Yesterday Was Another Day Of Mixed Olympic Emotions....

As I've cheered on our USA Olympic teams, it suddenly dawned on me how integrated the Olympic Games have become. I'm referring to Olympic athletes from other countries, from our country, the coaches, the ski designers and the whole world of Olympic athletes. I have absolutely no clue as to how they keep up with it all. They must have *people* for that. It seems the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence or mountain or rink or whatever, as it were.. Well, I admit the French are the only ones whose athletes really aren't too diluted as far as I can tell. I think that's probably because they hate Americans so much, which they really need to get over.

But, I think where I see it the most prevalent is in the world of figure skating. It seems that these days it is so difficult to find a suitable/compatible skating partner, or there are problems with citizenship, or whatever reason. It's like Musical Chairs in their world. I honestly can't keep up with it. Who is from where but was born elsewhere and defected yet another elsewhere. It's exhausting. These are indeed modern times and one must learn to grow along with ones world, right? So, I'm just saying that it would be nice to have a printed guide to go by here at home. If there already is one, then I haven't been privy to it, nor have I seen it available for sale.

If I had more expertise in and knowledge of the other winter sports then I'd go for it myself. However, there is just so much we're unaware of before the games and so many events I know almost nothing about. It would take a team of people to pull it off. Oh, like the media perhaps. I'm not talking about it being available online. I want a hard copy in hand so I can tell what's going on. Right now I'm just happy that I have that pause button or I would have missed much of what has been going on.


Bode Miller did not disappoint yesterday; winning the Gold Medal for the men's super combined. While the Super G combines downhill and giant slalom on the same hill and same race, the super combined has two legs with combined totals in time and technical scoring for two separate, consecutive runs. It's almost a kind of stamina test to see who can handle the brutality the best. It's like an all-star type event. Today, Bode Miller proved he isn't the same Bode as years gone by. He has definitely crossed the threshold into manhood. Way to go Bode!!! I don't want to start sniffing for another Gold Medal just yet since I don't want to jinx anything, so I'll shut up for now.

The Ice Dancing was truly dazzling last night as Virtue and Moir (of Canada) moved into the Gold Medal slot for now. Frankly, I picked them as my favorite from the very beginning because I think this is their year to shine. Their program was sparkling and perfect, as far as I could tell. In this sport, I'm all for the cream of the crop (in my eyes). In skiing, absolutely not. I want the USA to finally prove we're as good as the Scandinavians and Europeans.

Then, the USA Hockey Team somehow pulled off a win against Canada! Woot! Woot! What a sweet win that was! Hopefully, Canada will be up against Russia next. Thank goodness not us.



There was a really interesting interview with Apolo Oho and that young man has his head straight on his shoulders. A less mature man would have been angered when one of the South (or was it North?) Koreans slightly pushed him from behind with his hand. Apolo saw that this was a common occurrence and let it slide since he had already reached one of his goals... more medals in speed skating then anyone ever. Nice set. Nice medals. Way to go Apolo!



And, OMG! When did they come up with Ski Cross? That is basically what we all did when free skiing back when I was young and bullet-proof. My brother and his stuck-up buddies were the first ones I strove to keep up with and pass. Later, it became guys I liked and dated (like former Olympic Ski Team members Kellogg Boynton and Andy Mill, or Univ. of Colorado ski team member Sid Erickson (my first serious boyfriend) or former almost California surfing champion Colin Frosche, then finally, my first husband who was not a competitor but a ski patrolman. The only other men I've skied with since then were family. Mr. Snoots (back in the day), his brother and his uncle, and our son and an occasional male friend. The kids and I often did what resembled the Ski Cross, but never quite so competitive. I've slowed way down over the years though. You know. Like almost to a screeching halt.


Later on they had the women's relay and biathalon where they cross country ski (never cared for it since I liked to go fast) and then do the sharp shooting thing. Not a favorite event of mine, so I have no opinion.


