Day 8, Women's Super Combined

I'm very tired so won't get into too much writing. Got midnight bus out of snowboard halfpipe last night, putting me at the MPC at 1:15am. Next bus to Whistler left at 3am. I was pissed and tired so laid down on the sidewalk. Bus person woke me up when the bus arrived (I couldn't really sleep due to all the noise and talking). Slept during the two hour ride to Whistler. Went into media center and then over to Doug's condo to sleep another 30 min. We got up at 6am and were on the top of the lift at 7am. Sun had not risen yet. Went to start house and shot laying down by the time clock and OBS camera of skiers breaking out of the start gate. Anyway, here are some of the pics. I'm going to get some rest!

Day 7, Vonn and White

Big long day today. Two of the hype stars of the Olympics competed and performed as expected. Beautiful day on the mountain, sunny and cold. Hiked up from the finish to the bottom of "Hot Air" for a clean jump action of Vonn.



Lots of crashes at the jump, but I was too tight with the 600mm to follow them down. The crashes looked great from the finish, but what are you going to do! Lindsey came by and blew the competition away.

Lindsey and Julia Mancuso did gold and silver respectively. Mancuso did a cute little dance on the podium during the flower ceremony.


I stuck around until Lindsey finished all her interviews and got her with excited fans. The monkey is off her back and I expect her to do more of the same.

Ladies' combined tomorrow with 9:30am start for the downhill portiion. Meaning I won't get much sleep since I am writing this at Cypress Mountain and still have three hours before I get to Whistler!

The media coordinated a special direct shuttle from Whistler to Cypress Mountain. Still took two hours, most of which I was sleeping! Still had my ski boots on from the women's downhill. Thought I'd be able to hike up the side of the halfpipe with crampons. I was told, however, that photographers on the sides must have been in place since 11:30am! It was 5pm. All those guys had not moved since then. I happily exchanged my ski boots and crampons for more comfortable hiking boots and shot from the bottom with a 600mm and 70-200 for jubo.

Thira, my daughter called me just before the men went off. It's her 10th birthday today! She sounded great and has been super busy with school and friends since I've been gone. Her bday party is Sunday after a Girl Scout function. I love that little girl so much!
Anyway, it's 1am and I still have a three hour shuttle bus back to the MPC and Whistler so here are a few more pics and I'm outta here.

Day 6, Ladies' SBX

Sorry for the blog delay. Too much ground to cover. Made it down to Cypress Mountain with Doug Mills. Tough morning. We got to the hill in thick fog, only to be turned back due to wrong parking pass. No way around it, we headed to the MPC in town and caught a bus back up to where we had just been. Took three hours to make the one and half trip.

SBX and the halfpipe are right next to each other. Both requiring a herculean hike up countless stairs with the spectators to the stands and finish area. Cool Olympic rings made for a good pic with boarders flying through the air in front.

Lots of US and Canadian fans in the stands.


A dreadlock French dude from Eurosport made for a funny portrait.

Unfortunately, we weren't the only ones having a bad day. Gold medal favorite Lindsey Jacobellis blew a landing and went off course in her semifinal run and finished last in the heat, not even making the finals.


Maelle Ricker of Canada wins gold.

Day 5, Lindsey Vonn

Immediately after the 30th men's downhiller went by, Doug and I packed our gear and hiked over to the women's course to shoot training. We skied down to "Hot Air" jump right above the finish. I had checked it out the day of the first training run that was cancelled. Shot Lindsey catching air, but something didn't look right.

Later in the mixed zone she commented to the media that it was too painful to "tuck" on the jumps. We hiked down to the finish and caught her talking to reporters.


She walked off with her husband and we wonder if she will compete or not. If the weather pushes back the runs, she may have a chance.

Day 5, Men's Downhill

Up at 4:30am in my place in Squamish. Actually made it there the night before by a decent time. My host Eric heated up some pasta dish with some hot tea and I was sawing logs the minute I hit the futon. His dog, forget his name, started barking at 5am at something outside. Eric came in and said it was only a bear trying to get into the trash. Nice! That will make those late night walks up to his house after the bus stop lots of fun!

Got to Whistler Creekside at 7am and realized that I had forgotten one important thing, my 500mm lens! Doug Mills to the rescue again. He lent me his. Great friends up here!!! Exchanged green armband for on course blue armband and took gondola up the mountain.

Skied into position to our "secret" spot, that was no longer a secret, but not too many of us there at least. The "dream team" guys offered us a platter of brandy-soaked fruit, bread, cheese and awesome spicy sausage. They have a whole stash of schnapps and wine for after the race!

Bode came down with his coach during inspection. Made for a nice pre-race photo.

Then we shot the first 30 racers. Defago, gold, Svindal, silver, Bode, bronze.

Day 4, 1500m short track

Decided that Apollo Ohno would be better to shoot rather than more men's luge. Boy was I right! Got to the Pacific Coliseum in downtown Vancouver just in time for Ohno's semifinal. The pictures tell the story of the final. Pushing and pulling and a dramatic ending complete with a spectacular crash on the last turn!

Day 4, men's luge training

Spent the night again at Doug Mills' condo. So much easier to wake up and go right there where you need to be. We were out the door at 7am as morning broke on the mountain.

The lights of the men's and women's downhill start houses visible through the clouds enveloping Whistler Mountain.

A quick ride up the gondola, slog through the snow and finally a shuttle bus to the sliding centre.

A wooden safety wall was built early this morning at turn #16, the site of yesterday's deadly crash.

Safety personnel also placed padding on all the steel posts along that stretch.

Doug and I posed for a goofy trackside photo while we shot wide angles of the competitors zooming by.