It’s a 4.30am early rise to catch the coach to snowy, picturesque Whistler for some downhill skiing. Blogging get’s hard when you’re burning the candle at both ends, so it’s a tactical cheat rolling both days of alpine skiing into one blog entry. (Note to self: go mobile with global roaming and blog on the road).
Whistler is where all the snow is at, and it’s a cold morning until the sun rises over the mountain ridge above the Olympic alpine ski course on Franz’s Run. The big question is: is it better to watch alpine skiing live or stay in the comfort of home watching on TV? After all, as a spectator you stand at the foot of the course from where you can only see the final run-in and watch most the action on TV anyway - except for the slalom when three-quarters of the course is in full view. In TV’s favour is warmth over frozen feet, a full view of the course, and food and beverage to hand. Being there has the noise of incessant rattling little cow bells and the deep dong of the giant Swiss bells, a huge screen for the out-of-sight action and a “boy that must have hurt” flinch when a skier takes a tumble through the final gates right before your nose. Being there wins hands-down for the excitement and atmosphere that you just can’t get on TV. You can’t beat “Oh’ing” and “Ah’ing” with several thousand fans, seeing and feeling first-hand each competitor’s joy or grief as they cross the finishing line.
Day 7 is Ladies Super Combined, a new event bringing together the high speed ride of Super G downhill skiing with the precision of slalom. It’s a scorching event despite the cold. One run on each course, on the same day; add the two times together and you’ve got a winner for athlete and spectator alike. Will American favourite and downhill champion Lindsey Vonn get a second gold? Will the Swede, Anja Paerson, who had a big fall in the downhill redeem herself? Will Canada win an elusive skiing medal? Interest in the Super G component is maintained by the informative on-course commentary that mixes fact with a bit of hype, minimal bias and is never distracting from the action. The on-course ski commentators know their job and do it well. On to the slalom and the excitement mounts, the course is almost entirely in full view. The smallest mistake leads to a clipped gate and a tumble out of competition. Running in reverse order Lindsay Vonn leading from the Super G will go last. And so to the last run, it looks like all Vonn needs is a good steady run: coming over the mid-course ridge she falls, it’s one of those “Oh, Ah” moments that you only get by being there.
Day 8, another early start for the ride to Whistler and the Men’s Super G. One run each, fastest down the slope gets gold. To be honest, it’s not as exciting as the Super Combined. With only one run, mainly watched on the big screen, it’s all or nothing for athlete and spectators alike. The race is broken-up by a big crash for Swede Patrik Jaeryn, coming into view he misses the last turn and ends up bruised, bloodied and reaches the finish line strapped in the stretcher toboggan. In the long delay the sun warms the course and slows the track. Aksel Lund Sbindal wins for Norway and he certainly looked fast on the final run-in. Not as fast as Italian as Peter Fill who spills it on the last but one gate in another of those “Oh, Ah” moments.
So, being there wins out over TV by miles for the Super Combined, by a lesser margin in the Super G and we look forward to being there at the ski jumping on Day 9.
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