Yanking
our chain? Will U.S. snowboarders Shaun White (pictured here) and Nate Holland be able to follow through with H...
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Yanking
our chain? Will U.S. snowboarders Shaun White (pictured here) and Nate Holland be able to follow through with Holland’s claim to ‘rent’ the podium from Canadians? Page C12
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Monday, February 15, 2010
TODAY
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Veteran Canadian luger Regan Lauscher plans to soak it in and enjoy every split second . . . literally.
C
DAY
Canada’s Jeremy Wotherspoon is the world record holder and all-time World Cup wins leader, but he faces fierce competition as he nears the end of his career.
Savouring every moment
OLYMPICS
Race against time
Editors: Bev Wake 604.605.2744 bwake@ png.canwest.com Paul Chapman 604.605.2078 pchapman@ png.canwest.com
Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
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THE VANCOUVER SUN | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010
PAGE 2
Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Curling Draw Date Time Draw Sheet A
Sheet B
Sheet C
Sheet D
Bye
Tue 16 900 1400 1900
M1 W1 M2
Gbr – Swe Usa – Jpn Can – Ger.*
Nor – Can Den – Swe Chn – Fra
Usa – Ger. Xger – Rus X
Sui – Den Can – Sui Usa – Nor*
Chn, Fra Chn, Gbr Sui, Den, Gbr, Swe
Wed 17 900 1400 1900
W2 M3 W3
Chn – Gbr Gbr – Fra* *Rus – Den
Ger. – Usa* *Usa – Sui Gbr – Swe*
*Sui – Swe *Den – Chn X
Jpn – Can* *Ger. – Swe *Chn – Sui
Rus, Den Nor, Can Jpn, Can, Ger., Usa
Thu 18 900 1400 1900
M4 W4 M5
Den – Usa* Can – Ger.* Swe – Chn*
*Ger. – Nor Chn – Jpn* *Gbr – Den
*Can – Swe Rus – Gbr* Nor – Sui*
*Gbr – Sui Chn, Fra *Den – Usa Sui, Swe Fra – Can* Usa, Ger.
5IF JOEJDBUFTUIFUFBNXJUIUIFGJSTUQSFtHBNFQSBDUJDFTFTTJPO'PSUIFGJSTUHBNFT UIFUFBNT XJMMUPTTBDPJOUPEFDJEFGJSTUBOETFDPOEQSBDUJDF"UUIFDPODMVTJPOPGUIFUFBNhTQSFtHBNF practice, one player delivers one stone to the tee at the home end. The team with the better last stone draw (lsd) has the choice of delivering first or second stone in the first end. First named teams in each draw play the stones with the dark coloured handles, and wear dark coloured upper playing garments. Second named teams in each draw play the stones with the light coloured handles, and wear light coloured upper playing garments.
Norway sets fashion standard
Curling:
BY ALLEN CAMERON CANWEST NEWS SERVICE
As fashion statements go, it was bold, and that’s putting it mildly. In the staid, traditional world of curling, where black pants, black socks and black shoes rule the roost, the Norwegian men’s team stepped onto the ice and shook things up for their practice session at the Vancouver Olympic Centre by sporting those garish John Daly-style golf pants, manufactured by Loudmouth Golf. The pants had small diamonds in the Norwegian colours of red, white and blue, and, to say the least, stood out in a crowd. “Our second [Christoffer Svae] was supposed to hook us up with new pants and he showed up with these ones and we were like, oh no. No way we’re playing in those,” said skip Thomas Ulsrud. “But we might. They’re Norwegian colours; we’ll see what happens. They’re actually really comfy and good to play in. They’ll stretch.” Svae is no stranger to making fashion statements; last year at the world championship in Moncton, he arranged for the team to wear matching pink belts. But the pants (the pattern, for the record, is called Dixie) raised the stakes considerably. “They’re Norwegian colours, and our [uniforms] weren’t that bright, so we just figured we could spice them up a bit with some colours,” said Svae with a smile. “And it’s a nice light fabric, and it’s warm in the arena, so they’re comfortable to play in, and that’s the most important thing. And if it can draw a little attention to curling in our country, that would be good, too.” And if there’s one thing Svae knows about, it’s drawing attention. “Is it the flashiest thing in my wardrobe? Probably not,” he said. “I like to stand out once in a while.” Now, the real question becomes: Will the Norwegians wear the pants in their round-robin opener on Tuesday morning against Canada’s Kevin Martin? “There are actually no rules about pants,” said Svae, correctly, before adding with a laugh: “But there probably will be after this.”
Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Competition Schedule 15 MON
16 TUES
Alpine Skiing Whistler Creekside Biathlon
M Men’s Downhill
Cross-Country Skiing
W 10 km Free M 15 km Free
10–11:15 a.m. 12:30–2 p.m.
Luge Skeleton The Whistler Sliding Centre Curling Vancouver Olympic Centre
W
5–7:55 p.m.
Figure Skating
Pairs Free Program
10:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
M Super Combined
10–11:30 a.m. 1:30–2:30 p.m.
W 10 km Pursuit M 12.5 km Pursuit
10:30–11:10 a.m. 12:45–1:25 p.m.
W
1–4:10 p.m.
M W M M Short Program
9–12 a.m. 2–5 p.m. 7–10 p.m. 4:15–8:45 p.m.
W Snowboard Cross M USA - SUI CAN - NOR RUS - LAT
10–11:40 a.m. 12:15–12:50 p.m. 12–2:30 p.m. 4:30–7 p.m. 9–11:30 p.m.
Nordic Combined Ski Jumping Whistler Olympic Park Bobsleigh
5–8:55 p.m.
Short Track Speed Skating Pacific Coliseum Freestyle Skiing Snowboard Cypress Mountain Hockey Canada Hockey Place
M Snowboard Cross
Hockey UBC Thunderbird Arena Speed Skating Richmond Olympic Oval
W SUI - CAN SWE - SVK
2:30–5 p.m. 7–9:30 p.m.
W RUS - USA FIN - CHN
2:30–5 p.m. 7–9:30 p.m.
M 500 m
3:30–6:50 p.m.
W 500 m
1–4:05 p.m.
Legend M/W Men / Women
10:30 a.m. –12:50 p.m. 2–3 p.m.
N Next Day Victory Ceremony*
S Same Day Victory Ceremony*
L*Ot7FOVF7JDUPSZ$FSFNPOZ
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010 | THE VANCOUVER SUN
Rising star:
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OLYMPICS TODAY ||
ALPINE SKIING
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The Iceman cometh to win While intense teammate Didier Cuche (below) entered the Games as the hottest speed skier on the World Cup circuit in late January, it was Carlo Janka who earned all the early notice as an Olympic favourite.
BY GARY KINGSTON CANWEST NEWS SERVICE
Carlo Janka doesn’t have a flashy, signature move like veteran Swiss teammate Didier Cuche’s finish-area practice of kicking off his right ski in an end-overend flip and then catching it upright in his hand. And some still wonder at how the babyfaced young skier did not go “crazy” in the finish area after realizing every Swiss skier’s dream by winning the classic Lauberhorn downhill at Wengen in his home country in January. But they don’t call the most intriguing all-around talent to emerge in years from the ski-obsessed nation the “Iceman” for nothing. It was a nickname hung on the native of Obersaxen, a ski resort village of 800, for his cool, detached approach. A man of few words, he’s also been dubbed the “quiet assassin” by some European ski writers. So even if he winds up on the top step of the podium after today’s two-days-late Olympic men’s downhill — provided, of course, he hasn’t melted in all the rain in Whistler last week — it would be a surprise if Janka offered much more than a broad smile and a discrete lifting of his index finger in the way of celebration. “The [downhill] race will be something very special because the Olympics only come around every four years,” said Janka. “But I’ll try to approach it as a normal race and stay cool. “You never know what can happen. This is my first Olympics and my goal is to get one medal.” While the intense Cuche entered the Games as the hottest speed skier on the World Cup circuit based on his downhill and super-G wins on the famed Hahnenkamm at Kitzbuehel, Austria, in late January, it was Janka, 23, who earned all the early notice as an Olympic favourite. His breakthrough moment came at Lake Louise, Alta., in November, 2008, when he was second in a downhill despite being the 65th skier on the course, the start list equivalent of launching from Banff.
