The Downhill That Wasn’t
I felt like a school kid (or teacher) waiting for that early morning notice that you could turn off the alarm, roll over and get some well-earned sleep. It had been rumored for days that the men’s downhill run was in jeopardy because of high winds. I went to bed pretty assured that I would get that alert on my phone that indeed the race would be postponed. So when my phone started dancing around my nightstand at 5:00 a.m. I eagerly grabbed it to see the good news. Instead I was met by “Emergency Alert” followed by a whole lot of Korean characters. It’s nice that they put the “Emergency Alert” part in English so you know there is some kind of an impending disaster. But the Korean part leaves you wondering whether our friends to the North might be sending something worth hiding under the bed about.
I still don’t know what all the fuss was about, but I do know that I had to get up at 5:30 and put on just about everything I own. Minus-12 was the windchill down here at the MPC, one could only speculate what that translated to a few thousand feet up on the mountain.
After breakfast with Doug Mills, he and I hopped on the TM5 for the hourlong journey to Jeongseon Alpine Center. Texts from the venue said the mountain was closed to all workers and athletes because of high winds. But it was also followed by, “You will be notified when the jury makes a decision about the race.” Gee thanks.
As we pulled into the parking lot, the final word came: Race Postponed. We got out of the bus so Doug could make some pictures of the whipping flags. I was nearly blown over. Gusts, we found out later, reached 60 mph., Wind chills were about minus-30.
I don’t own enough layers to handle that kind of cold.
I hopped back on the TM5 a happy man. Frostbite averted, and I would even have time to pick up my laundry. I didn’t really have a Plan B until Red Gerard won the gold in slopestyle. So we had a bit of fun with that, but it took up most of my day. That’s the picture above.
I have no such hopes about a cancellation tomorrow even though the winds and temps will be about the same. Mikaela Shiffrin will be in the giant slalom which begins at 10. That means in place on the mountain by 8, which also means up at 5 for the 6 o’clock bus.
The reason it is unlikely to be called off is that there are no jumps in the GS. It’s the jumps in the downhill that make the 60 mph so dangerous. And two runs in the GS, one in the morning, one on the afternoon. A long cold day ahead.
Update: As i’m sure you know by now the women’s giant slalom was postponed and rescheduled for Thursday (Korea Time).
They called it off about an hour after we arrived. Winds were gusting beyond 50 m.p.h.; they couldn’t even keep the flags on the gates.
Doug Mills and I did our best to keep warm.
Eat at Joe’s 
So we know its an earthquake 100 miles away from you before you do! If a world or Olympic record is broken in these weather conditions, are they accompanied by an asterisk as “wind aided” and what if they are into the wind and set a record, do they distinguish “against ” the wind or can you with all your tech, compute what the actual time would be in “perfect” conditions?
And by the way, all this moaning and groaning about the weather. Didn’t you go to college in Buffalo?
So apparently we are not allowed to complain about our 8” of snow and 10*
wind chill today here in Hemlock Mi. Stay warm and safe my friend.
Question; So is this a poor choice of countries to host the Olympics? Or is this weather unusual?
I sure feel your pain over the cold. ‘Round these parts we just call it winter😬 Stay warm and try to avoid the dog soup😝👎🐶
Stay well, my friend. Wondering if you brought over battery-powered electric clothing? Cabela’s has a whole assortment of it in the hunting department. May even be free shipping (but maybe not to Korea). Oh well…
Sounds like you are at Everest base camp waiting to summit. 💨💨🌨❄️🏔🏔🗻
p.s. I love, love Doug Mills’ photos of the women xcountry skiers at the end of the race.
Nothing like a snow day!! 😊
Since you got a snow day, I think it’s only fair that we get one tomorrow too. Did you ever find out what the Emergency Alert was for? Bundle up tomorrow!!
Doug and I are nothing if not prompt. We got here at 6:15 and they had to unlock the photo workroom for us. The wind is kicking up pretty good and it’s minus-17 windchill, but as Liza says, in Minnesota, they just call it winter.
So with some time to spare, I can respond to the blogosphere.
@Anonymous (no need to hide your identity, we’re all friends here.)
As for the wind-aided records, they don’t have outdoor speed records for most winter sports because all the courses are different. So you can’t compare from one place to another. It’s not like the 100-meters in the Summer Games. And, yes, I went to school in Buffalo. Didn’t like those winters either (but it wasn’t like this).
