<p>Anybody see that 15 year old Russian girl skater? That spin she did at the end was absolutely amazing. </p>
<p>The women’s U.S. hockey team won their first game today and I found it very interesting. I have never watched a women’s game before and it was quite fun to watch. I believe they played Finland who had n amazing goalie. U.S. had like over 40 goal shots on her and they scored 3 times. She is a very tough goalie to score on apparently. Kudos to the American women!</p>
<p>razorsharp, yes, we saw her. She’s wonderful.</p>
<p>The Canadian ladies won their first hockey game today, too. This has got to be one of the most lopsided events in the winter games. </p>
<p>LasMa, I watched the skating this morning, too. Didn’t really enjoy the commentators this morning, though. I wish Tracy Wilson could do it all!</p>
<p>I watched the young Russian skater, and did admire her spins, but I find these young girls with their undeveloped bodies and stick-like limbs to be nowhere near as appealing as the more mature skaters (like the Italian girl who followed her), who bring grace, elegance and artistry to their performances, elements that a 15 year old just hasn’t had time to develop. I feel the same way when I watch womens’ gymnastic competitions and compare the teens to the adults. </p>
<p>On another note, why is it that in their interviews, even immediately post competing, the snowboarders always seem high as a kite?</p>
<p>They just competed. I’d be high as a kite, too. </p>
<p>after those death defying jumps with all that adrenaline pumping they are on a natural high for sure</p>
<p>I’m really surprised how many figure skaters from all the different countries actually train in the Metro Detroit area. I had no idea. The Italian and Japanese pairs skaters both train here. Color me surprised 
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<p>2016, I used to skate with Danielle & Steve Hartsell in the metro Detroit area. They trained at the place I skated when I was little and they used to volunteer to work with the younger skaters. I was really sad when she retired. </p>
<p>I’ve watched women’s hockey before… from my left defense position </p>
<p>For a goalie, 40 shots and 37 saves is good, but at the top level it’s not an extraordinary goaltending performance. An extraordinary performance would be 40 shots and no goals. In the men’s field, we’ll probably see some shutouts. The women’s field is so lopsided that any shutouts not involving shutting out the Americans or the Canadians are not of particular note.</p>
<p>I also preferred Carolina Kostner’s skating in the short program today, MommaJ. (She was the Italian skater you liked.) Besides being more complete, her jumps actually get way off the ice – Lipnitskaya’s jumps are tiny and close to the ground, though her spins are remarkable. </p>
<p>NBC’s coverage seems to have one major improvement so far over the past several Olympics: they’re actually showing a full chunk of a competition rather than showing two skaters, skipping to some random XC even, back to some tour around the host city, something to do with downhill practice, and then back again for another couple of skaters. Tonight we got a full segment of the slopestyle prelims, then the full segment of the Team figure skating, then slopestyle finals, then another full segment of the Team event. Getting rid of Scott Hamilton would be the next improvement. (Though the commentator they had for slopestyle was pretty close to useless. Other than obvious errors, he didn’t seem to have any ability to explain what made one run better than another.)</p>
<p>The Russian skaters seem to be getting a home field advantage in the judging. I too loved the Italian woman skater, and took quite a dislike to the American. I would have liked to hear a little more humility from her, as well as maybe an apology to the woman who beat her in the Olympic trials but was left off the team. Moreover her skating was dull and insipid. </p>
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<p>And this is why I found this laughable when Americans were offended when Russians suggested that Tara Lipinski was just a jumping machine, and not really artistic skater. </p>
<p>Of course Tara Lipinski loved Lipnitskaya in her commentary. Color me surprised.</p>
<p>Lipnitskaya does have potential to develop into very artistic skater. And I felt she was very good artistically for a 15 year old.</p>
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<p>US championships are not try outs for Olympics. The committee looks at the last two years performance, skater reputation, etc. Wagner was more consistent and she is much higher ranked then Nagasu.</p>
<p>Besides, the reason why US has 3 spots in the Olympics is Ashley Wagner (and Gracie Gold) performance in the last world championship. Without Wagner, Nagasu would not have a chance to compete for third spot anyway.</p>
<p>All is fair in love and war. Plushenko is a perfect example. He did nothing to help Russian team get more than one spot in the games and then performed behind closed door to get the only spot on men’s team.</p>
<p>P.S. I did not like Wagner skating either, but I was never inspired by Nagasu’s skating either.</p>
<p>Hilar tweet
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<p><a href=“http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/02/04/journalists-at-sochi-are-live-tweeting-their-hilarious-and-gross-hotel-experiences/”>http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/02/04/journalists-at-sochi-are-live-tweeting-their-hilarious-and-gross-hotel-experiences/</a></p>
<p>Does anyone know where there is a video of the skaters performances? Cants seem to find…</p>
<p>I don’t know why, I just can’t seem to get “into” these Olympics. I’ll keep trying but so far, </p>
<ol>
<li> At the opening ceremonies, the US team looked like they just came from an Ugly Sweater party.</li>
<li> Everyone on the snowboard team reminds me of Jeff Spicoli.</li>
</ol>
<p>@jym626,</p>
<p>I have xfinity on demand, and I watched team competition on it. The only problem that while they had good coverage of ladies and ice dance, decent coverage of pairs, they only showed Plushenko and Abbott. </p>
<p>I really love how the events are covered: uninterapted coverage of one competition discipline per show.</p>
<p>AH, thanks lerkin. Is the on demand free? I have on demand but I am not willing to give Comcast one more red cent than I have to 
</p>
<p>I don’t know if you have to specifically pay for on-demand. But, if the channel is included in your package then that channel’s offerings are free. Since in theory all packages include nbc, Olympics coverage is free. You will know if something is not free. You will be asked to confirm payment.</p>
<p>Fang, I’m not a fan of the American skater either (not Gracie, the other one, her name escapes me right now). I watched her in Nationals a couple of weeks ago, and she seems to have a sense of entitlement. Her skating yesterday was competent, but nothing special compared to some of the others. </p>
<p>ETA – I could watch David & White all day long.</p>
<p>@emeraldkity4, that is very funny. </p>
<p>By the way, I grew up in former Soviet Union and traveled to Sochi and all over the country with my family. Back then, while it was not unusual not to have hot water, I never encountered having to dispose toilet paper in basket or use yellow water. This is unacceptable even by russian standards.</p>
<p>P.s. Every summer we would have hot water disconnected for at least a month (for “maintainence”). One of many joys of growing up behind iron curtain.</p>