Breaking News: 2024 Events Being Planned

 


J. Sexauer returns a volley from R. Sneath in Pickleball II last summer

Olympians,

As we near year's end, we are scheming for 2024! We've had to use the pink end of the Dixon Ticonderoga on a few scheduled events this fall, but we are sharpening our pencils and drawing up some ideas for the coming year! Read more and daydream below:

Table of Contents:
1. Coming Up - A Look at New Events for the Olympics and Our Olympics alike
2. Honorable Mentions - Biathlon
3. What's next? Ideas for 2024
4. Ongoing - Pickleball Singles


Coming Up - Paris 2024!

It's going to be another Olympic year, with the IOC taking the Olympic Games to Paris. Starting with the Tokyo Games, it has been a behind-the-scenes goal of Our Olympics to hold competitions for the new sports and events in the same year they debut in the Olympics. Think back to several of Our events from 2021: Skateboarding, Surfing, and who could forget Karate? Let's take a closer look at what's new for Paris:

New Sport:

Breaking

This new sport is made for those who fearfully eye an event invitation and say, "I would break doing that!". Well in this case, we hope you do! because this is the event also known as breakdancing. Stay tuned for a send-in-your-video event this winter!

New Events:

Climbing: Speed Climbing & Boulder-and-Lead

In Tokyo, climbers had to combine their score across all three of the above categories to compete for one gold medal. This time, speed climbing gets its own medal event, and boulder and lead stay combined for a duathlon-style event. Climbers, please reach out and maybe we can come compete on your home rock or in your gym!

Canoeing: Kayak Cross

This is just as exciting as it sounds! Rapids, gates, rolls, and four kayakers on course at once. We'll see how we can modify it a bit to fit into a river near you. We have done it before with our K-1 Slalom event in Wisconsin, back in 2014.

Honorable Mentions - Greg & Kate Nigon Try Biathlon

Methow Valley Triathlon's "Try Biathlon", February 2023, Methow Valley, WA

The race began with a rush of skiers around a short loop. Ambitious athletes zoomed ahead, ready to make their mark. Greg stayed in the back, calmly keeping pace until he rounded the bend and splayed out at our shooting stations. Kate crashed, and came to the range last. Here, the race changed dramatically.

While others agonized over their shots, Kate and Greg calmly reeled off their rounds. Kate hit 5/5 targets and was the first to leave, stunning the coaches. Greg hit 4/5,was the second to leave, but had to do a penalty loop. Then, in embarrassing fashion, Greg crashed on his way back to the shooting range.

It was a two horse race, with Kate in the lead and Greg trying to catch up. 

Catch up he did, nailing 5/5 quick shots and storming out of the box. He did the final loop (no crashes) and took the Gold. Kate slowed down and hit 4/5 shots, requiring a penalty loop. However, she held off her opponents who rushed to catch up and took Silver.

Send in your own sports story to be featured in the next blog!

What's Next? - Ideas for 2024

Cross-country Skiing: 10k Classical, February 24th, Arizona Nordic Village, Flagstaff, AZ

This will be a participation event where we join in on a race put on by the Flagstaff Nordic Team. Link to event poster

Alpine Skiing Slalom and Giant Slalom, March?, Arizona Snowbowl, Flagstaff, AZ

This is another participation event where we will join the Grand Canyon State open races on a weekend in the spring.

Cycling: Road Race, July - TBD, Indiana, USA

A third participation event, we are planning to join RAIN, the Ride Across Indiana, which is a 160 mile one day bike ride in late July. Link to RAIN's website

Ongoing - Pickleball II: Singles

A. and J. Sexauer finished up their multi-month match in the Pickleball I: Singles group stage earlier this fall. Jennifer took the win with an 11-5 victory in game two. R. Sneath is unaffected as the group winner, 3-0 in his matches. Pickleball I: Doubles is also ongoing.


 Merry December!

-Gustave

Our Olympics Website

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