the athleticism alone is sort of staggering, you know? i mean, i've never skied or snowboarded, so i can barely even fathom standing up on those things, let alone competing at that level on a nearly vertical slope. it's practically insane. who decided that it would be a good idea to strap a couple of long pieces of wood to your feet, speed down a hill, and then jump off of ramp so that you're vaulted into the air at more than 60 mph, to land a whopping 300-some-odd feet from where you began? crazy people, and people waaaay more talented then me, that's who!
these men and women train for years to be able to compete in events that are over in minutes. and its been so heartbreaking to watch when it doesn't work out, and so inspirational to watch when it does. the stress has been killing me. i can barely watch any event that lindsey vonn (possibly the most accident prone olympian ever) is in because i'm so concerned that she'll get injured again. i almost cried when she won her first gold this year. when france's ophelie david crashed during women's ski cross, and the camera found her 10 year old daughter lilou looking on, i did cry.
they're fearless. that's really what it comes down to. throwing a grown woman in the air so that she can spin and land ten feet away on razor sharp blades? racing around an ice rink filled with more than 20 other people who are all, again, on razor sharp blades? and, god, to go down mountains and winding slides of ice after knowing how many people have been injured and, worse yet, killed on them already? i can't help but have so much respect for these athletes.
i've decided that my favorite events this year are moguls, women's downhill and super combined, speed skating, and, of course -- because i'm a girl -- ice skating. i'm a particular fan of the commentators of the men's snowboarding event, who were kind enough to explain all that snowboard lingo and tricks to the uneducated me. i am not, however, a fan of the curling commentators (or the sport, for that matter) who taught me absolutely nothing about the game. in fact, i'm actually convinced that there are no rules in curling; you simply push your rock (yes, i said rock) with as medium force as possible, sweep the ice in front of it vigorously until it just shines, and ignore the target/bullseye at the end of the lane -- it means nothing anyway.
the scots come up with such interesting ways to occupy their time.
anyway, (even though i'm posting this tomorrow morning) i'm actually in the midst of watching a bunch of women with thighs bigger than my midsection push bullets-on-blades down an icy course before jumping into said bullet and hoping no one falls out. that's right, it's bobsled time. (why is it called a bobsled anyway?) i have a mini-surprise coming up next week relating to the olympics, so keep posted, and enjoy the games!
