Let's Talk with Terry Ambrose
February 24, 2022
Talking about the Winter Olympics
Are you a Winter Olympics fan? I tend not to be much for watching sports on TV, but somehow I found myself caught up by some of the sports. The half pipe competitions, slaloms, even ice skating were exciting and fun to watch. Curling? No go. Cross-country skiing, ditto. The last one is odd because way back when we lived in Idaho and Washington, we loved cross-country skiing. So what changed?
It’s all a matter of perspective
I can remember cross-country skiing in Canada one winter when I was coming down with a lung infection. Despite the fact that I was sick, I found following a small trail through the forest an incredibly freeing experience. There was even a moment or two of trepidation when we wondered if we’d somehow lost our way.
But watching cross-country skiers go around a track (albeit, a big one), making lap after lap, just didn’t do much for me. So, I suppose the difference between enjoying being out there on the trail and watching it is all a matter of perspective. I wonder if curling would be the same way. Perhaps, but something about curling just doesn’t do much for me (despite the fact that we were big on bowling back in those early days.) Somehow, watching pins get smashed around and fall isn’t quite the same as seeing a stone get bumped. (Okay, I guess you have to try it to appreciate it.)
I’ve never ice skated, yet I found myself fascinated by the various competitions. I watched, enthralled, when Nathan Chen performed his long program and won the Gold. His skate was, truly, a work of art. He might have even made me a fan of ice skating outside of the Olympics. Maybe. We’ll see.
What are your favorite Olympic sports?
So, my question is, are you a Winter Olympics fan? Summer? Do you like certain sports? Or are you totally in for all of it? Leave a comment and you’ll be entered to win a Kindle version of one of my books. I look forward to hearing from you!
Posted in Let's Talk, with Terry Ambrose • Tags: Let's Talk, Terry Ambrose | 7 Comments
We watched almost every night, but we didn’t stay plugged in too long. I’m amazed at the athleticism of these competitors. The acrobatic moves look incredibly easy at the Olympics, and the speed of everyone going fast downhill or in the the “House of Speed” was mind boggling. I can’t imagine hurling through a frozen landscape on skis or a sled at speeds approaching 70 or 80 mph. I would become the new poster child for “The Agony of Defeat” if I attempted any of those things at half that speed! I do admit to curling up with a blanket to watch the winter sports. I am not a fan of the times when politics spills over into the competition. Overall, the summer Olympics are of more interest to me because at one age or another I (or a family member) have attempted some of those sports. I am often surprised at what sports get dropped and added. We have Surfing coming up in the next summer Olympics–that’s different!
You are so right about hurtling downhill at those speeds, Maggie. That was the great thing about cross-country, you got to go a little fast, but not fast enough to smash your body to bits if you made a mistake1
My husband and I have been ardent Olympic supporters for most of our lives. This year, however, we skipped it altogether and watched favorite movies instead. We didn’t deliberately decide that we wouldn’t watch, we simply didn’t.
My wife is more of a follower of the Olympics than I am, but I did enjoy watching in the evenings and let her be my guide.
Well, I am anti heights and the cold and any activity that entails gliding on one’s feet, so that lets out most of the Winter sports for me (though I could probably go for curling). I would have watched some of the skating but I’m boycotting this year so didn’t turn it on this time out. 🙁
I don’t mind gliding on my feet, but only when it’s looking limited to about 10 mph!
I enjoy watching the Olympics even though when I was much younger and much more able I was not active in any of them. I also enjoyed watching Nathan Chen perform. He was amazing! After the doping scandal with the Russian girl though I lost desire to watch skating anymore. The whole situation and how it was all handled was done so poorly that it left a bad taste.