I always wanted to go to the Games - and here I am. I just never imagined it would be as a ski technician...
Watching the men post 3 in the top 10 (or 4 in the top 16) yesterday was simply...amazing. I won't delve into the past too much but as most of you know, I tend to favour a certain skier by the name of Babikov.
As I stood on the sidelines, my heart was pounding like crazy - the anticipation of the start, the excitement of seeing him in the mix, the frustration of seeing him lose contact at the end of the classic leg, and then the surge of adrenaline as he climbed back in contention, and then the final gut-wrenching finish that saw him drop Northug like a rock, and climb up to 5th...WOW.
Ivan hunched in the back near the fence after his race...So close.
Yesterday I wrote: "We expect better." So here we have a 5th place, our best Olympic male result ever, and everyone is yelling and screaming "Wow! "Amazing!", "Fantastic!" Nordic fanatics across the world are looking at the Canadians, amazed at this great performance - everyone except one guy...
Ivan crossed the line...exhausted. He's disappointed. So close...
I could barely hold my emotions back...thrilled to have watch one of the best pursuit races in history, but tearing up inside to see him so disappointed that he didn't attain his dream. As Ivan sat hunched in the finish shoot, I stood and watched wanting only to jump over the fence and go to him - so I did! All I needed to hear from the volunteer was: "There are no rules for Canadians today...", and I hoped over the fence to squeeze the boy.
GMac, NST tech (and my roomy) - all smiles after the men's race - holding up Babikov's rockets! A big Kudos to the entire team of technicians...these guys take the grief when athletes suffer from 'slow' skis, and get no glory when the racers climb on the podium.
Ivan's mother and biggest fan - Tatiana (2nd from left) and wife Svetlana (1st from left).
As the crowds trickled out of the stands, I meandered back toward the cheap seats to 'get some air' and let the day soak in...I spotted a group of 'rowdy' Babikov fans still beaming...his wife, boy and mother amongst them - So Canadian...and so proud!
While waiting for the Men's 30km Pursuit, I watched a bit of ski jumping, which sits right behind our Salomon cabin - huge crowds lined the base of the jump and roared in awe as jumps went further and further down the slope.
Watching the men post 3 in the top 10 (or 4 in the top 16) yesterday was simply...amazing. I won't delve into the past too much but as most of you know, I tend to favour a certain skier by the name of Babikov.
As I stood on the sidelines, my heart was pounding like crazy - the anticipation of the start, the excitement of seeing him in the mix, the frustration of seeing him lose contact at the end of the classic leg, and then the surge of adrenaline as he climbed back in contention, and then the final gut-wrenching finish that saw him drop Northug like a rock, and climb up to 5th...WOW.
Ivan hunched in the back near the fence after his race...So close.Yesterday I wrote: "We expect better." So here we have a 5th place, our best Olympic male result ever, and everyone is yelling and screaming "Wow! "Amazing!", "Fantastic!" Nordic fanatics across the world are looking at the Canadians, amazed at this great performance - everyone except one guy...
Ivan crossed the line...exhausted. He's disappointed. So close...
I could barely hold my emotions back...thrilled to have watch one of the best pursuit races in history, but tearing up inside to see him so disappointed that he didn't attain his dream. As Ivan sat hunched in the finish shoot, I stood and watched wanting only to jump over the fence and go to him - so I did! All I needed to hear from the volunteer was: "There are no rules for Canadians today...", and I hoped over the fence to squeeze the boy.
GMac, NST tech (and my roomy) - all smiles after the men's race - holding up Babikov's rockets! A big Kudos to the entire team of technicians...these guys take the grief when athletes suffer from 'slow' skis, and get no glory when the racers climb on the podium.Ivan's mother and biggest fan - Tatiana (2nd from left) and wife Svetlana (1st from left). As the crowds trickled out of the stands, I meandered back toward the cheap seats to 'get some air' and let the day soak in...I spotted a group of 'rowdy' Babikov fans still beaming...his wife, boy and mother amongst them - So Canadian...and so proud!
While waiting for the Men's 30km Pursuit, I watched a bit of ski jumping, which sits right behind our Salomon cabin - huge crowds lined the base of the jump and roared in awe as jumps went further and further down the slope.A view of the ski jumping crowds at WOP
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