- I think I’m still in denial that the Olympics have left town. The atmosphere in the city was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. The flags, the cheering, the hoards of smiling faces. This video of Vancouver’s reaction to Crosby’s goal might be one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. (Skip to 1:10) :

For more reactions from around Canada you can see a collection of good clips compiled by @masey

- If you haven’t seen this video essay by Stephen Brunt, it summarizes the Games brilliantly:

- Put this down as one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen. It appears 2 men found a way past security and down the Olympic luge track in Whistler…. ON THEIR SKIS! [via @amberturnau]

- Watch as the announcer mocks a French skiier’s pain after groin shot:

- The Norwegian ski team made a nice dance video to Beat It in their racing suits:

- Speaking of Norwegians. This classic shot from Norway’s Google Street View. WTF:

- And Google is taking street view to a new level, with their snowmobile:

- The world’s hardest bouldering problem captured on video:

The Game, World’s Hardest Boulder Problem? from Cedar Wright on Vimeo.

- Ridiculous parachute stunt:

- In a nutshell: The problem with salmon farms in BC:

In a Nutshell- The problems with salmon farms in BC from Twyla Roscovich on Vimeo.

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Tags: Olympics,parachute,salmon farms,Skiing
Categories: Pics & Vids of the Week
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The Olympics officially kick off tomorrow and I can’t wait. I was at Lonsdale Quay yesterday for the celebration as the torch did its tour around the North Shore, and can’t help but be overly excited for the games!

That said, I’ll be taking some time ‘off-line’ over the next two weeks so I can juggle work, family life, marathon training, soccer, prepping for CSC exam, and enjoying as much of the Olympic festivities as I can possibly soak in. I won’t be posting much, if anything, until March. (I will probably still keep up with the Sunday Links, because that’s quick and easy to do )

Aside from all the mainstream coverage of the games, there are some great local bloggers who you should definitely keep up with for great coverage. Masey has done all the work for me and listed the sites you need to check out for great Olympic coverage. Also, make sure you check out the Outdoor Vancouver Flickr pool, as some people have submitted some amazing Olympic-related shots.

Enjoy the games Vancouver, and I’ll be back in March

GO CANADA GO!

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Tags: Olympics
Categories: Website Updates
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Ashleigh McIvor will be representing Canada in the 2010 Winter Olympics in the ski cross, which is a new sport appearing at the Olympics for the first time. Ashleigh, born in Vancouver and raised in Whistler, is the 2009 World Champion in ski cross and is looking to grab gold in her home town next February.

Photo Credit: John Evely

At 26, Ashleigh has already amassed an impressive resume. On top of her current World Championship, she:

• was the first person named to the Canadian Olympic Freestyle team
• made her runway modeling debut in New York City at an event Vail Resorts put together called “Skiing is Sexy”
• has competed in the X-Games
• and, is an avid surfer, mountain biker, and dirt biker.

She has also teamed with Tourism BC and is the spokesperson for the Great Mountain Giveaway, where one lucky winner will have the opportunity to bring 19 friends to share in a VIP skiing experience at one of 13 ski resorts across British Columbia. As she connects with snow lovers across North America to promote the contest, I had the opportunity to speak with Ashleigh:

You started your career in alpine ski-racing and made the switch to ski-cross in 2003. What drew you to the sport?

The intensity, and high adrenaline factor. It’s a different kind of adrenaline competing head to head.

Being from Whistler, do you feel like you have home-field advantage in the Olympics, or added pressure to perform?

It’s a little bit of both. Overall, I’m trying to channel it as a positive. I mean, it can be nerve-wrecking with more eyes on you for sure, but I’m trying to turn it into a positive, and to make everyone proud.

What has been the most memorable moment of your career thus far?

Photo Credit: John Evely

Winning the 2009 World Championship, hands down. It felt like all the years of hard work had finally paid off.

One of the most painful moments to watch from the last winter Olympics came in the boardercross, when American Lindsey Jacobellis fell on the final jump of the course as she tried to land a method air, costing her the gold medal. Do you have any plans to bring that kind of flash to the ski cross?

No, for me its all about going fast. I recently heard someone say that Lindsay didn’t even regret that. That if she had to do it again she would, but she would just land it. I used to crash a lot when I first got into ski cross. When I got  into the lead I would say out loud to myself ‘Stay on your feet. Stay on your feet!’, so maybe I’ll be saying that at the Olympics.

You’re also into mountain biking, dirt biking, and surfing. Growing up in Whistler, the first two I can understand,  but how did you get into surfing?

I started surfing off the coast of Vancouver Island in Tofino. People don’t realize what great surf there is to be had. The water isn’t even that bad temperature wise, and on top of it all you have the gorgeous west coast rain forest.

Tell me a bit about the contest, the Great Mountain Giveaway.

It’s the biggest ski prize ever given away by Tourism BC, and maybe the largest ski prize ever. Basically, one winner and 19 friends get a 5 day VIP treatment at one of 13 ski resorts of their choosing in BC. Depending on my schedule, I may be meeting the the winning group for a tour around the mountain.

Which resort would you choose? Have you skied them all?

I have, and Revelstoke and Whitewater are my favorites.

Enter the Great Mountain Giveaway here.

“One lucky winner will have the opportunity to bring 19 friends to share in a VIP skiing experience at one of 13 world class ski resorts across British Columbia. Winners will pick their own prize: ranging from exclusive mountain access, to having no lift lines and their own mountain personal guides at Whistler Blackcomb. Each of the 13 mountains offers its own unique world class experience.”

Thanks to Tourism BC and Ashleigh. We wish her all the best in 2010!

