No cropping necessary on this one. If you watched even a litte of the figure skating competition during the Winter Olympics you almost assuredly heard this fella’s name mentioned.
Ulrich Salchow was born in Denmark, but because of his Swedish descent and his move to Sweden at an early age, he skated for Sweden.
He’s considered one of skatings greatest of all-time, having won 10 World Championships, nine European Championships, and an Olympic Gold Medal in 1908, the first time the sport was ever contested at the Olympics. (Fun Fact: Figure skating was first contested in London during that year’s Summer Olympics thanks to the availability of indoor artificial ice and no Winter Games at the time.)
One of Salchow’s signature moves, known as the Salchow Star, now simply bears his last name. The jump (seen in the video below) has the skater taking off from the back inside edge of one foot and landing on the back outside edge of the other foot. It does not utilize the toe pick.
Ever wanted to learn how to do a Salchow jump? Here you go:-)
Following his skating career, Salchow served as president of the International Skating Union (1925-37), chair of the Swedish Cycling Association (1905-07) while still an active skater, and served as the chair of the Swedish Skating Association three times (1917-20, 1923-32, and 1935-38). He also founded the Swedish Boxing Federation for which he was chair from 1919-32.
Salchow died at age 71 in 1949 in Stockholm.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
Forty-six years ago (to the day, actually!), I was a 12-year-old in my family’s Michigan living room watching a tape-delayed prime time broadcast of the USA-USSR men’s hockey game from Lake Placid, NY.
We, of course, know how that ended.
It was the stuff of Hollywood.
Today, I watched the first USA men’s hockey gold medal victory since that 1980 team bested Finland a couple nights after defeating the Soviets.
I did not view it from the comfort of my recliner, but rather from 35,000 feet above the U.S. on Delta Airlines Flight 523 bound for Los Angeles where later today I’ll see LeBron James and Luka Doncic’s Lakers host their longtime rival, Boston Celtics.
If I could hop into Bill & Ted’s phone booth and head back to that living room and tell myself I’d be watching an Olympic gold medal victory by the USA from an airplane … well, I’m convinced I wouldn’t believe it.
And, further, if I’d tell myself that I was in that Italian ice arena where the game was played just six days ago watching the USA Women win its semifinal game …
Here’s hoping my fellow passengers didn’t notice me delicately dabbing my napkin at the corners of my eyes.
To say the past two weeks have been special would be a gross understatement.
Fitting that this image is tightly cropped and devoid of (most) of the main topic. These will be the first games since 2002 in Salt Lake City without the subject competing.
To put this in proper perspective, the last Winter Olympics that American snowboarder Shaun White did not compete (2002 in Salt Lake City), the Fan Teaser’s editor was in just their second full year of teaching. Today that editor is happily retired and is, in fact, in northern Italy enjoying the Milano-Cortina Olympics (no snowboarding, however).
The image used for this week’s Fan Teaser was captured four years ago when White, then in his fifth Games, finished off the podium in his specialty event – the halfpipe – for the second time in his Olympic history. He placed fourth in Beijing, China, as he did in 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
Shaun White in action in the halfpipe final at Genting Snow Park during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. (Photograph by Xinhua/Shutterstock)
His other three Olympics were golden, placing first in Torino (2006), Vancouver (2010), and Pyeongchang (2018).
Though retired at the ripe old age of 39, White – who’s nicknamed “The Flying Tomato” thanks to his flowing red locks in his early years – is at the Milano-Cortina Games working for NBC. His stated goal for the Games is to “Get Snoop (Dogg) on a board.” (Read his plan for the 2026 Olympics here.)
The Shaun White Olympic gold medal highlight reel.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
U.S. Olympian, Kendall Kramer, is seen here competing for the University of Alaska Fairbanks. (Photo by Stephanie Burgoon)
I’m delighted to be joined by Fairbanksan Susan Schwartz in this special episode of Conversations.
