Winter Olympics
Winter Olympics Events ...
From My Back Porch
Feb. 28, 2010
The 2010 Winter Olympics came to an official close during a closing ceremony on February 28, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. PST (8:30 p.m. EST)
The ceremony was held at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, which seats 55,000 people. The 2010 Olympic Opening and closing ceremonies are the first in Olympic history to be held indoors. The choreographer for the closing ceremonies was Jean Grand-Maitre, who is the artistic director of the Alberta Ballet.
As with the opening ceremony, the closing ceremony was broadcast live, as well as on their official Olympic website, NBCOlympics.com.
IT WAS MY PLEASURE TO COVER THE GAMES AT THE CYPRESS MOUNTAIN RESORT!
I do hope that you enjoy the results.
FEATURING
THE CANADIAN TEAM
at
CYPRESS MOUNTAIN
Cypress Mountain Competition Events - Starting Saturday, February 13, 2010
Feb.13/10 - Ladies' Moguls
Feb.14/10 - Men's Moguls
Feb.15/10 - Men's Snowboard Cross
Feb.16/10 - Women's Snowboard Cross
Feb.17/10 - Men's Snowboard Halfpike
Feb.18/10 - Women's Snowboard Halfpike
Feb.20/10 - Women's Freestyle Aerials Qualifications
Feb.21/10 - Men's Freestyle Ski Cross Qualifications to Finals
Feb.22/10 - Men's Freestyle Aerials Qualifications
Feb.23/10 - Women's Freestyle Ski Cross Qualifications to Finals
Feb.24/10 - Women's Freestyle Aerials Finals
Feb.25/10 - Men's Freestyle Aerials Finals
Feb.26/10 - Women's Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom
Feb.27/10 - Men's Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom
THE COUNTDOWN IS OVER, THE GAMES ARE OVER! From the first event at Cypress Mountain, Ladies Moguls to the last Slalom it's been a really exciting time in Vancouver and for those watching their competitors from all over the world. Stay in touch with us for news and other happenings in and around Vancouver.
Freestyle Moguls - Feb. 13/14, 2010
A relative newcomer to the Olympic Winter Games program, freestyle moguls became an Olympic medal discipline in 1992, at the Games in Albertville, France. Freestyle aerials were added for the Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Winter Games.
Athletes choose which of the three to four different lines they will ski down on the mogul course. After the start signal, they ski down a steep slope and over a series of offset large bumps (moguls) as high as 1.2 metres, spaced between three to four metres apart. There are two sets of 'air bumps', one near the top of the course, the other near the bottom, where the skiers are required to perform two different jumps of their own choice.
The goal is to ski down the course as fast as possible while performing the two jumps without technical errors or loss of balance. Different mogul jumps include the 360- to 1080-degree spins, loops (side flips), off axis jumps, back and front flips, and flips with twists. The jumps can incorporate different grabs or holds of the legs or skis. Going down the moguls, skiers need to keep their upper bodies facing straight down the hill while their lower body and skis are constantly turning. Maintaining snow contact with the skis is an important element.
All competitors participate in a qualification round. The top 20 skiers from the round move into the final with the start list in reverse order of the qualification results. The five "turn" judges award points based on the quality of the skiers' turns, making deductions for technical mistakes. The two "air" judges determine what jump was performed, how high they are off the jump, and the jump's quality. Each run is timed and compared to a pace-time set for the course, with the fast skiers being awarded more points. The skier with the highest score in the final round wins.
2010 OLYMPIC
WOMEN'S FREESTYLE MOGUL
COMPETITION
CANADIAN TEAM
Women's Freestyle Moguls - Canadian Olympic Team
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeAND THE WINNERS ARE ..
Photograph by: Jenelle Schneider, Canwest News Service
GOLD .. HANNAH KEARNEY - U.S.A.
SILVER .. JENNIFER HEIL - CANADA
BRONZE .. SHANNON BAHRKE - U.S.A.
I think that ALL of the competitors deserve a medal. That mountain was ice and the speed was beyond belief!!