At any rate, I hope you're enjoying my coverage of the Olympics thus far. I certainly am!

What A Wild Ride The USA Is Having At The Olympics! Literally....

Wow! Today was amazing, exhilarating, and sometimes disappointing, but it was still all good. I'm so hooked that I find it hard to tear myself away from the events to even eat my dinner. Mr. Snooty doesn't share my enthusiasm. He watched golf instead. Snores compared to the Olympics, really. No Tiger Woods = Boring Golf. Hello. No wonder he sleeps through most of it!

I can't help but remember the year that we (the USA) beat the Russians in hockey. It was February 22, 1980. I was with Mr. Snoots in Breckenridge, CO skiing with his brother and his uncle (that recently passed away). We went to a local spot for a late breakfast on our way to ski and the place had the hockey game on a TV there. Naturally, we got so caught up in the game and the moment, we stayed (along with everyone there) until the game was over. After that, it was total mayhem. Grown men were crying and laughing simultaneously and it was truly a *moment in time*. It was really something that you just never forget. You know, I can get many of the years and places of Olympics mixed up, but not that one.

Of course, I can't forget the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany where 11 Israeli athletes were murdered by Palestinian terrorists. I know it's hard to think about, but we should never forget what happened there. Ever. It was a freaking nightmare that practically unfolded before our eyes during a time which should have been filled with other things and thoughts and events. It was a living horror that I won't soon forget. I'm sure that everyone else at that time stayed as glued to their TV's as I did and it was so sickening to watch it all unfold. Bless the sweet souls of those 11 Israeli athletes. They never did anything to anyone and yet they paid the highest price of all for who they were.

Moving on, I made sure Mr. Snoots put in his earplugs again before bed, because speed skating and the women's Super G were yet to come. I yell and scream all through these two events. What am I saying? I scream through almost all of the events. And cry. And laugh. Yes, obviously I'm an emotional mess during the Olympics, but I love it all.

I cried and screamed when Lindsey Vonn got bumped out in the Super G to third place, but am glad she at least got the Bronze Medal. Besides, I have to say the two other ladies who won Silver and Gold were *balls out* (an old ski term from days gone by) on their runs. Now, the Super G is a combination of downhill and GS which can be quite tricky. However, I think the blue lines helped them a lot, although they started early this morning and there were major shadows and low light areas, making it difficult to anticipate some of the rough spots, even though the light got better as the race moved along to the remaining contenders (who won the Gold and Silver Medals). I'm sure I've mentioned before how much I HATE skiing in flat light, even though I have a great pair of rose colored goggles that make it easier to see what lies ahead in same light. I also hate the restriction of goggles. Yup. That's the way I roll. Free and easy, which doesn't include goggles.

And, it seems the women mostly elected to go with the longer downhill skis as the men had, which I couldn't believe. It takes one helluva lot of strength to turn those suckers. Lindsey was skiing on 210's (210 cm length) and the longest skis I ever skied on were 190's back in the day. Of course, I'm only 5'4" and she's taller, but still, those are really long boards, I tell you! Built for speed. Nothing but speed. So, in order to maneuver those babies down the hill, it takes some major leg strength.

There was one thing that I found to be strangely disturbing... to me, anyway. Evidently, the Austrian ski coach (coach of the Gold Medal winner in this event) was the person who laid out the course. He reportedly laid it out exactly like the course his girls were accustomed to practicing on at home in Austria. Huh? What? Surely they were kidding, but no, it was for real. I've never heard of such a thing before. Perhaps I've just been out of the loop for too long now. I thought that was called cheating by way of affording one's team with an obvious (illegal) edge. Color me naive. 

