tripatlas.com/new’s Olympic correspondent, Chris Kinasz, blogs from the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games with the latest updates, news, and going-ons from the Winter Olympic Games taking place in Vancouver, British Columbia.
VANCOUVER- We were on our way to Whistler by 8am and luckily, there was no traffic on the Sea-to-Sky Highway. The police checkpoint halfway to Whistler meant slowing down and waving to a friendly looking officer. There were police cars on every other turn, so no one in their right mind would even consider speeding.
After taking the Blackcomb Excalibur Gondola to Base 2, we got through the line-up and security checkpoint to get into the luge event within five minutes.
There was a lot of talk prior to the Olympics that line-ups and security to get into events would take at least three hours. Many also were predicting that traffic, especially on the Sea-to-Sky Highway would be a nightmare. However, we didn’t find this to be the case. The Games are running so smoothly, the organizers deserve infinite credit.
The luge event was a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience. The magnitude of the event did not even really set in until after it was over. The lugers would zip by on the course at an incredible speed. They would just blow by you in a flash and, unless you were extremely focused, you would miss them altogether. Catching a luger in a photo took immense skill and, on average, ten tries to finally get the timing down to actually catch a luger in your shot – it was all about timing.
Another amazing aspect of the luge event was the course itself. The track is an absolute marvel of engineering. I have seen a similar track in Calgary, but it does not compare to the track that was built here in Whistler, that twists through thick Coastal Mountain forest. The Whistler Sliding Center is a world-class sporting venue that all Canadians should be proud to have in our country.
One quick piece of advice to anyone who will be attending an outdoor event during the Olympics: bring an extra pair of socks!
After the luge event, I was in the completely packed bar area of The Keg Whistler when Alex Bilodeau won Canada’s first gold of the Games and Canada’s first gold medal ever on home soil. The place erupted as Canadians were beyond thrilled with the medal. It was one of those “where were you when this happened” moments that will without doubt be forever remembered in Canadian sports history.
Outside of The Keg, Whistler Village Square was full of people and there was a live concert happening on the stage. The atmosphere in Whistler is incredible!
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