Olympics Suck: Reason 2

[UVSHTSTRM]

This years Olympics has been a flop, would people agree. That is the persception I get. Rain, Trucked in Snow, who thought that Cypress Mountain was a good idea? 4000 people without a place to stand for SBX........imgaine if your hard earned money to watch SBX being thrown down the tubes?

 

[wawawawawa]

The news said ticket holders were going to be given refunds.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

The news said ticket holders were going to be given refunds.

Yes I understand that, but what if your whole purpose was to see SBX? In that case you are out for Hotel, Transportation, Food, etc.

 

[drjeff]

Yes I understand that, but what if your whole purpose was to see SBX? In that case you are out for Hotel, Transportation, Food, etc.

With the exception of maybe some SBX competitors parents, I'm guessing that not many people went to the Olympics to just watch the SBX. So while it sucks about the spectators today at Cypress and the slush factor, I'm guessing that most of the folks who had tickets (and got refunds), they'll be fine.

As for the Cypress factor, while proving to be a epic battle in snow movement and management, in the end, the Vancouver Organizing committee will likely be fine with their choice of Cypress, as it put multiple, fan popular/friendly events at an area that is way closer to Vancouver than Whistler

 

[witch hobble]

This is not the first time snow has had to be trucked in for the Olympics. Likely not the last either.

The games are too big to be hosted by a Lake Placid sized mountain town. They are oriented and anchored to a city now. And there are not too many large cities that can truly claim reliable snowpack.

 

[millerm277]

If I remember right, wasn't the olympics in Japan screwed up by the reverse? (Too much snowfall). S*** happens, they seem to be doing a decent job at keeping things together.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

If I remember right, wasn't the olympics in Japan screwed up by the reverse? (Too much snowfall). S*** happens, they seem to be doing a decent job at keeping things together.

Sounds like that is the problem today at Whistler...heavy snow high up so they have canceled the mens Combined today.

 

[jaywbigred]

Did anyone see what happened yesterday at the speed skating oval though? Can't blame the weather for that! Epic FAIL. I loathe figure skating but snooze through it waiting for the good stuff, and, as usual, thought some of the judging Sunday night was "wtf"-style. Hamilton and the other color lady seemed to agree, too.

I think the "it has happened before" argument with weather is pedestrian at best. Let's be honest here...the decisions regarding what city is to play host to an Olympics is now one that weighs political and economic factors ahead of athletic/venue factors. So, you wind up with a city like Vancouver (warmest city ever to host a winter Olympics) getting the bid, with a number of the marquis events taking place 2-3 hrs away (longer, I'm sure, with the Olympic traffic). Boston and NYC should both be in the running for future hosting events, under that model. NYC - skating events local, freestyle events at Mountain Creek, cross country events in upstate NY, and ski races at Hunter or even Mt. Snow/Stratton. Boston would have even more options...

 

[Glenn]

Boston and NYC should both be in the running for future hosting events,...

Two words:

Sundown Bumps



Oh yeah.....

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

Did anyone see what happened yesterday at the speed skating oval though? Can't blame the weather for that! Epic FAIL. I loathe figure skating but snooze through it waiting for the good stuff, and, as usual, thought some of the judging Sunday night was "wtf"-style. Hamilton and the other color lady seemed to agree, too.

I think the "it has happened before" argument with weather is pedestrian at best. Let's be honest here...the decisions regarding what city is to play host to an Olympics is now one that weighs political and economic factors ahead of athletic/venue factors. So, you wind up with a city like Vancouver (warmest city ever to host a winter Olympics) getting the bid, with a number of the marquis events taking place 2-3 hrs away (longer, I'm sure, with the Olympic traffic). Boston and NYC should both be in the running for future hosting events, under that model. NYC - skating events local, freestyle events at Mountain Creek, cross country events in upstate NY, and ski races at Hunter or even Mt. Snow/Stratton. Boston would have even more options...

Boy that would be a flat Olympics (lol)....people from around the world would be like WTF. Other then Whiteface and the Ski Resorts of Mansfield, there are not really any majestic mountains (resorts) in the east. Although, with the massive amounts of snowmaking in the east I don't think you would see a repeat of Cypress.

