Even while here in warm & rainy South Florida, I'm already thinking cool thoughts about our talented U.S. Olympic team competing in Sochi, Russia in February, as these great WSJ vids shows us all how the Moguls, Bobsled and Biathlon teams practice without snow or ice at Lake Placid. Plus, a classic iJustine video of our favorite vlogger in Norway climbing a glacier. Cool thoughts, indeed!: @USOlympic, #GoTeamUSA, @JeremyCota, @eamslider24, @tb_burke, @Lowellcbailey, @ijustine, @NBCOlympics
WSJDigitalNetwork YouTube Channel video: Winter Olympics Training Without Snow: Moguls. "For Olympics-bound freestyle skiers, snow-free summer months don't mean a break from training. WSJ visited the Olympic Training Facility in Lake Placid, New York, where skiers utilized three ramps and a deep swimming pool to prep for Sochi. Freestyle moguls skier Jeremy Cota explains how the water training works." Uploaded October 7, 2013. http://youtu.be/aIVyxtpH_Kg
@KeatingNick @UberFacts I assume there are even more additional benefits from eating pizza 3 times a week. #healthylifestyle
— Jeremy Cota (@JeremyCota) April 29, 2013
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/cota3090/
WSJDigitalNetwork YouTube Channel video: Winter Olympics Training Without Snow: Bobsled. U.S. bronze medalist Elana Meyers explains how the dry bobsled training works at the Olympic Training Facility in Lake Placid. Uploaded October 7, 2013.
http://youtu.be/Ex-U79MX5PA
“@TeamTianna: @USBSF @EmilyAzevedo @KatieEberling better look out I've got a little bobsledder coming! pic.twitter.com/MUgzR9p561” so adorable
— Elana Meyers (@eamslider24) October 3, 2013
Solid first day in the @bmwusa sled...learned a lot about the sled very single trip! Now for a sled name- any suggestions?
— Elana Meyers (@eamslider24) October 3, 2013
Excited to drive this ultimate driving machine tomorrow on ice! @BMWUSA @USBSF pic.twitter.com/rSc9M6CdIo
— Elana Meyers (@eamslider24) October 2, 2013
Awesome fall day in Lake Placid and riding around in this thanks to @BMWUSA sponsorship of @USBSF Thank you BMW! pic.twitter.com/qPT3iRJnDa
— Elana Meyers (@eamslider24) October 2, 2013
More from the @USOlympic #MediaSummit ...having a blast! pic.twitter.com/QyKSUYzB8r
— Elana Meyers (@eamslider24) September 30, 2013
“@tmodlin: Thx 2 our friends @BMWUSA - @eamslider24 @nrarmour: BMW's new sled pic.twitter.com/fK5PGqzCbu"”can't wait to get in it this wk
— Elana Meyers (@eamslider24) September 30, 2013
“@Sochi2014: Sliding center “Sanki” right now Freezing olympic track, preparing for training weeks pic.twitter.com/8mMEtYOVi3” I'll be here soon
— Elana Meyers (@eamslider24) September 25, 2013
Elana's blog: http://www.elanameyers.blogspot.com/
WSJDigitalNetwork YouTube Channel video: Winter Olympics Training Without Snow: Biathlon. "The biathlon combines long-distance cross country skiing with precise .22 caliber target shooting. But for the U.S. Biathlon Team, Olympic training can't stop for the summer. WSJ video spent time with biathletes Tim Burke and Lowell Bailey to learn how they train for the Olympics when there is no snow in sight."
