Olympics: 2022 Beijing Olympics

[nameless1]

I think curling isn't very hard to learn and get into, but its definitely a sport that's hard to be great at and for a team to beat others consistently. So yeah you can learn how to play and do so decently, but to beat the best teams consistently and stay on top? That's where the best teams are seperated from the good/average ones.

Oh I agree.
Again...
I do not mean to put anyone down...
And these are all some of the best in the world.

However...
It is is clear the world caught up.
The common denominator?
Every team has a coach now...
And the improvement is often drastic.
Compared to other sports...
It might be pretty cost effective to create a world-class team.

 

[nameless1]

Gold in women's skicross!

Naslund was great throughout the event.
She pretty much led from start to finish.

 

[GQS]

Oh I agree.
Again...
I do not mean to put anyone down...
And these are all some of the best in the world.

However...
It is is clear the world caught up.
The common denominator?
Every team has a coach now...
And the improvement is often drastic.
Compared to other sports...
It might be pretty cost effective to create a world-class team.

Well not sure if its that easy to create a world-class team. Maybe a good team, but a top team? That still takes alot of work and also players with some talent.

 

[nameless1]

Well not sure if its that easy to create a world-class team. Maybe a good team, but a top team? That still takes alot of work and also players with some talent.

No doubt.
They also need to spend years together to get that chemistry right.

However...
It is probably more cost effective compared to other sports.
The infrastructure cost does not seem to be a major burden...
And the other main cost is a coach...
Which seems to be plentiful.

 

[GQS]

No doubt.
They also need to spend years together to get that chemistry right.

However...
It is probably more cost effective compared to other sports.
The infrastructure cost does not seem to be a major burden...
And the other main cost is a coach...
Which seems to be plentiful.

I'd disagree about infrastructure. It takes a fair bit to build a curling rink and especially to maintain a good sheet of ice for players to play on. Its not like building a basketball court where once you're done, the amount of maintainance is relatively little.

 

[Cloned]

Oh I agree.
Again...
I do not mean to put anyone down...
And these are all some of the best in the world.

However...
It is is clear the world caught up.
The common denominator?
Every team has a coach now...
And the improvement is often drastic.
Compared to other sports...
It might be pretty cost effective to create a world-class team.

The world may have caught up but Canada also rarely sends its actual best or most in-form rink to the Olympics. They need to revamp their selection process.

Right now they’re sending a rink who got hottest over a three week period a few months before the Olympics.

 

[nameless1]

I'd disagree about infrastructure. It takes a fair bit to build a curling rink and especially to maintain a good sheet of ice for players to play on. Its not like building a basketball court where once you're done, the amount of maintainance is relatively little.

Fair enough.
I get your point...
But I still think curling...
Compared to skiing and snowboarding...
Likely cost less.
For one thing...
One can build the facility in the city...
And not in the middle of nowhere.
China created an artificial ski hill in Sichuan province...
One of the hottest places in China...
For the freestyle skiers and boarders...
But it still needs a ski resort to do it.

If I remember correctly...
For the Sochi Olympics...
Norway spent a million dollars just on cross-country ski wax research...
And it caused a scandal when the team failed to perform on an elite level.
With 3 medals on the line now...
Countries probably see curling as a better investment compared to everything else.

 

[nameless1]

The world may have caught up but Canada also rarely sends its actual best or most in-form rink to the Olympics. They need to revamp their selection process.

Right now they’re sending a rink who got hottest over a three week period a few months before the Olympics.

Jones got in too because of a mistake by her opponent...
I believe.

If I remember correctly...
Gushue came out of nowhere to represent Canada in 2006...
Because he got hot at the right time...
And he won a gold medal.

It is what it is.
Sometimes it works...
Sometimes it does not.

 

[Cloned]

Jones got in too because of a mistake by her opponent...
I believe.

If I remember correctly...
Gushue came out of nowhere to represent Canada in 2006...
Because he got hot at the right time...
And he won a gold medal.

It is what it is.
Sometimes it works...
Sometimes it does not.

I think it’s inconsistent and results in too many valleys.

 

[Havre]

The Combined relay shapes up to be quite the competition.

Yeah. Very pleased with how the ski jumping went for Norway. Especially without Riiber.

Historically this would have been an easy win for Norway as we were always a lot better on the cross country part (especially in the really old days 90s etc.), but these days it is more open. And without Riiber it isn't obvious that we would win the sprint either.

I think the order might be important for the cross-country. If Graabak is within range for the last stage I would think Norway got a great chance (even if the relay is different than the normal cross country), but that is not certain. I'm sure Germany will try to lose Norway early - and they might very well succeed.

 

[nameless1]

I think it’s inconsistent and results in too many valleys.

Still...
What is the alternative?
At least Canada do have multiple world class rinks.

 

[Cloned]

Still...
What is the alternative?
At least Canada do have multiple world class rinks.

It’s a hollow victory of sorts. I don’t expect golds every time but the ups and downs are way too far apart. Gold one year then crash out of the round robin the next.

 

[nameless1]

It’s a hollow victory of sorts. I don’t expect golds every time but the ups and downs are way too far apart. Gold one year then crash out of the round robin the next.

Yeah...
I agree with you on that.
There is just no other alternative though.
The best team in the world that wins everything can easily go cold for the Olympics...
And still crush out.
It is what it is.

At least the curling world has a more competitive scene now.
That can only be good.

 

[Cloned]

Yeah...
I agree with you on that.
There is just no other alternative though.
The best team in the world that wins everything can easily go cold for the Olympics...
And still crush out.
It is what it is.

At least the curling world has a more competitive scene now.
That can only be good.

I think we can do better, or at least get more consistent.

 

[Eisen]

And Japan is still there. Nice

 

[Eisen]

Yeah. Very pleased with how the ski jumping went for Norway. Especially without Riiber.

Historically this would have been an easy win for Norway as we were always a lot better on the cross country part (especially in the really old days 90s etc.), but these days it is more open. And without Riiber it isn't obvious that we would win the sprint either.

I think the order might be important for the cross-country. If Graabak is within range for the last stage I would think Norway got a great chance (even if the relay is different than the normal cross country), but that is not certain. I'm sure Germany will try to lose Norway early - and they might very well succeed.

90s are really old days? Wtf? Vik was a much better jumper than skier, though, and be was among the best at that time.

 

[Eisen]

Frenzel looks like the weak link. Perhaps it's still the corona effect. Perhaps Rydzek would havebeen the better choice. Dang.

 

[Eisen]

Frenzel is done for.,.. I fear that's it for a medal.

 

[Oberyn Martell]

What did the german coaches see that they start Frenzel. Big mistake wow

 

[Havre]

90s are really old days? Wtf? Vik was a much better jumper than skier, though, and be was among the best at that time.

Brothers Elden etc. Vik was probably the first among the top who was a good ski jumper.

Quite recently as well guys like Moan were much much better at cross country.

But it is a bit different now. Graabak is a bit more old school I guess, but he isn’t bad at ski jumping.

 

[Havre]

Frenzel got it much the same way as Riiber.

 

[Eisen]

What did the german coaches see that they start Frenzel. Big mistake wow

I donno. I trust Weinbuch, though. Rydzek didn't look too good on the skis, either. Perhaps he tried a desperation move for gold.

 

[Eisen]

Seems like the group has given up gold and goes for the rest of the medals. Norway is through.

 

[Eisen]

Double post

 

[Oberyn Martell]

I donno. I trust Weinbuch, though. Rydzek didn't look too good on the skis, either. Perhaps he tried a desperation move for gold.

Definitely but german tv and the coaches said his values and his form is great. Really didn't look like it