Day 15 - Feb 18 - More Water Programs

Don't let BC Labor board know, but today was my 15th straight day of work, as I managed to get on work crews on 2 supposed days off. But every day is just as great as the day before. Although I must say that some of the workers are getting a bit frustrated with early AM uploads and not necessaarily much to do except wait on others to make decisions.

Today I again tagged along with Section Head as he is not here Feb 21, day of the rescheduled Men's super combined, so I will need to do his job then. Unfortunately just about all our crew will be gone by then, as they signed up only for speed events, which were supposed to be done by then. Guess I'll have to "borrow" other workers from somewhere.

Ah yes, the Chinese Downhill (see yesterday's blog). The day before the Super G, racers are given about 45 minutes to ski the hill where the super G will take place, to get used to the terrain, etc. Usually they all line up in a row, even with the start hut, and when the course opens, they all take off within fractions of seconds of each other and ski the hill, each one trying to go faster tha the next, often a bit of a psyching out issue if they can pass someone. Today's however, was different, as there is a steep pitch coming out of the starting gate, and all the racers wanted to get feel of coming out the start. Thus, starts were 5-10 seconds apart. Really fun to watch though. Our water program had left the hill in a conditon most of us would call "icy concrete", but these racres just carved it up, so much so that they broke through some of it, leaving some areas with heaped up soft snow. So ... easily fixed with another water program. This time I got to hold the bar handles (see pics from yesterday), alot more work, but with all the water spraying, I could have saved on a shower later if there had been some soap ... and no, the clothes they gave us as volunteers are not waterproof! But it was sunny and not too cold, so all in all not a bad day. After all, how can one complain about being in boots and on skis (some of time, crampons other times) for 11 hours of the day?

After work, trip to the Weasel House (beer tent). Special guest today was Nancy Green, one of my idols as she was winning world cups and Olympic Gold when I was a teenager racing. I even had my picture taken with her (see below).

Tomorrow is Super G, then Ro and Jonah arrive, lots of events that we have tickets to, lots of fun in Whistler village, but only 9 days left!!

Gas powered leaf blower used to blow up the air mattresses (protection from

 hard/sharp objects on side of course) each day.

After SG course is set, coaches (not athletes) can go donw the course. Most take many notes, video the course, do GPS measurements, so they can review with racers that night. Here a French Team coach uses a probe to measure snow temperaturte, humidity, etc. to help determine what type of wax to use for the race.

Evening view to the mountain tops. Not hard to understand why some people who come here never leave.

View from the start hut of men's Super G in ealry AM as sun hits mountains in distance.

Nancy Green and me. Those of you who are perceptive will note that she is not looking  at camera. There were many people she knew, she posed for pictures with them. I gave my camera to someone, walked around behind her while she was smiling and talking to someone else, and he took the shot. Don't tell anyone!