Winter Olympics

[Turn the Page]

Most of the snow at all the venues has been made with snow making equipment. Take a look at the actual mountains in the back ground shots. What don't you see on them?

And did you notice the ski jumping competition? Now they go down the jump on tracks.

I did notice that but I honestly don't know enough about the sport to know if it is normal or not.

 

[cabanafrau]

Most of the snow at all the venues has been made with snow making equipment. Take a look at the actual mountains in the back ground shots. What don't you see on them?

And did you notice the ski jumping competition? Now they go down the jump on tracks.

I did notice that but I honestly don't know enough about the sport to know if it is normal or not.

The tracks on the ski jump hills are the norm these days.

I believe it was NBC coverage yesterday that had a little moment looking back to the bobsled 100 years ago, absolutely incredible to see. Open sled on a run carved directly on the mountain out of the ice and snow. The sleds were held at the start by an operator standing by with a pole that was removed to allow gravity to begin the run. I bet those competitors would be stunned by today's competition in so many ways!

 

[Turn the Page]

The tracks on the ski jump hills are the norm these days.

I believe it was NBC coverage yesterday that had a little moment looking back to the bobsled 100 years ago, absolutely incredible to see. Open sled on a run carved directly on the mountain out of the ice and snow. The sleds were held at the start by an operator standing by with a pole that was removed to allow gravity to begin the run. I bet those competitors would be stunned by today's competition in so many ways!

I saw that too!!!! My initial thought was "holy hell how much alcohol must those idiots have had to be willing to do that?!?!?!!"

 

[cabanafrau]

I saw that too!!!! My initial thought was "holy hell how much alcohol must those idiots have had to be willing to do that?!?!?!!"

Honestly, I have asked that about several of today's events as well -- either that or, don't any of these people have mothers?!

 

[Action City]

The tracks on the ski jump hills are the norm these days.

I believe it was NBC coverage yesterday that had a little moment looking back to the bobsled 100 years ago, absolutely incredible to see. Open sled on a run carved directly on the mountain out of the ice and snow. The sleds were held at the start by an operator standing by with a pole that was removed to allow gravity to begin the run. I bet those competitors would be stunned by today's competition in so many ways!

DH and I saw that, too, which started a 20 minute discussion on how they used to time the events 100 years ago. I tried to find when they first started using stopwatches at the Olympics and all I could find said in the 1930's. Did clocks and watches have second hands back then?

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I did notice that but I honestly don't know enough about the sport to know if it is normal or not.

The tracks are the norm. They started in the 80s on summer training hills. But the jumpers liked em so much, they're now on the jumps. And now they actually have full summer hills complete with landing areas.

Ironically these days, they blow the snow out of the tracks.

 

[Action City]

I saw that too!!!! My initial thought was "holy hell how much alcohol must those idiots have had to be willing to do that?!?!?!!"

I told DH when watching the luge/skeleton that their instinctual need for self-preservation must be screaming at them as they're hurtling down the track headfirst at 80 mph.

 

[cabanafrau]

DH and I saw that, too, which started a 20 minute discussion on how they used to time the events 100 years ago. I tried to find when they first started using stopwatches at the Olympics and all I could find said in the 1930's. Did clocks and watches have second hands back then?

I certainly hope you are not asking because you think I must know because I was there since I gave such a thorough recitation of how the bobsled runs were conducted back in the day! I am merely a very quick study of the incredibly complex mechanics demonstrated in the little throwback video.

 

[Action City]

I certainly hope you are not asking because you think I must know because I was there since I gave such a thorough recitation of how the bobsled runs were conducted back in the day! I am merely a very quick study of the incredibly complex mechanics demonstrated in the little throwback video.

No, just a general question.

 

[soccerdad72]

Most of the snow at all the venues has been made with snow making equipment. Take a look at the actual mountains in the back ground shots. What don't you see on them?

And did you notice the ski jumping competition? Now they go down the jump on tracks.

Oh yeah, I noticed all the brown landscape around the venues. And one of my boys pointed out that the ski jumping hill was directly opposite the big air hill. They landed in the same general area (with stands on either side).

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I told DH when watching the luge/skeleton that their instinctual need for self-preservation must be screaming at them as they're hurtling down the track headfirst at 80 mph.

...but it looks like so much fun

 

[starry_solo]

I saw one ice dancing on network tv (NBC) since I don't have cable, before it switched to skiing. It was cross-country skiing, I think, with a course, and going up hills. I kept waiting for ice dancing to come back, but it didn't before I had to go to sleep. Hopefully I can catch the long program!

