As per my previous post, Wednesday the 17th was ideal for ski racing. Unfortunately, the women's downhill race was marred by too many crashes! Four girls crashed after flying off the jump above the finish (Hot Air) and several others crashed higher on the course. The bump was definitely a safety issue, and it was shaved by a snow cat after the race yesterday. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but a Romanian girl won't be able to compete in the rest of the Games due to an ankle sprain.
Today, the women's super-combined was run under even colder, firmer conditions. This event is based on combined times from a downhill course and a slalom course, and the conclusion was very exciting! During the downhill yesterday, and the downhill run this morning, I was operating Intermediate 4/Speed 2 and all went well. For the slalom run today, I had no assignment and I was able to catch the conclusion of the race from within the finish area. I was especially happy to see Anja Paerson claim the bronze medal after her scary-looking crash off Hot Air yesterday! (Photo shows Anja celebrating on the podium, with winner Maria Riesch and silver medallist Julia Mancuso beside her. Note the battalion of photogs firing away with their cannons - that's what I'll be in my next life, a sports photographer!)
Last night, I went to the two-man luge competition at the Sliding Centre with some other Alpine Skiing volunteers. None of us knew anything about luge, particularly very uncomfortable-looking two-man variety, but it was really exciting to see them speeding by and to soak in the atmosphere. I was amazed at how little time it took to get into the venue, through security screening, how efficient the shuttle buses were, and how easy it was to move about the venue and watch the action from lots of great spots. They let us get within an arm's length of the track and the sound when the sleds zip by is astonishing!
Snowboard cross golden girl Maelle Ricker's dad, Carl, is on the women's alpine course crew up here, so we were all really thrilled by her win, and I'm looking forward to seeing Carl to congratulate him!! Kelsey Serwa, a strong favourite in the ski cross, also has parents working up here - Brad and Terry are also working on the women's alpine races.
I have been meeting many people who have traveled much further than I have to work these Olympics. There are people on my timing crew from Toronto, Texas and Calgary. The "dye guy" who paints the red lines across the course at our timing points is from Killington, Vermont. The TV camera woman working on the tower where I've stood to operate Intermediate 4 is from Zurich and runs cameras for World Cup ski races in Switzerland. The spectators are from all over the globe, too - many large, boisterous, happy groups of Swiss, Norwegians, Americans, etc.
As per my previous post, Wednesday the 17th was ideal for ski racing. Unfortunately, the women's downhill race was marred by too many crashes! Four girls crashed after flying off the jump above the finish (Hot Air) and several others crashed higher on the course. The bump was definitely a safety issue, and it was shaved by a snow cat after the race yesterday. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but a Romanian girl won't be able to compete in the rest of the Games due to an ankle sprain.
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