Passing the torch

Closing Ceremonies

It started off well, with a clever jibe about the failed fourth torch, and Catriona Le May Doan reappearing to finally light the torch. The medal ceremony for the 50k cross country event early in the day was also a nice touch, especially since it was overshadowed by the USA/Canada game.

Rough around the edges

Starting off with silly dancers holding snowboards looking like aimless children with little to do felt amateur. Or the three singers hydraulically lifted on three pillars facing only the athletes, leaving the rest of the audience out of the loop. Some ideas were clever, the idea of massive foosball hockey board was hilarious as the little boy dressed as a large black puck ran between the hockey player cutouts. Michael Buble had a nice rendition with the slutty Canadian mounties, and the crowd went wild with Michael J. Fox's appearance.

Unfortunately it went downhill from there. I absolutely detested all the "comedy". I love Catherine O'Hara and Michael J. Fox, even Shatner is fun, but give them something actually funny to say! The "I am Canadian" monologues were dull and lifeless. The imagery up above fell flat, which is surprising since... Canada "claims" quite a few talented comedians, filmmakers, and animators. Perhaps it would've been more fitting if they spoke of the events, hardships, endurance, nature, and the essence of why the human race pushes themselves to greater heights. Why can't we just make a great show without all the cliché Canadian symbols? Floating moose, ugly floating beavers, weird Maple leaf girls in a mermaid/worm body bag as they floated up high?

It looked like a bloody Molson Canadian beer commercial!! (not quite as slick)

Sadly most of the singers didn't come out until the very end, when NBC and many other networks cut the show off. Michael Buble at least appeared to be singing live (perhaps he was for part of the time). Tomorrow I imagine Canadian newspapers will be fuming over the IOC chief Rogge's comment that Vancouver hosted an "excellent and very friendly games", taken as a slight(you could hear booing). Of course, he's never proclaimed the Olympic games to be the "best ever" like his predecessor Juan Antonia Samaranch, but he had a far better description for previous hosts. Beijing was "exceptional" (it really was), Salt Lake City "Flawless", Torino was "Magnificient" and Athens was "unforgettable, dream Games". What can you do?

C'est la vie.

A golden wrap up

Canada is in a state of joy with the sweet golden victory over United States in men's hockey. Winning 3-2 overtime the overburdened NHL players can heave a sigh of relief and enjoy the closing ceremonies with no regrets. Many are off to work tomorrow, and will likely be exhausted and slightly hungover from tonight's party celebrations but I'm sure they'll all say it was worth it.

Amazing moments

- Joannie Rochette's bronze win was greater than gold. Her stellar performance in the wake of her family's sudden loss after her mother's heart attack during the games.

- Those red mittens were a great idea. Um, maybe they aren't necessary in Vancouver (being warm and sunny and all...) but in the rest of the country they are definitely warm.

- Shaun White's fantastic second run when he was guaranteed the gold. Double McTwist 1260!

- Slovenia's Petra Majdic's bronze performance despite being bruised and battered with five broken ribs. That's just crazy.

- Simon Ammann's two golds in ski jump. Will women get to jump in 2014? Not sure yet but it would be double the fun! Guy has hilarious sun glasses.

- Lots o' people in speed skating. Shani Davis for being a truly eloquent and elegant winner (and silver medalist), and Sven Kramer's fantastic 5000 m and his gracious statement that he takes responsibility for his 10,000m mistake (not to blame the coach since... well if you fired every coach that made a mistake... there would be no coaches). That deserves the gold for sportsmanship and humility.

- USA's the night train for bobsled!

- Redemption for Kevin Martin and crew for their gold medal win!

- Kim Yu-Na's majestic performance. Queen indeed.

- Hannah Kearney's flawless performance in women's moguls more than makes up for her disappointing 2006 experience.

- Norway for kicking our ass in cross country skiing. Um... today's performance was crazy.

- Ole einar Bjoernadlen (wow... now that's a name) of Norway's gold and silver medal haul in Biathlon... the true military I-can-chase-you-down-and-kill-you sport.

- The lethal Korean team who kicked our ass in short track speed skating. Apolo Ohno for now having eight medals... zowie!

- Older (not really but by figure skating standards!) pair, China's Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo winning the gold that has eluded them for so long. They deserve a really nice retirement.