 

[Nohal]

I love the Olympics and look forward to them every 2 years. However, these Olympics are really disappointing. So many of our athletes fininsh really far back in the pack. I have to wonder if there are others that should have gone. On NBC other station seems like all they have been showing is curling. I can't believe that many people are really interested in that sport. The ice skating is always on late at night with no replays.

 

[ashley0139]

I saw one ice dancing on network tv (NBC) since I don't have cable, before it switched to skiing. It was cross-country skiing, I think, with a course, and going up hills. I kept waiting for ice dancing to come back, but it didn't before I had to go to sleep. Hopefully I can catch the long program!

I love the Olympics and look forward to them every 2 years. However, these Olympics are really disappointing. So many of our athletes fininsh really far back in the pack. I have to wonder if there are others that should have gone. On NBC other station seems like all they have been showing is curling. I can't believe that many people are really interested in that sport. The ice skating is always on late at night with no replays.

You can watch full replays on the NBC sports app, including ice dancing.

 

[RangerPooh]

Most of the snow at all the venues has been made with snow making equipment. Take a look at the actual mountains in the back ground shots. What don't you see on them?

I noticed this early on in the games. I realize that you cannot control the weather, but the games really should be held somewhere that does receive snow. It makes me wonder if the man made snow is having an effect on some of the contestants and their abilities?

When I watch the snowboarding/half-pipe events I can't help but see white concrete and wonder how thick the snow actually is. Plus those snow making machines must be cranking it out all night.

 

[RangerPooh]

What are your thoughts on this athletes performance? https://www.yahoo.com/sports/bad-american-skier-games-system-make-olympics-070235305.html

The article said that the event is still fairly new, but is this actually one of the best athletes that this country could have sent?

 

[cabanafrau]

I noticed this early on in the games. I realize that you cannot control the weather, but the games really should be held somewhere that does receive snow. It makes me wonder if the man made snow is having an effect on some of the contestants and their abilities?

When I watch the snowboarding/half-pipe events I can't help but see white concrete and wonder how thick the snow actually is. Plus those snow making machines must be cranking it out all night.

Apparently the man made variety is preferred because of the consistency level that is possible.

I've been surprised at the lack of snow considering how cold it's been up in the mountains and how often it's been shown snowing at a pretty good clip.

 

[declansdad]

What are your thoughts on this athletes performance? https://www.yahoo.com/sports/bad-american-skier-games-system-make-olympics-070235305.html

The article said that the event is still fairly new, but is this actually one of the best athletes that this country could have sent?

Seems she was for Hungary. You have to give here credit for sticking to it.

Not the first games this type of thing happened, remember Eddie the Eagle.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I noticed this early on in the games. I realize that you cannot control the weather, but the games really should be held somewhere that does receive snow. It makes me wonder if the man made snow is having an effect on some of the contestants and their abilities?

When I watch the snowboarding/half-pipe events I can't help but see white concrete and wonder how thick the snow actually is. Plus those snow making machines must be cranking it out all night.

But the truth is manmade snow isn't an issue to athletes..at least not all of them. There can be a greater risk though of injuries due to the hardness factor of manmade snow.

Around 80% of the snow in Sochi was manmade.

My husband and I were talking about it.

Here's some information from an article I was reading:
"The manmade snow is more moist and dense, creating the desirable surface for skiers who expect a course to maintain its integrity for the full field." "high performance of skiers has contributed to demand for man-made snow." "The natural snow might be great for snowball fights or for making snow angels, but apparently it’s less conducive for world-class competition and less and less plentiful on sports’ biggest stage. That big stage is now home to a firmer-packed, manufactured snow."

The main thing though is to keep a balance between not too soft and not too hard.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I love the Olympics and look forward to them every 2 years. However, these Olympics are really disappointing. So many of our athletes fininsh really far back in the pack. I have to wonder if there are others that should have gone. On NBC other station seems like all they have been showing is curling. I can't believe that many people are really interested in that sport. The ice skating is always on late at night with no replays.

I was reading an article and a sports psychologist seemed to have the impression that at least a portion of it isn't that our athletes aren't as good but that their competitors are just better and have been getting better over time.

As for ice skating..actually some of the prime time footage is actually stuff shown earlier in the day (unless it's listed as LIVE). We record all the stuff and it's interesting how much replay some stuff can actually be in various events that they replay for prime time. Also replays can occur for me depending on the event at like 11pm-4am time frame. Also for us the Olympics is shown on two channels. It happens where an event starts on one channel and finishes on another channel.