Olympics with a Gorb, the Final Frontier

We decide against attempting the bus system when we finally reach downtown Vancouver. Our shoulders are aching, we're starving and parched, so settle in at a street side cafe (taking up nearly the entire place with our "luggage") and make a weak attempt at eating healthy and re-hydrating. Erin heads outside and a friendly doorman hails us a taxi, whom takes us out of the hustle and bustle of the Vancity to the quiet and quaint Kitsilano.

Anne-Marie, a retired alpine ski racer whom recently graduated from UBC with a degree in Engineering and currently works with RBC as an Athlete Ambassador (I got tired just writing that!) is our host for the next two nights...and we have beds! And a TV. And Internet. It's like paradise. On the table we find a piece of paper listing all of the Olympic broadcasting channels, it IS paradise! We tune in and hunker down on the couches...Beep. Beep. The texts are coming in. It takes everything we have left in us to get ready and meet the crew at...the German House? All righty then. Schnitzel and beer it is!

Erin and I successfully maneuver the bus system and arrive without gong, it's an Olympic miracle! We also manage to get in without waiting in line. Weird. It's all going a little too smoothly, but we roll with it. We find Anne-Marie and friends, and instantly I recognize Pierre-Alexandre Rousseau and I brag to Erin. Why isn't she impressed? Some rock guys are doing a sound check and I'm excited, anticipating some great band to make an appearance. So far we've managed to randomly catch bands like Stars, and I'm guessing this might be something of the sort.

After a couple of beer I forget all about the music, until it happens. The same rocker dudes come out wearing...what ARE they wearing?! And then they start playing a German Oom-pah...but it's a Johnny Cash cover. I have never laughed so hard, and unfortunately I am sitting directly in front of the stage. Sorry band members! (Don't they know I'm a Gorb?)

The new age rock Oom-pah band is getting old so we decide to head for much needed dinner, not surprisingly sushi. Starving, we sit and order nearly everything on the menu. Saki and beer - here we go, here we go again! Not so much. Erin and I are keeping our heads from falling onto our rolls, especially as we seem to be the only non-French speaking individuals (well, we can manage but not to Quebecois standards and the sake is only making us understand less and them speak faster). We manage to sneak away before midnight and pass out in our beds. Tomorrow is an early day, the bus to Cypress leaves at 7am.

Anne-Marie lets us drive her Subaru to Capilano University, where we are meeting Miriam, another Fernie girl. Her boyfriend, Dave Ellis, has been involved with the Canada Ski Cross team since its inception as the High Performance Director and scored us tickets (thanks Dave). We get into the car and a light is on. Oh, we're out of gas. Erin assures me we're fine, she had the same vehicle and it has a great reserve tank. Alrighty then! We make it on time, only stopping for directions once, meet Miriam and buckle down for the bus ride up to Cypress (where supposedly we met and spoke with Davey Barr?). Then it's a walk up to the base. We get there, it's 8:30am and we find out the trials, yes that's right trials, begin at 10:30am. What? There is no where to hang, and nearly 200 stairs looming before us to our seats. And it's cold. Hmmm. We're not in Whistler anymore.

The two hours pass by, and we huddle to watch the trials, which consists of each of the 34 women competitors running the course to get a time on their own, which is then used to put them into heats. Only 32 make it, and I feel so bad for those other two girls!

We have another 1.5 hours until the heats, but at least it's a respectable drinking hour (after 11). When the heats begin, it's fast and furious and so exciting to watch, the snow and rain are forgotten and we're on our feat! Unfortunately only one Canadian makes it to the finals, but fortunately she wins - GOLD for Canada! Ashleigh McIvor does it and we can see Ellis fist pumping in excitement at the gates.

We're all so elated, but Erin and I are already thinking "hockey" as Canada is about to play Germany in the qualifier. We get the details on the ski cross party that evening, and then boot it down to the car (after the stairs, walk, and bus ride - not complaining, it's the only exercise we've had all week). We should get gas. Fortunately we find a gas station, where we can buy snacks, and a liquor store right next to one another. It's all about time management! The hockey party has been moved to Anne Marie's as they knew we would be late arriving.

We burst in to a packed apartment, all wet and freezing from our day in the rain and snow, and it's game time. Anne-Marie accosts us, you got gas before you drove out there right? No...we discover she had already used the reserve and basically we were flying on fumes. Lucky, lucky Gorb.

Canada not surprisingly kicks ass, and we head off for dinner. Not sushi? Yes! We head to a place called Salt in Blood Valley (and if you've been there you know why) just blocks from the ski cross party in Gas Town. Salt is comparable to picnic cafe and social in Fernie, so we enjoy nice wine, cheese and appies and great English conversation.

We arrive at the do and are definitely not in Whistler anymore - it's a pretty shi shi club and we have to use Em's title to get in. The place is packed, and the Gorb in me a little freaked out. Names like Witherspoon and Delbosco are flying around so I keep to my Fernie posse and brewsky. So exhausted at this point, I sit and sip my beer and make no effort at conversation, taking in the crowd. Emily can't seem to get away, people are chatting her up left and right, not surprisingly as the Alpine and Ski Cross team have a lot of crossovers.

At the end of the evening, just before leaving, I feel a tap on my shoulder and I get a surprise. Gary, a long time Fernie resident, somehow has made it into the party...but he can't tell me how because he's so tipsy he can't speak! Yes, highlight of the night.

That night we sleep well, wake up and watch the Olympics and then head to the airport. We manage to catch the first period of the Canada vs. Russia hockey game, and can't believe we will miss the remainder! Suddenly we're sad to be leaving, but the flight is one of the best we've ever been on as the pilot is personally updating us with hockey news...like our own commentator. Only in Canada.

Home. Safe and sound. Exhausted. And completely broke. Erin and I give one another hugs and probably sleep the longest we have in a long time. We finish off the Olympics watching many events together, and texting during other events as we know the other is tuned in. Such Olympic nerds. After Canada beats the US in hockey, I tell her in secrecy that I've purchased the 2010 Olympic Game highlights on video and her face lights up. She was going to buy it too! We revel in our nerdiness (me in my gorbiness) and over time our Olympic withdrawal recedes.

2010 Olympics - what a trip, and what an event for all of Canada. Experiencing the hockey final among friends at the Griz Bar is something I'll remember always. Everyone's faces so genuinely thrilled when Crosby scores the winning goal in sudden death overtime, jumping and hugging and high fiving and texting. And then watching as CTV scans streets across Canada, knowing that thousands upon thousands of Canadians are doing the exact same thing at the exact same time for the exact same reason...it felt pretty unreal.

Em's ski racing career is coming to a close this weekend in Germany with the Super G on the 12th and the Team event on the 14th! Nationals are set to take place in Nakiska this year. Check back for more info on that event, coming soon.

Picture by Dave Hawrys