Lessons to be learned

Canada should be proud of their athletes, and should take their cue by being graceful winners. Don't crow too loudly. The Gold medal count may soothe the committee's overly large egos for the medal shortfall in their arrogant "own the podium" campaign, but it also left a rather negative view of Canada to our foreign guests.

What is with Prime Minister Harper attending so many Olympic events when he CLOSED DOWN PARLIAMENT?!! Sorry but I don't recall it being a leader's job to stop work just so he could go on a PAID vacation by the rest of us.

Luge death? Pointing fingers this way and that. Budget cuts, blaming the designer, pretending that warnings never came, and Officials dodging blame by stating it was Nodar Kumaritashvili's human error on the track. TERRIBLE. Not one apology to Nodar Kumaritashvili's family.

Overall we all need to be thankful. With the shocking 8.8 earthquake in Chile, the death toll is now 700+. It feels rather... strange and inappropriate to celebrate a sporting event win. True heroes will be made in the next few days down there, as they try to salvage what they've lost and mourn those that will be gone forever.

Hockey Fever

The Stephen Colbert crowd became indignant when NBC's Bob Costas honestly gave his opinion of why the Winter Olympics were of little interest to many Americans. Should that be very surprising? If you live in the balmy sunshine and have never seen a dash of snow how could you relate? Even worse, he didn't "pander" (as Colbert said it) to the crowd to claim Vancouver as the best Olympic host nation. The audience booed him, and has been slagging him, Colbert, Americans, and the British media on a great deal of forums, site commentary, and blogs showcasing that Canada doesn't lack a few ignorant overly sensitive individuals who can't take a joke.

As happy as I am that Canada is doing well... right now a few friends are getting unbearably smug about the Canadian women's hockey team's victory over USA, and will be absolutely intolerable if we win men's hockey as well. Yet, how many teams actually competed in women's hockey? It's not much of a competition unless a lot of countries can actually kick your ass.

Am I the only one that doesn't think it's not that big of a deal? That's as bad as USA claiming to be the world's best at baseball. Of course they are, none of the other countries care! To be truly impartial, to claim bragging rights as "world's best" you need to win the most popular sport in the world... SOCCER and nothing else. Poor countries, short people, tall people, even war torn countries can make a decent team and do well.

This year the world cup will take place in South Africa (link here to FIFA link), and is probably one of the oldest sports in the world. It's simple enough, and can be traced back to 1004 B.C. Japan and China and also during the Roman empire. The early Olympic games in Rome featured a fifty minute game of fifty four men scrambling to score a goal.

Over 33 million people tune into the 25 day (or more) sporting event, making it more popular than the Olympics, and is even bigger than baseball, American football and basketball combined!

In a way all of these events are a friendly way (usually) to be patriotic. To live vicariously through our athletes as a way of stress relief, fantasy or just plain escapism. Honking horns, waving flags, getting smashed with a few strangers at a local pub, all add to the fever of excitement every once in a while. It's a non-stop party downtown... the euphoria is an all time high, as the lead up to the gold medal hockey game Canada vs. USA reaches a fever pitch. For those poor athletes who haven't gotten much sleep in the village... be happy your events are done, a gold medal will guarantee chaos.

Defeat the World!

Despite disappointments, whining, and shocking results (poor Sven Kramer) for the past few weeks, you can feel the Olympics winding down. Bobsled, hockey and women's figure skating are the big events wrapping up the competition with a bang. Airing right now are The Colbert's Report episodes taped in Vancouver, "Cold war on ice". (comedy network link) The American speed skating team definitely have been accommodating as Colbert plays the role as "Assistant Sport Psychologist", adding a great laugh to the whole event.

Sort of strange to watch the show on an outdoor set where it's sunny and the crowd are wearing.. err.. spring jackets. Shooting near the Cambie Bridge and Science Centre, I'd take his 'Vancouverage' over anything else.

Je ne sais quoi

What is it? To have that thing about you, "I don't know what"... some people have it, others fade into history. Very few athletes will launch their careers from their new found success, and after the party ends life will go back to normal. A gold doesn't guarantee fame. Looks, attitude and universal appeal can be spun into greater fortune, but only for a select few.

Lindsey Vonn's girl next door charm, Shaun White's fiery mop as he jumps into new heights, Johnny Weir's theatrical personality, Sven Kramer's Ken doll appeal, Simon Amman's childlike zest, and the elegant beauty of Kim Yu-Na (left). They have something more, otherwise many gold medalists would also draw multi million dollar endorsement deals and maintain the public curiosity. Shining brighter than the rest, they aren't so different from celebrity singers, actors, and politicians who have captured the public's imagination.

