ski like a girl: Let the Games begin!

Today marks the start of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.  For the next 17 days ski like a girl will be focusing on the athletes, the games, and the passion.  Immersing myself in all things Olympic.  I have 2 DVR’s ready to go and have signed up for unlimited online Olympic coverage so I don’t miss a minute of the excitement.  I’m a skier so I’m primarily focusing on the skiers, and I’m a girl so I’m mostly focusing on the girls (you get the idea).  But like most people I’m a sucker for a good back story.  Show me an athlete that’s had to overcome some sort of tragedy, come back from a debilitating injury, or had sell their car to compete and I’m all in!  I like the drama.  I love the underdog. 

In case you aren't a skier or maybe you are a skier but you are new to competitive skiing here is a breakdown of all the Alpine Events.  Alpine skier go fast, very fast.  Faster than you or I (legally) drive. Racers can reach speeds of more than 80 miles per hour, traveling down a steep, icy pitch. This is made even more difficult because of a series of gates the skiers must pass through. Skiers who miss a gate must then climb back up and go through the missed gate or be disqualified.  Since races are won or lost by less than a 10th of a second, miss a gate and you’re out.  Miss a gate and you may be airlifted off of the course.  Crashes in a micro thin speed suit can be brutal.

The 2010 Olympics looks to be the year of the female downhill skier, Lindsey Vonn.  Featured in Sports Illustrated in two consecutive issues. She is slated to compete in all five of the alpine skiing events and is favored to win three of them.  Downhill, Super-G, and the Super-combined are Lindsey’s races.   News has recently come out about a shin injury that may hold her back but injury has never been a deal breaker for this determined athlete.  In the 2006 Olympics, Lindsey wiped out during a practice run was airlifted of the mountain, hospitalized, and then checked herself out to compete.   She is in it to win in 2010!

There are five Alpine events.  Downhill has longest course and the highest speeds in alpine skiing.  Super-G, for super giant slalom combines the speed of downhill with the more precise turns of giant slalom. Slalom has the shortest course with the quickest turns. Giant Slalom is similar to the slalom, with fewer, wider and smoother turns. And like slalom two runs down two different courses on the same slope. Super Combined consists of one downhill run and one slalom run using a shorter course.

Olympic freestyle skiing events include Aerials, Moguls, and this year’s new comer Ski Cross.   Aerial skiers fly through the air performing twists and flips. Moguls involves racing down a hill of large bumps, (moguls) making quick turns with two jumps thrown in the mix.  Although not officially a contact sport, Ski cross has been compared to a mix of roller derby and cage fighting.  Four skiers leaving the gates at the same time at high speeds.  There are crashes. It’s the made for TV event of the games.

Follow along with me and enjoy the games.  First up are the Women’s Moguls on Saturday the 13th!  US Freestyle team member, Shannon Bahrke has promised to die her hair completely pink if she wins the Gold!

xoxo,
ski girl
p.s.  Click HERE for a complete schedule to all of the Olympic events.

ski like a girl: Clyde Getty's Vancouver Bid

One day until the opening ceremony.  Does Argentina's, Freestyle aerialist, Clyde Getty know if he is going? 

When I last heard from Clyde he was still very hopeful.  His bags are packed and ready.  He still isn't listed on the official Olympic athlete list but I did find him on the Sports Illustrated athlete list.  Maybe they know something that we don't?

The Men's Aerial competition takes place on February 22nd!

Clyde, I hope you are on your way to Vancouver!  ski like a girl wants to see those triples you've been talking about.

xoxo,

ski girl

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ski like a girl says, "Let Clyde Compete!"

Only 10 days until the Opening Ceremony in Vancouver and Argentina's, Freestyle Aerialist, Clyde Getty doesn't know if he will be competing.



I think Clyde explains it best.  The following is from Clyde's One Winter, Five Dreams blog:

"Here's the deal, however...

I still believe that I will compete in Vancouver, but I still do not know. Talk about "crazy Clyde"...geeeeeze.  The lists have gone out, I am still on a waiting list. It's not over yet, apparently, and no overweight person is singing. 

My understanding is as such. ..there ARE available spots. Only 24 of 25 of the womens spots are filled, and there are also additional spots that can be allocated for men and/or women. Certainly the rules in the FIS documentation are not clear.  Every official person I have been able to ask, has not been able to give me a definite answer on how decisions are made and who makes them.

