Staying warm at bitter-cold Olympics its own challenge

PYEONGCHANG, SOUTH KOREA— The Americans are wearing battery-powered parkas, while the Canadians are using heated snow pants. The Norwegians brought their own hot chocolate.

Then there’s the scene at the moguls skiing hill, where yoga mats — or things that look like yoga mats — are used to create a barrier between one’s feet and the freezing turf.

The conditions here are severe. Preparations have been made to postpone the men’s downhill ski racing event this weekend if strong winds don’t abate. So at this unusually chilly Winter Olympic Games — with wind chills expected to make it feel -18 C as competition gets underway — elite athletes long accustomed to cold weather are trying anything and everything to stay warm.

Some are going high-tech. Others are using home remedies.

The most lasting image of these Winter Olympics may be tape face. Skiers from Slovakia and other countries are strapping sticky athletic tape across their cheeks and noses to protect their skin.

Whether any of this actually does much to warm the body — or make a difference between gold and 12th place — is another question. Experts say face-taping probably offers some degree of comfort during bitter weather conditions. And if the Olympians think they feel warmer, they may feel less distracted and perform slightly better.

“You’re talking about really small margins, so if you’ve got them feeling comfortable, that’s a large step in the right direction,” said Mike Tipton, a professor in the Extreme Environments Laboratory at the University of Portsmouth’s de- partment of sport and exercise science.

For elite athletes, feeling cold can affect performance in several ways. The discomfort becomes a distraction. Hands and feet can become numb and lose motor function — a problem for biathletes who stop midrace to shoot at targets. Then there is something called “cold-induced diuresis” — as the body concentrates blood flow to key body parts, blood pressure rises and urination increases. That can lead to a corresponding loss in blood volume — a hazard for endurance athletes.

Martin Moller, a cross-country skier for Denmark, grew up in Greenland and recommends learning to love the frigid environment of Pyeongchang.

“If you think you are going to freeze, you’re sure to freeze faster,” he said. “Try to feel the clear, cold air and love its crispy flavour.”

Experts say face-taping probably offers some degree of comfort during bitter weather conditions