Vantastic Voyage

Director Anna Christopher was in Vancouver to follow skier Casey Puckett, the subject of her documentary, Appointment In Vancouver. The film focuses on Puckett’s life as a world-class athlete, father of two and hometown hero, who was preparing for his fifth Olympic appearance. Here is Christopher's account Puckett's latest Olympic experience:

We made awesome signs. Amazing signs. Signs that deserved to be on TV. Which was exactly the intention.

After camera-tailing four-time Olympian Casey Puckett for three years and making an applauded documentary about him, my producer, music supervisor, brother (who is in the film) and I scrapped our way to the Olympic Games. With our signs in hand, we were determined to get our film, Appointment In Vancouver, and our favorite skier cross racer, Casey Puckett, some network coverage.

Appointment In Vancouver documents Casey’s dramatic/thrilling/gut-wrenching/inspiring journey to the Games. We capture the challenges Casey faces as an elite athlete competing on the world’s stage and as a father juggling gold-medal dreams while raising kids. The film offers audiences a rare, exclusive glimpse of the mental, emotional and physical trials of a retired Olympic athlete making a comeback at age 37.

The film was born the moment I met Casey. The IOC had recently named Skier Cross as the “new” Olympic sport to debut in Vancouver. Casey said then that he “had an appointment in Vancouver.” His unwavering faith and determination to compete in the 21st Winter Olympics hooked me. He’d competed on the U.S. Ski team since he was 19, raced in Albertville, Lillehammer, Nagano and Salt Lake City. Never medaled. He retired after his final Olympics. Final? Actually, not so much. That’s one of the reasons his story is so inspiring.

Through a mix of chance, fate, and itch of “unfinished business,” Casey fell in love with the emerging sport of Skier Cross. Before he knew it, he was back on the slopes and dominating the field unlike he’d ever done as an Alpine racer. He’d found his cup of tea, and he was guzzling it down. Even Daron Rahlves, Casey’s teammate, Alpine racing legend, and co-star of Appointment In Vancouver, admits that Casey was better at Skier Cross than he ever was in Alpine. In the film, Daron says, “My heart pumps a little harder when I line up against Casey because I know what he can do.”

As the Appointment In Vancouver crew climbed the million stairs to the grandstand on February 21, 2010, we wondered what Casey would do that day. The crowd seemed to be pondering the same thing of all the athletes. An excited but serious vibe emanated from the grandstand as the first heats began. Every race of four-on-four skiers was enthralling but the crashes were brutal, which I think caused the pensive energy in the stands. There was no doubt -- this sport was way more electrifying than curling.

Friends have told me the TV coverage made the course appear easy. From our vantage point, it was not. The crowd gave every race its entire attention because if you looked away for a second, you

may miss something unbelievable. This universal focus gave bonded all of us in the crowd without words. We were all there for the love of this new sport and the fearless racers who tried to conquer it.

In the first couple heats, scary pile-ups unfolded right before our eyes in the last turn to the final obstacle -- a monster jump. We started calling that toilet-bowl turn “trouble alley” and worried about how Casey would handle it. I remembered Casey’s perseverance. He fought through seven surgeries to be here. His most recent injury happened in January when on the way to his first World Cup victory. He fell a mere six seconds from the finish and separated his shoulder. In that moment, even he thought the ride was over. However, he pushed through, rehabbed the injury in six weeks, and was here in Cypress on the day Skier Cross was debuting at the Games. No matter what Casey would be a part of history.

And he was. Not with a medal or a massive crash but by laying down a solid race. Because of his injured shoulder, he came out of the gates slower than he’d like and found himself in fourth place. Despite his best efforts, he stayed in fourth for the whole race.

Casey and I texted after the event. What did I say? I’m not sure. There’s not a go-to phrase for “I’m sorry you didn’t achieve your dream and our dream for you.” I know he was disappointed. So was I. But he gave the race everything he had and that’s all you can ask. The Appointment In Vancouver team remained in the stands until the end of the event, enjoying the spectacle of the sport but without the gusto with which we began. We left our signs in the stands.

The funny thing is that when I returned to Los Angeles, I screened Appointment In Vancouver for a few friends. The film ends just before Casey goes to the Olympics. My friends knew the outcome of the Games, yet they loved the film. Even I still loved it. I realized that Casey didn’t win a medal on February 21, 2010, but the journey that got him to that historic day, his Appointment In Vancouver, was pure gold.