I did my part in following the guidelines, and going to all the possible competitions to best improve my chances for the games.  There are FIS guidelines, and Olympic (IOC) guidelines. Olympic guidelines follow the creed (I would assume)...


As the Olympic Creed states, "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."


Is seems that the "creed" is not really being followed. Because if it were, I would be in, and so would a few other athletes from other countries.

I also ask this...Why do other freestyle events (moguls and skicross) get 30 competitors, yet aerials only gets 25? 

Sooooo,
As of this moment, I am NOT in.  However,
That CAN change. 

I know that all of you want me to be competing in Vancouver. So, in order to help the cause, I would encourage you to ask what's up with that? The FIS is located in Switzerland, and is at 
I do not think that I need to give any specific emails (yet), but I am sure that it is easy to find the Freestyle directors, or other personnel contact info.  If you need some direction or have any other comments, you may contact me at GoToVancouver@GettySystems.com


You can't always get what you want...but if you try sometime...you get what you need...
Famous words, yes. True, yes.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.  Good words, but really now...not making it to the games is certainly not the worst.

It's about the journey, not the goal.   

Hmmmm. That's a tough one.  I certainly am enjoying the journey, but c'mon now, that goal would feel awefully good.

But remember, my goal is to land two triples, in competition, at the Olympic games in Vancouver.  

Very specific, yes. I am always risking not making that goal.  If I do everything right, I will accomplish it.  But, I must do everything right. That is my Olympic challenge.

It is what it is, and what happens, happens, but I will do everything in my power to compete in Vancouver."

-Clyde Getty

Clyde Getty isn't a man who gives up easily.

Clyde goes from this...

To this...

And gets up to do it again!

I believe Clyde is going to the Olympics. Let's do our best to help him get there. 

1. Email the FIS www.FIS-Ski.com
   
2. Leave messages of support on his blog
   
3. Email Clyde if you need other ideas GoToVancouver@GettySystems.com
4. Leave comments here on ski like a girl and I will pass them along.

xoxo,
ski girl
p.s.  Join me in helping Clyde make his Olympic dream a reality!

Posted via web from ski like a girl's posterous

ski like a girl & flying from Clyde Getty's perspective

Flying from Clyde's perspective.

Clyde Getty, wearing a water proof helmet camera, performs a Lay-Lay (double back flip layed out) in the 2010 Lake Placid World Cup Freestyle Men's Aerials competition, 1/22/10. Clyde finished in 35th overall. Click here for full results.

Here is Clyde's Coach John's view of his Lay-Lay-Lay (triple layout back flip) in the 2010 Deer Valley World Cup, 1/15/10. Clyde came in 35th overall. Click here for full results.

Clyde said the, "triples were easy, fun, and HUGE."

Here's a little back and forth between me and Clyde. You know how much I love this stuff!

From Clyde's blog post: Triple today...competion tomorrow.

Sweet, triples!!!!! I'm so excited for you. Stay focused and keep your mind clear. You can do it. You have all the skills and experience necessary for success. Best of luck in your competition tomorrow.

Posted by leilani aka ski girl at Jan 18, 2010 1:02 AM

Leilani-
Yes triple. No problem. Deer Valley was great despite my cold. As I said to Jeffrey, I would like to think that it did not affect me. Maybe it did, but I don't think so. I competed with triple Layout...and that was the first time I did it in competition ever. It may be the first time it was EVER done in competition by anyone. That would be sweeeeet. I have video of it, and I will put it on here as soon as I can. Thanks again for your great support. Abrazos :-{)

Posted by Clyde Getty replied to leilani aka ski girl at Jan 22, 2010 3:02 AM

And a little more from Clyde's post "How was Calgery?"

Love the detail you go into between the double and the triple. The math is beyond me but what you do is very impressive. Were you in Park City in July? I saw the Flying Ace performance over the 4th so I have some idea of what your summer training entails. I also ran up the hill to the Utah Olympic Park as part of my training. I've been posting info on you and the other 4 One Winter, Five Dreams athletes on my blog www.ski-like-a-girl.blogspot.com Keep up the great work! Looking forward to reading about Deer Valley. Best Wishes.

