Vancouver '10 Games
- Thread starter Onhell
- Start date
Onhell
Infinite Dreamer
Snowboarding is the USA's event, I don't get curling... Not that I don't enjoy it, I litterally don't get it, lol I don't know the rules so I don't know if there is a good shot or what.
But back to hockey lol: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=517127
But back to hockey lol: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=517127
Dr. Eddies Wingman
Brighter than thousand_suns
LooseCannon said:
I'm aware of that, when it comes to speed skating I also think Wotherspoon is still going strong, isn't he? Your curling team are favourites to win the tournament, but we'll try to give you a fight for it
@Onhell - I have also wondered why ice hockey never became as big in Norway as it is in Sweden or Finland. One thing might be that the population in Norway is more spread out, so that many towns and places are too small for running a hockey team (building a hall is probably too much of an investment for a place with only 1000 inhabitants). Ice hockey is quite popular in the eastern part of Norway, where the distance between cities is small (and the majority of cities of any size are located there). In Sweden, things are more centralized. A much smaller percentage of the population in Sweden live in really small towns.
However, personally, I think the government should spend some of the oil money on building ice hockey facilities in every corner of the country. Hockey to the people! Only then, when ice hockey becomes available to everyone who wants to play, can we be a stable top 10 nation.
By the way, nice article. I don't have very high expectations to our team in the Olympics, the gap between the 6-7 best teams and the rest is just too huge for that, but if we can shock one of the big teams in a single match I'd enjoy that really much
As long as it's not my team! We need a good warmup match, and well, I don't think your 1 NHLer is going to help.
I'm not sure if Jeremy Wotherspoon is still skating. He was big in 2002 if I recall correctly. Ah, he's going to retire after this season.
I'm not sure if Jeremy Wotherspoon is still skating. He was big in 2002 if I recall correctly. Ah, he's going to retire after this season.
I saw that...the luge. Sadness, but the games will go on. Athletes do dangerous things. Well...except for curlers.
Hell of an opening ceremony! Wow! I was awestruck by most of it, some beautiful performances and famous faces, at least if you're Canadian. I blogged about the powerful choices made for the Olympic flag bearers.
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
Athletes do dangerous things, and this was indeed a difficult track, something which was known beforehand.
But in 2010, on events as huge as this, safety measures ought to be as optimal as possible. Someone realized that and now they're going to change things on that track. There's gonna be a higher wall near the "accident bend" and they're even changing the profile of the ice. I can't help wondering why they hadn't done this in the first place. Hopefully the investigation will clear up some matters. To be continued.
Time for sports now.
Sven Kramer has to start early today on the 5,000 meters. He's the first favourite (11th race). This means that all his competitors can focus on his time, which is better from a tactical and psychological point of view. From a technical point of view Kramer has an advantage because he'll have the better ice (there will only be one sweeping/cleaning moment in this race).
But in 2010, on events as huge as this, safety measures ought to be as optimal as possible. Someone realized that and now they're going to change things on that track. There's gonna be a higher wall near the "accident bend" and they're even changing the profile of the ice. I can't help wondering why they hadn't done this in the first place. Hopefully the investigation will clear up some matters. To be continued.
Time for sports now.
Sven Kramer has to start early today on the 5,000 meters. He's the first favourite (11th race). This means that all his competitors can focus on his time, which is better from a tactical and psychological point of view. From a technical point of view Kramer has an advantage because he'll have the better ice (there will only be one sweeping/cleaning moment in this race).
Dr. Eddies Wingman
Brighter than thousand_suns
In Norway, we have hopes for two events today:
The 5000 m, of course, where we hope Håvard Bøkko can show a return to his pre-Christmas form, where he challenged Kramer several times and was actually closer to him than to 3rd. However, he has stiff competition. My tip is he will finish 3rd or 4th, but he has shown that he has more in him. I'll be very surprised if Kramer doesn't win, though.
Also the women's biathlon starts tonight, with the 7,5 km sprint. Here we have two outsiders, Tora Berger and Ann-Kristin Flatland. Still, the favourites for this event are Sweden's Helena Jonsson and Germany's Magdalena Neuner (who is, by the way, a really cute girl as well
). A Norwegian medalist here would be a nice surprise.
The last event today in which we were hoping for success, the men's downhill, is postponed due to bad weather.
The 5000 m, of course, where we hope Håvard Bøkko can show a return to his pre-Christmas form, where he challenged Kramer several times and was actually closer to him than to 3rd. However, he has stiff competition. My tip is he will finish 3rd or 4th, but he has shown that he has more in him. I'll be very surprised if Kramer doesn't win, though.