Susan is the mother of first-time United States Olympian, Kendall Kramer, a graduate of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and an 8-time All-American. She’s earned accolades for her cross country work on both her feet and on skis, earning runner up status in the 2024 NCAA Division II Women’s Cross Country (running) Championships and winning the 2025 NCAA Women’s Cross Country (skiing) 20-Kilometer Freestyle Championship.
Susan, who administers the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks‘ Junior Nordics program, shares what it’s been like to have a world class athlete in the household and the impact Kendall’s decision to ski for the hometown university has had on the NSCF.
One thing it most-assuredly means for Susan is plenty of travel and, thanks to a very accomodating employer at the Fairbanks Catholic Schools, has been able to see the majority Kendall’s races all over the U.S. and large swaths of Europe skiing at both UAF and for the Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Team (whose members comprise half of the U.S. Olympic team).
Susan plans to be in northern Italy for the Games, but as Kendall is in her first Olympics and was among the last named to the team, there was no guarantee she’d compete, but she did, placing 38th in the Women’s 10km Interval Start Free.
Susan was able to see her daughter realize her dream.
As I write this February edition of “Inside Baseball,” my traveling party and I are en route from San Vito, Italy, to Milan.
It’s pretty much a 6-hour travel day from our housing near Cortina to Milan where we’ll continue our Winter Olympics experience over the next week.
As promised a little more than a week ago, here’s the first of two “Inside Baseball” editions this month, focusing – primarily – on our time in Cortina for a pair of events as part of the Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project.
The Olympic Cauldron by night in Piazza Angelo di Bona.
The Cauldron by day with Olimpia delle Tofane in the backdrop.
The Olympic Cauldron with Carol and I in the foreground.
Corso Italia is decked out with flags and illuminated figures flying overhead.
The waning sun in downtown Cortina.
This flags adorn various lamp posts throughout Cortina.
The remainder of the set.
You never know who might meet on the streets. Here’s Carol and a member of the Jamaican Bobsleigh Team.
The Olympic and Paralympic torches were found in a streetside display.
The Coca-Cola Peak Experience allowed for visitors to hold a torch.
The Olympic Medals.
The Paralympic Medals.
Switzerland’s Hospitality House provided us with a warming spot and lovely meal following our time at the luge event.
The Argentinian contingent marches in the Cortina Opening Ceremonies Parade of Nations.
Fans from everywhere crowded around Cortina to see the Opening Ceremonies, including these recognizable names from Canada.
The Australian athletes’ contingent.
Various television crews from around the world are frequently doing live reports from streets.
The view inside the Cortina Sliding Center.
One of the two mascots, Tina, was at the Men’s Luge Event.
Looking down the row of flags in the Sliding Center.
In case I ever forget what it was I was seeing.
You’ve gotta …
…. be …
… quick …
… on the photo button.
Here’s a men’s luge participant at the finish.
We watched the final runs from our home the next night. Here’s Gold Medalist Max Langenhan from Germany celebrating.
I wonder how the German’s will fare in skeleton?
The Sliding Center as seen from the Cortina Olympic Curling Stadium.
The view of Olimpia delle Tofane from across the valley atop Mount Faloria.
The one constant we experienced in Cortina was lack of organization for boarding the shuttle bus.
Our seat view during Curling.
The logo on the curling ice.
A pair of passionate Italian fans cheer on their team.
American curlers Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin talk strategy during their semifinal match.
Italian curlers Stefania Costantini and Amos Monsaner during their semifinal match.
The Swedish curlers are siblings Rasmus and Isabella Wrana.
The British curlers are Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat.
The Brits conceded their match to Sweden with one end remaining.
The Americans Korey and Cory celebrate their semifinal victory.
Our group, Tim, Tracey, Carol, and I, following the action.
A wide view of the Cortina Olympic Curling Stadium.
We watched the Gold Medal match from our flat. Sweden won.
It’s hard to see (look for the arrow), but that’s the helicopter airlifting U.S. downhill skier Lindsey Vonn off Tofane following her crash.
The Lilly photobooth puts you in the action.