Posted by leilani at Jan 12, 2010 1:13 AM

Leilani-
Yes, I was in the Flying Ace shows, probably even the one on July 4th. You must definitely be in great shape if you can run up the Olympic Park hill. I would dread that. Maybe next you'll be jumping and going off "Mongo"!

But, yet another adventure comes in Deer Valley! Thank you for your enthusiastic support. :-{)

Posted by Clyde Getty replied to leilani at Jan 22, 2010 2:40 AM

Hmmm, I have video of that Flying Aces show from the 4th. I need to go back and check it out.

Clyde Getty is one of Panasonic's One Winter, Five Dreams featured athletes. Learn more about Clyde's journey to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics by reading his blog. Share your messages of support with Clyde and the other athletes as they make their way to the games.

xoxo,

ski girl

p.s. Only 6 days left to win a trip to the Olympics! Enter Panasonic's One Winter, Five Dreams Gold Blogger contest. ski like a girl has entered! Share in the passion and excitement of the 2010 Winter games!

Posted via web from ski like a girl's posterous

ski like a girl wants to be like Clyde (Clyde Getty)

Tomorrow will be my first day back on the snow since my unfortunate collision with a snowboarder. Wait, that sounds like I hit him and if you've been following my blog you know that he took me down from behind. Somehow as we got tangled together and continued to slide down the mountain my shoulder was partially dislocated. And I've been whining about it ever since. Now it's time to move on. Seriously, it's time.
Well it's been a month and tomorrow I'm skiing and I hate to admit this, I'm a little scared. Okay, that is completely an understatement. I've been having nightmares, a little P.T.S.D. That would be post-traumatic stress disorder for those of you who haven't committed the DSM-IV to memory.
I think I may be overreacting a bit. I just need to suck it up and ski. I just need to be like Clyde.
Watch this YouTube video of Clyde at the Turino Winter Olympics in 2006
Watch Clyde fly through the air
Watch Clyde spin
and spin
an spin
Watch Clyde hit the ground
hard
on his face
and kind of bounce
on his face

Watch Clyde jump up
and wave
and wave some more

Watch the crowd cheer

So if you can't tell Clyde is my new hero.
Here is a little more gushing about Clyde and how awesome he is. Last weekend at The Nature Valley Freestyle World Cup in Deer Valley he managed to displace his 10th rib in competition.
From Clyde's One Winter, Five Dreams blog:

"Well, Deer Vally was yet another crazy experience. Yes, I did triples, and I did a triple on snow, in competition, that I had never done before. That's called a "lay-lay-lay" or triple layout. Some old timers may call it the "triple banana", but this was no banana, it was straight. Once again however (like 2006 Olympic games) , "I stuck it in training", but I didn't stick it when it counted...in the competition. Unlike the 2006 games however, I did not come in short. Instead I gave it a bit too much, so to speak. So, I landed, yes, but I slapped back pretty hard. Hard enough to displace my #10 rib."

But that didn't stop him. A few days later he is in Lake Placid at The Nature Valley Freestyle World Cup, flying through the air again.
So tomorrow I will ski. It has been a month and I will be like Clyde and ski. And if all goes well I may even hit the freestyle clinic because you know I really just want to be like Clyde.



I'll keep you updated Clyde and his Olympic dream. His goal is to do two triples and place in the finals. Clyde, ski like a girl is cheering for you!






xoxo,
ski girl
p.s. Support Clyde Getty and the other One Winter, Five Dreams athletes by posting your messages of encouragement on their blogs. ski like a girl is counting down the days til the games. 18 to go! And only 8 days left to win a trip to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Enter Panasonic's Gold Blogger contest. Share in the passion and excitement of the Olympics. Remember Gold Blogger applications must be submitted by January 31st, 2010 24:00 (JST) I'm still working on making my gold blogger dreams come true. Encourage these amazing athletes as they their pursue their dreams and cheer them to victory. Let’s share their passion!

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ski like a girl and CW-X 3/4 Insulator Stabilyx® Tights

I Like:

3/4 Insulator Stabilyx® Tights by CW-X

I haven't worn the 3/4 length yet but I just ordered them from Zappos.com and I'm very excited to try them out on the slopes. Santa gave me the longer version for Christmas and I love them.Warmth, support, and you look like a super hero when you walk around the lodge sans ski pants. Who could ask for more?