@Ray Complain all you want! Cold is cold!
@Liza It’s really just the wind that’s the problem and it looks like it will just be a few days and then it will pass.
@Bob and Brady The skiers all have electric snow pants that they wear before they race. But when they take them off there is not much warmth to those racing suits. It would slow them down.
@Annie It feels like Base Camp (I guess). And Doug says, Thank you, thank you, thank you!
@#Sister Maybe not a snow day today, but perhaps one of those famous two-hour delays.
@OSW Hope you got one too. Alert was for an earthquake. Didn’t feel it.
Ok, photo briefing about to start. See you all later!
One more question, at your convenience…does the fourteen hour time difference help or hinder your work?
That sounds brutal! I saw something on the Olympic coverage about Seoul trains, sort of a line of beers with a line of shots on top and they’re supposed to all fall in one by one. Thought your frigid self could use some cars on that train! The Red Gerard win was cool, except that I got news alerts on my phone that he won gold roughly five minutes before he won on tv. Hope for a heat wave to come your way soon!! How’s the food?
Women’s giant slalom postponed to Thursday. Bet NBC keeps that from you for a while
So where are you heading now? I keep looking for you on TV. Could you do or wear something to stand out?
Amy, he’s the one who looks really, really cold.
200 cases of Norovirus there..I hope that’s not the only mark you’re wearing!
MASK, not mark! (Could we get an “edit” feature?)
Me again – sorry! I just got my highlights and lowlights email from Margaret Lyons of the NYT (we’re very close! 😬), and she had some extraordinary pictures from your friend Chang Lee! Wow!
Spent the day on the half pipe with my graphics peeps and we made this: http://nyti.ms/2EiOQ2f
Up again early tomorrow for a trip to women’s slalom to see if Mikaela Shiffrin can repeat as the gold medalist.
Weather was much much nicer today. Even shot with my coat open. Who knew 19 degrees could feel so good?
Yes #2Sister, Chang can make pictures like nobody’s business.
Also, yes, the norovirus made the rounds. Many in the security force got it so they had to quarantine 1,500 of them. I felt bad that they were sick, but it was nice for a couple of days when there was no security at the MPC or the venues. Because most of the time it is like TSA. We can leave our shoes on but laptops have to come out and everything gets x-rayed. They are back at work now, or at least they found replacements.
Added a picture of Chang at the halfpipe workroom with all his gear and a picture of us as well putting together the Chloe Kim piece.
I’m pretty sure I saw you at the half-pipe, if you were on the right side (looking upwards.) It would be very helpful if you could wear something special we could identify.
The Chloe Kim piece is very cool especially your composite comparing the athletes in the air.
Glad you got a “warm” day. Was watching the men’s downhill and it looks pretty nasty up there even on a sunny day.
How do you get up the slopes? Do you ski down from the top (eek) , or crampon up from the bottom (eek)?
Thanks Annie!
Yes that’s where I was. The top of the pipe on the right side looking up. Have to climb up from the bottom with crampons. We got the industrial crampons this time. Can use those on K2!
On the 6 am bus to slalom right now. still windy but temps are much better. 28 feels like spring.
I have the crampons but will likely shoot from the bottom looking up.
slalom start delayed bec of wind.
slalom first runs at 8:30 EST
You must be exhausted already!! #2
tick, tock, tick tock… either they will postpone slalom, or it’s going to be a late night on the east coast. trying to watch men’s half-pipe without closing my eyes as a few of the guys have had hard landings or falls…
slalom postponed until Friday am in Korea, thursday night in NY
I thought I wasn’t a fan of the halfpipe, but that Shaun White nailbiter was pretty darn exciting.
nice! Didn’t get to see any of it. heard it was great
Looks like we might get some skiing in today
toe warmers going in.
Did you bring your Nunan’s Lobster bib? It’s always a tradition that Joe takes a photo at the Olympics wearing the bib and he gives a copy of the photo to the Nunan’s, which they hang in the restaurant.
I’m thinking that would be the PERFECT way to identify you on the slopes, n’est pas?
I do have it. I’m sure I would be a big hit if I wore a lobster bib to all the venues.
I vote for that!