Day 17- Finishing on a Golden Note!

Hi Everyone,

It was our last day as a Volunteer at Whistler Creekside today. It started off on a good note and continued to get even better throughout the day.

We found Stuie!! He has been hanging out with the Paralympic News Service crew these past few weeks. They get quotes from athletes and publish them for journalists around the world to use that couldn't make it to the event. He had a great time with this group!

Viviane Forest and her guide have once again made the podium. She won silver in the women's Super Combined.

Five races, five gold!! Lauren Woolstencroft took her spot on the top of the podium yet again today. This has been one of my favorite parts of my adventure here, watching Lauren win every race, and do it with class. Today she was joined by Karolina Wisniewska who took the bronze medal.

You can't have a race, without a crew! As you know by now, volunteers are the base of the paralympics. There are over 5,000 of us!! This Alpine course alone has a crew of 400 people maintaining it, around the clock!

This is only about one eighth of the people that work up at the race event. Lots of people, lots of fun!

Heather, Stuie and I hanging out in the Athlete Lane.

Heather's boss Amelie and I with Miranda and Stuie.

I have had the most incredible experience out here at the 2010 Paralympics. From watching races all day to medal ceremonies at night. Skiing deep powder to meeting the Golden Girl. The people we have meet and the things we have seen have all been amazing.

Being involved with the Paralympics as a volunteer has meant a lot to Heather and I. We really can't seem to find the words to describe our experience but we hope by the pictures you've seen, you might get an idea!

We'll be hanging out in Whistler for a few days and heading back to Ontario early in the week.

Thank you very much for following our adventure. But more importantly, thanks for watching and following the Paralymipcs!!

Pip and Heather

Day 16- Meeting the Golden Girl

Hi Guys,

It was another fun filled day at the races. Sunshine, blue sky, lots of media and another successful day for Canadian skiers. Does it get any better then this?

A media company from the Ukraine was doing a story on volunteers at the 2010 games today. Heather's boss picked her to be the volunteer that they would interview. Heather said it was exciting for her to be on the other side of the camera! The group is doing this story because people in the Ukraine don't understand why all these people would work 10-15 hour days for free!

We got to work in the athlete lane again today. It is very fun to be hanging around the athletes when they do their interviews.

Look at that stadium!! The crowd today was loud and full of excitement. Standing room only!

Viviane Forest and her guide won their fourth medal today, taking the Silver in Super G, Visually Impaired class.

One, two, three and four!! It's nothing but Gold for Lauren Woolstencroft at Whistler Creekside. Her fourth competition of the games, and her fourth Gold today in Women's Super G, Standing class.

The best part of our day!! Heather had her picture taken with Lauren when she came off the podium. I wasn't quick enough to get in, that Lauren is really fast!

Heather and I are heading out for a volunteer dinner tonight with everyone from the media centre. Then we head into work for our last volunteer shift on Saturday. Our amazing experience at the 2010 Paralympic games is coming to an end, hopefully we'll get to see one more day of nothing but GOLD for Canada!!

Pip and Heather

Day 15- Another Golden Day

Hey Everyone,

It has been a very busy day with many exciting and interesting events.

Starting with a beautiful day of skiing with friends, followed by a great dinner with Tom, Lori, Jim and Rita our friend from the Netherlands. Next we headed to the Medals Plaza to watch the ceremony. Canada won THREE Gold and ONE Silver today!! After the ceremony we stayed to watch Serena Ryder perform, it was a great concert. Then we went and had a little fun at Austria House.

I've got so much to tell you, but I think I will let the pictures do most of the explaining.

Enjoy!

Heather's friend Christian came skiing today. They worked together when Heather lived at Panorama.

After lunch we skied with Megan Meisner and her family. They are friends from Ontario.

While skiing we caught a glimpse of some of the racing. It was great to watch the race from different places on the course, rather then just at the bottom.

Our friend Rita gave Lori and Heather each a very nice gift. These shirts are part of the uniform those representing the Netherlands wear.

The medal ceremony was spectacular!

Lauren Woolstencroft won her third Gold Medal of the Paralympics today by winning the Women's Downhill, Standing Class.

Viviane Forest also won her third medal of the games. She won Gold today in the Women's Downhill, visually impaired class. She now has a Gold, Silver and Bronze to her name.

Brian McKeever won his second Gold of the games in Cross Country and Colette Bourgonje also won her second medal of the games, in cross country.

Tom, Lori and I at the Serena Ryder concert.

Jim and I upon exiting Austria House.

Our second last day of work begins tomorrow. It's hard to believe our time here is coming to an end soon.

Pip and Heather

Day 14- Canada's Golden Girl

Hi Everyone!!

It was another great day at the Alpine site for Heather and I.

