Beijing - 1st Olympics 100% man made snow

[Yo VT Raps]

The big air competition is in the industrial district right next to a line of cooling towers. With no leaves on any of their trees, it looks like the most barren landscape possible.

 

[drjeff]

Snowbasin had it for last games there and still has it to my knowledge.

Minimal money/work could be done for another venue somewhere if needed (minimal money Olympic dollars)


Also this DH course is fucking weird.

Kind of liking the "banked turn" section of the DH/SG course. Looks like it would be fun to let the skis run through there and feel the G's!

Currently watching the Men's Super G with my 18yr old racer daughter and she's wanting to get on her Super G sticks and let 'em run on that track!

 

[abc]

With no leaves on any of their trees, it looks like the most barren landscape possible.

It's winter! Why should there be leaves on the trees?

Barren is a subjective word. To many, any place cold enough and snowy enough to host an Olympic is by definition barren.

 

[drjeff]

RCS!!

 

[BenedictGomez]

The odd thing to me about that horrific backdrop is the Communist government does nothing by accident. Everything is visual for either a smoke n' mirrors attempt or true attempt to project power & supremacy, which means, they actually think that looks good. Clearly a cultural difference.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Awesome for Ryan Cochran-Siegle, I didn't expect an American male to medal in alpine. Well done.

 

[Smellytele]

It's winter! Why should there be leaves on the trees?

Barren is a subjective word. To many, any place cold enough and snowy enough to host an Olympic is by definition barren.

There is no natural snow though. Cold and dry.

 

[doublediamond]

Vertical of the Snowbasin Men’s DH course is 883m. Requirement is 800m. Snowbasin is 100% viable to host again. They just let the start get overgrown.

 

[abc]

There is no natural snow though. Cold and dry.

No question about the lack of snow. But even WITH snow, it would have look "barren" by most standards.

It's just like the fact racers are racing on man made snow, or hockey teams playing on man made ice inside a heated stadium. It's long been the case for many years. Then all of a sudden, just because it's in China, everyone wakes up and said "that's not natural!".

Welcome to the land of hypocrisy!

 

[KustyTheKlown]

this eileen gu free skier girl is pretty incredible. 18 year old american with chinese immigrant mom who seems to have had a major career, competing for china, already took a gold, is also a stanford student (deferred to next year), a piano prodigy, and a supermodel who has done campaigns for tiffany & co and other major fashion brands. in china she's a household name and has tons of big dollar endorsements.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/03/sports/olympics/eileen-gu-china-freeski.html - profile i read last night

this article eludes to her being a sort of casual skier in recent years 'counting her days in the dozens, not the hundreds'. wild

 

[deadheadskier]

No question about the lack of snow. But even WITH snow, it would have look "barren" by most standards.

It's just like the fact racers are racing on man made snow, or hockey teams playing on man made ice inside a heated stadium. It's long been the case for many years. Then all of a sudden, just because it's in China, everyone wakes up and said "that's not natural!".

Welcome to the land of hypocrisy!

You are missing the point. It's already been conceded by myself and several others that winter Olympic sports have almost always required man made snow for half a century.

This is the first destination the games have been held where snow sports couldn't exist AT ALL without man made snow. The first time. That's what makes it unique and not like Sochi or Vancouver. It has nothing to do with it being in China.

 

[abc]

You are missing the point. It's already been conceded by myself and several others that winter Olympic sports have almost always required man made snow for half a century.

This is the first destination the games have been held where snow sports couldn't exist AT ALL without man made snow. The first time. That's what makes it unique and not like Sochi or Vancouver. It has nothing to do with it being in China.

You're right, I just don't get "the point".

Since the competition had often been done on man made snow, I just don't get it why there's even a point.

It's not like it's Kuwait that you have to house the slopes indoors so the snow doesn't melt.

The "point" skiers are missing is the game need to be held in a population center. So the "standard" of the location has to be a compromise. Skating and hockey are often held in the city, whilst skiing is located "some" distance away from the city. The question becomes how far should the skiing venue be... "naturally".

 

[NYDB]

Anyone else tired of the spin to win slopestyle, halfpipe and big air events?

I'd rather see more distinctive style and slower off axis rotations than spin as fast as you can 1440's and 1620's. I mean, don't get me wrong its impressive for sure, but not interesting to watch imo.

 

[deadheadskier]

You're right, I just don't get "the point".

Since the competition had often been done on man made snow, I just don't get it why there's even a point.

It's not like it's Kuwait that you have to house the slopes indoors so the snow doesn't melt.

The "point" skiers are missing is the game need to be held in a population center. So the "standard" of the location has to be a compromise. Skating and hockey are often held in the city, whilst skiing is located "some" distance away from the city. The question becomes how far should the skiing venue be... "naturally".

No past locations have been like this. It is in fact unique. I didn't choose Beijing or write the article. I was unaware of the uniqueness to this location until I read the article and figured I'd share it.

What's not unique is you finding a way to argue aimlessly. Maybe I should have considered that before sharing the article.

We get it. You don't find it interesting that the games are being held in a high dessert where skiing has never occurred before. You're 100% clear there.

 

[deadheadskier]

Anyone else tired of the spin to win slopestyle, halfpipe and big air events?

I'd rather see more distinctive style and slower off axis rotations than spin as fast as you can 1440's and 1620's. I mean, don't get me wrong its impressive for sure, but not interesting to watch imo.

I feel the same about bump skiing competition. It's really about taking most of the subjectiveness out of selecting the winner. They've essentially copied the gymnastics and diving model of judging. It probably is more fair this way, but not as entertaining to me.

 

[urungus]

Anyone else tired of the spin to win slopestyle, halfpipe and big air events?

I'd rather see more distinctive style and slower off axis rotations than spin as fast as you can 1440's and 1620's. I mean, don't get me wrong its impressive for sure, but not interesting to watch imo.

What I would love to see is an Olympic Tree Skiing or Backcountry event

 

[urungus]

Maybe the “Ski Mountaineering” event that will be held in Milan 2026 will be good

Ski Mountaineering to be in 2026 Winter Olympics - Gripped Magazine

Nearly 50 athletes from around the world will compete in the first Olympic Skimo event

gripped.com

 

[abc]

No past locations have been like this. It is in fact unique. I didn't choose Beijing or write the article. I was unaware of the uniqueness to this location until I read the article and figured I'd share it.

What's not unique is you finding a way to argue aimlessly. Maybe I should have considered that before sharing the article.

We get it. You don't find it interesting that the games are being held in a high dessert where skiing has never occurred before. You're 100% clear there.

I don't have a problem you sharing the article.

It is you who consider any question about anything you post "argument" and make of point of attacking the poster!

 

[Smellytele]

Maybe the “Ski Mountaineering” event that will be held in Milan 2026 will be good

Ski Mountaineering to be in 2026 Winter Olympics - Gripped Magazine

Nearly 50 athletes from around the world will compete in the first Olympic Skimo event

gripped.com

They will find someway to make it “unreal” like x-games ice climbing.

 

[Smellytele]

I don't have a problem you sharing the article.

It is you who consider any question about anything you post "argument" and make of point of attacking the poster!

When someone “questions” every time they post it gets grating.