Canadians not having a good Olympics so far

[Miller]

There's only one thing that matters! The luge accident aside, which is incredibility tragic and shouldn't be forgotten, to Canada this is all about getting back to the top of the hockey world.

 

[GrindingAway]

Shouldn't somebody have planned for that possibility? It's costing them a TON of money. Maybe it was unavoidable, but I think some Civil Engineer is under the gun for this as we speak.

I traveled through the Vancouver airport this summer and picked up a newspaper and they were already discussing it being a likely warm winter due to El Nino. They said they were buying snow making equipment like crazy and were even storing it up up in the mountains.

When it comes down to it though I'm not sure what you do. You can't engineer the weather. It sounds like the downhill skiing portion isn't unheard of. No excuse for the ice and torch issues though IMO.

 

[HiltonMagic]

sounds like they went with another company...not Zamboni...since when did people get cheap and cut corners in planning for the Olympics?

There are pros and cons to both Zamboni and Olympia. Zamboni obviously has a stranglehold on the industry, but that doesn't mean Olympia is ****.

 

[dinger]

There are pros and cons to both Zamboni and Olympia. Zamboni obviously has a stranglehold on the industry, but that doesn't mean Olympia is ****.

so its like Kleenex.... its actually a tissue but.... its ok to call it a Kleenex.

i've always just thought they were called zambonis. so what are the actual machines called then? ice smoothers?

 

[MNCyGuy]

I traveled through the Vancouver airport this summer and picked up a newspaper and they were already discussing it being a likely warm winter due to El Nino. They said they were buying snow making equipment like crazy and were even storing it up up in the mountains.

When it comes down to it though I'm not sure what you do. You can't engineer the weather. It sounds like the downhill skiing portion isn't unheard of. No excuse for the ice and torch issues though IMO.

That's probably true. I just can't remember an Olympics, summer or winter, ever having this many problems. Not even Athens in '04 and they slapped theirs together at the last minute!

 

[HiltonMagic]

so its like Kleenex.... its actually a tissue but.... its ok to call it a Kleenex.

i've always just thought they were called zambonis. so what are the actual machines called then? ice smoothers?

Ice Resurfacers

 

[chrishull14]

Hilton... the look on Gretzky's face in your pic is priceless. He is standing there thinking: We are gonna get HOSED!!

 

[jcats322]

What I cannot understand is why they would have the Winter Olympics in an area that the average highs this time of year are in the 40's, and then act shocked at the weather?

 

[CyPride]

There's only one thing that matters! The luge accident aside, which is incredibility tragic and shouldn't be forgotten, to Canada this is all about getting back to the top of the hockey world.

AND winning a gold medal on home turf - finally got that accomplished the previous two fails.

 

[GrindingAway]

What I cannot understand is why they would have the Winter Olympics in an area that the average highs this time of year are in the 40's, and then act shocked at the weather?

I agree - seems like the potential was great enough that they could have at least had a solid backup plan.

 

[TarHeelHawk]

The Luge disaster, now the speedskating. The Canadian Olympic Committee does not look very good right now.

Can't really pin the Luge thing on the host country; the IOC has the say on how the track is set up.

What happened with speed skating?

 

[Tornado man]

There are pros and cons to both Zamboni and Olympia. Zamboni obviously has a stranglehold on the industry, but that doesn't mean Olympia is ****.

Exactly. Olympia ia a fine manufacturer. There are tons of Olympia machines at rinks around the world.
The Ames Ice Arena uses an Olympia, and is getting another brand new one next month.

 

[Wesley]

Also, they can't have spectators along the ski and snowboard runs because the ground is unstable.

And they built the wood luge wall.

 

[alarson]

What I cannot understand is why they would have the Winter Olympics in an area that the average highs this time of year are in the 40's, and then act shocked at the weather?

Looking at the weather information for sochi (olympics host in 2014), i'm seeing an average high in february of 50, low of 38. Are we gonna see the same problem again next time?

 

[cyclonedave25]

Can't really pin the Luge thing on the host country; the IOC has the say on how the track is set up.

What happened with speed skating?

See posts #4, 5, 6, & 8.

 

[TarHeelHawk]

See posts #4, 5, 6, & 8.

Saw that after I posted that. They got two weeks left, they'll get it in. I'd be willing to bet that this isn't the first Winter Olympics where there have been some snafus.

 

[ISUKyro]

so they basically had a Daytona on ice???

 

[06_CY]

Sid the Kid, Iginla, Pronger, Broduer and the like will make everything better by winning the Gold. The match Sunday night against Rafalski, Orpik, Kane, B. Ryan and the like will be awesome to watch; not sure if I will cheer for the USA or Canada.

 

[TarHeelHawk]

Sid the Kid, Iginla, Pronger, Broduer and the like will make everything better by winning the Gold. The match Sunday night against Rafalski, Orpik, Kane, B. Ryan and the like will be awesome to watch; not sure if I will cheer for the USA or Canada.

Are you a transplant from Canadia?

 

[HiltonMagic]

Are you a transplant from Canadia?