On your note of Vancouver, will Schoci (sp) in Russia be warmer, I was looking at there stats the other day and that city is quite warm it appears. Granted they have some beautiful mountains just outside the city. I am looking forward to those Olympics, some real money being dumped into that place.

Finally does "Rangeley 2022" have a ring...haha.

 

[puckoach]

The Vancouver area is just awesome. No one from New England wouldn't love the heck out of this corner of the world !

A ferry ride to Victoria Island during foliage season is comparable to, or superior to, a trip across the Kanc !

That said, weather is the culprit here. The guys in our area that are into snowmobiles, aren't to happy with this season.

As to the TV coverage, they need to come to grip with the fact that figure skating is dead. There are 5 rinks surronding Boston that used to average 20 hours a week dedicated to figure skating, all have none now. Sorry, but the economy, and girls hockey have killed it.

Hey, tv guys, everybody loved Snowcross last night !!! Went to bed when figure skating came back on.

BTW, everyone be cheering for our own Scotty Lago tomorrow !!!

 

[drewfidelic]

I think the "it has happened before" argument with weather is pedestrian at best. Let's be honest here...the decisions regarding what city is to play host to an Olympics is now one that weighs political and economic factors ahead of athletic/venue factors. So, you wind up with a city like Vancouver (warmest city ever to host a winter Olympics) getting the bid, with a number of the marquis events taking place 2-3 hrs away (longer, I'm sure, with the Olympic traffic). Boston and NYC should both be in the running for future hosting events, under that model. NYC - skating events local, freestyle events at Mountain Creek, cross country events in upstate NY, and ski races at Hunter or even Mt. Snow/Stratton. Boston would have even more options...

The downhill course at Whistler is <a href="http://media.intrawest.com/whistler/events/2009_olympic_PRfl.pdf">852 m vertical</a>, or 2795 feet at an average slope gradient of 28 degrees. Beaver Creek's Birds of Prey DH course is about 2500.' Aside from Whiteface, how many other ski areas in the east-- especially ski areas closer to NYC than Whiteface-- have enough continuous and steep vertical drop to host an Olympic or World Cup Downhill/Super G?

Isn't part of the charm of the Winter Olympics being in a quaint mountain town, not a bustling metropolis?
________
Multiple anal creampie

 

[SIKSKIER]

Vancouver is a wonderfull area

Been to Vancouver many times in January.It is a very temperate area being right on the Pacific.Have never seen snow there.Cypress is right across the harbor and not high in elevation.Hell even Whistler at 90 miles inland does not have very reliable snow at the base area.It often rains at in the village when it's puking at the higher elevations.Having 2 mountains with a mile of vertical will give you that.Last time I stayed in the village in January we had 16 inches of new snow on the balcony when I went to bed and in the morning it was all gone.Conversely,we had 4 feet up top.The weather at the games is very much in line with what Whistler sees year in and year out.Inconsistent.In my opinion inland BC is the mecca of big snow back country skiing in the world.You've never skied trees like the cypress in BC.You must go.

 

[midd]

Isn't part of the charm of the Winter Olympics being in a quaint mountain town, not a bustling metropolis?

Not since Lillehammer.

Torino and metro area has over 2.2 MM people
SLC and metro area over 1.7MM
I believe Nagano has over 2MM within close proximity.

 

[Mapnut]

The downhill course at Whistler is <a href="http://media.intrawest.com/whistler/events/2009_olympic_PRfl.pdf">852 m vertical</a>, or 2795 feet at an average slope gradient of 28 degrees.

Pardon the nitpick, but everyone does this. 28 per cent, not 28 degrees. If the vertical was 2795 and the angle was 28 degrees, the length would be 2795/sin 28 = 5950 feet and at 60 mph it would only take 1 minute 8 seconds to come down. The per cent slope is 28 so the length is 2795/0.28 = 10,625 feet. At 1 minute 54 seconds they averaged 63.5 mph.

We now return you to the soggy slopes of Whistler!

 

[Mapnut]

How come so many people are falling or spinning out for no visible reason in snowboard cross? It can't be speed. Are snowboards that unstable or is it the conditions?

 

[campgottagopee]

Sorry, I ain't buying into "the olympics suck"

The coverage may, but the Olympics are one of my favorite sporting events to watch...just sayin'