureable disadvantage for Miller?
you missed my point. my point was that conditions change from day to day, so you may practice well in one condition and not do well on race day because the conditions changed. If Bode Miller can't see well in flat light, then that would affect his ability to do well and would have nothing to do with choking. At that level of skiing, the tiniest thing can mean all the difference.
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Lollie
Social climber
I'm Lolli.
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Feb 10, 2014 - 01:20pm PT
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Third game curling, Sweden men, was won. :-)
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raymond phule
climber
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Feb 10, 2014 - 01:51pm PT
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There is a reason you want to earn early bib numbers in racing.. usually 5th through 15th.
Probably true but still a strange comment. The best ranked downhill skiers start between 15th and 22th so they never start earlier.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Feb 10, 2014 - 02:12pm PT
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Actually the rules call for about what I said. Pretty close considerig the size of the field these days.
The start order is determined by the results and points from World Cup events leading up to the Games. Based on a pre-race draw, the skiers ranked in the top 15 will receive a start number 8-22, while the skiers ranked 16th through 30th will receive a start number 1-7 or 23-30. They are followed by the rest of the field, starting with the skiers with the most World Cup Start List (WCSL) points, then FIS points.
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raymond phule
climber
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Feb 10, 2014 - 02:43pm PT
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Actually the rules call for about what I said. Pretty close considerig the size of the field these days.
Ok, I thought it were the same rules in the Olympics as in the world cup.
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dave729
Trad climber
Western America
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Feb 10, 2014 - 02:50pm PT
|
Woo-hoo!
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AKDOG
Mountain climber
Anchorage, AK
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Feb 10, 2014 - 04:17pm PT
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What a great downhill course!
Those skiers all rocked, Bode finishing in the top 10 is nothing to be ashamed of. They were hitting those jumps at 80+ mph!! Bad ass The original X-game.
America’s best change for a Nordic medal starts tonight with Kikkan; a whole group of Anchorage Nordic skiers in the Olympics. Warm temps could make things interesting.
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Feb 10, 2014 - 08:45pm PT
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Haaa Dr. F, I bet you'd be pissing yer pants going off one of those jumps on a Snowboard.
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PolishClimber
Trad climber
|
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Feb 10, 2014 - 09:01pm PT
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Did you even watch slope-style? To downplay the skill involved in these events... You really must be trolling...
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
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Feb 10, 2014 - 09:19pm PT
|
I agree with Dr F, seeing snowboarding in the Olympics is like seeing Putin at a gay rights rally- Just doesn't make sense :-)
It was way cooler when everyone hated us(wait everyone still does? Why is it in the Olympics then?). Seeing snowboarders decked out in Adidas sucking corporate dick makes me puke in my mouth a bit, it was never supposed to be a "sport". When I started snowboarding 20+ years ago we were treated like total misfits & discriminated against pretty hard, funny how times change.
Still much more entertaining to watch than most events that wouldn't even exist without the Olympics to keep them around. Nobody does GS for fun, billions snowboard for fun.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Feb 10, 2014 - 09:28pm PT
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Damn Bruce your right, except climbing's not in the Olympics- yet.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
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Feb 10, 2014 - 10:05pm PT
|
Bruce. I don't know what it (climbing) used to be since I've only been lucky enough to "officially" partake for the last 8 or 9 years, but usually I just go outside & walk up to a rock or mountain & start climbing until I'm at the top sometimes with a friend or sometimes by myself. Sometimes with lots of gear & sometimes with none. If I want to not see another person for days while climbing I can go somewhere there is no one. If I want to see a bunch of people I go somewhere there is lots of people. Seems to me it's all in the eye of the beholder with climbing. I guess it could be a sport if you wanted to get that out of it too.
What did it used to be like?
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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Feb 10, 2014 - 10:08pm PT
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It would be fun as hell to rip the DH course ,telemarking on some 194cm totally piste ski's.
Just because.
Edit;Ryan I do not think that has changed.
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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Feb 10, 2014 - 10:18pm PT
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Men's Moguls. YESSSS!!!!
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Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
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Feb 10, 2014 - 10:49pm PT
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It was way cooler when everyone hated us(wait everyone still does? Why is it in the Olympics then?). Seeing snowboarders decked out in Adidas sucking corporate dick makes me puke in my mouth a bit, it was never supposed to be a "sport". When I started snowboarding 20+ years ago we were treated like total misfits & discriminated against pretty hard, funny how times change.
I've never understood this attidtude. Whether its your favorite punk band that "sold out" to a major record label or your favorite "sport" that has gone mainstream, who cares? One should be happy that these athletes are able to showcase their tremendous skill and athleticism and who knows, they might just inspire kids to get off their butts and try it for themselves. And what is so wrong about getting paid good money to do it? I doubt any of you would turn down a chance at getting six or seven figures for doing something that you love.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Feb 10, 2014 - 10:59pm PT
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Sort of Bruce, the main dif is that these companies now have an infinite pool of disposable heroes ready to throw themselves down a flight of stairs or off a 150' jump for a pink & purple polka dot jacket that couldn't keep you dry in California in August. Climbing definitely has it's underpaid poster boys but it's a much smaller pool to pull from since the technical ability & skills required to climb & snowboard at a high level is a very stark contrast. There is tens of thousands of kids who could have stepped in & competed in that slopestyle event at the same caliber we saw. I actually overheard one of the kids at work the other day saying how easy a switch double backflip was! No sh#t, these guys are doing 20 of them casually before going to work with zero sponsorship.
When I watched the slopestyle, impressive as it was. It reminded me of a bunch of robot gymnasts all hurling themselves in more or less the same manner off the exact same obstacles. Impressive? Yes. Homogenized for the masses? Definitely.
Edit- banks, sorry but there's not some huge amount of people getting paid six or seven figures a year to shred, your dreaming if you think that's the case. There's probably a few but the kool aid has been watered down too much & too many people are doing it. Read my post here- disposable heroes. Companies can just toss these kids once they blow their knees and get a new keener. It's still cool sure but you probably think green day is still cool too.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Feb 10, 2014 - 11:04pm PT
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Tonight I watched the men's speed skating where two guys would race against each other. I'm not sure if "men's speed skating" was the technical name for the event, but holy crap, what a finish! The Netherlands won Gold, Silver and Bronze, and the team included of a set of twins!
First, the one twin kicked ass and got the top place. Then, his brother bested the time by like a second, if even. So,it's two brothers in first and second place.
Then, another teammate races and beats them BOTH.
BUT..... the time was redone due to the photo finish, and the twin actually won. They were showing his face as he waited for the time, and the look-when he saw he wasn't first... Then, the time was adjusted, and his face at the new time- a look of increduality as if thinking "Am I insane? Did I see the numbers wrong?" Then, he comprehends...wow!
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
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Feb 10, 2014 - 11:10pm PT
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When I watched the slopestyle, impressive as it was. It reminded me of a bunch of robot gymnasts all hurling themselves in more or less the same manner off the exact same obstacles. Impressive? Yes. Homogenized for the masses? Definitely.
What an absolutely dead-on moronic statement.
No one wants to hear your stupid appraisal of snowboarding, or any other sport.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Feb 10, 2014 - 11:19pm PT
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Thanks Ward.
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Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
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Feb 10, 2014 - 11:22pm PT
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RyanD-You may have thought it was robotic, but I would say that you are in the minority. All I know is that my nephews and their friends loved it and can't stop talking about it. And that's the whole point isn't it? Its pretty selfish to want a sport to fit into some ideal that you want.
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
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Feb 10, 2014 - 11:35pm PT
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Ward is an expert in Downhill and all things snowboarding.
Oh no Ward is far from that.
But he is an unqualified expert at detecting bullsh#t.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Feb 10, 2014 - 11:52pm PT
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I thought Ward was an expert in everything about everything? I mean didn't he start snowboarding when it was invented & then spend the entire evolution of it living in Whistler riding 100+ days a year for over a decade? Well maybe that doesn't make him an expert but I guess it means he knows way more about it than anyone here.
And Banks you just proved my point. It's entertaining to your nephews and nieces and friends- aka the masses. Don't get me wrong it's impressive, but that's the whole idea of putting something in the old limp dicks if u ask me. It's also probably the reason certain Olympic events like freestyle ski jumping & wrestling have gotten the chop. They aren't flashy & impressive. As well I don't want snowboarding or the Olympics to fit into my ideal, just pointing out how it has changed & what it has become.
Anyways Bruce, this whole snowboarding chat with a bunch of green circle 2 plankers from the lower 48 who probably couldn't ride a t bar is all just a distraction until Hockey starts.
Any of you yanks want to wager on Sundays US vs Russia game? I'll take the Rusty's, loser has to post on the selfie thread a selfie with makeup or face paint saying go canada. I'll post one saying go USA if the commies lose, which they won't.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Feb 11, 2014 - 03:47am PT
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Bruce, that's a pretty rowdy scenario there! Yikes! Hopefully you were charging them $800 a bed!
And Banks & Ward, Im just goofing a bit here so lets all not take this too seriously. Hopefully we can all enjoy some friendly competitiveness, sh#t talking & gambling since we are so nice & internationally set up for it on supertopo. That's what I always thought the true spirit of the Olympics was. Anyone want to bet on women's hockey, or men's curling? Loser has to write a trip report!
Edit-
I like this though.
I heard the Dragons Den guy Brett something going on about the obsession with medals on the radio. He was right on. He figures wec should be celebrating the effort, like all the competitors not just the medal winners. The fact is that some wipe out or bobble a run is just such a stupid measure of all their effort. As if thats ever going to happen but the thing is the odds of success in that racket is so low, the risks so high and the success is where it all leads after anyway, even if its managing a Wendy's properly you know?
