The Glitch Games

[Liberty and Truth]

*removed/Jo*

[Jo]

Get back on topic. Nix the personal attacks.

[Cateyes]

[Darkre]

Going with battery operated (in the name of Green games...apparently) Olympia ice machines in the Richmond Oval instead of tried and true Zamboni's. I don't know about ice machines but I know that Zamboni's just work and that is why everyone uses them. Lot's of complaints yesterday. I was watching the raw feed from the oval yesterday and a lot of people were pi$$ed. Dan Jansen on NBC had a very good point. He said these athletes train for years for this one moment and you would think the ice maintainers would have the same attitude. These Olympia machines apparently have a history of failures at the Richmond Oval. They failed for a short time during a previous Olympic event and screwed up the ice royally and caused a couple hour delay yesterday when 2 of them failed and one screwed up the ice. They managed to get the ice back to just ok condition but almost had to cancel.

Apparently that was finally enough to wise them up so they flew in a Zamboni overnight from Calgary. Just add that to that 6billion dollar and counting bill.

It doesn't help that Vanoc is using volunteers to operate the ice resurfacing equipment either. Yes they are experienced operators but it takes time to get used to the differences between machines plus you don't always get the best people when you ask them to work for free for 6 weeks. In order to apply to be an ice resurfacer/operator you had to commit to a 6 week window (for both the olympic and paralympic games). You couldn't commit to just 1 week, you had to make yourself available for all 6 and had to work whenever they assigned you. It's just stupid that the people that operate those machines on a daily basis throughout the year, plus the ones at GM place had to let other people drive them for the games.

BTW GM place has been using Olympias since it opened. Battery operated Olympias have been around for 10-15 years and are a proven machine. The problem is you have people that aren't used to operating them using them while the guys that use them everyday sit on the sidelines.

[Cateyes]

Going with battery operated (in the name of Green games...apparently) Olympia ice machines in the Richmond Oval instead of tried and true Zamboni's. I don't know about ice machines but I know that Zamboni's just work and that is why everyone uses them. Lot's of complaints yesterday. I was watching the raw feed from the oval yesterday and a lot of people were pi$$ed. Dan Jansen on NBC had a very good point. He said these athletes train for years for this one moment and you would think the ice maintainers would have the same attitude. These Olympia machines apparently have a history of failures at the Richmond Oval. They failed for a short time during a previous Olympic event and screwed up the ice royally and caused a couple hour delay yesterday when 2 of them failed and one screwed up the ice. They managed to get the ice back to just ok condition but almost had to cancel.

Apparently that was finally enough to wise them up so they flew in a Zamboni overnight from Calgary. Just add that to that 6billion dollar and counting bill.

It doesn't help that Vanoc is using volunteers to operate the ice resurfacing equipment either. Yes they are experienced operators but it takes time to get used to the differences between machines plus you don't always get the best people when you ask them to work for free for 6 weeks. In order to apply to be an ice resurfacer/operator you had to commit to a 6 week window (for both the olympic and paralympic games). You couldn't commit to just 1 week, you had to make yourself available for all 6 and had to work whenever they assigned you. It's just stupid that the people that operate those machines on a daily basis throughout the year, plus the ones at GM place had to let other people drive them for the games.

BTW GM place has been using Olympias since it opened. Battery operated Olympias have been around for 10-15 years and are a proven machine. The problem is you have people that aren't used to operating them using them while the guys that use them everyday sit on the sidelines.

It's my understanding that speed skating ovals require different or modified machines though. Maybe that is why all the problems? Also, I think there is acreditiation required to be an icemaker which I would assume also involves using the resurfacers. I think it's an apprenticeship program of some sort.

[Al Czervic]

It doesn't help that Vanoc is using volunteers to operate the ice resurfacing equipment either. Yes they are experienced operators but it takes time to get used to the differences between machines plus you don't always get the best people when you ask them to work for free for 6 weeks. In order to apply to be an ice resurfacer/operator you had to commit to a 6 week window (for both the olympic and paralympic games). You couldn't commit to just 1 week, you had to make yourself available for all 6 and had to work whenever they assigned you. It's just stupid that the people that operate those machines on a daily basis throughout the year, plus the ones at GM place had to let other people drive them for the games.

BTW GM place has been using Olympias since it opened. Battery operated Olympias have been around for 10-15 years and are a proven machine. The problem is you have people that aren't used to operating them using them while the guys that use them everyday sit on the sidelines.

