Snow Skiing Channel: Ski, Snow, Resorts Guide, Area Guides, Weather Reports, Photos, Blogs, Reviews, and Videos » winter olympic games

Additional Disciplines for Winter Olympics

Editor — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 09:46:55 +0000

The 2014 Winter Olympic Games will be held in Sochi, Russia. Additional disciplines have been added to the games, and have been welcomed by athletes, giving them more freedom as to the events that they can qualify in. Now snowboard slopestyle, parallel slalom snowboarding and slopestyle skiing events will also be allowed, and the International Olympic Committee has also made the decision to allow women’s ski jumping and halfpipe skiing into the next Winter Olympic Games.

Bill Marolt, the CEO and President of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association, commented on the decision made by the International Olympic Committee with great enthusiasm, saying that the addition of the new events, especially slopestyle, will encourage the youth, as there are already millions of younger athletes who are enjoying the terrain parks and perfecting their skill. The inclusion of these events will have a far reaching effect, with U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding being impacted positively by this decision.

The slopestyle event involves a man-made course that consists of various jumps, rails and boxes, making up a terrain course. Many ski resorts have included terrain courses as part of their facilities as they are popular with both snowboarding and skiing enthusiasts. There will therefore be nine new events for contenders to receive medals in, for both men and women.

Shaun White, a snowboarding superstar in America, competed in the 2010 Vancouver Games and won two gold medals for halfpipe events, and said that he would definitely be considering the slopestyle events in Sochi. Snowboarding made its way to the Nagano Games in 1998, and ever since the games, the sport has developed into various disciplines such as snowboardcross. The inclusion of the parallel special slalom is also exciting, as it is a more technical discipline than giant slalom. Recognizing that slopestyle has become a major developing sport in the winter sport industry has seen it included in the 2014 Winter Olympics, and will most definitely give the youth more encouragement to practice and improve their talents to make it to the Olympics one day.

Ski Orienteering – Skill, Endurance & Quick Thinking

Editor — Fri, 06 May 2011 09:07:38 +0000

As one of the four disciplines regulated by the International Orienteering Federation (the others being foot orienteering, mountain bike orienteering and trail orienteering) ski orienteering is a winter activity requiring strength, endurance and technical skiing skills, along with the ability to make split-second decisions while navigating cross-country terrain, often at high speed. Participants use standard skate-skiing equipment and a map of the area indicating trails and other relevant information is provided. A laminated map can be attached to the chest area at a roughly 90 degree angle for ease of reference. A compass can be attached to the map, or alternatively, on a skier’s arm. While ski orienteering is a form of cross-country skiing, it requires tremendous upper body strength to navigate narrow snow trails and changes in elevation.

During ski orienteering competitions participants must navigate a dense ski track network, with the goal of visiting multiple control points in a specified sequence. As a time-measured activity, the fastest time wins, and tracking is carried out electronically to ensure competitors visit all control points in the correct sequence. While the track network is printed on the map provided, along with other information, such as the width and quality of the tracks and terrain, there are no physical route markers, and one wrong decision can mean the end of the race.

World Ski Orienteering Championships are held every second year (on odd-numbered years) and include the categories of Sprint, Middle and Long Distance, as well as Relay for men and women. The World Cup is held on even-numbered years, and Junior World Ski Orienteering Championships, as well as World Masters Ski Orienteering Championships are held annually.

Ski orienteering as a sport is becoming increasing popular among adventure seekers, and the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) is lobbying for it to be included in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games program. As ski orienteering is a feature of the CISM World Military Winter Games and the Asian Winter Games, and with around 35 nations having competed in the 2011 World Ski Orienteering Championships held in Sweden in March, it seems very likely that the sport’s Olympic hopes will be realized.

