February 10-2010
Today we ran "test pilots" and attempted a training run. (test pilots are young junior canadian ski team members who are looking for experience in skiing down a world class downhill course). They are not expendable or like Bic Lighters. They give the race course designers an idea of how the course will repond at full speed and where small adjustments to the course and the track itself to make it safer or scarier.
Also was the first training day. This is where the racers get to inspect the course with their coaches and then to ski the course as fast as possible. The times of their runs will determine the number racers from each country that will be allowed to compete in the Olympics as well as what their starting position will be come race day. I love to watch the racers standing at a part of the course as they memorize and visualize the run.
So at 9:00 a.m. we started, on a race ready track the training run for 89 racers. Things were going well until the 42 racer when the fog rolled in from the bottom of the mountain and the snow started. We waited for 4 hours with a hope that the weather would clear enough to run the balance of the racers. The training run is very important for to be able to run a Downhill race you have to provide at least one training session before the race. But the weather did not clear and the training run was cancelled.
Today was also special as the security "Mag & Bag" check into the venue started. The long line up extended down the stairs and around the block.
Everywhere the signs of the Olympics are around you here at Whistler from the banners along to race course to the conversion of the Whistler Public Library - a project that I was involved in when I lived and worked here in Whistler - into "Whistler - Canada House" - the hospitality centre for Canadian racers, coaches, and the Canadian Olympic Family.
Well time for bed as we have an 4:30 start to work tomorrow morning.
Gerry
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