Will we see the next Sergei Grinkov and Ekaterina Gordeeva? Hermann Maier?

As the Olympic celebration nears the end, you can be sure you'll see a few of these faces grace the covers of magazines, clothing ads, and televisions spots. Keeping their eye on the prize, they just need to remember to keep their edge without spinning out of control. The public are a fickle lot and we don't forgive easily.

TIME World - Life after the Glory

Red and white

What a day...

OOOOhhh.. The Americans thumped our asses in hockey tonight. Granville street must now be up to its ears in depressed drunks tonight. Nothing is sadder than seeing hockey fans cry, even worse when they vomit along the sidewalk area adding a decided stench. I didn't watch the game (yes, I know that's very un-Canadian of me), I'm one of the few who prefers to watch the more obscure sports that involve superhuman guts, endurance, and a bit of artistic flair.

I'm really liking the Olympic outfits lately, makes me want to shop online for a new set of snow pants and mittens. It's incredible how much a country spends on uniforms, not to mention figure skating costumes that look like a cross between a trashy 70's disco outfit and a show girls jumpsuit.

Canada (Virtue, and Moir) has done very well in the ice dance short program and sadly Joannie Rochette has lost her mother recently (She's still determined to compete, I wish her & family the best). Bode finally won his much deserved and earned gold medal in combined, and a phenomenal Slovenian, Petra Majdic won bronze (a few days ago) despite a horrible fall where she fell into a gully. Vancouver shouldn't crow too loudly (since they are still simmering over the International media criticism) just yet since the Slovenian Olympic Committee is considering legal action against the winter Olympics for poor safety precautions that ended with Majdic taken to the hospital with four broken ribs and a collapsed lung. It's been up and down, but that's life. The question is whether everyone can cope with disappointment and get back onto the horse and try again.

It's still on loan

Canada's "Own The Podium" campaign (who in the heck came up with that silly slogan?) is starting to backfire. Nate Holland playfully quipped about Canada's new found ambition to take home medals, "They can take the thing home. We'll just rent it for the month." The Americans still have it on loan, along with the Dutch, Swiss, and Norwegians.

A lot of my friends (myself as well) across the country were really surprised about the "Own the podium" campaign and funding program. None of us ever expect Canada to win most of the golds. We're usually happy if we win a few surprise events (like the men's skeleton a few days ago) and hope for a gold in hockey but not much further than that. I cringed when the Canadian officials boasted about a home advantage, declaring their expectations to rack up medals in downhill, speed skating, and figure skating. The thing is, you don't expect athletes to win UNLESS they have been continually winning in World Cup and World Championships and I've never known of a Canadian skier or skater to dominate the circuit. It's unfair that our media keeps slagging the athletes, burdening them with unrealistic expectations because you really never know what will happen. It takes years to build a strong team and even then you aren't guaranteed victory. Athletes need to be cultivated young, and supported through the years as they gain experience in World events giving them the opportunity to peak at the right time. You can't just suddenly inject cash and expect results. What the hell is that? Continual support is needed, helping those who normally struggle to make ends meet. Unfortunately after this it's already been announced that the Canadian program will no longer continue. Pathetic.

Don't shoot me, but I sort of wouldn't mind the government eating a bit humble pie. The Brits and Swedes have beaten us in curling before, the Russians, Americans, Czech, Finnish, Swedes can kick butt in hockey, and pretty much every country can win figure skating. We're a country of a mere 30 million individuals, it's simple math.

Gold or nothing? That's not the Canadian way and never should be.

So far, Americans Own The Podium

Morrison blames Own the Podium following 1,500m loss

Games are changing the way the world views Canada

Syrup suckers invite

The Colbert Report

The SWEETEST arrival must be satirist Stephen Colbert, who has been filming two of his shows The Colbert Report (on the Comedy Network), in the downtown area (see here). Lampooning Canadians for months about our hoggish ways, he's interviewed Michael Buble and cheered his Olympic speed skating team from the bleachers. Calling us "syrup-suckers", "ice-holes" and "Saskatche-whiners" for months, he was welcomed with cheers by his beaver lovin' northern cousins.

"We'll bring snow because I don't think Vancouver has any..."