Switzerland’s Carlo Janka has already done his share of winning, but keeps his cool. Janka then won giant slalom gold and downhill bronze at the 2009 world championships in Val d’Isère, France. After a tough summer in which a mysterious viral infection caused him to miss three months of off-season conditioning work, he opened the current speed season with another podium, a third, in the downhill opener at Lake Louise. “There is more pressure on me this year,” he acknowledged in an interview there. “I’m just happy I can handle it.” A week later, he went out and proved just that, astonishingly winning races on three consecutive days at a World Cup stop in Beaver Creek, Colo. He triumphed in the super combined on the Friday, aced the downhill on the treacherous
Birds of Prey course on Saturday and then won the giant slalom on Sunday. He may have believed in himself, but he was still stunned by the rare feat. “I’ve shocked myself. What an incredible week. I don’t know what to say except I feel marvellous.” The last World Cup skier to win three different races on three consecutive days was Frenchman Jean-Claude Killy in 1967. Austrian legend Hermann Maier won three races in a week at Beaver Creek in 1999, but not on consecutive days. The 6-1, 175-pound Janka’s style is sublime and efficient. He hardly ever looks out of control, skiing with the kind of ele-
| RUBEN SPRICH/Reuters
Medal predictions:
Alpine Skiing Men’s Downhill Gold: Carlo Janka, Switzerland Silver: Manuel Osborne-Paradis, Canada Bronze: Didier Cuche, Switzerland gance and grace that Killy displayed. Both his teammates and fellow competitors have been awed by his smooth, clean skiing. “I just wish I could go back 10 years and have his God-given talent,” says 35-yearold Cuche, a working man’s racer who didn’t start to truly assert himself as a
Didier Cuche is awed by teammate’s talent. | FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images World Cup star until after he turned 30. Says Marco Buechel, the 38-year-old, four-time World Cup winner from Liechtenstein: “He has so much talent … one of the best skiers I’ve ever seen. He has the whole package.” Janka did struggle in training runs last week, posting the 26th fastest time in the weather-aborted first run on Wednesday and 33rd in the Thursday’s course-shortened run. Cuche was fastest both times and Janka believes his mentor is “the one to beat.” But Swiss coach Martin Rufener won’t count out his young star. “He never has to go the limit. He makes everything look easy.”
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ALPINE SKIING
THE VANCOUVER SUN | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010
Ski techs face Olympian task
Varying snow types on the weather-ravaged Whistler course present a huge challenge for those in charge of equipping the athletes GARY KINGSTON CANWEST NEWS SERVICE
When they finally get the Olympic men’s downhill off in weather-plagued Whistler — and an overnight freeze willing, that will happen today at 10:30 AM — the most stressed guys just might be the ski technicians. The skiers themselves haven’t been on the course since a Thursday training run. But, for the most part, they’re used to the delay game on the World Cup circuit. Happens all the time. Many have been free skiing in the powder at the top of the mountain, working out in the gym, or just relaxing. Given the adverse, springlike weather conditions last week and the varying snow density it’s created on different sections of the 3,105-metre Dave Murray course, it makes the guys who jealously guard their wax base secrets a key part of the equation. “Techs are going to be tremendously important,” Alpine Canada manager Max Gartner said Sunday, eagerly anticipating a drop in overnight temperatures to minus five. “If the top part of the course is more winter snow conditions, then you need skis that run up there. Then on the bottom, we know it’s going to be frozen corn snow, which normally you need a different kind of base for it. “It’s a total different texture, the winter snow. And then you’ve got the very rough corn snow. This could be very, very tricky to find a ski that serves you well on both. Hopefully, all the testing we’ve done … we won’t make a mistake in picking the right skis. If you want to win a gold medal, it’s a given that you have to make sure you’ve got the right skis on.” Gartner said it will be particularly crucial for the techs to get it right for the top part of the 41-gate course that drops 853 metres in elevation and will take about one minute, 50 seconds to complete. “You have to be in the game after 40 some seconds because the upper part of the course will determine whether you have a chance. “We hope it pays off that we spent a lot of time here, did a lot of skiing in different conditions. Hopefully, we’ve got enough data to make sure we pick the right skis.” The Canadians were sharp Wednesday when the first training run was aborted after 42 starters because of fog, and again Thursday when the course was a bit slushy. Robbie Dixon of North Vancouver was second both times, Erik Guay of Mont Tremblant, Que., was third on Thursday and the country’s top downhiller Manuel Osborne-Paradis of North Vancouver, was sixth on Wednesday. Alpine Canada kept the speed team, which also includes Jan Hudec of Calgary, away from reporters on the week-
Winter snow at the top of the run and rough corn snow at the bottom create havoc with ski choices. Many of the racers took the cue of Switzerland’s Silvan Zurbriggen (right) and spent their down time at the top of the mountain with free ski expeditions. | Getty Images photos
end as training runs were cancelled because of either too much snow up top and rain on the bottom. Gartner says the coaches wanted to ensure the group stays focused, doesn’t have too many distractions and maintains energy for racing. “As we go through [Sunday] afternoon, guys are starting to get into race mode, going through their pre-race routines.” As for the four-day gap between the last training run and race day, Gartner said “it probably plays into the hands of the [circuit’s] veterans a little bit because you’ve got to get your emotions down and then building again and rely on your imagery and all the stuff that experience will give you. “Our guys, I think, are fine with it because they know the hill and are comfortable with it.”
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010 | THE VANCOUVER SUN
Medals:
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OLYMPICS TODAY ||
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING
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Norway is out for revenge
‘The cradle of skiing’ was rocked by a poor performance in Turin, and officials hope a sophisticated training program will pay off in 2010 BY MIKE BEAMISH CANWEST NEWS SERVICE
N
orway bills itself as “the cradle of skiing” just as Canada accepts that it is the unchallenged birthplace of ice hockey. But the world’s most decorated shinny nation went into shock after a disastrous seventh-place finish at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, and the homeland of nordic skiing was just as consumed by its infuriating ineptitude to win gold on the ski trails. The Norwegians picked up three silver, one bronze, but they never made it to the top of the podium in any of the 12 crosscountry events (six men, six women) in Turin. “We had some sickness on the team and some waxing problems,” Aage Skinstad, team manager for the Norwegian team, told Canwest News on the eve of the 2010 Olympics cross-country ski competition Sunday. “And the Swedes had some very good sprinters. There were a lot of factors. But mostly we did not ski well.” Indeed, after leading the overall 2002 Winter Games medals table in Salt Lake City with 13 gold, the entire Norwegian Olympic team picked up just two in Turin, in biathlon and snowboarding. The Vancouver-Whistler Games, therefore, represent a bounce-back opportunity for both Norway and Canada, which share another dubious distinction. Both nations failed to win a gold the last time the Winter Olympics were held in Canada, at Calgary in 1988. Each had a total of five medals, a meagre haul which rocked the proud Norwegian psyche to the core. After all, Norwegians introduced skis, ski poles, ski bindings, ski jumps and speed skates to the world. Just six months after the Calgary Games, however, the International Olympic Committee awarded the 1994 Winter Olympics to Lillehammer. Galvanized Norwegians mobilized as if called to arms to rid themselves of a national inferiority complex. The response was Olympiatoppen, a government-sponsored windfall for athletes similar to Own the Podium in Canada. Norway’s winter sports rebirth was evidenced six years later with bushels of medals — 26 overall, including 10 gold — in Lillehammer. “Our problem is that we are a country of only 4.8 million people, but we try to change that to something positive,” Jarle Aambo, head of Olympiatoppen, told Canwest News. “Our model is very centralized compared to a lot of other countries. Elite sport in Norway has a high status among people and the government. And to stay at that high level, it’s accepted that we should have resources.” While Olympiatoppen’s budget is about 120 million kroner per year, the Norwegian cross-country ski war chest is funded almost entirely through sponsorships by airlines, banks and shipping companies. “We have our own managers, our own marketing department,” Skinstad says.
