Day 10 - Too Much Snow

February 13, 2010

Due to too much wet snow the Mens' Downhill Race was postponed this morning. What a disappointment to all involved. Everyone had watched either live or on TV or at the number of JumboTrons set up around Whistler the spectacular 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremonies and was stoked to get the Mens' Downhill Race - one of the premier events of the Olympics, completed.

But last night it started to snow and when the crews arrived at 5:00 a.m. this morning there was 30 cms of fresh snow at the Start, 20 cms of frozen wet snow in the Toilet Bowl and 10 cms of very wet snow all along the rest of the course. Our first job was to clean off all of the nets and then to remove the new snow off the track and behind the fences. With the use of shovels, rakes, snow scoops and snow blowers by noon all of the snow was removed. Then with a couple of more hours of work the safety systems were repairs and made race ready.

After my day of work at wandered thru Whistler Village and the experience of all of the people from many location around the world and the buzz off many different languages put a smile on my face and a lightness in my step. So this is what the Olympics is all about.

Due to conflicts with the Ladies Course (the Mens and the Ladies courses actually meet at the bottom and cross the same finish line), there was no opportunity to run the Mens' Downhill Race on Sunday, so I decided to take the day off and go to Vancouver to share Valentines Day with Alison, Grace and Alana.

Arriving in Vancouver I again experienced the buzz of the Olympics as all of the streets and transit stations were full of excited people (most wearing some article of red & white clothing demonstrating their support for our Canadian athletes.

There is a good chance that the Men's Race will happen tomorrow and therefore I will return to Whistler tonight - after one good sleep in my own bed. So look for me along side the course at the top of the Toilet Bowl - I will be the one in the light blue coat, with a white toque ringing my cow bell.

Hope you all are enjoying all of the Olympic Events and stories.

Cheers to downhill racing.

Gerry