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Classically Chic France

Courchevel, as much of the great skiing in France goes, is located in Savoy, walled in by the Three Valleys, or Les Trois Vallees. I’ve never personally explored all of the Three Valleys in France, but I have come to rely on Courchevel as my port of entry, so to speak. Even when the dollar  falls, I still got a chalet with two other families for something ridiculously low (around 150 Euros each for the week). Blues and reds dominate the landscape and there’s always deals to be found, from happy hour to hotel specials. If you’re looking for a snowy French escape, it doesn’t get much more classically chic than in Courchevel, that much I’m certain.

Italian Mountain Adventures

Madonna di Campiglio is about as close to the Dolomites as I want to be. Not that I can’t find suitable skiing, but I swear I had a dream that the shark-like jaws of the mountains in the backdrop were eating me on my last skiing vacation there. Madonna makes experts wish they tried harder and leaves us blue and red skiers black and blue for days. The one slope I really like lasts almost 4 km with another 60 interlinking slopes to choose from. If you’ve wanted to take the family to a place where you could all get away (and hide for the day) then Madonna di Campiglio is the place to do it. Plus, the gastronomy is everything Italian and more.

Spanish in Style

If you’re going to ski spain, then you must ski Spain right. That is, Formigal is probably one of the best ski resort stopovers in the Pyrenees. I’ve skied it in the winter and hiked it in the summer, and the views, slopes and resorts are well worth the visit. Formigal wasn’t really much before it turned itself into one of the most comprehensive skiing resorts, if not in Europe then in Spain. The place, then, was built for skiing—purpose built—so there is no bad pistes to be found. The ski lifts are well oiled and get you to the top lickety-split. Formigal fits in with the rest of Europe’s over 100 Club (over 100 km of slopes to access) and has plenty to do for those looking for a mixer or two.

Outdoors in Austria

Anything outdoors in Austria is going to be amazing—they seemingly set the standard, or at least the bar for how a resort ought to be fun. Molltaler Gletscher is no exception to the Austrian rule of fast, and efficient fun. I think it was here I got stuck on the funicular, though it was exceptional, and had to wait about fifteen minutes on the side of the mountain. I mean, Obertauern is nice too, but I chose skiing Molltaler Gletsher because of how easy it is to get there from the airport or from Vienna. Plus, there’s just more to do than can be done in just a week or more. The snow park, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and everything in between can’t be beat. If for no other reason, the ski season here is one of the longest till mid-April and the 50+ slopes offer something for all shades of skiing abilities.

I wasn’t in the mood to write anything too serious this week, so I spent some time scouring my own album and the internet for some great skiing signs. They go in order from absurd to most absurd to most fun. Skiing is supposed to be this fun. Darn signs just ruin it all. Enjoy.

Caution: Endangered Animal Skiers

This is one of my favorite two signs I found during my research. I’m not sure exactly what they mean, but they seem rather fun and foolish—the second one has to be from Australia. This shows how unperturbed Aussies are about being kosher. I think the first bird sign is drawn on with marker, but it’s still classic and amusing nonetheless.

First Go Skiing, Then Go To Hospital

It seems that every town or ski resort has it’s own nearby hospital or clinic. I think it’s only normal for skiers and boarders to go on skiing holiday and have at least one visit to the hospital. It may be wise if you’re accident prone to sign in at the hospital and then they’ll have all your information for your return post-slope (apres ski) visit.

Can’t Ski, Then Drink!

A lot of beginner skiers get frustrated, especially on their very first skiing holiday to any one of the awesome European ski resorts, from Chamonix to Courchevel to Bad Gastein and beyond. If so, it may call for a round of drinks wither pre-, post- or mid-ski. I know I do certain things better while drinking, and though skiing is not one of them, this advice might help others.

All Girls Must Be Nude

This sort of goes better with my nude skiing blog article published last week, but the sign sure is funny. I just wonder if it really works? If so, I need one of these on the entrance of my house, though the wife might mind. Not a bad idea, that much is for certain. Don’t ya just love Europe?

