In case you weren't aware, the 2010 Winter Olympics Games will take place in Vancouver, British Columbia. In other words, this is technically North Cascades country.

Along with this, here's a brief description of the kinds of winter events to expect there:

Alpine Skiing: In this event, skiers reach great speeds of sometimes more than 130 kilometers per hour moving down vertical drops. The drops range considerably. Further, there are gates that competitors must pass through or risk penalties/ disqualification. The fastest time determines the winner, and there are several varieties of Alpine Skiing including Downhill, Super G, Slalom, Giant Slalom, and Super Combined, all with their particular unique differences.

Biathlon:This is an event that involves cross country skiing and rifle shooting. Competitors are required to engage in a rather grueling cross country race. When they reach the shooting range they then must drop their poles and take five shots at a metal target 50 meters away. The first one to cross the finish line wins, but shooting accuracy always factors in depending on the specific subtype of this event being engaged in.

Bobsleigh:Bobsledding involves racing against competitors in bobsleds downhill on ice.

Cross Country Skiing: Competitors race on skis in this event over long distances. Cross country skiing events can be shorter (1.4 kilometers in a men's sprint), longer (sometimes 15 kilometers) and can also be done in relay format.

Curling: The 2010 Winter Olympics will hold two events in curling- a women's and men's tournament. Each of these tournaments starts with 10 curling teams with two playing against one another at a time. While playing on ice, teams take turns pushing 19.1-kilogram stones towards a set of rings or circles. The object is to get the stones as close to the exact center of these rings as you can.

Figure Skating: This event highlights skaters trying to execute difficult and beautiful maneuvers to music while they are judged. Judges assign a grade of execution to each to every element that is executed. Figure skating is done in singles, pairs, and ice dance (couples) format.

Freestyle Skiing: This event is really part acrobatics and part skiing. It's broken down into three distinct styles for both men and women: Aerials, Moguls, and Ski Cross. Ski Cross is about getting to the finish line first, whereas Aerials and Moguls are partly reliant on techniques during jumps and tricks.

Ice Hockey: This is a team sport where six individuals compete against one another, trying to shoot a puck in their opponent's net or goal with hockey sticks. The team that does this the most wins the game. It is popular not only at the Olympic level, but also at the professional level in the National Hockey League (NHL). There are both men's and women's hockey events. Women's hockey was first introduced to the Olympics in 1988.

Ice Sledge Hockey: This is like normal ice hockey except that players sit on aluminum or steel sledges fitted with two blades instead of skates. Further, they play with two double-ended sticks, one in each hand. One end of the stick is used to move the sledge, while the other is used to manipulate the puck. Just like normal ice hockey, competitors attempt to score goals against the other team's goaltender.

Luge: In this event, racers travel on fiberglass sleds that are initially compelled by pulling on fixed handles on the ice. Later they use spiked gloves on the surface for further acceleration. There are singles and doubles events in this sport. It is a competition conducted in heats.

Nordic Combined:A skiing competition where a jumping portion is followed by a cross country race.

Short Track Speed Skating: This event is approximately 100 years old and came from North America. Short track speed skating takes place on a 111.12 meter oval track inside a hockey rink. The top two skaters from each heat move on until only four skaters are left for the final. There are also relay subtypes to this kind of speed skating.

Skeleton: Competitors race in this event on fiberglass and metal sleds that look somewhat like a skeleton. Men's and women's individual events will take place in Vancouver in 2010.

Ski Jumping: Athletes ski down a ramp and then launch into the air in ski jumping events. They are assessed in terms of distance traveled as well as form, though there is often a direct relationship between the two (good form equals good distance). There are normal hill, large hill, and team competitions within this category.

Snowboard:There are multiple types of snowboard events, including those that are judged in the halfpipe and those that are of a racing variety. The bottom line on all of them is that participants utilize a snowboard.

Speed Skating: Speed skating has been in the Winter Games since 1924. As skaters race on a 400 meter oval ice rink, they become the fastest human powered, non-mechanically aided competitors in the world, reaching speeds of more than 60 kilometers per hour. The athletes compete in pairs. There is also a team element to speed skating, named Team Pursuit.

Wheelchair Curling: A lot like regular curling (see above) but with wheelchairs.

References

2010 Olympic Sports Events