El Nino Working for the Crazy Canucks?

As weather gurus monitor ocean temperatures and wind bursts to track El Nino's progress across the Pacific, a different group of experts is beavering away on strategies to give Canadian skiers an edge if the weather pattern hits Whistler during the 2010 Olympic Games.

The Canadian ski team is working on some "top secret" El Nino projects, Alpine Canada president Gary Allan said Wednesday.

But just what they're testing - whether it's new wax, different equipment or something else entirely - nobody will say, disclosing only that the technology is Canada's alone.

"We're bound by confidentiality," Mr. Allan said, adding that funding for the research came in part through Canada's Own the Podium program.

"What we're trying to do is assess what might come at us in the future and adjust accordingly so there aren't any surprises."

El Nino is a recurring weather pattern that can bring warmer, drier weather to the usually soggy cities of Vancouver and Seattle and that's linked to weather consequences around the globe, ranging from torrential rains in the southern United States to brush fires in Australia.

An El Nino year typically means less snow and warmer temperatures for Whistler, the venue for Alpine skiing events.

This year's El Nino trend, identified in June, is expected to build steam through the winter. In a bulletin Wednesday, American weather firm Accuweather.com said the Olympics "could be impacted by the lack of snow and cold weather" and that a "dry and mild" pattern could develop near to or during the event.

Whistler's elevation and usually abundant snowfall (Whistler Blackcomb boasts average yearly snowfall of 10.22 metres at its summit) would likely blunt any El Nino-related impacts, Accuweather meteorologist Dave Samuhel said.

The Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee has extensive weather-related contingency plans, including snowmaking equipment at outdoor venues and plans to stockpile snow as soon as temperatures allow.

Mr. Allan believes El Nino could actually work in skiers' favour. Ski race courses depend primarily on man-made, not natural, snow.

As long as temperatures remain around or slightly below the freezing mark, "we can produce very good, wet damp snow," he said.

Crushing and packing that artificial snow into a hard, icy surface results in a perfect racing surface.

Natural snow - especially the soft, sloppy stuff Whistler is known for - can create problems when it's packed down on top of a course.

If El Nino makes its presence felt in Whistler this year, it could be in the form of less rain and clearer skies.

But if the system doesn't blow in and fog prevails, the Canadians won't be downcast. They consider fog a competitive advantage, having trained extensively at Whistler, where several team members grew up and learned to ski in the mountain's notoriously variable weather conditions.

Two-time Olympian Emily Brydon experienced the ski-by-feel phenomenon during training with the Canadian alpine team earlier this year.

"I'm not even kidding, I couldn't even see the next gate," Ms. Brydon said. "My coach is like, ‘This is going to be the Olympics,' and I was saying, ‘I can't even see the gate.' "

She is, however, not the least bit worried, now that the terrain has become as familiar as an old shoe.

"I could probably ski it blind," she said, but added she's thankful there's also something else to help connect the dots. "Thank God for blue dye on the course."

Alpine Canada has a publicly stated goal to capture three medals at the Games. It's a tall order for the team, which hasn't won an Olympic medal in alpine skiing since the Lillehammer Games in 1994, when Edi Podivinsky took bronze in the men's downhill.

 

SOURCE: http://www.ctvolympics.ca/

Yzerman to Take Closer Look at Players

Steve Yzerman and Team Canada's management group will give Olympic prospects a few more games before the process of aggressively scouting these players begins.

The 46 men invited to this past summer's orientation camp are clearly on the radar, but others are expected to emerge based on their play.

Carey Price played himself out of contention last season; however providing he can sustain his current level of play, Price's involvement may require further discussion.

Steve Mason, last season's rookie of the year has been sensational, while both Roberto Luongo and Martin Brodeur have staggered out of the gate, and while there's a lot to be said for the experience these two goaltenders provide, Yzerman and company will fill the crease with whoever is hot.

The pressure to win in Vancouver will trump any sense of obligation.

With Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St Louis on the outside looking in, the Tampa Bay Lightning will be heavily scouted. Steven Stamkos will get a good look because of that and he could play his way on to Canada's Olympic team.

Boston's Milan Lucic had an impressive orientation camp. While his play is being carefully monitored this season, so will that of his teammate, non-invitee Marc Savard.

As early as this Thursday's game in San Jose between the Sharks and the Columbus Blue Jackets, we will start to see familiar faces such as Yzerman's, Doug Armstrong's, Kevin Lowe's, Ken Holland's...and, potentially Wayne Gretzky's peering down from the press box.

Gretzky's role as a consultant remains the same. How active he intends to be remains in question.

What won't be questioned, according to Hockey Canada is the amount of preparation management intends to invest to win gold in Vancouver.

 

SOURCE: http://www.ctvolympics.ca/

 

Red Mittens to put Own the Podium in Black

NOTE: As many of you may already be aware … I don’t need to buy these – I’ll be running with the torch on December 22^nd!

VANOC is hoping sales of red mittens designed to match those of the Vancouver 2010 torchbearers will help make up the final gap in funding for the Own the Podium program.

Own The Podium is a five year program designed to fund world class training and equipment for athletes in an effort to see Canada top the medal haul at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. Own the Podium is funded in part through special programs like the Red Mitten campaign.

"As an athlete, it's incredibly motivating to see the support of Canadian fans in the crowd at the Games," said Veronica Brenner, a silver medalist in aerials at the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games. "The Red Mittens campaign takes that support even further - it's a visible reminder that the wearers of the mittens believe in you as an athlete and are supporting your efforts to fulfill your dreams in 2010 and beyond."

For athletes, the funding from Own the Podium can make a very real difference in the training and equipment each athlete has leading into the 2010 Olympic Games.

"Own The Podium has been a huge support for the big blocks at Alpine Canada like coaching, physio and medical teams," said alpine skier Kelly VanderBeek. "We've also got money for programs that would never see it otherwise, like the materials our suits are made of, the machines that sharpen our edges. We're ahead of the curve in some places, where other countries are trying to learn from us. It's a great position to be in."

The knitted red mittens sport a white maple leaf stitched onto the palm, with the Olympic rings and Vancouver 2010 stitched on the back. 

"I'm envisioning looking up from the finish line at a sea of red mittens," said VanderBeek. "It will be wonderful to know that all Canadians will be behind us across Canada." 

Alpine skier Erik Guay shares VanderBeek's opinion.

"We (the athletes) hope this initiative can bring Canadians together from coast to coast," says the skier from Mont Tremblant.

"We don't want to see anything but red when the time for the Vancouver Games comes. The public will feel like a partner in our adventure."

In an effort to make sure the stands at Olympic competitions are filled with fan sporting the mittens, fans will be able to purchase the mittens for $10 at the Bay, Zellers and Home Outfitter stores as well as Olympic stores in both the Vancouver International Airport and Whistler. Red mittens will also be available in a selection of communities scheduled as part of the torch relay.

Any funds raised beyond the needs of Own the Podium will be put towards sports programs across Canada.

 

SOURCE: http://www.ctvolympics.ca/

NOT THE SOURCE: http://theehlist.com/