Ahira's Hangar

When we visited Lake Placid one summer, the luge/bobsled track was available for wheeled "sleds." Hyperception chose to go down both in a four-man bobsled and a single man luge. The waivers he had to sign to do so was incredible. And even with a slow wheeled sled, on his luge run he overshot the finish and crashed. Was able to walk away though...

My friend would show me his gloves after a day of luging at Muskegon. You brake with your hands. He would take a brand new pair of gloves each time, and by the end of the day they would be tatters around his wrist. He would take a roll of duct tape and tape them up after each of his runs to get though the day!

I can see how the speed of the thing can be an addictive thrill...but no thanks!

Meanwhile, in the arena of less crazier sports, Canadian Christine Nesbitt won the 1000m in speed skating today.

I dunno. That short track speed skating looks pretty crazy at times!!! (Though not long track).

And Canada (and the US) are both doing very well this Olympiad.

Heh, good point about short track speed skating. It's basically roller derby on ice!
Seems to me that sheer luck determines the winner in short track almost as much as athletic skill.
So I'm afraid I have some trouble taking it seriously.
That and I get dizzy just watching them go round and round so fast.

yes, roller derby with razors strapped to peoples' feet!

Saw the highlights of the Switzerland-Canada game in men's hockey. In principle I don't like shootouts determining the winner.
But it's understandable that no one wants to endure endless periods of play. I guess there really is no better alternative to the shootout.
(Yeah, I know I should be happy that Team Canada won, but I don't take much satisfaction in it.)

That game was on while I was at work, but caught most of the following game - and it was wonderful. Russia v. Slovakia. Tied 1-1 at end of regulation and at end of overtime. They had to go eight or nine or so rounds of the shootout. Great game!! The shootout featured such stars as Datsyuk, Overchkin, and Hossa.

Haha, the goalies probably weren't too happy to be shot at so many times, but I'm sure it was exciting to watch.

Just watched the replay of John Montgomery's win in the men's skeleton. Fantastic win!
But geez, this sport is like the insane version of luge: instead of feet first, you go head first in skeleton, with your face only a few inches above hard ice that's flying by at 100 km/h.

I cannot even watch skeleton - I worry to much that each and every competitor will crash and get seriously injured. It is just too much for me.

Caught the (very jerky) live feed of the women's 1,500 m in long track speed skating. Yay to Canadian Kristina Groves for a silver medal!
Also watched the replay of American Bode Miller's Super G Combined run that netted him a gold medal. He's got a gold, silver and bronze now at these Games. Nice hardware to take back home!

It was great watching one of my beloved Red Wings (and a blue liner at that - he's usually paired up with Lidstrom as our first defensive pair) score two goals in a big win in men's ice hockey in a big USA victory over Canada.

And the team USA goalie did a great job - Sabres fans everywhere whoudl be very proud of Miller tonight.

Congrats to Team USA!

Only saw the highlights, but yeah, Miller looked very, very good.

I guess it just tickles me so because the media was making a big thing out of how the Canadian men's team was considered unbeatable, and the US team supposedly had no chance to medal.

Throw in my usual disgust over the huge media hype over Crosby (sorry folks he is not even the best player on his team much less the NHL much less the world) and it was a great game for me to watch.