| Watching the Winter Olympics 20:58 - Feb 12 with 1315 views | Benters |
Bonkers isn’t it.
Enjoyable viewing though. |  |
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| Watching the Winter Olympics on 00:46 - Feb 13 with 1213 views | armchaircritic59 |
The "Halfpipes " are something else. Yikes! |  | | |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 07:09 - Feb 13 with 1113 views | Benters |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 00:46 - Feb 13 by armchaircritic59 |
The "Halfpipes " are something else. Yikes! |
Yes that was great viewing as was the speed skating and skeleton.
I also liked the skiing and shooting and the four person race thing on boards. | |
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| Watching the Winter Olympics on 07:27 - Feb 13 with 1094 views | Deano69 |
130kph on a tin tray. Bonkers and amazing. |  |
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| Watching the Winter Olympics on 07:55 - Feb 13 with 1055 views | LRB84UK |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 07:27 - Feb 13 by Deano69 |
130kph on a tin tray. Bonkers and amazing. |
I didn't realise, until the relay last night, that you could have two of them on the tin tray! | | | |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 08:19 - Feb 13 with 1024 views | Churchman |
As somebody who loves the mountains and stumbling about in them, I think the Winter Olympics are great.
The skiing, obviously, but while Boardriders are the spawn of the devil in recreational skiing what the professionals do is incredible. I’ve seen those Half Pipes and they are enormous annd not exactly flat. While I’ve not seen the riders in action, even from what one sees on tv it’s truly spectacular and terrifying.
The ski runs themselves are as steep as hell in parts and these people are literally on the edge of what they can do and wiping out.
Love the ski and snowboard racing, speed skating, ski jumping, endurance stuff, Bobsleigh, ice hockey in particular. The idea of going down an ice chute on a tea tray (skeleton and luge) faster than you can legally drive a car is bonkers. The only stuff that doesn’t do it for me is Curling and ice skating - though I respect the enormous skill involved.
Great fun. I’ve not been to that area of the Alps (Dolomites) and I wish I had. It looks stunning.
Edit: anyone who has never skied but likes the look of it, try and give it a go. It’s not for everyone but for some, including me, it’s one of the best, most fun things you’ll ever do. [Post edited 13 Feb 8:25]
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| Watching the Winter Olympics on 08:30 - Feb 13 with 1006 views | Deano69 |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 07:55 - Feb 13 by LRB84UK |
I didn't realise, until the relay last night, that you could have two of them on the tin tray! |
Doubly bonkers. | |
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| Watching the Winter Olympics on 08:37 - Feb 13 with 995 views | soupytwist |
I watched the highlights of the women's super giant slalom last night. I genuinely feared for their safety most of the time and apparently over 30% didn't finish, including the winner of the women's downhill.
Real heartwarming, back from serious injury, story for the Italian winner. [Post edited 13 Feb 8:38]
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| Watching the Winter Olympics on 10:30 - Feb 13 with 930 views | Benters |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 08:19 - Feb 13 by Churchman |
As somebody who loves the mountains and stumbling about in them, I think the Winter Olympics are great.
The skiing, obviously, but while Boardriders are the spawn of the devil in recreational skiing what the professionals do is incredible. I’ve seen those Half Pipes and they are enormous annd not exactly flat. While I’ve not seen the riders in action, even from what one sees on tv it’s truly spectacular and terrifying.
The ski runs themselves are as steep as hell in parts and these people are literally on the edge of what they can do and wiping out.
Love the ski and snowboard racing, speed skating, ski jumping, endurance stuff, Bobsleigh, ice hockey in particular. The idea of going down an ice chute on a tea tray (skeleton and luge) faster than you can legally drive a car is bonkers. The only stuff that doesn’t do it for me is Curling and ice skating - though I respect the enormous skill involved.
Great fun. I’ve not been to that area of the Alps (Dolomites) and I wish I had. It looks stunning.
Edit: anyone who has never skied but likes the look of it, try and give it a go. It’s not for everyone but for some, including me, it’s one of the best, most fun things you’ll ever do. [Post edited 13 Feb 8:25]
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Yeah I don’t do the curling or figure skating tbh.