-- ANNA CHRISTOPHER

I'll always be proud to be a Texan (and an American), but Canada might just be my new home away from home!

The Canadians more than exceeded my expectations. They are not the prairie people I had made them out to be in my head. I've never in my life experienced such nice and hospitable people ... do a dare say it, maybe not even in Texas!? Every time I had a question about directions, restaurants, the geography of the country or just exactly how does one play curling, they were quick and friendly with their answers.

I'll always cheer for the USA first, but Canada comes in at a close second!

-- SARAH McCLURG

One of the things I will remember about once-in-a-lifetime Olympic adventure is the scenery of Vancouver. Everywhere I went I was treated to a breathtaking view, whether it was from Stanley Park or looking down an always-busy Granville Street. But what took my breath away was the drive up to Whistler. The Sea-to-Sky Skyway had spectacular views of mountains and valleys throughout the entire way. It was one of the best drives I ever been on, and I've got proof with the hundreds of pictures I took from the bus.)

What surprised me was the Canadians’ hospitality. Everyone I met was very warm and friendly. The locals were easy to get along with whether it was talking about places to visit or explaining to me how the CFL works. The Olympic Volunteers also enhanced our experiences. Not only did they help organize the large crowds but they also made some fun out of it. While I was waiting in line for the SkyTrain after a curling match, the volunteers encouraged us to start a wave as we were standing out in the cold. Only at the Olympics will you receive such a welcome.

Vancouver, well what can I say, it’s one hell of a city. From the moment I stepped foot into downtown I know I was witnessing something special. Never have I seen a city so patriotic about their country and its athletes. Vancouver is one of the best cities I have ever visited, and I already miss it even if I’ve only been back in D.C. for four days. I definitely plan on returning for a second time to see more of this amazing city as well as going to Whistler again so I can ski the slopes. Who knows, I might even live there one day.

-- GREG HARRIS

Lauren: After a whirlwind trip, we are safely back home and slowly integrating back into real life. Sadly, our normal lives don't consist of numerous discussions about curling, doping or skiing, but we do have the wonderful opportunity to finally watch NBC after almost two weeks of Canada's CTV coverage! In the end, this trip has given me a nearly infinite amount of precious memories. I'll never forget meeting Michelle Kwan, or hanging out at the Red Bull house, or even running almost a mile across the city to make a meeting at the Russia House!

Morgan: Upon reflection, one thing about our trips stands out in particular: Canadians are VERY hospitable! Everywhere we went I was extremely impressed with how helpful and welcoming the Canadians were. They went out of their way to give restaurant recommendations, directions and even their place in line. When we were leaving the hostel at 5:30 a.m. the gentleman working at the front desk of our hostel (which was not quite a 4 -star resort) offered us water and toast. This was impressive since 5:30 was before breakfast hours.

Despite having CAN-A-DA chanted in my face many times over the course of our 10-day stay, I still find myself speaking very highly of the Canadians. I even find myself cheering for the Canadians -- when Americans aren't contenders, of course. Tricia: After attending the first 10 days of the Olympics in Vancouver, I've watched NBC's coverage the past few days from my home in northern Virginia. I immediately noticed several contrasts between watching the Games on television versus being a live attendee. For example, as a spectator at a live hockey game, I experienced the patriotism of each country and especially that of the host country, Canada. On television, the commercials bombarded the Olympic experience!

I also noticed a significant distinction between the continuity. As an attendee, I got to see a whole event from beginning to end, and I had the sense that I had fully experienced that event. As a television viewer, the program feels disjointed, because they jump from event to event, although one does see more of a lot of different events in a relatively short time.

Lastly, I recognized the depth of cultural anecdotes presented by Bob Costas and other NBC correspondents. NBC also displayed some cool technical effects, such as digitally superimposing video of skiers or bobsledders who had traversed the same course at different times, thereby providing a direct visual comparison, so that one could see how two athletes compared to each other.

For me, the most important part of attending the Games was the opportunity to interact with the sports personalities and sports business people. No way I could have done that from my couch. I would like to express my deep gratitude to George Washington University for affording this priceless, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Vancouver Olympics.