Staying true to character as a right-wing nut bar Republican, he has helped raise $300,000 when the U.S. speed skating team lost it's Dutch sponsor (wow, they had Dutch sponsors? They really love their sport), and added a great deal of exposure to the event which is usually overshadowed by the more glamorous events. The U.S. curling team has also been featured on his show (watch here, for Canucks), Bobsledding and skeleton where he wore a red condom outfit, and of course his hilarious race against speed demon Shani Davis on his late night show where he earned his place as their "assistant sport psychologist" for the U.S. Olympic speed skating team.

The "ice-holes", City of Richmond responded with a tongue and cheek letter of equal condescending wit, extending an olive branch by inviting him to Vancouver as their "oval ombudsman". Written by Ted Townsend, he began the letter with "Dear cousin"... here are some of his exerts in the letter.

"As a proud syrup sucker, I am saddened that you would cast aspersions on Canadians as part of your otherwise laudable quest to assist the cash-strapped American speedskating team."

"We have always welcomed our friends from south of the border with open arms (well, except in 1812). In fact we've always fondly considered you as our American 'cousins' and politely tolerated you, even when you were in an imperialistic mood."

"You might have noticed that us syrup-suckers are big on rules and regulating things; that's how we got universal public medicare,"

"We suggest you start the training for your new position now. A good start would be to acclimatize yourself by drinking at least one litre (oops, sorry, make that a quart, I forgot that you Americans don't do metric) of radiator antifreeze fluid per day."

Signed as "Chief syrup sucker" Townsend included a pink tuque with the letter as part of his uniform during the games.

Bring it on!

The Wizard

One part of the Swiss team (The Butcher and Iceman being the other two nation heroes)...

Simon the Wizard does it again! The suicidal ski jumpers are celebrating the Swiss wonder's latest victory on the medal podium and added one more gold on the Large Hill. Four is a nice even number.

A slight damper from the Austrians who have accused the golden boy of pulling a fast one with his bindings. I haven't a clue why bindings matter, doesn't equipment evolve as fast as the sporting events do?

Shani Davis of the U.S. has also added a silver to his collection in the 1,500 m upset. The Dutch must be going nuts, however Davis still holds the world record.

fashion week?

When did the Olympics turn into a big commercial to advertise athlete's goods? I definitely loved the Harlequin pattern French snowboarding jackets along with their fun Inspector Clouseau moustache paint job. I did notice that each competitor flashed their snowboard design at the cameras as they awaited scores... showcasing their personal design or plugging their sponsors? I guess every one is an entrepreneur.

Sweet victory

USA got the sweetest taste of victory today with three gold medals from favoured athletes who were definitely able to deliver. Not folding to the pressure, Lindsey Vonn along with her compatriot Julia Mancuso went one and two in women's downhill. Shani Davis also won his first gold (so far) this olympics in the 1000 m.

The most spectacular win was Shaun White's performance. Guaranteed the gold after only his first run (like last time) with a score 46.8, he took his victory lap even further and performed his dangerous signature move, the spiralling Double McTwist 1260 on his second run, and bested his earlier score with a 48.4.

Wow, talk about putting on a show. Very glad he was willing to do that... he could've just walked down the pipe to collect his much deserved gold.

That's Olympic spirit.

Woe is me

Bad ice. A strike in the Vancouver airport. Nineteen people injured at the free concert (Live Nation). Biathlon Union complaints. Ceremony glitch. Near-Miss. Protestors. And worst of all, a death. Mother nature has certainly not helped Vancouver's luck these past few days in what has been dubbed (by the British media) the Worst Winter Olympic Games, or Glitch Games by some. And it's not even over yet!

So far I've read a lot of Vancouver news sources, many saying that the international press is overblowing the situation, but I think VANOC needs to own up a bit. After all when someone dies even before the games begin, you can't sweep that under the rug like many issues in Vancouver.

To add a bit of humour to the situation, it's pretty fitting that the torch design has been nicknamed the "The Olympic Toke". Most locals are pretty mellow about the stigma, after all, Vancouver is one of the major production areas for illegal marijuana.

I'm not particularly surprised about the weather, many people were worried about the lack of snow for the past few years and it's a common concern in most host countries. Indoor bad ice is another story.

Canada can't make good ice? Say what?! WTF?!

I sort of feel like things are upside down. Montreal should've gotten the winter Olympics and Vancouver the summer Olympics. Am I wrong? Vancouver usually gets particularly temperate weather in the summer months and Montreal/Quebec City (the most beautiful Canadian city) would rarely lack snow.

