Olympics 2010: Ski Like Bode - Six Training Exercises

Yesterday American skier Bode Miller won gold in the super combined, giving him three Olympic medals in Vancouver and five in his career. Not bad for the New Hampshire native and new dad. (Read more in the New York Times.)

We dug up some skiing training tips from a few years back, so you, too, can get into the best shape of your life. These are taken from our November 2005 (read the full article), when Miller was working with coach John McBride. "Bode likes to do old-school, Rocky-type training, like pushing wheelbarrows full of friends up steep hills," said McBride for the article. "And he's able to apply the strength and athleticism from these skills to skiing more effectively than most." They might be a little dated, but they made him, at least in part, the Olympian he is today.

1. Balance: Slacklining
Find two trees 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 meters) apart and tightly string a one-inch-wide (2.54 centimeter) piece of webbing two feet (.5 meters) off the ground between them. Keep your eyes focused on one spot in front of you and slowly walk the length of the rope. Use ski poles for balance at first, but as your skills improve, move the webbing higher, nix the poles, and do a single-leg squat on each step. "Slack-lining is great for learning how to move dynamically and for challenging your balance," says McBride.
 

Olympics 2010: Snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler - Interview, Video, More

We have been huge fans of snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler for a while now—so much so that we made her one of our Adventurers of the Year in 2008 for her decision to take a year to snowboard in the backcountry (watch a video of her in action). During yesterday's Olympic halfpipe competition, Bleiler nailed her signature trick, the Cripler 720, but then crashed. While expected to add another medal to the Silver she won in Torino, Bleiler finished in 11th place. But she took it in stride: "It's crazy, the Olympics. It's two runs of finals. And you work so hard for it," said Bleiler, who won silver in the halfpipe at the 2006 Winter Games. "But sometimes it just isn't your turn." (Read more in this Denver Post article.)

Last summer, Bleiler stopped by our office to talk about her new Oakley ski and snowboarding apparel line, her upcoming wedding in Costa Rica, and her hopes for the Games. Read the interview here.

Olympics 2010: Skier Lindsey Vonn Wins Gold, Here's Why

This afternoon American skier Lindsey Vonn took home downhill gold in Vancouver, despite a shin injury that nearly kept her from competing. A few months back, writer Greg Melville examined the unlikely qualities that make Vonn perhaps the best American downhiller ever. Here's a look at what he discovered.

Lindsey Vonn can’t remember her first time on skis. If she could, she wouldn’t be the overwhelming favorite to win gold in the downhill in Vancouver. Nearly all downhill skiing champions learned the sport between ages two and four. She’s also not British, Australian, Japanese, or Swedish, which is a plus. There’s an amazing pattern to the lives of top skiers like Vonn, from geography to upbringing, that gives them a huge advantage on the slopes. But it’s the way Vonn breaks this mold that makes her the greatest American downhiller—and can teach us all how to raise our game, regardless of sport or skill level.

Olympics 2010 - Skier Ted Ligety: The Two Sides of American Alpine's Golden Boy

American alpine skier Ted Ligety will compete this week, weather permitting, in Vancouver. See the schedule. See our Beyond the Olympics feature for training tips, ski trips, gear, and more.

Text by Christian Camerota; Photo courtesy of Shred Optics 

The lives of an entrepreneur and a ski racer seem diametrically opposed. That is, until you meet Ted Ligety. Ligety is not normal, of course. Far from it. How else do you explain a compulsion to fearlessly hurtle yourself down a 45-degree-angled, skating-rink slick mountain of ice at 70+mph? But that’s what Ligety has chosen as his career, at least for the time being. And he’s not shy about professing his love for the perks of his job.

“Sometimes you feel like there’s other stuff you’d wanna do,” Ligety admits when asked if he ever feels like he’s missed out on anything. “But at the same time, like, being a ski racer is a pretty kick ass job, you know?” He laughs freely at the thought. “You get to go all over the world and you get to ski…I mean, I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t love it as much as I do…my college friends are talking about fun college stories and I’m like, ‘Okay, well, I’m off in Europe right now winning races.’”

Hello, British Columbia: Four Trips in the Land of the Olympics

Today the Olympics begin in Vancouver, but in one contest Canada already has the U.S. beat. As an outdoors outpost, British Columbia outscores the American West across the board. The Pacific-hugging province is as big as California, Oregon, and Washington combined. But with only four million residents (Cali alone has 36 million), BC’s rugged mountain miles are far less developed. Still, for all its immensity, the province has a knack for condensing its wonders into accessible packages. Fly into Vancouver and within two hours you can be hiking Whistler backcountry or paddling the coast of the Great Bear Rainforest. And these days, as the host city primps and preps for the Winter Games, consider tacking on a few days’ stay: Catch Canada’s best speed skaters running drills at the freshly renovated Richmond Olympic Oval, or go all out Canuck and cheer on the home country’s hockey team as it practices in the Burnaby 8 Rinks. After a week in BC, you might be tempted to switch allegiance.