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steve shea
climber
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Feb 11, 2014 - 11:21am PT
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BK is right on with the ski town seasonal rental scene. I'm living the dream right now and have a stack eviction notices all ready to go. Teton Gravity Research being here in the Hole attracts every wannabe meat hucker from every facet of going DH that you can imagine. Come on down! Be a star.
Snowboarding in the Olympics is OK. The games have become a political and economic junk show. You know the path of least resistance to the cash register. Even the IOC bent over for Putin. Why else would the most expensive games ever be staged in that god forsaken hell hole. NBC gave a billion usd to televise view worthy events for two weeks! You do not think they do not have some say in what gets done do you? IOC. Then there are the athletes and the corporate sponsorship. I love the goggle adjusting during the interviews for perfect logo positioning.
As far as athleticism goes it all there in pretty much every discipline. As far as fitness goes no way. Think of the summer games. the most respected athlete used to be the winner of the decathlon. No argument there. I think for the winter games it is hockey players, nordic combined athletes, nordic skiathlon athletes and for sure alpine ski racing. Especially those participating in all events. SL an DH are as different as baseball and football. No repetition there.
Maybe if they held a snowboard biathlon I'd watch. But then the athletes would be complaining about skooch leg all the time. You know having to skooch uphill from time to time. Slope style, ho hum. You see one, you've seen them all. Circus acts with a board on. Like diving. Same church different pew. Give me half pipe, at least I can sit through that show.
And congrats to the Canadian bump skiers and beautiful Julia Mancuso. Bronze in Alpine Super Combined!
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Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
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Feb 11, 2014 - 01:25pm PT
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And Banks & Ward, Im just goofing a bit here so lets all not take this too seriously. Hopefully we can all enjoy some friendly competitiveness, sh#t talking & gambling since we are so nice & internationally set up for it on supertopo. That's what I always thought the true spirit of the Olympics was. Anyone want to bet on women's hockey, or men's curling? Loser has to write a trip report!
Fair enough. Change brings good and bad things with it. But overall I think the evolution of snowboarding and its inclusion in the Olympics has been a positive thing. FWIW, I first tried snowboarding 30+ years ago.
I'll take the US Women's Hockey Team.
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Feb 11, 2014 - 01:46pm PT
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America is better than the rest of the world, the end. :0)
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Feb 11, 2014 - 03:02pm PT
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Ok Banks, you're on! I got the Canadian gals, of course. You better make some climbing plans so u got something to write about!
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Lollie
Social climber
I'm Lolli.
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Feb 11, 2014 - 03:41pm PT
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Damn the Canadian women! Jennifer Jones had a 100% accuracy.
Sweden lost.
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weezy
climber
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Feb 11, 2014 - 04:04pm PT
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bob costas finally tapped out...and not a moment too soon. i thought blood was going to start geysering out of his eye sockets like ol faithful and blast his glasses off into the camera.
good effort, costas. you hung in there like a boss.
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Alexey
climber
San Jose, CA
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Feb 11, 2014 - 04:17pm PT
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Any of you yanks want to wager on Sundays US vs Russia game? I'll take the Rusty's, loser has to post on the selfie thread a selfie with makeup or face paint saying go canada. I'll post one saying go USA if the commies lose, which they won't.
RaynD I wish to see photo with sickle&hammer paint on your face after Russians kick out canadian hockey team in finals
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Lollie
Social climber
I'm Lolli.
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Feb 11, 2014 - 04:27pm PT
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Love the Canadian guys. They lost.
Sweden won.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Feb 11, 2014 - 04:37pm PT
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Alexey if that is the finals we end up with you are so on! I fear for you that you may not have this opportunity tho as your Datsyuk apparently has a weeping vagina from being too old & may be unable to carry the rest of team to the medal round. We will have to see what happens Sunday when they play US first :-)
Ok, I need to recap here.
-got willbeer for 12 micros canada vs us in hockey
-got WTF for beers at facelift, probably lots for the same
-loser writes a TR with whoever goes furthest in women's hockey, US vs Canada with Banks
if Russia vs Canada men's hockey final loser paints face with winners flag & posts to selfie thread with Alexey.
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Alexey
climber
San Jose, CA
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Feb 11, 2014 - 04:43pm PT
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since you call Russian team as "commies" you paint sickle&hammer instead of flag
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Feb 11, 2014 - 04:54pm PT
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Haha ok Alexey whatever you want, all in good fun. If we lose I'll even paint your face on my face if you like.
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StahlBro
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
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Feb 11, 2014 - 05:22pm PT
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The Canadian coach helping the fallen Russian XC skier was way cool
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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Feb 11, 2014 - 05:24pm PT
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RaynD I wish to see photo with sickle&hammer paint on your face after Russians kick out canadian hockey team in finals
Hahahaha. He is Canadian, he might not have enough skill to draw something complicated, like sickle and hammer. Can't wait to see it!
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Feb 11, 2014 - 05:29pm PT
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There's little question that Norway will once again win the winter Olympics, perhaps even in absolute terms. yadda yadda yadda
Yes there is a big question about that because there is no such thing as "winning the winter Olympics."
I understand what you mean, but that does not make the "winter Olympics" any sort of actual competition that can be won or lost, except unofficially in your mind.
You're free to play your own sport of medal counting (and obviously lots of other people / media outlets like to play it also), but that doesn't change reality. (It seems like a rather shallow and silly game, especially to brag about a country that you are not even from, but whatever floats your boat.)
One nice thing about sports is they have rules--random Internet blowhards are free to say anything, but that doesn't change the actual rules or create a sport that does not officially exist.
I would like there to be some sort of an investigation of Norway's athletes however--it does seem that they have an advantage that my suggest something like PED or the like, I don't know.
The question is what country will be in second place, or as a US company so obnoxiously put it, who will be First Loser? The USA? Sweden? Russia? Germany? Italy? Canada? It must suck for all of them, perpetually losing to a country of five million.
The only that "sucks" that I know about is for ordinary Russians, who will be be burdened with the incredible expense of these "games," where most of the money was allegedly stolen by those with Russian government connections.
As a typical American sports viewer, I think it's kind of "cute" that people who support countries like Norway that you normally never hear anything about in the sports world can do well in some games that no one really watches or cares much about, except for the Olympic spectacle.
It's sort of like a giant special Olympics--you feel kinda good for the "competitors" and can even admire their courage and, in a strange way, their skill. But that doesn't mean you have to respect them as real
athletes (pretty much football, basketball, baseball, maybe MMA fighting, that's about it). Climbing sorta counts too, but not really as an organized sport.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Feb 11, 2014 - 05:38pm PT
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It's pretty simple actually Anders. Most golds wins.
Vitaliy I made need you to make me a sickle/hammer stencil in the rare possibility that we lose to Russia in the gold medal hockey game. I'm only good at drawing maple leafs & beavers.
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weezy
climber
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Feb 11, 2014 - 06:10pm PT
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Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
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Feb 11, 2014 - 06:31pm PT
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Good thing for you Canadians that Quebec hasn't seceded yet. If it wasn't for the Frenchies, you'd be hurting for medals.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Feb 11, 2014 - 07:21pm PT
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^ haha that's funny
cause it's true.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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Feb 11, 2014 - 07:45pm PT
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-got willbeer for 12 micros canada vs us in hockey
Damn Straight.
Congrats to Quebec!
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Feb 11, 2014 - 08:38pm PT
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Spoiler Alert..too bad you're gunna see it anyway
White chokes.
He shoulda read his Bible..Cutting the hair was a big mistake.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Feb 11, 2014 - 08:45pm PT
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Did Shaun White really choke? Looked to me like he just wasn't as good as IPod & those two Japanese teenagers.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Feb 11, 2014 - 09:14pm PT
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Yes Anders, do tell us more.
Maybe since Canada plays your country on Thursday morning in men's hockey you'd like to make a friendly wager of some belay time this spring for the winner?? I mean if ur gunna be a traitor you may as well dive right in ;-)
No hip belays either!
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fluffy
Trad climber
Colorado
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Feb 12, 2014 - 01:44am PT
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My first board was a Burton Kelly. He was one of my heroes for sure.
Wish I still had it, gave it away in 94 when I moved to the desert :-/
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Feb 12, 2014 - 02:04am PT
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Cris Collinsworth talking about Shaun White as Peyton Manning is about the
dumbest thing I've ever seen. Are there NBC execs with an IQ higher than
the 79 of Collinsworth? I mean that guy can't even spell his own name!
Is his brother Ludicris?
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Feb 12, 2014 - 03:02am PT
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GO Team Poland!
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Lollie
Social climber
I'm Lolli.
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Feb 12, 2014 - 04:52pm PT
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Did Anders delete his post? :-(
;-) but welcome back, my friend.
And Swedish guys played an utterly lousy game towards Denmark, of all countries.
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briham89
Big Wall climber
san jose and south lake tahoe, ca
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Feb 12, 2014 - 05:09pm PT
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Wtf is with the snowboard announcer that doesn't know anything about snowboarding? Probably the worst announcer I have heard.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Feb 12, 2014 - 05:10pm PT
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You mean Bob Costas is calling the snowboard events? I was wondering where he went ( but don't miss him ).
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o-man
Social climber
Paia,Maui,HI
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Feb 12, 2014 - 06:16pm PT
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Julia Mancuso. Bronze in Alpine Super Combined! She lives directly across the street from me here in Kuau,Maui. I think that's pretty cool!