| File photo
Norwegian skiers like Kristian John Dahl hope to shine on the crosscountry track near Whistler this month. | FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images
“We operate like a small company.” For Norwegians, poling on skinny skis over hill and dale is as natural as breathing. With luck, a commoner might run into a monarch, King Harald V, or the crown prince on one of the trails that number in the thousands, because everybody in Norway waxes eloquently on skiing. A former Olympian who represented his country in sailing at the 1964 and ’68 Summer Olympics, Harald and Queen
Sonja are scheduled to arrive in Whistler to cheer on Norwegian hopes such as Petter Northug in cross-country, biathlon master Ole Einar Bjorndalen and Aksel Lund Svindal in alpine skiing. If Canada reaches the gold medal men’s hockey match on Feb. 28, the final day of the 2010 Olympics, it could be the most watched television sports event in Canadian history. Instead, Norwegians will be fixated on the men’s 50K cross-country
race, the marathon of nordic ski racing which will be shown in prime time back home. The Steve Yzerman of the Norwegian Olympic team is Skinstad, a former elite skier, television commentator for NRK and the ex-head of Adidas in Norway. One might argue that he is under the same pressure as Yzerman, who had a slew of advisers and millions of Canadians arguing and debating the formation of the 23-
man Olympic hockey roster. It was much the same in Norway, between the start of the World Cup season on Nov. 15 until the announcement of the Olympic cross-country team on Jan. 28. “I’m under the gun. Of course,” Skinstad acknowledged in an interview with Canwest News. “But I’m not afraid of that gun.” After taking over as manager of the Norwegian team in 2006, Skinstad used the trademark three stripes of his former employer, Adidas, to outline a plan for improvement. The focus for 2010 emphasized better technique, fitness and high altitude training, in northern Italy and Sun Valley, Idaho. Aware of how fickle snow and weather conditions on Canada’s west coast can be, Norwegian technicians have been dispatched three times to Whistler to test various waxes during the month of February so there will no repeat of Turin. “The most difficult thing is we’re not used to rain in the winter and these soft snow conditions,” Skinstad concedes. “It’s normally a harder surface when we train in Norway.” With any luck, though, Norway might win five gold medals in cross-country skiing this time, and three of them could come from Northug. He won three golds at last year’s world championships and is regarded as the county’s greatest skier since Bjorn Daehlie. Norwegians have claimed 30 gold, 34 silver and 23 bronze medals in cross-country skiing since the Winter Olympics began in 1924. Daehlie, the Winter Games all-time medal king, is responsible for 12 of those medals. Four years ago, Northug, then 20, was left off the Olympic team, for much the same reasons that Sidney Crosby has considered too young and inexperienced to play for Team Canada, despite his obvious natural gifts. Northug’s exclusion sparked a firestorm of controversy in Norway, which only intensified after the team’s poor showing in Turin. Now, he could be ready to dominate cross-country the way Daehlie did. “They both have the willing will,” Skinstad says. “They don’t care about anything else than things that have to do with making them better skiers. Everything else is secondary.” Not shy about making predictions, Olympiatoppen has set a goal of 25 medals at the Vancouver-Whistler Games, with most of them expected to come from nordic and alpine skiing. “We had 19 overall medals last time [Turin],” Skinstad says. “Cross-country and biathlon are expected to make up the extra six. I hope that we have done good enough work to make sure that it [no gold medals in cross-country] won’t happen again.” Rest assured, he’ll hear about it if it does, just as millions of Canadians will weep, wail and mourn over another gold-medal flame-out in hockey.
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Gold medal:
THE VANCOUVER SUN | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010
HOCKEY
Swedes lurking under the radar
Alfredsson likes his team’s chances against Canada
Medal predictions:
Hockey Men’s Gold: Canada Silver: Sweden Bronze: Russia Women’s G: Canada S: United States B: Sweden
BY WAYNE SCANLAN CANWEST NEWS SERVICE
Daniel Alfredsson is asked to name his dream opponent for the men’s Olympic hockey final. “Norway?” he muses. Right. Sweden meets Norway for the gold. Now there’s a matchup to warm Canadian hearts. In truth, as a winger who plays for the Ottawa Senators, Alfredsson has a good appreciation for a Sweden vs. Canada final on Feb. 28. “If you were to put us against Canada in 82 games, I don’t like our chances, but to play them one game, definitely we can beat them,” Alfredsson said, speaking before the last NHL games this weekend ahead of the two-week Olympic break. Finally, on Tuesday, the men’s hockey program gets underway with three games scheduled, including Canada versus those Norwegians Alfredsson speaks of, at 7:30 PM. Eastern. The Swedes don’t play until Wednesday afternoon, when they meet Germany. Alfredsson said he doesn’t plan to skate with the Swedes on Monday after playing two games for the Senators on the weekend. In the weeks and days — now hours — leading up to Tuesday’s drop of the puck, the focus has been on the host Canadians and the scary Russians, with both nations suggesting the other should be favoured. Somehow, the Swedes have become something of an afterthought, as though no one remembers they come into Vancouver as the defending Olympic champions from Turin 2006. “I don’t think we’re ‘underdogs,’ exactly, but we’re not talked about as much as maybe, Canada and Russia,” Alfredsson says. “But we feel we can beat anybody. There’s no question. “Obviously, Canada’s going to be tough to beat on home ice, but if you get to meet them in the playoffs, it will be a great challenge. It would hopefully bring the best out of you.”
Women’s hockey:
Daniel Alfredsson of the Ottawa Senators dreams of a Sweden-Norway final. | MIKE CARLSON/Reuters With Mats Sundin retired, the Senators’ 37-year-old captain will likely have an even bigger role in his fourth Olympic tournament. He’s been a tremendous performer for the Swedes, with eight goals and 12 assists in 16 Olympic matches, tied with Sundin for fifth alltime on Sweden’s scoring list. In Turin, Alfredsson played alongside Sundin and Fred Modin when the team needed offence. Otherwise, he was with Sammy Pahlsson and P.J. Axelsson, a more defensive presence. Alfredsson has no idea about linemates this time, but doesn’t think he will be on the right flank of the Sedin twins, Henrik and Daniel. Not that he would protest, if offered the chance. “I know Mattias Weinhandl has played with them before, at the world juniors, and in Sweden, and done really well,” Alfredsson says. “So, I think they have that spot reserved for him from the beginning.”