See the trips >>

Win a Trip to the 2010 Winter Olympics

The winter Olympics are close to home this year, and its not too late to plan a trip to Vancouver to witness the festivities. And if you enter Tourism Vancouver's 2010 Winter Games Sweepstakes, you'll have a shot at the "Gold" prize package, an all-inclusive three-night stay at a swanky Vancouver hotel, plus tickets to select alpine and hockey events and the closing ceremony.

But a trip to the games doesn't have to mean sitting on the sidelines: Only 10 percent of Whistler Blackcomb's slopes will be strictly for Olympians—that leaves 7,500 acres for your own skiing enjoyment. If your other costs are covered (the Gold prize is worth almost 10,000 bucks!), you can spring for a few lift tickets.

Enter here. 

—Greer Schott

Snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler on Olympics 2010, Getting Hitched, and Updating Her Signature Trick

Text by Catharine Livingston; Photograph courtesy of Oakley

Yesterday we had the good fortune to catch up with one of last year's Adventurers of the Year. Halfpipe queen Gretchen Bleiler dropped by our offices to show off her latest Oakley line of ski and snowboard apparel, which hits stores this fall. The 28-year-old Olympic Silver medalist and three-time X Games Gold medalist stuck around for a few extra minutes to chat about her summer plans (including her wedding in Costa Rica next month) and, of course, Vancouver 2010.

Post-nuptials, what’s on tap for the summer?
The Winter Olympics are coming up in February, and our Olympic qualifiers start in December. There are five Olympic qualifiers, two in December and three in January. So this summer is going to be all about training. But I’m taking a different approach going into these Olympics than I did for 2006. In the past, I’ve had such tunnel vision. This time, instead of spending the whole summer in the gym, I’m going to mix it up a little bit. I’ll still do some weight training, because that’s important for injury prevention and overall explosiveness, but I’m also going to try some yoga, pilates, and dance. I’m a big surfer, too.

You’ve got a lot going on—wedding, Olympics, your new Oakley line…. Is it tough to manage everything?
Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed, but I feel like if I can organize it all and put each thing into its little compartment, it’s manageable. I’m pretty much in constant contact with Oakley over the winter while I’m competing. Right now we’re making final decisions for next season’s line. And I’m working with my other sponsor, K2 on board boots and bindings. So yeah, it’s a full life. But it’s a lot of fun.

You made a big push to get more eco-friendly fabrics and technologies into the latest Oakley collection. You’ve also been a spokesperson in the climate change realm for a few years now. When (and how) did the environmental advocacy become such a big part of your life?
After the Winter Olympics in 2006 I realized I had a platform to speak about causes that were important to me—and people would listen. As a professional snowboarder, my livelihood obviously depends on snow. And for me traveling around the world, chasing the snow, I see the effects of climate change first hand. You can tell the difference. Events in the middle of January have been canceled because of lack of snow. We almost got rained out of our World Championships a couple of years ago in Switzerland. In the middle of January. So it’s really easy for me to talk about it.

How are you feeling about Vancouver 2010? Any butterflies?
Yeah, a little bit of the butterflies, but I’m also just really excited. My experience in Italy in 2006 was so amazing. I love how snowboarding is like no other sport out there—I mean, some of my best friends are my biggest competitors. And we just cheer each other on. It’s a very supportive sport.

What moves are you working on?
A couple of weeks ago, the US team had a training camp at Buttermilk in Aspen. We had a 22-foot halfpipe, which is what the Olympic pipe is going to be, and the conditions were perfect. I worked on a new combination that I had never done before. My signature trick is a Crippler 540, so now I’m rotating an extra 180 degrees. So it’ll be a Crippler 720. So you’re landing switch and going into a cab 720. No other girl has ever done it before. Every year I push myself to do something different—and push the boundaries a little bit more.

Headliners: Adventure in 60 Seconds

A roundup of the latest adventure news, by Mindy Zacharjasz

Polar road trip, check! Two young Brits docked in Sydney after a 26,000 miles sled, sail, and cycle from the geomagnetic North Pole to the magnetic South Pole. The 395-day journey was chock full of drama--a fall through the ice, king-sized storms, and a capsized boat--all shared via video on their very nifty website.

Six lost climbers, rescued from New Zealand’s Mount Cook, also had an Australian homecoming. Finally, some good news after the K2 disaster.

Italy is home for the TransRockies challenge winners, Marzio Deho and Johnny Cattaneo, who biked 600 kilometers and 12,000 vertical meters, beating out the next duo by an impressive 25 minutes.

