Saturday, February 20, 2010

Finally a ski on the CRAZY Olympic track...

Today was our first training day on the ski cross track, and wow it is crazy! The course is long, technical and includes some mammoth sized jumps. Bigger than any other course on the world cup.

(The final jump into the finish area...over double my height when I stand under it)

Everyone was excited to finally get to train on the course. It has been much anticipated. We have all seen the bordercross men and women race on it over the past few days, and it looked like a lot of fun! So everyone was keen to get going.

We had a two hour training session which was only interrupted a few times by crashes. One of the Canadian men had a bad crash out of the start, went over the front of his skis and sustained a bad concussion. He had to be taken to hospital in the banada boat.

The track ran smoothly, however the snow is extremely soft in areas due to the extremely warm weather we have been experiencing here. The course workers are doing all they can to keep the track in the best possible condition.

Today it felt like we should have been competing in the Summer Games, not Winter! It's warm enough for a t-shirt and thongs, so the Aussies feel right at home!

(Excited on my way up to the course)

(Course inspection)

Tomorrow we have another day training, then it's the Men's turn to showoff and compete. We follow two days later.

Tonight I will be joining my Olympic teammates to cheer on Torah Bright at the medal ceremony in BC Place. She won gold last night in the women's snowboard halfpipe, so we are all very proud! This is Australia's first gold at these Games, and our second medal in total, after Dale took the silver in the moguls. Congratulations also to Holly Crawford who came 8th last night in the halfpipe.

The Aussies are kicking arse this year, and I'm so glad I'm apart of the team!

Here are a few shots of the course...

(The start)

(Giant wu-tang...note the size of the people on the left)

(View of the second wu-tang from down below)

(The finish area and stadium)