Westbound Boarder

Lindsey is one of the few females to appear on a SI cover

Throughout the past couple of weeks, we’ve covered the Olympic snowboard games in depth; however, I’d be remiss if I didn’t also take a step back and comment on the Olympic ski games as well. Last week, alongside the men’s halfpipe event, the world also saw world-renowned American athlete Lindsey Vonn take home a gold as well.  However, her path to and through the games is what’s truly inspiring.

Lindsey has always had a knack for competition, with 31 World Cup finishes behind her. But during the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino, a crash landed her in the hospital. She returned the next day, however, to finish eighth. But this year, four years later, Lindsey had her sights set on one thing – the Olympic gold.

Heading into the games over the past couple of months, Lindsey Vonn emerged as an audience favorite, becoming the US “face” of the women’s games. With her cute, all-American look, and determination that moved mountains, America was quick to deem Lindsey the rising star and first in line for the gold. Which, I think, is both good and bad. She had so much support from America heading into the games, but she also had a lot to live up to. And we all saw what happened to snowboard fan favorite Lindsey Jacobellis – she didn’t even place. But Vonn pulled through, winning the gold in the downhill alpine event despite a massive shin injury she suffered, an injury that nearly cost her the opportunity to compete. She was the first American woman to ever win the downhill alpine ski race.

Lindsey did have a shot at winning two golds in two days, her second shot being in the Super Combined, however, in the slalom portion of the race she crashed over a gate because she couldn’t get her foot around it fast enough, costing her a podium finish. She claims the crash had nothing to do with her injury. She went on to compete in two other events, winning a bronze in the Super-G and DQing from the Giant Slalom, walking away with a broken finger.

All in all, one gold and one bronze, out of five qualified-for events? Not bad! Despite the two ugly sticks Vonn carries (kidding, of course! We love skiers, too) Lindsey Vonn remains a flippin’ chick in our books.

Side note: We hear Lindsey will be on Jay Leno March 1, so make sure to check it out!

I need to come clean and admit something here. The men’s downhill has been and always will be, my favorite Olympic event. The downhill is the bull riding event of the Olympics. Instead of an 8 second ride however, you’re expected to stay on for about a minute and a half. It is definitely not ice dancing or, God forbid, Curling.

In the downhill event, the difference between bronze and gold could literally be measured in the time it takes you to blink. And that is exactly what Bode Miller snatched away from the other competitors during the men’s downhill and super G event(s) on Cyprus Mountain.

Like him or not, the guy captures the heart and soul of downhill racing. Lot’s of folks say that he parties too much or is too arrogant and some even may claim he has a touch of Turret’s syndrome when asked about his skiing ability and /or lifestyle choices. My opinion is that these traits are exactly what he needs to win – to be Bode.

The morning that he won the bronze in the men’s downhill, Bode was nervous. Understandably so considering that in a sense, this was almost a comeback of sorts. If you remember, it was four years ago in Turin where after a night of partying he had a dismal showing. This year is different. Bode is now a father of a beautiful little girl (winning the super G on her 2nd birthday), more determined and more focused than ever before.

A lot has been said of Bode. Some good, some really distasteful. Bode’s no saint, don’t get me wrong, nor all things to all people. Bode is just one hell of a fast skier. A skier who goes for broke and is true to who he is and what he needs to be in order to win.

Well, the news is officially out there; Australian snowboarder Torah Bright is taking home the Gold from tonight’s women’s halfpipe competition, earning a score of 45.0.  US rider (and defending Gold medalist from Torino) Hannah Teter came in second with a score of 42.4, while Kelly Clark, also from the US team, came in third with a 42.2.  Clark, who has pretty much scored first consistently throughout all US team qualifying rounds, was overshadowed by Teter by mere fraction-points; but that’s the way it goes.  More to come, but just wanted t share the great news!

Despite the fact that we are still in the thick of summer, the 2010 Winter Olympics are right around the corner. In less than 6 months Whistler-Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada, will host the 2010 extravaganza. Consider this your friendly reminder that if you are planning to witness history in B.C. this year, that you better act quickly!

The ladies U.S. Snowboard Team Olympic roster includes hopefuls Hannah Teeter, Elena Hight, Gretchen Bleiler, Lindsey Jacobellis and Kelly Clark (all who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics). Ellery Hollingsworth, also a 2010 hopeful, has never been to the Olympics, although is no stranger to the sport. Check out her specs and accomplishments to see for yourself. No matter who makes the team, these stunnas will not disappoint the US of A, that is fersure.

Every year we take a nice and relaxing trip to Whistler, B.C. to experience the best snowboarding in the world; literally. This year (and for the first time) we’re opting for Vail, CO, and man am I glad. For those of you who haven’t heard, over 50 people were stranded more than 30 feet off the ground in the Excalibur Gondolas for nearly 4 hours last Tuesday afternoon. Colder than usual temperatures in the Whistler-Blackcomb village caused water to seep into a gondola tower and freeze, causing the structure to rupture and collapse. More than a dozen riders were injured and sent to the hospital, but thankfully there were no fatalities.

Unfortunately, the timing could not have been worse for Whistler-Blackcomb. Not only is the world relying on Whistler, British Columbia to host the 2010 Winter Olympics, but only a few days before the accident was Whistler’s much anticipated Peak 2 Peak gondola debut. The new and much anticipated Peak 2 Peak Gondola is quite impressive – spanning nearly 1.88 miles (over 10,000 feet!!)  from peak to peak, hovering more than 1400 feet off the ground and only taking 11 minutes – this gondola sets a world record for the longest and highest unsupported span for a gondola.

Naturally, since the accident, avid skiers and snowboarders are raising the question regarding the safety of this masterpiece, not only for today, but for the traffic of the Olympics. Whistler officials and engineers of the gondolas are reminding everyone that the Peak 2 Peak lift design is unique from the Excalibur Gondola. The Peak 2 Peak is designed to enable water to go in and out of the structures in order to prevent freezing, expansion and rupturing, which is what caused Excalibur to malfunction. Another point the Whistler officials are emphasizing, to stress the safety of the Peak 2 Peak, is that among all the lifts in Europe that are similar to the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, not one has malfunctioned in a way that has caused serious danger to anyone.

Despite the fact that Whistler’s local residents and tourists have been rattled by the accident, nothing can take away from the enormity and excitement of the Peak 2 Peak record breaking gondola debut and Whistler hosting the upcoming historical 2010 Winter Olympics (only a little over a year away!!).  Personally, I am just grateful no one was really hurt, and I don’t, and will never, think twice about returning to literally – Heaven on Earth – Whistler-Blackcomb, B.C.