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TomCochrane
Trad climber
Santa Cruz Mountains and Monterey Bay
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Feb 12, 2014 - 09:35pm PT
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The forgotten Olympic city: The Sochi Games aren't actually in Sochi
By Dan Wetzel 7 hours ago Yahoo Sports
ADLER, Russia — After the opulent sporting venues, hundreds of box hotels, the freshly built amusement park, the new roads and train lines, the colorful, if questionable, brick boardwalk along the Black Sea, and the waterfront "McMansions" (strangely unoccupied) — after all of that — the first thing you notice in Adler are the fences.
The fences are everywhere.
They are a metallic construct with a stonewall design on the bottom and five wide, brown, faux-wood slats rising up to about eight feet. They line roads, run along back alleys and sometimes fence in other fences.
Government contractors threw them up all over the place, locals say, to keep tourist eyes from seeing what's behind them: construction sites, swamp, poverty — in other words, Adler.
These are officially the Sochi Olympics, but the games are not being played in Sochi. They are happening in unheralded Adler, technically a microdistrict (in Russian city planning parlance) of Sochi, its larger neighbor up the coast.
Adler remains a city under construction. (Yahoo Sports)
Adler is the town the Olympics ignore and the Russians prefer you not see behind the fences. Yet it is — especially the area south of Olympic Park — the center of Vladimir Putin's big, bold bet to turn this sleepy village, once mostly swampland hard by the closed border of Abkhazia, into an international vacation destination.
Adler is very much its own world, different from Sochi, whose city center takes two buses and a 45-minute train ride to reach. That is if you can afford the train. Many here can't. Then it's two hours by bus, they say.
Putin promised the International Olympic Committee that if it awarded Russia the 2014 Winter Games, he would essentially construct a new city to host them. He estimated he had just 10 percent to 15 percent of the infrastructure.
Seven years and $51 billion later this is it, an area of stunning contrasts and hopeful momentum, with plenty of warning signs of too much ambition and too little quality construction.
This is where new meets old but with questions about whether much will change at all.
According to locals from street corners to small restaurants, there is a clear appreciation for some of Putin's billions that came here, that once-rocky, unpaved streets are now smooth.
Yet, there is also a wariness about the government getting this right, even as literally hundreds of construction workers continue to pound nails, lay brick and spread paint in a furious attempt to finish what is way behind schedule.
They never did get it all done in time for the Olympics. It's getting it right that matters now.
Consider the waterfront, where a new brick path stretches for miles along the Black Sea. It's beautiful and ornate, each brick laid individually in decorative and colorful patterns. There is a knee-friendly bike and jogging path running along it. You can see generations of Russian families taking strolls, glancing west at the water and east at the towering mountains.
A fence separates old Adler from new Adler. (Yahoo Sports)
Yet sitting just a few feet from the rocky shoreline, with only a concrete seawall in between, how does the ground underneath the bricks not shift, even subtly, and ruin the entire thing? You can already see the signs of it, buckling and doomed for repair.
And what of the waterfront buildings? Many are beyond nice, with swimming pools, concrete patios and floor-to-ceiling windows. There are hotel complexes with indoor-outdoor pools. Yet almost all are empty, not ready for the biggest event this town will hold. There are mattresses on beds, but exterior walls lack siding, suggesting a backward construction process. So who buys them? Who uses them? Maybe dignitaries will stay in them for the upcoming G8 summit.
Landscaping features areas where dirt was thrown down only to have seed planted before the clumps and mounds could be raked smooth. There is no way the grass survives long term.
Then there are the approximately 200 "hotels" built to house volunteers and media in tightly clustered projects. They are supposed to be sustainable, yet are cheaply put together. Where do the people come from to fill all of those? And what are they coming to?
It's almost maddening. This could have been great, an incredible scene for these Games and beyond.
And it points to a strange dichotomy.
It's not that this is cheap. It's just not put together quite right.
It's not that this isn't better, more modern. It's just too often this feels and looks like a movie soundstage, so much thrown up you wonder what's real and what's an illusion.
It's not that this can't work. It's just impossible to say at this point.
Putin says it will transform this region of the country and give Russia a winter playland to help maintain and attract the young and affluent.
It is folly for a Westerner to live here for two weeks and define what a complicated place such as Adler really is or will be.
What is clear is that here where the Games are being played and where the buildings have risen and where the legacy will play out are government fences everywhere.
What remains behind them is the question.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Feb 13, 2014 - 12:14am PT
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The Women's Downhill coverage is confusing.
First skier crashes. Second skier finishes, but they say her time is only good enough for third.
How the hell do you get third place, in a field of one?
Apparently, two other skiers' runs were edited out, but both of those runs were better than the run NBC chose to broadcast. WTF?
I thought the whole idea was Faster, Higher, Stronger. So why edit out the faster, NBC?
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Feb 13, 2014 - 12:22am PT
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The race was almost 24 hours ago. NBC does not even show 1/4 of the competitors.
Once again the course was terrible. Too warm and rapidly deteriorating.
I will say the gal they got commentating is really good..has a great eye and it's really cool getting her well explained analysis. She should have been doing the mens commentary too.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Feb 13, 2014 - 12:42am PT
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What's NBC broadcast during the daytime, that they can't make time then for the premier Olympic event, the freaking Downhill? Soap operas and judge shows?
It's funny, because NBC does Formula 1 now, and it's always broadcast live. Monaco, Singapore, Bahrain, Sao Paolo, Shanghai, Toronto, Austin, etc, doesn't matter. Always live. Start-to-finish. Like it should be.
NBC does a good job with the NFL, too ( with the exception of Al Michaels, but he's gotta work somewhere ).
But with the Olympics, it's like NBC has the Midas Touch, only in reverse. They're handed a gold nugget, but when we get it, it's just a turd.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Feb 13, 2014 - 12:54am PT
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Very remarkable considering the later start and the lower course conditions..
Really she shoulda won that by at least .4 exceptional run.
Much like the mens silver medalist.
But the tie is very cool. She didnt get robbed and both winners were great.
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bhilden
Trad climber
Mountain View, CA/Boulder, CO
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Feb 13, 2014 - 01:05am PT
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It's definitely not going to happen, but they need to remove any sport in the Olympics which involves judging. I remember when Seth Westcott won his first gold medal in the Snowboard Cross in Torino. A reporter asked him why he switched from Half Pipe to Snowboard Cross. His quick reply was "no judging!"
I used to date a competitive figure skater. She would get a list of judges for her upcoming competitions. She didn't go to the ones where she felt the judges didn't like her.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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Feb 13, 2014 - 07:57am PT
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Carlson rips to the top corner.USA 1 Sovakia 0
An awesome goal to start em up.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Feb 13, 2014 - 08:19am PT
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When is snowshoe cross going to be made an olympic event..?
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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Feb 13, 2014 - 08:47am PT
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6-1 ,USA .Watching USA hockey on canadien TV is painful.
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Fritz
Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Feb 13, 2014 - 09:52am PT
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The New York times mentions Kaitlyn Farrington's Halfpipe Gold Medal.
IDAHO Upstart Ends Gold Medal Run by the Big 3 in Women’s Halfpipe
By JOHN BRANCHFEB. 12, 2014 N.Y. Times
KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia — The cattle auctions were on Wednesdays, Kaitlyn Farrington remembered. On the ranch near Bellevue, Idaho, before she left for school, she and her father would load a cow, maybe two, into the back of a trailer attached to the pickup truck. Gary Farrington drove about 40 miles south to Shoshone and made the sale, maybe $1,000 a head.
Kaitlyn was a teenager then, and the money was needed to support her burgeoning snowboarding career. One by one, now and again, the herd dwindled over the years. Now it is gone entirely.
In its place is a gold medal.
Farrington, a horse-riding snowboarder, a former barrel racer with a pair of piercings in her nose and a quick giggle in her voice, bucked snowboarding’s long-established order by winning the women’s halfpipe event Wednesday at the Sochi Games.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Feb 13, 2014 - 10:35am PT
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Get out the brooms
There was a US sweep last night!
Should be fun to watch tonight.
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pyro
Big Wall climber
Calabasas
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Feb 13, 2014 - 11:52am PT
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Victor or evgen plushenko just pulled out From mens figure skating :(
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Darwin
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Feb 13, 2014 - 11:55am PT
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I notice that Fritz mentioned it above, but I'm surprised at my self by how happy Kaitlyn Farrington's Halfpipe Gold Medal makes me. You wouldn't have known she was even in the competition from the commentators beforehand, and the whole celebrity/marketing scene around Hannah Teter and Torah Bright irritates me no end.
I liked Mancuso's reaction (overjoyed) to getting bronze in the combined, but the women's downhill was really cool with that tie between a relative unknown(to me) and a superstar. Too bad neither was Austrian. So far, I haven't seen too many Austrians on the podia, is that an accurate impression?
Hey, but our sisters to the north are doing well, in that obscure sport in an ice rink with nets and sticks, what's it called?
w.r.t. Pyro's above. :-(
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Feb 13, 2014 - 11:56am PT
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Lurker/deleter Anders, the puck drops on your Vikings in just a few min. Not too late to take my wager.
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WBraun
climber
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Feb 13, 2014 - 12:01pm PT
|
Vladimir Putin (Putinator) should make a guest appearance run down the Ski Jump.
The big one (Ski-flying) competition jump hill.
That will definitely help boost his Olympic planing events and world leader ratings :-)
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Feb 13, 2014 - 12:04pm PT
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Ski flying lol
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John Mac
Trad climber
Littleton, CO
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Feb 13, 2014 - 02:52pm PT
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The women's downhill yesterday was amazing. That and the mogul competition have really been the only events I've gone out of my way to watch. The downhill finish couldn't have been better scripted!
The hype and marketing just seems too much to me to stomach most of the time. Especially all the time they're spent on snowboarding.
