It looks like Heather is having a great time at the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, except for perhaps all the rain!
Here is Heather's latest update:
February 17, 2010
I have an extra day off just because we are all so fabulous that the big guys thought they would be kind to us. Mens' halfpipe is going today and we do not have anything to do with that so we are having a bonus free day. The snowboard cross course needs to be altered for the ski cross which runs on Sunday so they are changing, reshaping and scaling down some of the features so we can go back tomorrow and put up all that lovely blue fence again. Ski cross is faster than snowboard cross so the features need to be downsized or changed a bit so that the athletes do not overshoot some of the landings.
During the mens snowboard cross on Monday the weather was awesome. Blue skies and sunshine, a perfect race day. Our crew stood on the sidehill between 3 banked curves and 2 jumps and watched all the qualifying runs go by. I was texting Devin and Laurel the whole time as they were watching at home and it was incredible. Devin told me to wave the next time a qualifier went by but they could not pick me out. I saw the coverage later on TV and did pick out the exact spot we had been sitting but the volunteers shown in the background were way too small to pick out anyone specifically. We could hear the spectators shouting and cheering as they watched on the big screen at the bottom and then as the athletes came off the last big jump into the finish area you could tell who did well, especially when it was the Canadians. A Canadian coach and French coach were standing on the side hill right beside us so kept us posted on who was doing well and what their times were.
After qualifying we were the crew that stayed at the top of the course while the heats ran. We could see the first several features of the race right after they left the gates and it was super exciting. You could hear the coaches yelling at them and telling them to get at it. At one point an official came along looking for a few volunteers with a shovel for 5 minutes and when I saw him heading through the athlete compound towards the start gates, I grabbed a shovel and followed. I found myself standing 6 inches away from the start gate shoveling snow into 5 gallon pails and snapping a few photos as the racers were getting into position. It was amazing!!! I am taking pictures of everything!!
Mike Robertson from Canmore was ahead for the whole race but got past right near the end and came away with the Silver medal. Amazing!!
Tuesday was women's race day and it started out with pouring horrible rain and fog. The qualifying rounds were supposed to start by 10 but it was more like noon before they got started with them. It was amazing that they even started them as the fog kept coming in and then lifting and then settling in again. We, the workers, and I am sure the spectators too, were wet and soggy by this time so then you are always chilly after that. After the first qualifying round there was talk that that would be it and they would then proceed with the heats. It all has to run on the TV schedule so time is tight. At that moment the fog lifted and they decided to proceed with qualifying round 2. Our Canadian girl, Maelle Ricker had fallen during her first round so would not have made the cut and won the gold it the fog had not lifted at that moment. Somethings are just meant to be!!!
During the 1st qualifying round we were stationed at the top of the hill so did not see much in the fog.
We moved down to the same spot we had been the day before for the 2nd qualifying round. The coaches were there again so kept us posted. The sun had broken through and all of a sudden it was a great day for a race. Maelle Ricker had a great 2nd qualifier and made the cut. The rest is history as she blew away the competition in the final to take the gold.
For the heats we got to move down the hill to stand by a banked corner & jump combination then 3 rollers into a banked turn. We had 2 girls slide out into the fence in the very same spot and our crew had to run out, help the girls get out of the fence and then fix what was messed up. We were the only crew that got any action for all of the 2 days of racing. While the guys were out fixing the poles, I was the official photo taker. During the final we were right there on the side as Maelle flew past way ahead of the other 3 girls although that heat was the closest race they had been all day. We could tell by the cheering and screaming coming from the spectator area that she had safely made the last jump into the finish and that she had won the gold. It was awesome. Everyone was cheering and giving each other high fives.
On Monday morning we went over to the moguls stadium and took down the banners and removed the foam pads around the finish area to take them to the boarder cross area. It was incredible to stand at the bottom of the mogul run and know that just a few hours before we had won 2 medals there and it had been crazy busy and buzzing with hype. It was kind of sad but amazing all at the same time. One of the crew chiefs let us take the official banners if we wanted one. The university kids all took one and I am quite sure that the 3 foot by 20 foot long Vancouver 2010 banner looks great hanging in their living rooms. I know it would have looked great in my house when I was their age.
After the women's racing was done we then needed to take down all the fencing off the course so that we can go back tomorrow and put it all back up. YEAH!!!! Our crew found ourselves back down at the start gates shovelling snow and taking photos of what it looks like standing in the gates. Again, awesome!!!
This whole experience is awesome. Hard work at times and then just amazing as you are standing on the hill watching Olympic athletes fly by. One of the kids said the other day that it is really surreal. The Olympics is something that we watch on TV and so you are out there watching and working and it really does not feel like the Olympics as we know them. I totally agreed with him. Then a Canadian wins a medal right there where you are and it's real!! The people watching is spectacular. Our crew itself is made up of many funny, annoying and amazing incredible people.
My adventure today is to get on the sky train and head downtown to see what I can see. I need a photo of the Olympic cauldron and to see if I can find Laurel her "strong and free" t-shirt.
Have a fantastic day! I plan to!
LOVE HEATHER
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