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Tags: 2010,Ashleigh McIvor,Big Mountain Giveaway,Interview,Olympics,Ski Cross
Categories: Snowboarding & Skiing
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Last week I had a post about the local ski resorts, when they were opening, and what impacts were expected during the Olympics.

This afternoon I came across a good report of how backcountry skiing will be impacted this winter season. The info below is taken from the Cairn Publishing website: http://www.cairnpublishing.com/author/articles/olympic_access.html (on a side note, I think I’m going to have to buy Scrambles in Southwest BC from this website, looks great! Anyone have this already?)

So, what will the impact of the 2010 Olympics be on backcountry skiing access?
The long and the short of it is that it’s probably a good year to head out towards the Coquihalla and Mount Baker.

Cypress
Trails closed to the public:

• • Black Mountain: December 1, 2009 to April 1, 2010
  • Howe Sound Crest Winter Access including Bowen Lookout: December 1, 2009 to April 1, 2010
  • Hollyburn Hikers Access Trail:
    • Above Water Board Cabin Site: December 1, 2009 to March 8, 2010
    • No access on the entire length of the trail: February 1 to March 8, 2010.
  • Road Closures
    • During the exclusive use period (February 1 – March 8, 2010), access to the mountain will be limited to Olympic and local traffic only as a security and public safety measure.
    • There will be no spectator or public parking at the Cypress Mountain venue during the Games period.

Sea to Sky Highway

• Feb 11 – Feb 28 Sea-to-Sky Highway checkpoint opens at Alice Lake turn-off. Only Olympic vehicles, residents with permits and people with hotel accommodation will be allowed northbound from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Day skiers or tourists should take commercial motorcoaches or travel during off peak hours.

Whistler Parking

• Sept 1 ¯  Day skier lots 7 and 8 were closed
• Nov. 15 ¯ Whistler Creekside staged parking restrictions begin.
• Feb. 1 ¯  In Whistler, day skier lots 1, 3, 5, 6 closed
• Feb. 4 ―  In Whistler, local vehicle permits go into effect

Callaghan

• Sept 1 – Mar 21 Whistler Olympic Park access will be closed at the main gate
  just past the Callaghan Lake road at Alexander Falls. Access to Callaghan
  and Madely lakes will still be open. Cross country trails and backcountry
  access will be via Callaghan Country’s base at Alexander Falls.

Feb 5 – Restricted access to Callaghan Valley Road begins

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Tags: Backcountry skiing,Olympics
Categories: Snowboarding & Skiing, Snowshoeing
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Photo by TylerIngram

I’ve been seeing a lot of Tweets like these and its getting me excited for winter:

@Mt_Seymour: We have 7cm of snow and counting! – Nov 6
@CypressMountain: Snowing all day! Opening as soon as we have enough snow! – Nov 10
@GrouseMountain: Today’s snowfall pics: http://tinyurl.com/yfyl6rd – Nov 10
@WhistlerBlckcmb: Wow, check out the forecast! Between 45-70cm expected by Monday! – Nov 12

So here’s a look at these 4 mountains, when they are opening, and what, if any, will be the impacts of the Olympics this winter season for them. Starting up the Sea to Sky and working east:

Whistler/ Blackcomb

Whistler Opening: Saturday, November 14
Current Snowbase: 95cm
Blackcomb Opening: Thursday, November 26
2010 Olympics Impact:

During the Olympic and Paralympic period, which begins January 25 for course set up, over 90 per cent of terrain will remain open. The only closed runs will be those in the area of the race course on Whistler Mountain along with the training runs on both mountains. During the Paralympics in March, over 90 per cent of the terrain will also be open with only the race course and training runs closed on Whistler Mountain.

Whistler Mountain Run Closures (January 25 to March 27)

• Dave Murray Downhill, Wild Card, Jimmy’s Joker, Upper Franz’s

Whistler Mountain Run Closures (January 30 to March 27)

• Bear Paw, Tokum, Crossroads

Whistler Mountain Run Closures – other

• Bear Cub (February 1 to February 28), Raven/Ptarmigan (February 1 to March 21), Crabapple (February 1 to February 17)

Blackcomb Mountain Training Run Closures (January 29 to February 28)

• Springboard (riding the Solar Coaster Express, which is open to the public all season, will provide phenomenal views of Olympians training on Springboard), Lower Cruiser

For a complete look at 2010 Olympic impacts, including parking, go here: http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/olympics/index.htm

Cypress Mountain

Opening Day: Friday, November 13 (Easy-Rider Chair and Cross-Country Area)
Current Snowbase (Mid Mtn): 45cm
2010 Olympics Impact:

I posted earlier on what looks like will be a hugely impacted experience, you can review the impact summary here. But basically, parking seems like it will be chaos, the Eagle Chair will be off-limits the whole season, and there will be no public access from February 1 to March 8. Along with this, Cypress recently announced blocking access to Cypress Provincial Park during Feb 1 – Mar 8, and some trails for 4 months! (More info here: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/cypress/). This obviously has a lot of back country goers quite mad.

Grouse Mountain

Opening Date: TBD Friday, November 13 (Paradise Bowl and Greenway Chair 4pm)
Current Snowbase: 50cm
2010 Olympic Impact:

This is an impact I can dig. During the Olympics, Feb 12 – 28, Grouse will be open 24 hours a day! I went on a midnight snowshoe trek last year and it was great. This is when insomnia is fun!

Mount Seymour

Opening Date: TBD Friday, November 20, 9:30am
Current Snowbase (summit): 45cm
2010 Olympics Impact: None

Enjoy the season!

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Tags: Cypress,Grouse,Olympics,Seymour,Whistler
Categories: Snowboarding & Skiing
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