This is me in my new CW-X!

My only concern was that the ankles were so tight (supportive) that I couldn't roll them up my calves to get them out of my ski boot. I'm a firm believer in socks only in the ski boot. But I did ski all day with these in my boot and had no problems. I thought I'd try the 3/4 length for another option.

Here is the CW-X description:

Your knees take a beating when you clip into alpine or telemark skis, or when you’re out for a winter run. The CW-X Women’s Insulator Stabilyx ¾-Tight stabilizes your knees and reduces vibration.

• Support Web uses panels to mimic kineseo taping techniques, so muscles and ligaments band together to support your knee joint, lower abdominals, hip, and back
• Compression fit minimizes lactic acid build-up for long workouts and quick recovery
• Flat drawcord at waist won’t interfere with your snow or rain-shell pants

Bottom Line: Knee, hip, and back support.

I'm loving them. I'll let you know what I think of the shorter 3/4 length.

xoxo, ski girl

ski girl ponders, "When is a hill really a mountain?"

Today was supposed to be a long run. I also decided that today was going to be my hill run. If I was in Portland this would have been a 15 miler. Due the elevation here in Park City and the fact that I'm on vacation I thought that dropping it down a bit would be a nice thing to do for myself. My intended route was from The Canyons to the Utah Olympic Park and back. Just 9 miles or so.

Along the way there were some slight elevation changes. But the "hill" part of the run was the mile and a half up Olympic Drive to the Utah Olympic Park and back down. On the way down from the park I noticed a sign. 7-9% grade! Doesn't that mean the "hill" I just ran up was really a mountain? According to WikiAnswers, my new favorite source for useful and useless info,

"A mountain is a hill over 2000 feet (609.8m) in height. Anything under that is considered a hill."

Before I even started up the hill I was at 6300 elevation. Then I climbed and climbed and climbed... to around 7500+. So I'm calling my hill run a mountain run. What do you think?

The highlight of my "mountain run" was my brief stop at the Utah Olympic Park. The Olympic Park was awesome. I'm going back with a camera on Saturday to watch the Flying Aces. I'll post pictures.

While "resting" briefly, (aka desperately searching for water), at the Olympic Museum. I spotted Olympic silver medalist,mogul skier, Shannon Bahrke, she's been on the US Freestyle team for 10 years. She posed for a few photos by her life size advertisement for Silver Beans. And was super sweet and friendly. Silver Beans is a coffee company she's started complete with athlete blends and ski themes for her coffees inspired after a day of skiing.

• Blue Bird Espresso Blend
• Experts Only Blend
• Last Chair Decaf Blend
• Powder Blend
• Sunrise Blend
• Velvety Groomer Blend

Another cool thing about Shannon was her partially pink hair. I love it! Hope to see her at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. I read this in an interview with Shannon on SkiNet.

Is there any circumstance under which you would dye your whole head pink?
"Oh - if I won a gold medal at World Championships or at the Olympics I would dye my whole head pink."

ski girl will be cheering for you Shannon. Can't wait to see the full head of pink hair!

While recovery from the grueling climb I also got to check out some of the up and coming Freestyle skiers practicing their tricks landing in the Splash Pool. It was inspiring. I just wanted to strap on some skis and jump in.

And for $95, I can!
There is an Intro group lesson; learn basic freestyle skills and a few tricks by jumping into the Utah Olympic Park Splash Pool – the same training site used by the US Ski Team and Olympic athletes!!!!

Check this out you too can fly like an Olympian! FLY Freestyle

Or for $200 I can have 3 hours of private coaching. Private Lessons are coached by some of the top freestyle skiers in the country. All ability levels are welcome in these three-hour lessons. Learn freestyle and Freeride tricks while ramping into the Olympic Park Splash Pool. You name it they can coach it! You know I want to.

After all the excitement what I really wanted to do was ski but I had to run back down the "hill"/mountain and make my way back to The Canyons. Tomorrow it's a day of mountain biking. I love Park City! Oh yeah, if you feel like running any hills or mountains let me know. I'm up for it.

xoxo
-ski girl
p.s. You know I'm going to end up in that Splash Pool.