Sochi 2014 Olympics

[Amsterhammer]

... how do the netherlands do it?

Sorry, didn´t wanna spoil you party... don´t mind

Lots of milk and peanut butter sandwiches when young, clean, wholesome living, knowing how to skate since infancy, lots of training on bicycles, and being all round nice guys and upstanding human beings.

I think. I am certainly much more 'naive' than you about clinic matters.

Edit - Just watched an extended interview with the champion. On top of everything else, he is an extremely sympathetic, well-spoken, and intelligent young man, from an extended, warm, close, family background. Maybe those things have an important influence too?

 

[Arnout]

Lots of milk and peanut butter sandwiches when young, clean, wholesome living, knowing how to skate since infancy, lots of training on bicycles, and being all round nice guys and upstanding human beings.

I think. I am certainly much more 'naive' than you about clinic matters.

Edit - Just watched an extended interview with the champion. On top of everything else, he is an extremely sympathetic, well-spoken, and intelligent young man, from an extended, warm, close, family background. Maybe those things have an important influence too?

And no other nation giving a **** helps too.

Same with curling, or whatever other weird sports. You're not the best of the world, you're the best because noone else can be bothered.

Sorry for being Captain Killjoy

Sorry, didn´t wanna spoil your party... don´t mind

Of course. News broke today that our anti-doping authority didn't test speed skaters OOC once in the year of the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Not once.

The year after probably the best speed skater (Kramer) had an injury, was not in competition for a year. Yeah right.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Not entirely true, those japs and koreans always seem to care about the 500m. And the 1000m/1500m are pretty international

As for the 5k and 10k nobody gives a ****

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

This is what it's all about anyway

 

[LaFlorecita]

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

And no other nation giving a **** helps too.

Same with curling, or whatever other weird sports. You're not the best of the world, you're the best because noone else can be bothered.

Sorry for being Captain Killjoy

For the 5km and the 10km that's certainly true, but the 500m has only recently seen some Dutch succes obviously, that's why it's so nice to have a Dutch podium on this distance. Much nicer than the 5km or 10km, where the Dutch have dominated for two decades or something.

Now just for Groothuis to win the 1000 meters and Tuitert the 1500 meters and we're done.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Lots of milk and peanut butter sandwiches when young, clean, wholesome living, knowing how to skate since infancy, lots of training on bicycles, and being all round nice guys and upstanding human beings.

Cool. Like american footballers. Dedicated to a focused, clean, humble life. I knew, just wanted confirmation.

Of course. News broke today that our anti-doping authority didn't test speed skaters OOC once in the year of the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Not once.

The year after probably the best speed skater (Kramer) had an injury, was not in competition for a year. Yeah right.

Understand. They do it the "jamaican way".

 

[jens_attacks]

500m speed skating was pretty cool i admit. quite the drama for the non-brother dutch who celebrated too early.

and if we're at it, is DAOTEC's kid racing or still banned?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

That was hilarious yeah. Kramer's mystery upper leg muscle injury. Where nobody could explain what exactly the injury was. Except that it was very painful and needed a lot of rest.

Most pathetic excuse for an obvious failed doping test/stay a year out action by the ISU ever

 

[Amsterhammer]

Agreed that no other country except the Norway (a bit) has any interest in the 5 and 10km. The other distances, however, have been pretty competitive.

Foxxy, I shouldn't have to remind you that these periods of dominance by one country tend to come in waves. Not so long ago, the likes of Niemann/Pechstein/Friesinger were also winning everything in sight.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Agreed that no other country except the Norway (a bit) has any interest in the 5 and 10km. The other distances, however, have been pretty competitive.

Foxxy, I shouldn't have to remind you that these periods of dominance by one country tend to come in waves. Not so long ago, the likes of Niemann/Pechstein/Friesinger were also winning everything in sight.

Yeah true. And Pechstein-Horner still does pretty well given her natural blood anomaly.

Off topic: Where have you been in the playoffs? Still banned?

 

[theyoungest]

Of course. News broke today that our anti-doping authority didn't test speed skaters OOC once in the year of the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Not once.

They didn't? Well, it didn't work, as the Vancouver Olympics weren't particularly successful for Holland...

