12/22/24
August 17, 2009
For Winter Games in Vancouver, Ice Isn’t So Easy : Ice appears such a simple concoction — water turned really cold. This time of year, its favored role is usually the one it plays at the bottom of a glass. But ice is a year-round, lifelong science for the people hired by the Vancouver Organizing Committee to produce complex forms of it for the Winter Olympics, coming in February. Beyond the usual challenges in constructing ice surfaces to meet the needs of different sports in different arenas, Vancouver’s location presents a twist, with its combination of sea-level elevation and high humidity, unique among Winter Olympic host cities.
Consider the challenge facing Tracy Seitz, who will make ice for competitors in bobsled, luge and skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Centre. The serpentine track, nearly a mile long, starts at an elevation of 3,080 feet and drops to 2,582 feet. In February, it sometimes snows at the top and rains at the bottom. Occasionally, the opposite occurs.
posted by tommytrump to olympics at 01:29 PM - 9 comments
Those who know me think I'm nuts, but I gladly trade my lawn mower for a snow blower each year.
I don't need to know you since I already think your nuts just for even making that statement. It's 94 degrees here in NJ and I'll trade both my lawn mower AND snow blower for a hammock and a mojito....ok, and some peace & quiet so that I can listen to the ballgame on this cool iPhone app.
posted by BornIcon at 02:25 PM on August 17, 2009
I gladly trade my lawn mower for a snow blower each year.
It's age Howard, we'll never be happy again. The grass always being greener isn't my problem. It's that it keeps growing.
posted by yerfatma at 03:38 PM on August 17, 2009
As I write this it is 93 degrees (F) with the attendant August humidity here in southern New Hampshire. Reading of problems with ice making, while quite interesting, only makes it harder to get through these "dog days" and on into the cooler winter. Those who know me think I'm nuts, but I gladly trade my lawn mower for a snow blower each year.
Howard, I'm glad you indicated (F), I'd hate to think you were suffering with 93 Celcius (199 F ) this afternoon. :-)
It's 30 C (86 F) here, with humidex of 40 c (104 F), in Southwestern Ontario.
I am happy to trade my lawnmower for shovel every autumn, but look forward to green grass by middle of February for sure.
posted by tommybiden at 04:16 PM on August 17, 2009
Just wondering if the Olympic committee checked the climate data before they selected Vancouver as a WINTER Olympic site...
posted by irunfromclones at 04:34 PM on August 17, 2009
Man, the only ice we get down here goes in my mojito.
posted by owlhouse at 04:52 PM on August 17, 2009
Those who know me think I'm nuts, but I gladly trade my lawn mower for a snow blower each year.
Having moved from Atlanta to Minnesota, I strongly disagree. I love the snow, but screw that month long sub-0F weather. I'll gladly move back to somewhere warmer someday.
posted by jmd82 at 05:22 PM on August 17, 2009
i live in East Texas, just north of Houston. What is this "Snow" of which you speak?
posted by texpat at 10:14 AM on August 18, 2009
Come and live in the UK. There isn't time to get pissed off with one lot of weather before the next lot arrives.
posted by JJ at 08:55 AM on August 19, 2009
As I write this it is 93 degrees (F) with the attendant August humidity here in southern New Hampshire. Reading of problems with ice making, while quite interesting, only makes it harder to get through these "dog days" and on into the cooler winter. Those who know me think I'm nuts, but I gladly trade my lawn mower for a snow blower each year.