There's Way Too Many Skiing Events in the Olympics

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Arsenal14

The challenge with adding something like 3 on 3 hockey is they'd need to build another rink in each host city. With figure skating, short track and men's and women's hockey the arenas are at maximum.

3x3 hoops is in a temporary outdoor venue (fun fact: they use a women's sized ball that is as heavy as a standard men's ball to mitigate wind). So they could make a pond hockey venue. But I'm not really sure what the appeal would be without NHL players

[powderjunkie]

Women's Super-G is a good watch. Mostly competitive carnage (because they don't get any training runs it's really hard to stay on course) in low vis conditions, but there were also at least two gnarly crashes (seems like they're both fine though).

Skiing is great.

[calgarygeologist]

The skiing events are some of the best events at the Olympics. Skiing, sliding and short track speed skating are the most fun to watch. The only event that I don't really understand the need for is doubles luge. Figure Skating is probably the most overrated part of the winter Olympics and gets too much exposure.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Skiing events are super varied. Nordic events are an ultimate test of fitness...contention is limited to nordic countries, but that's not much different than Kenyans dominating distance running and Jamaicans dominating sprinting. Biathlon is simply friggin awesome. We need more summer events that include shooting at near peak heart rate.

Alpine events are beyond reproach. Downhills are just ####ing nuts and under appreciated as feat of human's capacity for impressive levels of controlled stupidity.

Ski and snowboard cross are dope. Moguls are dope. Downhill snowboarding is kinda lame.

Halfpipe is a bit lame at this point, but it's fine. The other freestyle events are about as good as judged events can be. Aerials is basically the same as diving.

Ski jumping is pretty cool. Probably too many disciplines within it (I can't be bothered to understand) but who gives a ####. Those dicks aren't going to inject themselves.

Agree with most of this. The speed these skiers are going is insane. The fact that their knees don't explode on every turn is a miracle.

I disagree about the half pipe, I think it's only gotten better. I watched a montage of the half-pipe gold medal runs since 98, and the progression of talent year over year is pretty unreal.

I do think that the park runs, for both skiing and boarding, are kind of boring. Not sure why as they are difficult and I enjoy watching park skateboarding, but it just doesn't feel big. Maybe it just doesn't seem as dangerous?

Luge, skeleton and bobsled remain the height of courage/stupidity. Man I want to try it so bad but I know I don't have the guts and would definitely die.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Coach

I disagree about the half pipe, I think it's only gotten better. I watched a montage of the half-pipe gold medal runs since 98, and the progression of talent year over year is pretty unreal.

I can't watch pipe without thinking about Sarah Burke (who died doing it). The risk vs. reward is just silly to me, and I'm someone who likes fast+dangerous sports like alpine and motor racing.

I think pipe is probably better for snowboarding relative to the other events, but I don't have time those criminals. I think the physics of landing sideways are better for them in the pipe than on other airs, and vice versa for skiing. For skiing, I just think it's a peg below slopestyle and big air.

They could just put a quarter pipe feature into the slopestyle. I'd rather see some sort of team event on the slopestyle course - I think we'd see more interesting creativity there (but you'd need a few rules and design considerations to ensure safety)

[Party Elephant]

There are too many skiing events. Please eliminate three. I am not a crackpot.