Lessons from the Olympics

[HeadHunter]

Lessons from the Olympics today, specifically Women's Biathlon Sprint. Marksmanship was very costly to a number of competitors. Watching their faces as they shot was really interesting. One of the French women is a stone killer. I wish I had a recording of her shooting.

http://exm.nr/M35gQJ

[Dagga Boy]

Glad to see I am not the only Olympics dork on here. I watch almost non-stop, and the Biathalon is one of my favorite events for obvious reasons. I noted the EXACT same thing.

[David B.]

They train to shoot with a heart rate of ~160bpm.

[John Ralston]

Love those straight pull actions...

[Don Gwinn]

And from the pairs figure skating . . . we find that open carry is controversial:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/08/u-s-figure-skaters-outfit-ruffles-some-feathers-but-offended-parties-arent-the-usual-suspects/

[Dagga Boy]

And from the pairs figure skating . . . we find that open carry is controversial:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/08/u-s-figure-skaters-outfit-ruffles-some-feathers-but-offended-parties-arent-the-usual-suspects/

Somebody had to do something to offset NBC commentator and former Olympian Johnny Weir's outfit. I guess he is going over the top flamboyant as some sort of means to piss off the Russians and their whole anti-gay thing.

[HeadHunter]

And from the pairs figure skating . . . we find that open carry is controversial:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/08/u-s-figure-skaters-outfit-ruffles-some-feathers-but-offended-parties-arent-the-usual-suspects/

I love some of the comments, both pro-gun and anti.

http://exm.nr/1joBPXr

[John Ralston]

Somebody had to do something to offset NBC commentator and former Olympian Johnny Weir's outfit. I guess he is going over the top flamboyant as some sort of means to piss off the Russians and their whole anti-gay thing.

Obviously you never saw him skate...cause if you think his outfit is over the top flamboyant, you should go check out some of his performances!

[LittleLebowski]

Watched this with my daughter and it was an excellent bonding time for both of us. She was very excited.

[JHC]

Glad to see I am not the only Olympics dork on here. I watch almost non-stop, and the Biathalon is one of my favorite events for obvious reasons. I noted the EXACT same thing.

Same here; default setting is to watch every available minute of it.

Is the 50m target actually golf ball sized? I took it be more like 3-4" in dia.

[Chefdog]

Super big Olympics dork here. Ill watch almost anything except the figure skating but I do love the biathlon. Watching them roll up to the firing line sucking wind and then completely shut down their breathing is impressive. Also, the speed with which some of them shoot is pretty amazing too.

[Dagga Boy]

Obviously you never saw him skate...cause if you think his outfit is over the top flamboyant, you should go check out some of his performances!

I remember his fantasy princess stuff......I just didn't expect it when he was announcing....which was like a cat fight with Tara Lipienski. She was the only thing that made it tolerable. Figure skating is probably my least favorite event. What sucks is having to usually watch curling at 0200. I have some weird fascination with curling. It's like the only event that seems like regular people could do.

[tremiles]

What sucks is having to usually watch curling at 0200. I have some weird fascination with curling. It's like the only event that seems like regular people could do.

I swiffer fawn pug fur off my dark oak floors everyday. I could totally do curling.

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[JeffJ]

I swiffer fawn pug fur

I had to read this 3 times before I was convinced it was english

[RoyGBiv]

Ill watch almost anything except the figure skating
I'm similarly not a figure skating fan, but if you get a chance to watch 15-year-old Yulia Lipnitskaya, don't miss it.

My favorite event is ski jumping (both hills), and the alpine events are always great to watch. I was rooting for Bodie Miller yesterday.. bummer.

[Tamara]

I had to read this 3 times before I was convinced it was english

I know, right? I thought my language processing center was misfiring for a second there and got a little worried.

[tremiles]

I had to read this 3 times before I was convinced it was english

So I used a product name to describe how the process of dry mopping using a stick attached to a swiveling padded flat head and a disposable textured paper towel compares to an Olympic event and the national sport of Canada.

'MURICA!!!

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[Dagga Boy]

I am watching Great Britain and Sweden woman's curling right now.........I also find several of them to be "my type":p.

[Dagga Boy]

Switzerland and the United States is on now...........and I am still finding love:cool:. The youngest player on the U.S. team is 29.........mature women with brooms, what is not to love:cool:.

[PPGMD]

Is the 50m target actually golf ball sized? I took it be more like 3-4" in dia.

There are two targets, the prone target which is the little black cup less than 2" in diameter, it is recessed in there and can be hard to see in the TV coverage. The standing target is the entire black circle which is a bit over 4".

[John Hearne]

.........I also find several of them to be "my type":p.

Blind, deaf, and long history of poor life choices? ;)

[John Ralston]

Is the 50m target actually golf ball sized? I took it be more like 3-4" in dia.

They have it pretty easy with the 2" Prone target (though their hearts are racing 100mph)...for regular international 50m competition (you know...without skis) it is about the size of a dime (to get the full 10 points).

[JHC]

There are two targets, the prone target which is the little black cup less than 2" in diameter, it is recessed in there and can be hard to see in the TV coverage. The standing target is the entire black circle which is a bit over 4".