Commemorative laser-engraved can of Coke? Yes, please.
Having fun at the Swatch Photobooth at Switzerland House.
The Olympic Rings in Cortina with Olimpia delle Tofane in the backdrop.
Cortina Village from high above on Mount Faloria
Moonlighting
I volunteered to serve as a Cortina correspondent for former Conversations with Sports Fans guests, Jill Jaracz and Alison Brown (aka Keep the Flame Alive Podcast). Jill had noted on a post shortly after she’d arrived in Milan that travel challenges/time constraints were likely to prevent either of them from experiencing any of the Games in Cortina. I filed a pair of reports that were, in my opinion … OK, following our time at the Men’s Luge Singles Runs 1 and 2 and again following the Mixed Doubles Curling Semi-Finals.
You’re able to listen to Keep the Flame Alive at this link. Jill and Alison do a whale of a job recapping each day’s highlights from a pair of fans’ perspective.
Around the World in 80 Sporting Events in the News
The cover of last Thursday’s Detroit News. (Photo by Helena Hill)
The Detroit News profiled my Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project in it’s February 5th editions. Writer Tony Paul and photo journalist, Daniel Mears, combined to tell the story of my post-retirement endeavors. The editors at The News deemed it front page worthy, which was a bit humbling to say the least. Here’s a link to the story.
Video Virality
Midway through the Mixed Doubles Curling Semifinals, I shared the video below as a Facebook Reel. As I type this, it’s been viewed three-quarters of a million times!
Holy Moly!!!
American’s Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin combine on a 3-point score during the fourth end of their semifinal match with Italy.
Madison, WI, native, Eric Heiden, wasn’t exactly an unknown speed skating commodity heading into the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics. After all he competed for the United States as a 17-year-old in both the 1,500 meters (7th place) and 5,000 meters (19th place) during the 1976 Innsbruck Winter Olympics.
But his performance in the upstate New York hamlet solidified his status as one of America’s greatest Olympians – Winter or Summer. He competed in all five men’s speed skating events, won them all in Olympic record time, and in his final event – the 10,000 meters – shattered the World Record by over six seconds and the Olympic Record by a staggering 39.17 seconds. That mark was established just four years earlier in Innsbruck by the Soviet Union’s Yevgeny Kulikov. Interestingly, the 10,000 meters was the day after Team USA’s thrilling, 4-3, Miracle on Ice upset over the Soviets in ice hockey. Heiden noted that with all the excitement he’d overslept and managed just a few slices of bread before his otherworldly performance.
The rundown of his golden 1980 Olympic performance:
February 15,500m – 37.63 seconds
February 16,5000m – 7:02.29
February 19, 1000m – 1:15.18
February 21, 1500m – 1:55.44
February 23,10000m – 14:28.13
American Eric Heiden put on an unbelieveably dominant speed skating display during the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY, winning five gold medals and setting a world record in the 10,000 meters. (Photo by Tony Duffy/Getty Images)
After his Olympic performance, Heiden became a professional bicyclist, first track racing (finishing last in the 1981 World Championships) and then road racing where he enjoyed modest success. He’s credited with helping found the 7-Eleven Cycling Team and competed in the 1986 Tour de France, though a crash (and concussion) prevented him from finishing the final five days. His successes on a bike saw him inducted into the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame in 1999.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
My alarm was set for the unimaginable time of 3:45 a.m. last Friday.
It wasn’t to catch a flight or to rush out to my local Detroit-area bakery to get in line for fresh-baked paczki (the Polish pastry associated with Fat Tuesday) or even to get an early work out in (as much as my physician might appreciate that).
No, the alarm was set because I was notified two days prior that my 48-hour window to purchase tickets to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy, opened at 10 a.m. Central European Time. Which, I quickly discovered, was 4 a.m. in my neck of the woods.
So there I was without my morning coffee, tending to the dog’s early-morning needs, and firing up my laptop preparing to secure what I could for the trip which will be part of my Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project.
Things started smoothly as I was placed in the queue and, moments later, was admitted into the room to purchase tickets.
