THE 1998 SOLYMPICS - brought to you by SOL

THE 1998 SOLYMPICS - brought to you by SOL | Snowboarding Online

NEWS:
Derek Heidt's Olympic Memory
by Derek Heidt
Today was the big day and the contest was awesome. We had sun in the morning and then by mid- afternoon we had thunder and lightning. The pipe held up well and everyone was going off. There was worry on some people's behalf that there would be testing for pot, but it didn't hold anyone back. Canadian Mike Michaelchuck held up a banner on Ross' behalf saying, "Give back his medal!" By 3 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, a media frenzy accompanied by police stormed our hotel looking for drugs. The statement however, was already made and we found out Ross would get his medal back.
The last two days have been hard and frustrating. Being hounded by media about Ross' situation, to dealing with the main issue at hand, our competition was overwhelming at times. Then the contest happened. The outcome of the men's halfpipe was an absolute joke. The winner shouldn't have won and that feeling was unanimous in the crowd here in Nagano. Many riders were jipped with low scores, but one thing is for sure, this is definitely a contest that will go in the history books.
At least a lot of people can now see how corrupt the FIS is, and how they should not be involved with snowboarding. I can already tell that from this end it looks a lot like the whole Ross situation was a media plot to give snowboarding a lot of negative publicity. The other rumor was that if it weren't for Picabo winning, then Ross wouldn't have gotten his medal. Apparently testing Picabo for pot wouldn't have yielded good results. The rumor is that she's a huge pothead, but this is just rumors at this point!
Right now in the hotel there are mixed emotions. Some people are happy about their performances and the out come of Ross' situation, but at the same time people bummed about the contest today. And now with the news of the death of a close friend in the snowboarding family, emotions are running on a roller coaster. The hotel is filled with cries of both sorrow and happiness.
I know that Ross Powers and all of the winners today would like to dedicate this day, a day of new ground for the sport and new futures for its participants to Jamil Khan. He was a snowboarder who made a huge impact both on the industry and the athletes, a rider that should have been here with us winning and not part of this senseless tragedy. This day will be in my mind for the rest of my life. I just wish that it was all positive. This is a commemorative day for both the sport and for the memory of Jamil Khan,. the two will go hand in hand in my book for the rest of my life, and I will never forget either.
OTHER NEWS
Snowboarding-Favourites falter, Simmen and Thost shine Thu. (Feb. 12 @ 11:31:AM est)
It's Over: Halfpipe Finals Thu. (Feb. 12 @ 8:57:AM est)
Rebagliati Gets Gold Medal Back! Thu. (Feb. 12 @ 5:34:AM est)
Mary Jane and Steep Halfpipes: Welcome To Our World Wed. (Feb. 11 @ 9:23:PM est)
A Coaches Diary: Mary Jane Steals The Gold Wed. (Feb. 11 @ 11:33:AM est)
The Last Hemptation of Ross Wed. (Feb. 11 @ 5:58:AM est)
Up In Smoke: IOC Burns Snowboarding Wed. (Feb. 11 @ 2:50:AM est)
Snowboarding's Tokin' Gold: IOC Wants Rebagliati's Medal Back Wed. (Feb. 11 @ 1:47:AM est)
Karine Ruby Captures GS Gold For France Tue. (Feb. 10 @ 7:51:PM est)
A Coach's Diary: Welcome to My Nightmare Tue. (Feb. 10 @ 1:06:PM est)
A Coaches Diary: Notes From The Edge Tue. (Feb. 10 @ 12:52:PM est)
Women's GS Postponed Due to Weather Mon. (Feb. 09 @ 1:28:PM est)
Wrong Side of the Fence: The Olympic Men's GS Sun. (Feb. 08 @ 1:09:PM est)
Racing Rules Sun. (Feb. 08 @ 1:09:PM est)
Games On: The Opening Ceremony Sat. (Feb. 07 @ 12:29:PM est)

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