While he doesn’t get to see the Sedins and their Canucks very often, other than a highlight here and there, Alfredsson has a deep appreciation for their blossoming talent. With 80 points, Henrik was second only to Alex Ovechkin heading into the Olympic break, and the Sedin line, with Alex Burrows, has been one of the NHL’s best this season. Alfredsson speaks of the Sedin modus operandi as though it were some sort of covert operation. “They’re so different in the sense that, if you play Ovechkin and [Ilya] Kovalchuk, they’re just shooters, they can score from everywhere. “The Sedins toy with you in the sense that they play with the puck with such composure. They find each other, and they play on the outside a lot, kind of just drag you away from the net and then they find an opening. “It’s hard to play against, especially now
when you can’t hook and hold. “They’re so good at protecting the puck it’s hard to get at them.” Brian Pothier of the Washington Capitals had an interesting Olympic take when he was interviewed by NHL.com recently. Essentially, the defenceman was asked to referee a Washington dressing room ‘dispute’ between teammates Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. Which of their nations, Russia or Sweden, was more likely to bring home the gold? Pothier, an American, thought for a second and then said: “I think I’ll take Sweden. I know Russia’s got all the firepower you could ask for, but I think if [Henrik] Lundqvist plays well, they can play defence as a unit and they can control the puck because guys like Alfredsson and Backstrom can really do that.” Having Nick Lidstrom on defence doesn’t hurt, either.
As always, Peter Forsberg and his foot issues represent an interesting wild card. Sweden vs. Norway? Not likely. But Sweden vs. Canada would be a decent matchup if the Russians trip. “It’s good for everybody,” says Alfredsson, Sweden’s diplomat in Ottawa, “if Canada gets through.” Canadian hockey players and staff trickled in to Vancouver as they finished up their NHL duties. Among the early arrivals on Sunday were head coach Mike Babcock, winger Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames and L.A. Kings defenceman Drew Doughty. Centre Sidney Crosby, declared just a day earlier as the “face of Canadian hockey” by executive director Steve Yzerman, put a scare into the Canadian contingent when he took a slapshot off the shin in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 4-3 shootout loss to Nashville Sunday afternoon. Though he was frustrated by what his coach, Dan Bylsma, called a painful “stinger,” Crosby did return to the game, and participated in the shootout. He failed to score in the shootout but did record his 42nd of the season earlier in the game. Hockey Canada, the IIHF, and the Canadian Hockey League are holding an open ice summit on player development and the future of international hockey in Toronto Aug. 23-27. “The 1999 Molson Open Ice Summit represented a launching point for Canadian hockey, and we see the opportunity for an even larger impact for the 2010 Summit,” said Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson. As someone joked in Vancouver yesterday, if Canada wins gold, the summit gets called off.
Swiss coach has some tricks to play on Canada
BY STEVE EWEN CANWEST NEWS SERVICE
Rene Kammerer, who by day works for a company that produces car parts, will try to find a way to stall Canada’s potent women’s hockey offence today. Kammerer is coach of the Swiss team and, like most of his counterparts from developing hockey nations, he has a regular day job to go along with his
bench boss duties. So, coming off a 3-0 loss to Sweden in their Vancouver 2010 opener on Saturday, how does he scheme to face a Canadian team that drilled Slovakia 18-0? “We have to be prepared to have a good defence,” Kammerer, through an interpreter, said of the 2:30 PM. contest at UBC Thunderbird Arena,”but meanwhile we have to try to be fresh on offence and willing to try some tricky things.”
He says he doesn’t think his players are phased by the Canadians’ lopsided win in the opener, rationalizing that the Slovaks have just been promoted to the top division of women’s hockey this year. The Swiss finished fourth at the world championships two seasons ago, thanks largely to an upset win over Sweden. They were seventh at that tournament last year, going 2-2, including a 6-3 loss to Finland.
They were seventh at Turin 2006. “We’re not used to being in a big stadium, so we will be nervous, but, as the game is going on, the girls will start enjoying the crowd and start realizing where they are,” Kammerer said of the matchup with Canada. The Swiss feature Lucrece Nussbaum, 23, a blueliner in her fourth season with the St. Thomas Tommies, a CIS team in Fredericton, N.B.
Today’s other game pits the Swedes against the Slovaks in a 7 p.m. tilt at UBC. The Swedes are the reigning silver Olympic silver medallists, thanks to their upset win over the Americans in the semifinals four years ago, and they finished fourth at last year’s world championships. The Slovaks are in their first Olympics.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010
BREAKING NEWS: VANCOUVERSUN.COM
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THE VANCOUVER SUN | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010
LUGE
Canada’s Meaghan Simister says she’ll draw energy from the home crowd, but she’s lost an advantage she had on the original start.
Track shift:
| RICHARD HEATHCOTE/Getty Images
Women lugers lash out at ‘kids’ stuff’
At least one competitor feels insulted by the move to the junior start gate after the tragic death of a Georgian luger Friday “It’s a horrible start, very
BY TERRY BELL CANWEST NEWS SERVICE
The way Germany’s Natalie Geisenberger sees it, they’ve turned the women’s 2010 Olympic luge event into a kids race. After Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili’s death Friday, VANOC and International Luge Federation officials have moved the women’s start down to the junior start gate on the Whistler Sliding Centre course. Predictably, some like it, some don’t. Put Geisenberger down with the don’t s. “We trained the whole summer and we are strong and fast and now the fastest starters are slow,” said Geisenberger, who has won three times and finished second four times in eight World Cup races this season. “It’s not good for us. It’s not fun. It’s not a ladies start, it’s a kinder start.” She said it was insulting. And kinder, of course, means child in German. The women and doubles course was 1,198 metres long and is now just 953. Last season the Canadian youth (under-15) championships were held on the short course. “We’re still hitting 80 miles per hour so it’s not just a walk in the park but, yes, it’s definitely not the same,” said Erin Hamlin of the U.S. when told about Geisenberger’s “kid’s stuff,” comment. “I think something had to be addressed after what happened and it couldn’t be ignored,” added Hamlin, who won the 2009 world championship at Lake Placid and ended a 99-race (World Cup, world championships, Olympics) win-
awkward. This is totally unlike any other track on the World Cup circuit. It goes right into the wall. There’s a ramp and it goes straight into a wall.” Calgary’s Meaghan Simister
Natalie Geisenberger of Germany had some harsh words for changes made at the Whistler Sliding Centre. | LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images ning streak by the Germans. “I don’t know what went on behind closed doors but there weren’t very many options. You can’t change how the track is built in 24 hours.” “Four runs is enough to figure out how it works but it isn’t enough to make it fast.” “It’s the rule and I’ll make the best of it,” said Germany’s Tatjana Huefner, a bronze medallist in a German sweep at the 2006 Games in Turin and a four-time winner on the 2009-10 World Cup circuit. “You need another sled for this or you need to prepare the sled differently. It’s still not easy. You’re still going 130 km/h and that’s difficult. The most difficult thing now is the start curve.” The women now have to make a quick
turn shortly after leaving the start. It’s hard to build momentum off the start. The fast starters feel like they’ve had one of their greatest strengths taken out of play. And like their male countrymen, Canada’s women seem a little miffed. Like the men, they’ve trained extensively on the pre-change course. Now it’s a crapshoot. “It’s a horrible start, very awkward,” said Calgary’s Meaghan Simister after her second and final training run on Sunday. “This is totally unlike any other track on the World Cup circuit. It goes right into the wall. There’s a ramp and it goes straight into a wall.” Simister said it’s like putting on the brakes on skates.
