Favourite event at Winter Olympics?

[BigDGarciaFan]

In Texas, football and basketball are Winter sports.
You've also got the entire world's worth of Soccer. EPL/La Liga, Bundesliga et al.

I am always impressed by guys like Shani Davis or other US Winter Olympians I really couldn't tell you a thing they do between Olympic runs.
And none of these things are what I'd consider sports.

Can obviously relate more to Summer events.

I'd love to visit Norway though if that helps, lol.

oslo hosted the games in 52 and lillehammer hosted the games in 94. great momemts took place in lillehammer like dan jansen winning in speed skating for her dearly deported sister.

as for popular sports here in texas. i love the spurs and the all-star game(slam dunk contest stinks). and sometimes UTSA college basketball. but when it comes to the games, you never want to leave your home. its great knowing the sports and knowing the host city. makes you think youre there.

 

[jterrell]

I can honestly say I don't know one single person who has ever speed skated for a day in their life lol

I guess I can agree with the recreation thing, but not if you're going to call running more than a recreation. Just because it isn't popular or is a novelty in one place doesn't make it less of a sport. Heck, soccer is a novelty all over the U.S.

actually millions upon millions of kids play soccer in the US. they just outgrow it... lol. i saw a stat suggesting it was the most popular first sport in the US for a kid to play by a wide margin.

it is just perception tho.
i couldn't dream of the skill and athleticism it takes to make any winter olympic sport.
i am just so far removed i really can't relate at all.
i'll catch some of it maybe learn some things.

 

[Future]

actually millions upon millions of kids play soccer in the US. they just outgrow it... lol. i saw a stat suggesting it was the most popular first sport in the US for a kid to play by a wide margin.

it is just perception tho.
i couldn't dream of the skill and athleticism it takes to make any winter olympic sport.
i am just so far removed i really can't relate at all.
i'll catch some of it maybe learn some things.

Soccer is popular for kids...I think thats part of what makes it a novelty. THe vast majority of serious athletes just don't play it.It falls to the wayside when kids can start playing football, baseball, and even lacrosse.

 

[Doomsday101]

I just like the olympic winter games and summer games. Most of the events are sports that I don't normally watch but when it is the US vs the world what the heck I'm there to cheer on the USA

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

I like Winter a lot more than the Summer events.

1. Speed skating - Ohno is the man
2. Luge and Bobsled
3. Ski jumps
4. Curling
5. Hockey

Don't care too much for figure skating, only watch to see the women's outfits

didn't Ohno retire

For me

Hockey would be top but only if Canada is playing
Cross country/biathlon is good
sliding events
speed skating

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

I can honestly say I don't know one single person who has ever speed skated for a day in their life lol

I guess I can agree with the recreation thing, but not if you're going to call running more than a recreation. Just because it isn't popular or is a novelty in one place doesn't make it less of a sport. Heck, soccer is a novelty all over the U.S.

it is also cheap, we have a lot that play soccer up here but the better athletes seem to get pulled more into hockey although basketball is picking up, especially in the urban centres and with Andrew Wiggins having every one of his games on TV

 

[Tabascocat]

didn't Ohno retire

Yes, but he is what got me into watching speed-skating.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Yes, but he is what got me into watching speed-skating.

just make sure you note that is short track speed skating, aka roller derby on ice

 

[arglebargle]

this pretty much is the only place that Hockey gets real publicity anymore. Basically a minor sport now.

Figure Skating is interesting just to see which judge has gotten the biggest bribe

Ski Jumping is great when they fall

Downhill the same

Curling is great on the womens side since so many of them are serious hotties

Bobsledding is exciting- like with NASCAR you keep waiting for the big crash

but the absolute most dangerous sport is luge beyond a doubt- Las Vegas has an over and under on how many are injured plus a big splash for any that get killed

Danish women's curling team! You go gals! Though I will check in on the Swedes, Norwegians, and even the Finns.....

Sledding is pretty dynamite, indeed, though I like the Luge/Skeleton best. Those guys have some steel.... And big brass ones!

Easy manipulation of Figure Skating took a fall at the Salt Lake Olympics. Nowadays they're much more likely to actually grade on the real performance rather than the skaters' reputation.

 

[arglebargle]

Now, Winter Biathalon, there's a sport from a different era: Cross country skiing and rifle shooting. Back when alpine troops were a major thing.

 

[kristie]

skeleton, ski jumping, downhill skiing, & snowboarding are my favorite winter olympic sports

 

[ologan]

Outside of "toothpaste tube smuggling", or "handi-wipe black marketing", or even "Evian bottle tossing", I would say the downhill, speed skating, curling ( which I guess harkens back to my beer joint shuffleboard days), or even all the x-games stuff, only because of all the crazy names they give to the tricks they do........."Wow, he just completed a 480 super Shawn White with a reverse twisting whipple dipple...."!

 

[jrumann59]

Closing Ceremonies, the olympics are a farce now days.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Closing Ceremonies, the olympics are a farce now days.

there is always a cynical poster like you in an olympics' thread

 

[barney]

Hockey will be good its just the times are quite inconvenient for me living in england anyway

 

[jrumann59]

there is always a cynical poster like you in an olympics' thread

Why because most of the olympians are not really amateurs the actual meaning of the olympics is watered down. How fitting the the richest countries with the biggest populations do the best.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Why because most of the olympians are not really amateurs the actual meaning of the olympics is watered down. How fitting the the richest countries with the biggest populations do the best.

they always have, nothing has changed

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Hockey will be good its just the times are quite inconvenient for me living in england anyway

the times are better for you than for us on west coast. They should be in the evening for you.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Hockey.

Some figure skating because I just cannot get around the concept of jumping so high in the air, then spinning around a gazillion times mid-air and then landing on skates.

I have a hard time watching the Winter Olympics because either the event is not done side by side (for instance, track and field they usually have the participants line up side by side and the fastest wins) and many of the sports don't really translate to me as to how special they are. For instance, the long jump translates to me as this person can jump the longest of any human on the planet. So speed skating or luge doesn't quite translate that way.

Just my .02





YR

 

[Future]

Why because most of the olympians are not really amateurs the actual meaning of the olympics is watered down. How fitting the the richest countries with the biggest populations do the best.

The Olympics hasn't had "amateurs" in the actual sense of the word, in like 200 years.