Jennifer Heil - Silver Medalist
Click thumbnail to view full-size2010 OLYMPICS
MEN'S FREESTYLE MOGUL
COMPETITION
CANADIAN TEAM
Men's Freestyle Moguls - Canadian Olympic Team
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeG O L D at last! - Freestyle skier Alex Bilodeau claims GOLD
Thars GOLD in them thar Cypress Mountain hills.
Canada claimed its first-ever Olympic gold medal on home soil Sunday as freestyle skier Alex Bilodeau of Rosemere, Que., blistered the men's moguls run at Cypress Mountain and narrowly edged out top-ranked Dale Begg-Smith, who originally hails from Vancouver but was representing his adopted home of Australia.
When the final skier, Guilbaut Colas of France, had his sixth-place score flashed on the board, the Canadian crowd went crazy.
"I don't think I really realize it," Bilodeau said. "It's too good to be true."
Bilodeau, of Rosemere, Que., has topped the podium six times at previous World Cup events. The 22-year-old has often said his brother, Frederic, who has cerebral palsy, has inspired him to push his limits.
"It's really getting me right now," Bilodeau said. "My brother is my inspiration. Growing up with a handicap puts everything in perspective.
"He taught me so many things in my life. I was one of the most surrounded guys.
"I have great friends in the stands waiting for me. I've got everything on my side. Everything is perfect."
It has been nearly 34 years since the cauldron was first lit for the Summer Games in Montreal, and 22 since the last Canadian games in Calgary.
It's a moment that will be played and replayed for the next two weeks and beyond.
Though it might well have been the day's most satisfying medal, it wasn't the first. Earlier, the home-team fans showered their speedskating sweethearts with love, and promptly saw their Valentine's Day affections requited with a bronze medal from Ottawa long-tracker Kristina Groves.
AND THE WINNERS ARE ..
Photo Credit: Mark Blinch, Reuters
GOLD .. Alexandre Bilodeau - CANADA
SILVER .. Dale Begg-Smith - AUSTRALIA
BRONZE .. Bryon Wilson - USA
I've been said it before and I'll say it again. They are ALL winners in my book.
Alexandre Bilodeau - from Rosemere, Que. - Canada's First GOLD Medalist - 2010 Winter Games
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeSkiing Moguls - And here's how it is done - just like Alex.
What is the Snowboard Cross (SBX) ?
Snowboard Cross
Snowboard cross courses are typically quite narrow and includes cambered turns, gap jumps, berms, drops, and steep and flat sections designed to challenge the riders' ability to stay in control. It is not uncommon for racers to collide with each other. Some observers have compared the sport to short track speed skating because of the amount of contact involved. The name and the riders' full-face helmets show the sport's influence by motorcross.
The first ever Snowboard cross event was held in the Spring of 1991 at Blackcomb Mt. BC. Steve Rechtschaffner and Greg Stump staged the event, to film as the final episode of their "Greg Stump's World of Extremes" TV show that they were doing for FOX TV. The idea for the event, the format and rules came from Rechtschaffner, along with the designing and building of the course. Stump's business manager John Graham coined the term "Boarder Cross", which everyone adopted. Rechtschaffner then went on to help build courses for people across N. America for the next few years, helping to spread the reach of the event. Later on, Erik Kalacis staged the first professional Snowboard cross series, called The Kokanee Cross, in Canada.
To view more visit: Snowboard Cross
2010 OLYMPICS
MEN'S SNOWBOARD CROSS
CANADIAN TEAM
Men's Snowboard Cross - Feb. 15, 2010
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeAND THE WINNERS ARE ..
Photo Credit: Mark Blinch, Reuters
GOLD .. Seth Wescott of U.S.A.
SILVER .. Mike Robertson of CANADA
BRONZE .. TONY RAMOIN of FRANCE
All are friends and proud owners of a 2010 Winter Games medal.
Mike Robertson - Canada's Silver Medalist
The second-place finisher, Mike Robertson (Canadian Olympian), said he thought he had the win sewn up. He had good reason as he executed whoops, waves, banks, spines and kickers in a NASCAR-like race to the finish and didn't feel anyone near him - a rare sensation in a sport where contact is almost always a turn away. He mistimed one of five jumps that came in quick succession near the bottom and soon found himself being passed.