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frank wyman
Mountain climber
montana
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Feb 13, 2014 - 03:03pm PT
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I know I'm an old fart, But what is with the judgeing? Did I miss something? What happened to all the judges from different countries scoring and then they would throw out the high and low one? when did they change this? Kind of liked watching the Russian and American judges low-balling each others atheletes. I must have fell asleep or something. Who is doing the judgeing?...I'll go take my nap now so I can stay awake until at least 10:00pm....zzzzzzzzzzzzz
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Karen
Trad climber
So Cal urban sprawl Hell
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Feb 13, 2014 - 03:29pm PT
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I agree John, WAYYYYYYY too much time has been spent on snowboarding! Yawn.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Feb 13, 2014 - 05:06pm PT
|
Drinking game:
Hit something each time some baggy-pants monotone brah declares he's "stoked".
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karen roseme
Mountain climber
san diego
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Feb 13, 2014 - 09:18pm PT
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SOCHI, Russia — On a warm slope above the Black Sea, America's colors blazed with new definition.
Red, white and blue became Joss, Gus and Nick.
In the perfect sweep for an evolving Winter Olympics and the ever-changing American athletes who twist through them, Joss Christensen, Gus Kenworthy and Nick Goepper finished first, second and third, respectively, in the inaugural men's slopestyle skiing competition Thursday.
Christensen skied with a photo of his late father tucked into his suit. Kenworthy skied for the future of five stray Russian dogs. Goepper skied for all those folks back on his boyhood slopes of … southern Indiana?
Kenworthy, also 22, found his awesome earlier in these Olympics when he rounded up a stray female dog and her four puppies before Russian authorities could capture and possibly exterminate them.
"I said to someone, 'I just want to leave with a medal and some puppies,''' he said.
Kenworthy, My kind of hero!!!!
http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/la-sp-sochi-slopestyle-plaschke-20140214,0,2409967.column#ixzz2tG5yWvQY
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Yak-Chik
Trad climber
Phoenix
|
|
Feb 13, 2014 - 09:30pm PT
|
Go USA! Crashing into the edge of the half pipe in super slo mo
is a killer watch!
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Feb 13, 2014 - 11:33pm PT
|
Looks like they are starting the downhill portion of the mens combined an hour earlier than the previous 3 downhill competitions.
Really hope this helps level the playing field. Hard to say.. that lower mountain just seems too warm in the last few races.
Better hope so, the US men drew positions 22, 23, 24 and 28
I'd say they are screwed. Hope I'm wrong.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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|
Feb 14, 2014 - 12:51am PT
|
Man, what a drag for Plyoshenko! Seems like we've been watching him for years
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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|
Feb 14, 2014 - 12:56am PT
|
More TV time was devoted to one skater quitting than they gave to the entire mens' Downhill ( which used to be the premier Olympic event ).
The Olympics used to be all about Faster, Higher, Stronger.
I guess Lamer, Older, Weaker draws more of the viewers NBC is shooting for - viewers who are not sports fans.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Feb 14, 2014 - 01:10am PT
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Combined course is in terrible shape..
Dull them edges men and find some special skis..softer a bit
The course conditions are a cruel joke..
Might as well roll the dice for positions.. be about as fair.
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
|
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Feb 14, 2014 - 01:17am PT
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American figure skater, Jeremy Abbott, took a hard painful demoralizing fall in the beginning of his short program.
The crowd with their applause rallied him to get up and finish ---which he did in great style and excellent form.
Showed heart on his part ---and it showed the largely Russian crowd in a real good light.
One thing about Rooskies, they love gritty perseverance and heart. Their history as a country bares that out, despite all the bad stuff.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
|
|
Feb 14, 2014 - 08:39am PT
|
That performance with that crowd support is going to stick with him longer than a medal would!
It will become the basis for family lore; "when uncle Jeremy wiped out in the Olympics , he got back up and the crowd clapped him through his routine!"
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Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
|
|
Feb 14, 2014 - 01:48pm PT
|
More TV time was devoted to one skater quitting than they gave to the entire mens' Downhill ( which used to be the premier Olympic event ).
The Olympics used to be all about Faster, Higher, Stronger.
I guess Lamer, Older, Weaker draws more of the viewers NBC is shooting for - viewers who are not sports fans.
Yes, NBC's nightly coverage is prepackaged for middle America just like McDonalds prepackages so called food for Americans. Yet your complaints about it are getting tiresome. You could have watched the entire mens downhill on NBCSports Network, or CBC, or BBC or on your computer or ......
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
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Feb 15, 2014 - 02:28am PT
|
The Russian ones aren't. Allowed.
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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|
Feb 15, 2014 - 08:15am PT
|
The one time i am bummed that I do not have TV would have liked to watch some alpine and nordic sking. Bunch of vermonters on the nordic team.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
|
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Feb 15, 2014 - 10:21am PT
|
What a HOCKEY GAME.
USA3 Russia2
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
|
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Feb 15, 2014 - 10:25am PT
|
Is the hockey game over?
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mike m
Trad climber
black hills
|
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Feb 15, 2014 - 10:29am PT
|
Sweet game
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Marlow
Sport climber
OSLO
|
|
Feb 15, 2014 - 11:38am PT
|
Congrats to the US hockey team...
and congrats to Zbigniew Brodka...
...who had the margins on their side...
1500 meter men:
1. Zbigniew Brodka 1:45.006
2. Koen Verweij 1:45.009
3. Denny Morrison +0,22
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WBraun
climber
|
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Feb 15, 2014 - 12:34pm PT
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This "Olympic Hockey" game looks way more like an all star game instead of some phoney Nationalistic game between two countries ......
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pyro
Big Wall climber
Calabasas
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Feb 15, 2014 - 12:56pm PT
|
Go quick!
Go usa!
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Lollie
Social climber
I'm Lolli.
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Feb 15, 2014 - 05:03pm PT
|
Sweden took gold in the ski relay race.
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SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
|
|
Feb 15, 2014 - 07:56pm PT
|
Swedish female skier makes up 25 second deficit in the relay! ! .
OMG. What a finish.
Whew whew whew
Susan
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
|
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Feb 15, 2014 - 11:24pm PT
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US beats Russia in hockey shoot out .
In your face Putin, you KGB criminal super villain
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Feb 15, 2014 - 11:26pm PT
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I liked it better when the Russian hockey teams we beat were Soviet Red Army teams.
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Captain...or Skully
climber
|
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Feb 15, 2014 - 11:37pm PT
|
Can the figure skating be over already, please?
C'mon.
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philo
Trad climber
Is that light the end of the tunnel or a train?
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Feb 16, 2014 - 01:39am PT
|
Poland has only won four medals (so far) but they have all been GOLD. Go Polska!
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
|
|
Feb 16, 2014 - 01:54am PT
|
Regarding Hockey, I was really surprised to see them do a shootout in the Olympics. I would have thought they would play overtime periods until someone really won. Anyone know how long this has been the practice?
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philo
Trad climber
Is that light the end of the tunnel or a train?
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Feb 16, 2014 - 01:56am PT
|
I believe the rule is a shoot out after four tied OT periods. I think that is what happened in this game.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
|
Feb 16, 2014 - 03:18am PT
|
It could still happen Jim. This is just qualifiers. Pretty good chance that Russia will still end up in the gold medal game.
Forgot to mention our hockey babes stomped the US hockey babes in prelims the other day as well.
Shoot outs have been that way in international hockey tournaments for as long as I can remember. I think in the medal rounds it is decided by sudden death tho.
I remember this from last Olympics when we beat USA in overtime. You guys remember that?
Edit- now I see Wards link.
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perswig
climber
|
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Feb 16, 2014 - 08:12am PT
|
Proud US effort against Canada in women's curling this AM. You canucks are so hard to beat!
Dale
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Feb 16, 2014 - 10:24am PT
|
Mindblowing US silver by jorneyman and complete darkhorse Weibrecht in Mens Super G. Starting 29th and has no world cup podiums.
and a tie in bronze! Bode gets one.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
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Feb 16, 2014 - 11:54am PT
|
Another gold for the Flying Polak! Four medals for Poland and all of them gold!
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SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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|
Feb 16, 2014 - 12:20pm PT
|
Anyone else have another opinion. Not exactly another opinion, I agree with your assessment on the metrics. I don't think it should be eliminated, however. It appears to be how it has evolved. It's hard for me to relate fully to it since my style is fully "classic" as well as I wouldn't be able to keep up that style for very long.
Now, to head out for Alpine!!!
Susan
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Todd Eastman
climber
Bellingham, WA
|
|
Feb 16, 2014 - 12:37pm PT
|
Anyone else have another opinion.
Yea, go out and stride up the hills the boys and girls ski up and you will realize that there is loads of striding still in the sport. Only unfit skiers and tourists stride flats...
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Lollie
Social climber
I'm Lolli.
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|
Feb 16, 2014 - 01:42pm PT
|
Wow, the American ice dance couple. Incredible. White & Davis.
What a skating.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
|
|
Feb 16, 2014 - 02:07pm PT
|
Dr. F...The olympic x-country courses are much steeper than they look on TV....I would guess that some of the steeper hills would be in the 9% grade category...? Blasting down the other side of these 9% climbs is harrowing at 30 mph with 10 other skiers inches away ...Diagonal striding anything resembling flat terrain is like being in your small chain ring and spinning out..Double poling doesn't interrupt your glide like diagonal striding does and can actually help you recover during the glide phase..
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Todd Eastman
climber
Bellingham, WA
|
|
Feb 16, 2014 - 04:23pm PT
|
Dr F, you clearly don't understand xc ski racing as it is played at an elite level.
Do you still climb in RDs?
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Lollie
Social climber
I'm Lolli.
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Feb 16, 2014 - 04:48pm PT
|
USA played a good game towards Sweden in curling. They lost though.