“No matter how strong you are at the start you get into hockey stop,” she said. “It’s basically just managing that hockey stop.” She said it is possible to make up for the start later on the track. “If you focus on good solid lines and a flat position, that’s all you can do,” said Simister, who has some of the world’s fastest push starts. “Now I have no advantage any more,” she said. “It’s who drives the best out of the situation is going to do well.” She paused to think when told of Geisenberger’s comment. “I don’t know if it’s insulting,” she said. “It definitely takes away from what we trained on and the two years we spent training. It’s a different track. I’m still going to take away the energy of the
crowd and the Germans don’t have that. I’ll take the positive and try to draw from the crowd but I have no advantage in the start any more. “Now it’s whoever can make the [first] curve the fastest,” said Simister, who understands the situation VANOC and the FIL were in after Friday’s tragedy. “For the men something had to be done,” she said. “But as far as I know there was no major crash from the women’s start. There was normal crashing and that comes from the sport. It’s a racing sport. “But they had to do something. For me, it’s not the best with my skill set. I’ll try to do four consistent runs and try to figure it out.” Teammate Regan Lauscher, who’s retiring after this event, had a slightly different take. “Champions aren’t the people who can have in perfect conditions their best race,” she said. “They’re the people who can adapt to anything. I think that’s who should be the Olympic champion. “It’s a challenge. It’s one we didn’t see coming and one we didn’t train for but I think everybody here can deal with it.” The women start with two runs today at 5 p.m. and finish with two more on Tuesday, beginning at 1 p.m. MORE ON TEAMMATE REAGAN LAUSCHER, PAGE C16
Medal predictions: Luge Women’s singles Gold: Tatjana Hufner, Germany Silver: Erin Hamlin, United States Bronze: Natalie Geisenberger, Germany
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010 | THE VANCOUVER SUN
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OLYMPICS TODAY ||
LUGE
Tragedy is a Games changer
“The Germans got it ... It totally changed
Medal chances:
Lower start is used after luger dies, and starts are now the key to victory at the sliding centre BY JASON BOTCHFORD CANWEST NEWS SERVICE
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he decision to lower the start for the men’s luge changed the complexion of the Olympic race and cleared the way for a German to win gold Sunday, said Argentina’s Ruben Gonzalez. Officials lowered the start position for all luge races, a decision they said was made because of the “emotional” impact of Friday’s death of a Nodar Kumaritashvili, a Georgian competitor who crashed on corner 16 at the Whistler Sliding Centre. Coming into the Games most predicted Italy’s Armin Zoeggeler would win gold, but he is in third place with the first two, of four, runs already completed. Zoeggeler, 36, won gold both in Turin in 2006 and in Salt Lake City in 2002. “The Germans got it,” Gonzalez said. “It totally changed the whole race. It used to be Armin Zoeggeler of Italy and Albert Demtschenko of Russia. It was the two them. But now it’s a German race.” Demtschenko is considered Zoeggeler’s main rival. He won silver in 2006 and is second, just behind Zoeggeler, in the World Cup standings. With two runs left Sunday in the Luge finals, Demtschenko is fourth. Felix Loch, of Germany, is first and his countryman David Moeller is second. After Friday’s tragedy, the men are now racing from the women’s start, which takes away most of the 152-metre drop than allowed sliders to achieve record speeds. “This new start is flat,” Gonzalez explained. “The Germans have incredible starts. They can build up really good speed at the top. The men’s normal start is very steep. But the women’s start is fairly flat. “So, if you have a fast start, you gain a ton of time. Your start time becomes very important in the top part. “When you’re going from the normal men’s start, gosh, by turn two you’re going 60 miles per hour. So it’s vroom. Before, the start was really not that important.” Gonzalez is 47 years old and is the first
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the whole race. It used to be Armin Zoeggeler (left) of Italy and Albert Demtschenko of Russia. It was the two them two. But now it’s a German race.” Argentinian Luge competitor Ruben Gonzalez (below) | PAWEL KOPCZYNSKI/Reuters
person to compete in four Winter Olympics, each in a different decade — 1988, 1992, 2002 and now 2010. He suggested there was no need to move the starting location after officials built up the barrier wall where Kumaritashvili crashed. “Once they got that wall in, I don’t think there was any safety issue. Before? Yes. As soon as they put that wall there, I felt I could handle it,” Gonzalez said. “That wall will take care of the job. If you come out of the curve, bounce on to the wall, you will come back onto the track. That takes care of it. But it seems they were under a lot of pressure [to do more].” Born in Argentina, Gonzalez moved to the United States when he was six years old. He took a six-year break from sliding after the Salt Lake City Olympics. He then started a comeback at age 45 and did it in Latvia. Leading up to a World Cup event there, he trained with Kumaritashvili for a week. “He didn’t speak English and I don’t speak Russian,” Gonzalez said. “It was just hand signals. Nodar would always take it upon himself, since he knew the track, he would always come to me and talk to me with his hands. “He would say things like, ‘On corner six, this is what you do.’ Because we can do things like that with hand signals. “He helped me. He was that kind of kid. A 19-year-old kid helping an old fart like me. “He was the kind of kid I want my kids to grow up to be.”
Medal predictions:
Luge Men’s singles Gold: Armin Zoeggler, Italy Silver: Albert Demchenko, Russia Bronze: Felix Loch, Germany
| PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images
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THE DAY IN PHOTOS
THE VANCOUVER SUN | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010
Finland’s Anssi Koivuranta competes in the men’s Nordic Combined Individual Normal Hill Ski Jumping event at Whistler Olympic Park Sunday. | JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images)
Canadian fans Madison and Keaton Heisteiman squint into the sun before qualifying runs for men’s moguls freestyle skiing at Cypress Mountain. | Gerry Kahrmann / CNS
Team Russia’s goalkeeper Irina Gashennikova lets in one of five goals scored by Team Finland. Finland won the game by a score of 5-1. | Larry Wong/Canwest News Service
Ireen Wust of the Netherlands is consoled by team mate Renate Groenewold after the women’s 3,000 metres race at the Richmond Olympic Oval Sunday. | JERRY LAMPEN/Reuters
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010 | THE VANCOUVER SUN
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THE DAY IN PHOTOS
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Canada’s Samuel Edney speeds down the track in his final run of the men’s singles luge event at the Whistler Sliding Centre Sunday. | Stefano Rellandini /REUTERS
Japan’s Akito Watabe (left) and the Czech Republic’s Pavel Churavy put some hustle into the men’s Nordic Combined Individual 10 km at Whistler Olympic Park Cross-Country Stadium Sunday. | DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images
Germany’s Felix Loch (above) celebrates on the podium after winning the men’s singles luge event. | TONY GENTILE/Reuters Vanessa James (left) and Yannick Bonheur of France perform during the pairs short program figure skating event. | LUCY NICHOLSON/REUTERS
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SNOWBOARD
THE VANCOUVER SUN | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010
Trash talking starts with Americans’ arrival Attitude:
U.S. snowboarder Nate Holland stirs a storm with his shot at Canada’s Own the Podium program BY CORY WOLFE CANWEST NEWS SERVICE
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hen U.S. snowboarder Nate Holland swaggered into town for these Olympics, he promptly unloaded some colourful quotes. He’s not as recognizable as fellow redheaded rider Shaun White, the defending Olympic halfpipe champion, but Holland doesn’t exactly go under the radar. He introduced himself here by taking a playful poke at Canada’s Own the Podium initiative. “They can take that thing home,” said Holland, echoing a line he heard from a fellow American. “We’ll just rent it for the month.” U.S. riders get their first chance to back up that claim today with men’s snowboardcross medals on the line at Cypress Mountain. Holland ranks among the favourites, having recently captured gold at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo. Sure, his quip made some thin-skinned Canadians scowl. But Holland’s loquacious manner is what makes him likable. How can you not smile when a guy describes his board as a “freakin rocket ship”? And when poor visibility greeted competitors on the first day of snowboardcross training, Holland shrugged off the conditions, saying he’d be comfortable to ride by braille down the course. The 31-year-old Idaho native comes from a free-riding background, so perhaps that’s why he’s comfortable veering off course verbally, too. His rent-thepodium comment ranks among the most repeated quotes of the Games so far. When Canadian team vet Drew Neilson first heard it, he responded with a grin and a rebuttal. Neilson started diplomatically but finished with a bit of spice. “We’ve been training hard, we’ve had lots of support and we’re really well prepared,” said Neilson. “So, that rent will be unaffordable as far as I’m concerned.” Gamesmanship aside, the U.S. has plenty of hardware to back up its bravado. American riders have claimed 14 of the 42 medals awarded since snowboarding debuted in 1998 at Nagano. They won seven medals at the 2006 Turin Games alone, including golden performances by White and Seth Wescott, the reigning snowboardcross champion. Canada’s strength in snowboardcross is on the women’s side, with Maelle Ricker and Dominique Maltais (a bronze medallist in Turin) among the top contenders to claim gold Tuesday. The Canadian men aren’t without medal hopes, though. Rob Fagan (Squamish) ranks fourth in World Cup standings this sea-
Nate Holland of Squaw Valley, Calif., keeps count after winning his fifth consecutive Men’s Snowboarder X gold medal at the Winter X Games in January in Aspen, Colo.
