Tag: luge

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Sochi recap, Women’s luge, first two runs

Beau Dure

Erin Hamlin’s long-shot bid for a medal looks a bit stronger at the halfway point of the women’s luge. She raced to the second fastest time in the first run, then improved her start to go a little faster in the second run. The American veteran stands third behind two German sliders. Date: 10-Feb Sport: Luge Event: Women’s, runs 1 and 2 (of four) How U.S. fared: Hamlin is in terrific shape. She’s just 0.052 seconds behind second-place Tatjana Hüfner and 0.216 ahead of Russia’s Natalia Khoreva. Kate Hansen, having a bit of a breakout season, is a solid 10th. Summer Britcher moved up from … Continue reading Sochi recap, Women’s luge, first two runs

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Sochi recap: Men’s luge, first two runs

Beau Dure

Not too many surprises in men’s luge at the halfway point. Germany’s Felix Loch, the favorite, leads ahead of ageless Russian Albert Demchenko and Italian Armin Zöggeler. Germany’s David Möller had a rough time in 14th. Event: 8- Feb Sport: Luge Event: Men’s, first two runs (of four) How U.S. fared: The U.S. sliders weren’t major contenders, but this was still a bit disappointing. Chris Mazdzer was 10th in the first run and 12th in the second, sliding to 13th overall. The two teens, Tucker West and Aidan Kelly, stand 23rd and 26th. What happened: The track record fell multiple times, with 42-year-old Demchenko leading the first … Continue reading Sochi recap: Men’s luge, first two runs

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2014 medal projections: Jan. 14 update

Beau Dure

Time for a few tweaks given the results (and untimely injuries) of late — and when you add it all up, we have a new leader: Alpine skiing: Lindsey Vonn’s absence shakes things up a bit and pretty well insures the USA won’t come near its total of eight medals in 2010. Ted Ligety (third overall) and Mikaela Shiffrin are still favorites, and Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal (second overall; downhill and super-G leader) is still as dominant as ever. Changes: Men’s downhill: Erik Guay (CAN) up to silver, Klaus Kröll (AUT) down to considered, Adrien Theaux (FRA) up to considered Men’s giant slalom: … Continue reading 2014 medal projections: Jan. 14 update

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2014 medal projections: Luge

Beau Dure

Updated Jan. 14 and Feb. 4 Germany. Oh, you want more detail? OK. But anyone who makes the German team (only three spots in individual races, two in doubles) is a contender. The German men took the top four places in the 2013 World Championships. One of them will miss out. And without any proven contenders who have emerged in the last four years, we’re looking at the best possible result for Germany: men’s sweep, women’s sweep, 1-2 in doubles, relay win. (The relay is a new Olympic event.) MEN Gold: Felix Loch (Germany) Silver: David Möller (Germany) Bronze: Dominik Fischnaller (Italy) Also considered: Albert Demchenko … Continue reading 2014 medal projections: Luge

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Monday Myriad, Feb. 11: Ligety, Ligety

Beau Dure

Headlines of the weekend: – The USA’s Ted Ligety won his second gold medal at the Alpine skiing world championships, adding the supercombined to the super-G. Super. – Norway’s Emil Hegle Svendsen won the sprint and held on to win the pursuit by a few millimeters over France’s Martin Fourcade at the biathlon World Championships. You just might see a highlight clip farther down in this post. The best U.S. finish so far: Lowell Bailey moved up from 32nd to take 13th in the men’s pursuit. – England took their second win in two matches in rugby’s Six Nations Championship. So what if it was the lowest-scoring … Continue reading Monday Myriad, Feb. 11: Ligety, Ligety

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Monday Myriad: Feb. 4

Beau Dure

Yes, this will be more of an evening thing from now on. The week’s headlines: – Jose Aldo defended his UFC featherweight title as Frankie Edgar suffered yet another close decision loss. The rest of the UFC 156 card scrambled the title chases in ways I’m still working out. Rashad Evans was supposed to fight for the middleweight title, but he lost a dreary light heavyweight fight to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. In the heavyweight division, Alistair Overeem was supposed to fight for the title, but Antonio Silva knocked him out. And now lightweight contender Anthony Pettis says he wants to … Continue reading Monday Myriad: Feb. 4

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Luge thoughts: Uphill in Sochi

Beau Dure

A few members of the U.S. luge team checked in today from Sochi (or, technically, Rzhanaya Polyana), and we learned the following: – The track has some substantial uphill portions, which can be a bit of a challenge for people getting their bearings. “It does kind of affect your vision coming uphill to a crest, especially going blind into a curve,” said doubles slider Matt Mortensen and his echo. “That curve goes back downhill.” (On a related note: Phone connections from the mountains were a little spotty.) – It’s not a particularly difficult track. (Easy for them to say, sure.) Finding speed … Continue reading Luge thoughts: Uphill in Sochi