Victory for Gundersen in Birkebeiner

Editor — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:17:18 +0000

The American Birkebeiner was hosted for its 38th year on Saturday, 26 February 2011, in Wisconsin’s Northwoods. It is located close to the cities of Duluth, Chicago, Minnesota and Illinois and is therefore easily accessible. The ski area in which the Birkie is held is in Chequamegon National Forest, which covers an area of eight hundred and fifty thousand acres, consisting of beautiful rivers and of course numerous trails that can be used all year round. Runners, bikers and trekkers visit the area for training. During the winter months the slopes belong to the avid skiers and winter sport enthusiasts.

Saturday was one of the coldest days ever recorded for the Birkie, but it did not deter contestants of the 2011 American Birkebeiner. A fifty kilometer course is set out across the terrain for contestants, and winning this prestigious event is a great honor for all skiing athletes. The rules are strict and conform to the FIS requirements to ensure the safety of skiers. Some of these rules include that all contestants must be over the age of eighteen and double skating is not permitted, as opposed to double poling, diagonal striding and step turns which are considered to be classical techniques.

In the men’s division, the record time set by Fabio Santus in the 2010 event of 1:53:58 could not be broken, but it only took a time of 1:59:03 for Tore Martin Gundersen to win the 2011 American Birkebeiner. At eight kilometers away from the finish line at Main St Benoit Chauvet of St Gevais, Gundersen was unstoppable as soon as he reached the sprint just after Lake Hayward. Gundersen commented that: “That was a great feeling, when I realized I had it and heard the crowds.”

Caitlin Compton was able to keep her promise from last year, after the 2010 Olympics, by winning the ladies division of the American Birkebeiner. The competition was strong in the ladies division, with Compton, Evelyn Dong and Morgan Smyth chasing the victory. The record time set up by Rebecca Dussault last year, of 2:16:18 was broken by all three ladies, with Caitlin Compton winning with a time of 2:15:25. Compton said that “Last year, after the Olympics, I said there’s only one place to go above this, and that’s the Birkie.”

Victory for Elisabeth Goergl

Editor — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 09:50:20 +0000

The satisfaction of winning the Super G event this week has been unimaginable after a long journey for Elisabeth Goergl of Austria. Winning her first gold medal was an extremely proud moment for the accomplished alpine skier, who also enjoys downhill disciplines as well as giant slalom. Born on 20 February 1981, Goergl will most definitely have something to celebrate along with her birthday as the enormity of her victory begins to sink in. Even though she was up against world class competition, the Austrian skier did not allow pressure to deter her from delivering one of her best performances.

Goergl had to settle for a bronze medal at the 2009 World Championships, but the Super G event of the 2011 World Championships seemed to have been waiting for her, as skiing is most definitely in her genes. Her mother, Traudl Hecher also won a bronze medal at the Winter Olympics of 1962 and 1964.

Two well known names in the skiing industry, Maria Riesch from Germany and Julia Mancuso of the United States of America provided intimidating competition for Goergl, but could not beat her time of one minute and twenty-three seconds. Mancuso was only off the mark by .05 seconds, while Riesch finished her round in a time of one minute and twenty four seconds. Lindsay Vonn, who was there to defend her title in the Super G discipline and who is the overall World Cup champion, commented that participating might not have been a good idea on her part, after sustaining a concussion a few days earlier when she fell during practice. Vonn was only able to secure a seventh position. The top ten positions were as follows: Elisabeth Goergl, Julia Mancuso, Maria Riesch, Lara Gut, Anna Fenninger, Elena Curtoni, Lindsay Vonn, Fabrienne Suter, Daniela Merighetti and Anja Paerson.

Goergl told the press that to take on the Super G course you need to ski it. Most contenders did comment on the dangerous conditions and bumpy ride they had to endure. Elisabeth Goergl, however, had a strategy going into the event and was quoted saying: “I wasn’t nervous at all at the start. I had a good run, I did what I had planned to do. The conditions were in my favor in this case.”

Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010

Editor — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:19:48 +0000

The Vancouver Winter Olympic Games 2010 will be taking place from the 12th of February to the 28th of February 2010. This thrilling international event began in France in 1924, when the first Olympic Winter Games were held in Chamonix. Today, thousands of athletes train and compete to earn a place on their country’s team so as to participate in this annual event. Vancouver was given the honor of hosting this year’s prestigious event, and a competitive line-up of athletes from all over the world have already confirmed their participation.