Well Vancouver might as well enjoy the party while it lasts, after the buzz wears off all they will be left with is a nice large bill. Ka-ching! London, you're headache is still to come. I'm sure Vancouver can't wait to pass the torch over.

London's Guardian - Vancouver Games continue downhill slide from disaster to calamity

Chicago Sun Times - Winter games a misnomer due to Vancouver weather

The Globe and Mail - Brunt: VANOC, the truth hurts

Associated Press - A glitch for every gold at the Vancouver Games

waterlogged

Ka-ching? Nope. Talk about taking a hit where it hurts. Mother nature is playing havoc all over North America right now and a great deal of Olympic events are feeling the pinch. Hoping for some decent weather Vancouver has had to issue a number of rain checks and full refunds for cancelled or delayed events.

The events will go ahead, but Tuesday's announcement means a total 28,000 tickets in the venue have been eliminated, causing a $1.5-million hit to VANOC ticket revenues. The tickets cost between $50 and $65.

Vancouver isn't alone. Hong Kong's Chinese New Year festivities have been rained out and Washington is a white wonderland, shutting down all government buildings.

Iceman

I'm far from an expert on whether or not Dale Begg-Smith should have won the gold medal. Known as the "Iceman" the self made millionaire freestyler is known to be shy towards the media, rarely exhibiting emotions... even when he wins. Recently bested by Canadian Alexandre Bilodeau, the defending Olympic gold medalist Dale Begg-Smith has been recently criticized for his "icy" behaviour toward the Canadian media. Originally born in Vancouver, Begg-Smith left Canada for Australia at fifteen years old after Canadian freestyle ski officials objected to him pursuing interests outside of competitive skiing. Hm.. well all the power to him. Since then he has left a lasting imprint in freestyle skiing and remained a lead in the world rankings.

"I think it was great that Canada won gold and the crowd was really happy with it and everybody went crazy," Begg-Smith said. "We're out there to put on a show. Obviously everybody enjoyed what they saw and were really happy with the outcome of it." - NBC

Feeling snubbed, many Canadians have criticized his cool behaviour after winning silver on Sunday... but then again, are silver medalists usually that happy? A great deal of Canadians are irritated with him, but I do remember him in Turin.. and uh.. he was just the same... and he won gold! So relax people. I think he's just different, does things at his own pace, and is one of the few individuals who just doesn't give a damn. He's even known to avoid sponsorship because of the media obligations and unwanted exposure that would undoubtably follow. Iceman indeed.

On a happier note, an unexpected silver medal can be added to our count. Underdog Mike Robertson won a surprise silver with defending Olympic gold medalist Wescott winning another gold! The French team, favoured to win did not make it to the finals.

Redemption of the darkhorse

Jennifer Heil won silver!

Although many people find it disappointing I think it's been a year of redemption for quite a few Olympians who have "choked" under pressure but risen to the challenge this year. America's Hannah Kearney was a favourite in 2006, Torino (Jennifer Heil won gold that year) and has finally fulfilled her dream. Her performance was flawless. Canada has finally won our first gold with a stunning display of daring by Alexandre Bilodeau beating the Aussie Dale Begg-Smith (who is actually also Canadian.. a Vancouver born native), the defending gold medalist. Sven Kramer finally won his much deserved gold for the 5000 m after a disappointing result in 2006 Torino and is looking to add two more, wiping away any remaining bitter memories of the past. Simon Ammann has won his third gold after a disappointing result in 2006, and China's Shen Xue and Zhau Hongbo have come out of retirement, currently leading the short program and primed to break the infallible Russian powerhouse.

I'm sure Lindsey Jacobellis will be looking to dominate her event, and wash away her foolish mistake from the 2006 Torino games. This is the year.

Flying superman

And he takes it again. Normal hill ski jumping Swiss superstar Simon Ammann takes his third Gold medal, the first of the Olympics. I was wondering if he could possibly repeat and out distance the incredible jump from Polish jumper Adam Malysz... and yes he did.

Unbelievable. Certainly doesn't buckle under pressure.

Large Hill next.

Opening with a bang pt. 2

Oops!
What it should've looked like..(more on Huffington Post)

How hard is it to test the most important part of the Opening ceremonies? A malfunction? You must be kidding me. I was horrified to watch Catrina Le May-Doan the two time Olympic gold medalist stand there in limbo. It doesn't bode well that at the MOST important point of the event... we ... choked. I hope it's not a sign of what's to come. (left, Norway's team...)