No Human Droppings Allowed

I’m not sure what prompted this sign…er…well, I’m pretty sure I know what prompted it, but who in the heck said, “Yes, we need this sign. The problem is just too big!” Perhaps it’s for the back-country types who prefer to night soil while trying to hold a load in, but the sign is sure a great scenic image.

Unload Here

Perhaps this sign prompted the immediate placement of sign #5 above. If skiers are told to unload their britches while seated, then no wonder the ski resort doesn’t want visitors pooping on the slopes—makes perfect sense now!?! Security Guard to You: “Now the sign says to unload while seated, not on the slopes. Now, do it right this time while I watch!”

Fall Into Eternal Abyss

Be careful the next time you go sailing down the slope, or, or – you might fall off the cliff into the eternal abyss. At least there is less chance for injury if you fall and never reach the ground! Seriously though, what does this mean – it looks more like an invitation to some free-fall fun than a warning sign to stay away.

Put Anal Hook Here

I hate the ski lifts that use the anal hook to carry visitors to the top, especially when the peak lies at 3-4000 meters—the anal hook just begins to rub me wrong. At least there is a sign telling visitors how to do it properly, using your left hand to reach back, separate cheeks and insert hook. The guy here must be white from loss of blood—hate when that happens!

The Best For Last, Of Course

Of course, there are two ways you can do it. This resort recommends from the front and saving from behind for the apres-ski party. These signs are too much, I swear! I wonder what “Tatrapoma” means anyway. In any language, however, the dos and don’ts of the slopes are apparent…or…maybe not. I just hope the “Warning” couple were prepared for those Woods. HA!

The World Cup Finals are a sure sign that spring has arrived and that Alpine Skiing will retreat from the spotlight for half a year.

The best skiers are gathered in Garmisch Partenkirchen and are taking part in the last competitions of the season, but many are already adding up the scores of this season. The season itself is far from over; there are several National Championships taking place in April and some FIS races as well. Some skiers will take time to test new equipments, as all sponsorship deals end after the Olympics.

The Germans are learning how to organise World Championship races. Garmisch Partenkirchen is hosting major skiing events next year as well as they gained some experience by hosting the Junior World Championship in Alpine Skiing last year and this year it was the world cup finale. After what I’ve experienced, they have their work cut out for them if they wish to get any praise in the future.

The press centre in the arena was certainly too small. In fact, it was actually a combination of a canteen, a space for teams and working space for reporters. Chaos ensued. During the first race of women’s grand slalom there was a power outage and many reporters were left without visual contact and race results.

This is unforgivable; every FIS race must have backup generators to prevent such problems. There were also plenty of logistical problems and it is vital they sort out the parking facilities. All in all, there is plenty of work to be done, and the slopes themselves are not as attractive as they could be.

A lot of buzz is surrounding the Austrian team. Once the strongest Alpine Skiing team in the world just had the worst season in history. First, there is the disaster at the Vancouver Olympics: the Austrian male team did not bring home a single medal. Downhill, the most revered discipline and an Austrian speciality, proved to be a disaster. They did not manage a single win in the entire season, which last happened 18 years ago. Things weren’t that great in the Super G and grand slalom either.

The only successful skier this season was Reinfried Herbst in slalom, and this does not suffice for the Austrians. Tony Geiger’s dismissal is now a fact, and it looks like the team is changing its head of the national team after 11 years. The chairman of the Austrian skiing association Peter Schröcksnadel is announcing radical changes, for example hiring Austrian coaches which had success with training other National teams. We have some interesting changes to look forward to as far as the »coach market« is concerned.

We need to mention someone else as well. In the men’s super G, we saw Liechtenstein’s Marco Büchel on the starting line for the last time. He is one of the most well loved alpine skiers. Everyone from his competition, coaches and reporters adored him. When he made it to the finish line in his shorts, half the female world cup contestants were waiting for him there. The winner of 4 world cup races is finally giving up skiing at 38. Now he’ll be able to spend more time with his wife Tania and his dog Jesper. He will surely stay linked with skiing however; he will be the expert correspondent at a German television channel.

