Go, Muskoka, Go!

I'm still on this morning's slopestyle skiing - looks like the snow is really soft and it's costing the skiers all their speed. Russia's going to take some crap for this one, although the course is just as good as every slopestyle course in a tropical vacation resort. Whenever I see the shovels out there, I expect them to be sponsored by Danforth...

**SPOILER ALERT**

The Canadian Gold medal favourite, Kaya Turski, didn't make the FInals after two falls (and apparently a dislocated shoulder and the flu); top-ranked competitors are dropping like flies as they can't make the speed for the jumps. Canadian Yuki Tsubota knuckled (Google that) on the very last jump of a podium-worthy run, and was injured badly enough to be carried off the hill on a stretcher.

In what seemed like an Act of God amidst the falls and failures, Dara Howell of Huntsville, Ontario just owned the course, scoring a 94.2 out of 100— almost 9 points more than the nearest skier. Third place has 77.0. The only person standing in her way was teammate Kim Lamarre, who managed to remain standing throughout the difficult - now dangerous - course but lowered the DD to do so. The judges took their time scoring the run, leaving a tense crowd waiting to see if two Canadians would be on the podium. Finally the score came through as the announcers speculated that perhaps the judges had forgotten to post it - an 85, good for a bronze, leaving Howell in first place. Gold medal, Muskoka!


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Watching Dara Howell of Hunstville, ON get her medal reminds me that Dad and I used to ski where she did, Hidden Valley. The first time we went was the first time I'd ever ridden a chairlift. Six? Seven, maybe? It was amazing to me - this was before anxiety took over my life and made me afraid of heights. We just soared over the snow-covered hills, looking so far down to the ski run, even further when we crossed a ravine. I remember being proud of myself for not being afraid. "How come everyone else has a bar?" I eventually asked my Dad. He'd never used a safety bar before, so we'd left it up most of the day, just swingin' our skis and hopin' for the best. I don't think I was ever supposed to tell Mom about that.