Ashleigh McIvor is the queen of ski cross

The Olympic Games newest sport has just named a new queen, and her name is Ashleigh McIvor.

Born in Whistler, British Colombia, Canada, Ashleigh McIvor won Canada's 6th gold medal on home soil. Although Canadian officals have been less than impressed with the country's overall medal count, success stories such as Ashleigh McIvor are bringing pride to Canadians.

Ski cross and snowboard cross have been hailed as two of the favourite sports of the Vancouver Olympic Games for the crashes, speed, athleticism, and the unpredictable finsihes exhibited in the sport.

Ashleigh McIvor, 26, was the reigning World Champion in ski cross entering the Olympic Games and recently finished 2nd at the X-Games. Ashleigh is considered by many to be the Lindsey Vonn of Canada featuring a unique package of athletic skills and good looks.

McIvor was excited following her Gold medal win in ski cross stating that she hopes she has inspired Canadian children to follow their dreams and to maintain healthy, active, lifestyles.

Congratulations Ashleigh McIvor on becoming Canada's sixth Gold medal winner on home soil and for becoming the first ever Olympic Gold medalist in womens ski cross.

Let the games begin.

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Dale Begg-Smith is a poor loser

After losing to Canadian Alexandre Bilodeau at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, one thing has become clear, Dale Begg-Smith and the Australian ski team are poor sports.

Begg-Smith, the top ranked moguls skier heading into the Olympics, was expecting to win gold in Vancouver. How sweat it would have been since Begg-Smith, born and raised in Canada, would have been beating his former country on home soil.

Things didn't go as planned however. Instead of winning gold, Begg-Smith took home the silver medal while Canada's Alexandre Bilodeau won Canada's first gold on home soil.

It couldn't have been Bilodeau's flawless turns, perfect landings, and higher difficulty jumps. To anyone who watched the moguls final, the winner was clear. Not so to Australian ski officials and Dale Begg-Smith.

Instead of accepting the loss gracefully, Australian ski officials have publically announced that they believe the judges inflated Bilodeau's score to help him win gold.

Do you know who robbed you of your gold medal Mr. Begg-Smith? You and you alone. You skied slower, your jumps weren't as clean, and your turns were sloppier than Alexandre Bilodeau. In short, he skied better. You lost.

Don't go crying to the media now. Especially after you wouldn't talk to the Canadian media leading up to the Olympic Games. Dale Begg-Smith has shown poor sportsmanship at every step and his ski officials in Australia aren't far behind.

Apparently the Canadian government got it right when they forced Begg-Smith out of the country for his shady internet dealings.

In the world of sports, sometimes, what goes around comes around. For Dale Begg-Smith, he got what he deserved, a slightly tarnished silver medal and a completely rusted reputation.

For Alexandre Bilodeau however, the best moguls skier at the 2010 Olympics, he got what he deserved as well, a gold medal and the right to call himself the best. And nothing Australian ski officials or Dale Begg-Smith say will ever take that away from Bilodeau.

Congratulations Alexandre Bilodeau for winning freestyle ski gold in the moguls, and shame on your Dale Begg-Smith.

Let the games begin.

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Alexandre Bilodeau is Canada's Golden Boy

It took until the third day of Canada's third Olympics on home soil, but Alexandre Bilodeau has instantly become a national hero by winning Canada's first ever gold medal on home soil.

Bilodeau out jumped Australian skier Dale Begg-Smith to win the mens moguls Gold.

After pumping millions into the country's 'Own the Podium' program, Canada has found instant gratification. Missing a gold medal in 1976 Montreal and 1988 Calgary, Vancouver 2010 has turned into a magical, golden moment for Canadians.

Expected to come from womens moguls skier Jennifer Heil, it was her male counterpart, Alexandre Bilodeau, who hails from Montreal, Quebec, who became Canada's first gold medalist.

The gold was especially sweet because Bilodeau denied Canadian ex-partiot and top ranked moguls skier,Dale Begg-Smith, who is now competing for Australia from winning.

Congratulations Canada and Alexandre Bilodeau, your gold medal was long overdue.

Let the games begin.

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Olympic Sized Injuries for Vonn and Getzlaf

Only days before the Olympic Games get underway in Vancouver, injuries are even more detrimental to athletes and nations. Medal hopes, and even the hopes of participation can be erased in a second.

From Canada, NHL star Ryan Getzlaf was recently seen in a walking cast in Anaheim. Philadelphia Flyers center Jeff Carter has been invited to Vancouver as an emergency replacement in case Getzlaf can't play.

One of the bigger injury stories making its way through the media is the bruised shin of American skier Lindsey Vonn. Vonn, a heavy favorite to win multiple medals at the Vancouver Games bruised her shin at a training session in Austria.

Other countries are feeling similar pressures as the games creep closer. Injuries are especially a concern with the NHL players participating in the games. As well, the weather conditions have many skiers concerned about utlizing the practice facilities at Whistler and Cypress Mountain in the days leading up to the Games. Poor snow conditions increase the chance of catching an edge or hitting a rut during practice runs.

Vonn, who made headlines after completing a photo shoot for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, implied that her "bruise" might actually be a slight shin fracture. If she were to miss the Games, or even participate injured, it would be a huge blow to the United States' medal hopes.

Approaching the Olympics, you have to hope that the best athletes will be able to compete. That is what the Olympics are about, highlighting the world's top athletes and allowing them to compete for Gold.

Let the games begin.

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No snow for the Winter Olympics

I guess no one thought this was possible. The idea that a Winter Olympics venue would be chosen that wouldn't have snow. I guess no one on the IOC has ever been to Vancouver.

Vancouver has been looking a little too green for Olympic planners lately. In fact, there is a drastic lack of snow across the major Olympic venues and snow is franticly being made and trucked into the Vancouver area as we approach the opening ceremonies this Friday.

How this seems strange to anyone is beyond me. The average low temperature in February is above freezing in Vancouver. No snow? Really? Vancouver is known for having a temperate climate and a small amount of snow each year.

Thankfully many of the large snow events are being held at Whistler where they have enough snow...barely.

The main venue hurt by the climate is Cypress Mountain, the site of Olympic snowboarding and freestyle skiing.

I have to wonder how much trucking in tons upon tons of snow will cost. The VANOC budget is likely to go out the window with this added expense.

And please keep your Global Warming arguements to yourself, this is what the climate in Vancouver is always like. Just because it's Canada doesn't mean it is covered by 10 feet of snow. In fact, I live on the opposite side of Canada and I can see green grass growing outside my window while I hear my neighbors to the south in Washington and Philadelphia have not been so lucky lately.

No snow for the Winter Olympics? No problem. The Vancouver Olympic games are still going to be outstanding and the VANOC will assure that Cypress Mountain has snow, regardless of the cost.

Let the games begin.

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