Sochi 2014

psychadelicflowergirl · 11-02-2014, 03:41 AM

Anyone keeping track of/and/or watching?

Isoverity · 11-02-2014, 04:21 AM

Yes - I grew up in a ski family. Started when I was 5. Probably would have gone into competitive thing but I got into football (US) and swimming instead. I like all the skating - the figure and the racing style. The biathlon looks fun.

frenchhorn · 11-02-2014, 04:34 AM

Yes I love it, I love all the sports, but I am obsessed by curling, in the last winter Olympics I really got into it and would stay up until very early in the morning yelling at the TV!

Unbreakable. · 13-02-2014, 02:58 AM

The only discipline I am following is ice hockey.
Rooting for Canada, as much as my dad tells me I need to support Russia. :P

FabulousMike · 13-02-2014, 09:32 AM

I'm not watching it, i'm not a sports person (apart from rugby) but I hope they are having a gay old time!

Isoverity · 13-02-2014, 12:47 PM

The figure skating has been exceptional. The Dutch speed skaters who got gold after the timing error were interesting. Another guy thought he won gold and then a few seconds latter they bumped him down because of clock issue. Dude started crying and looked a little crazed

Charmed · 13-02-2014, 01:22 PM

The figure skating is my favourite, I used to figure skate and compete so it's exciting to watch! I want Canada to win. I went to Vancouver for the last winter Olympics it was awesome.

Isoverity · 13-02-2014, 01:42 PM

There have been quite a few figure skaters in this forum. On the other hand I've yet to see even see anyone say they are a skier - or a bobsledder lol

Isoverity · 15-02-2014, 04:13 PM

The stands have seemed empty. Saw lots of male figure skaters fall last night

Unbreakable. · 16-02-2014, 03:00 AM

I wasn't able to see the Russia vs USA ice hockey game, it must have been rather interesting.

Isoverity · 16-02-2014, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Impossible Girl

I wasn't able to see the Russia vs USA ice hockey game, it must have been rather interesting.

Yes it went down to a shootout. The guy who scored last US goal is a known shootout specialist who isn't good for much else. Personally - being form US - I don't even consider Olympics teams that different. When Olympics come around all the players in US/Candain pro hockey league (NHL) go and play for their home countries. Guys on the same pro team can end up going against each other. Its like an inbred situation lol

Unbreakable. · 16-02-2014, 03:23 AM

Yeah, I looked up the result as soon as I got home from work!
It's one of the few games that weren't predictable, it's just the stage of the tournament where you know which teams will make it into quarter finals anyway. I'll definitely watch Canada vs Finland tomorrow, that's another one that might be really great.

I'm still almost surprised that Russia lost, the US team must be better than the one they had four or five years ago, they kind of seemed to have lost there mojo for a bit.

Isoverity · 16-02-2014, 03:52 AM

I just looked at the Russian roster and 12 of them play in the NHL. The US is team is all from US despite some playing on Canadian teams. T. J. Oshie - who scored 4 goals for US in shootout - is from Washington State (not DC) and plays for St Louis Blues

The Remarkable One-Man Show Called T. J. Oshie
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/16/sp...shie.html?_r=0

Unbreakable. · 16-02-2014, 04:04 AM

I think there is not much going on re hockey leagues outside of North America in general. Same as for a number of other sports e.g. basketball.

Germany used to have a decent team, but I think they haven't been performing all that well in almost a decade by now. I'm not sure though, I only follow ice hockey on and off and keep losing track of the teams.

It's very interesting to see how the Olympia rules can be different from the NHL ones.

Isoverity · 16-02-2014, 04:08 AM

I miss the days when amateurs were the rule more or less (old USSR "amateurs" were more like pros). I don't like pro players in Olympics. That goes for basketball and the "Dream teams"

Unbreakable. · 16-02-2014, 04:10 AM

I'm not sure I have any opinion whatsoever on that topic, I'm probably just too used to the way things are now to imagine it differently.

Unbreakable. · 16-02-2014, 06:44 PM

Finland vs Canada just finished their first third.
Very surprised and also pleased with how the game is going. A little disappointed with the Finish though, I expected them to dominate the game tbh. Also poor use of the power play by them.

I see why the first "goal" didn't count, but it looked freakin awesome and was pretty cheeky of the Canadian to play it over the goal keeper's back. :P

Isoverity · 17-02-2014, 03:50 AM

An observation about the outdoor sports - not once have I seen anyone's breath freezing. Its just not cold at all. No wonder the snow stinks

Unbreakable. · 17-02-2014, 03:56 AM

I just looked it up, apparently it's 7°C, that is indeed rather warm.

I checked medals and feel content with Germany leading so far, very surprised though about seeing the Netherlands in second place and Russia and Canada only being 5 & 6 and the US 7th.
Maybe it's related to which sports have been done so far though, I am not sure though as I don't really keep track.

Isoverity · 17-02-2014, 04:35 AM

Sochi is actually a subtropical climate. Jan - Feb temps average 50f - 10c . Sochi has been storing snow for a few years - plus making its own. That would explain why so many ski/snowboard athletes are having mistakes and complaining about snow.