Once you’ve got skiing in your blood, there’s no turning back.

Anyone got a hot idea on a chilly day?

Well, aficionados of the buff will no doubt opt for the clothes-less careen of downhill skiing. That’s right, skinny skiing popularity is on the rise, especially from festivities and end of season specials to just making a scandalous scene. Whether you want to ski naked for a charitable cause, while risking appendage bruising, sun burn, wind burn, chaffing or chapped extremities, the mountain is your garb and the skis your garment. Don a helmet for heaven’s sake and let it all hang out this ski season holiday.

Nude skiing isn’t as far-flung as your ski clothes lying in that pile. No, disrobing on the slopes may be a criminal activity, but there is magic in numbers. Often nude groups get away with quite a bit of unclad attire in some places in the US and London, while Austria, Czech Republic and even France though don’t condone it, they are likely to let it slide.

Of all the endless skinny skiing sierras on the earth, Obertauern, Austria, for example, is probably the foremost nude-friendly district. If you have a pre-arranged plan and stay to certain slopes, or even certain dedicated “Nudist” cross-country skiing trails, then you can flash your bits as long as they don’t freeze. Obertauern, Austria, is not in the business of upsetting those who prefer their fancy ski apparel to skin on ice, so both robed and un-robed skiers are welcome. In the Czech Republic, there are naturist ski sites dedicated to those who favor au naturel—in the buff, in the raw—to cumbersome clothes.

If you are out to conquer the world but not land in jail, then it’s best to either know how to unclip from your ski bindings, take off the ski boots, unstrap the ski poles and run like a heathen, or go to those places that allow clothes-optional skiing. It’s best to look for these sort of festivities at the end of the ski season. In fact, March is probably one of the best months, and is indeed the suggested time by the Obertauern resorts to take to the trails in the buff. Why? You’re less likely to earn a sunburn, the winter temps have become quite a bit milder (for 1700 meters above sea level that is) and there is a 4-mile loop (not an out and back is key) for those having the guts to brave the cold temps. In fact, in Scotland it is highly recommended for fellas to wear kilts on a named special day each year, while girls have the option to bare bazooms and join their cross-dressing darlings. Whether skiing half-nude, full-nude or no-nude, this ski season invites you to try the frill of chilly skinny skiing.

If you get the chance on your next ski holiday to Chamonix or Courchevel (or any number of resorts) and want to wander off track, then it may suit you best to try one of these wacky winter getaways. Now, these are not your traditional horse-drawn sleigh ride or ever-fun snow tubing. No, they are very real pursuits of the half-wits of the slopes who believe that regular snow pursuits just don’t provide the adrenaline rush that it used to. Be sure to either be ready to die, ready to get very hurt or, if lucky, survive to tell about these next tomfoolery exploits.

Sailing on the Ice

There are plenty of places in Europe where beautiful mountain lakes freeze over and fill to the brim with ice. An alternative to ice skating or ice fishing or anything sane for that matter is ice sailing. This involves forming a sail on a sled or other bladed contraction to go sailing (really flying) across the frozen ice and tundra. If you’re  a seasoned sailor, then ice sailing may come a bit more naturally to you; if not, then be prepared to zoom till you either collide with something or flip ass-over-kettle. By the way, there’s no real method to stopping!

Play Like a Polar Bear

There is a club of fellas and ladies who gather together to take a dip in freezing water. The Polar Bear Club has been around for several decades and baptises wannabe members by making them swim in below freezing water (well, it sure feels below freezing). The not-yet iced-over water makes a great escape from a day of turmoil and offers you to turn your body blue. The ice-shock to the body is said to be a cure-all for most any ailment. You won’t be playing as much as running for the nearest place to get warm.