I think it's more a case of Dutch pros vs. foreign semi-pros (mostly), rather than a gap in clinic supplies.

to my shame i don't follow speedskating at all, i know only two names- pechstein claudia i think?? and sven kramer if i remember it correctly. that's all i know about speed skating lol

Welcome to the sport that sucks in all our talent, when they could have been great cyclists

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

They didn't? Well, it didn't work, as the Vancouver Olympics weren't particularly successful for Holland...

I heard some Norwegan's were complaining about this and the guy from the Dutch anti doping authority admitted this was the case, but he said the ISU did do controls for blood doping, so it isn't as if the Dutch skaters wern't tested for blood doping.

Another intresting performance is Mark Tuitert peaking twice in his carreer with an interval of 4 years.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

God is curling boring. It´s like Darts in super slow motion...

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I think Curling would be more interesting if it had a 24 second shot clock.

I've been enjoying the XC skiing quite a bit.

As is always the case with judged events, more controversy around men's figure skating.

Finally, are there any other Yanks here kind of hoping that the Russians win gold in Hockey? Even if they play the US in the final? With Bilyaletdinov the coach, and Tretiak helping light the Olympic flame, this could be a sweet bit of redemption, 34 years later. A picturebook ending to a great story.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

I think Curling would be more interesting if it had a 24 second shot clock.

Even a 4 second shot clock wouldn´t help b/c of the slow moving what? Ball, stick, puck...

As is always the case with judged events, more controversy around men's figure skating.

The fix is in, again.... Someone rember the badminton scandal last summer olympics?

Finally, are there any other Yanks here kind of hoping that the Russians win gold in Hockey? Even if they play the US in the final? With Bilyaletdinov the coach, and Tretiak helping light the Olympic flame, this could be a sweet bit of redemption, 34 years later. A picturebook ending to a great story.

I am no Yankee, but did always root for USA. But not now. I love those russian players since the RedWings days.
I would prefer a RUS-USA final. But in the end defense wins... thus we´ll see CAN, FIN or SWE as champs.
Back in the 80s I "hated" the russians b/c they always won.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I'm the same way. While the old Soviet hockey team did win in 76 and 84, this is a different Russian team, a different time, but with lingering memories. I think winning this on their home ice would be terrific.

The worst judging was gymnastics in Beijing. That was absurd. The Chinese girl fell on her rump and still won a gold. But there have been numerous skating judging scandals before. Including bribery involved. As I said before, I'm okay with the judged events being at the Olympics, but only as an exhibition, or a separate "winner" category. They should not be in the same class as timed, measured and direct competition events.

I think what would make curling more interesting is if there were two guys throwing stones at once. Or one guy tosses his, and the other guy has to toss his before the 1st guy's stone gets down the ice. Or something like that. PLUS a shot clock between throws. The sport is interesting, just way, way, too slow.

Not a huge speed skating fan, but those 500m races were exciting. Congrats to the Dutch for some awesome wins in their marquee sport.

 

[python]

i am enjoying watching the speed skating. what a wonderful sport - power and grace. not being a particularly knowledgeable spectator, i have some questions for the experts:

1. are clap skates still considered a must, or just an option ?
i thought that some looked like having them, but i was not sure.
2 is a shear body mass a benefit in shorter distances ?
some, like the dutch brothers yesterday, did not look particularly bulky. while the others, were just huge.

3. aerodynamics..obviously hugely important at the speeds they zip around.
do they spend any time refining their tuck as the tt cyclist do ?

 

[Tricycle Rider]

500m speed skating was pretty cool i admit. quite the drama for the non-brother dutch who celebrated too early.

The dude will probably be traumatized for life, I'd hate to be him. Still, that was pretty exciting, the speed skating sprints and the team pursuits I can be down with. The 10k, not so much.

Finally, are there any other Yanks here kind of hoping that the Russians win gold in Hockey? Even if they play the US in the final? With Bilyaletdinov the coach, and Tretiak helping light the Olympic flame, this could be a sweet bit of redemption, 34 years later. A picturebook ending to a great story.

Feel a bit indifferent about hockey, I quit watching the NHL about 10 years ago because of their various strikes and labor disputes. I don't have anything against the Russian players themselves, but would like to see Putin's shattered face if they don't win the gold. (I'm older generation Czech [transplanted to the States several decades ago], not much love was lost between us and the Soviets back in the day. To me Putin is an old-school Soviet.)

