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Olympics, Almost Closing Remarks (plus, a giveaway!)
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February 26th, 2010Giveaways, Olympics, SnowboardingThis coming weekend marks the last few events of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, as Sunday’s closing ceremonies will officially end the games. The last two events in snowboarding will happen tonight and tomorrow at Cypress, the men’s and women’s snowboarding Giant Slalom (women’s on Friday, men’s on Saturday). The Giant Slalom is one of the most grueling events in the Olympic games, where riders race head-to-head around gates against another opponent (and to be completely candid, I’m not too familiar with this type of event, as it is not typically held in American mainstream competitive circuits. So I’m particularly excited to watch!)
One thing I have noticed about this year’s games in comparison to years past is that snowboarding has taken a much larger role in the overall event, and I really think it’s safe to say that it was one of the most hyped sports in the Olympics this year. In the past, snowboarding has always taken a sideline seat to skiing, however, I think this year we really saw a shift in perceptions, especially among mainstream audiences. I, for one, heard many more people talking about the snowboarding events compared to the skiing events. In fact, I really didn’t hear much about skiing outside of American athletes Lindsey Vonn and Bode Miller, but everyone from the hardcore riders at my local mountain to the could-care-less-about-sports folks (like my sister) knew the names of the American roster and gathered around their TV sets to cheer them on as they rode though the pipe. The progression the sport of snowboarding has seen in recent years has absolutely played a contributing role in raising the profile of snowboarding in this year’s Olympics, but the athletes themselves have helped lift the image as well. In the past couple of years, snowboarders (often seen as “tyrants” on the slopes… sometimes for good reason
) such as Shaun White, Gretchen Bleiler, and Hannah Teter have emerged as role models, and instead of parents resenting the lifestyle that comes along with the sport, they are now encouraging their kids to take part. It’s really cool to see your sport in the limelight, and to see and hear the nation collectively cheering on the athletes you’ve been supporting since day 1 and giving them the props they rightly deserve. I’m really interested to see how the sport will evolve over the next 10 years, as the kids who are now growing up idolizing athletes like Shaun White, begging their parents to buy them a new ride, start competing. Maybe in the next Olympics we’ll start to see quadruple corks? So, as much all of us involved in the snowboard industry roll our eyes at the Olympic games (it even sounds like Vancouver is feeling a bit of buyer’s remorse this year) they have helped to tremendously raise the profile of snowboarding among mainstream audiences. And right now, and for the future of snowboarding, that’s a really good thing.
WIN IT! To celebrate the final weekend of the 2010 Olympic games, we have a limited edition Oakley prize pack to give away! Snowboarding would not be in the position it is today if it weren’t for the major brands behind it, so I’m really excited to announce this fun giveaway. One reader will have the opportunity to win an Oakley prize pack, pictured to the right. The pack is part of the Oakley Global Collection of products, which has been designed to honor Oakley’s global team of athletes participating in this year’s Olympics. It includes a set of limited edition Global Crowbar Snow Goggles, Global Fuel Cell sunglasses, Global backpack, women’s Oakley Global t-shirt, an Oakley Global beanie and collector’s pin. The graphics on the collection recognize the heritage of British Columbia and Vancouver, host city to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.How to win…Leave us a comment below and tell us how YOU think that snowboarding fared in this year’s Olympic Games, and how you think the games helped raise the profile of snowboarding nationwide (and if you don’t agree? Bring it on!) The contest will close on Monday, March 8 at midnight PT, and we’ll draw one winner the next day to receive the pack.
If you just so happen to be in Vancouver right now (lucky you!) make sure you stop by Oakley’s Rolling O-Lab and Pop-Up Store before they roll away Sunday night. Details:
- The Rolling O-Lab is a mobile demonstration unit that educates visitors about the science behind quality eye protection. Technology presentations include the use of optical laser scope equipment that demonstrates clarity and prism shift, ultraviolet emitters and measuring devices to illustrate UV protection, and testing rigs that show the effects of high-velocity and high-mass impact situations. Fans can visit the Rolling O-Lab at Grouse Mountain 9am – 8pm, and the best part? It’s free! (We love free)
- Meanwhile, the Pop-Up Store features a fully enriched Oakley retail experience complete with an array of the company’s products. One of the store’s highlights is an Oakley Custom Bar, where visitors can customize select Oakley eyewear and goggle products. It is located at 488 Robson Street.
And speaking of giveaways, in case you haven’t already entered, be sure to also check out our Cushe Boots giveaway. Ends Monday, March 1!
Update: Dear Readers, thanks for all your fabulous comments – we got some great feedback, and it’s nice to hear that most of you enjoyed watching this year’s team take Olympic snowboarding to new heights. Congrats to Maria, the winning commenter! (Selected via random.org). Check back for more giveaways soon!
Tags: 2010 Olympic Games, Bode Miller, Cuche boots, Cypress, Giant Slalom, Giveaway, Gretchen Bleiler, Hannah Teter, Linsey Vonn, Oakley, Oakley prize pack, Olympics, Shaun White, Snowboarding, Vancouver
33 Responses to “Olympics, Almost Closing Remarks (plus, a giveaway!)”
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Cheryl
I think the snowboarding did well at this olympics. I think more and more people are becoming aware of this sport, and every olympics helps bring more people to it. Thanks for the chance!
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Natalie
I think that snowboarding is getting a lot more respect in terms of technically difficulty after these games. the double cork 1080! the big air! Shaun White is getting a lot of attention, but it’s all deserved and he’s directing it right back to the sport. Can’t wait to see what comes next.
P.S. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
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[...] Contest entry form Posted in: Blogs, Canada, Fashion & Beauty, Sports Tags: blog, Canada, Fashion, Sports, US [...]