That snowboarding looks amazing,as for the size of the wotsit,I bet it’s huge buh in real life. | |
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| Watching the Winter Olympics on 11:00 - Feb 13 with 892 views | leitrimblue |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 07:27 - Feb 13 by Deano69 |
130kph on a tin tray. Bonkers and amazing. |
Think I got close to that speed on a house for sale sign down the big hill as a kid. And without the aid of lycra |  | | |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 11:12 - Feb 13 with 866 views | Churchman |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 10:30 - Feb 13 by Benters |
Yeah I don’t do the curling or figure skating tbh.
That snowboarding looks amazing,as for the size of the wotsit,I bet it’s huge buh in real life. |
The internet says 22 feet (6.7 meters) high, 600 feet (180 meters) long, and 64 feet (20 meters) wide. the riders will go anything up to about 20 feet higher than the lip of the pipe making a total of up to and around 40 feet drop.
No wonder if they don’t land top of the arc A&E often beckons. That’s well above the height of the average two storey house (ground to eaves av 20-25 feet).
Skiers will go anything up to 100mph, snowboard racers up to about 70mph. Bobsleigh up to 90mph, Skeleton slightly less. | | | |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 12:27 - Feb 13 with 802 views | Bent_double |
Snowboard cross - womens event about to start on BBC. Its incredible. |  |
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| Watching the Winter Olympics on 12:32 - Feb 13 with 791 views | mellowblue |
love biathlon and ski jumping, follow it the whole winter, not just olympic glory hunting.
Loath curling. | | | |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 12:37 - Feb 13 with 775 views | Deano69 |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 11:00 - Feb 13 by leitrimblue |
Think I got close to that speed on a house for sale sign down the big hill as a kid. And without the aid of lycra |
We used to candle wax kitchen lino, thrashed sledges etc and only a few cuts and bruises
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| Watching the Winter Olympics on 13:20 - Feb 13 with 729 views | Benters |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 12:27 - Feb 13 by Bent_double |
Snowboard cross - womens event about to start on BBC. Its incredible. |
Yeah I’m watching that it’s great. | |
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| Watching the Winter Olympics on 16:54 - Feb 13 with 625 views | Blue_Uprising |
Puerto Rico bob skeleton outfit is fire. 🔥
That is all. |  | | |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 04:49 - Feb 14 with 504 views | Benters |
We won a Gold Medal yaay !  | |
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| Watching the Winter Olympics on 21:18 - Feb 14 with 412 views | Churchman |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 04:49 - Feb 14 by Benters |
We won a Gold Medal yaay ! |
And it was bob on good too!! Bit of a pussy though. Going along on a tea tray at 80mph? Wuss!
I’ve loved the Winter Olympics. Mental | | | |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 00:48 - Feb 15 with 345 views | armchaircritic59 |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 08:19 - Feb 13 by Churchman |
As somebody who loves the mountains and stumbling about in them, I think the Winter Olympics are great.
The skiing, obviously, but while Boardriders are the spawn of the devil in recreational skiing what the professionals do is incredible. I’ve seen those Half Pipes and they are enormous annd not exactly flat. While I’ve not seen the riders in action, even from what one sees on tv it’s truly spectacular and terrifying.
The ski runs themselves are as steep as hell in parts and these people are literally on the edge of what they can do and wiping out.
Love the ski and snowboard racing, speed skating, ski jumping, endurance stuff, Bobsleigh, ice hockey in particular. The idea of going down an ice chute on a tea tray (skeleton and luge) faster than you can legally drive a car is bonkers. The only stuff that doesn’t do it for me is Curling and ice skating - though I respect the enormous skill involved.
Great fun. I’ve not been to that area of the Alps (Dolomites) and I wish I had. It looks stunning.
