Last Snippets From Japan

It appears that the intrepid skiers all eventually got back to Australia after heavy snows caused some chaos and lengthy delays at both Chitose & Narita airports.

There has certainly been a lot more snow in Japan than Sochi. In fact, now that it has cooled down in Thredbo, Sochi is recording higher daily maximums than Thredbo. You guessed it, the weather is very pleasant here :-)

Here's a collection of more photos from the lads before they left Japan.

Greg - photos courtesy of Rosco

Lucky Phil may have arrived late in the season but ...

He had plenty of snow

And some very pleasant weather

Traktorman back country

Don't try riding without a ticket ... We will catch up with you
Photos courtesy of Traktorman

Digging out the ski room entrance for Traktorwoman

Frozen trees from Team Traktor

And some interesting signs from Traktorman - no stuffing around here ;-)

This is my favourite from Traktorman
Make up your own caption ;-)

Watching our brave Winter Olympians I asked myself "How many Summer Olympic sports come even close to presenting the dangers and commitment to bodily injury that our Winter Olympians face?". Thinking of the speed of the skiers, skaters, ski jumpers, luge, skeleton and bobsleds not to mention the heights attained by those competing in freestyle, half pipe, and cross events - so much of the Winter Olympics is really a series of extreme sports.

By comparison the Summer Olympics offer us equestrian cross country, cycling, gymnastics, boxing and basketball as the most extreme events that I can think of where athletes place their body on the line. Just my pondering. I'm sure you have a different view.