THE BOYS ON THE BOARDS Medal predictions:
| DOUG PENSINGER/Getty Images
son, and Mike Robertson (Canmore, Alta.) returns to Cypress where he placed second in a World Cup event last year. Neither Neilson (North Vancouver) nor Francois Boivin (Jonquiere, Que.) has reached the podium this season, but they’ve contended in recent weeks, each posting a fourth-place result. Their main competition comes from the Americans and the French, who are led by World Cup leader Pierre Vaultier. The Cypress venue which was beset first by a lack of snow and more recently by poor visibility also promises to be a formidable foe. “It’s that kind of course that you must know very well how to ride a snowboard,” said Italy’s Alberto Schiavon, a bronze medallist behind Holland and Wescott at the recent X Games. “It’s very difficult, with big features and so challenging. But these are the Olympics so it has to be like that.”
Snowboarding Men’s snowboardcross Gold: Pierre Vaultier, France Silver: Seth Wescott, U.S. Bronze: Graham Watanabe, U.S.
Italy’s Alberto Schiavon
France’s Pierre Vaultier
Canada’s Rob Fagan
“They can take that thing home. We’ll just rent it for the month.” Nate Holland’s playful poke at Canada’s Own the Podium initiative
Canada’s Mike Robertson
Canada’s Francois Boivin
Canada’s Drew Neilson
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010
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BREAKING NEWS: VANCOUVERSUN.COM
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500 metres:
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SPEED SKATING
THE VANCOUVER SUN | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010
The Spoon reaches fork in road
Canada’s Jeremy Wotherspoon is the world record holder and all-time World Cup wins leader, but he’s skating uphill in Richmond BY GEORGE JOHNSON CANWEST NEWS SERVICE
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he heart and mind are waging war over today’s 500-metre final. All logic, any informed reason, keeps hammering home the unavoidable fact that the featured sprint event at the Richmond oval during these Games simply has to be a four-man showdown between Koreans KangSeouk Lee and Kyou-Hyok Lee, Finland’s Mika Poutala and the apple of Janesville, Wisc.’s eye, Tucker Fredricks. Those men have dominated the World Cup circuit this season, and are widely tipped to squabble over the three podium places. And yet Jeremy Wotherspoon, the world record holder at 500 and the alltime winningest World Cup skater, any distance, remains a powerful piece of national emotional ammunition here. At 33, bouncing back this fall from a left arm broken after falling during a race in Berlin. The baggage of any Olympic career that has netted only one medal, a silver in the 500 at Nagano, and more than a few meltdowns. His announcement earlier this year that he would retire from competition at season’s, and perhaps Olympic’s, end. Regardless of what happens here, his place historically is unchallenged: He will go down as one of the greatest sprinters ever. The 34.08 the Spoon skated in Salt Lake in 2007 has stood the test of time. He also holds the 2x500 World Record, at 68.31 set on his home Calgary track in November of 2008. What a wonderful story he could author just by reaching a second Games podium today. That’s the heart talking. The head studies the Red Deer Rocket’s results in the rundown to this competition and says sorry, lovely thought, but no way. Yes, he performed ably at the Canadian Olympic Trials in Calgary, given the circumstances. But his only World Cup race against A level international competition, at the final preOlympic stop in Salt Lake, ended in a 20th, in 45.95, a full 11.69 seconds behind winner Kang-Seouk Lee. How much can be read into that one piece of admissible evidence? The Wotherspoon camp will doubtless insist, not much. They’re saying their man has been channelling all his energies and towards this point, has built his mind and body to a point that he’s ready for a breakthrough moment on the planet’s biggest stage. Edmonton’s Jamie Gregg hasn’t the experience or pedigree of Wotherspoon, but he is Canada’s highest-ranking 500 man at 10th. A pair of Manitobans, Kyle Parrott of Minnedosa and veteran Mike Ireland of Winnipeg, are also scheduled to skate. Ireland is participating at his third Olympics, while the 24-year-old Parrot will be marking his Games debut.
Regardless of what happens here, Wotherspoon’s place historically is unchallenged: he will go down as one of the greatest sprinters ever. The 34.08 the Spoon skated in Salt Lake in 2007 has stood the test of time. He also holds the 2x500 World Record, at 68.31 set on his home Calgary track in November of 2008.
Jeremy Wotherspoon has announced that this skating season will be his last.
| JOHN MAHONEY / CNS
Medal predictions:
Speed skating Men’s 500 metres Gold: Kang Seok-Lee, Korea Silver: Kyou-Hyuk Lee, Korea Bronze: Mika Poutala, Finland Men’s 1,000 metres
Jamie Gregg (far left) is Canada’s highest-ranking 500 man; Kyle Parrott (centre) makes his Olympic debut; and Mike Ireland competes in his third Games.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010
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THE VANCOUVER SUN | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010
LUGE
Regan Lauscher turns 30 soon, is about to be married, and will close out a 16-year career with the 2010 Games. | OLIVER LANG/AFP/Getty Images
Last turn:
These are her goodbye Games
Veteran luger Regan Lauscher has blazed a trail of success for Canada and inspired many of today’s rising stars
“I’m proud to put on a Canadian suit and be here. I’m proud to walk into the Athletes Village and the policemen and guards and the people preparing our food, everybody is behind us and you feel that energy. Ending here, it couldn’t be a better ending to a story like this. My family is here to support me. Canadians are the first to remind me that they are here to support me. It’s fun.”
