ChickSpeak

Lindsay Mustard is a lucky girl. She was able to do something that few people actually do, something that is so incredibly special; that is, go to the Olympics.

Mustard, who competes in mogul skiing and was coached by gold medalist Hannah Kearney at a training camp in Whistler, B.C. last summer, traveled to Vancouver to watch both the men’s and ladies’ competition of her favorite sport.

ChickSpeak was lucky enough to sit down with her and learn what the famous Olympic experience entails:

ChickSpeak: Why did you go to the Olympics?

Lindsay Mustard: My mom encouraged me to go. It was a family trip and a once in a lifetime experience, especially since Hannah was competing.

CS: Which events did you attend?

LM: I attended the men’s and women’s moguls because I am a mogul skier. Seeing those events at that level is truly inspiring

CS: They say that it’s virtually impossible to purchase tickets for the Olympics. Did you run into any problems with that during your trip?

LM: It really isn’t difficult to get tickets for the Olympics if you plan ahead. We planned the trip at least a year and half in advance and were there bidding for whichever tickets that we could get our hands on. The tickets weren’t even that expensive. Only $75! It’s the rest of the trip that gets to be expensive.

CS: As a spectator, what was the atmosphere like that you experienced in the stands?

LM: There was a huge crowd for Canada. You could just feel their energy every time they saw a Canadian come down. Even though I’m not Canadian, it was still very cool to be there with them. They are so kind! They all wanted to have a North American sweep, regardless of whether America took the higher place or Canada did.
CS: What was the most amazing moment of the whole experience?

LM: The most amazing moment was seeing Hannah win gold. We had a huge Hannah Kearney cheering group and we all knew Hannah personally. It really was an unforgettable experience; I can’t even describe the feeling of seeing her win. It was beyond awesome.

CS: Are there any events that you particularly don’t care for?

LM: I suppose I would say that I don’t care for curling. I am actually watching it right now. Not very entertaining, but I appreciate their skill nonetheless.

CS: Are you staying to watch all nineteen days of the Games?

LM: I only stayed for two days but still an amazing time.

CS: Who did you go with?

LM: I went with my family but shared a house with some family friends. We also saw a ton of people that we knew out there from mogul skiing.

CS: Was there anything particularly interesting that you experienced in Vancouver?

LM: I experienced the feeling of being connected with so many different countries and the excitement of seeing such a great sport that I am so connected to. I shared the experience with people I know. The anticipation was fantastic and everyone was so excited. It was an incredible, unforgettable experience; I just can’t say it enough.

Maxine Frendel is a writer from New Jersey. She loves the Olympics and practically counts down the days until they come every four years. Read more of her writing on her blog, Queen Maxine’s Blog.