"I thought I was in control for sure," he said. "I thought I had a chance to win it. But as soon as I came up short on that jump, I knew someone was going to pass me."
It's still a nice result for the Robertson, who won Canada's fourth medal of the games.
These races are must-see TV, NASCAR on ice, some crazy crash or unpredictable stumble lurking behind every one of those bumps and jumps and, on this course, even a few ledges to keep everybody honest.
2010 OLYMPICS
WOMEN'S SNOWBOARD CROSS
CANADIAN TEAM
Women's Snowboard Cross - Feb. 16, 2010
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeAND THE WINNERS ARE ..
Photo Credit: Mark Blinch, Reuters
GOLD .. Maelle Ricker - CANADA
SILVER .. Deborah Anthonioz - FRANCE
BRONZE .. Olivia Nobs - Switzerland
Canadian Maelle Ricker .. - Brings Home Gold
Maelle Ricker roared down Cypress Mountain and became the first Canadian woman to claim gold on home soil.
In the four-racer final, Ricker led from start to finish. She gained a comfortable lead early and simply had to stay on her feet to achieve her golden dream. A few fans gasped when Ricker appeared to wobble and put her hand in the snow just before the final jump, but the Ricker stayed on course.
Four years ago, Ricker was the vanquished. She entered the Olympic final with the fastest qualifying time, but crashed early in the race and had to be airlifted to hospital in Turin.
Before the Olympics opened, Ricker joked that she still couldn't remember parts of the 2006 race.
On Tuesday, she rebounded with a performance that we'll never forget.
Dominique Maltais of Que., who won bronze in Turin, failed to qualify for the top 16. She went off course in her first run, then wiped out at the bottom of a jump on her second run. It rained and snowed a bit so the conditions were really rough.
Champion Maelle Ricker - Photos - Snowboard Cross
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeWomen's Snowboard Cross Finals - 2010 Olympics - Vancouver
What is the Snowboard Half-pipe?
A half-pipe is a structure used in gravity extreme sports such as snowboarding. Originally half-pipes were simply half sections of a large pipe. Since the 1980s, half-pipes have had extended flat ground (the flat bottom) added between the quarterpipes; the original-style half-pipes have become deprecated. The flat ground gives the athlete time to regain balance after landing and more time to prepare for the next trick.
For winter sports such as freestyle skiing or snowboarding, a half-pipe can be dug out of the ground or created by piling snow up. (Unfortunately, the snow the Cypress bowl usually accumulates is not there this year.)
The plane of the transition is oriented downhill at a slight grade to allow riders to use gravity to develop speed.
Performance in a half pipe has been rapidly increasing over recent years. The current limit performed by a top level athlete for a rotational trick in a halfpipe is 1440 degrees (4 full 360 degree rotations). In top level competitions rotation is generally limited to improve 'style and flow'.
2010 OLYMPICS
MEN'S SNOWBOARD
HALF-PIPE
CANADIAN TEAM
Men's Snowboard Half-pipe - February 17, 2010
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeAND THE WINNERS ARE ..
GOLD .. Shaun White of U.S.A.
SILVER .. Peetu Piiroinen of FINLAND
BRONZE .. Scott Lago of U.S.A.
Shaun White deserves his spot on this lens. His "safety run" was good enough to move him into first place and his first-run score of 46.8 held for the remainder of the competition, ending in 48.4 out of a total of 50.
Champion Shaun White of U.S.A. - Photos - riding high!!!
Click thumbnail to view full-size2010 OLYMPICS
WOMEN'S SNOWBOARD
HALF-PIPE
CANADIAN TEAM
Women's Snowboard Half-pipe - Feb.18, 2010
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeAND THE WINNERS ARE ..
GOLD .. Torah Bright - AUSTRALIA
SILVER .. Hannah Teter - USA
BRONZE .. Kelly Clark - USA
And here's how the half-pipe is done. - Looks easy .. yah right!
