Winter Games Day -17

[joggerjayne]

Jolly news, today.

Classical violinist Vanessa Mae is skiing for Thailand at the Games.

Yes, really.

Her father is Thai, so she is eligible to represent Thailand. Countries which don't have a skier in the Top 500 in the world are allowed to enter a competitor if they meet a certain qualifying criteria ... like they own their own ski boots, or something.

So Vanessa is skiing for Thailand. She will be known by her father's surname. So, when you see Vanessa Vanakorn snow ploughing down the Alpine Downhill run ... that will be Vanessa Mae.

How jolly is that!

It's like the Calgary Jamaican bobsleigh team all over again.

[albaqwerty]

I heard yesterday that the Jamaican Bobsled Team are $50,00 short to be able to compete, shame.

Hopefully, plenty of time for someone to donate.

[joggerjayne]

Lets have a whip round.

[Maydup]

I read that she's putting her musical career on ice... :-)

Way to go Vanessa,

[joggerjayne]

Here's someone really cool.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=james+woods+freestyle+skier&client=safari&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=oR_eUp-QCIeihgefcg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAA&biw=1024&bih=672#facrc=_&;imgrc=lqf563dzeOJh3M%253A%3Bbja6QFQB9Q10eM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fnews.bbcimg.co.uk%252Fmedia%252Fimages%252F63743000%252Fpng%252F_63743230_jameswoodssportsdaystill.png%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.bbc.co.uk%252Fsport%252F0%252Fwinter-sports%252F20104797%3B640%3B360

(switches to Yorkshire voice)

Ee oop, this lad 'ere is James Woods.

Okay, I can't keep that up. Definitely one of the coolest dudes in the Games, James, from Sheffield is skiing in the Slopestyle event. That's where they ski over boxes, and down rails, like skate boarders do. You have to love James's hair.

James is good. Like, he's really, really good. He's a serious prospect for a medal.

This is the first time that Slopestyle has been an official Olympic event. Could we take the inaugural Gold?

Come on Team GB

Come on JAMES WOODS

[joggerjayne]

Ohhhh, maydup ... very good.

[albaqwerty]

that should have read fifty thousand, oops.

lol Maydup.

[joggerjayne]

Well, I guessed it was fifty thou, alba.

If they were looking for fifty dollars, I'd have sent them a cheque.

[mushroom25]

saw yesterday that the race chemmy needed to guarantee qualification was cancelled. is she going to have her name announced tomorrow, do you think?

[Maydup]

Loving your daily info-bites JJ. It'll be great to know who to cheer home.

[albaqwerty]

:-D

Isn't James Woods an American actor? I liked him in Shark.

[joggerjayne]

Hey, mushers. Yes, that was a blow. I think Chemmy is a reasonable cert for selection. After all she's been through (see post for Day -18) I think they wouldn't dare not select her. There would be an uproar. It would be like not picking Jessica Ennis.

[joggerjayne]

Oh, thank you, maydup.

:0)

[joggerjayne]

No, not THAT James Woods, alba.

If you Google James Woods, the actor comes up first. That might all change if a James wins a Slopestyle Gold.

[sandyRoe]

Are these the Winter Games that are going to be held in a Russian war zone?

[joggerjayne]

Those are the ones, sandy.

Yes, the 2014 Games should have been awarded to Salzburg, who had the most credible bid by a country mile. But ...

So, anyway. Here we are.

[Cloverjo]

I hadn't seen these posts before today. Great fun and interesting, JJ.
I'm looking forward to the W Olympics, too. I agree with you about Chemmy not being funded. It is crazy and unfair.
It looks like we have a good chance in the skeleton again. A girl from Bath, can't remember her name right now.

[joggerjayne]

Hi, cloverjo.

Our two women's Skeleton racers are Shelley Rudman and Lizzy Yarnold.

Lizzy is the one from Bath.

Lizzy Yarlnold just sounds like a West Country sort of name.

[joggerjayne]

Well, as we are on he subject of Slopestyle ...

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=katie+summerhayes&client=safari&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&;sa=X&ei=JiveUomzEbPQ7AaH0oGwBw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAA&biw=1024&bih=672#facrc=_&imgrc=AiStEYqN7c_JdM%253A%3BzEP-p3aqQ_cGuM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fi.telegraph.co.uk%252Fmultimedia%252Farchive%252F02767%252Fkatie_2767065b.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%252Ftravel%252Fsnowandski%252Ffeatures%252Fski-interviews%252F10516640%252FKatie-Summerhayes-interview-2014-Winter-Olympics.html%3B620%3B387

This is Katie Summerhayes, our top Women's Slopestyle skier. Like James Woods, she comes from Sheffield.

Katie has just won a fantastic Silver in the World Cup event in Gstaad ... one of the jolliest little towns in the whole of the Alps.

Another serious medal prospect.

Katie is also the Team GB member whose name I would most like to have. How cool would it be to be called Katie Summerhayes.