There were also rumors floating around the Olympic Alpine Skiing crowd that Lindsey Vonn was skiing on Bode Miller's old skis, brought to her by her coach who had previously been Bode Miller's coach, which I thought was rather cool. I could have never skied on Michael's (my first husband) skis. Apparently Vonn's skis were made by Heinz Haemmerle, who is listed among the legends of alpine ski designers. I would have surely ended up severely injured by the sheer speed of my final crash. The athletes these days are so much stronger and have so many more training tools than we used to have. It is truly mind boggling for me to watch them. Talk about legs of steel. They were all really fast but controlled and panic free on their runs, which also amazed me. These younger athletes don't usually let much get to them. I mean, they are tough!

Also, I learned something new today. Earlier this afternoon, during NBC's coverage of the 2010 Olympics, a woman reporter (whose name I can't seem to recall) did an amazing report on the schools in Austria and how all children in Austria learn to ski at age two and most enter a boarding school environment at around 11 or 13 (can't remember that either) where they attend school together but also have major ski training. I've forever wondered why the Austrians were always Alpine Skiing medal winners and now I know why. It's a gentle yet firm environment for growing young minds & bodies. It's all funded by the Austrian government. Tried as I may, I couldn't find a link to it anywhere, but I did see it and it was totally cool.


Last of all, there is a CD called the Olympic Team USA Soundtrack, which is wonderful AND it's available through iTunes or an ad on NBC. All of the proceeds from this CD (12 different popular artists) will go to benefit The USA Olympics and you'll get to hear some great music from famous artists who have donated their sales of this mixed CD to the same. It's a win-win deal and the music is seriously good, even though there is one rap song, which I detest. The point is, that it's for the USA Olympics, and they always need help. If you're planning on making a DVD of your kids in the near future, these songs will fulfill all of your background music needs, trust me. I would have killed for a CD like this back when my kids were graduating from private school 6th grade and we made videos with pictures of all their years together. Our background music sucked, but we didn't have this wonderful CD. Trust me here. About this, I am right. Besides, you at least get something for your money rather than just a blind donation. And no, I'm not getting paid for this lip service. It's just a really great CD for an even greater cause.

Until tomorrow, I remain your devoted Olympaholic...

So, How Do You Feel About It?

The 2010 Winter Olympics is well underway and it has been fiercely exciting so far, along with some tragedy. My head is still reeling from the Luge deaths, in spite of the fact it was human error. It was absolutely horrifying and my prayers go out to the family and friends of those whose lives were so quickly taken during what should have been a shining moment for them.


On a happier note, Bode Miller (Is that the greatest name ever or what?) made me so proud that I cried (Yeah, no surprise there since I already cry over everything aside from football and Willie Nelson.), even though he got the Bronze Medal in the Men's Downhill event. Then, the American ladies made me even prouder and cry even harder, winning the Silver Medal and the Bronze Medal for the Women's Downhill. The downhill has seldom ever had Americans win the Gold Medal, or any other medal. It has always been dominated by by the Europeans and Scandanavians until now, which makes me so happy I could do cartwheels. (No, really, I think I learned my lesson, thank you!) American men and women ski teams are making history this time around folks. Never before have US Ski Team members shown such displays of expertise in Alpine Skiing skills and I, for one, am exceedingly proud of them.

Lindsey Vonn is my idol for women's skiing, even though I never had anyone of her caliber to look up to back in the day. She is so amazing in that she can rise above the mental anguish of physical pain and go on to win a Gold Medal for the US in the Women's Downhill event. She has a shin injury that must be so excruciating that I can only imagine the amount of pain she had to endure. I whine about the pain in my shin after one day of skiing. On top of her physical prowess, this girl is SMART! Big time Kudos for Lindsey!



I nearly swallowed my tongue when I heard that the US Men's Giant Slalom (GS) skiers were going to ski the same skis as they had skied on in the Downhill. What? Are they insane? Apparently not, since they won Silver and Bronze. However, you have to understand that downhill skis are designed for speed and nothing but speed. (I can say this because I trained for both the Downhill and the GS.) They are much more difficult to turn, which is the essence of the GS. The turns are what it's all about. GS skis are technologically built different, so that they turn more easily. I was pleasantly surprised and amazed at the incredible performances of the men's US Ski Team, holding my breath or screaming at the top of my lungs during each and every run. Oh, and crying. Uh-huh.