Shovel Skiing

There was a group of workers who needed to get down from a day of labour from atop the piste when the lifts were non-functioning. One way they did it, in fact, was by riding their snow shovels down the slope. The fun caught on and today there are shovel sledding races all over the world, with dedicated shovel-athletes competing for the top prize—clearing the snow from the patio decks! (Just kidding). The best shovel skiers have designed their own shovels for the events, and often come up with some crazy designs. As long as you can shovel with it, you can ski downhill with it in competition.

Bike Skiing

It’s not as far fetched as the title would have you believe. There are bikes out there, for real, designed to go down and across snow. There’s even an association of riders who mount their favourite snow bikes and head out on a cold day. At any rate, ski bikes can have a back wheel and a front ski blade or a blade on the front and the back. Riders can pedal around or glide downhill and use the some mechanics as skiing to turn, stop and throw snow at passer-bys.

Blade Runner

This is not about the famous science fiction movie or novel. This is probably one of the most dangerous skiing pursuits tried today. Blade runners simply jump out of a plane and head down a course of tall pylons. The person who makes it through by touching less and staying hovered above the ground usually wins. There are measurements about how far or below the torso must be to the “blades” or pylons and participants often jump out of the plan several thousand feet above the ski slope before aiming perfectly downhill. This sport is not for the inexperienced, that is for sure.

I spent this weekend with a friend of mine filming at Vogel, Slovenia. We built a nice step-down jump over the road with had a great view of the mountains behind. A perfect place to make a cool trick over and get away with a clean shot which could be published on an internet page, ski magazine or on a commercial.

Performing tricks in the park are usually much more easier easier to do than in the great back-country of the Alps. The big difference between doing a jump in a park or in the back-country is often it’s location. Doing one in the back-country often has a rough landing zone which is covered with trees. It’s often short with no pop at the end and also it’s often narrow and the in-run is hardly skiable without a good knowledge of skiing. Below I have set out, in my opinion, 7 ways of progressing from park to back-country jumping:

1. get really comfortable with a trick in the park
2. find a nice open place with steep landing and without trees in it
3. locate the area where you can build the jump and making sure that you will have enough speed to clear the gap
4. get focused on the trick and landing before getting counting the number of tries (max 3)
5. land the trick with perfection
6. check the shot with your photographer and cameraman
7. take a rest, go for a beer at a lodge on the hill

These are just a few tips for all you free-ride and free-style skiers out there. Be careful that the location is not exposed to avalanches and that the weather is perfect.

Each Olympic Game brings its own winners and losers and their stories inspire us and other athletes for decades to come. These are stories that embody the Olympic dream. Children that wish to become athletes don’t dream about winning a world cup or perhaps a world championship competition, what drives them is the thought of winning an Olympic medal.

This is the magic behind the most prestigious sporting event. Every 4 years the best of the
best gather for 14 days and push the limits of what was thought possible. Higher, faster, stronger.

True heroes aren’t always those who win gold. There are hundreds of athletes from all over the world, and everyone has a story. Canada was moved by the story of Joannie Rochette. The popular figure skater’s mother passed away just before the start of the Olympics, and everyone thought that she would retire from the competition, but instead, she decided to participate and show the world everything she was working for every day these past 4 years.

The whole nation supported her. She received hundreds of letters and emails, each full of support and comforting words when she needed them most. She was very nervous before both of her performances, but she managed to focus and her performance was nearly perfect. She won bronze. Her father was on the stands, crying, and everyone in Canada was watching as well.

After the competitions she said, that this was something she had to do, and that her mother would surely understand, since she was supportive throughout her career and that she felt she was with her throughout the Olympics as well. This was the first figure skating medal for Canada since 1988.

This is just one among many stories that have already become part of Olympic history and those who will in the years to come. The only other story that touched so many people during these Olympics is Petra Majdič winning bronze in sprint cross country skiing with four broken ribs.

