Unsung Heroes of the Winter Olympics: Halfpipe Lines and Curling Stones

The Chief of Color's Role

• 🎨 Nick Monty serves as the "Chief of Color" for Olympic halfpipe and big air competitions, responsible for painting the blue lines on the snow.
• ⛷️ His job involves skiing with 20 kilograms of paint on his shoulder, requiring balance and skill, especially when going backwards down the pipe.
• 🤫 Nick often works during competition, hiding from cameras near the knuckle of jumps to quickly repaint lines between riders.
• 👏 He has noticed the crowd's positive reaction to his work, which adds pressure to perform perfectly.

Olympic Snow Conditions and Feedback

• 🔍 Nick is often the first person on the snow, allowing him to assess conditions and provide crucial feedback to officials and shapers.
• ⚠️ He once identified a big hole in a landing after a rail, prompting immediate action from shapers to ensure athlete safety.
• 🎯 Nick has also been asked to paint targets to highlight hazards, like a stone coming out of the halfpipe, to help athletes avoid them.

A Curling Legend's Olympic Journey

• 🥌 Rich Ruinan, an American curling legend and personal injury lawyer, made his Olympic debut as an alternate at 54 years old.
• 🏆 He had a long and challenging road to the Olympics, having tried since 1988 and experiencing several heartbreaks with second and third-place finishes.
• 👴 Rich became the oldest US Winter Olympian ever by throwing just one rock in his first game, a moment of great emotion.

The Craft of Olympic Curling Stones

• 💎 All curling stones used in the Olympics are manufactured by K's of Scotland, sourced from the uninhabited island of Ailsa Craig.
• ⛰️ The stones are made from two types of granite from the island: Ailsa Craig Common Green for the body and Ailsa Craig Blue Hone for the running band.
• 🚢 Sourcing the granite involves a complex process, including ecologists and certified rat catchers, as the island is a nature reserve.
• 🌍 K's of Scotland, a 175-year-old company, ships these hand-made stones to clubs worldwide, even to Antarctica.