VANCOUVER–VANOC CEO John Furlong put a positive spin on the dastardly weather situation at Cypress Mountain, where organizers are worried about the lack of snow.
After all, there are six outdoor venues where VANOC could be facing the same challenges, Furlong said. But just one – Cypress, where the snowboarding events will take place – is the problem right now.
"Our team is up there working 24/7 dealing with the situation that is unfolding," Furlong said on Wednesday.
He said organizers are optimistic enough snow can be trucked in, moved down the mountain and even helicoptered in to help bolster the snowpack. And some of the thousands of cubic metres of snow safeguarded since November for such a turn in the weather are stockpiled under tarps.
"Of all the tools we have, the technology we have, the ability we have to move snow, to protect and look after it – we feel we're in a good place," Furlong said.
The biggest headache for VANOC 22 days before opening ceremonies is the weather. This is an El Nino winter, where the temperature is expected to be higher than average. In Vancouver, just 30 minutes away from Cypress, it reached 12C Wednesday and, despite closing off the North Shore mountain earlier than planned to preserve the snow, crews are still working around the clock to keep it all from melting.
Last February, a World Cup snowboard event was cancelled at Cypress because mild weather made the terrain unsuitable. And that despite a very cold December and January with record snowfall in the region. Organizers say a winter event has never been cancelled because of snow problems.
"I wouldn't say this kind of temperature is normal but it's not not normal, either," said snowboarder Kasia Jasinowski, a manager at The Boardroom Snowboard Shop in North Vancouver. "It's definitely unfortunate that it's one of those years when the Olympics are coming. The mountain has been closed before because the snow has been a problem."
A bigger worry is the fog situation and visibility at Cypress, she said.
Snowboard ticket-holder Howie Leung, who is attending the women's finals and has two extra tickets he's trying to sell, said it's not looking good.
"I am somewhat worried. They say they're not going to have to cancel it, but there's not much they can do. They can try and make snow but if the temperature doesn't co-operate, there's not much they can do about it," he said.
Cathy Priestner Allinger, executive vice-president of sport and games operations with VANOC, said it looks like the weather is not going to get cold any time soon.
"The forecast is not looking to be in our favour as we head into the next week-and-a-half. We're planning that we will not have snow and temperature may not be agreeable to where we need to make snow," she said Wednesday.
Organizers are resorting to another stage in their contingency plan – bringing in straw and wood to help build up the base of the course.
"We believe there is enough snow on the mountain. Our job is to move it where we need it," Priestner Allinger added.
Trucks are hauling it in and helicopters are flying snow in from the higher elevations, where the trucks can't reach.
Snow preparation for alpine events up in Whistler, north of Vancouver, have not been a problem, organizers said.
Read more - http://olympics.thestar.com/2010/article/753644--mother-nature-needs-to-chill-for-olympic-games
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