Both athletes have shown that the power of spirit can overcome the body, and that the limits of what was thought possible can be moved.
If we look through the archives of past Olympic Games we can find many of these stories. But their magic lies in their emotional charge and their power to inspire us to try harder in our day to day lives. Not all heroes are those who appear on the big screens. Everyone, who sets out to achieve their dream and is prepared to risk it all, is a true hero.

My Dad hates to leave things behind. Over the years he has developed a Master Ski List of things not to forget. Not that the average person would forget their snowboard or skis, but he even writes those items down. This list is locked quietly away in a filing cabinet and perused a few weeks before each family trip. A blanket is laid out on an unused part of the floor and accessories are assembled together there for about a week before the trip.

I have, unfortunately, inherited this inclination toward retentiveness, and yes, often anally retentiveness runs deep in my family. Yes, it makes having friends very difficult. In any case, here are 4 ski accessories most often forgotten taken from the manuals of Dad’s Lord of Lists (Including: A Horror Story of what happens if you do forget!)

Ski Poles

I talked about these little understood but most necessary accessories last week. Well, these are one of the top ski holiday utensils most often forgotten. My twin brother brought one of his (sort of) expensive Scott’s and not the other. He took it to the ski rental shop to find a match—I can see it now: “I’d like to rent one, yes one, ski pole.” At any rate, he sat it down to ask about renting another single ski pole and this one disappeared. It either walked off or was stolen. Anyway, he now had only one ski pole at home, forever going on ski vacation thereafter and trying to rent one ski pole. True story!

Goggles

Whether for snowboarding or snow skiing, goggles are just so darn necessary that they are often lost or forgotten. Those Smiths, Oakleys or Zeals are not something you want to replace often. At any rate, here’s the horror story: This one time a band camp…no, wrong story…ski camp…my sister forgot her goggles. So, she rented a pair and had to sign for them, agreeing that they were not damaged. Not too long after, she damaged them. It was more of a crack than a scratch if I remember correctly. She had to pay for them, as per the agreement.

Helmets

It seems like every sport these days requires a helmet. I have one for biking, rock climbing and for skiing. Depending on the slopes, however, I don’t often wear it like I should. Helmets are so easily forgotten or misplaced that it’s best to tick them off of the list once they are for sure in the car. I personally like the Bern or Giro models (for biking). One time, I accidentally left my helmet on top of the 4X4 going from Courchevel in France to a smaller no-name resort and it flew off the top, unbeknownst to any of us. I’m sure it fitted someone else perfectly and they considered themselves very fortunate. I was not as fortunate delving out another €127  for a new one. No apres ski drinking (or girls) for me that year!

Funny Pack

My mom will not leave the house without it. My grandma uses it for everything from used tissues to hiding bags of candy. My brother and I can’t get within the vicinity of them with their fanny packs without laughing our heads off, and I’m older now, but I still laugh out loud. Here’s a suggestion: The little back country pouches that ride your fanny (butt) are fanny packs and are great to poke fun at—funny packs. The larger ones, used for important gear, called lumbar packs, are not so funny. So, choose the latter over the former if at all possible. Two lumbar packs (not fanny packs) are made my NorthFace and Eagle Creek. If you plan to get off-piste at all, like in the hills of France in Chamonix or like in Innsbruck or Tux in Austria, you’ll want a fully prepared lumbar pack (not funny, er, fanny pack – enough of a horror story in itself here).

Canada isn’t one of the safest places when it comes to alpine and cross-country skiing. Sometimes the slopes and tracks are very close to trees, the ski lift support beams are covered with some of the thinnest cushions I’ve ever seen on ski slopes and gorges and precipices are fenced off by narrow bands. Apparently they feel that all they have to do to ensure safety is to include a disclaimer on their skiing tickets stating that everyone is skiing at their own risk. Anyway, the ditches and gorges next to the cross-country tracks were unprotected as well. The first one to notice this was the best cross-country skier in the world, Justina Kowalczyk, who warned the technical delegate for women’s cross country sprints that a particular turn on the slopes is dangerous
.
The technical delegate was Uroš Ponikvar, a fellow Slovene, who told Kowalczyk to leave him alone and to get ready for the race. Several minutes after this, Petra Majdič fell in the gorge on the exact same turn. She fell 3m and landed on ice and rocks breaking both her skis and skiing poles and hit herself badly. The security staff got her out and wanted to take her to the hospital, but Petra wanted to take part in the qualifications. After it became clear that she felt pains in her abdomen and ribs, she agreed to have an ultrasound examination, but only after ensuring that she’d be allowed to start last in the qualifications.