Hence my confusion. That is superb .22 shooting. Thanks much

[TheTrevor]

I know, right? I thought my language processing center was misfiring for a second there and got a little worried.

I'm glad it wasn't just me. Then when it was pulled out of context in that quote, I legit LOL'd.

[ACP230]

I like Biathlon but wish it was still shot at longer range, with full-caliber military rifles.
Would add some more bang for the buck, eh?

[TheTrevor]

I like Biathlon but wish it was still shot at longer range, with full-caliber military rifles.
Would add some more bang for the buck, eh?

A Heavy Metal division would be fun for sure. It'd exclude some of the rabidly anti-gun countries with narrowly tailored exemptions for Olympic small-bore firearms (and, er, California) but I'd be fine with that.

Multiple rounds consisting of a 1km ski pulling a gear sled, then shooting torso steel at 250m (standing) 500m (kneeling) and 1km (prone) with something in the .30-caliber range sounds about right. :cool:

[HeadHunter]

Another hard lesson today.

One miss on the range kept Ole Einar Bjoerndalen from breaking the record for most Winter Olympic medals. Two misses cost him the Gold medal. We don't have to talk about the third miss. He does still have a 'shot' at breaking the record in the Relay and Mass Start events.

http://exm.nr/1go9prM

[HeadHunter]

I like Biathlon but wish it was still shot at longer range, with full-caliber military rifles.
Would add some more bang for the buck, eh?

The original form of Biathlon was a team event called 'Military Patrol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_patrol)' and was shot at longer distances with service caliber rifles. Ammunition was carried in a belt around the waist.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/Bundesarchiv_Bild_102-05443%2C_St._Moritz%2C_Winterolympiade.jpg

The current version, with the mechanical targets, was introduced at the 1980 Olympics. The mechanical targets give the sport more visual appeal.

[Chefdog]

I like Biathlon but wish it was still shot at longer range, with full-caliber military rifles.
Would add some more bang for the buck, eh?

I like this idea. Maybe the folks from Top Shot could consult on course design and integrate some interesting reactive targets?


Another hard lesson today.

One miss on the range kept Ole Einar Bjoerndalen from breaking the record for most Winter Olympic medals. Two misses cost him the Gold medal. We don't have to talk about the third miss. He does still have a 'shot' at breaking the record in the Relay and Mass Start events.

http://exm.nr/1go9prM

I just fired up the DVR and watched it this morning, and was not disappointed. That was a hell of an exciting race. It pains me to say it, but that Frenchman who won was a stone cold mother-kitten.

[MDS]

I have some weird fascination with curling. It's like the only event that seems like regular people could do.

My buddies and I put serious effort into getting into the Olympics for curling. I thought all we'd have to do is find funding and convince a little tropical country to issue a couple of notes on letterhead. Turns out we couldn't find an approachable country without a national team. Also, you actually have to win regional matches and etc to qualify for the Olympics.

Many dreams were shattered.

[SteveK]

I remember his fantasy princess stuff......I just didn't expect it when he was announcing....which was like a cat fight with Tara Lipienski. She was the only thing that made it tolerable. Figure skating is probably my least favorite event. What sucks is having to usually watch curling at 0200. I have some weird fascination with curling. It's like the only event that seems like regular people could do.

I think everyone has a closet curling fetish.

[NickA]

My buddies and I put serious effort into getting into the Olympics for curling. I thought all we'd have to do is find funding and convince a little tropical country to issue a couple of notes on letterhead. Turns out we couldn't find an approachable country without a national team. Also, you actually have to win regional matches and etc to qualify for the Olympics.

Many dreams were shattered.

This isn't some hobby. Curling's for closers only ;)

[Joe in PNG]

The original form of Biathlon was a team event called 'Military Patrol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_patrol)' and was shot at longer distances with service caliber rifles. Ammunition was carried in a belt around the waist.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/Bundesarchiv_Bild_102-05443%2C_St._Moritz%2C_Winterolympiade.jpg

The current version, with the mechanical targets, was introduced at the 1980 Olympics. The mechanical targets give the sport more visual appeal.

I thought the original version began in 1939/40 with the participants using Mosin Nagants* and live Russian targets?

*gamers could opt for the Soumi 9mm sub gun

[TheTrevor]

The original form of Biathlon was a team event called 'Military Patrol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_patrol)' and was shot at longer distances with service caliber rifles. Ammunition was carried in a belt around the waist.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/Bundesarchiv_Bild_102-05443%2C_St._Moritz%2C_Winterolympiade.jpg

The current version, with the mechanical targets, was introduced at the 1980 Olympics. The mechanical targets give the sport more visual appeal.

Upon first read, I thought this meant that Biathlon was introduced in 1980. Turns out that modern Biathlon was actually introduced in 1960, perhaps it was the target system that was changed in 1960?

Anyway, I appreciated the Military Patrol reference so much that I made this:

2139

[PPGMD]

Though the rifles are 22LR, biathlon rules do require the weight of the rifles to be almost 8lbs. And I am willing to bet that the biathlon targets, though shorter distances, are much smaller than the old military patrol targets.