Overall it went over without a hitch. The best sequence being the snowboarding aerialist zip through the Olympic hoop and the worst being the poem "We Are More" (transcript here) and bad lip-syncing. I was very disappointed with their choice of musicians... Feist, Arcade Fire, and even Celine Dion could've brought the crowd to a roar. Well no point dwelling on what's done. Day 2 has begun and my fingers are crossed for Jennifer Heil in Moguls!

Gotta say I feel sorry for the athletes who were all in winter gear when the event was indoors, a balmy warm temperature!

(Powerhouse Norway below)

A rocky start

Not a very good start to the winter games. With the tragic death of Georgia's Nodar Kumaritashvili, a 21 year old Olympian who died yesterday training on the luge track, the Olympics is already a bit off kilter.

Have we gone too far?

Pushing the speed of 90 mph on the new $100 million track, the luger went high in a corner, and his sled swooped out from under him causing him to rocket into air and into a thick metal pillar. Many are questioning the design of the Whistler track that has been labelled by many as the most difficult track ever designed. A few countries, including the U.S. have been upset over restrictions for access to the facility by nations other than Canada.

This isn't the only sport that may have a few nasty crashes. Many of the snowboarders have been pushing the envelop in speed, difficulty... and danger. Shaun White, a U.S. gold medal favourite has a possible back to back double corks and a double McTwist 1260 trick in competition. Although it would be incredible if he accomplished the feat in his event, I wouldn't ever want it to be at the risk of his health... or life. The tragedy is a harsh reminder of how dangerous some of these sports are.

Who would've thought Canadians could be such hogs...

Vying for access to the newly built Olympic facilities is old news to me, daily papers have reported complaints of unfair seniority to Canadian teams for the past year. It seems that Canada's spoiled ways may come to bite us in the ass, but then again I imagine every host country pulling the same stunts to boost their chances for a medal. I'm just hoping that the group organizing this event has dotted all the i's and crossed all the t's, because if anything happens like this again, it's not going to be pretty. In the end, perhaps it's the spirit of the Olympics, to push the boundaries of what mankind is capable of... but are we tempting fate?

Fearless endurance pt. 3

Skating, downhill, and hockey maybe the superstar sports but I'm a particular fan of the X games. This is probably the Americans biggest chance to gather medals because lets face it, Norway and Russia will be the powerhouse countries in the next few weeks.

Snowboarding, which includes (men & women's) the Parallel Giant Slalom, Half pipe, and Snowboard Cross are truly fun events to watch, especially the Half pipe. Canada does have one or two medal hopefuls, but this year United States are the ones to beat... and even worse... none of the these athletes tend to choke when the pressure is on. In fact, they thrive on it.

Parallel giant Slalom

Not only did Canada take the first men's gold medal, but Ross Rebagliati was caught smoking pot. A lot of us laugh since.. well he's from B.C. and a SNOWBOARDER. Surprised? Nobody is. In a reversal of roles Tyler Jewell and Michelle Gorgone are USA's biggest hopefuls but lack intimidation factor of the halfpipe team members and not particularly favoured to win. Austria's Siegfried Grabner, Germany's Phillip Schoch, and Canada's Jasey-Jay Anderson are considered the favourites for men. Canada's Maelle Ricker will have her country behind her in the ladies category.

Half pipe

Shaun White. USA Even has a ring to it doesn't it? This guy stormed into the 2006 Winter Olympics as the favourite and even won the gold medal... ON HIS FIRST RUN.

With a mop of long red hair, he rises above the field for his ambition to create new and near impossible feats. In the spring of 2009 he approached Red Bull with the idea of creating a private halfpipe in a remote location to escape daily distractions. The Red Bull Project X idea was hatched, a 22-foot tall superpipe accented with a huge 600 square foot foam pit at the bottom of the pipe was constructed in the remote area of Silverton Mountain, Colorado. Far from prying eyes, the facility gave him a place to try new untested ideas with less risk of injury. He's since tested and perfected tricks like a frontside double cork 1080, double McTwists, and double backside rodeos, (sort of sounds like food doesn't it?) taking a fraction of the time it normally would to accomplish. In August 2009 he would resurface at the Burton New Zealand Open showcasing his new "bag of tricks", raising the bar even higher than thought possible. We can only anticipate with unsuppressed glee what he'll showcase to world in the next few weeks.