Ski Cross - An exciting sport
New to the Olympic sport program, a "mass start" appeal of ski cross sets the stage for fast and exciting competition.
The ski cross course, designed to test skiers' skills, incorporates turns in a variety of types and sizes, flat sections and traverses, as well as rolls, banks and ridges similar to those found on a normal ski slope.
Physical endurance and strength play a key role in ski cross as athletes ski four to five runs lasting 60 seconds or longer.
A timed qualification run is used to place skiers into different heats, of four skiers each. The starting device signals the athletes to begin racing down the course. The start, as well as the first sections before the first turn, are critical parts of the course, as passing can easily occur here. While other passing areas are designated on the course, interference with other skiers can lead to an athlete's disqualification.
Each race is limited to four starters. The top half of the finishing field then moves on to the next round in a series of quarter, semi and final rounds.
During each heat, the first two competitors to cross the finish line advance to the next heat, while the last two competitors are ranked based on qualification times. The "big final" round determines which athletes place first to fourth, while the "small final" determines those who rank from fifth to eighth place.
2010 OLYMICS
MEN'S SKI CROSS
CANADIAN TEAM
Men's Ski Cross Qualifications to Finals - Feb. 21, 2010
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeAND THE WINNERS ARE ..
GOLD .. Michael Schmid - SWITZERLAND
SILVER .. Andreas Matt - AUSTRIA
BRONZE .. Audun Groenvold - NORWAY
2010 OLYMPICS
WOMEN'S SKI CROSS
CANADIAN TEAM
Women's Ski Cross Qualifications to Finals - Feb. 23, 2010
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeAND THE WINNERS ARE ..
GOLD .. Ashleigh McIvor - CANADA
SILVER .. Hedda Bernstsen - NORWAY
BRONZE .. Marion Josserand - FRANCE
Ski Cross Gallery - Just a bit of Ski Cross.
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeVery exciting to watch! - Winter X Games 2010 Ski Cross
A nail-biting exhibition of Ski Cross!
Aerial Skiing - My favorite!
Somersault jump in freestyle skiing
Aerials are the most exciting of the freestyle ski events to watch. Skiers will fly off jumps or kickers at speeds of 35 miles (60 km) per hour, fly up to 50 feet in the air and perform multiple somersaults, backflips and twists, before landing on a 34 to 39-degree inclined landing hill about 100 feet in length. The top male aerialists can currently perform triple back flips with up to four or five twists. Quadruple back flips have been performed by five men: Frank Bare, Matt Chojnaki, Elijah Cox, Eric Bergoust and Nicholas Fontaine. Currently quad flips are not legal in competition.
Scoring
Aerial skiing is a judged sport, and competitors are judged on jump takeoff. (20%), jump form (50%) and landing (30%). A degree of difficulty (DD) is then factored in for a total score.
2010 OLYMPICS
WOMEN'S FREESTYLE AERIALS
CANADIAN TEAM
Canadian Freestyle Aerialist - Veronika Baur
Veronica Bauer of Toronto is the only Aerialist on the Canadian Team. Vancouver will mark Bauer's third Olympics, finishing 10th in Salt Lake City and 12th at Torino. She has been on the podium 18 times in World Cup events and was the 2001 world champion. Her progress this year has been hampered by a concussion suffered last winter.
And The Winners Are
GOLD .. Lydia Lassila - AUSTRALIA
SILVER .. Nina Li - CHINA
BRONZE .. Xinxin Guo - CHINA
Freestyle Aerial Skiing Gallery
Click thumbnail to view full-size2010 OLYMPICS
MEN'S FREESTYLE AERIALS
CANADIAN TEAM
Men's Freestyle Aerials - Feb. 25, 2010
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeAnd The Winners Are
GOLD .. Alexei Grishin - BELARUS
SILVER .. Jeret Peterson - USA
BRONZE .. Zhongqing Liu - CHINA
Men's Freestyle Aerial Skiing Gallery
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeAnd here is how Freestyle Aerials are done. - My Favorite - Steve Omischl
Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom - WOW! Exciting!