The Swedes is now #1 on the chart.
Have lost one game, towards Denmark, and they're not in the finals.
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Reeotch
climber
4 Corners Area
|
|
Feb 16, 2014 - 05:40pm PT
|
I'm a little pissed at NBC. But, not surprised.
Here it is Sunday afternoon, and they choose to air hours of curling. These aren't even medal matches.
I mean really! all that yelling and scrubbing of ice is getting annoying . . .
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pyro
Big Wall climber
Calabasas
|
|
Feb 16, 2014 - 05:41pm PT
|
I mean really! all that yelling and scrubbing of ice is getting annoying
The broom pushes or sweeps away tiny ice bearings
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Todd Eastman
climber
Bellingham, WA
|
|
Feb 16, 2014 - 08:35pm PT
|
Dr. F, I would recommend an intro to skiing lesson at a local nordic area...
... do you also whine about the butterfly swimmers that could go faster by doing freestyle, or those silly slalom skiers that could just point em?
Yer funny!
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Todd Eastman
climber
Bellingham, WA
|
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Feb 16, 2014 - 08:43pm PT
|
Yup, among most skilled nordic skiers that usually enjoy doing both types of skiing. As a former elite racer I and most of my fellow skiers liked the variety and the balancing of muscle sets it provided.
Usually the citizen skiers in the US prefer skating but across Scando countries most prefer striding and with that huge amounts of double poling.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
|
|
Feb 16, 2014 - 08:52pm PT
|
Dr. F...I'm going to call Werner if you don't knock that sh#t off...! On the World Loppet circuit the elite racers double pole most of the courses..Some of the courses cover 54 miles...If these guys classic skied those 54 miles they would miss out on the whiskey drinking at the finish...
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Feb 16, 2014 - 09:15pm PT
|
Dr. F...Nobody said you were Rong...
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
Feb 16, 2014 - 09:33pm PT
|
I just checked out Norway's leading paper, Aftenposten. I expected black borders and I wasn't far off.
I think Norway has a new name to rival Quisling - Knut Nystad, the head wax coach.
But congrats to Sverige and a big bravo to France for their bronze.
It was really great to see guys thrilled to be third best in the world.
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Todd Eastman
climber
Bellingham, WA
|
|
Feb 16, 2014 - 09:56pm PT
|
Knut is a good guy and an excellent wax technician. Let's see how this plays out before jumping in the media conga line.
The Swedes have been upping their game for several seasons and their results would be expected.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
|
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Feb 16, 2014 - 10:05pm PT
|
Reilly...Nystad's brother Trond is the head coach...Kronyism..? Trond was the US coach a while back...Further back in nordic history , Sweden hired Norways waxing coach when Norway was dominating the sport...The coach walked with a pair of magic skis that Bjorn Dahle was having lots of luck with..Team .Norway sued Team Sweden to get the magic skis back...At this level money is no object in securing an advantage over the rivals..
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pyro
Big Wall climber
Calabasas
|
|
Feb 17, 2014 - 01:25am PT
|
Davis and white are a complete 100% package.
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ydpl8s
Trad climber
Santa Monica, California
|
|
Feb 17, 2014 - 11:51am PT
|
Personally, I thought what Christen Cooper did to Bode in the interview after his bronze winning race, was deplorable. Who does she think she is, Barbara Walters? Why hammer him on his brother that recently passed? Then the camera that followed him as he broke down and cried, what crap!
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
|
|
Feb 17, 2014 - 12:11pm PT
|
If NBC stuck to sports, that wouldn't be a problem.
But NBC doesn't want to televise sporting events so much as they want to produce a soap opera.
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SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
|
|
Feb 17, 2014 - 12:25pm PT
|
Personally, I thought what Kristen Cooper did to Bode in the interview after his bronze winning race, was deplorable. Who does she think she is, Barbara Walters? Why hammer him on his brother that recently passed? Then the camera that followed him as he broke down and cried, what crap!
I, too, was appalled. I had to leave the room. It was horrifying. It was emotional bullying. I still get shaky when I think of it.
Susan
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
Feb 17, 2014 - 12:34pm PT
|
NBC doesn't subscribe to ABC's 'Up Close and Personal', they prefer
'Up Close and Visceral'.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
|
|
Feb 17, 2014 - 12:36pm PT
|
And they act as if something's wrong with a Silver Medal.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
|
|
Feb 17, 2014 - 12:44pm PT
|
I didnt feel like she bullied Bode, I suspect both were pretty surprised what happened. They have done quite a few of these interviews together over many years.
The camera following him was not so cool with me though.
If Bode is cool with it, and it seems he is, then I dont see much reason to complain.
Regarding medals, hmm very nice to get one, sure gold is great.
But from the bottom of my heart, to be an Olympian, that is high honor, the rest is icing. How many do you know?
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ydpl8s
Trad climber
Santa Monica, California
|
|
Feb 17, 2014 - 12:49pm PT
|
Maybe so, I have the feeling he is just protecting an old friend, but I still don't think it was the right thing to do. She could have gotten the same point across with a lot less questions.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
|
|
Feb 17, 2014 - 12:57pm PT
|
High drama developing in Skating Dance, The Canadian team Virtue/Moir just got the highest score ever in the free skate, stepping up to the challenge of the Americans best ever score in the short. Just Beautiful.
Americans Davis/White skate soon.
Talk about a great rivalry bringing out the best in both.
So glad Dance got it's act cleaned up, used to be completely corrupt (judging cabal) and everyone knew it, now it's just amazing to watch.
I like it even better than the more technical pairs that has the jumps and throws.
------
Davis and White pull it off! Infact they stomp it by another 2 points.
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pyro
Big Wall climber
Calabasas
|
|
Feb 17, 2014 - 02:20pm PT
|
ice dancing is such an awesome thing to see!
|
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Hoser
climber
vancouver
|
|
Feb 17, 2014 - 02:23pm PT
|
See you at the gold medal game
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
|
|
Feb 17, 2014 - 03:20pm PT
|
Hockey?
Well your women might...They are really good.
Am I the only person who like womens hockey so much better than mens.
Much cleaner flowing game with less wall work. No body checking? makes for such a better game.
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Lollie
Social climber
I'm Lolli.
|
|
Feb 17, 2014 - 03:34pm PT
|
Davis & White!!!!
They all are fantastic, the top couples.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
|
|
Feb 17, 2014 - 11:04pm PT
|
Ah Christ! Costas is back. Sports' most prolific buzzkill.
|
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philo
Trad climber
Is that light the end of the tunnel or a train?
|
|
Feb 18, 2014 - 12:29am PT
|
Pink eye Pete strikes back.
|
|
Captain...or Skully
climber
|
|
Feb 18, 2014 - 12:32am PT
|
Enough skating already. Sliding is what it's all about. Wide & varied forms of sliding.
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SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
|
|
Feb 18, 2014 - 12:34am PT
|
Edit: About Costas....^^^^^^. Ha ha ha. So true.
Susan
|
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
|
|
Feb 18, 2014 - 02:05am PT
|
Davis and White bringing the Gold for the US. They dominated. You don't need to know anything about ice dancing to see near perfection when it happened . And it happened.
First Gold for America in this sport.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
|
|
Feb 18, 2014 - 10:29am PT
|
I have no idea how to judge Ice dance. I enjoyed the Canadian free dance program better. But that was due to the music choice and storytelling style. Both were jaw droppingly beautiful and without clear errors to a layperson.
What constitutes difficulty and judging of elements.. I don't have much clue.
From what I have heard when the judging got cleaned up 10 or more years ago the system is pretty fair apparently.
But it was a totally corrupt sport before that.
In the past the Russians would have won 1st and second in this comp. Not joking, the judging was that obviously corrupt back then.
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GLee
Social climber
MSO
|
|
Feb 18, 2014 - 06:01pm PT
|
Joergen Graabak og Magnus Moan ta gull og solvi i nordisk kombinert!!!
Oy vey eller Uff da!!!
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
|
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Feb 18, 2014 - 06:41pm PT
|
"jaw dislocating yawn".
Fort ,thanks man.
HA!
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
|
|
Feb 18, 2014 - 09:21pm PT
|
Reno's own David Wise wins gold in ski halfpipe!
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
|
|
Feb 18, 2014 - 09:31pm PT
|
Yeah, I can't judge what's better in ice dance. I liked the american's (Brady bunch boy and empress of mars) routine better, but honestly I couldn't tell who was scoring higher. Seemed like high level standard for bothe teams, like it should be!
I also liked the Russian (?) Zombie routine! Unique and imaginative!
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
|
|
Feb 18, 2014 - 11:34pm PT
|
Are we to believe that out of seven bobsled entries, FIVE of them are American? That's according to NBC.
Seven sleds down the track, five are American. Just totally pathetic coverage.
EDIT:
SEVEN out of nine runs televised are Americans. It's as if no one else was competing.
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 01:09am PT
|
They dominated? Ye gads Ward you are such a rank flag waver!
To put it in context the conspiracy kooks in Canada claim the fix was in. The reality was that even if it was there was no discernible difference in quality of performance. you may as well have spun a bottle.
Nice try BruceJim KayBrennan . It has nothing at all to do with flag waving.
The Canuck couple , Virtue and Moir, you could see it on their faces immediately after White and Davis finished their nearly perfect program---before the judges' verdicts. They knew. Game over.
You characterized the Canadian "fix is in crowd" properly as "kooks". Good observation.
Moir and Virtue are yesterday's news. Canada won't see Gold in this event until the Olympics come back to Canuckastan, probably sometime after you have long been frozen in a block of ice ---or however they bury people up there.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 01:28am PT
|
Of course you are a figure skating judge too Ward, big surprise. I hear your double sow cows are just spectacular.