The ultrasound showed that nothing was broken; it was just a very serious blow. Petra was relieved, took some painkillers and went to the start line. She managed to get through qualifications and ran extremely well in the quarter finals. She was in agonizing pain, but gave everything she had and then some. They literally carried her off the finish line after every race. In the semi-finals, her adversaries were just too strong. She fell behind two of them, who would then be guaranteed a place in the finals, but kept going because she could still qualify on the basis of her time. She came in fourth, but got through to the finals.

Exhausted and in serious pain, she was about to start the race of her life. She knew that such an opportunity would never come along again. She knew she won’t be able to recover enough to attend the 30km race, that she’d be too old for the Sochi Olympics. She had worked 20 years for this opportunity. So it was now or never and after a truly heroic performance she won a bronze medal. She gave the last ounces of her strength for it, fainted as she crossed the finish line and some even thought she’d need resuscitation
.
Other coaches and competitors said her achievement was the equivalent of a gold medal, but Petra Majdič said that it was more: “It is gold with little diamonds in it.” They took her to a hospital soon after and a thorough examination showed that in fact, she had 4 broken ribs and a pierced lung. This season is over for her, but Petra’s Olympic dream still came true.

If you think skiing is cooler without ski poles or that they just hinder your every move, then you’ve been missing out on one of the most cleverest ways to not only improve but also do your best. More often than not, the instructor will tell you not to use ski poles as a beginner. This is only to help you focus on your center of gravity, starting at your core and spreading out through your butt, thighs and angle of your legs. Once you start to gain equilibrium, however, skiing poles will become your best friend throughout your skiing career: from beginner to intermediate to expert and onward. Here are some things to keep in mind no matter your skiing ability before you buy the El-Cheapo ski poles or decide to ditch them altogether.

Parts of the Ski Pole
Grip – the bottom of the ski pull; the part your hand grips around
strap – the nylon strap your hands go through to make sure you don’t leave your ski pole mid-piste
shaft – the part of the pole between the grip and the tip; these are made of graphite, metal or aluminium
basket – this is that plastic, round and flat piece a few inches (5-8 cm) above the ski pole tip
Tip – this is the top or tip of the ski pole; it’s usually pointy, can be sharp and made of unpainted metal.

Other Than Intended

Ski poles are often used, quite nicely, for things they really are not intended for. One example is to hit that little button on the back of your ski that unlocks your boot from the ski. I’m not sure how else anyone would push that oh-so-far little fastener anyway. Also, ski poles are a great way to knock the snow off your ski boot bottom. Again, it’s really the only way. But, before you think this is all ski poles are good for, think again.

How To Buy

I’ve seen ski poles for as little as 20-30 euros to well over 200 euros. The former gets you some form of metal and plastic glued together while the latter gives you the best composites of carbon and graphite money can buy. If you’re a beginner, shoot for the medium priced pair (durable enough to handle some falls, like aluminum) and if you’re an expert, buy the best you can afford. At any rate, you can check for the proper fit (size) if you turn the poll upside down. Simply grab the shaft of the pole that is just underneath the basket. Your forearm should be somewhat parallel to the ground. If too short, you won’t be able to stand upright; if too long, you’ll have trouble turning and be pushed backwards onto your heels. Some newer models are telescoping, but I’d only recommend these if they are a pair of the more pricey variety. If you’re an expert skier, you may want to be professionally fitted, as these are just rules of thumb, not rules to compete in competition by.

