Today was two man, so with sliders included, they've got just under 400kg of mass coming down the track at speeds exceeding 150km/h. Compared to the luge which I think has a total weight allowance (including slider) of 150kg.
We've got two teams in two-man bobsleigh: Rush and Brown, and Lueders and Lumsden. Rush and Brown headed into the second heat in first, but became one of many sleds to flip tonight. I'm told they inched across the line, so they're still in contention, but it's a devastating blow to their overall time, for sure. The winner is decided by adding up the four times acquired over two days.
Rush and Brown slide into the top spot, heat 1We had the most people in the sliding centre today of any other day so far: more than 7,000. And look who I found wandering in the crowds! Eleanor Scarth who I met when she was kind enough to host a pile of us at her cottage this past summer in Muskoka. As you can see, she's a fellow smurf, and one of the first smiles I see each morning at the sliding centre when she checks us all into work. Obviously she's playing hooky in this photo, but I won't tell.
Later that day, I met some other VIPs: Quatchi and Miga.
"Quatchi is a young sasquatch who comes from the mysterious forests of Canada. Quatchi is shy, but loves to explore new places and meet new friends."I think the Vancouver Mascots are pretty cute, but maybe a little weird. And there's so many to keep track of! I traded a nice little girl my Mukmuk pin today ... bet you didn't even know there was a Mukmuk!
"Miga is a young sea bear who lives in the ocean with her family pod, beyond Vancouver Island, near Tofino, British Columbia. Sea bears are part killer whale and part bear. (Miga is part Kermode bear, a rare white bear that only lives in British Columbia.)"
Since yesterday was such a long day (but awesome) I didn't have the energy to take part in the village celebrations for Jon Montgomery. But I heard this morning he ordered a pitcher at Crystal, walked with it to the Village Square about 100m away for his interview with the press, and auctioned what was left for $1000. Turns out that's his day job, for real: he auctions cars. I loved his podium style though. I think a gold medal deserves a good howl.
Speaking of medals (and pins too I guess), I had a lady from Teck on my team today and she gave me my new favourite pin. I should have taken a picture to show you, loyal reader, but it's too late now. Anyway, Teck is the company that made all the medals for the athletes. The designer made one big design and then each medal is cut from it, so everyone is different and in theory, would go back into one big picture again. Everyone who wins a medal also gets a silk scarf showing the entire design so the joke has been to try and figure out which part of the design your medal came from. She said VANOC brought in a few medals for the workers to see (but not touch). That would have been pretty cool. Btw, what's with Lago having to go home??
The only other funny thing that happened at work today was when Allison, fellow-team leader, denied access to the start athlete area to the Prince of Monaco. Whoops. But pretty cool that the Prince of Monaco paid us a visit today nonetheless. He was a slider himself I think I heard, and Monaco has got a sled in the race.
After work, especially since we only had to work nine hours today -- short! -- a few of us decided to hit up a place for a drink. Easier said than done in Whistler these days, but we found a table at the Elephant Castle. Even got a free margarita! And that's how you know it's been a good day ... when it ends with free drinks!
Village hijinks
Yes I admit it. On Saturday, I denied Prince Albert of Monaco access to the bobsleigh start house. These beautifully coiffed, tanned Europeans in matching red jackets asked to go to the back of house area where the athletes were preparing for their start. Their passes showed "Olympic Family" and I didn't check their names. I walked them over to the start area and the Access Control person said that only athletes and coaches were allowed in.
ReplyDeleteIt’s understandable why only coaches and athletes would be allowed in the bobsleigh start house. It’s an intense, focused time, minutes before competition. A half hour earlier, I had walked by an athlete who was vomiting into a snowbank from the stress of competition. One of his teammates went up to console him.
It wasn't until the Monaco group rushed the stairs during Team Monaco's bobsleigh push off that I realized who he was. I was about to tell them to please stand back when the International Relations person said, "Do you know who that is? It's Prince Albert of Monaco.” Had I known who he was I would have directed him to International Relations people instead. They most likely would tell him the same news. In French.
Throughout the whole exchange, even after being denied access, Prince Albert was very gracious. Without knowing who he was, I was impressed with the way he phrased things in a polite but direct way. In my defence, with his wire-rimmed glasses, he looks more accountant-like than regal but my image of “prince” is probably defined from reading too many fairy tales and Disney movies as a kid. I’m just glad I was in one of my best moods at that particular time.
Prince Albert: "We'd like to go to the athletes area."
Allison: "I’ll take you over and I'll see what I can do."
Prince Albert: "We'll find a solution."
Allison: "That's a lovely way to phrase it 'We'll find a solution'"
Prince Albert: "No, you'll find a solution."
Allison (smiling): "I'll certainly try my best."