On a different note - I normally don't follow moguls at all, but am happy for Alex Bilodeau, and his brother, for winning another gold.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

I'm the same way. While the old Soviet hockey team did win in 76 and 84, this is a different Russian team, a different time, but with lingering memories. I think winning this on their home ice would be terrific.

And they dominated the 1980 games too until the final.

The worst judging was gymnastics in Beijing. That was absurd. The Chinese girl fell on her rump and still won a gold. But there have been numerous skating judging scandals before. Including bribery involved. As I said before, I'm okay with the judged events being at the Olympics, but only as an exhibition, or a separate "winner" category. They should not be in the same class as timed, measured and direct competition events.

I think you are too hard. Even tough fixing a event where the judges have 100% saying of who wins and who not is easier, but we all know fixing occurs in every other sport too.
And the non-technical but timed sports are prone to clinic issues.
In the end all evens out.

I think what would make curling more interesting is if there were two guys throwing stones at once. Or one guy tosses his, and the other guy has to toss his before the 1st guy's stone gets down the ice. Or something like that. PLUS a shot clock between throws. The sport is interesting, just way, way, too slow.

You define a whole new sport here.
I know you like rule changes a lot. And I thought I am progressive.
But they certainly should widen hockey goals.

Not a huge speed skating fan, but those 500m races were exciting. Congrats to the Dutch for some awesome wins in their marquee sport.

True. I liked that too. Very powerful...

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

i am enjoying watching the speed skating. what a wonderful sport - power and grace. not being a particularly knowledgeable spectator, i have some questions for the experts:

Not really an expert, but I'll answer to the best of my knowledge.

1. are clap skates still considered a must, or just an option ?
i thought that some looked like having them, but i was not sure.

Yes, everybody uses clap skates since the end of the 90's.

2 is a shear body mass a benefit in shorter distances ?
some, like the dutch brothers yesterday, did not look particularly bulky. while the others, were just huge.

Not entirely sure, but most of the Koreans and Japanese who have been dominating the sprints until recently, don't look too bulky either. So I guess, you don't have to be bulky, you mostly need a lot of explosive strenth and a good technique so you can use your strength properly. I don't know if you have any experience with skating, but being able to take a corner with 60km/h and then accelerate on skates is quite a feat it itself. At least, it would be for people who only skate very sporadically like me. Fortunately, it's completely out of the question for me to be able to skate 60km/h anyway.

3. aerodynamics..obviously hugely important at the speeds they zip around.
do they spend any time refining their tuck as the tt cyclist do ?

Not quite sure if it's as intensive as TT specialists in cycling, but they do spend time on their position. Skaters who are able to take a lower position and still skate comfortably have an advantadge. They do work on getting their position lower and thus more aerodynamic.

 

[the asian]

Good to see the Koreans finally win a Gold at the Speed Skating.

They were very disappointing up to now.

 

[python]

Not really an expert, but I'll answer to the best of my knowledge.

thanks maarten, it was helpful.

I don't know if you have any experience with skating,

i do, but not speed skating per se, and no experience skate racing. i use nordic skates like below. a great invention for a serious roller skier like myself. that's how i first learned about the clap skates..

they are as long as the speed skates but about twice as thick. i can comfortably do a cross-over on them but that's the limit of my skill set.

Not quite sure if it's as intensive as TT specialists in cycling, but they do spend time on their position. Skaters who are able to take a lower position and still skate comfortably have an advantage. They do work on getting their position lower and thus more aerodynamic.

this makes sense, of course. after i hit 'send', i realized i meant if the top elites experiment in wind tunnels. it would seem that the shorter statute, explosive skaters would have an aerodynamic advantage presenting smaller cross section to the wind...

 

[purcell]

There are certain events in the Winter Olympics that I have a great deal of fun watching, and the Olympics are really the onlyu time we ver get to see them.

Speed Skating - I love this sport, love to watch it and really enjoy seeing it.

Biathlon - one of those wierd sports that I love to watch, absolutely love it. We never see it other than at the Olympics.

Fortunately for me - CBC here in Canada has a great iPad app that lets me go back and stream any events I want to see and may have missed.

Watching the women's biathlon this morning - the CBC announcer said something I thought was really interesting - seems that Biathlon is the MOST popular winter sport on Russian TV, by far. The race this morning was fabulous.

 

[MrRoboto]

Biathlon is relatively huge in Russia and Germany. Also Norway.