-- LAUREN LAS, MORGAN GOERKE, TRICIA GROMADA

During our Olympic visit, a classmate and I ventured out to the Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver. We took the Seabus from downtown Vancouver and then a regular bus to the park. Transportation in Vancouver is extremely easy and fares are good for 90 minutes on any form of public transportation.

The bridge is 450 feet long and 230 feet high. It was exhilarating walking across it. We ran into athletes from Russia and the USA who were taking a break from the Olympic Games to tour one of Vancouver's famous attractions. The day was perfect for a walk through nature, and the treetop houses and path along the cliff had some breathtaking views. It was also interesting to learn about the history of the park and the trees that grow there.

-- LAUREN KEEGAN

On our way back to D.C., a few of us decided to take the scenic route back through Seattle. While in our hotel room, watching the highly anticipated women's figure skating, I could not help but notice the distinct differences between CTV and NBC. In Vancouver, I was initially disappointed to not be able to watch NBC's Olympic coverage complete with inspirational pieces on the American athletes. After leaving Canada, my opinion has completely changed.

The CTV coverage features one sport at a time and has no/limited commercials during its coverage. We were able to watch three hours of uninterrupted coverage of ice dancing on CTV. On Tuesday night, NBC showed an average of 1-2 figure skaters per hour. In between figure skating coverage, NBC bounced between skiing and bobsled as well as daily highlights. This made the coverage seem disjointed.

This is the classic example of not knowing what you've got until it is gone. I am missing Canadian TV coverage of the Games!

-- MORGAN GOERKE

Remember four years ago at the Torino Games when the media had a field day with the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association's motto of "Best in the World?"

Well, USSA CEO Bill Marolt and Co. may be getting the last laugh.

Right now, the American skiers and snowboarders can make a legitimate claim that indeed, they are the Best in the World.

With 20 medals - six gold, seven silver and seven bronze - USSA has more medals than all other countries save Germany. The American squads are dominating alpine, snowboarding, freestyle and wait for it, Nordic.

What's even more impressive? The relatively smaller budget on which USSA operates compared to some European counterparts.

And let's give a bit of a nod to the Canadians, who, despite some criticism of their "Own the Podium" campaign, have performed rather well on the slopes.

Not to ignite a Don Cherry-esque symposium about the differences between European and North American skiers and snowboarders, but it turns out that North Americans aren't second-class snow athletes. OK, maybe the Mexican ski team isn't pulling its weight, but, Prince Hubertus von Hohenlohe shouldn't be expected to medal at the tender age of 51.

Hubertus, who is competing in his fifth Olympics, is Mexican by birth, but has a truly royal heritage - his father is Prince Alfonso of Germany and his mother is Her Serene Highness Princess Virginia Carolina Theresa Pancrazia Galdina of Furtstenberg. Taking a page out of Napoleon Dynamite's most-favored animal status billing of the liger, I would have to say that Hubertus is "Pretty much my favorite skier ever."

I'd be remiss not to include one more North American contingent at the 2010 Games: Jamaica. Errol Kerr, the ski cross athlete whose father is Jamaican, came in 9th.

Not only do I love being American, but I dig being North American.

--- IAN CROPP

There’s nothing like traveling internationally with people to get to know them very well. You end up seeing them in their pajamas. You learn their food preferences, music preferences, liquor tolerances and even what kinds of people they are attracted to. I didn’t come here thinking Vancouver was going to do any of that because it’s so much like being back in the States.

But, by taking this crash course with my buddies, I got to know much more about the city of Vancouver and the Olympic Games than I ever would have, had I come here alone. For example, watching Ian spark up conversations with everyone we came across showed me the wide variety of countries that are represented in the spectators here.

Grant (the eater) and Lauren (the aspiring food critic) kept me informed about the best and worst places to grab snacks throughout the day. Morgan added humor to the inevitable tense situations. Stephen was the king of nightlife. Alex discovered the different kinds of bar permits and how to get around the eat-and-drink rules. Editra’s handy maps showed me how to make my way around the city. It’s true that not everyone rolls with a team as awesome as mine, but the key takeaway is that the best way to make the most of the Olympic Games is to do it with friends.