Edit: anyone who has never skied but likes the look of it, try and give it a go. It’s not for everyone but for some, including me, it’s one of the best, most fun things you’ll ever do. [Post edited 13 Feb 8:25]
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Tried skiing for a week once, years ago, in a village just down the road from Kitzbuhel in Austria. Let's just say I have a lot of admiration for downhill skiers. It was as much as I could do to stand up! I did learn the correct way to fall, if you get the chance. Somewhat soul destroying to see 4 year old Austrians flying past you while you're trying to remain upright! Safe to say I wasn't a natural. Mind you it's a great way to spend a week or two, amongst the mountains, breathtaking scenery, and good night life. Whatever my trials and tribulations, I'd recommend it to anyone. You don't have to Ski, plenty of other things to do. I'd advise giving halfpipes a miss :) | | | |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 04:12 - Feb 15 with 310 views | Benters |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 00:48 - Feb 15 by armchaircritic59 |
Tried skiing for a week once, years ago, in a village just down the road from Kitzbuhel in Austria. Let's just say I have a lot of admiration for downhill skiers. It was as much as I could do to stand up! I did learn the correct way to fall, if you get the chance. Somewhat soul destroying to see 4 year old Austrians flying past you while you're trying to remain upright! Safe to say I wasn't a natural. Mind you it's a great way to spend a week or two, amongst the mountains, breathtaking scenery, and good night life. Whatever my trials and tribulations, I'd recommend it to anyone. You don't have to Ski, plenty of other things to do. I'd advise giving halfpipes a miss :) |
I don’t fancy doing it either but I would like to see the mountains and scenery. | |
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| Watching the Winter Olympics on 04:14 - Feb 15 with 309 views | Benters |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 21:18 - Feb 14 by Churchman |
And it was bob on good too!! Bit of a pussy though. Going along on a tea tray at 80mph? Wuss!
I’ve loved the Winter Olympics. Mental |
Imagine being so close to the ground going that fast it must seem like you are flying!
My Mini was a 1300 lowered that seemed incredibly fast being so low to the road. | |
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| Watching the Winter Olympics on 08:29 - Feb 15 with 259 views | Plums |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 11:12 - Feb 13 by Churchman |
The internet says 22 feet (6.7 meters) high, 600 feet (180 meters) long, and 64 feet (20 meters) wide. the riders will go anything up to about 20 feet higher than the lip of the pipe making a total of up to and around 40 feet drop.
No wonder if they don’t land top of the arc A&E often beckons. That’s well above the height of the average two storey house (ground to eaves av 20-25 feet).
Skiers will go anything up to 100mph, snowboard racers up to about 70mph. Bobsleigh up to 90mph, Skeleton slightly less. |
That's a bigger drop than ski jumpers can have - and these guys and gals are doing tricks. Bonkers! |  |
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| Watching the Winter Olympics on 09:40 - Feb 15 with 228 views | Churchman |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 00:48 - Feb 15 by armchaircritic59 |
Tried skiing for a week once, years ago, in a village just down the road from Kitzbuhel in Austria. Let's just say I have a lot of admiration for downhill skiers. It was as much as I could do to stand up! I did learn the correct way to fall, if you get the chance. Somewhat soul destroying to see 4 year old Austrians flying past you while you're trying to remain upright! Safe to say I wasn't a natural. Mind you it's a great way to spend a week or two, amongst the mountains, breathtaking scenery, and good night life. Whatever my trials and tribulations, I'd recommend it to anyone. You don't have to Ski, plenty of other things to do. I'd advise giving halfpipes a miss :) |
I laughed at your point about 4 year olds piling past when you think you are doing well. I remember that feeling. But then in those areas, kids learn almost as soon as they can walk. As with everything, some take to it, some don’t.
I learnt in my 20s when my mate and I were asked if we fancied going, by a small group with a couple of spare places, to Tignes/Val D’Isere. I loved everything about it from the off, but as you point out, even standing up was a challenge, let alone moving. The gear was so heavy! Then came getting on Pom, drag and chair lifts (saw somebody fall off one of those at Whistler - not a good outcome).
I was lucky to have a very good French instructor and there was only the two of us so got to grips with it pretty quickly. I then did ski school in Austria for the next three trips so finished with a French/Austrian ski style. After that, it was America/Canada where I did most of the places you could get to, as a Brit.
It is an expensive sport, but if you take to it, it’s addictive. A real adrenaline rush. I bought my own boots and got through a few pairs of those, then skis. They changed over the years from parallel to waisted, shorter skis. Got through a few pairs of those too - always Atomics because they were to me the best for all terrain skiing which was what I was into.