Also the women's biathlon starts tonight, with the 7,5 km sprint. Here we have two outsiders, Tora Berger and Ann-Kristin Flatland. Still, the favourites for this event are Sweden's Helena Jonsson and Germany's Magdalena Neuner (who is, by the way, a really cute girl as well
). A Norwegian medalist here would be a nice surprise.The last event today in which we were hoping for success, the men's downhill, is postponed due to bad weather.
No real hopes in the 5k for Canada, but our women's hockey team hits the ice tonight against the Slovaks, exciting times! Sadly we didn't qualify for ski jumping.
Dr. Eddies Wingman
Brighter than thousand_suns
Forgot to mention it, although I'm watching it right now We have a couple of really good jumpers - Anders Jacobsen being the best one, having won six World Cup events before. Most recently he won the World Cup in the flying hill in Oberstdorf on January 31st.
In Torino, we actually had both the winner and the bronze winner (or the 2nd loser, as our biathlete Ole Einar Bjørndalen usually labels 3rd place), but the last few years our jumpers have generally done better in large hills.
Warmed up to tonight's Olympic events by viewing the RiR DVD, playing along on my Strat. Exhausting, I must say. I need a beer.
We have a couple of really good jumpers - Anders Jacobsen being the best one, having won six World Cup events before. Most recently he won the World Cup in the flying hill in Oberstdorf on January 31st.In Torino, we actually had both the winner and the bronze winner (or the 2nd loser, as our biathlete Ole Einar Bjørndalen usually labels 3rd place), but the last few years our jumpers have generally done better in large hills.
Warmed up to tonight's Olympic events by viewing the RiR DVD, playing along on my Strat. Exhausting, I must say. I need a beer.
They actually cut away from the jumping here to give us a preview of long track. I'm kinda pissed.
Dr. Eddies Wingman
Brighter than thousand_suns
Haha, if that had happened in Norway I guess the responsible person would have been hanged, drawn and quartered, or at least burnt at the stake.
Or the commentator would've strangled him. The fellow I'm talking about is the 66 year old Arne Scheie, who has been commenting ski jumping and football for the Norwegian National Broadcasting since 1971. He is sort of an icon here. He has also been a ski jumping referee, and is renowned for his almost autistic knowledge of football trivia (mainly Norwegian and British football).
Or the commentator would've strangled him. The fellow I'm talking about is the 66 year old Arne Scheie, who has been commenting ski jumping and football for the Norwegian National Broadcasting since 1971. He is sort of an icon here. He has also been a ski jumping referee, and is renowned for his almost autistic knowledge of football trivia (mainly Norwegian and British football).
They moved the ski jumping to the second channel in order to show luge practice runs. Stupid.
But I am watching now! Anders is still in it.
But I am watching now! Anders is still in it.
Dr. Eddies Wingman
Brighter than thousand_suns
LooseCannon said:
First Gold Medalist in Vancouver 2010: Simon Ammann, Switzerland! A really impressive 2nd jump secured victory for Ammann who got his title back (he also won in 2002 in Salt Lake City)!
The Norwegians improved in the 2nd run after a disappointing 1st run - Jacobsen number 9, Hilde 12, Bardal 18 and Romøren 23. This improvement gives hope before the large hill competition, where I expect all of them (especially Romøren) to do better.
Next up is 5000 m speed skating, I guess a certain Dutch member of the forum is fired up for that
Also, Sweden vs. Switzerland in women's hockey. I can't wait to see what happens with speed skating - actually some Canadians in this event!
Dr. Eddies Wingman
Brighter than thousand_suns
The most fascinating thing about speed skating, especially long distances, is to see how apparently sane people voluntarily expose themselves to that much pain I think that of all endurance sports (like running, bicycling, cross-country skiing and so on) speed skating is the one with the most pain. Just look at the faces of the poor sods who have driven themselves too hard the first part of the race, and struggle just to finish ...
1st Norwegian participant: Sverre Haugli, did about what could be expected of him. Took the lead in the 6th pair, but of course there are a lot of strong skaters left. Still, 6:27:05 is not bad for him. His personal best is 6:18.09, but that one is set on the much faster ice in Calgary.
I think that of all endurance sports (like running, bicycling, cross-country skiing and so on) speed skating is the one with the most pain. Just look at the faces of the poor sods who have driven themselves too hard the first part of the race, and struggle just to finish ...1st Norwegian participant: Sverre Haugli, did about what could be expected of him. Took the lead in the 6th pair, but of course there are a lot of strong skaters left. Still, 6:27:05 is not bad for him. His personal best is 6:18.09, but that one is set on the much faster ice in Calgary.
The first Dutch has already gone - Blokhuijsen, and he is in 1st. Canada's best medal hope will go on the next pairing after they resurface the ice, Lucas Makowsky. He might squeak us a bronze.