Spectators will have a variety of activities and disciplines to view, as the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games will feature Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Bobsleigh, Crosscountry, Curling, Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Ice Hockey, Luge, Nordic Combined, Short Track, Skeleton, Ski Jumping, Snowboarding and Speed Skating. There are a number of venues for the different winter sport competitions, such as the Vancouver Olympic Centre, The Whistler Sliding Centre, Richmond Olympic Oval, Canada Hockey Place, Pacific Coliseum and Cypress Mountain. Participating athletes will be representing various countries, including Russia, Finland, Georgia, Canada, Sweden, Japan, Italy, Germany, France, Kazakhstan, Norway, Netherlands, United States of America, Liechtenstein, Austria, Czech Republic, Australia, Turkey, Belarus, Tajikistan, China, Korea, Montenegro, Belarus, India, Taipei, Bermuda, Monaco, Lithuania, Belgium, Uzbekistan and Estonia.

There are a few tips for spectators to keep in mind for an enjoyable experience at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games 2010, such as to ensure that they are familiar with the restricted items during attendance as there are security screenings, and to only take a small bag, as there is limited space and no area for spectators to leave their bags. Spectators are also requested to dress accordingly, as mountain and indoor venues can be very cold, so hats, layered clothing and scarves are recommended. Eating regularly also assists in storing body heat, and spectators will find tasty food vendors at every venue. Other than that, there are non-competition activities to look forward to, extravagant ceremonies, festivals and exciting events. The Vancouver Winter Olympic Games 2010, is an unforgettable event for both athletes and spectators, and should not be missed by winter sport enthusiasts.

Alf Engen Ski Museum

Editor — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:29:51 +0000

Situated in the Joe Quinney Winter Sports Center, located at Utah Olympic Park, the Alf Engen Ski Museum is a fantastic experience for the entire family. This highly interactive museum will guide patrons through the past right into the future of winter sports in the area. Visitors can enjoy both self-guided and guided tours of the museum as well as the Olympic competition sites.

At the center of the Alf Engen Ski Museum is the Alf Engen Collection. Consisting of more than 300 medals, trophies, uniforms, skis, equipment, photographs and films, the exhibit honors Utah’s top athlete of the 20th Century.

The Ski History display boasts clips from the films “Ski Aces” and “Margie of the Wasatch”, filmed in the 1940s, as well as “Utah on My Mind”, made in the 1970s. Also of interest is the Ecker Hill display, which will take visitors back to the 1930s when ski jumping records were set and broken. Included in the display is the Ecker Hill Trophy awarded during the FIS International Ski Jumping Competition held at Utah Olympic Park. Rounding off the display is a painting by Anton J. Rasmussen of the Engen brothers and the certificate naming Ecker Hill a Historic Place on the National Register. More history is explored in the display explaining the development of Park City. Also worth seeing is the exhibit about the U.S. Forest Service’s contribution to the development of winter sports, highlighting the start of the Professional Ski Instructors Association.

Throughout the Alf Engen Ski Museum you can learn about the development of skiing and snowboarding. The Alpine Speed experience features interactive race courses, as well as a rotating display of ski equipment dating back to the 1930s. An interactive touch-screen monitor provides insight into popular Intermountain Alpine competitors. At the Board Play display you can view a few early snowboards as well as a video about Dimitrije Milovich. Learn about ski jumping at the “Skiing in the Sky” display, with a video, interactive game, photo slide shows and a display of jumping skis.

Other features of the Alf Engen Ski Museum include a diorama of snow safety rangers, information about avalanches, free style skier videos, the Will and Jean Pickett Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame, the Professional Ski Instructors of America – Intermountain Division Hall of Fame, a presentation about how snow occurs in Utah, a display of photographs by Ray Atkeson, the development of cross country skiing, the Ski Action Theater and a large topographical map of Wasatch.

