Well I have arrived in Whistler! I have been working on the hill for two days now. These first few days are spent getting to know the course really well, placing toboggans in locations that will allow us easy access to the course and injured athletes, practicing scenarios, and learning the key procedures to be used throughout the Olympics.

I will also be providing medical coverage for the medal ceremonies that are held here in Whistler. There will be 4 ski patrollers and 1 medical doctor at the ceremony where they will start with presenting medals (Gold for Canada!!!) then a concert. They are going to have a number of great bands like Blue Rodeo. This venue is expected to have over 5500 people each night (I have included a couple pictures of this venue).

It really is quite surreal to be walking through the village, or standing in the lift line and see athletes and coaches from 5 to 10 different countries at a time. Today as we were placing the last of our toboggans on the course, meanwhile coaches of several teams were out taking video of the course, and using gauges to measure to snow temperature, to assist with picking the perfect wax for race day.

Tomorrow we will be spending a lot of time standing on the side of the hill behind 3 rows of safety fencing and watching racers scream past us at up to 100km per hour! Oh, did I mention the air they will be getting?! In the afternoon we will continuing with more training scenarios, but this time we will be including the helicopter.

In the event of an injury, a ski patroller will go to the scene and let our chief of patrol (c.o.p.)know what's happening, the c.o.p. sends a doctor and extra patrollers to the scene to assist as well as the helicopter. A helicopter is set up for a HETS rescue. HETS stands for helicopter external transport system, the helicopter has a 100ft + rope hanging from the bottom with a rescuer attached, the helicopter lowers the technician to the ground, them moves away. What a rush, to hang 100ft below a helicopter on a rope. The hets rescuer assist in the packaging of the patient, then calls the chopper back in, he hooks on to the rope hanging from above, then has the chopper leave the scene and take the patient to the medical trailer in the finish area, or directly to the medical clinic. The only time the chopper is not used, is if the accident is near the bottom of the course, or if the weather is so bad and the chopper can't be used safely. I hope to have several pic of this tomorrow.

Go Team Canada Go!