So except for the fatigue due to shooting a major caliber, that biathlon is probably as hard if not harder than military patrol assuming all the non-shooting parts being equal.

[HeadHunter]

Upon first read, I thought this meant that Biathlon was introduced in 1980. Turns out that modern Biathlon was actually introduced in 1960, perhaps it was the target system that was changed in 19[8]0?

Correct. The mechanical dropping targets were introduced at the 1980 Olympics.

Your image is actually spot on.

[JHC]

The pink Pink Panther figure skater outfit rocked! Seriously.

[HeadHunter]

Another upset in Biathlon. Ninth place starter comes from behind to win Women's Pursuit.

Marksmanship, or lack thereof, hurt the US team badly. Susan Dunklee noted that she had a momentary lapse of concentration going into the fourth shoot and then missed three targets for a total of four. It would have been close but that may have cost her the Bronze. The medalists each missed only one target.

http://exm.nr/1jv4pGT

[HeadHunter]

I was able to watch the race after all. It was on late. It was heartbreaking to see Susan Dunklee miss those targets. She definitely had a chance at the Bronze until she dropped those shots.

[Dagga Boy]

The pink Pink Panther figure skater outfit rocked! Seriously.

Thankfully, the very little bit of Figure Skating I watched last night was THAT routine. You sir have outstanding taste! I love skater butts to begin with, and that one was something so very special. If I was in charge, we would have a curling team that all looked like that with her pink leggings as the team uniform.

[NETim]

Thankfully, the very little bit of Figure Skating I watched last night was THAT routine. You sir have outstanding taste! I love skater butts to begin with, and that one was something so very special. If I was in charge, we would have a curling team that all looked like that with her pink leggings as the team uniform.

http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Oa1wnCU7nP741oQBvK_OCQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTgwMDtweW9mZj0wO3E9Nz U7dz0xMjAw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/gettyimages.com/figure-skating-winter-olympics-day-20140211-173812-343.jpg

[JHC]

yeah whad I tell ya? They are a German team IIRC.

[JM Campbell]

Guess SW will be back in 4 years to make up for no medals this year. The half pipe conditions where atrocious, hats off to the competitors that didn't wipe out getting too aggressive on that slush.

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[JHC]

Guess SW will be back in 4 years to make up for no medals this year. The half pipe conditions where atrocious, hats off to the competitors that didn't wipe out getting too aggressive on that slush.

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Yeah that was pretty ugly. The Russian kid boarding for Switzerland managed through it. I don't follow snow boarding at all between Oly's but my impression is the runs looked less dynamic and fast than the last Oly. Would that be the crap slush conditions? I reckon.

[JM Campbell]

Yes sir, very rough pipe. You could see the boards vibrating like a tuning fork. The sides of the pipe transitioning to the bottom is where the slush was. Sun hitting the flat surface and warmer temps don't let the pipe stay frozen. The side of the board when leaned on cuts into slush causing loss of speed and instability.

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[HeadHunter]

The Individual event in Biathlon is a real shooting race. A miss adds one minute to the athlete's time. Four misses hurt Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, who won the Gold in the Sprint, very badly. He was 3 minutes and 50 seconds out of the Gold.
http://exm.nr/1eY7dsD

[HeadHunter]

The Women's Individual event was an exciting race to watch today. Watching sports doesn't generally do much for me but biathlon is the exception. Things can change so easily in the shoots if a target or two is missed. Any of the top 9 finishers could have ended up on the podium. Three of them lost in the final shoot.

I was surprised to learn that biathlon doesn't have much of a following in Switzerland. Good work by Selina Gasparin in promoting it and for winning the Silver medal with excellent marksmanship.

http://exm.nr/1kIw7QH

[Drang]

I was surprised to learn that biathlon doesn't have much of a following in Switzerland. Good work by Selina Gasparin in promoting it and for winning the Silver medal with excellent marksmanship.
"Isn't that cute! They ski in flat areas and shoot .22s!" :D

[Leroy]

Prone is a 45 mm (1.8 in) target. Offhand 115 mm (4.5 in).

[mlon]

The environmental wackos couldn't help themselves and had to comment on the lead bullets used in the biathlon. Do these people know lead is a natural element found in the earth and soil?


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[John Ralston]

The environmental wackos couldn't help themselves and had to comment on the lead bullets used in the biathlon. Do these people know lead is a natural element found in the earth and soil?


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unfortunately nobody reclaims and recycles it either...

[HeadHunter]

It was the finish that everyone has been waiting for in Biathlon at the 2014 Winter Olympics. Emil Hegle Svendsen of Norway and Martin Fourcade of France battled it out for Gold in the final stretch of the Biathlon Men’s Mass Start at the Winter Olympics and the race had to be decided by photo finish. This was easily the most exciting race of all so far at Sochi.

http://exm.nr/1jDGCkR

Poor shooting cost Ole Einar Bjoerndalen his 13th Medal. I hope he can get it in the Mixed Relay tomorrow.

[HeadHunter]

The Norwegians dominated Mixed Relay.

http://exm.nr/1dPpqIK

Only Estonia shot worse than the US team. Disappointing.