Grip Fitting

You’ll want grips on the ski poles that either ergonomically fit your hands or will eventually mold to their grip. However, I use a pair made of cork that smoothed out over time that I totally love. So, the most important thing about the grip is comfort, since no two hands are exactly alike. It’s wise to make sure your gloved-hands will fit into the straps without difficulty before you buy as well. You’ll enter the straps from the underneath, and if you’re an expert, it is often wise to have straps that will “unsnap” or come off if you get finagled in a tree or bush. The strap can be used in conjunction with the grip to hold your weight as well. The grip of a woman or man’s ski pole can be thick or thinner depending on the intended use. Be sure that your hand can easily fit around the grip when skiing.

The Olympics came to a bad start, and let’s hope they will lead to a good end. First of all, the Georgian luger’s tragic accident at training. Nodar Kumaritashvili flew off the track at 150km per hour and collided with a support beam. He was dead in an instant. The saddest thing about this tragic event is that they were considering padding the beams in the morning but decided not to. This event shook everyone involved in the Olympics, and they honoured his memory with a minute’s silence. Now there’s a wooden fence around the tracks, preventing a similar event. Unfortunately, it’s too late.

New link for video HERE

There was trouble at the opening ceremony as well. All the technology involved in lighting the fire failed, because all the torches didn’t come up as they were supposed to. A fair bit of improvisation was needed, but they couldn’t hide how uncomfortable everyone was by this malfunction. Speed skater Catriona LeMay Doan was the worst off since she didn’t get to light the Olympic fire.

You can’t influence the weather, but Vancouver seems to be holding slightly chilly summer Olympics. It’s raining every day and the temperatures are above freezing point all the time. Organisers were already forced to postpone several alpine skiing competitions. Both slopes that were meant to hold the races are simply too soft to withstand the style of skiing these professionals have. The upper part of the slope is snowing all the time and they’re trying to shovel it away, and it’s raining on the lower half. They can’t use chemicals because they’d ruin the slopes, and those have to hold all disciplines.

Everyone is nervously watching the weather report. The current predictions say that the night from Sunday to Monday will bring below zero temperatures. In that case, the snow would freeze and we’d be able to witness some high-quality skiing. It is clear however, that the first to go down the slope would have an incredible advantage over the last ones.

Current Webcam Whistler Olypmic Games

And another complication. Because my speciality is alpine skiing, I attend all the technical meetings as well. When a public draw isn’t held, and it never is at the Olympics, they decide on start numbers at one of these meetings. The Canadians prepared special stones for this draw and wrote numbers on them. The problem is, these stones weren’t exactly the same shape and this, of course, caused an uproar among the coaches.

As I already mentioned, the first few start numbers will have a distinct advantage over everyone else. Competitors, ranked from 16 to 30 in the WCSL start list, are desperate to get a hold of them. Here’s the problem: Robbie Dixon is the Canadian downhill champion, he’s in good shape and would be capable of getting a medal with a little help from a good start position. The coaches took a look at the stones and saw, that it would be possible for someone who knew what he was looking for to find a particular stone, say number 3 or 4.

As I said, the coaches rebelled. The organisers weren’t prepared for it, but they had to give in to their arguments. Günther Hujara (FIS’s main judge) sided with the coaches at once and demanded they change the stones to balls, identical to the touch. It was late by that point and it was impossible to buy 60 ping pong balls in Whistler. So Hujara proposed they open 60 plastic bottles, which he spotted in the back of the tent, where the meeting took place, and drew numbers twice from 1 to 30. The coaches then agreed this would be a fair draw.

After all these complications they finally settled on a lineup, but it had no real meaning. The downhill race was postponed and the draw was annulled with it. The rules say that when a race is cancelled, the start numbers must be reassigned. So the next meeting will hold a draw as well, and hopefully, the Canadians will be prepared with something a bit more refined than bottle caps.

Urban Laurenčič