When people go to the bottom of the ski jump hills, they find trash. Why is that? The venues in Sochi have been beautiful and well-organized notwithstanding the horror stories about the accommodations. Krasnaya Polyana has some of the most breathtaking scenery you’ll see in any sport this year on its slopes.
That’s why it’s so surprising to find what appears to be the aftermath of a snowboarders’ party run amok at the ski jump’s base. Closer inspection reveals the garbage to be primarily spruce tree limbs and needles, but the question remains:
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What was the Point of this Chaos? Are there No Shovels or Snow Blowers Available?
Our path to that conclusion will be circuitous, but we will eventually arrive there. To begin, let’s do a quick mental exercise where you close your eyes, get up, and whirl around in a circle a few times. (Avoid performing this experiment while driving, in a crowded place, or near cliffs or roads.)
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Then, make a slow, forward progress until you encounter an obstacle. (Careful, no noses will be broken!) There’s a good chance you were startled and hit the wall, sofa, or table. Why? Because even though you were aware of its presence, you had no idea when the blow would land.
Actually, that’s the same issue that ski jumpers have. They know the bottom is down there someplace, but when you’re falling a vertical distance of 200 feet at a speed of 60 mph, it might be tricky to discern exactly where the surface of the snow is if there’s no contrast.
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This is most noticeable in the late afternoon, when the “flat light” of the sinking sun makes it difficult to make out the natural features of the landscape. (This is why the last run of the day is usually the worst—not only are you exhausted, but you also can’t see the terrain very well.)
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Therefore, the spruce twigs are there to help the skiers gauge their distance from the ground as they freefall. Don’t be caught off guard when your skis touch the snow at that speed. Diving uses the same principle, with spectators kicking on the pool’s surface to help underwater athletes gauge depth.
Now you know the answer. Although it should go without saying, do not do this at home.