Wow, and I thought yesterday was quiet.  Today the silence was nearly deafening.  But that’s okay, here in 2010vanfan land there’s always something to talk about.  So now class, we are going to learn about aerials skiing!  Now, I know next to nothing about aerials, other than you need skis, a jump and a helmet!  So I’m going to learn about it and pass it on to you!

Steve Omischl, member of the Canadian Freestyle Ski Team

Aerials is a variety of Freestyle Skiing (hmm… already didn’t know that).  Freestyle skiing started in the 60’s as a combination of acrobatics and skiing.  In that time of wild experimentation and free love some folks weren’t terribly inclined to follow the traditional rules of skiing!  Freestyle skiing includes not only aerials, but also mogul’s and ski cross.  Moguls were introduced to the Olympics in Albertville 1992, aerials in Lillehammer 1994 and in our Olympics, Vancouver 2010 ski cross will be held for the first time!!  (I’ll save ski cross for another day!).

Here is what Vancouver 2010 says about aerials:

“Strategically, competitors determine their inrun location based on the type of jump performed, their own freestyle technique and the current environmental conditions. Correct inrun speed is critical to successful aerial performances and athletes can choose two of many different jumps that combine back flips and twists with differing degrees of difficulty. Athletes are judged on the quality of take off, height gained, form and body position, and how they maintain balance upon landing. All competitors complete two jumps in a qualification round. The 16 aerialists with the highest total scores from the qualification round move on to the final round. In the final round, competitors complete two more jumps in reverse order from the qualification results. The aerialist with the highest combined score from the two final jumps wins.”

There will be both men’s and women’s competitions that will take part up at Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver.  And I’m sure it’s going to be wicked cool fun to watch!  I really hope I can make it up to see some of the competition!

Alright, well, it’s late, and now that I know something more about aerials I think it’s bed time.  Don’t forget to send your suggestion for how I should celebrate “100 days of 2010vanfan“!!  The prize is fabulicious!  A Vancouver 2010 Pin Album for all of your favourite pins!  Cheers!  Santé!

Yay!!  I now have winners for all five of the Air Canada pins!!  Thanks to Robyn, Carol and Stephanie!!

Robyn - an Olympic Torchbearer and a fantastic person to work with - with the Mascots!!

Carol with her Olympic Hockey jersey and pompom toque!!

Stephanie with Sumi!! And her Vancouver 2010 shirt! Thanks Stephanie for sending 3 photos!!

Thanks again to Tony, Jo-Anne, Robyn, Carol and Stephanie!  It’s so great to have 5 contest winners that all sent photos of themselves (no cactus in sight!).  I will be doing another photo contest soon as I have a few Royal Bank pins now to give away.  I’ll try to get that up within the next week, but if you’re looking for a contest, don’t forget about my ‘100 days of 2010vanfan’ contest!  The prize is a Vancouver 2010 Pin Album which includes a pin that you can only get with the pin album!!

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Other News:

The IOC has approved Golf and Rugby 7’s to be played in the Summer Olympics starting in London 2012!  Should be interesting.  Golf was slightly more controversial with the votes 63 for – 27 against while rugby was more unanimous at 81 for – 8 against. Both Men’s and Women’s events will be held in the sports.  Baseball, softball, squash, roller sports and karate also made a bid to make it into the Summer Olympics but missed out this time around.

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Well… I’d like to have more news, but it was a pretty quite day in Vancouver 2010 land.  I will let you know though that we have completely sold out of the hand-knit Olympic sweaters at the Olympic Superstore.  We should be getting the machine knit ones in soon though!