I’ve begun to learn, having played the ticket game quite a bit the past several months, that each platform is a bit different. This one was especially so.
As I reflect on the overall experience, my chief regret was not taking a moment to study the main page as I entered the room. Rather, I began scrolling – by date – to find the events I wanted to purchase tickets for. Had I taken a moment to review the home page, I would have noticed I could have done searches by sport and not had to scroll as much as I did.
I persevered, however, and was successful in securing four tickets to six events (the maximum per person during this window was 25 total tickets). Then came the check out process which seemed to require including each ticketholders name for each ticket. Suddenly, as I was typing in the final five names my half hour shopping limit expired and my cart was emptied … #*&%!!!
I logged back in and utilizing lessons from my practice session, was more efficient in navigating the system. Unfortunately, the first three events I attempted to purchase were now sold out so I needed to recalibrate my strategy.
Looking over the schedule of the Games – which will be the most geographically spread out in Olympic history – I endeavored to cobble together something that captured as many of our preferred events as possible while also allowing for travel time and down time (which I’m also told is important for first-time Olympic attendees).
This is what I walked away with shortly after 11 a.m. CET Friday.
February 7 – Men’s Singles Luge, Heats 1 & 2 in Cortina
February 9 – Mixed Doubles Curling Semifinals in Cortina
February 11 – Ice Dancing Free Dance in Milan
February 12 – Men’s Ice Hockey Pool Play in Milan
February 14 – Short Track Speed Skaing in Milan
February 16 – Women’s Ice Hockey Semifinal in Milan
Might there be another event added should the secondary ticket market provide some opportunities? I’d think so, but for a first Games this seems a robust schedule and one that hits on some of the traditional and not-so-traditional winter sports.
One of the most iconic images in the history of American sports is this one captured by Sports Illustrated‘s German-born photographer, Heinz Kluetmeier. It’s the celebration behind the Team USA goal following its improbablle, 4-3, 1980 Olympic semifinal upset of the heavily favored Soviet Union. It became know as the “Miracle on Ice.”
Team USA celebrates its 4-3 victory over the Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympics. (Photo by Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated)
The moment occurred just over 44 years ago (February 22) and the upstart Americans went on to win the Gold Medal game a couple days later, 4-2, over Finland. Kluetmeier’s photo adorned the cover of the March 3 edition of SI (44 years ago today). That cover is the only one in the magazine’s storied history to run without a headline or caption.
“It didn’t need it. Everyone in America knew what happened,” Kluetmeier later said.
The Sports Illustrated cover.
The closing moments of the Miracle on Ice game from Lake Placid, NY, February 22, 1980.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser comes courtesy of longtime buddy, Pat Schutte. The cropped photo below and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
(Our semi-regular contributor, Tim Russell – known to this audience for his regular dispatches late last summer chronicling his baseball stadium travels – wishes everyone a Happy New Year with a cap tip to a sport more popular to our northern neighbors but enjoyed by Tim and plenty of other Michiganders … curling. Please enjoy!)
SWEEP!
Hard.
Real Hard!
HARD!!!!
You’ve all heard that, if you’ve ever watched Olympic curling. A curler slides down the ice and you hear the shouts as it moves toward the other end of the sheet.
It’s an intriguing sport with lots of complexities. Some people have even called it chess on ice. An oversweep or undersweep can cause the stone to move a fraction of an inch off its desired path.
Curling is something I started participating in three years ago. I had watched it during the Winter Olympics and thought it could be fun. I started following the Detroit Curling Club on Facebook and saw some “Individual Curling Experiences” they advertised. I tried one … and then another … and another, before finally being able to work a “Learn to Curl” program into my schedule.
Photos of the Detroit Curling Club courtesy of the DCC.
The “Learn to Curl” program is how you gain entry into the club, but more on that later. You learn the basics of curling, including sliding, releasing the rock, sweeping, and basic strategy.