The bindings have what’s called DIN settings. These are the force required for the ski to come off if you crash. A professional skier, because of the stress force of what they do will have them set 3x harder than a recreational skier. That means that if they wipe out as Lindsey Vonn did, the risk of catastrophic injury is that much greater. Something has to give - in her case a shattered shin.
When I started skiing, wearing a helmet was not cool at all. Nobody did, but as the technology improved (they’re a bit like cycle helmets) you saw more of them. I resisted for years until the majority seemed to be wearing them and I began to think of the insurance implications. I bought a good one from Snow & Rock and realised how crazy I’d been. Comfortable, warm, far better than jamming a hat on. Saved me smashing goggles too. You are never too old to learn!
Speed in itself was never the priority for me. Technique and going everywhere on and off trail was. What a lot of fun I had, along with the very good fortune to do it.
Not for everyone, but do give it a go if you fancy it. I never skied the Dolomites but it looks stunning. | | | |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 10:48 - Feb 15 with 201 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 09:40 - Feb 15 by Churchman |
I laughed at your point about 4 year olds piling past when you think you are doing well. I remember that feeling. But then in those areas, kids learn almost as soon as they can walk. As with everything, some take to it, some don’t.
I learnt in my 20s when my mate and I were asked if we fancied going, by a small group with a couple of spare places, to Tignes/Val D’Isere. I loved everything about it from the off, but as you point out, even standing up was a challenge, let alone moving. The gear was so heavy! Then came getting on Pom, drag and chair lifts (saw somebody fall off one of those at Whistler - not a good outcome).
I was lucky to have a very good French instructor and there was only the two of us so got to grips with it pretty quickly. I then did ski school in Austria for the next three trips so finished with a French/Austrian ski style. After that, it was America/Canada where I did most of the places you could get to, as a Brit.
It is an expensive sport, but if you take to it, it’s addictive. A real adrenaline rush. I bought my own boots and got through a few pairs of those, then skis. They changed over the years from parallel to waisted, shorter skis. Got through a few pairs of those too - always Atomics because they were to me the best for all terrain skiing which was what I was into.
The bindings have what’s called DIN settings. These are the force required for the ski to come off if you crash. A professional skier, because of the stress force of what they do will have them set 3x harder than a recreational skier. That means that if they wipe out as Lindsey Vonn did, the risk of catastrophic injury is that much greater. Something has to give - in her case a shattered shin.
When I started skiing, wearing a helmet was not cool at all. Nobody did, but as the technology improved (they’re a bit like cycle helmets) you saw more of them. I resisted for years until the majority seemed to be wearing them and I began to think of the insurance implications. I bought a good one from Snow & Rock and realised how crazy I’d been. Comfortable, warm, far better than jamming a hat on. Saved me smashing goggles too. You are never too old to learn!
Speed in itself was never the priority for me. Technique and going everywhere on and off trail was. What a lot of fun I had, along with the very good fortune to do it.
Not for everyone, but do give it a go if you fancy it. I never skied the Dolomites but it looks stunning. |
Good stuff! I enjoy it, but have suffered from big gaps trying to improve. Learnt the basics in my late teens early 20s over about 3 trips Austria, Italy, Andorra. Then a 20+ year gap and picked it back up in Canada and the States about 8 years ago (surprising how quickly it comes back), then another gap and we did a week in the French Alps 2 years ago. We wanted to go this half term week but couldn’t make it fit. My lad enjoys it and my wife and daughter aren’t fussed, so we’ve not prioritised it.
The helmets were a surprise when I first had them in Canada. They’re not too bad at all and no more cold ears lol.
I’m at the point where I know when I’m not getting it right, if that makes sense. It’s an amazing feeling to nail a run and know where it was spot on and understand where it wasn’t quite right. I can mostly switch off and just enjoy it now, but I’d love to make the next step to really competent. I’m a bit of a coward though - I prefer long lazy blues and easy reds and don’t enjoy it as much when the slopes get all choppy later in the day.
