View Full Version : Hiking The Next Olympic Sport
Mother Natures Son
08-02-2012, 19:24
If hiking was an Olympic sport, what section would you participate in to get that medal? Who on this list would get the coveted Gold Medal?
fiddlehead
08-02-2012, 20:50
They do have a walking contest. It's called racewalking.
When we hiked the Pyrenees in '99, one day we found ourselves behind 3 men doing this (practicing) when heading into town one day.
So, we decided to push them a little.
We had our full packs on and were in pretty good shape, having done the Long Trail just to train for the (harder) Pyrenees hike and then we were almost finished with it.
So, we passed them and were moving fast. They let us go for a while and then they picked it up and passed us.
We were probably going 5+ miles an hour and they must have been going about 7 IMO.
Anyway, I don't think an American has ever won this sport in the Olympics but, why don't you try?
Here's a link to the wiki page about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racewalking
Crash! Bang!
08-02-2012, 21:07
Hiking is absolutely not a sport. Trying to make it a sport goes against the very essence of what hiking is.
Having said that, I think it would be great if orienteering or adventure racing were Olympic sports.
Crash! Bang!
08-02-2012, 21:08
Or cross country running.
Feral Bill
08-02-2012, 22:37
How about buffet eating? Surely the USA would excell at that.
Or cross country running.
I am surprised that cross-country isn't an Olympic Sport. It has been in high schools for quite a while, and it takes different skills than straight track.
How about buffet eating? Surely the USA would excell at that.
Sadly enough, this is true.... (actually, not sad for thru-hikers. They deserve the buffets!)
Adventure racing would be cool. Or real white water kayaking, not just slalom. Some real scary Class 5 or even Class 6 in the finals. A 24 hour ultra marathon also. And surfing.
Adventure racing would be cool. Or real white water kayaking, not just slalom. Some real scary Class 5 or even Class 6 in the finals. A 24 hour ultra marathon also. And surfing.
Isn't Class 5+ as high as they let you go?
Pedaling Fool
08-03-2012, 08:26
How about buffet eating? Surely the USA would excell at that.I don't know the Olympians seem to excel at that also http://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/03/sport/olympics-nutrition-phelps-blake/index.html
But I get your point. However, we got some competition in that area also since Europe seems to be quickly catching up http://www.ukmedix.com/weight-loss/obesity-eu-problem.cfm and the UK is leading the way http://www.metro.co.uk/news/38242-britain-is-europes-fattest-nation
So maybe that explains why a country with the most athletes in the 2012 olympics have only 18 medals thus far. Sorry, but someone had to say it :eek: :p :D
To any brits out there, I'm only jazzing ya ;)
Adventure racing would be cool. Or real white water kayaking, not just slalom. Some real scary Class 5 or even Class 6 in the finals. A 24 hour ultra marathon also. And surfing.
Isn't Class 5+ as high as they let you go?
In some areas yes. In other areas your allowed. Class 6 just means if you make any mistakes you will die.:D
I am surprised that cross-country isn't an Olympic Sport. It has been in high schools for quite a while, and it takes different skills than straight track.
Sadly enough, this is true.... (actually, not sad for thru-hikers. They deserve the buffets!)
cross country may not currently be an olympic sport but i swear i remember seeing a road race marathon in an olympics at some point. might have been a demo or it may have since been cancelled or maybe i'm wrong in assuming that a road marathon and HS cross country are basically the same thing.
Pedaling Fool
08-03-2012, 16:21
Yes, there will be marathons http://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/24257220-london-2012-olympic-games-marathon
fiddlehead
08-03-2012, 17:24
This year's Olympics dropped softball and baseball from events.
They added mixed doubles in tennis I believe and women's boxing.
Also, they had to make some special rules to allow some shooting events as handguns are illegal in the UK.
The British tried to add cricket (instead of baseball?) this year but that got shot down.
The biggest difference between these Olympics and the first ones in Greece is that now, athletes are required to wear clothes. (although that's debatable for the Brazilian womens beach volleyball team, aye?)
One of my family's favorite events so far has been the trampoline. (Which my son is very into)
I'm really enjoying the technology of allowing us all to see any event we want live on their official Olympic youtube channel.
The other night, I was watching whitewater kayaking, my son was watching gymnastics on his computer, and my wife was watching badminton on Thai TV. ALL LIVE AT THE SAME TIME! Awesome!
Erica Gibson
08-04-2012, 02:29
Many thankshttp://www.50centloseweight.com/jhkh.gif