You are certain to have a wonderful time exploring all the facets of the amazing Alf Engen Ski Museum in Utah.

Freestyle for Canada Winter Games

Editor — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:11:43 +0000

Canada is already gearing up for the 2015 Canada Winter Games, and they have made an announcement that Freestyle skiing will be making a huge impact on the coming games. Freestyle skiing skyrocketed to popularity during the 1960’s and was then referred to as Hot-Dogging. For years this style was considered to be reckless and dangerous, but in 1979, it was recognized as a sport by the International Ski Federation. To make the sport safer, especially for competitions, jumping techniques and regulations were introduced, and today the breathtaking aerial maneuvers of varying technical difficulty still leave spectators speechless.

With so many athletes taking part in some form of Freestyle skiing, the Canada Games Council have decided to open more opportunities to participants in the coming 2015 Canada Winter Games. Skiers will be able to enter into multiple disciplines or the discipline of their choice, which will include events such as Dual Moguls, Ski Cross, Aerials, Half Pipe and Moguls. For the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association, the inclusion of so many disciplines is a wonderful recognition and opportunity for their athletes. Speaking on behalf of the association, Peter Judge (CEO), commented that the increase in Freestyle Skiing disciplines will give many provincial and club athletes new goals to strive towards, and encourage them to continue developing their skills and abilities as Freestyle Skiing athletes.

Judge continued to say that the 2015 Canada Winter Games is also seen as the perfect preparation competition for the athletes that are in the National Team, as it focuses the athletes, tests their abilities and helps them prepare for events such as the Olympic Games. The team coaches and officials also benefit from the event, increasing their knowledge and experience in world class and competitive events such as the Winter Games. The Canada Winter Games offer athletes a high level of competition, with most of the national athletes entering into this popular and prestigious event. Thousands of athletes and hopefuls have competed in the games over the years, with spectators seeing the rise and fall of many top athletes. During the 2015 games, not just one athlete will be taking centre stage, as Freestyle Skiing disciplines will be capturing some of the spotlight. It is most definitely going to be an event to remember.

Cross Country Ski Association Gets Olympic Grant

Editor — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:52:43 +0000

It’s official – the Central Cross Country Ski Association (CXC) is one of the grant recipients of the 2009 Olympic Opportunity Fund. The financial support provided by this facility will no doubt go a long way to helping the association with its Support Adaptive Ski Program efforts.

The Olympic Opportunity Grant Program was begun by the U.S. Olympic Committee in 2007 as part of efforts to give sport organizations in the U.S. financial aid. At the start of 2009, the decision was made to extend this program to Paralympic Sport Clubs, member organizations of the USOC Paralympic organization, and any veteran and military organizations that are currently working to help injured military personnel and veterans through the development of certain Paralympic programs.

According to CXC Executive and Athletic Director Yuriy Gusev, the organization has already been developing adaptive cross-country skiing programs for several years. Commenting on the grant, Gusev said: “Receiving this grant is a new and very exciting step for our organization. CXC is looking forward to offering free loaner equipment while partnering with ski areas, events and local ski clubs to provide the opportunity of cross country skiing for individuals with disabilities, including military personnel and veterans.”

One of the highlights of the CXC Adaptive Program is the putting in place of numerous Opportunity Centres in the Central Region. As part of these efforts, various ski clubs, parks and ski areas will be offered free stand up and sit skiing equipment on loan so that they can provide this service for paralyzed skiers. A number of instructors and coaches at each location will also be given additional instruction and certification in order for them to provide adequate instruction and help.

Commenting on the choice of CXC for the grant, Chief of Paralympics (USOC) Charlie Huebner said: “We are proud to invest in the incredible work of Central Cross Country Ski Association. Together we will have a tremendous impact on the availability of Paralympic sports programming and be able to provide more opportunities for persons with physical disabilities and injured service members to participate in Paralympic sport at the community level.” No doubt he is right and these efforts will go a long way to helping people with physical disabilities to adopt a healthier lifestyle.