Parallel Giant Slalom has two competitors boarding against each other down two parallel courses on the same slope. Gates are used in Slalom competitions and have an outside pole and an inside pole. The outside pole is 70 inches high and the inside pole 8 inches high. The two poles will be 51 inches apart. There is a flag between the two poles and the boarder will go around the gate on the side of the small pole. The boarder must clear the gate and not go through it. If a rider misses a gate, they are allowed to go back and complete the gate, if they don't they will be disqualified. A fall will not result in a boarder being disqualified unless they miss a gate.
The competition begins with a qualification round. It will be from this field that the riders will be matched to race each other. The boarder who brakes the tape first after two runs, will go on to the next round.
The Parallel Giant Slalom event replaced both men and women's Giant Slalom events at Salt Lake City games in 2002.
The difference between Parallel Giant Slalom and Giant Slalom is that in Parallel Giant Slalom the boarders race against each other but in Giant Slalom they race against the clock.
2010 OLYMPICS
WOMEN'S SNOWBOARD
PARALLEL GIANT SLALOM
CANADIAN TEAM
Women's Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom - Feb. 26, 2010
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeAnd The Winners Are
GOLD .. Nicolien Sauerbreij - NETHERLANDS
SILVER .. Ekaterina Ilyukhina - RUSSIA
BRONZE .. Marion Kreiner - AUSTRIA
2010 OLYMPICS
MEN'S SNOWBOARD
PARALLEL GIANT SLALOM
CANADIAN TEAM
Men's Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom - Feb. 27, 2010
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeAnd The Winners Are
GOLD .. Jasey-Jay Anderson - CANADA
SILVER .. Benjamin Karl - AUSTRIA
BRONZE .. Mathieu Bozzetto - FRANCE
Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom - Here's How it's done
GALLERY:
CANADA'S OLYMPIC
MEDALISTS
Canada's Gold Medalists
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeMore Gold Medalists
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeCanada's Silver Medalists
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeCanada's Bronze Medalists
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeWhere Have All The Red Mittens Gone? - Can you buy them still?
Photo: Courtesty of Dj Hart of The Canada Red Mitten Shop
Fans were lined up to buy "THE" Red Mittens of the Vancouver Olympics. Some lin the line-up were buying a dozen at a time. I think many were buying them as a collector item. Although there was much memorabilia for sale, nothing, but NOTHING sold like the mittens. Old skin-flint me even bought a couple pair. One pair for me and one pair for a friend. Mine got lost the very first day I wore them, but my friend still has hers.
I was wondering if there were any for sale on eBay, OR, OR ??? I couldn't find anywhere to buy them and I had almost given up when, I found a place that has some. They even have glow in the dark red mittens! The place to buy this little red bit of memory is: The Canada Red Mitten Shop
When everyone else's are either lost or worn out you'll be able to sport your brand new Red Canada Mittens. They are pretty neat to have.
Happy Snowboarding - Learn how to do it better.
Whether you are an Olympic contender or just learning to snowboard there is something here for everyone.
Spotlight on Olympic Vancouver - You can participate.
Artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is shining another kind of spotlight on Olympic Vancouver. Internet participants can help program 10 different 10,000-watt searchlights as part of the installation called "Vectorial Elevation."
I was wondering about the significance of these lights. I thought they were only placed in Vancouver for the Olympics. Who is responsible for the varied patterns? View the video for more information on the beautiful light displays.
This lens uses Webfetti
THANK YOU WEBFETTI .......
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Here is how to start.
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Just Click Here to begin...open a free account and start your own "lens" here on squidoo on a topic of your choice.
Olympia the Snowwoman:
A 122 feet, 1 inch high, new Guinness world record-breaking snowman (woman) was made in Bethel, Maine.
Photo Credit: Licenced under the Creative Commons Attribtion 2D Generic by: Chris Darling
It was fun, putting it all together. It is really helped me to understand more about snowboarding which I've never tried. I think that I'll stick with skiing. Snowboarding looks very difficult by comparison.
I'LL GIVE YOU A MEDAL IF YOU LEAVE A COMMENT. :D