But just cause you're an ice prancing climate change princess doesn't mean you know how every event will end up.
Maybe you want to put a wager where your know it all mouth is?
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 01:35am PT
|
Maybe you want to put a wager where your know it all mouth is?
Another irrelevant ,vain attempt to shift this crushing loss onto someone who is merely reiterating the awful truth. Me knowing ,or not knowing, anything about ice dancing won't change the fact that US won Gold. Will it?
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 01:36am PT
|
^^^
Nothing worse than a know it all climate change pussy
|
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 01:37am PT
|
climate change
LOL.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 01:39am PT
|
LOL, yeah I know.
You're still a pussy though. A Real American would take the bait.......errr bet I mean.
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 01:44am PT
|
You're still a pussy though. A Real American would take the bait.......errr bet I mean.
You're going to have to get smarter than that, which is not possible given what I already know about you in our few exchanges on this thread.
But nothing personal.
Have a good remaining Winter Olympics. All the best to the excellent Canadian athletes.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 02:05am PT
|
Same to yours Ward! If I ever need to know anything about anything I'll be sure to find you!
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 02:09am PT
|
If I ever need to know anything about anything I'll be sure to find you!
If I tell you that someone won a Gold Medal after they won a Gold Metal ---please listen . That way we can avoid all this needless rancor
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 02:20am PT
|
If I tell you that someone won a Gold Medal after they won a Gold Metal ---please listen . That way we can avoid all this needless rancor
Yes Ward- gold metal all over the place. Thanks again for all the wisdom you bestow upon thee with every post. Even tho the rancor is needless I'm quite enjoying it since you called me a moron for no reason upthread.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Feb 19, 2014 - 02:21am PT
|
How much of a hypocrite is Putin - he let Johnny Weir into the country?
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
|
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Feb 19, 2014 - 02:35am PT
|
called me a moron for no reason upthread.
I did? Wow, sorry dude. I apologize. I must have been pissed about something ---or you are wrong and I had plenty of reason.
In any case it's all spilled milk under the bridge.
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bhilden
Trad climber
Mountain View, CA/Boulder, CO
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 03:00am PT
|
I repeat. They should remove all sports which involve judging from the Olympics. The Olympic motto is 'Citius, Altius, Fortius' which translates to 'Faster, Higher, Stronger.' I don't see the words 'style' or 'grace' or a reference to anything artistic in there at all.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 04:15am PT
|
What an absolutely dead-on moronic statement.
No one wants to hear your stupid appraisal of snowboarding, or any other sport.
Whatever Ward, since you're too much of a bitch to make nice with a friendly wager in the true spirit of the Olympics I can only accept your spilled milk & will be sure to spit it back in your face when my countrymen dominate your home fed, little university educated hockey players in the gold medal game.
Like you probably even care anyways, you're a figure skater at heart!
.......That is of course if I don't end up with a sickle & hammer on my face from talking too much sh#t on the Internet but I'm pretty sure it's gonna be ok.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
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Feb 19, 2014 - 11:47am PT
|
BH, ski jumping has judges. But those half-bowl sports are bogus.
And hockey does too, in effect.
The Finns look hard to beat with Rask in the net.
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 12:26pm PT
|
Good hockey game being played right now.
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Marlow
Sport climber
OSLO
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 12:27pm PT
|
It's a Good Olympic Day for Norway and Finland...
Two "old" and exceptional Norwegian athletes and role models were among the winners today - Marit Bjørgen and Ole Einar Bjørndalen.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 12:31pm PT
|
Good to see order restored to the universe yesterday and today with Norway's wins.
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Marlow
Sport climber
OSLO
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 12:34pm PT
|
Reilly: Yes, the Chaos of Norwegian cross country skiiing didn't win today... lol...
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Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 01:48pm PT
|
All of Canadia is gripping hard right now. Come on Latvians!
|
|
Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 01:54pm PT
|
Really good hockey right now. Canada vs Latvia that is!
Congrats to Kallie Humpries for her USA slaying gold medal performance!!
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|
blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 02:11pm PT
|
Good to see order restored to the universe yesterday and today with Norway's wins.
Yes it's nice to see that the Olympics have so many freaking ways to give medals to who can jog on their funny little skis faster than anyone else.
Bonus points for adding shooting toy guns and combining men and girls together too, just to make sure Norway doesn't run low on medals.
If they could win anything that any other country cared about, that may be a little more impressive, but that doesn't seem to be the point.
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Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 02:12pm PT
|
Crap! Good game Latvia. Canada can breath easy for a couple more days.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 08:10pm PT
|
Better go climbing Banks, I'm looking forward to your TR!
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 08:18pm PT
|
called me a moron for no reason upthread.
Sorry dude , but I'm still really massively butt-hurt about that whole thing. Seriously.
|
|
Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 08:37pm PT
|
Sketch, that's what is so cool about it. It was the one medal the Russians had to have.
Bruce, if you want to make an analogy from the thirties how about the Winter War of '39 when the Soviets invaded Finland and got their asses kicked.
Those Finns are tough and crafty.
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|
Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 08:48pm PT
|
Better go climbing Banks, I'm looking forward to your TR
My TR will be reading your TR about leaving Canada when your country implodes due to losing to the US in men's and women's hockey.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 10:55pm PT
|
Womens hockey comes down as predicted. Hosers vs US
Starts in 13 hours.. the dates are not corrected I dont think
Beautiful night here in the alabama hills. mebbe 55 deg, Stars are out bigtime. Watching olympics though.
Car camping is soooo rough in these modern times.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 11:12pm PT
|
Nice Climb2ski! The game kicks off at 9am pacific.
Banks, you really think your women are going to win?? Your men have a chance but our women are pretty dominating!!
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 11:20pm PT
|
Yah they only had 60 shots vs Latvias 15.. They were in the Lativan zone 70% of the time...
Not dominating at all. Lol
Gudlevskis had the best game of his career today!!!!
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
|
|
Feb 19, 2014 - 11:24pm PT
|
Agreed.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 12:41am PT
|
Canada men haven't even turned it up to 70% yet. I'm just glad I won't have to paint a sickle/hammer on my face now. Looks like your off the hook too Alexey since our bet was based on a Russia/Canada gold medal game.
Banks, that's some funny sh#t. If I'm coming down there tho it's for one reason only:
Dry rock & to climb & get drunk with WTF or willbeer or you or anyone else here who can take a joke that wants to have fun.
This excludes that crusty, old patriotic poseur named Ward of course. He is way too smart for me to hang with & besides I don't trust people who don't gamble on their country when challenged by foreigners. Deserters I think they're called down there.
Edit- oops I hope that's not too much for u there Ward, my bad if it is but be aware I'm somewhere around 1/2 joking. With all posts to this thread.
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 12:44am PT
|
WTF skiing backwards???? That's not fun. It looks cool for a couple of seconds but that's it. I thought skiing was supposed to be fun.
If I were judge I'd give points for fun.
That kid with the blond dreds would get extra for the spectacular yard sale.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 12:13pm PT
|
Womens gold medal game just started. CAN v USA Should be a good one
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 12:19pm PT
|
Canada men haven't even turned it up to 70% yet. I'm just glad I won't have to paint a sickle/hammer on my face now.
Good luck painting 50 stars on your forehead!
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
|
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Feb 20, 2014 - 12:49pm PT
|
Hope you guys aren't missing an excellent game. Very even. 0-0 after first period. Lot of shots though and great goal-tending on both sides.
Maybe the only sport where I much prefer the womens game to the mens. Well I guess there's beach volleyball too, for a different reason.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 01:19pm PT
|
It would appear i didn't give the american women enough credit. Hopefully our girls can make something happen with this power play.
Edit ooh another pp!
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 01:50pm PT
|
SCORE ANOTHER!!!!!!!!!
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Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 01:52pm PT
|
Banks, you really think your women are going to win?? Your men have a chance but our women are pretty dominating!!
The US beat Canada four straight heading into the Olympics. I would call that far from dominating.
It would appear i didn't give the american women enough credit.
Truer words have not been spoken. Both teams are the class of women's hockey. A true coin flip for who is better.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 01:52pm PT
|
That should be the game!
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Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 01:52pm PT
|
Boooooom goes the dynamite!
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:00pm PT
|
C'mon girls!
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:05pm PT
|
Wow. Usa defense is on fire!!
|
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:17pm PT
|
YES!! One more girls!! Let's go!!
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Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:19pm PT
|
Figures since you couldn't score, we'd knock it in for you. Your welcome.
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|
Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:20pm PT
|
Wow!
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:22pm PT
|
Unreal game. what happened to our great defense positionIng? 2 2 wow
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|
John M
climber
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:24pm PT
|
I'm rooting for Canadamerica. Go Team!
|
|
Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:24pm PT
|
Holy Fvck!! My tv just died!! Thanks goodness for the webcast!!
Wow!! That second goal was fricken money!! What a game!!
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John M
climber
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:27pm PT
|
Holy Fvck!! My tv just died!! Thanks goodness for the webcast!!
We sent Tonya harding up there to take out your TV.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:29pm PT
|
I was hoping my positive comment about the American D would spark something!!
Watch out Tonya! I still have my phone too! ;)
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Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:42pm PT
|
I know the game has to end eventually, but it would be a shame if its determined in a shoot out.
|
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:44pm PT
|
I have a quick break from work, but I'm reluctant to indulge in hockey for fear of getting hooked on all the rest of the coverage.
For all my displeasure with some NBC editing issues, and doubts about the quality of the venue, this has been an amazingly entertaining winter Olympics. Board-o-cross, in particular, was worth all the boredom of the so-called "glamor" events in figure skating and ice dancing.
