The Olympic Pregames Part I

No, this isn't about a drinking game. This first blog post is all about the Olympic games BEFORE the games begin.

Tonight features some of the exciting NEW events at Sochi, including Slopestyle snowboarding and Team Figure Skating.

Heeeeeeere's Slopestyle!

Tonight's events are merely qualifiers for later rounds, with both men and women competing for their chance to compete again later for the first medals in this inaugural round of slopestyle. Jumps can be over 70 feet across in slopestyle and have caused injuries as athletes have practiced on the course.
Only the top 4 qualifiers will make it to the semifinal round, on Sunday.

The Brits have started it off well with a strong performance by Jenny Jones, who scored a 74.25. Each athlete will have two rounds in this qualifier.
The Canadians actually built a replica of this course to practice on, which certainly seems to have given them an advantage. Spencer O'Brien demonstrates this with her score of 82.75, despite some previous issues with the course.
2006 halfpipe bronze medalist, Kjersti Buaas, of Norway wiped out on the course as she over-initiated her spin on a 180 jump.
Torah Bright, AUS, is the reigning gold medalist in Halfpipe and hopes to make the top score in these prelims so she can forgo the semifinal round and focus on defending her medal in halfpipe. She will also compete in snowboard cross, with her immense control of the snowboard proving to be a huge benefit to her in these competitions. She scores an 85.25, bringing her into first place in this first heat. A clean second run, while lower than her first score, clenched her place in the final round and ended the first heat of competition.

Peanut Gallery: "Snowboarders are the surfer dudes of winter sports"

Celia Nordal of Norway, favored to medal in slopestyle, is recovering from a recent illness in which she was ill enough to be moved out of the Olympic Village and into a private hotel. This left her will fewer opportunities to practice on the Sochi Course, putting her at a slight disadvantage to the other competitors.
Jamie Anderson, USA, is described as having a "lethargic" style of jumping and a cool, hippie outlook on life. A few shaky landings left her with some difficulties, but her huge air led to a score of 93.5, the highest of the day, as her family cheered her on.
Late afternoon shadows and faster snow force Silje Norendal, Norway, to sit as she completed her final jump, lowering her score and putting her in seventh place in the heat.
Karly Shorr, USA, had a clean run, which put her into fourth place with 84.75 and directly into the final.
Jessica Jensen had some issues with her landings due to the icy course, similar to those that gave Norendal trouble, leaving her with a 58.52 but a chance to compete again in the SemiFinals.