Lauren Woolstencroft skied her way to her second Gold of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games! Heather and I were standing front row to watch as this Canadian woman crossed the finish line over six seconds ahead of the German skier that won silver.

Heather got to stand on the 'other' side of the fence today. Rather then standing with the media and monitoring them, Heather's boss switched roles with her. The meant she was in the athlete lane. Directing and organizing athletes to meet with media. This new role allowed for closer contact with the athletes, just what she wanted. It made for a very exciting day!

Heather and I got thinking today about what our favorite event has been so far. We decided that although we love watching the standing skiers rip down the hill, our favorite is watching the visually impaired skiers. Heather and I are amazed at how well these athletes ski, but more importantly, the trust they have in their guide. Just think about walking with your eyes closed and having someone guide you; it's hard isn't it? Now think about these athletes skiing down a hill at very fast speeds. Imagine how much trust you'd need to have in your guide.

Paralympic Challenge of the Day:

Those of you heading back to school on Monday. At recess, or perhaps in gym class, set a course up outside and take turns guiding your friends through it. When you think you've got it down, try doing it at a faster speed, a quick walk or slow jog perhaps? Oh and no hands, no touching your guide! Use only voice communication.

Imagining the challenges these athletes face gives us a greater appreciation for their accomplishments.

See you tomorrow,

Pip and Heather

Day 13- Nothing will stop her, not even this rain!

Rain, rain and more rain!

The rain started yesterday evening and has yet to stop. It has gone from a small drizzle yesterday to a full down pour all day today and it shows no signs of stopping.


For those skiing at the summit, it's nothing but a blizzard of snow up there. But because the race course is on the lower half of the mountain, it was nothing but.... you guessed it.... rain.


Despite the messy wet conditions, the race went on and Canadian athletes prevailed yet again! Viviane Forest made her way to the podium for a second time this week. She won a silver a few days ago and today she won the bronze medal in the Giant Slalom, Visually Impaired class.


Even with the horrible weather conditions, the fans were out in full force. It was a sea of poncho's and umbrella's in the audience and not to mention the staff!!








Alexandra monitors the photographers with a smile on her face!



Meranda and Heather strut their stuff in their new Paralympic Poncho!



We were both cold and wet by the end of the race today, but in the end it was all smiles for a job well done!


Paralympic thought of the day:
Canada is now tied for second place with a total medal count of 7!!


Back to work tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed for dry conditions!


Pip and Heather

Day 12- Canadian Ladies Take The Podium

Lauren Woolstencroft was born without legs below the knee and without her left arm below the elbow, but that didn't stop her from climbing on top of the podium today.

Lauren excelled in the women's slalom, standing class, this afternoon. Skiing down to a roaring crowd to take the Gold Medal.

She didn't stand on the podium alone, her teammate Karolina Wisniewska stood beside her in the bronze medal position.

Watching two Canadian women stand smiling on the podium sent the crowd into a thunderous roar. It was a very exciting and emotional event for Heather and I. She said it was very empowering to watch as two females took their place and received their medals.

Similar to yesterday the stadium was full, today included 859 elementary students from local schools.

These ladies weren't the only two Canadians on the podium today. Brian McKeever also won Gold in the Men's Cross Country 20km race, visually impaired class.

With the excitement from todays race Heather and I are eager to get back to work tomorrow!

Pip and Heather

Day 11- A Silver Day for Canada!!

It's not every day you get to watch as Canada wins TWO silver medals, but it happened today!

The Alpine event kicked off with a bang! Men's and Women's, Visually Impaired and Sit Ski class. The races started at 10 and lasted right through until 4 p.m.
Heather and I watched the races all day from the "Mixed Zone." That is where Heather stands to control the media at the finish line. We had a great view of both the race course, the media and the stadium (which was just as exciting as the race!).




Standing and watching the skiers come down was a familiar feeling for Heather, but today's race was a different level of excitement. The cheers coming from the crowd were overwhelming. It was a cold day but it almost warmed you up as the fans shouted and cheered on the skiers, it felt as though the volume went right through you!
Check out the video at the end to see what I mean.


Just when you thought it couldn't get any louder, a Canadian would come over the pitch. The stadium went from a loud cheer, to a roar of excitement.
We watched as Viviane Forest skied her way to a silver medal in the visually impaired class. The crowd went NUTS! Next came the men. Josh Dueck ripped down the course in a sit ski, also winning silver.





The flower ceremony is held in the finish area right after the race. It was very exciting to see these Canadian athletes on the podium!


Paralympic Picture of the Day:
Here are two athletes giving interviews to media following their run. They are in what is called a 'Sit Ski.' The poles they use for balance have small skis on the ends, they are called 'Outriggers.'

Back to the race tomorrow. It's the Men's and Women's Slalom; standing class.


Pip and Heather.


P.S- Canada also won a silver medal today in the 10 km Nordic Skiing- sitting class!!