msh58

just wondering what event you like watching in the winter olympics. Or which one you'd like to do.

bobsledding for me. Just have always wanted to go down a bobsled run. Got as far as looking it up on the internet, lake placid isn't that far away and they let people go down it. Still haven't done it yet though. luge looks completely insane, really like watching it.

Never could skate very well and i'm not particularly good at cross country skiing though i've done it few times and like doing both.

just like the winter games a lot more than the summer, i mean almost every event is dangerous in a way, lot of potential for serious injury or worse. Kind of watch it in awe.

Fremen

What's the one where you cross-country ski, then stop and shoot somebody?
That one.

Seriously, I like speed-skating, downhill moguls, snowboarding, hockey, and some nice relaxing curling.

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highthief

Hockey, freestyle skiing, downhill, speed skating, its all good.

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eribrav

When we lived in Buffalo I really got into curling. The CBC would show curling matches from beginning to end. What great fun!
The usual coverage in the US, unfortunately, is 2 minutes of the match, then some stupid personal interest story about someone's mother in Moose Jaw, 15 minutes of commercials and then back to more figure skating!

maleficent

I'd love to have someone explain why Luge is actually a sport...

This is what we did as kids, on our Flexible Flyer sleds going down suicide hill.. only we didn't have helmets and we wore snowboots... Good times I tell ya...

I still love the snowboarders - only cause they're so cute on the interviews... (Though less fun since they were warned to keep the stoner jokes to a minimum)

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Charlatan

Mal... a lot faster. If you don't have the muscles to shift your weight for the turns you end up going high in the turn (or right over the edge). Have you seen the bodies on the luge sliders?

Luge guys are pussies... Try doing the same thing but head first. Skeleton is the bomb!


Hockey, ski jumping, aerials, bobsled, skeleton and biathalon... really I'll watch anything. I love the Olympics.

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snowy

I'm with Charlatan...I love the Olympics. Watched it all day yesterday, plan on watching more today and well, the whole time it's on, basically.

My sport(s)? Hockey and curling. I know, I shoulda been a Canadian.

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MikeSty

Hockey and speed skating. I don't know why, but people skating really really fast at the threat of sliding out and going flying has me in total awe. If you are to analyze speed skating as a sport of physics, it's funny to think that these people are really trying to go as fast as they can while dealing with centripetal motions.

Then again, all sports are really attested to smacking physics in the face. Basketball is defiance of gravity. Baseball is all about pressure and Bernoulli's principle. Football is ... umm.... momentum and .. force :0 I'll stop now.

I would be interested in seeing a speed skate sprint. No turns or anything, just a flat out sprint. Maybe uphill or downhill, or over ice moguls. That would kick some serious butt.

Sgoilear

I like watching everything I can but I love speed skating. I'm an okay ice skater but the way those folks who do it on the Olympic level can move just blows me away.

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Coppertop

Hockey all the way baby! Man, those Canadian women sure were rough on the Italians.

Runner up goes to the biathlon - those athletes are simply incredible.

CandleInTheDark

Snowboarding, skeleton, bobsledding, biathlon.

I don't think figure skating, freestyle skiing or half-pipe snowboarding should be there. The winner being decided subjectively does not make a sport.

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ShaniFaye

We watch most all the events, but I live for the womens and pairs figure skating

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fresnelly

I love all of the events. However, I find Short Track Speed Skating almost hypnotic to watch. You really get a sense of the explosive speed involved, plus the grace and rhythem. Even better, the intense head to head nature of the races is truly exciting.

At the opposite end of the spectrum for me is Figure Skating. (Sorry Shani) I have the utmost respect for both the athletes and the artform, but the past judging scandals and politics have really left a bad taste in my mouth. I refuse to watch it.

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Leto

But what about the chinese figure skating team? (Zhang & Zhang?) the way she fell and then finished for a silver?

impressive. Now that's Olympic spirit!

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snowy

That was AMAZING. She deserved a medal for getting up and going on with it, IMO. I award her my own personal medal for heart. That takes serious strength to keep on going.

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Poppinjay

I have to agree with Mal. The snowboarders.... hells yeah.

Hannah Teter has replaced Picabo Street in my dream Olympics... frolics.

I watched her on the Today show with the model/snowboarder, Gretchen somebody who won the silver. They showed pictures of the silver winner in her FHM spread, and then they would talk to Hannah about what she rocked out to or ate.

This is the official description of her riding style:
Position/Style: Stance - Goofy (Burton 03/02/06)

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maleficent

either that or every other team sucked eggs?

or maybe it's rigged again!!!

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StanT

Skiing and snowboarding do it for me. I've seen World Cup skiing and mogul events live. Very impressive.


When vacationing in Canada, we got the "All curling, all the time" channel. Sorry, but I just don't get it as a spectator sport. Seems like watching paint dry, to me.

greytone

I have enjoyed the drama of the Olympics since the 1980 hockey teams's accomplishments. I will never forget watching that in junior high. That was the year Eric Heiden won 5 medals and the the kid that sat next to me in home room was one of the best speed skaters in his age group at the time. I went to as many events as I could get to in Atlanta in '96. Still, the winter games are full of games that seem death defying to me.

All that being said, while flipping through the channels the other day, I found women's curling. Some of these women look really good. Even in the middle of competition they look made up enough to host the local news.





Maybe I will learn to watch this sport as well. I can almost imagine myself learning to participate in this one. There is no chance you are getting me on skates.

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fresnelly

Curling is best when the score is close. It's truly a game of inches, and the suspense builds as the rock slowly approaches its target. I grant you that if the game is a blowout, it's like watching paint that's already dried.

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jwoody

I'm watching the ladies skeleton right now and I'm wondering...

How does someone actually get into this sport?

Were they the most naturally talented sledgers when they were children?

..and why are the Germans so good at it?

I You have to admire their bravery and commitment,though. Falling off at that speed doesn't bear thinking about.

Here's the Brit, Shelly Redman.... 4th.. for now.

Still a national hero.

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Loup

#1 is hockey ... but I'm enjoying everything else so far - even getting into and enjoying curling. Short track is also a great watch imo.

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Craven Morehead

Snowboard Cross rocks in a big way. Very exciting to watch.

trickyy

so far i've only watched women's curling. it's kind of interesting but the US team keeps losing.

i think i'd watch more olympics if there were fewer commericals in general. and if they did one self-parody of their gushy back-stories of the athletes (told by a host in a turtleneck sipping cider by a crackling fireplace).