Having to treat it as a holiday is a pain. I had options on my doorstep in Maine and it was a game changer. I used to see the kids off on the school bus and then spend the morning on the slopes, have lunch at the ski shack and be back by the time they got home. It was bliss. [Post edited 15 Feb 11:18]
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| Watching the Winter Olympics on 11:22 - Feb 15 with 173 views | iamatractorboy |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 10:48 - Feb 15 by Swansea_Blue |
Good stuff! I enjoy it, but have suffered from big gaps trying to improve. Learnt the basics in my late teens early 20s over about 3 trips Austria, Italy, Andorra. Then a 20+ year gap and picked it back up in Canada and the States about 8 years ago (surprising how quickly it comes back), then another gap and we did a week in the French Alps 2 years ago. We wanted to go this half term week but couldn’t make it fit. My lad enjoys it and my wife and daughter aren’t fussed, so we’ve not prioritised it.
The helmets were a surprise when I first had them in Canada. They’re not too bad at all and no more cold ears lol.
I’m at the point where I know when I’m not getting it right, if that makes sense. It’s an amazing feeling to nail a run and know where it was spot on and understand where it wasn’t quite right. I can mostly switch off and just enjoy it now, but I’d love to make the next step to really competent. I’m a bit of a coward though - I prefer long lazy blues and easy reds and don’t enjoy it as much when the slopes get all choppy later in the day.
Having to treat it as a holiday is a pain. I had options on my doorstep in Maine and it was a game changer. I used to see the kids off on the school bus and then spend the morning on the slopes, have lunch at the ski shack and be back by the time they got home. It was bliss. [Post edited 15 Feb 11:18]
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Sounds very similar to me. I think I'm pretty competent at Blues (in France where they are more like reds elsewhere), but choppy runs like they get late in the day as you say, or reds or blacks are just too much like hard work and take a lot of the fun out of it for me. Nothing quite like the feeling of cruising down a nice blue run from the top fo the mountain first thing in the morning before it's got busy. | | | |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 11:36 - Feb 15 with 154 views | Churchman |
| Watching the Winter Olympics on 10:48 - Feb 15 by Swansea_Blue |
Good stuff! I enjoy it, but have suffered from big gaps trying to improve. Learnt the basics in my late teens early 20s over about 3 trips Austria, Italy, Andorra. Then a 20+ year gap and picked it back up in Canada and the States about 8 years ago (surprising how quickly it comes back), then another gap and we did a week in the French Alps 2 years ago. We wanted to go this half term week but couldn’t make it fit. My lad enjoys it and my wife and daughter aren’t fussed, so we’ve not prioritised it.
The helmets were a surprise when I first had them in Canada. They’re not too bad at all and no more cold ears lol.
I’m at the point where I know when I’m not getting it right, if that makes sense. It’s an amazing feeling to nail a run and know where it was spot on and understand where it wasn’t quite right. I can mostly switch off and just enjoy it now, but I’d love to make the next step to really competent. I’m a bit of a coward though - I prefer long lazy blues and easy reds and don’t enjoy it as much when the slopes get all choppy later in the day.
Having to treat it as a holiday is a pain. I had options on my doorstep in Maine and it was a game changer. I used to see the kids off on the school bus and then spend the morning on the slopes, have lunch at the ski shack and be back by the time they got home. It was bliss. [Post edited 15 Feb 11:18]
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Yes, you know when you get it right. You can feel it and it’s almost like you are above the snow and not fighting/ploughing through it. It’s a great feeling all in your own private world.
There’s nothing wrong with doing what you enjoy and no such thing as cowardice on the mountain. Many an idiot has been carted down the mountain on a gurney because they overreached themselves. There’s nothing cool to be found in the medical rooms at these places. Mountain craft and knowing limits is as important as technique.
I very much established a routine once I’d learned the basics from checking the weather to kit to warm up runs. First day was always green then blues then reds then late afternoon first blacks all of it pretty slow paced to get the ski legs back! Plenty of days to explore and have fun including the choppy ungroomed stuff which I loved.
In terms of nerve, mine began to fall away with age. It felt like I’d done it and didn’t see any reward pushing it so the last few years were very much cruising. All good fun. I’ve packed it in now but been very lucky.
Never did Italy or Andorra. Looking at the tv, I clearly should have done Italy! My favourite ski area was Utah, Salt Lake area - Park City, etc. There’s perfect and varied skiing to be had there. Vail, Breckenridge area (Colorado) isn’t too shabby either. In fact none of them are. Prettiest: Lake Louise. Love that place. Oddest: Finland. | | | |
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