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How bad is it in Sochi?

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p-fo
Posts: 9372 - Karma: 6,155
This is how bad:

http://johnniebalfour.tumblr.com/post/74154630755/sochi-update-number-1

Everyone should really take the time to read the whole thing. Basically, they have no snow and are completely unprepared. The place is a half-built ghetto. It really is looking like a complete shitshow.
Jan 23 2014 3:50AM
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auski
Posts: 730 - Karma: 1,033
Here's the link to the front page with pictures etc. today's update is interesting. Looks like he has been gagged.

http://johnniebalfour.tumblr.com
Jan 23 2014 4:01AM
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Joonas
Posts: 568 - Karma: 230
I quess as long as it looks good on tv, nobody over there cares? And paying 75$ for two pizzas? hahah good old american tourist tax, paying at least a double if not triple prices without hesitation. But yea, Im thinking its gonna be a shitshow, when it finally begins
Jan 23 2014 4:27AM
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albatross.
Posts: 4380 - Karma: 772
damn that was a good read

cypress was actually really bad for snow the year of vancouver 2010, and the effort and planning it took for them to pull off that event was amazing

i hope fis has a good course spec going for slopestyle like they do for halfpipe and moguls, otherwise we could see a hilarious third world slopestyle course going down
Jan 23 2014 5:23AM
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BLADEE
Posts: 1017 - Karma: 778
When he was describing his room it really sunk in that, that place is absolute shit.
Jan 23 2014 5:23AM
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SladeSki
Posts: 263 - Karma: 290
This is ridiculous. The Olympics should have never been held in Sochi. The IOC is filled with corrupt morons who do nothing but get benefits for making inefficient and stupid decisions. It's an embarrassment for the Olympics themselves, and a threat to all the athletes and spectators.

I'm happy Tom's not going.
Jan 23 2014 8:04AM
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slav_slayer
Posts: 476 - Karma: 1,821
Terrorists everywhere
Jan 23 2014 8:10AM
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EastShoreDrive
Posts: 188 - Karma: 862
He's an Australian living in Canada.
Jan 23 2014 8:22AM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14503 - Karma: 10,746
I hope Russia doesn't blow it. Sounds like they already have.
Jan 23 2014 8:27AM
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Turkelton
Posts: 2829 - Karma: 8,558
I was stoked back when Slope was announced for snowboarding and skiing, stoked when ski pipe was announced. Stoked when it was Sochi, it looked sick, sick ideas. 4 years older and 4 years of more research, it's a wasted opportunity. Shame Graubunden isn't doing the 2022, I have a feeling winter olympics will be disappointing for years to come. Wake up, the next one is in Korea, the midwest of Asia. IOC is corrupt on the Winter side at least, London was sick *apart from the ticket mix up which was disgraceful* but the next few I don't know. IOC is just drawn to corruption, and Russia fits the bill
Jan 23 2014 8:46AM
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Thadius.Castle
Posts: 1436 - Karma: 250
Even if the Russians don't blow it, you just wait for the Chechens or Georgians. They will very literally, blow it right up.
Jan 23 2014 8:47AM
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3604 - Karma: 3,948
Its in South Korea. South Korea is a 1st world country with ski areas and infrastructure in place. It is also not the "midwest". You have no idea what you are talking about
Jan 23 2014 11:32AM
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Blurst
Posts: 13577 - Karma: 10,169
What does that even mean?
Jan 23 2014 11:44AM
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Byron_tha_gr8
Posts: 4573 - Karma: 14,299
they have low vert, not a ton of snow, tons of lifts and crowds. From a former korean roommate i had, skiing is better than the midwest but worse than the east, based on how he described it

And P-fo, great read. Ill follow this blog until he gets taken out by the mafia.
Jan 23 2014 11:47AM
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Elg
Posts: 2998 - Karma: 3,880
Oslo, Norway is the favorite to get the olympics in 2022. Have you seen footage from Lillehammer in 94? Have you seen footage from the cross country world cup and ski jumping world cup held annually in Oslo? If Oslo gets the 2022 olympics, i guarantee it wont suck.
Jan 23 2014 11:55AM
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Blurst
Posts: 13577 - Karma: 10,169
Pyongang beat out Annecy, France and Lillehammer, Austria for 2018. Not cool.
Jan 23 2014 11:58AM
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Gr0mo
Posts: 707 - Karma: 3,663
I still haven’t eaten or had fluids and it’s been almost 20 hours. I had one Tic Tac this morning, it was delicious.

lost is so hard
Jan 23 2014 11:59AM
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raull
Posts: 384 - Karma: 2,232
i wanna see pictures of all the alpine venues. who is building the slope course and pipe?
Jan 23 2014 12:02PM
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3604 - Karma: 3,948
It's all on line. Just look it up. Lots of pictures and info. Venue is quite amazing actually. Great idea and concept for it all in the same place.
Jan 23 2014 12:06PM
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loganimlach
Posts: 5132 - Karma: 14,054
Not trying to sound like a bitch, but at what point does the USOC finally look at it from a standpoint of the safety and well being of our athletes?

