Olympic skiing " a la " NASCAR?

[kenvlach]

I turned on NBC to watch some of the Olympics, & found that Daytona 500 qualifying had bumped the Olympics to the MSNBC & USA channels.

Qualifying is boring -- one car at a time on an oval track [or worse, sometimes the motor doesn't start]. Also, it lacks immediacy, you don't know whether someone might get a better time later. Races are far more interesting as the drivers try freeway tactics on each other.

Then, I realized that the weakness of the Olympic Alpine skiing (aka 'downhill') as a spectator event is that it resembles NASCAR qualifying rather than the actual racing. Why not have the different skiers compete directly on the race course, instead of against the clock? Maybe allow cross-checking & use of poles. My idea of interesting skiing is that in For Your Eyes Only, when Roger Moore as 007 was escaping the armed East Germans (or whoever). Seems like great sport. Any comments from the racers & fans here?

 

[strokersix]

I find the short track speed skating very exciting to watch for that reason.

 

[mloew]

strokersix,

What reason, escaping from East Germans? ;-)


Best regards,

Matthew Ian Loew


Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[dcroasmu]

Have you ever seen the "boardercross" or "ski-cross" events at the x-games? Boardercross is actually an event at the olympics this year. Basically, 4-6 riders at a time on a downhill course featuring jumps and other obstacles. Usually the top few rider from each heat advance in a tournemant format. Much more exciting than the mainstream downhill events.

 

[kenvlach]

Thanks.
For realism, call it 'bordercross' and make it somewhat of a relay. At the start, Canacian pharmacists would hand knapsacks of prescribed medications to the bordercrossers, who would traverse a southward course & attempt delivery to US senior citizens and uninsured workers. Ambushes along the way would be set by 'compassionate conservatives,' e.g., lobbyists, corrupt politicians, businesses aiming to reduce the legacy burden. First place: a Nobel Prize!

Might become as famous as the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, which originated as a relay to carry diptheria serum to Nome Alaska in 1925.

 

[Peter7307]

Was that the 007 movie where he escapes in a cello?
Now THAT would make the Olympics more interesting!
Personally I like the luge...flat out on a skate a little larger then a couple of phone books side by side.
Pretty devestating when it all goes wrong though!