Imrie and Airplane Food

“It's that special time of year again for Canadian athletes; another season of fine dining at Chez Airplane Tray Table. The time of year our houseplants ready themselves for another season of drought. And we finally, FINALLY get to ski on real snow.

Less than three months remain until the biggest event since the Gold-rush hits Canada's west. From a rookie's perspective, I rely on my teammates to know what the fuss is all about. So I prepare for the unknown. Aside from daily training rigors, our team has worked on the whole gamut of pieces to the Home Olympics puzzle. From media survival skills and fan management, to course analysis and which helicopter will take us to the gold medal hockey game. Just kidding! We are as ready as can be for the Olympics of a lifetime.

As we navigate our amazing mountain ski trails with glee one of the last times before we travel, our team is stoked to race again.  Even the animals can't sleep. Last week my teammates spotted a late-to-hibernate bear during a ski. If we can absorb even a drop of the enthusiasm surrounding the Olympics, it will make for one sweet season once we hit the start gate.”

Slovenians Ready

Biathletes from the many teams with many athletes vying for tickets to Vancouver are probably jealous of the Slovenian Team.

“We have no selection, because who we have here is who we have,” commented Slovenian Men’s Coach Uros Velepec, as he surveyed the athletes training at Pokljuka last week. “There is no one else. We have four spots, and a relay team plus a reserve, so they all will be there; same for the girls. So it is quite easy for the Olympics.”

The men’s team consists of Klemen Bauer, Peter Dokl, Vasja Rupnik, Janez Maric, and a reserve athlete. The women’s squad includes, Teja Gregorin, Andreja Mali, Tadeja Brankovic-Likozar, Dijana Ravnikar, and a reserve athlete.

Standards Vary

Standards for selecting teams for the Olympic Winter Games are so diverse that it would take pages to explain each country’s system. However, in simple terms, most nations set a standard based on World Cup performances, either in the 2008-09 season for a pre-qualification or during the first 6 weeks of the new e.on Ruhrgas IBU World Cup season.

Seven Strong Men

Sweden’s David Ekholm echoed the feelings that most biathletes have concerning making an Olympic Team. “It will be a big task to make the Olympic Team. We have seven men and everyone if really strong. The first goal is to make the team. I think I can do it. I am confident. It is going to take a lot of work to get the results. It will not be easy. It would not be my first choice to go to the Olympics as a reserve. If that is what happens, I will accept it. You never know; I could take a medal there as a reserve. That is the advantage of a strong team. When we won the Relay in Vancouver (World Cup), everyone said, ‘The Swedes are going with a reserve team.’ We won with Frederik (Lindstrom) who was a junior. We showed that it does not matter who starts; we can go with anyone on our team and win.”

Winning a Medal

Of course just getting an Olympic uniform is not the goal for most athletes; it is more than just competing, it is about that elusive medal. Austria’s Simon Eder explained, “Winning an Olympic medal would make me smile. I would be a liar to say that I am not training for this. Most importantly, I hope to qualify and then have good shape in Vancouver. When I am there, if I am healthy, then I have a real chance.”

Good luck to everyone as the Road to Vancouver starts in earnest next week as the e.on Ruhrgas IBU World Cup season starts in Östersund.