Eastern Olympic Venues other than Whiteface

[Geoff]

I hear all food in London is not very good. Was the Heineken better tasting their then in US, I heard before it taste better in Europe because they have more alcohol in the bottle thanks to US law that limits the amount and gives it It's funny taste.

Food in the UK is extremely expensive by US standards. It's a world class city with world class cuisine but you pay dearly for it. A pound is $1.62. It basically spends like a US dollar. A modest dinner you'd expect to pay $100 in a major US city will run £100.

Heineken in Amsterdam is drinkable where it's on-tap and fresh. I'd never consider drinking it in the UK but you also see most people in a British pub drinking Budweiser and Stella Artois so there's no accounting for taste.

I usually eat Indian food when I'm in London. Cheap & reliable.

 

[Geoff]

Are you talking Monsanto quality produce or local organic produce? Monsanto produce taste the same on the west coast as it does in the midwest as it does in the east....5 days after it was picked. Unless you are a food snob you really wouldn't notice a difference.

In Utah, you see good quality organic produce trucked in from California. Produce is way better in the west than in the Northeast. Produce picked that day does the 10 hour overnight truck ride and appears in stores the next day.

 

[MadPadraic]

Food in the UK is extremely expensive by US standards. It's a world class city with world class cuisine but you pay dearly for it. A pound is $1.62. It basically spends like a US dollar. A modest dinner you'd expect to pay $100 in a major US city will run £100.

My experience has always been the exact opposite. When I was a student in London in 2006, I was always amazed at how cheaply we could eat (and especially drink). We could get a burger and a beer for 4 and a half pounds (about 8 bucks at the time), which was impossible in New York. When I was starving and waiting for the last train out of Paddington last month, I had a burrito for 3 and a half pounds. 1.56*3.5 < the cost at Chipotle in Penn station, (though Back Bay station has a good cheap burrito cart). Eating in a Jamie Oliver restaurant was much cheaper than eating in any place owned by KO or BL.

Now when we visit with a higher budget, our food/drink bills always seem a bit lower than what we would have expected. Tastes and budgets vary, so it won't be a direct comparison but my impressions of London are 1) drinking is much cheaper than the US (especially beer). 2) Food can be quite a bit cheaper on the low end, and 3) a nice looking restaurant in a nice neighborhood (say, near Angel) will be a bit cheaper than similar in New York, Boston, or Providence. (Though NYC and Providence are likely to be tastier when your choice is a random draw)

I usually eat Indian food when I'm in London. Cheap & reliable.

Agreed.

 

[ScottySkis]

My experience has always been the exact opposite. When I was a student in London in 2006, I was always amazed at how cheaply we could eat (and especially drink). We could get a burger and a beer for 4 and a half pounds (about 8 bucks at the time), which was impossible in New York. When I was starving and waiting for the last train out of Paddington last month, I had a burrito for 3 and a half pounds. 1.56*3.5 < the cost at Chipotle in Penn station, (though Back Bay station has a good cheap burrito cart). Eating in a Jamie Oliver restaurant was much cheaper than eating in any place owned by KO or BL.

Now when we visit with a higher budget, our food/drink bills always seem a bit lower than what we would have expected. Tastes and budgets vary, so it won't be a direct comparison but my impressions of London are 1) drinking is much cheaper than the US (especially beer). 2) Food can be quite a bit cheaper on the low end, and 3) a nice looking restaurant in a nice neighborhood (say, near Angel) will be a bit cheaper than similar in New York, Boston, or Providence. (Though NYC and Providence are likely to be tastier when your choice is a random draw)

Agreed.

In NYC a non cheap restaurant but not to expensive but really good with soda and fries will around14.50. I need to stop eating these burgers so I can afford skiing this winter.




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[Blizzard of Wahhs]

Wtf does food in NYC have to do with the Olympics. Jeez what a derail.

 

[ScottySkis]

Wtf does food in NYC have to do with the Olympics. Jeez what a derail.

His quote includes NYC prices compared to London prices.

 

[MadPadraic]

Wtf does food in NYC have to do with the Olympics. Jeez what a derail.

Staying on topic is like never venturing off the groomers.

 

[Blizzard of Wahhs]

Staying on topic is like never venturing off the groomers.

Getting off topic is like stopping on a groomer, blocking other schussers, and looking at the view whilst probing your navel. Sure it's fun on a sophmoric level, but are you really helping anyone out? Let's get serious people.

 

[SIKSKIER]

Waaa waa waa......Appropriate forum handle

 

[Geoff]

The most recent Big Mac Index from The Economist aligns with MadPadraic's claim about the UK being cheaper than NYC. My personal experience is that most things are much more expensive there but I'm not going to argue with The Economist on their home turf.

 

[from_the_NEK]

FYI another option: Only 162 miles to Mt Katahdin vs 250 to Whiteface (from Quebec City). :idea:

Edit: Although currently, the drive time is the same

 

[MadMadWorld]

FYI another option: Only 162 miles to Mt Katahdin vs 250 to Whiteface (from Quebec City). :idea:

Edit: Although currently, the drive time is the same

I like the creativity and Katahdin would definitely have the sustained vert and degree of difficulty. I just don't see a Canada/USA Olympics getting approved.

 

[from_the_NEK]

I took a closer look at Katahdon in Google Earth and found that there really aren't very many slopes on the mountain that cover 2600+ vert without some serious flats. Katahdin seems to be one of those mtns where it is low angle or insane steep.
Pretty much the only place you can find a slope that would work for an Olympic downhill is on the south facing wall. The best spot would be on the Western shoulder where the Appalachian Trail ascends the mtn. You can actually squeeze out 3000 feet there.

 

[Puck it]

I took a closer look at Katahdon in Google Earth and found that there really aren't very many slopes on the mountain that cover 2600+ vert without some serious flats. Katahdin seems to be one of those mtns where it is low angle or insane steep.
Pretty much the only place you can find a slope that would work for an Olympic downhill is on the south facing wall. The best spot would be on the Western shoulder where the Appalachian Trail ascends the mtn. You can actually squeeze out 3000 feet there.

Doesn't Katahdin lie in Baxter Park? Which does not allow motorized vehicles in winter. That would be an obstacle.

 

[from_the_NEK]

Doesn't Katahdin lie in Baxter Park? Which does not allow motorized vehicles in winter. That would be an obstacle.

Indeed, probably a DH course off the summit of Mt Washington would be more likely to be approved.

 

[AdironRider]

Indeed, probably a DH course off the summit of Mt Washington would be more likely to be approved.

Not when the winter Olympics are being held in February.

Now the inferno course would be so badass, in late March when it actually becomes skiable.

 

[MadMadWorld]

Not to derail this thread anymore then it already has BUT....

Does anyone think the IOC would move the Winter Olympics to the summer to allow countries in the southern hemisphere like Argentina, NZ, Australia, and Chile to get a shot? I think it would be a cool idea but I think television ratings would go wayyyyy down.

 

[from_the_NEK]

Not when the winter Olympics are being held in February.

Now the inferno course would be so badass, in late March when it actually becomes skiable.

I disagree.
Having Tucks as part of a downhill course uses up too much vert too quickly. IMHO the best place to have a course would be here...

This location almost parallels the Auto Road and is fairly wind sheltered. It covers roughly 3000 ft of vert and has some nice variation in the terrain (i.e. headwalls and such to launch off of).

 

[Smellytele]

looks like starting from Nelson's Crag

 

[from_the_NEK]

Correct although the actual top of Nelson's Crag is a little to the left in the picture.