Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

[BigCoward]

Who is the hottest favourite for any event? Weirdly it for me it would be Riiber in both individual competitions, despite not actually being the world Cup leader.
I can't see his dominance making up for the Germans having so many up around the top 10 on a regular basis In the relay though.
Obviously Klaebo in the sprint would seem a shoe in as well.
To be honest though I don't think any event ever had a more likely winner than Norway women in the relay in Sochi, and look what happened there.

 

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Riiber could suffer a bit from the conditions, as the wind is likely to make it quite difficult for lone leaders.

I don't know anything about figure skating, tbh, but it sounds like Kamilia Valieva is pretty much regarded as unbeatable, breaking world records basically on a weekly base.

 

[SafeBet]

Who is the hottest favourite for any event? Weirdly it for me it would be Riiber in both individual competitions, despite not actually being the world Cup leader.

Riiber is a good call but I'd probably say Francesco Friedrich in any bobsleigh competition he will take part in.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Riiber is a good call but I'd probably say Francesco Friedrich in any bobsleigh competition he will take part in.

Riibers winning streak ended this weekend and the region is China is also really windy. Looking at the skiing speeds atm him winning is not set in stone...

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Who is the hottest favourite for any event? Weirdly it for me it would be Riiber in both individual competitions, despite not actually being the world Cup leader.
I can't see his dominance making up for the Germans having so many up around the top 10 on a regular basis In the relay though.
Obviously Klaebo in the sprint would seem a shoe in as well.
To be honest though I don't think any event ever had a more likely winner than Norway women in the relay in Sochi, and look what happened there.

Norway on the podium in every sport except for maybe figure skating.

 

[BigCoward]

Riibers winning streak ended this weekend and the region is China is also really windy. Looking at the skiing speeds atm him winning is not set in stone...

Yeah, he got a big gust before his jump which is part of the lottery of NC unfortunately. But his skiing time yesterday wasn't great either. He looked better today though

 

[Mayomaniac]

Yeah, he got a big gust before his jump which is part of the lottery of NC unfortunately. But his skiing time yesterday wasn't great either. He looked better today though

I think yesterday he was a bit off after almost crashing during his jump. Lampater also started setting a high tempo right after he had closed to gap to wear him down (that didn't seem to bother Graabak, who has been skiing really well yesterday and today).

 

[KZD]

Who is the hottest favourite for any event? Weirdly it for me it would be Riiber in both individual competitions, despite not actually being the world Cup leader.
I can't see his dominance making up for the Germans having so many up around the top 10 on a regular basis In the relay though.
Obviously Klaebo in the sprint would seem a shoe in as well.
To be honest though I don't think any event ever had a more likely winner than Norway women in the relay in Sochi, and look what happened there.

From the sports that I follow, I would say Klæbo in the sprint and probably Norway in the biathlon men's relay too.

 

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Biathlon could be a windy affair as well. A Russian coach reported, that they simulated a competition in training yesterday, and at the final shooting five athletes missed all shots.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Biathlon could be a windy affair as well. A Russian coach reported, that they simulated a competition in training yesterday, and at the final shooting five athletes missed all shots.

Yeah, but if that's Serokhvostov and Kazakevich it probably doesn't mean too much.

 

[Jagartrott]

The use of almost only artificial snow is cause of concern for especially the cross-country skiing disciplines, as artificial snow tends to get more icy, giving less control. Meanwhile, the ski slopes look like this:

 

[King Boonen]

The use of almost only artificial snow is cause of concern for especially the cross-country skiing disciplines, as artificial snow tends to get more icy, giving less control. Meanwhile, the ski slopes look like this:

I do find this disappointing. I'm not a big winter sports fan, but I like watching when I can and a lot of it has to do with the snow covered scenery. Maybe I won't care when I see it on video, but I think this loses a lot of what draws casual fans in.

 

[BullsFan22]

It was basically the same in Korea. Very sad. And now no spectators, although I hear the organizing committee says they are planning to have the capacity at the cross country ski events at 30%.

 

[King Boonen]

It was basically the same in Korea. Very sad. And now no spectators, although I hear the organizing committee says they are planning to have the capacity at the cross country ski events at 30%.

I think I remember there was at least some snow on the ground in Korea, even if it needed heavily supplemented with artificial snow. Could well be wrong though.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

The use of almost only artificial snow is cause of concern for especially the cross-country skiing disciplines, as artificial snow tends to get more icy, giving less control. Meanwhile, the ski slopes look like this:

That looks rather grim. Ah well, I'll just have to put my Alps glasses on and pretend I'm in Austria or Switzerland or such, the Alpine and XC skiing races in Europe have showed some wonderful snow and scenery this year.

That said curling is underway - woooo! I have no clear favorites and curling is not something I regularly follow, but I'm sure Norway will be in the mix.

 

[BlueRoads]

In terms of atmosphere and everything behind the games these Olympics are super depressing, but I will watch some of it nonetheless. Mostly figure skating and biathlon, some alpine skiing and ski-jumping as well.

 

[BlueRoads]

Riiber could suffer a bit from the conditions, as the wind is likely to make it quite difficult for lone leaders.

I don't know anything about figure skating, tbh, but it sounds like Kamilia Valieva is pretty much regarded as unbeatable, breaking world records basically on a weekly base.

Valieva is a lock, unless an asteroid hits earth or something. And she doesn't have to face wind, so that gives her an advantage over some other big favourites.

 

[Keram]

Is it desert or what? Cold but without snow.

 

[Unchained]

I know it's the news cycle but come on every outlet has a story about artificial snow..interviews with anyone and everyone who will talk about artificial snow..

 

[Mayomaniac]

I do find this disappointing. I'm not a big winter sports fan, but I like watching when I can and a lot of it has to do with the snow covered scenery. Maybe I won't care when I see it on video, but I think this loses a lot of what draws casual fans in.

Speaking about Alpine Skiing, from what I've seen the downhill slope reminds me of Beaver Creek, mainly the more technical corners.
About the lack of snow, with the low temperatures and the potential wind it's gonna be really cold.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

I know it's the news cycle but come on every outlet has a story about artificial snow..interviews with anyone and everyone who will talk about artificial snow..

Scenery aside I think what most posters here are speaking of are the snow conditions in skiing events, waxing can make all the difference. So I think bringing up the weather is valid just like you would in cycling or any other outdoor sport.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

From the sports that I follow, I would say Klæbo in the sprint and probably Norway in the biathlon men's relay too.

Would have been Marita Kramer too, but Covid got in the way of that.

I would have said, for probably the first time in my life, that I was looking forward to hearing David Goldstrom call that, after Oberstdorf...

 

[OJRvE]

Dissatser for Norway. Riiber tested positive for Covid and Bö is close contact.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

As is Tandrevold, which would also be a blow for the relay team if she has to miss time, although she isn't in the Mixed Relay team like Bø is.

Seifriedsberger also positive in the Austrian ski jump team, so with Kramer already out, it seems like it might end up spreading among them, or at least the women's team. The Austrians will no doubt hope that it stays that way, not to do the women's team down at all but more because they've already lost their biggest medal hope in Marita.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Dissatser for Norway. Riiber tested positive for Covid and Bö is close contact.

And here was I ready to make fun of Klaebo for wearing a Mask, sunglasses and skiglasses on the flight...
Speaking of XC skiing, the UK's coach Hans Christian Stadheim has called it the hardest course that he has ever skied on, a demanding profile + altitude and really slow snow. For him Bolshunov and Niskanen are the ones who'll benefit the mot from it.