olympic preview
who, what and where to watch
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Manuel Osborne-Paradis Stefan Read Steve Omischl
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Alpine Skiing (Downhill) Ski Jumping Freestyle Aerials
Date Feb. 13 (Men), Feb. 17 (Women) Date Feb. 12, 13 Men’s Individual NH (normal hill), Feb. 19, 20 Date Feb. 22, Men’s
Men’s Individual LH (large hill), Feb. 22 Men’s Team LH
Venue Whistler Creekside Venue Whistler Olympic Park Venue Cypress Mountain
Canuck Content One of the fastest sports at the Games is Canuck Content People of a certain maturity will remember the Canuck Content Poetry in motion, bone jarring crashes and
also one of the premiere events and one in which the Canucks opening ski jump crash scene from the Wide World of Sport, and the electric atmosphere of what is sure to be one of 2010’s
have a chance of upsetting their European rivals. as a result, ski jumping is etched in our collective unconscious loudest crowds.
Canada has the strongest men’s downhill team in years, as a seriously bad-ass sport. Period. Canada has had more success at Freestyle Aerials than
perhaps ever. Dubbed the Canadian Cowboys, medal contend- Canadians have not done well, traditionally, in this event. most other countries, and this competition should follow a
ers include John Kucera and Erik Guay as well as hometown Stefan Read and Greg Baxter are probably the top ski jumpers in familiar formula. Steve Omischl, the pride of North Bay, is a
boy Manuel Osborne-Paradis who grew up racing at Whistler. North America, and have experience at Whistler, but it’ll take an three-time world champ, and at the top of his game. Warren
Emily Brydon and Kelly Vanderbeek look to build on this past awe-inspiring performance to make the podium. Shouldice and Ryan Blais are right on his heels.
season’s World Cup success to contend for the podium in
Whistler.
The Competition Defending gold medalist Antoine Deneriaz The Competition Austrian Gregor Schlierenzauer dominated The Competition American Ryan St. Onge is neck and neck
of France is done, that leaves Michael Walchhofer of Austria, the World Cup, and looks in fine shape heading into this season. with Omischl, and is coming off a huge season. From Belarus,
who topped the World Cup circuit last season as the number If anyone is going to give him a run, it might be Swiss jumper Dimitre Dashinski is an aging veteran, but always very danger-
one contender. American Bode Miller is always dangerous. On and World Cup number two Simon Ammann. ous. But the real competition might be from the Chinese team.
the women’s side, Lindsey Vonn is flat-out dominant, winning
back-to-back overall World Cup championships.
Bar Trivia Canada’s fabled Crazy Canucks — Ken Read, Steve Bar Trivia The Vancouver 2010 ski jumping competition will Bar Trivia Trick skiing was first invented in Norway in the
Podborski, Dave Irwin and Dave Murray — had an astonishing be marked by the decision to disallow female competitors. 1700s.
107 top ten finishes in World Cup competition between 1978 Although the judgement that came down suggested that there
and 1984. Podborski won our first Olympic medal, a bronze, at was discrimination against female jumpers, apparently the
Lake Placid in 1980. Charter of Rights and Freedoms takes a back seat to all-mighty
International Olympic Committee.
Prediction Look for Osborne-Paradis to parade onto the Prediction Look for Schlierenzauer to reinforce his status as Prediction Look for Canuck legend Steve Omischl to go huge
podium in front of adoring hometown fans. Three Canadian the top jumper in the world by claiming Olympic gold. Will a and grab the gold. Omischl went for it all in Turin, Italy and
men in the top ten make for the most successful Olympic Canadian crack the top ten? That would be a victory, in itself. famously crashed and burned. You can bet he’ll be on his
downhill in the country’s history. A medal on the women’s side game this time around.
is possible, but it’ll be tough. Vonn wins in a walk.
Website www.canski.org
Website www.skijumpingcanada.com Website www.freestyleski.ca
36 GOT september/october 2009
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