Cracking hot rocks may be the new energy solution--at least now that it’s got a $10.25 million pick-me-up courtesy of Google. The technology, Enhanced Geothermal Systems, can tap into potential all over the US, while traditional geothermal requires naturally occurring pockets or hot air or water. And Connecticut has come up with its own alternative energy coupon: Free solar panel installation.

But who need alternative energy when you have really, really fast legs? Yep, Usain Bolt runs just about as fast (23 mph) as that snazzy electric car. Even if he doesn’t stand a chance against newer models or the 200 mph English bio-ethanol racer debuting this week, it seems he can still give fuel a literal run for the money.

Olympics 2008: Why Pentathletes Are the Most Beautiful

Text by Kelly Ruane

With the Olympics starting up today (watch the opening ceremonies tonight at 7:30 p.m. EST on NBC), no doubt most of us are eagerly awaiting the primetime crowd pleasers—gymnastics, swimming, running, beach volleyball. But this year, it's possible to follow any number of more obscure sports, as well, on NBCOlympics.com. The newly launched site allows users to stream events on their computers, including many that don't score much of the limelight, like the modern pentathlon. And if there's one event that Olympics fans likely haven't heard of but should, this is it.

The pentathlon is a rigorous daylong event deemed a “true Olympic sport” by the International Olympic Committee. First introduced to the games in 1912, it hails from the archaic period of Ancient Greece, when muscle-bound warriors would compete in five events—running, jumping, spear throwing, discus, and wrestling. Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the International Olympic Committee, once said the Pentathlon “tested a man’s moral qualities as much as his physical resources and skills, producing thereby the ideal complete athlete.”

Back in 708 B.C. when the event was introduced to the Ancient Games in Olympia (and around the same time the Chinese were inventing gunpowder), the champion of the pentathlon was declared victor ludorum, Latin for “winner of the games.” The event was considered the climax of the games, and Aristotle claimed that “a body capable of enduring all efforts, either of the racecourse or of bodily strength . . . this is why the athletes in the Pentathlon are most beautiful.”

In today’s games, the event includes shooting, fencing, swimming, horseback riding, and running. To see who will compete for the U.S. go to pentathlon.teamusa.org and watch the event on August 21 and 22.

To keep track of who’s in the lead check out the easy-to-read medal count at http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/medals.

More Olympics News:
Yahoo.com: China strides onto Olympic stage

Reuters: Heat and the Great Wall await cyclists

Yahoo: Air pollution shrouds Beijing on eve of Olympics

Yahoo: Morgan Hamm out of Olympics with ankle injury

Sports Illustrated: Chinese Islamic extremist group posts video threatening Games

NBColympics.com: The Opening Ceremony: How it works

Who’s Faster? How Olympians Measure Up to the Animal Kingdom

Text by Kelly Ruane

As the Olympic torch draws closer to Beijing, where the beacon will signal the beginning of the ancient games on August 8, athletes from around the world are arriving in China for their final days of preparation. And if this year's Olympic trials were any indicator, we will see some amazing feats of athleticism—and broken world records.

While these records only compare how fast, strong, or agile humans are against each other, imagine if we compared our abilities to the other inhabitants of this big blue marble we call Earth.

The fastest 100-meter freestyle swim by a human was clocked by Alain Bernard of France at 47.5 seconds on March 22 at the European Championships. That time translates to nearly 5 mph, a slow crawl compared to the marine world. According to the Reefquest Center for Shark Research, Bernard could out-swim an eel (2.4 mph) and barely keep up with a sea trout (5.4 mph). But when it comes to the big players, no human on Earth would win a race with the bottlenose dolphin (17 mph), the mako shark (31 mph) or the killer whale (34.5 mph). To check out what speeding along on the back on a seal looks like, watch National Geographic’s Crittercam.

The world record for swiftest 100-meter sprint was set on May 31 by Usain Bolt of Jamaica at 9.72 seconds. Convert that to mileage and this man can run an astounding 23 mph. Pair him against a chicken, squirrel, or black mamba snake and he will win every time; their speeds clock in at 9, 12 and 20 mph respectively. Compare Bolt to a grizzly bear or a house cat (both can run up to 30 mph) and he is left in the dirt. Not to mention a lion (50 mph) or a cheetah (70 mph).

But according to scientists at the University of Manchester, who have calculated the running speed of the Tyrannosaurus Rex at 18 mph, Bolt could outrun the 6.6-ton megabeast. To find out more land animals speeds.

Javier Sotomayor of Cuba is the world’s highest jumper with a lofty 8-feet leap in 1993. If Sotomayor were 6 feet tall, his jump would equate to 1.3 times his height, whereas the spittlebug (the world’s greatest jumper) can jump 100 times its height, or 28 inches. That’s equivalent to a human jumping over a 690-foot building. Want to learn more about the spittlebug?

But just when it seems that humans can’t compete with the rest of the animal kingdom, just remember: we have planes, trains and automobiles that can take us faster and higher than any animal alive.