And it's actually a sport, with an objective measurement: whoever gets across the finish line first wins. Doesn't matter if you cross it standing up, or on your rear end, as long as you get there before the others. No style points, no trying to influence the judges with music or sparkly outfits.

There's also a summer version, done on dirt bikes, that's just as exciting.

lot of strategy playing the angles and turns.

Same race is done on skis. But snowboards allow the athletes to get even closer to each other.

The Winter Olympics were in dire need of a rejuvenation when they added the snowboarding events some games back. They're actually showing some of the snowboard cross on the Olympics channel right now. I've been watching that channel today to help with my games withdrawal.

My favorite sport though continues to be curling. Something about that sport just transfixes me.