The 2010 Winter Olympics take place this February in Vancouver, British Columbia. As we follow the athletes’ accomplishments on the slopes of Whistler and at other locations in and around picturesque Vancouver we may wonder, “Could I have done that?” Is it too late to try?
Here’s some inspiration. The oldest woman to be an Olympian competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics at Torino, Italy. Anne Abernathy was 52 when she competed in that luge event.
Abernathy and the other Olympic level athletes have spent years developing their natural abilities, training their bodies and focusing their minds for the big event. I don’t know about you, but I know that I’ve spent those same years doing other things. Still, that doesn’t mean we can’t have our own memorable Olympic class experience now.
Getaway to Sites of Previous Winter Olympics
Take a step outside your comfort zone. Try an Olympic sport in a supportive environment at one of the four North American sites to host the Winter Olympics prior to Vancouver: Lake Placid, Squaw Valley, Calgary, Salt Lake City.
Those sites all offer a wide range of accommodation options. Enjoy the restaurants, nightlife and shopping. Immerse yourself in Olympic history and pop culture. Design your own exciting winter getaway by building an itinerary around the experience of an Olympic sport in an Olympic setting.
Picture it: mountain scenery, cozy chairs by a crackling fire, hot drinks, basking in the exhilaration of having done something Olympian.
The information and the links below will help you research and plan your winter or early spring trip. Be aware of clinic dates and registration requirements including physical restrictions. Watch for air specials and package deals.
Lake Placid, New York - Be a Biathlete, Be a Figure Skater
Be a Biathlete at Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondacks, the site of many Lake Placid Olympic events. The roots of Biathlon are in the Norwegian military. The event combines cross country skiing with marksmanship.
The price of being a Biathlete at Lake Placid is about $30. You will receive a ski lesson followed by supervised target shooting. To round out your Olympic experience, you may want to take a few spins or circuits on Lake Placid’s historic skating rinks.
Lake Placid hosted the 1932 and the 1980 Winter Olympics. There were memorable events on the ice at both games. In 1932, Norwegian Sonja Henie, who went on to appear in Hollywood films, won her second of three gold medals for figure skating.
The 1980 games were highlighted by the defeat of Russia’s men’s hockey team by the Americans and the eventual gold medal victory by the US. Coined the “Miracle on Ice,” the hockey series became the subject of a film starring Kurt Russell.
Biathlete: http://www.whiteface.com/
Skater: http://www.orda.org/newsite/togo/olympiccenter.php
Accommodation: http://lakeplacid.com/flash/wheretostay/z-wheretostay.htm
Getting there: http://lakeplacid.com/flash/planyourtrip/z-planyourtrip.htm
Squaw Valley, California - Be an Alpine Skier
It has been 50 years since the Winter Olympics were held at Squaw Valley in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The 1960 Olympics marked many firsts. It was the first time that the traditional recitation of the Olympic Oath on behalf of all athletes was done by a woman, Carol Heiss. She went on to win a gold medal in figure skating.
These were the first games to use a computer to tabulate results. The IBM computer itself became an attraction. Fittingly, Walt Disney was the “Master of Pageantry” for these first games held in California.
These days, “Just for Women” Alpine Ski Clinics are offered throughout the winter at Squaw Valley. Once a season they offer a “50+ Women’s Clinic.” It is thoughtfully spread out over three half days.
Set your own goals for the slopes overlooking Lake Tahoe and the highly trained female instructors will assist you to reach them. Stretching, body awareness and video feedback are all part of the program. Prices for the clinics range from $210 to $600 plus lift tickets.
Alpine Skier: http://www.squaw.com/just-women-ski-clinics
Accommodation: http://www.squaw.com/
Getting there: http://www.squaw.com/getting-squaw
Calgary Alberta - Be a Bobsledder
The 1988 Calgary games seemed to give us more that the usual Olympic number of memorable stories and characters. “The Battle of the Brians” took place before the figure skating judges. “Eddie the Eagle” flapped into folk hero status on the ski jumps.
And the Jamaican Bobsled Team, it captured hearts and imaginations. There was the novelty of a team from a tropical country competing at the winter games and there was their inspiring determination to cross the finish line carrying the sled that had crashed further up on the course.
You too can be a Bobsledder on a professional course at Calgary’s Olympic Park. Organizers emphasize that the “bobsleigh ride” is a sport, not an amusement ride. There are fourteen turns and Bobsledders are advised to be prepared for speeds approaching 75 miles per hour and “5gs of force“,
It costs $130 to $165 to spend one minute as a Bobsledder. Before you dismiss the experience as too expensive per second, check out the video at the Bobsledder link below. As they say in Canada, “Woohoo!”
Bobsledder: http://www.winsportcanada.ca/cop/activities/bobsleigh_rides.cfm
Accommodation: http://www.tourismcalgary.com/
Getting there: http://www.tourismcalgary.com/visitors/infoandtips.htm
Salt Lake City, Utah - Be a Skater, or maybe…a Skeleton Rider?
The Utah Olympic Oval became known for the “Fastest Ice in the World” during the 2002 Salt Lake City games. Speed skating records were broken and Steve Bradbury of Australia was surprised to win a gold medal there when his competitors fell in both the semi-final and the final races. It was the first Winter Olympic gold medal for the Southern Hemisphere.
Give this famous indoor ice surface a try with the “Get Up and Go” public skating program. It costs $4 plus skate rental and may be a good way to warm up for your Skeleton experience.
Skeleton, that’s the event where the athlete lays face down on a sled and goes head first, down the mountain. Women competed in Skeleton for the first time at the Salt Lake games. American competitors took gold and silver.
There are two ways to be a Skeleton Rider at the Utah Olympic Park. You can take a quick ride down the Olympic track for $50 or, if you want a more comprehensive experience, you can register for a three hour Skeleton Rider introductory clinic. The clinic costs $150 and includes walking the course with a member of the coaching staff prior to sledding down it.
Skater: http://www.olyparks.com/uoo/public_skating.asp
Skeleton Rider: http://www.olyparks.com/uop/rides.asp
Accommodation: http://www.visitsaltlake.com/visit/hotels_and_lodging/
Getting there: http://www.visitsaltlake.com/visit/maps_and_transportation/
Wannabe in a Hot Tub
I have a friend who is considering an early spring getaway to one of these destinations. She is drawn by the prospect of breathtaking scenery, comfortable accommodation, interesting restaurants and Olympic lore. She has assured me that just being in a place that hosted the games will satisfy the Olympian Wannabe heart beating beneath her bosom. To quote, “I will feel the Olympic vibe from the hot tub, without any heart stopping athletic feats.” She has a point.
Have you traveled as an “Olympic Wannabe”? Please share that or any travel experience by emailing (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Mary Jane tweets @MaryJaneMurray
Her blog is at: http://explorepapuanewguinea.blogspot.com/
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You can travel with Mary Jane!
Upcoming trip…Papua New Guinea - August, 2010
Are you an adventurous traveler with discerning taste seeking a trip to an extraordinary destination? Are you intrigued by traditional cultures, tribal art, unspoiled nature and remote locations? If so, exploring Papua New Guinea should be high on your list of priorities.
This August, Mary Jane is escorting a small group of travelers through Papua New Guinea on a Trans Niugini Tours itinerary built around the Mount Hagen Sing Sing.
For information about travel to Papua New Guinea, contact Mary Jane by email at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or by phone at 775-233-7199
