Day 13: Snowboard Cross anyone??

Snowboard Canada has a new face and what a smile it is. Maelle Ricker of Vancouver, having the run of her life in her backyard. The evening before, what does an athlete think? What are their plans? Maelle said she was "going to have fun". She worked hard, exploded out of the gate and killed that run without ever looking back. When she soared at the last jump, it looked as if she came right out of the Olympic rings on the hill behind her. The day started grey and foggy, delayed some runs but finished bright and sunny. "Golden" sunny. When interviewed she looked right in the camera and thanked the country for being so supportive, keeping the energy of these Games on a sustained high level. She said it made athletes enjoy competing . She said she's having fun! Thanks Maelle for letting us have fun watching you rip that hill apart.

Excellent day at the hill. The second round of freestyle skiers, the aerials, were training today. Should be a great competition and we hope Cypress will keep being generous to the Canadians.

The men's hockey team took to the ice today in what could be described as the wildest, loudest "home game" any of those players have ever experimented. I'm scared to think what that place will be like when the tournament gets closer to the medals rounds. Get some earplugs! I was sitting up in the section where athletes can go and watch. Some of the Canadian women's players were there as well. It's hard not to get excited about the possibility of men and women grabbing some golden hardware in a few weeks.

Hopefully I will get out to the short track speed skating competition tomorrow evening. Three events tomorrow night. The women's 500 m will be a medal event. It will be fast and ruthless. Kalyna Roberge is skating. Let's wish her well.