Beer, Tea and Long Waits for Moguls in Sochi -- On the Scene

(ATR) A quirk of the Olympic schedule gave spectators nearly 3½ hours to fill between women’s moguls events Saturday.

The last qualifying round at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park was at 6 p.m. and lasted only about 30 minutes. Then the finals weren’t scheduled to start until 10 p.m., after rest, training and course preparation.

What to do to pass the time? "Drink beer," said Nicole Buchko of Calgary, Alberta. She and several other red-and-white clad fans, some with the Canadian flag draped over their shoulders, gathered around a small table outside a refreshment stand.

"We ran into all our Canadian friends and decided to hang out here," Buchko said. "We’ll probably go warm up in a bathroom. And that’s it."

They were supporting the Dufour-Lapointe sisters Chloe, Justine and Maxime, who had already made it to the final and didn’t even ski in the preliminary.

The Canadian group decided against trooping down the hill and taking the gondola to Krasnaya Polyana, although that was a popular option for departing spectators. Other ticket holders went down to watch musical acts appearing on a small stage below the venue. As they made their way out, a volunteer called to them to be careful on the slippery slope.

For those staying behind, lines were long at the booths selling hotdogs. At least next door at the other Rosa Khutor venue, there was a donut and pancake stand.

But the Canadians didn’t mind the wait. "It’s warm out," Buchko said. "We didn’t have to wear a coat. And the beers are only $5, way cheaper than they are in Calgary."

Josephine Parks of Australia, who found the temperature chilly compared to summer Down Under, preferred "a hot cupof tea to keep the insides warm." She and daughter Chloe and son Blake came to Sochi to cheer on her other daughter, Nicole, a member of the Australian ski team.

They stood near the grandstands and wondered what to do next.

"We keep moving on this spot to keep warm," Josephine said.

They were then surprised by a visit from Nicole, who had ditched her skis to look for her family.

"She qualified (for the final)," Josephine said, "so we’ll keep our fingers and toes crossed as frozen as they are."

Written by Karen Rosen in Sochi

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