2/7/14
Weekend Intel: The Olympics
Ready or not, the 22nd Winter Olympics kick off tonight in Sochi, Russia. And while some competitions are already underway (and The New York Times is currently live-blogging the opening ceremonies), it all officially begins tonight with the airing of the event. Herewith, some interesting news from around the web to prep you for watching the Games.
Fooling Their Bodies
The Discovery Channel explains the science of how some U.S. Olympic athletes are using altitude instead of drugs to gain an edge over the competition.
The Jamaican Bobsledders Are Back
An online fund-raising drive helped cover the expenses and upgrade the equipment of the two-man team. Want to rewatch "Cool Runnings"?
Nike Flyknit Chukka Trainer FSB
The winter-ready edition of the Nike Flyknit Chukka, which will be worn by American athletes, features synthetic wool incorporated into both the upper and inner liner for added protection from cold temperatures. The kicks were just released on Nike.com today and Hypebeast has more info.
The Most Interesting Olympians
"With over 2,800 athletes from 88 countries participating in 98 events, the Sochi Olympics can seem both overwhelming and, well, sort of dull," writes GQ's Jeremy Gordon. "To help pare down the logjam, we've picked the ten men we wish we could be right now, from teen prodigies to Iraqi veterans."
New Snowboarding Event: Slopestyle
Even though Shaun White withdrew from the event, you'll probably still want to check out snowboarding slopestyle. After years of wowing crowds at the X Games with its combination of slick rails and big-air jumps, the sport's making its Olympic debut in Sochi. And Gear Patrol has an impressive info graphic with everything you need to know about it.
