This will be the third Olympics hosted by Canada.

The events though raking popularity amongst skiing and snowboarding lovers are also facing flak over the huge spending of tax payers’ money to build the infrastructure for the Olympics.

According to a report, the City of Vancouver is spending $377,370 to buy just over 2,000 tickets to the 2010 Winter Olympics. “Of that, more than 70 per cent is for just two sports: hockey and curling,” the report added. More than $170,000 of property taxpayers’ funds has been spent for those two ceremonies, for which the city has purchased 200 tickets. Of those, 80 per cent are for “A” category seats.

The viewers will be able to enjoy the events from BC Place which is the largest air-supported stadium in the world.

Total number of teams participating in the event is yet unconfirmed, but sources says “close to 80 teams worldwide” are going to participate in the event.

There are 15 winter sports that will become a part of the 2010 Olympics
The 8 sports categorized as ice sports are: bobsled, luge, skeleton, ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating, short track speed skating and curling.

The three sports categorized as alpine skiing and snowboarding events are: alpine, freestyle and snowboarding.

The four sports categorized as Nordic events are: biathlon, cross country skiing, ski jumping and nordic combined.

The games will be broadcast by a consortium led by CTVglobemedia and Rogers Media. Main English-language coverage will be shown on the CTV Television Network, while supplementary programming will be mainly shown on TSN and Rogers Sportsnet.

All alpine skiing events will be held on Whistler Mountain and sliding events (bobsleigh, luge and skeleton) will be held on Blackcomb Mountain. Cypress
Mountain (located in Cypress Provincial Park in West Vancouver) will host the 2010 freestyle skiing (aerials, moguls, and ski cross), and all 2010 snowboard events (half-pipe, parallel giant slalom, snowboard cross).

Vancouver 2010 will also be the first winter Olympics in which both men’s and women’s hockey will be played on a narrower, NHL-sized ice rink.

Americans have dominated Olympic snowboarding since it debuted in 1998 at Nagano, Japan, and have expectations soaring high ahead of the Winter Olympics.

“We are going in to the 2010 Games with one of the strongest athletic lineups possible,” US Snowboarding coach Peter Foley told news agencies on Wednesday . “We’re hoping to go into Vancouver and build on the successes we saw in 2006. This team is in position to do great things.”

Reigning snowboardcross champion Wescott will be joined by five-time X Games champion Nate Holland, 2006 Olympian Graham Watanabe and newcomer Nick Baumgartner.

Lindsey Jacobellis, who settled for silver at the 2006 Olympics, returns to the women’s snowboardcross lineup as a favorite, joined by Olympic newcomers Faye Gulini and Callan Chythlook-Sifsof.

Vancouver International Airport will be the first stop for more than 230,000 Olympics-bound athletes, officials, coaches, support teams and out-of-town visitors, and it is taking its role as the city’s front door very seriously. All private aircraft heading to Vancouver will have to land in a “gateway” airport before going to Vancouver.

Thorough security screenings and searches will be done at the gateways and the aircraft must go nonstop to Vancouver from there.
Customs will be cleared on the ramp at Vancouver International and no one will be allowed to leave their aircraft until after the customs check.

Major Canadian airports will be getting full-body scanners and Ehrenholz says Vancouver will have at least one of them in place when Games visitors start arriving early next month.

The many mountains of North America make for great ski vacations. Many people choose to take ski vacations at one or several of the resorts in the United States or Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Known as the Rocky Mountain State, the U.S. state of Colorado is host to several ski resorts. It is also known as one of the best places to ski in the world due to its high elevation and heavier snow fall. One of these resorts is Aspen, well known for its magnificent slopes and well groomed runs as well as celebrity clientele.

Another wonderful Colorado ski resort is Breckenridge, a favourite among visitors from the U.K. due to the town’s quaint Old Western theme and its mining heritage. It also has ski slopes for all abilities. Check the internet for cheap ski holidays in this lovely resort town.

Winter Park is another great Colorado ski resort. Not only is it home to great skiing for varying abilities, but it is also home to other Winter events such as dog sledding, snowshoeing, and sleigh rides. After a day of skiing, you can enjoy your evening at one of several restaurants, then jump into one of the baths in the resort’s sulphur hot springs. If you travel farther South, you can enjoy the mountains of California and experience the skiing at Mammoth Mountain or South Lake Tahoe. Mammoth Mountain, considered to be the best snowboarding mountain in California, offers skiing from November to July due to its annual 30 foot snowfall each Winter. Though mostly geared to the intermediate skier, there are beginner runs as well. After a day of skiing, a free shuttle is offered so the town’s restaurants and bars can be enjoyed at night.

At South Lake Tahoe, while visiting one of many ski resorts in the area, an amazing view can be enjoyed. A lift ticket at South Lake Tahoe is interchangeable with more than 8 different resorts in the area. An Apres-ski is available for reservations at some of the area attractions. Plan a visit with friends and family for great group ski holidays.

North of the U.S. border in Canada, you will find the ski resorts of Whistler, British Columbia and Banff, Alberta. Whistler is known for some of the best powder skiing in the world and is one of the only places that you can enjoy Summer skiing on a glacier. It has high speed lifts, so the ski slopes can be reached quickly. In Banff, you have the benefit of a high speed enclosed gondola for a comfortable ride to the top of the ski slopes. After a day of skiing, relax the aching bones in one of the area hot springs pools. Check online for special discounts for a cheap ski holiday.

Hi Again,

Well the winter season is upon us and all the winter gear is hitting the shops. Sid’s Surf Shack is no different and would like to take a look at the various boots that are about and give reviews on what they are like and how they will benefit you in the water.

XCEL 5mm Infiniti Drylock Bamboo Boots
XCEL 5mm Infiniti Tek Bamboo Lined Boots
XCEL 7mm Infiniti Tek Boots Round Toe

All of XCEL’s boots are seriously high quality products and will all do the job depending on what your after.

XCEL 5mm Infiniti Drylock Bamboo Boots

This season’s Infiniti Drylock Boots are just as good as last, even better. However, within the design this season, XCEL have incorporated Bamboo Recycled products to make sure they are as eco friendly to the environment as possible. The Bamboo lined boots track pockets of air which in turn create better insulation to you feet letting you stay out that extra bit longer. As with all XCEL’s Surf Boots, they run a decent way up the leg making for a good overlap with your wetsuit and with the Drylock cuff technology at the top of the boot, its a miracle if any water finds its way in! A great winter boot by our reckoning.

XCEL 5mm Infiniti Tek Boots

The Infiniti Tek boots have been styled differently this season with new colours, but again, this is the only visual difference, with the same high quality boot as last year but also with the bamboo lining, with XCEL not compromising on quality or style. They realise the importance of warmth. The only major difference here from the Infinti Drylock Boots is that they straight seal at the top rather that the drylock cuff. A great boot that we have been wearing for years.

XCEL 7mm Infinti Tek Round Toe Boot

If 5mm just isn’t good enough for you then try the 7mm. You can just about use these 7mm Inifniti Tek boots anywhere giving you the maximum protection from the elements. Like the Infiniti Tek and Drylock’s, they are Bamboo Lined for ultra warmth, but with that extra 2mm, you should have no problems on a long session. An arch strap (As with all XCEL’s boots) makes them easy to get off on those freezing days and they also run high up the leg creating a good overlap with your Wetsuit.

No matter what your looking for this winter, the XCEL’s range will do exactly what you want, and more. Just take your time to choose which is best for you and you wont be dissapointed.

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