Uploaded October 3, 2013. http://youtu.be/5nFeYC0neT4
A perfect morning for training at the Ruhpolding biathlon stadium! pic.twitter.com/sanEUyprYU
— Tim Burke (@tb_burke) August 22, 2013
Good to see you again Bavaria! #biathlon #trainingcamp pic.twitter.com/FcT6PfTHfG
— Lowellcbailey (@Lowellcbailey) August 19, 2013
A great day for a mt. Bike ride in Lake Placid! #traininglife pic.twitter.com/S2kupJny5o
— Tim Burke (@tb_burke) July 27, 2013
Nothing says "summer in LP" like treadmill intervals at 80 degrees! #biathlon #summertime @USBiathlon pic.twitter.com/Jts03iYwVe
— Lowellcbailey (@Lowellcbailey) July 17, 2013
My office for the morning. #thunderstorms pic.twitter.com/jFE4oYJ9PX
— Tim Burke (@tb_burke) June 28, 2013
Sochi biathlon stadium! pic.twitter.com/mUUO4x0l0q
— Lowellcbailey (@Lowellcbailey) March 5, 2013
This is what treadmill training looks like for a #TeamUSA Nordic combined athlete #MediaSummit https://t.co/g8WWFfb2Sc
— US Olympic Team (@USOlympic) October 1, 2013
Just caught up with @AshleySkis in the @RalphLauren showroom @USOlympic #MediaSummit pic.twitter.com/JnO0cIYn5H
— NBCOlympics (@NBCOlympics) October 1, 2013
The 2014 #TeamUSA hockey jersey features Flywire technology, recycled polyester, and inside the neckline printing... pic.twitter.com/w9S62uz1cL
— NBCOlympics (@NBCOlympics) September 30, 2013
Meanwhile, over in Germany, they've got some major fashion issues to deal with for the next four months...
The German Olympic team uniforms were unveiled yesterday: http://t.co/EM6JJy0fBx What do we think? pic.twitter.com/N1lBlAZhSy
— NBCOlympics (@NBCOlympics) October 2, 2013
Not even a German figure skater who looked like Elisha Cuthbert could look good wearing this gear, even with a Gold Medal around her neck.
And as everyone has seen for themselves the past few months, the paranoid, delusional and dis-connected people that run the Russian government these days are totally playing to old stereotypes and outsider's worst fears about the New Russian by seeming to do everything in their power to create a negative vibe around the Winter Olympics months in advance for athletes, officials, spectators and TV viewers.
Teaser Alert: NOT too many Americans are going to Sochi in February.
The official welcome for the #Sochi2014 Olympic Flame is taken place on Red Square in #Moscow #torchrelay pic.twitter.com/TrrrRIgd5c
— Sochi 2014 (@Sochi2014) October 6, 2013
The Olympic Flame going out twice this past week is just part of the wave of bad karma for the Russians in Sochi. Plus, we're getting all their hard workers:
Ahead of Sochi, Former Russian Olympians become US citizens
Michele Richinick, @mrich1201 10:47 PM on 08/16/2013
http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/08/16/months-before-winter-games-fmr-russian-olympians-become-us-citizens/
The Guardian
Russia to monitor 'all communications' at Winter Olympics in Sochi
Exclusive: Investigation uncovers FSB surveillance system – branded 'Prism on steroids' – to listen to all athletes and visitors
Shaun Walker in Moscow The Guardian,
Sunday 6 October 2013 10.31 EDT
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/06/russia-monitor-communications-sochi-winter-olympics
Speaking of cool thoughts and cool doings far from the sub-tropical heat and humidity of South Florida, with three more weeks to go in the 2013 Atlantic Hurricane season, here's a classic video set in Norway featuring iJustine, Justine Ezarik, cited and featured in so many blog posts here over the past six years, as well as lots of permanent 'anchors' on the blog for years, including this video.
iJustine YouTube Channel video: EPIC GLACIER HIKE! (In Norway). Uploaded October 27, 2011. http://youtu.be/pD0xXf9-_lI
Clips that didn't make final cut but worth seeing are at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5JAIrd8IFI and a good photo, too: http://followgram.me/i/276131095
Of all of her MANY videos, the ones she filmed in Norway in 2011 are my favorite, with this one being the best of them.
While I realize that these sort of opportunities don't present themselves every week or month, compared to the tech exhibits/forums she's so frequently at, I wish that Justine could make more vids like this one showing her willing to go outside of her own comfort zone, because to me, she never seems more honest & appealing than when she's in these sorts of situations. #Norge
And why-oh-why isn't she and one of her sisters participating on CBS' The Amazing Race?
I'm convinced she'd be great and become a real breakout media star if she went more than a 4-5 weeks without being eliminated.
Just saying...
