Get Me Down From Here!
The sports in the Winter Games, of course, have to be competed on ice or snow, which can make them a bit scary from the start. I’ve seen lugers and downhillers whiz by at 90 m.p.h. Two months ago I visited the US short track speed skaters with 17-inch razor blades strapped to their feet. They wear Kevlar under their Spandex because they crash into each other so much and those blades can cut pretty deep.
I don’t know how the aerialists don’t land on their heads half the time.
But the most terrifying sight I have seen at a Winter Olympics was when I stood at the top of the ski jump. Not only is it a very long way down, but it is really steep. A bit like pointing your skis down the side of Storm King Mountain and heading straight down. No bailing out; no skiing from side to side to temper your speed. Oh, and then when you reach 9W, it kicks you straight out and you fly the rest of the way to the Hudson.
I have attached pictures of it, which do not do it justice. Neither does TV. All those hours of watching ski jumping on ABC’s Wide World of Sports never prepared me for that.
And those who saw my Ligety post two months ago will be happy to know that I made it up the chairlift without incident.
And while I was there, the US women’s team showed up to scope the place out. You would never guess by looking at them that they had nerves of steel. They are pretty small and slender; easier to cheat gravity that way. We have an interactive graphic on Jessica Jerome coming out soon.
I went to the luge track on Thursday, which I had visited last year. We are doing another interactive on the design of it. It has three uphill sections to keep speeds down, a direct response to the death of the luger in Vancouver in 2010. It should be published sometime tonight.
Yesterday, Bedel and I went to the men’s downhill training run. We hiked a bit up the side of the course and found a very nice spot where we could get some photos of the guys flying over the Deer Jump near the bottom of the course. A lovely office to have for the day. We’ll be going back on Sunday for the race. Bode could win this thing. Suits his style.
Tomorrow, we get going for real. Spending the morning at the men’s slopestyle final. Then have another assignment at men’s biathlon. Bet you wish you were here now, hey Annabanushka.
Enjoy the opening ceremony everyone!
Eat at Joe’s 
I shall have to read your entry later. I’m busy frying you know, parts, for the Opening Ceremony party.
In Russian time it’s your birthday! Happy Birthday little brother. I hope for your present you get a few hours sleep. Enjoy and stay safe!!!
Happy Birthday !! So glad to see photos and am anxious for the Games to start . However, you could never get me on those slopes : I’d be in the bar with my zip-up cast on watching the flat screen TVs !
But… you said you wouldn’t biathlon without me. 😦
Well, maybe you’ll find a pin 🙂 Say hi to Ole for me.
Happy Bday.
My girls say this is the worse opening ceremonies ever. ( but London is the only one they remember). They want to know when Mr. Bean will show up
Happy Birthday Joe. Be safe over there.
Happy Birksidaiski from the U S A!
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday!! May it be the last time you spend your birthday in Russia. And minephew, I agree with the girls. This was a big yawner, and I remember the original Olympic Games in Greece!
Happy birthday Joe, from me and the sound guy! And yay Sage Kotsenburg!
Happy Bday Joe! Well, the 14 inches I got at my house has prepped me for some Olympic event, just don’t know what one. While shoveling, my Rotty and Cane Corso barreled into me at full speed launching me into a 270 flip. Good thing the steel shovel broke my fall! All judges scored 8s for me except theRussian. The ski jump reminds me of the days when officer Cane used to chase us up, over and down Storm King in my Vega! I was a natural Luger!(yeah, I know Sis2!). Bermudian Shorts were ok but flip flops on the Caymans were weak! I thought maybe with the Iranians following the Israelis we might have seen some early action, but things stayed true to Olympic boring for me as far as opening ceremonies go. The pic of you in the woods on the slope was cool, looks like you are in to it, for an old guy any way. Do you guys get daily security briefings? Depending on what network you tune in to here the tones are quite varied. Plus I hear the Russians may use military to fill venues to look full because even Russians aren’t /can’t get to the games? Looking forward to some NyTimes jw interactives!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Try not to work too hard today or drink too much vodka!…I know, neither will happen. Maybe you can squeeze in at least one birthday drink. Let me know if you find any good, new drinks, although I think it will be hard to beat the one at Jamie Oliver’s. 🙂
Twonka,
You can re-live your luge memories and see a wonderful Joe Ward interactive right now on the home page of the NYT.
http://www.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/2014/sochi-olympics/luge.html
Nice job by Joe & the team and a shout-out to Mika for his lovely track renderings.
Hey, Home Page on my birthday! Sweet! Thanks everyone for your nice birthday wishes, although i could have done without the “old guy reference from Twonka, who by the way turns the same age in 10 days! Just got back from slopestyle and have to head to biathlon. more later. Safe travels AnnaB!
Dude, the Luge interactive was awesome! if that is a sign of things to come from you guys, then I am locked in on NYTimes for the rest of my Olympic coverage! That is worth coming back for.
uh, that was me
Pictures are breathtaking, both because of the quality and also the fear factor they bring up. Yikes! They’re all crazy! Skiers, lugers, bobsledders, all of them. Including, of course, a couple of intrepid journalisists we know and love. Be careful Joe and Bedel! By the way, had a fun time at the Opening Ceremony party…great food and company, and John voicing President Putin’s thoughts in a fake Russian accent. A fun party at Patricia’s, as always!
Happy ferryerryeight!
Can we get a “like” button for comments? Maybe in your spare time? I guess we could ask Mark Zuckerberg.
Happy birthday uncle joe!!! Very much hoping you enjoy your day! Awesome pictures! We were a bit underwhelmed last night but had a fun party anyway. John’s Putin did help things along!
Happy B-Day Joe! Have a shot for me.
B-in Law Brad
I think I’ll need to start doing some quick hit blogs posts to up the frequency. in the meantime, Jessica Jerome will be among the first women to ski jump in the Olympics. Here’s how she cheats gravity for a beat or two:
http://www.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/2014/sochi-olympics/ski-jumping.html?ref=sports
Great video with Jessica Jerome!!!!! She makes it look easy but gravity would definitely win if I tried that!!!
Yeah, nice work! When are you going to strap on some skis and try a jump?