(i think i preferred the curling version i saw here)

here is Richard Faulds, Olympic Gold medal winner.

Richard did a demonstration shoot which resulted in bits of clay pigeon dropping on our heads. which was nice

music chairs was just a demonstration sport in this year's winter olympics. this was a warm up where no chairs had been removed.

this is an actual british olympian's actual ski boot. note the jack union buckle clips.

this chap ran with this torch (lit) as part of the chain of olympic torch bearers. interestingly, so did finlay

here are two of the British Downhill Super G atheletes i got to meet last week.

roger cruickshank sat in front of me at the men's slalom

finlay mickel came skiing with us on the last day

winners

just in case you didn't know where you were

sliding across the gurder on to the starting position

heading off

landing

gold

here is the big hill (click to see the big version where you can see the top)

men's slalom was probably my favourite to watch. the sun was great and with my zoomy lens i could watch the skiier coming down the hill far away

i loved their handbreak turns at the bottom

i'm finally back to reality after being knocked out by flu for a week, followed by a few days away with jane, then a trip to the winter olympics ! Expect plenty of photos.

speed skating is great for arm waving

the italian winner

the bloke who came last

the place we went curling was Fenton's Rink and it was most excellent. you must go with a group of friends and have a go.

i've put a few more photos here

i spent the day curling yesterday.

the three teachers were all olympic gold medal winners (see here).

it's a mad game of sweeping and sliding and pushing a big stone

the olympians were rhona, janice and debbie

i'm unlikely to ever own one of these:

primarily because it was won at an event in the past and was awarded for the women's curling. an event i didn't take part in:

Debbie Knox won it instead:

curling is a funkypancake sport. not because i'm good at it though, because i'm not.

look at his utility bin.

beyond brushes, which are an essential part of the game, you also get to wear the most fantastic shoes.

initially they looked like normal trainers:

but you can pull the rubber bottom off (called a 'kipper') and reveal a super-slippy teflon sole, enabling you to whizz about on the ice like a mad thing

and look at all the other gadgets and gizmos you can get: