Unsung Olympic Heroes: The Chief of Color and Curling Stone Makers

The Chief of Color: Painting Olympic Lines

• 🎨 Nick Monty, known as the Chief of Color, is responsible for painting the blue lines in the halfpipe and big air competitions at the Olympics.
• ⛷️ He skis with 20 kilos of equipment on his shoulder, often going backwards down the pipe, requiring balance and attention.
• 🚧 Nick works during competition, sometimes hiding from cameras to repaint lines quickly between riders, especially when snow conditions create holes or issues.
• 👏 The crowd at the big air events loves his work, cheering for him, which was a big surprise to Nick initially.

An Olympian's Long-Awaited Debut

• 🥌 Rich Ruin, an American curling legend and personal injury lawyer, made his Olympic debut as an alternate at 54 years old, potentially becoming the oldest US Winter Olympian.
• 🏆 Rich has a long history in curling, having played his first Olympic trial in 1988 and experiencing several "heartbreaks" with second and third-place finishes over the years.
• ⚖️ He humorously notes that his profession as a personal injury lawyer specializing in slip-and-fall cases could be a way to get into the game if a teammate got injured.
• 🎉 Rich expressed pride and excitement about finally making it to the Olympics and enjoying the athlete village experience with competitors he's known for years.

The Origin of Olympic Curling Stones

• 🪨 All curling stones used at the Olympics are manufactured by K's of Scotland, specifically from granite sourced from Ailsa Craig, an uninhabited island 10 miles off the Scottish coast.
• ⛰️ The island provides two distinct types of granite: Ailsa Craig Common Green for the body of the stone and Ailsa Craig Blue Horn for the running surface, which are combined to create a perfect curling stone.
• 🌍 K's of Scotland sells stones to clubs worldwide, including recent orders for Canada and Alabama, and even to an "obscure place" like Antarctica.
• 🛠️ The manufacturing process is hand-made in a 175-year-old factory, and the team takes great pride in seeing their durable stones used in Olympic competitions.