Olympics observations

[newboots]

Not that this is so important - but in the opening ceremonies Team USA is wearing those big Astis mittens. They look wonderful!

Kim Jung Un's sister is sitting behind VP Pence. She looked very severe as Team USA marched in, while the Pence family was applauding enthusiastically.

 

[Jilly]

I noticed those mittens. Who designed the sweaters...? I sort of love/hate our Canadian outfits. I loved the Roots designed stuff. Hudson Bay Co, has mass produced the Canadian wear, and I'm not sure I like it.

 

[Jenny]

Ralph Lauren - I read an article that basically liked the winter uniforms he does, but said that the summer ones always look like he thinks the athletes are at a country club mixer.

And I think the gloves are just him ripping off Astis, too.

 

[newboots]

Oh, no, not real Astis? That's cr*p.

 

[newboots]

Ouch! Those chartreuse hats/scarves on the Hungarian team hurt my eyes.

 

[MI-skier]

At least Tonga's Pita Taufatofua is a sight for hurt eyes....LOL.

 

[Kimmyt]

Kim Jung Un's sister is sitting behind VP Pence. She looked very severe as Team USA marched in, while the Pence family was applauding enthusiastically.

I would probably have permanent stinkface too if I had to sit next to Pence.

 

[newboots]

So true! Pass the coconut oil.

[ETA: This post could be a response to @MI-skier or to @Kimmyt]

 

[Christy]

I think Astis mittens look silly, but I love the Canadian mittens. Those maple leaf mitts were THE souvenir at the Vancouver games and I still treasure mine. Otherwise I like the US outfits for a change--so often I've wondered what Ralph was thinking, but this year he did okay.

The drone thingy was really cool. ( I can't believe I just said drone and cool in the same sentence).

I just read about the Indian athlete in the New York Times. He faces a ton of challenges and has basically no support from anyone in India (when he asked the government for some financial support they made him obtain a certificate stating that the Winter Olympics were as legit as the summer Olympics-- it sounded like they didn't even understand the Winter Olympics were a thing), but he manages to do it anyway.

 

[Jilly]

Christy - they are out every year now. They change up the stripes and added black this year. Somewhere I have a cap from Roots from the one of the games in the 90's. They were the poor boy news cap style.

I do like the buffalo check on the ski/snow cross team.

 

[pinto]

Ralph Lauren - I read an article that basically liked the winter uniforms he does, but said that the summer ones always look like he thinks the athletes are at a country club mixer.

And I think the gloves are just him ripping off Astis, too.

Yeah, big article in the Denver Post about it yesterday. https://www.denverpost.com/2018/02/09/olympics-team-usa-ralph-lauren-gloves-astis/

 

[Kimmyt]

Glove controversy aside, two of my favorite things so far have been: The Finnish Snowboarding coach knitting at the starting gate (apparently he did it last Olympics too- knitted 1/2 a scarf during the games and then gave it to another coach of some other sport for the summer Olympics to finish), and the USA snowboarding coach at the starting gate who was wearing an astronaut helmet.

Finnish Snowboard Coach knitting at Sochi

Apparently the astronaut helmet has to do with a theme!

Also, the Canadian snowboarding jackets are my favorite.

 

[pinto]

So far my favorite thing was a tweet that now I can't find. But it was something like

Bermuda: Why yes, we're wearing shorts for the frigid Opening Ceremonies.

Tonga: Hold my beer.

 

[pinto]

Oh, perhaps my real favorite thing is that my niece's roommate is the representative from Hong Kong! First Olympic skier from Hong Kong!

 

[Jenny]

So far my favorite thing was a tweet that now I can't find. But it was something like

Bermuda: Why yes, we're wearing shorts for the frigid Opening Ceremonies.

Tonga: Hold my beer.

I saw that tweet, too - made me laugh.

 

[Jilly]

According to @nopoleskier , the gloves were made in NY, not far from where she lives. So not Astis.

 

[pinto]

According to @nopoleskier , the gloves were made in NY, not far from where she lives. So not Astis.

According to the report I posted, RL talked to Astis for 2 years about their mittens, leading them to believe they were going to contract. But they just copied. C'est la vie, but still.

 

[newboots]

That was such a cheap move on RL’s part. Here they had a chance to showcase a small, made-in-America business. I guess it will be a big plus for Astis, though.

 

[nopoleskier]

According to @nopoleskier , the gloves were made in NY, not far from where she lives. So not Astis.

YES! A friend of mine Peter Kiernan his small company designed them in Gloversville NY! closest town to me and my post office address! Pretty cool! Gloversville was once the leather capital of the world. The Leather came from Gloversville, the gloves were made in Ma..

https://dailygazette.com/article/20...eather-for-olympic-athletes-ceremonial-gloves

We still have Swany and some mills that make designer leather for jets, sneakers and more!

 

[nopoleskier]

PS.. $1995/pair of gloves..