Feb. 22, 2006 - Issue #540: Our Mercury

Fall Lines

Five Olympic skiers, four sets of skis

Golden Girl is Coming Home Early

Jennifer Heil, the freestyle skier who grabbed Canada’s first gold medal in Torino, is coming home early. At first she had planned to stick around, cheer on Canada and attend the closing ceremonies, but one week of goodwill has tired her out.

She probably had a good chance of being the flag bearer at the closing ceremonies—at least until Cindy Klassen took three medals in skating.

Spruce Grove, get ready to party, because Heil should be hitting town even as this story hits the newsstands.
Man of Mystery Wins Moguls Gold

Last weekend, Dale Begg-Smith, once a Canadian but now an Australian, won the Olympic mogul competition. All we know is that he’s a millionaire, drives a Lamborghini and skis really well.

Apparently Begg-Smith’s money comes from an internet ad-tracking business that he doesn’t want to name or discuss, but it’s funded his last six years of training.

He claims he hasn’t had a falling out with Canada’s olympic committee, but when you’re rich and you know how to ski, you probably aren’t too crazy about following the regulations of an established winter sporting nation.

Competition to make the Australian team probably wasn’t too difficult.


Skier doesn’t like authority

After a disappointing finish in the Super-G race, French skier Pierre-Emmanuel Dalcin stopped and gave the finger to the panel of judges.

Caught on international TV and in front of thousands, he was fined the maximum penalty of US$3 800 for making an obscene gesture.

Dalcin was upset because in the morning, he was leading the pack after 17 racers had completed, but race officials stopped the race because of bad weather.

By late afternoon the weather improved and all racers competed again. Dalcin was unable to repeat his morning performance and as a result sent a message to the judges.


Painful Super-G for Canada’s Guay

One of our premier alpine skiers really had a tough day on the slopes. First-time Olympian Erik Guay had never skied the course at Sestriere—training was cancelled because of heavy snow, so he had to go in blind.

Team doctors had to shoot his knee up with painkillers in the morning, then repeat the process after the race was delayed for several hours.

Like a crazy Canuck, Guay screamed down the hill, only to be knocked off the podium by one-tenth of a second.

Canada’s alpine spokesperson commented that it was an unbelievable effort but “unfortunately it’s all about medals.” That may be true as far as the standings go, but we’re still proud of him.


New sport: Ski Jumping Sans Skis

Viewers watching Olympic coverage over the weekend witnessed a ski jumper taking an exceptionally strange air.

As Canadian aerialist Jeff Bean launched off the ramp during training, his skis left his feet. The ski-less Bean continued to perform a version of the stunt he was practicing, twisting and somersaulting in the air before hitting the ground boots- and butt-first.

Cameras were setting up their angles and happened to film it. The jump won’t impact the standings, and Bean walked away uninjured but a little sore. He is in the running, however, for the Understatement of the Games Award, telling Ski Press, “it’s not normal to see a jumper in the air without his skis.” V

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