Natalie Morales: I've caught Olympic fever!
Posted: Thursday, February 12, 2009 7:53 AM by Jen Brown
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Natalie Morales
From Natalie Morales
It's official -- I've caught Olympic fever!
After spending just a few days in the 2010 host city of Vancouver, I can hardly wait for the Games to officially open, exactly one year from today. The venues are beautiful! The food is delicious! The nightlife is rich and exciting! But there's something else that snowboarder Seth Wescott pointed out to me -- Vancouver is almost like having an Olympics in your backyard. After all, it’s less than a three-hour drive from Seattle.
I met up with Seth and fellow snowboarders Lindsey Jacobellis and Graham Watanabe on the slopes, where they are prepping for the World Cup this weekend. Having covered several Winter Games in the past, I've had a few five-minute lessons from the pros. So I was thrilled to have actually remembered a thing or two while riding with Lindsey, Graham and Seth. I was making a few turns, picking up speed, looking almost cool...and then I ran straight into a sign in the middle of the hill. Ouch!
I'm happy to report I sustained no further injuries while skating at the rink in the Richmond Oval, the crown jewel of Vancouver's venues. It's amazing that the Oval, like almost all of the venues, is already complete. The Canadian people are so thrilled to be hosting the Games, and I think you will all be please to see how the city has taken every effort to ensure the 2010 Olympics will be an extraordinary experience.
There's so much to do in Vancouver besides watching the competitions, and I've had a chance to experience some of those highlights this week. This is a nature-lovers paradise, but at the heart of the city is a sophisticated and modern downtown area. We've been to some fantastic restaurants serving great Asian food, Indian food, seafood (you cannot find better seafood anywhere), and followed dinner by watching some great bands.
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| Rick Graham, Tourism B.C. |
| You can literally dance on tables in Whistler! |
Earlier in the week we visited the Vancouver Aquarium, where I interviewed a very unusual guest -- a beluga whale. When I asked her if she was looking forward to the 2010 Games, she nodded her head vigorously.
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| Rick Graham, Tourism B.C |
I know my two boys will love the aquarium when I bring them to Vancouver next year. It's not every day the Olympics take place in your backyard, so this will be the first time I’m able to bring my family to the Games. I'm especially excited to share the experience with my oldest son, Josh, who may just grow up to be an Olympic skier. He might have some competition from mom, though. My goal is to master snowboarding within the year so the next time I run into Seth and Lindsey and Graham I can confidently throw around terms like "shredding" and "riding"...and make it down the bunny slope without destroying any property.
I better get on it. Only 365 days to go!