But first, let’s get into the basics of curling. Each team is made of four players: the lead will throw the first two stones, the second the next two, the vice (or the third) the next two and, finally, the skip will throw the last two. The skip will also tell the first three where to throw their rocks.
In an end, the two teams alternate throwing their rocks. The object is to get as many of your stones closer to the center of the house before your opponent places one.
Most games last 6-10 ends (think innings).
Before the game begins, the two teams determine who will get the hammer, in other words, be the second to throw in the first end. It is usually determined by a coin toss, or sometimes by playing rock, paper, scissors. After the first end, the losing team gets the hammer in the next end.
Unlike hockey or figure skating, the game is also played on special ice. To begin, the ice is smooth and then pebbled with droplets of water. You turn a sprinkler head facing up, move your arm back and forth quickly as you slide backward, letting the drops fall to the ice, creating a pebble. You then nip the tops off the pebble, creating an even layer, allowing the rock to glide over top. The pebbling is where the rock gets its curl from. Most shots will curl 4-6 feet.
Sweeping is also a part of the game. It accomplishes two things: keeping the stone moving straight; reducing the amount of curl. You may want to do that to get it past a stone in play, instead of having it hit it. It will also help the rock move further down the ice. It won’t make it faster, but will help it carry.
The rock is also special, made up of 42 pounds of granite. They come from one of two places: the Scottish island of Ailsa Craig and a Trefor Granite Quarry in Wales. The game itself was started more than 500 years ago in Scotland.
So why did I want to join the curling club? I’m glad you asked.
I had always watched the curling events during the Winter Olympics. It was one of those events I really looked forward to each time and always tried to find the time to tune in.
One thing led to another and I was able to try it out. To put it simply, I was hooked.
During the summer, there are ample things to do: golf, baseball or softball, bike riding, and kayaking to name a few. But the winter provided a problem, how do you stay – at least somewhat – active?
That answer proved to be curling. It got me out of the house two-to-three days/nights per week. It provided exercise. And yes, despite the cold ice, you work up a sweat, or at least build up some heat. The best thing to do when playing is to dress in layers. You exert a lot of energy when sweeping.
But I’ve found the best part about curling and the club is the people you have an opportunity to meet. Everyone has the same interest and are very helpful to new curlers. And after every game, you usually broomstack, or sit around the table for a round of drinks. Tradition has it that the winning team buys the first round to soothe any hurt feelings.
Even with plenty of training and practice, it does take some time to learn the proper weight to throw the rock down the ice. It may be the hardest part of the game. If you slide out too fast, the rock may move too fast and not curl as much. If you push off to slow, the rock may fall off and not reach its desired target.
You have to balance all that along with ice conditions that may change, depending on outside conditions. But basically, you push out of the hack with the rock and at some point, before the hog line, you release the rock.
The hack is what you place you foot in to start each throw. The hog line is about 10 meters in front of each house (or the targets at each end of the ice). If a rock fails to cross the far hog line, it is considered out of play and removed.
So where can you try it? Here in my native Michigan there are several places.
The Detroit Curling Club in Ferndale is the only place in the metro Detroit area with regulation, full-length ice. There are also other clubs throughout the state in Lansing, Midland, Kalamazoo, and Traverse City.
At the Detroit club, they have “Individual Curling Experiences” sporadically throughout the year. Those events last about two hours, with 20 minutes of instruction and safety and the rest out on the ice. The club also has rentals available during the season, which lasts from late October to mid-April. Those last 2 to 2 ½ hours, with basic instruction and the bulk of the time on the ice.
The HubStadium in Novi also has curling sheets available, along with basic instruction. They have six sheets, but the sheets are about five feet short of regulation.
Membership at the DCC begins with the “Learn to Curl” class, a three-weekend course going over the basics of how to play. The course is usually in November. Once joining, you participate in leagues and bonspiels, which is what curling tournaments are called.
(If you’re a sports fan and would like to contribute an occasional post on this site, we’d love to talk. Just email hilldouglast@gmail.com and let us know what you have in mind. We love contributors!)
