Words & photos: Ethan Stone
Feel da riddim!
Get on up
It’s bobsled time!
If there is, I haven’t heard of it.
Yes, Atlanta and Munich are former Olympic host cities, making my trip a de facto Olympic tour.
And they are also both cities that saw violence and bloodshed during their Games.
Would you consider that a bad omen for the Olympics that I’m on my way to now?
Consider as you will; I don’t believe in that bad ju-ju.
Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park - stop one on my Olympic tour.
A quotation from “the founder of the modern Olympic movement.”
Do you agree or disagree with his sentiment?
I’ve reached the vortex currently sucking up all the attention in the freeskiing world.
Allow me to indulge in a brief geo-history lesson.
Elbrus, a solid three thousand feet higher than the Alps' Mont Blanc.
Understanding Sochi’s location is essential to understanding why everyone’s so worried about terrorism at these Games.
And Russia’s hold on the region is still tenuous.
The diverse ethnic groups that populate the Caucasus have never jived well with Russian rule.
Generally speaking, that doesn’t make people happy.
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, several Caucasian statesGeogia, Azerbaijan and Armeniabecame independent.
When the smoke cleared, the United Nations called Grozny “the most destroyed city on Earth.”
Grozny in March 1995.
Photo courtesy worldcuphumanrights.blogspot.com
Again: this is no way to go about making friends.
Though Russia has successfully retained control of much of the Caucasus, a festering insurgency still lingers here.
Like many others who have visited Russia, my first taste of the country is that of beaurocracy.
Though Russians are often stereotyped as being reserved or rude, my experience thus far is anything but.
I even make friends with one of the customs officers detaining me.
The next morning it’s time to get up and check this place out.
One of Nate Abbott’s beloved Kamaz trucks.
Gorky Village: still rough around the edges.
Manual labor: somebody get these guys a street sweeper.
I navigate to the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park to scope out the facilities for halfpipe and slopestyle.
Everywhere I look there is rubble, dirt and stray dogs.
The rail section up top is quirky but functional, anchored by a giant and apparently unjibbable Matryoshka doll.
The slope course from below.
Drop-in and first rail tier.
A Norwegian competitor, switch 2 in the second rail tier.
The second rail tier from above.
Second rail tier from below.
Giant Matryoshka doll on the third rail tier.
Are there five smaller ones inside?
The massive third and final jump leading into the stadium finish area.
Team Norway on Jump 3.
A smooth 540 blunt – watching practice is almost more fun than watching the comp sometimes.
Beauty of a switch bio 900 - is that the Czech Olympic uniform?
Henrik Harlaut working on his switch rightside spins.
Alex Beaulieu-Marchand hangs out a switch dub.
Nick Goepper warming up a cork 7 blunt.
This stairset runs alongside the slopestyle course from top to bottom.
Double set right next to the slope course.
Just saying…. #jibtheolympics
A Russian couple admires the HAM venue.
It’s just too much for one guy to take in.
But don’t worry Newschoolers - I got you covered!
That’s it for update #1.
Stay tuned for a full report!
I’m not sure what this is… but I think I want one.