Incidentally, during the Lillehammer Olympics, they interviewed one Norwegian fan who succinctly stated my attitude toward figure skating: "I find it boring. It's just yump turn, yump turn!"
Hear, hear!
John
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:45pm PT
|
Banks, agreed.
Edit 3on3?? Should be interesting!!
|
|
John M
climber
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:46pm PT
|
those ladies are playing their hearts out. Great game.
I have 4 minutes left on my free half hour. {-(
I wish that they had offered a pay pass for internet instead of having to sign up for satellite tv, or cable.
|
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:49pm PT
|
No penalty shot???!!!!!
|
|
Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:52pm PT
|
Well that sucked.
|
|
Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:52pm PT
|
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:53pm PT
|
Grats to Canada. You earned it. Hell of a comeback!
|
|
John M
climber
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:54pm PT
|
what happened. My free time timed out.
|
|
Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:54pm PT
|
Usa played amazing too!! Great hockey!!!
Edit 4 on three powerplay goal John.
|
|
Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:55pm PT
|
Congrats to Canada. Crushing defeat for US. Let's go US Men!
|
|
Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:56pm PT
|
Marie Poulin with the winner!!!
|
|
John M
climber
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:56pm PT
|
Damn.. I don't think that they should play sudden death. It should be full periods.
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|
climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 03:01pm PT
|
Damn, what happened Ward? The americans were "dominating".
Neither team dominated. US was fortunate to be up in the last period. Very even game regarding ice position and shot spread. US defense was near flawless except in the last minute.
Canada tied in the last minute of regular time due to a defense positioning error and then won in sudden death with good passing during a power play and picked a great shot.
One of the better hockey games I've ever seen, except for the ending.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 03:01pm PT
|
Aw nuts!
Still the best hockey game I ever saw (though the officiating was inconsistent).
|
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 03:05pm PT
|
Good womens hockey (and this was) is just so much better to watch than mens. Due to the lack of checking allowed. It just flows.
|
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 03:10pm PT
|
Yeah this game had it all.
Ok enough sitting on my butt watching electronic devices, I'm on a beautiful three day trip on the eastside and it's nice a warm. Cyas later
|
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 05:52pm PT
|
Damn, what happened Ward? The americans were "dominating".
BruceJim KayBrennan:
Sorry , three things I'm not into: gambling and hockey and soccer. (Well ,there are others but those will have to do for now)
I still think the worst insult is to call someone "a hockey puck" ala Don Rickles.
My time for team sports are taken up by football and basketball. Football is the next winter Olympic sport. LOL
Did the US lose in Harkey? Drat!!
Do we still dominate in the medal tally?
|
|
wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 08:31pm PT
|
Myself and a few buds are hitting the the bar at noon.
This will be a great game.
|
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 08:38pm PT
|
Alright Banks, looking forward to that TR. April 1 sound like enough time to put something together??
I plan on drinking Willbeers microbrews while I read it :-)
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Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 08:52pm PT
|
Alright Banks, looking forward to that TR. April 1 sound like enough time to put something together??
Ah s%#t, you're still here! Although it was a crushing defeat, at least your country won't implode when the men lose tomorrow. Maybe some rioting, but you're safe for now.
Credit to the ladies for an excellent game by both teams.
Does a trip to the grocery store count?
April 1 is plenty of time.
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WBraun
climber
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 08:58pm PT
|
Russian hockey team lost because the Putinator didn't play goalie.
No one would have scored against the Putinator.
If they tried the Putinator would have his cold war ex agents exterminate those that tried.
Russia would have won the Gold !!!!!
The Russians are stupid not using the Putinator as goalie ......
|
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 10:30pm PT
|
I want to see the putinator go off the 120 meter jump with a frozen hot dog up his ass...
|
|
SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
|
|
Feb 20, 2014 - 11:16pm PT
|
Assuming most of us get the same national commercials; is anyone else getting tired of the Apple Air Pad commercial? The first 10 times it was kinda moving and pretty unique. The last 2000 times...well....STOP...it ruining a perfectly good sentiment.
Susan
|
|
'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
|
|
Feb 21, 2014 - 12:44am PT
|
Woo-hoo! Going for the gold in curling tomorrow morning. Can't wait for the game!!
|
|
kunlun_shan
Mountain climber
SF, CA
|
|
Feb 21, 2014 - 04:23am PT
|
Outrageous, what happened to Pussy Riot.
If it wasn't for the Olympics, they would be locked up at this moment.
[Click to View YouTube Video]
Was wondering what they are singing about.
Lyrics for "Putin Will Teach You How To Love The Motherland"
$50 billion and a rainbow ray
Rodnina and Kabayeva will pass you the torch
They'll teach you to submit and cry in the camps
Fireworks for the bosses. Hail, Duce!
Sochi is blocked, Olympus is under surveillance
Special forces, weapons, crowds of cops
FSB - argument, Interior Ministry - Argument
On [state-owned] Channel 1 - applause.
Putin will teach you to love the Motherland.
In Russia, the spring can come suddenly
Greetings to the Messiah in the form of a volley from
Aurora, the prosecutor is determined to be rude
He needs resistance, not pretty eyes
An bird cage for protest, vodka, nesting doll
Jail for the Bolotnaya [activists], drinks, caviar
The Constitution is in a noose, [environmental activist] Vitishko is in jail
Stability, food packets, fence, watch tower
Putin will teach you to love the Motherland
They will turn off Dozhd's broadcast
The gay parade has been sent to the outhouse
A two-point bathroom is the priority
The verdict for Russia is jail for six years
Putin will teach you to love the Motherland
Motherland
Motherland
Motherland
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pyro
Big Wall climber
Calabasas
|
|
Feb 21, 2014 - 09:57am PT
|
Putinator as goalie. I like that
Sad loss for US women but silver is still bad ass!
Womens figure skaters took a dive :(
|
|
Todd Eastman
climber
Bellingham, WA
|
|
Feb 21, 2014 - 11:33am PT
|
German biathlete test positive - Sachenbacher-Stehle
|
|
RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
|
Feb 21, 2014 - 11:59am PT
|
Pussy riot is my new favorite band, that video was awesome.
Everyone ready for some hockey? Willbeer, WTF looks like the moment of truth is approaching.
|
|
Marlow
Sport climber
OSLO
|
|
Feb 21, 2014 - 12:00pm PT
|
Hockey
Sweden-Finland: 2-1
Canada or USA?
|
|
Ben Harland
Gym climber
Kenora, ON
|
|
Feb 21, 2014 - 12:26pm PT
|
Looks pretty tight after 10 minutes
|
|
RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
|
Feb 21, 2014 - 12:40pm PT
|
Good hockey
|
|
Hoser
climber
vancouver
|
|
Feb 21, 2014 - 12:57pm PT
|
1 up, woohoo
|
|
'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
|
|
Feb 21, 2014 - 02:05pm PT
|
Hope you Merricans are polishing up your bronze carabiners....
And how bout our curlers?! Granite excites me!
|
|
overwatch
climber
|
|
Feb 21, 2014 - 02:10pm PT
|
nice job Canada you deserve it made us look silly out there
|
|
wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
|
|
Feb 21, 2014 - 02:15pm PT
|
Another great game,the best hockey there is ,Olympic Hockey!
Yeah Ryan pm me ,I owe you 12.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
|
Feb 21, 2014 - 02:44pm PT
|
Sounds good Wilbeer, I'll hit u up soon. Ideally I'd prefer to drink em with you sometime but not sure when I'll be out that way? It's looking like never as of always, but maybe we'll find a way:-) Good game guys.
|
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
|
|
Feb 21, 2014 - 02:59pm PT
|
Do not be afraid,I am a man of my word.
And yes ,I'd prefer to have one with you,but you guys deserve the credit.
You know I pretty much grew up playing the game in your country,Cheers to you,and Canada.
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|
RyanD
climber
Squamish
|
|
Feb 21, 2014 - 08:10pm PT
|
So Cryptic WTF! You're killing me!!
But I am looking forward to meeting up(again, damn I must have been pie eyed!) I'll let u know when I'm headed that way for sure. Might not be able to swing facelift this year but will definitely be down there at some point right in the areas you mention. Cheers man.
Bruce, that link u posted is pretty interesting.
Hey anywhere in Squamish playing the gold medal game live @ 4am on Sunday morn??
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|
Lollie
Social climber
I'm Lolli.
|
|
Feb 21, 2014 - 08:43pm PT
|
To get the proportions... there's 4000 persons playing curling in Sweden. One & half million in Canada.
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|
Ward Trotter
Trad climber
|
|
Feb 21, 2014 - 08:54pm PT
|
I'm just waiting for the first athlete to whip out a rainbow flag or something on the podium. Maybe the entire Canadian Hockey team? wouldn't that be a pisser!
A....rainbow flag.....woooooooo......yeeeeeeeee.....wooo....yeeee.....woo..ye...wooyee
A rainbow flag with little pink bows .
Ahhhhhhhhhhh
|
|
Ward Trotter
Trad climber
|
|
Feb 21, 2014 - 09:24pm PT
|
With the total gun control traditionally imposed by the totalitarian/socialist puppet regime in the Ukraine , I think the AK47 might be the more appropriate---although I don't see this happening amonst the Red brethren of the extreme north.
So ... My prediction....the freedom fighters in the Ukraine will be repressed and beaten back and they will have to go underground again. They will be unaided by forces in the West who are currently wallowing in state welfare payments and busy waving rainbow flags and projecting weakness---as they are currently doing in Venezuela
Besides It is the Cossack lot in life , to be be "dominated" by the Russians . I believe they even have a term for that. At any rate, Stalin starved millions of them in the 1930s---you know the same Stalin that weak-kneed fawning Western leftist intellectuals lavishly praised for his forward -looking humanity.