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MISCHELLE
ITS AN AWSOME SPORT AND THE PEOPLE WHO COMPTE ARE GREAT
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Darlene Gould
I thought oakley did very well
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Colleen
Snowboarding was great this year but I did get nervous when one of the snowboarders hit the top of the deck with his snowboard. Thought for sure he was going down but he held up great!
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Emily
I think snowboarding did quite well. It’s nice that something other than figure skating was on TV, although I think that snowboarding will still have to compete with hockey in terms of male views, and overall, females might still tend to watch figure skating over other sports.
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Angie
I don’t know a whole lot about the sport of snowboarding, but I can tell you that I really liked Shaun White during the last Olypmics and thus I was really looking forward to watching him this year! Nobody dissapointed in my book! I really think that you will see this sport take off this year. BTW…Shaun’s last run was amazing!!
Angie
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I have always loved snowboarding (watching it at least, I’m not very good at actually doing it). Unfortunately I didn’t get to watch as much as I would have liked therefore I probably can’t make an accurate evaluation of the coverage. The parts I was able to watch was amazing though! I am completely in awe of people who can snowboard!
demureprincess7(at)gmail.com
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Agnes
Snowboarding was so exciting this year! I love how it gets more and more attention because it’s not as easy as some people seem to believe. It’s awesome to watch as well, so I’m very happy it’s part of the olympics.
Email: sweetfantasystar@hotmail.com
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Wehaf
I think that snowboarding has received more and more attention each Olympics it has been in, and this year was very impressive.
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i was so glad to see the snowboarding this year they did awesome. i thin every time its in an event which is widely publicized it just gets more and more attention which is good,
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Snowboarding has helped make winter sport more appealing and hip, and this winter’s Olympic coverage has definitely kept pace.
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I LOVED snoboarding on the olympics 2010! I actually just started snowboarding a week ago because of it
timesurge(at)live.ca
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Kerrie G
I think that snowboarding fared GREAT in this year’s Olympic Games! I have 3 boys and snowboarding was the event to watch at our house! I really enjoyed the personal bio’s that they featured on many of the athletes
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Brandy
I think snowboarding has actually wavered (in real life) in the last few years. For awhile, it was the sport to do… but as I go to the mountains, I see less and less.
But, as far as the winter games are concerned, I found it amazing to watch those incredible boarders. Shaun White is seriously talented and I can’t believe that run he did that was “just because” and he even scored better on that one! With younger generations who are coming of age to try the sport, I think they’ll get into it because of the Olympics and how cool those professionals looked on the pipes. I think it’s on the up again.
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Marci
I definitely think snowboarding has become more high profile and popular. I think the celebrity of Shaun White and Lindsey Jacobellis helped snowboarding. I think with the acceptance of snowboarding as an Olympic sport, people are discovering how athletic and TALENTED snowboarders have to be.
Plus, there is still that “cool” factor to snowboarding that I love. I hope that snowboarding remains a big winter sport–I think in the next 4 years we’ll see more young snowboarders getting ready to compete in 2014. Bring it on….
I’d love to win the AWESOME prize pack! Thanks for the chance!
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MNStacey
Snowboarding at the Olympics was awesome! I loved watching all the amazing moves all the players did!
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Laura
I’m a skier and my husband is a boarder–he was very disappointed by the media coverage ratios
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Lynne
I think snowboarding was amazing during this winter olympics and that the world loves it even more now!
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[...] Direct Link to Giveaway: http://www.westboundboarder.com/2010/02/olympics-almost-closing-remarks-plus-a-giveaway/ [...]
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Carrie
I’m so glad that snowboarding has become such a huge part of the olympic games. It was great this year – they are always uping the ante! It has brought the younger crowd to be interested in the games.
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I think Snowboarding was great this year. And it’s slowly becoming a popular sport, especially, among the young people.
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Anna
I think snowboarding did fantastic this year, alot more attention than others, not as much as hockey but that’s to be expected! Some of those flips were chilling to watch!
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I have to admit, I’d never really seen snowboarding before the Olympics, but now I’m hooked! That was the best part of the Olympics! I’m sure the sport will have tons more fans now.
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Maria
Great games this year, and boarding was really excited. I was a little disappointed in the NBC coverage focusing so much energy on the comments Shaun’s coach made.. get cameras out of coaches faces already geez!
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Heidi Kratzke
I thought snowboarding was incredible at this year’s Olympics… it was so much fun to watch. It seemed like this year the athletes had so much fun, and their positive energy was just contagious. I think they helped to make snowboarding seem more accessible to the general public.
writeme at heidimail dot com
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This sport is really becoming more and more popular! It is great that the media is paying more attention to this sport. Thanks for the great giveaway!
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I like everyone else, seems to think very positively of this year’s snowboarding event. It sure is getting more coverage. And it is so great to see new sports getting more screen time rather than the normal ones like figure skating.
I think the Olympics definitely helps bring up sports ore than any other event due to the exposure. Much deserved too!
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shiki
I think snowboarding was great this time round! Very cool. It is getting more challenging too and that is fun to watch. I also think snowboarding got highlighted a little more and so we at home get to know more about it so that’s good. Would love to see more
Thanks loads for this! I adore Oakley!
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Danielle
This was the first Olympics that I really watched snowboarding and I enjoyed it very much – looking forward to seeing the popularity of it grow!
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Well the snowboarding is always one of my *my* favorite events to watch in the Olympics, but I do think in general it was very popular. My parents even mentioned liking the snowboard cross. I hope it continues to gain popularity. It will be fun to watch snowboarding in the Olympics for a long time to come!
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