BY TERRY BELL CANWEST NEWS SERVICE
Veteran Canadian luger Regan Lauscher will go out the next two days and try to enjoy every split second she gets on this calamitous Whistler Sliding Centre track. For the soon-to-turn-30 Saskatoonraised Calgarian, the 2010 Olympic stage will offer the final curtain. It’ll be a chance to say goodbye. “These are my last runs,” says Lauscher, who will end her 16-year career with the two-day, four-run event on today and Tuesday. “I’m going to try to soak it in and enjoy every split second, literally, out there. “I’m not sure if in life I will find a parallel feeling to this. It’s been an amazing journey, especially these last four years that have been riddled with challenges and question marks and self doubt. I feel looking back that it’s a story worth telling. I made it through and to be here right now I feel privileged.” Lauscher has battled. Injuries. Shoulder
Canadian luger Regan Lauscher
surgeries have left her, perhaps, a little weaker than she’d hoped to be here at the 2010 Olympic Games. But perhaps no one has been a greater strength for the sport in this country. Her successes — a World Cup silver medal six years ago in Lake Placid, N.Y. and a 10th place finish in 2006 in Turin — helped luge emerge from darkest corners of Canadian sport’s spare drawer and move to a place where its athletes at least had a chance to compete. She’s taken them from the raggedy suits and the duct-taped boots to a degree of
respectability. “It’s like the chicken and the egg,” says Tim Farstad, executive director of the Canadian Luge Federation. “She was able to get the results for us that showed Sport Canada and Own the Podium that we had the potential to medal. “She had her best result ever with her silver medal in Lake Placid and that showed our sport, our organization, that we could do that. “Until five years ago she was our only top woman. Now we’ve had an influx of women sliders and she’s affected that. The young girls look up to her. Of course we’ll miss her. It feels like we’re losing a member of the family.” Lauscher will savour every moment of
these Games. “I’m proud to put on a Canadian suit and be here,” she says. “I’m proud to walk into the Athletes Village and the policemen and guards and the people preparing our food, everybody is behind us and you feel that energy. “Ending here, it couldn’t be a better ending to a story like this. My family is here to support me. Canadians are the first to remind me that they are here to support me. It’s fun.” It hasn’t always been fun for Lauscher. Well, perhaps it was. But it didn’t look that way as Canadians, under-funded and over-whelmed, struggled to compete internationally. Now Lauscher is proud she’s helped affect change.
“Canadians, we’re not a joke,” she says. “We’re competitors. People are looking at our finish times, they’re videotaping us on the track and that was never the case before. We’d show up, hopefully with our sled intact, and hope to cross the finish line twice. “It’s turned around and there’s momentum being built. I look at the kids coming up and they’re unbelievably talented. “I feel like I helped pave the way for Canadian luge. My few success and the progress I made against all odds and as a complete underdog has instilled some faith in little kids that maybe they didn’t have before.” Lauscher has a journalism degree. She has wedding plans. She’s getting married in New York City on Oct. 16. Her fiance, Landon Hollman, is coming in for her event. The first thing Lauscher will do after it all ends is spend time with her family. “I want to be with my family and give them hugs,” she says. But before that there’s business to take care of. “I want to be a competitor,” she says. “I know I’m human. Everybody is. I hope, whether I can come out on top or I’m 10th or 20th or whatever, that I competed, that I grinded it out out there and I didn’t hold back. That’s what racing is.” And that was her career.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010 | THE VANCOUVER SUN
O Zone:
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EVENTS
OLYMPICS TODAY || C17
Potty mouth serenades Richmond
‘Crass’ Canadian singer/songwriter Edwards refuses to embrace the stereotype of a country-music princess KATHLEEN EDWARDS Where: Main Stage (Richmond O Zone) When: 9:45 PM. Tickets: Free BY KIMBERLY SHEARON CANWEST NEWS SERVICE
It’s kind of fitting that alt-country singer/songwriter Kathleen Edwards will be playing at Richmond’s O Zone tonight. After all, the sprawling monstrosity that is the O Zone is also home to the infamous and legen … wait for it … dary Holland Heineken House. Similarly, Edwards is known as a bit of a maverick in musical circles. The Ottawa-born songstress would be the first to point out that she isn’t your typical country singer — you know, all sugar, spice and everything nice. Can you imagine country’s reigning princess Taylor Swift or American Idol alum Carrie Underwood ever cussing? On national television? During a benefit concert? Edwards, 31, openly admits she can be irreverent. In fact, that’s why she has dubbed her production company Potty Mouth Productions. “I like being crass,” she told Rolling Stone in 2005. Ironic, considering she is the daughter of a diplomat. Edwards caught the attention of musical tastemakers in 2003 with the release of her debut album, Failer. Rolling Stone named her as an “artist to watch.” The New York Times and Blender magazine also piled on the praise. It was heady stuff for a young woman who had decided to forgo post-secondary education after high school and take her chances on the local club circuit. She has since gone on to perform alongside music legends like Neil Young and Emmylou Harris. Her most recent album, Asking for Flowers, is being hailed as her best work to date. The album encapsulates everything that has made Edwards a critical darling thus far. Honest lyrics. Unpretentious production values. While her music is definitely infused with some of that good ol’ country twang, she is far from being a cowboy boot-wearing, hair-teasing gal who sings about pickup trucks and wild horses. In 2008 she told an interviewer that she does not want to be pigeonholed as just another country artist. “It’s a constant source of frustration to me that I am so often lumped in with country artists. Playing the Grand Ole Opry was incredibly cool, but that designation is the most alienating thing in the world for me,” she said. “I sing Toby Keith when I’m with friends and want to embarrass myself at kara-
Kathleen Edwards says she’ll only sing Toby Keith songs when she wants to embarrass herself at karaoke. oke; otherwise not at all.” has already been said and done: “A is for who have tried to label and market Edall the times I bit my tongue/B is for the wards as anything but what she is — On The Cheapest Key, the lead single off bulls—t and you fed me some.” herself. of Asking, Edwards channels her inner Alanis Morissette and makes it clear she Perhaps it’s a message for an ex-lover, or No matter. What’s important is that Edisn’t going to sit back and dwell on what maybe it’s a defiant kiss-off to those wards has plenty of inspiration for her
next batch of songs. Logic says that soon enough more people will have to take notice of this always honest, sometimes crass Canadian who knows how to write a great song.