It's my understanding that speed skating ovals require different or modified machines though. Maybe that is why all the problems? Also, I think there is acreditiation required to be an icemaker which I would assume also involves using the resurfacers. I think it's an apprenticeship program of some sort.

They had the head icemaker on the CBC Radio being interviewed about this. The head icemaker is from Calgary and he says the Zamboni is the best machine bar none.. Apparently the three Olympia’s that broke down do not do anywhere near as good of a job as the “Zamboni” does. He said he insisted on getting his Zamboni after the Olympic breakdowns and the Zamboni was loaded on a flatbed truck last evening and arrived in Richmond around noon.

This has been incredible free publicity for American made Zamboni and a nightmare for Canadian made Olympia.

edited to add.... BTW....Zamboni has had "electric" models around for just as long as Olympia has. Reports suggesting this is why Olympia was chosen are false. I expect it is really because Olympia is Canadian company and Zamboni is American company however as we Canadians are constantly whining about the "buy American” program we cannot afford to look like hypocrites.

[Cateyes]

It's my understanding that speed skating ovals require different or modified machines though. Maybe that is why all the problems? Also, I think there is acreditiation required to be an icemaker which I would assume also involves using the resurfacers. I think it's an apprenticeship program of some sort.

They had the head icemaker on the CBC Radio being interviewed about this. The head icemaker is from Calgary and he says the Zamboni is the best machine bar none.. Apparently the three Olympia’s that broke down do not do anywhere near as good of a job as the “Zamboni” does. He said he insisted on getting his Zamboni after the Olympic breakdowns and the Zamboni was loaded on a flatbed truck last evening and arrived in Richmond around noon.

This has been incredible free publicity for American made Zamboni and a nightmare for Canadian made Olympia.

There ya go. So you have seen the light Al? No more conspiracy theories?

[Al Czervic]

There ya go. So you have seen the light Al? No more conspiracy theories?

Actually I do have a new conspiracy theory...as I edited and added above in my comments above...

From my added comments....

BTW....Zamboni has had "electric" models around for just as long as Olympia has. Reports suggesting this is why Olympia was chosen are false. I expect it is really because Olympia is Canadian company and Zamboni is American company however as we Canadians are constantly whining about the "buy American” program we cannot afford to look like hypocrites.

[RR24K]

There ya go. So you have seen the light Al? No more conspiracy theories?

:sillygrin:

[Darkre]

I expect it is really because Olympia is Canadian company and Zamboni is American company however as we Canadians are constantly whining about the "buy American” program we cannot afford to look like hypocrites.

2 other possibilities are that Olympias are generally $20-30,000 cheaper than a Zamboni and that Olympias use many GM parts and GM is a title sponsor for the Olympics

Also, I think there is acreditiation required to be an icemaker which I would assume also involves using the resurfacers. I think it's an apprenticeship program of some sort.

There is alot of training to become an icemaker, trust me I would know ;) , but there is no apprenticeship program so to speak. You need to be a 5th class power engineer to operate the refrigeration equipment but for operation of the ice resurfacer you are just trained by the people already at the arena in which you work. There are courses now available that teach you how to make ice as well but they generally can't teach much more than the basics.

[Captain Awesome]

You know what grinds my gears about Olympics? Kelowna is freaking dead. Nothing is going on, everybody is watching Olympics. Come on people, keep things moving.

[Al Czervic]

2 other possibilities are that Olympias are generally $20-30,000 cheaper than a Zamboni and that Olympias use many GM parts and GM is a title sponsor for the Olympics.

Awesome information. Thanks. It had never actually occurred to me that saving some money on an ice machine is a concept that Vanoc would have seriously entertained. Never knew about the parts being GM either....that helps explain the breakdowns.....

[RR24K]

You know what grinds my gears about Olympics? Kelowna is freaking dead. Nothing is going on, everybody is watching Olympics. Come on people, keep things moving.

It will be all over come March first until then . Time chill-out "Captain Awesome"

[Queen K]

You know what grinds my gears about Olympics? Kelowna is freaking dead. Nothing is going on, everybody is watching Olympics. Come on people, keep things moving.

There was an eighteen hundred sq/ft commercial property for sale in Lake Country 2 years ago, for a mere $350,000. I asked, "why so much?" He said, "The Olympics are coming." :dyinglaughing:

[LoneWolf_53]

And on a more refreshing positive note here's a link of interest....... http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loca ... lumbiaHome

Colbert actually praises Canadians. Imagine that. :)