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Ward Trotter
Trad climber
|
|
Feb 21, 2014 - 09:37pm PT
|
Yeah , Putin will do anything right now to low-profile the whole thing until the Olympics are over and all the rainbow flag waivers aren't looking anymore.
|
|
bhilden
Trad climber
Mountain View, CA/Boulder, CO
|
|
Feb 22, 2014 - 12:02pm PT
|
Finland up 4 goals to 0 on USA in Men's Hockey with 10 minutes left. Oh, the horror. Everybody made a big deal about USA beating the Russians last Saturday, but Russia was just the #5 seed. No medal for the US men.
|
|
Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
|
|
Feb 22, 2014 - 12:13pm PT
|
Good.
Maybe I won't be subjected to watching another damn hockey game ( which you can see every year, every day, from Halloween to the Fourth Of July ) tonight when I tune in to ( hopefully ) see the four-man bobsled race.
|
|
Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
|
|
Feb 22, 2014 - 12:29pm PT
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Whoah! Thanks, N.W.O.!
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Feb 22, 2014 - 01:11pm PT
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"Maybe I won't be subjected to watching another damn hockey game ( which you can see every year, every day, from Halloween to the Fourth Of July ) tonight when I tune in to ( hopefully ) see the four-man bobsled race."
Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!
SOUR GRAPES.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Feb 22, 2014 - 01:12pm PT
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Wow tough run for the Usa men! The quality of international hockey has improved significantly in recent years!!
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John M
climber
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Feb 22, 2014 - 01:18pm PT
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that cbc link doesn't work for me. It says its not available in my area. bummer..
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Feb 22, 2014 - 01:28pm PT
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They wanted to end it this year, but the russians balked and said "we're bringing our nhl players, like it or not."
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Feb 22, 2014 - 01:29pm PT
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"SOUR GRAPES."
Hey Pete,
I've been rooting against the Americans, since about the first night watching the All-American, Wall-To-Wall Americans TV coverage we get here.
I watched the ladies bobsled race last week. Eight sleds were shown, six of them were American!
And then there's the endless: "Go For The Gold"..."We're Going For The Gold"..."We're here For The Gold"..."Get The Gold"..."Did you Get The Gold"..."You didn't Get The Gold"..."Why didn't you Get The Gold?"..."You were here For The Gold"..."You were Going For The Gold, weren't you?"..."It's too bad you didn't Get The Gold"..."Will you be Going For The Gold in '18?" Jesus! Bastante!
The Americans being shut out of ice hockey medals is the best thing that could have happened for me, the guy who is interested in seeing sports we only get a chance to watch once in four years.
If I want to see World Class Ice Hockey, I'll get liquored-up and hop the Metrolink down to Anaheim to watch these same Olympians play wearing Mighty Ducks and San Jose Sharks uniforms.
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Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
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Feb 22, 2014 - 01:31pm PT
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especially if the "best of the best" are getting their asses handed to them.
The "best of the best" would be Team Canada and they seem to be doing allright.
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Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
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Feb 22, 2014 - 01:34pm PT
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Chaz,
As I and others have pointed out earlier in the thread, there are plenty of options for viewing the Olympics besides what NBC shows during their prime time coverage. But I guess just bitching about stuff is all you want to do.
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John M
climber
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Feb 22, 2014 - 01:40pm PT
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Banks, how are you watching it? I don't want to sign up for a years worth of satellite in order to be able to watch it over the internet.
I have no TV and I don't want one. I just wanted to watch this event and was hoping that there was a way.
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Banks
Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
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Feb 22, 2014 - 01:51pm PT
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John and others,
NBCSports Network, MSNBC, USA have shown the events live during the last two weeks. You can watch live online at NBCSports.com If you don't have cable/satellite, you can use the Google Chrome Hola extension which acts like a VPN(Virtual Private Network) and lets you access the CBC and BBC feeds. There are tons of sites that pirate the broadcasts and stream them live, Google is your friend for those.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Feb 22, 2014 - 01:58pm PT
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So if Selanne retires this year, does that make him admissible for the next olympics?? ;)
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John M
climber
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Feb 22, 2014 - 02:43pm PT
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Thanks Banks. I tried some of the pirate sites. the video and sound syncing is off, and the video is choppy, making watching speed sports difficult and not very enjoyable. That comes with not having the best dsl, and the feed coming from overseas. ( as I understand it ) NBC sports broadcast in america has a decent feed, but on some programs they have a 20 minute allowance and on others a 5 minute allowance. Then you have to delete your cookies and cache and start over. Not a very fun way to watch. I just wanted to pay a fee without signing up for a years worth of something that I wouldn't use and get a decent feed.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Feb 22, 2014 - 04:40pm PT
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Finally got to watch the usa-can semi. What a crazy game. It seemed like we were on the offensive the whole time!! Great game
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Marlow
Sport climber
OSLO
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Feb 23, 2014 - 03:57am PT
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Congrats to Russia. Triple on the 50 km. Alexander Legkov won.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Feb 23, 2014 - 07:22am PT
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You're up NWO! Let's go Canada let's go!!!!
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Feb 23, 2014 - 07:31am PT
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Ggggggggggoooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Feb 23, 2014 - 07:43am PT
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Great first period! Keeping it in the offensive zone seems to be pretty effective.. Lol
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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Feb 23, 2014 - 07:52am PT
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I think it will be a cakewalk for Canada,they have played the best team already.[and won]
And good morning!
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Lollie
Social climber
I'm Lolli.
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Feb 23, 2014 - 08:11am PT
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You're up early!
The most interesting part of the Olympics is done now. It was the curling.
I agree with the person who said it's an opportunity to watch not so common sports. Sports like football (soccer, that is) & ice hockey is rather boring.
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tooth
Trad climber
B.C.
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Feb 23, 2014 - 08:13am PT
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Good morning and GO Canada!
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Feb 23, 2014 - 08:48am PT
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Best ice hockey until nhl playoffs Lollie!!
Willbeer, who the finns? We haven't played them since the round robin! Lol
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Feb 23, 2014 - 08:49am PT
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Up early or up late boys?
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Feb 23, 2014 - 08:51am PT
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Not sure if i actually slept Ry! :)
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Feb 23, 2014 - 08:57am PT
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Yeah same here Mike.
Damn these boys are grinding the swedes down. Really impressive the discipline we're playing with.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Feb 23, 2014 - 08:59am PT
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Big time. There is barely ever five guys in the offensive zone!!
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Feb 23, 2014 - 09:01am PT
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Ya Kunitz!!!
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Feb 23, 2014 - 09:01am PT
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Bam!
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Feb 23, 2014 - 09:02am PT
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Babcock almost took his hands out of his pockets there lol.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Feb 23, 2014 - 09:06am PT
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Lol Can't really blame this on Daniel NWO. Lundqvist isn't exactly shining either.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Feb 23, 2014 - 09:21am PT
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Gold shut out baby! How sweet it was!!
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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Feb 23, 2014 - 09:26am PT
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I told you.
Congrats to Canada.
By the way the last two times Canada beat the US ,They were one goal games decided by ,well you know.
We will get the bounces one day.
As for not winning the bronze,Hey, we already lost THE game that mattered.
Cheers to Canada for a great tourney!
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Feb 23, 2014 - 09:30am PT
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You were right willbeer. Now it's bedtime... Lol
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
honeoye falls,ny.greeneck alleghenys
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Feb 23, 2014 - 09:33am PT
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Heck,I am going skiing,good night!ha.
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Marlow
Sport climber
OSLO
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Feb 23, 2014 - 09:47am PT
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Congrats Canada, well done...
...well deserved gold!
Silver and bronze to Sweden and Finland ain't bad...
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pyro
Big Wall climber
Calabasas
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Feb 23, 2014 - 11:36am PT
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glad it's over!!
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Feb 23, 2014 - 12:02pm PT
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Goodbye again.
It was a credit to Russia.
And a credit to humanity. One of our better things.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Feb 23, 2014 - 01:28pm PT
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Yeah Russia made it happen despite the odds. I wonder how the food was?
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Feb 23, 2014 - 04:42pm PT
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The hockey players enjoyed it apparently.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Feb 23, 2014 - 05:31pm PT
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Al Trautwig is a dumb ass with his off the mark comparisons of x-country to other sports...Waiting for him to compare it to curling...Big Al just said getting dropped out of the lead pack is like being a crumb and getting flicked off a finger...
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Feb 28, 2014 - 01:09pm PT
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RJ, you can't fault NBC for its embracing of hiring the handicapped, can you?
That 50K was an awesome thing to watch. I was in a bar at the ABQ airport
so I was happy! Phuck those guys are fast! But Sundby was punked at the
finish! I know, home crowd and all, but....
Norway did seem to get their XC act together for the last half and all hats
are off to Marit! (wouldn't want to meet her in a dark alley)
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Marlow
Sport climber
OSLO
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Feb 28, 2014 - 01:40pm PT
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Reilly
...I'll have to fill out that picture...
...there's work.
And there's play...
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Feb 28, 2014 - 01:48pm PT
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YIKES! Now thems I'd like to meet in a dark alley!
So, Marlow, what was the story with Northug? Was he sick, injured, or did
the Russkies do a Yuri Geller on him? And has his mum officially disowned
him? Man, she was HARSH!
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Marlow
Sport climber
OSLO
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Feb 28, 2014 - 01:53pm PT
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Northug had a virus when preparing for OL and lost 150 hours of training. That's possibly the main reason. He's also a bit unfocused - possibly lost to poker playing...
Jim
Here's the Pippi of the Norwegian team:
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Reilly...I think Marlow stole those pig tail shots from the She-Dogs from Venus gone wild feature...? rj
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