Really, any country's Olympic committees for that matter. I mean fuck, there IS going to be a terrorist attack, maybe multiple attacks. Regardless of my feelings towards freeskiing being there, fuck, it would be a god damn tragedy for anyone to get fucking blown up.
Jan 23 2014 12:23PM
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Blurst
Posts: 13577 - Karma: 10,169
There will not be a terrorist attack.
Jan 23 2014 12:29PM
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Turkelton
Posts: 2829 - Karma: 8,558
Low vert, not much snow, it's hills basically. Just cos it's a MEDC doesn't make it a good place for the winter olympics, how are they gonna do ski racing????
It's like putting the Winter Olympics in Minnesota. That's my point
Jan 23 2014 12:37PM
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HesherTrev
Posts: 106 - Karma: 43
this whole article basically confirmed some Russian stereotypes, and I have to agree with Logan.  There is almost indefinitely going to be a terrorist attack at some point.
Jan 23 2014 12:38PM
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Blurst
Posts: 13577 - Karma: 10,169
The winter olympics were in lake placid one year dont forget that.
Jan 23 2014 12:42PM
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Tree60
Posts: 1438 - Karma: 4,961
I honestly don't think there will be a terrorist attack and heres why: The Olympics are no longer a sporting event that a country hosts, it's a very large political move to show off the hosts countries power. Why do you think china spent a couple billion dollars and mother fucking terracotta soldier? It's not because they want to see people go fast. The political ramifications of a terrorist attack in sochi would be massive. The amount of security in russia in a few weeks is going to be off the charts insane. I doubt you'll be able to get within ten miles of the city with so much as a needle in your pocket.
Jan 23 2014 12:46PM
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@LANTASKI
Posts: 600 - Karma: 1,593
Sochi is perfectly safe.

Safer than 95% of the dying east coast industrial wastelands/deathzones most of NS hails from.

Mr. Imlach is bitter his travel plans as part of Wallisch's posse have been dashed. As an indigenous Alaskan who never experienced the joys of flight, travel, or luxuries until the ripe age of 19, Logan was looking forward to the relishes of international travel for the first time; Especially the open invitation from Mr. Putin, that was extended to Wallisch to stay in his Dacha in Krasnaya Polyana. Alas, he was so close; but the near meteoric ascent out of poverty and obscurity has been dashed.

Jan 23 2014 12:47PM
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ski4fun420
Posts: 902 - Karma: 842
This is some serious bullshit the Russians are pulling off. They squashed his blog?
Jan 23 2014 12:54PM
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CaptainObvious.
Posts: 5712 - Karma: 20,638
How the FUCK did Russia land this gig?
Jan 23 2014 12:57PM
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loganimlach
Posts: 5132 - Karma: 14,054
hahahahahaha, you are by far my favorite NS member.
Jan 23 2014 12:58PM
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,469
You misunderstood him.

The east coast doesn't have a problem with large-scale, extremely violent separatist groups that have proven time and time again that they don't fuck around.
Jan 23 2014 1:01PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51780 - Karma: 163,917
You'd think people would be talking about it being a shit show instead of OMG THERE WILL BE A BILLION TERRORIST ATTACKS RUN!

Jan 23 2014 1:09PM
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freeski1620
Posts: 5670 - Karma: 1,718
interesting read. I had my dad read it as well. He traveled to Russia shortly after the break up of the soviet block. He read it and said, well sounds nicer than when I was there. And no public transportation at all.

Funny how we take the small things like clean water hot water and a decent bed for granted eh?
Jan 23 2014 1:11PM
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CaptainObvious.
Posts: 5712 - Karma: 20,638
It's not a question of us taking them for granted, it's a question of Russia making the commitment to host a worldwide event. I actually am questioning the IOC. They investigate these cities. Thoroughly. How did they not look at this shit and question. I imagine it went something like this:

"No....no you can't pull this off. Look at this heap. How are you going to do this?"

"We're going to spend more money than anyone. Ever."

"Umm......that's great, but when are you going to start?"

"Three months before the start."