-- JULIA BENNETT

While the real Olympians were competing, fans were able to try their skills at all sorts of Olympic events. While nobody had to actually go down a bobsled track, put on their skis or lace up their skates, the event allowed anybody to attempt any event they'd like. There was even opportunities to be photographed with an Olympic torch and meet with fans from all across the world. The Vantastic Voyage staff took video of the event:

As I make my way back to the States, I couldn't help but notice the insane amount of security in the airport, especially compared to the security at all the venues I visited during my time at the Olympics. I think I went through at least five different security check points going through the airport.

I got to the airport more than two hours before my flight and I only had about 20 minutes to wait before I started to board. In Vancouver, we were told that we had to get to the venue at least an hour and a half before the event because of how long it took to get through security. The first event I went to was a hockey game and it only took me 20 minutes to get through security. I am not saying that I didn't feel secure at the venues, but it was definitely built up way too much. I wish someone would have warned me about the airport security.

---GILLIAN COLEMAN.

While sitting in the airport waiting for my flight home, all I can think about is how crowded the city of Vancouver is. The support of the Games has been great throughout but is steadily increasing.

When I first arrived in Vancouver on the same day as opening ceremonies, I was surprised with how empty the streets appeared. Over the next few days people came out to support their country and enjoy all the festivities. This morning, while I was doing some last-minute data collection, the line at the SuperStore was unlike I have seen all week. The line wrapped around the block and did not move steadily as it had while I did my shopping, and all people could talk about was how the mittens were sold out, not just in Vancouver but throughout Canada. I guess when they ordered, nobody anticipated their popularity.

These were my first Games and it was great to see the Olympic spirit in full force! It definitely isn't something I will forget anytime soon.

--- COURTNEY BAGATTA.

Some scenes from the aerial ski jumping venue:

One of the biggest logistical issues for Americans at these Olympics might have been where to watch Sunday's U.S.- Canada hockey game. Granted, Canadians are a friendly bunch, but when it comes to hockey, they are as passionate as Pakistanis are about cricket. So it was no small task deciding where we were going to watch "The Game."

We didn't want to be the only group in the place cheering for the Americans. But we also didn't want to be in an Americans-only crowd. Our choices were further limited because we weren't able to look for a place to watch the game until about 20 minutes before the puck dropped. At that point, we figured any good venue would be more crowded than our hostel rooms with two weeks worth of laundry scattered about the -20 square feet of floor space.

In a moment of genius, someone suggested we head back to the main media center, where we had previously been with our class on a tour. With credentials still in hand, we jetted back to the Vancouver Convention Center, found the media bar and sidled up.

Not only did we have a large flat-screen TV to ourselves, but we had access to a relatively cheap bar and the well wishes of some Swedish media members.

After the game, we cautiously walked back to our hostel, keeping an eye out for spontaneous riots. As we expected, however, Canadians took the loss rather well. But if Canada falls short of a medal, the streets may not be as calm.

--- IAN CROPP.

A couple of observations:

-- Security: Anticipating trouble in the aftermath of the Canada/USA hockey game, the city put limitations on alcohol sales. The cops were also out in full force. There were close to 10-15 officers on every block monitoring the belligerent crowds.

There were fewer cops roaming the streets Monday -- or so we thought. Apparently, there were numerous undercover cops outside of the Hudson Bay SuperStore. When a drunkard fell over on the street outside the store and attempted to pull down a woman's pants, the undercovers swarmed him.

-- Smells: There are just too many in Vancouver for me to describe, but I’m going try to describe a few.

My greeting to Vancouver was the stench in the hostel – a mix among fish from the neighboring restaurant, body odor from neighboring Europeans and, well, the stench of the hostel itself. Of course, there are the street stenches -– the four p’s: puke, pot, pee and pizza. If you are lucky enough to walk a few blocks in the morning, you can certainly smell all four in a matter of minutes. If I’m lucky, I can leave here with the memory of good smells, preferably Canadian maple syrup and pancakes.

-- MORGAN GOERKE

GWU alum Elana Meyers will compete today in her first Olympic bobsled race representing the USA. Unfortunately, there probably won't be much coverage because woman's ice skating will be on, but I will hopefully be able to watch her race on universalsports.com. This is the second Olympic athlete I have ever known and it is a real honor to say that I know her. Good luck, Elana!! I know you will make the USA and GWU proud.

-- GILLIAN COLEMAN