Actually, I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that most of the male skiers are so much older than in Olympic Games past. You sure don't see 40 year old American women still trying to win the Downhill or the GS, which might or might not have anything to with the fact that most women quit in time to have children and raise their families. Because I trained for the Downhill and the GS, I can tell you that these particular sporting events are both brutal on the body. You take risks in a skiing competition (especially the Olympics) that you would never take during training, often taking your own breath away by the sheer boldness of what you've done. It is terrifying and exhilarating, all at once. And, if you live through it, there are good times to be had. The training is even more grueling, which is all that prepares you for that which also takes a toll on the body. The race itself. It's a well known fact that men's bodies are stronger than women's and they take longer to age than our feminine bodies do. Yup. Life's a bitch.

And did the women snowboarders rock or what? The US will bring home the Silver and the Bronze in the women's Halfpipe Finals, which was awesome. But (Screeeeech!) an Australian won the Gold? Since when did Australia have winter sports? Evidently, Australia does indeed have winter sports (and has had them like forever), I just don't remember ever hearing of it before. Surfing, yes. Snowboarding, no. Obviously, I've been a hermit for quite some time or otherwise I would have known. However, the men outdid the women, with the US winning Gold and Bronze in the same event.

So, moving on along, I do not profess to know anything at all about figure skating, like my pal Heather, who once competed in figure skating. However, I was stunned that the guy who won the Gold Medal in men's Figure Skating did so without having accomplished a quad. Yes, they changed the requirements for the event, which I understand. I just don't understand why, since it seems to be a fairly difficult move to maneuver. You would think that would be worth mega points, but apparently it is not so since the controversial rule change. Please don't get me wrong here. I'm thrilled that the US won the Gold Medal. And yet, I felt Plushenko's pain as well. Frankly, it isn't unheard of in the world of figure skating, as they change rules on a fairly regular basis. I remember watching the skaters of long ago painstakingly doing the required elements of doing figures and now they aren't even required to do them. However, I must admit that Evan Lysacek was completely dazzling and threw so many triples I suppose no one even noticed the absence of a quad. Or even cared. Plushenko continues the old Russian standards and apparently the world (of figure skating judges at least) is ready for some changes. And, I simply adored the flamboyant performance of Johnny Weir(d). What a free spirit that guy is and he doesn't really give a flying flip what anyone thinks! He's an amazingly mature young man who admits that the world of figure skating is highly political, which is why he knew he's never take a medal home. He was there for the sheer experience of it all. I love that kid!

I do have to say that I was quite disappointed with the Ice Dancing Tango Competition, which is normally my favorite. I thought the judges were stingy with their points, but then again, I don't understand the fine points of judging. I wanted Virtue and Moir to win because I thought their performance was outstanding. Apparently, the judges disagreed. Theirs was at least the most romantic and emotional program of them all.

Another huge change (in my mind at least) were the blue lines on the snow for the Alpine events. Undoubtedly, it was a good change, making it safer for skiers, as well as aiding them in mentally mapping their course as they go screaming down the hill at mach 100 miles per hour. The margin for mistake is basically 0%. Even the slightest wrong move can send you into the nets or worse, into the trees and the resulting injuries can often be life altering. I also realized that in inclement weather, it could definitely save lives, so it's a winning decision all the way around.

I suppose you could say that I am more than happy with the Winter Olympics this year and I'm immensely proud of our athletes. All. Of. Them. So much has changed since the days when I was *in the know* that it's simply mind boggling, adding even more respect for our Olympic Athletes. Things are so complicated and yet so simple these days that you have to be as sharp mentally as you are physically. I think it's all good!