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EVENTS
THE VANCOUVER SUN | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010
FIVE THINGS
NIGHTLIFE — Ice Cream Social Rock & Roll Club Where: Lotus Hotel (455 Abbott Street) When: Doors open at 9 p.m. Why: Put on your best retro duds for an evening dedicated to old-school tunes from Motown and years past. The drinks are cheap and the music is slammin’ at this three-room superclub, so get there early to avoid long queues. Tickets: $10 cover at door
SUBURBS and WHISTLER — Russian figure skating team practice Where: Abbotsford Recreation Centre When: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; 4-6 p.m. Why: Couldn’t get tickets to any figure skating events? No matter! Watch the Russian pairs, ice dance couples and men’s figure skaters run through their Olympic programs at this free public event. Spectators will also have the opportunity to have a “meet and greet” with the skaters after practice is over More information: http://www.tourismabbotsford.ca
FREE — Laser Waterworks Show Where: David Lam Park (LiveCity Yaletown) When: Nightly, start time TBD Why: Head downtown to check out this laser/fireworks/water show set against False Creek’s picturesque backdrop. A pipe in False Creek will spew water high into the air for this family-friendly show, which promises no shortage of eye-candy. More information: http://www.citycaucus.com/2010venues/laser-waterworks-show
FAMILY — Richmond’s O Zone Where: Richmond City Centre When: Weekdays, 3-11 p.m.; weekends, noon-11 p.m. Why: Skating, children’s art, games, history exhibits ... and of course, food. Richmond’s stateof-the-art O Zone features an impressive array of things to do, see, touch, eat. Take the family and take it all in. More information: http://www.richmondozone.com/the_ozone
DOWNTOWN — Made in Vancouver Festival Where: Yaletown When: Daily until Feb. 27, free entertainment from 2-10 p.m. Why: Local artists and artisans will put their handcrafted wares up for sale at this 15-day showcase event. Run by volunteers, the festival will also include performances from local musicians, dancers and performance artists. More information: http:// iheartvanart.com/site/
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010 | THE VANCOUVER SUN
OLYMPICS TODAY || C19
EVENTS
TODAY’S EVENT LISTINGS N CONCERTS LiveCity Yaletown » DJ Spooky and DBR (5 p.m.), Grand DErangement (6:30 PM), Malajube (8 p.m.), Matisyahu (9:30 PM). David Lam Park, free, livecityvancouver.ca. LiveCity Downtown » Jets Overhead 9:30 PM. Cambie at Georgia, free, livecityvancouver.ca. Richmond O Zone Concert Series » Jenn Grant and Kathleen Edwards Feb. 15. Minoru Park, 7191 Granville, Richmond, free, richmondozone.ca Atlantic Canada House Olympic Concert Series » Sloan Arts Club Theatre, Granville Island, Feb. 13-27, free, atlanticcanadahouse.com. Ontario Pavilion Serena Ryder Tents east of Science World, 9:30 PM free, citycaucus.com/2010venues. Place de la Francophonie 2010 » Garou, La Volee d’Castors. Granville Island, free, 604-569-3586. Whistler Victory Ceremony Concerts » Pierre Lapointe. Whistler Medals Plaza, Whistler, B.C., $50/22, vancouver2010.com. Vancouver Victory Ceremony Concerts » Quebec night; act TBA BC Place Stadium, 777 Pacific, 6:25 PM, $50/22, vancouver2010.com, 1-800-tickets. City And Colour » Dallas Green performs material from latest CD Bring Me Your Love with Rural Alberta Advantage. Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 649 Cambie, 8 p.m., $32.50-39.50, 1-800-TICKETS, vancouver2010. com/culturalolympiad
N LITERARY EVENTS A Wake for Duthie Books » Party to honour the legendary bookstore, which closes after half a century of involvement in the literary world. Shebeen, behind the Irish Heather, 212 Carrall, Gastown, Feb. 15, 7 p.m., $20, theshebeenclub.com.
Jenn Grant — with Kathleen Edwards — tonight at Minoru Park, 7191 Granville, in Richmond.
Hoist a pint for Duthie Books at Shebeen. The local independent bookseller is closing after 53 years in Vancouver.
N GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS Audain Gallery » SFU Woodward’s, 149 W. Hastings » FIRST NATIONS / SECOND NATURE: To March 20. Burnaby Art Gallery » 6344 Deer Lake, Burnaby 604-2974422.» GORDON SMITH: To March 7. Catriona Jeffries Gallery » 274 E. 1st, 604-736-1554. » SURGEON AND THE PHOTOGRAPHER: Geoffrey Farmer, to March 6. Contemporary Art Gallery » 555 Nelson 604-681-2700. » AN INVITATION TO AN INFILTRATION: To Feb. 28. Five-Sixty » 560 Seymour. » NAME, MEDIUM, SIZE, YEAR: Etienne Zack, sculpture of one of his paintings » David Hoffos » METCALFE/LEWIS: ICONS: To Feb. 28. Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery » 1826 Main Mall, UBC 604-822-2759. BACKSTORY: NUUCHAANULTH CEREMONIAL CURTAINS AND THE WORK OF KI-KE-IN: To March 28.» Museum of Anthropology » 6393 N.W. Marine 604-822-
5087. » BORDER ZONES: NEW ART ACROSS CULTURES: Contemporary works by 12 international artists, ongoing. Museum of Vancouver » 1100 Chestnut 604-736-4431. » RAVISHING BEASTS: To Feb. 28. » ART OF CRAFT: CANADA, BC, KOREA: To April 11 » TRACING NIGHT: Ed Pien’s immersive paper labyrinth, to April 11. Presentation House Gallery » 333 Chesterfield, N Van 604-986-1351. » LAID OVER TO COVER: PHOTOGRAPHY AND WEAVING IN THE SALISHAN LANDSCAPE: To March 14. Richmond Art Gallery » 7700 Minoru 604-231-6454. » MASK: Photographic work by First Nations artist Arthur Renwick, to April 4. Surrey Art Gallery » 13750-88th Ave. 604-501-5566. » QUILT OF BELONGING: To April 4 » SILKROADS: Ruth Scheuing, textiles, to April 4 » MODEL LIFE: Frank Shebageget, to April 4 Vancouver Art Gallery » 750 Hornby 604-662-4700. » VISIONS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA: A LANDSCAPE
Tonight Dallas Green of City and Colour performs songs off his latest CD Bring me your Love at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre
MANUAL: To April 18 » LEONARDO DA VINCI: THE MECHANICS OF MAN: The most substantial body of drawings by Leonardo ever shown in Canada, to May 2. » VISCERAL BODIES: Features 20 international artists investigating the human form, to May 16. » NORTH FACE FACADE: Michael Lin, to May 16.
N ONGOING OLYMPIC ACTION Candahar » Art installation that is also a functioning pub, by Theo Sims, with nightly events. Granville Island, Feb. 12-28, vancouver2010.com/culturalolympiad. Bright Light » Series of site-specific artworks, light-based installations, video projections, street
performances, and interactive community events by 14 arts organizations (Access Gallery, Artspeak, ASIR Studio, Centre A, Downtown Eastside Centre for the Arts, Fillip, Helen Pitt Gallery, Instant Coffee, Jeffrey Boone Gallery, LIVE Performance Art, Natalie Purschwitz and W2 Community Media Arts). Various Downtown Eastside venues, to March 21, full schedule at bright-light.ca. Vectorial Elevation » Public art project by Montrealbased artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer features beams of light over English Bay, covering an area of 100,000 square metres; the designs come from people around the world, who can log onto a website (vectorialvancouver.net) and determine how the lights will move, presented by Cultural Olympiad. Park Royal Winter Carnival » Features outdoor skating rink, live music, beverage tent, and giant TV screens screening Olympic events. Park Royal Shopping Centre, W Van, hopparkroyal.com for hours and skate rental information. LunarFest » Public art display designed by schoolchildren, indigenous creators and professional artists from Taiwan and Canada features 2,010 lanterns in a forest of light, a bright. Granville St. (between Georgia and Robson), free. Sins of the City Walking Tour » Tour explores Vancouver’s history of vice: old gambling dens, opium houses, brothels. Vancouver Police Museum, 240 E. Cordova, 1 a.m. or 2 p.m., $15/12, 604-665-3346. Edgewater Casino Chinese New Year and Olympic Celebration » Traditional festivities, bands, lion dances, ethnic dancers, cabaret shows and standup comedy, with 120 food and shopping vendors. Edgewater Casino 750 Pacific, free, edgewatercasino.ca. Sochi 2014 Russky Dom: Russian Pavilion The Russians have completely transformed Science World to podium its plans for the 2014 Winter Games. Watch performances by Russian stars, view Olympic hockey games on big screens and sample traditional cuisine. Science Centre, Feb. 11-28, free, www.sochi2014.com. Winterfest This Olympic festival puts kids first, offering organized play areas with games and rides, a ballroom, face painting, an Alice in Wonderland party, dance lessons and folk and pop concerts. Lonsdale Quay, N Van, Feb. 11-27, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., free, lonsdalequay. com.
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BACK-PAGE BACK FLIP
Canada’s Alexandre Bilodeau in fine form during the men’s freestyle skiing moguls qualifying on Cypress Mountain yesterday. He went on to win the gold medal. | LYLE STAFFORD/Reuters
THE VANCOUVER SUN | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010