I can't believe I need to even mention ANOTHER amazing contender on the same bloody team! Louie Vito, is also an incredible athlete who is ALSO likely to medal... and if Shaun falters even a bit, bet of this guy taking the win. Pain in the ass these Americans.

Kelly Clark USA The most aggressive female on the circuit, she attempts tricks that are on the men's level. Her international threats will be Australia's Torah Bright and China's Liu Jiayu, but her greatest foes lie within her very own team. Gretchen Bleiler and Hannah Teter (the defending 2006 Torino Gold medalist) will definitely not be far behind.

Snowboard Cross

Seth Wescott USA The defending Olympic gold medalist, seven time X games medalist and previous world champion. Nate Holland another strong teammate, comprise a very strong US team that will have to contend with international heavy weights such as Pierre Vaultier and Xavier De Le Rue of France, and Austria's Markus Schairer who are highly favoured to medal.

Canada's biggest hopeful lies with the ladies Maelle Ricker but the American favourite Lindsey Jacobellis will not make it easy. Jacobellis has a formadible record, with the World Cup title in 2006-07 and 2008-09, she also won the world title in 2005 and 2007 along with the 2009 X Games gold. After her disappointing performance in 2006 Olympics, you know she'll be gunning for nothing less than the gold.

SKI JUMPING!

Could there be anything more crazy than this sport? I don't know a thing about this sport but I absolutely LOVE to watch it. I don't even think Canada or USA has a team to truly contend in this event. The Swiss, Japanese, Finnish and Austrians are like these flying celebrity superstars of the sport. Swiss champion Simon Ammann dubbed "Harry Potter" for his glasses and "near magical" exploits, is back on form and looking to defend his Olympic golden victory this year.

Flying supermen to watch:

Austria: Gregor Schlierenzauer, Thomas Morgenstern, Wolfgang Loitzi

Swiss: Simon Ammann, Andreas Kuettel

Finland: Janne Ahonen, Matti Hautamaeki

Germany: Martin Schmitt

Japan: Taku Takeuchi, Daiki Ito, Takanobu Okabe

Fearless endurance pt. 2

America has become enamored with Lindsey Vonn for downhill skiing, and all eyes will be one her this Olympics. Similar to Michael Phelps, Vonn's golden looks and dominance in the sport has the broadcasters salivating. Although Swiss golden boy Carlo Janka is anticipated to break the Swiss losing streak in the men's category he still lacks the intimidation factor that Vonn has to perfection. Not since Austrian Hermann Maier has an skier dominated such a field.

"Entering every downhill as the overwhelming favorite allows her to ski a more relaxed race while others force mistakes or take risks to keep pace. Lindsey can win at 90% and has proven able to make a few mistakes and still cruise to victory, while her rivals must ski flawlessly to even contend. Without having to risk as much, she reduces the number of errors she makes in comparison to her competition."

- NBC Christin Cooper

Alpine Skiing is split into five possible gold medal categories, Downhill, Super-G, Giant Slalom, Slalom, and Super Combined. If you're wondering what the difference is, it's all a matter of distance, turns, etc.. etc.. I won't even bore you with the details. Unfortunately Vancouver has been hit with a streak of rather warm weather not to mention the amount of rain, maybe we'll see a few surprises?

As big as downhill skiing is let's be honest, not as many people know or care about skiing as much as Figure Skating. Argue with me all you want, but skiing is usually for the privileged and wealthy, whereas figure skating offers a more intimate experience for all those watching at home. Dance, acrobatics, endurance, costumes, music, and especially antagonist diva behaviour (both women and men) are all elements that add a special spice to the sport. (Not to mention humour... Blades of Glory anyone?)

Unfortunately America no longer has a lovely young frontrunner like Sasha Cohen this year, and Russia looks to continue their dominance in both pairs and the men's title. I haven't watched skating for years, the last time I remember it Nancy Kerrigan lost to a young Ukranian ballerina Oksana Baiul, and Tanya Harding fell into obscurity. The figure skating world has changed since then, and it's quite apparent that the Nagano Winter Olympics was the precursor to the Asian dominance in the sport. Names like Kim Yu-Na, Mao Asada, Miki Ando, Nobunari Oda and Daisuke Takahasi are now household names, and their near flawless performances are going to be the ones to beat.

All this talk about winning is further proof that second place won't get you anywhere. If they want to continue making millions selling cellphones and cereal you can't bring home anything less than a golden smile. Let's hope they can rise to the challenge.