2019 Winter Games

As most of y'all are aware, I'm a runner (at least, I'm a person who runs).  And in my running circles, there's this guy nicknamed The Rabid Squirrel.  He puts on a bunch of crazy races throughout the year, and in order to run, you have to fail a sanity exam.  Yup.  The first time you ever run one of his races, you are given a nickname, which is then your forever running name for his events.  (If anyone is interested, my nickname is Tolkien Ghost Bees.)

 

And, once a year, he puts on The Winter Games.  Basically a crazy version of the Winter Olympics.  And this year, my brother and I participated.  My brother was on Team Norway, and I was on Team Palau (yes, that's a real place, look it up, lol).

Norway was hosting the games this year.

 

Basically, how this works, is all the events are split into three places - The Olympic Village, The Slopes, and The Track.  The teams (countries) are split into rotations, so there are always three teams at each place.  At noon we take a break for lunch and play Yukigassen, and then continue the rotations.  After everyone is done, the Hockey Championships are played.  Then comes the figure dancing, and then awards are given.  Sounds confusing, right?  YUP.

The Opening Ceremony

The torch is handed back and forth to a representative from each country, and they bring in their flag bearer.  Once all the flags are in, the games are open!

 

Norway lights the torch.
(Kids and fire and flags and wind...nothing could go wrong here!)

Canada representatives coming in.

Palau flag bearer.

Norway presents The Rabid Squirrel himself with a gift for putting on the games.

 

The Slopes

Alpine Running

Basically run downhill as fast as you can and weave between the flags.  Simple, right?  Yeah, try zipping around those at top speed on a steep hill with lots of roots.  But it was fun.

Lots of zigging and sagging and tripping.

Even kids got to compete for their teams (countries).

 

Bobsled and Luger

Sleds with wheels going downhill.  Oh, and you can't steer them.  And they like to go backwards or shoot off the road.  Also, don't fall off because that hurts.  And getting your thumb rolled over hurts to.  Oh - and don't get hit by a car.

Basically you start at the top of the hill, the timer shouts GO, and you push off and continue to push to get the sled to go as fast as you can.  Once you cross the line, the timer stops, and that time is recorded.  Now you can no longer push and must coast to a stop, trying to get as far as you can.  One the sled stops, stretch your hand (or foot, if you ended up backwards) as far as you can.  That's where your length is recorded.

Palau Captain...no steering available.

Greenland trying to achieve speed.

Watch out for the neighbors!

 

Snowballs

So there are no pictures to be found anywhere, since apparently everyone was 100% confused.  So read the instructions for yourself.
 

The Track

Ski Jump

Fairly self explanatory.  Get a running start, run up the ramp, and try to jump as far as you can.  Wherever your heel lands, that's where the length is recorded.  Just don't face or knee plant after impact.



It's harder than it looks...

My brother showing me how he jumped to win the gold medal.

 

Iditarod

Pulling a sled with weights a certain difference, being timed as to how long it takes you.  Women pull 100 lbs, men 140, young children either an empty sled or else a weight or two.  Basically trying to make everything even.

 

Ice Chucking

Stand at line, chuck ice as far as you can.  Don't hit the cars lining the road.

 

Plunder

A game of teamwork.  There are six objectives, and you must choose a teammate to do each objective.  The timer starts and everyone runs out into the woods.  They complete the objective, and run back.  Once everyone is finished and back at the start, the timer ends.

The Objectives

I was given the task of Pillaging...

Don't be fooled...this fishy weights about 50 lbs!

Plunder Map

 

Olympic Village

Nice Hockey

 

Basically, a hockey game, played against the other two teams with you on your rotation.  The winners of the three rotations compete in the finals for gold, silver, and bronze.  Two people from a team play at a time, switching how however they like.  Try to score as many goals as you can in 10 minutes.

Norway vs. Great Britian

Palau vs. Peru

 

 

Hockey Sticks

 

Place three pucks on the four X's in the four corners of the rink.  Try to shoot as many into the goal as you can.  (No pictures...nice hockey was far more exciting!)

 

Curling

 

Play against a member of the opposing team.  Slide or push the "stones" onto the circles and knock out your opponent.

For some reason I could never find someone to play against??  So I never actually got to do it...

 

 

Hot Chocolate

 

Basically throwing marshmallows into a cup from different distances.  (And for some reason no one got any pictures of this as well???)  The further the distance the higher the points per one you get in.

 

Big Marshmallows

 

Same as above, only using HUGE marshmallow pillows and throwing them off the porch into a box down below.

 

YUKIGASSEN

 

Essentially Capture the Flag crossed with Dodgeball.  A game is 4 minutes long, with four teams playing at a time.  They place their country flag in a spot and try to keep other teams from stealing it.  If you get hit with a ball, you're out.  If you manage to capture an opposing flag, you must run with it to the middle of the course and get it to the tree with the Russian flag on it (the winning team from last year).  After every team has played 4 rounds, the four teams with the most points compete in the championship.

 

 

Finals

 

Once all the teams have done their rotations, everyone heads back to the Olypmic Village for the Hockey Championship.  Greenland won, followed by Norway, and Palau came in bronze.

 

Then the Ice Dancing and Bad Figure Dancing was held.

 

 

All in all, everyone had a really good time.  Only had to call 911 ONCE - when someone let one of the dogs out.  He took off, running through a crowd of people and tripping Susan.  She fell and dislocated her knee.  But otherwise was unhurt.

A car did get hit with a chunk of ice while Great Britian was ice chucking.  There were also some mixups about timing and how exactly a few things were to be completed.  But all in all, everyone had a great time.