WHISTLER, B.C. — Finally, after two failed attempts at seeing a ski race, we made it to Whistler for Wednesday’s women’s downhill.
Herald Photographer Jennifer Buchanan and I got up early for the men’s downhill Saturday, but never left the hotel before finding out the race was postponed. On Tuesday, we made it as far as the media center in Vancouver before finding out the men’s super combined wasn’t going to happen. But on Wednesday, it was blue skies and great conditions for the women’s downhill.
And what a good ski race we saw cover. Making the trip up here was a gamble, because it meant missing two American medal hopefuls, Shani Davis and Chad Hendrick in speed skating, and they ended up taking gold and bronze in the 1,000. We also missed out on Shaun White putting on a show in the half pipe. But with so many events, we have to make choices, and despite missing those events, and despite the fact that either would have provided a chance to sleep well past 4 a.m., I’m glad we went to Whistler. Lindsey Vonn came into the games as a big story, and didn’t disappoint, winning the downhill in impressive fashion. As an added bonus, we saw Vonn’s teammate, Julia Mancuso, earn a surprising silver medal.
That’s sort of how it goes up here. One day, there’s not much compelling to see, and you end up watching a 13-0 hockey game, and the next you pass up on two different events in which two Americans medaled.
It really didn’t fit into the context of my story at all, but one of the funnier parts of the day was the number of women who crashed after finishing their runs. Crashes at 80 mph while on course? Not at all funny. Crashes while they’re exhausted and trying to stop? Hilarious.
Such a thing is not unheard of in ski racing, especially in downhill given how tired racers are after nearly two-minute runs, but the carnage in the finish area in this race was particularly comical. English ski racer (wait, they have skiing there?) Chemmy Alcott got the comedy started when she packed it into the padded wall at the finish, then she showed she’s equally entertaining standing still in front of a microphone.
“I did the last jump sweet, and then I forgot that I had to stop at the finish,” she said, before referencing an old Juan Valdez coffee commercial in which a ski racer jumps over the finish, skis to the lodge and grabs a cup of coffee. “You know that advert on TV where they just keep skiing? I would have done that, but I didn’t think I’d have made it over the grandstand.”
And did I mention her name is Chemmy? I may have a new favorite athlete at these Winter Games.
Alcott didn’t have the best finish arena crash, however, as that honor went to Chilean Noelle Barahona, who managed to slide through the entire finish area and disappear into the padded wall so far that only one foot and ski were visible. She had had to be extracted by course workers but appeared to be fine other than a severely bruised ego.
Sadly, Barahona’s crash wasn’t even the most embarrassing of the day, as that honor went to France’s Marioni Rolland, who fell while skating out of the finish, ending her run five or so seconds after she kicked out of the gate. This course was truly dangerous from top to bottom.
After the race, we went from Creekside, where the downhill was held, to the media center in Whistler Village. Jennifer went to shoot the medal ceremony — and as always she got some great art while she was there — but I missed it because I was trying to finish the stories you’ll see in tomorrow’s paper.
The village itself is packed with people, many of whom appeared to have been imbibing for much of the day, but that’s really not a whole lot different from most other days up here in the winter. Obviously it’s more crowded, but part of what makes Whistler fun is it seems to be a party almost every night regardless of if there’s anything going on.
And finally, I owe a huge apology to Anja Paerson. The Swede was having a great run, and at the final split appeared to be headed for the silver medal when I stupidly uttered the words, “Well, looks like Mancuso is going to have to settle for silver unless she wrecks.” Of course right as those words left my mouth, Paerson went flying off the final jump and had a horrific crash. Luckily, the word is it’s just a bruised calf, but still, I feel bad. Sorry Anja.
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