Another Day in Paradise

So, yesterday was a day "off". Since the first day of competition (Saturday, March 10th) we have shifted from long days, like 7am until 11pm+ to more of a schedule encouraging staff that is not scheduled to be in the office to get out and support the various teams. I was able to get out to snowboard yesterday for snowboard cross. I wasn't able to stay for the entire finals but it was still fun to be out at the venue, in the sun, soaking up the snowboard culture. In Sochi we swept the podium in men's snowboard cross. All 3 guys were back but unfortunately through qualification, 2 of the guys would end up having to compete against one another in the semis. What a bummer because we have some of the strongest athletes in the world. We did well and won 6 medals total in snowboard cross. In Paralympics, athletes are grouped into different "classifications" depending on their disability so it's more of a level playing field. Every sport is different in terms of the different classifications and it continues to evolve in terms of what is permitted and what is not. Athletes have to be "classified" by both medical professionals as well as sport specific experts but it's not a completely objective process depending on the impairment. I've worked for Paralympics for 3 years now and I still have a ways to go in terms of learning all the different classes within each sport. Some are easier than others, such as judo is visual impairment verse a sport like track & field that have a zillion different classes for the 100 meter dash. Last night I was able to head to a curling event down by the coast. I'm learning more and more about curling each day. A very interesting sport with a ton of strategy and technique.

Today was Day 4 of competition. I'm on the evening shift which didn't start until 1pm so I ran over to the Nordic venue that was about 1.5 miles away. Super easy jog over there in 50 degree weather and bright, sunny skies. Our men were competing in the 12.5k biathlon. One of our athletes, Dan Cnossen, former navy seal, already has won 2 medals and won a third today. Another athlete took the bronze. Super impressive efforts these guys and gals put out.