"Well, sounds legit to me. Tim, you good with this? Sweet. Have fun Russia!"
Jan 23 2014 1:16PM
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hkn
Posts: 221 - Karma: 2,938
These games are rotten inside and out.

When Sochi was selected in 2006, many people still thought that the Russians were going to get nicer.

Not so.
- Putin's folks are harassing journalists who write stuff about regime that the regime don't like.
- The hate campaign against gay people is too well-known.
- Russian bombers fly mock-nuclear attacks, Cold War 2.0-style.
The president with a heavy James Bond-complex is worried that the bullying style will piss the west off, hence these games to brush up the image.

Yeah. Good luck to you, Vladimir. In fact, Johnnie Balfour's first-hand encounter with Sochi is just the tip of the fucking iceberg.

Putin has spent $51 billion on his Olympic playground. In true Russian style, they started to bulldoze places that used to be protected. You may want to check this article in Outside Magazine.

And then we haven't even touched the funky subject of terrorism… Imagine what a couple of bad guys with a bomb in a briefcase and a sack of money could do in a country where EVERYTHING is for sale…

Those games should never have gone to Sochi. Russia is rotten. These games are rotten. The folks at IOC are rotten. Somehow these three go well together, but it's bad for wintersports, for the people of Sochi and for everybody with the exception of the former KGB-boss that call himself President…


S.P.E.C.T.R.E on skis. Where's Shane?



Jan 23 2014 1:29PM
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MaryO
Posts: 2583 - Karma: 5,996
How bad is Sochi? I'll let you know when I get there! Not looking forward to it as much as I once was. I think I rather be at Aspen XGames.
Jan 23 2014 1:29PM
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BNik
Posts: 543 - Karma: 268
It sounded sketchy back when Pollard busted his shit and describe the hospitals in Russia.But good read looking forward to more.
Jan 23 2014 1:32PM
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Blurst
Posts: 13577 - Karma: 10,169
Have fun watching Joss instead of Wallisch.
Jan 23 2014 1:32PM
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Heart
Posts: 6156 - Karma: 3,462
The terrorists are going to be the ones "blowing it" if you know what I mean.
Jan 23 2014 1:42PM
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p-fo
Posts: 9372 - Karma: 6,155
This. I've been hoping soooo much that Russia could pull this off. That country needs a success like this. They've been getting fucked for way too long. But it looks like it's gonna be a grade A shitshow.
Jan 23 2014 1:59PM
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youRsmellA
Posts: 349 - Karma: 236
the last time the olympics were bombed was in america
Jan 23 2014 2:02PM
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VT_scratch
Posts: 8798 - Karma: 6,304
#ProtectTom2014
Jan 23 2014 2:12PM
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jibbpeter
Posts: 1613 - Karma: 4,083
Well don't forget about the Chechnya conflict that's still going on. There will for sure be terror attempts, but we'll never gonna hear about it. It's actually not that hard to bring a bomb in there, considering that a bomb can be made of allmost everything these days, for example ferilizer.

Don't forget that terror attack on the jewish olympic team way back, in Germany. It can happen again.
Jan 23 2014 2:34PM
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.squirrely.
Posts: 7563 - Karma: 7,546
i hope that the course is a shit show and no dubs or triples can be thrown
Jan 23 2014 2:43PM
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Turkelton
Posts: 2829 - Karma: 8,558
Click for larger image








You possibly mean Israeli team, right??

Jan 23 2014 2:48PM
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Substitute
Posts: 1376 - Karma: 2,275
Just host them some where in US, Canada, Europe (NOT RUSSIA).
Jan 23 2014 2:48PM
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CaptainObvious.
Posts: 5712 - Karma: 20,638
Your picture 100% summed up my reaction when I read that.



I love you for it.
Jan 23 2014 2:50PM
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lewis10123
Posts: 122 - Karma: 418
The fact that the infrastructure isn't even built yet with 2 weeks to go is much more important than kids arguing over what athlete should get what spot surely?
Jan 23 2014 2:51PM
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VersaceCockring
Posts: 366 - Karma: 638
Why am I not surprised? Oh right.. it's fucking RUSSIA.
Jan 23 2014 3:32PM
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*DELETED*
Posts: 1043 - Karma: 938
Hell lets just say fuck it and hold the Olympics in North Korea. They could use a break
Jan 23 2014 4:14PM
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Drail
Posts: 14012 - Karma: 10,012
is my meter broken?
Jan 23 2014 4:30PM
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UncleGerry
Posts: 1291 - Karma: 1,378
I thought MaryO would be canceling her plans after the Wallisch news for sure.
Jan 23 2014 4:36PM
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