Ty and Hannah

Vermont’s 13 athletes, part of the U.S. record contingent of 230, didn’t outnumber all other states. But those 13 represent an Olympian for every 48,000 residents, the highest number per capita of any state. Which prompted USA Today to call Vermont “King of the winter games.”

California sent the most athletes, 20, or one athlete for about every two million residents.

Two Vermont Olympians are from Stowe and Morrisville. Vermont is immensely proud of Ty Walker and Hannah Dreissigacker.

At only 16 years of age, Walker has already made a huge mark on U.S. snowboarding. Qualifying for the American team last month, the young Mount Mansfield Ski and Snowboard Club star injured her foot on the rail section of the Olympic slopestyle course in training. Days later, she hobbled through the opening ceremonies on crutches but sporting a big smile. Last Sunday, with her parents cheering course-side, Ty battled through pain to finish sixth, two spots shy of advancing to the finals.

Walker, who has worked hard and advanced fast, responded with grace, and a confident long view.

“Hopefully I will be one of the people who will be on top next time,” she told reporters at the event. “To be able to have this experience and go through without all the expectation is really cool.”

Very cool. Keep at it, Ty. You are soaring. You make Vermont proud.

Morrisville native Hannah Dreissigacker was in the thick of biathlon competition this week, having raced Sunday in the 7.5k pursuit. She finished fourth among the Americans, 65th overall. More individual and team races are coming up this week. The Dartmouth grad is part of the Craftsbury Green Racing Program. A collegiate Nordic skier, Hannah took up biathlon a few years ago with the goal of being an Olympian. Proving hard work pays off, she did it. Well done, Hannah. Ski fast and shoot straight.

On watching it all

Predictably, NBC’s coverage of the games has been heart-warming, emotional and spirited, but incomplete. It should be called “Olympic Highlights,” because if you want to watch the slopestyle competition, biathlon, Nordic race or alpine race from beginning to end, you won’t get it on NBC. If you’re lucky, you have access to Canada’s CBC, which, for the most part, shows the big events from beginning to end.

It’s unfair to the viewer to present a ski race, for example, pretending to be showing the real thing, when any fool can see the bib numbers jump from one to four to 10 and so on, based on someone’s notion of what’s worth watching.

It’s been like this for years with American network broadcasts of winter sports. If Vermont is considered by USA Today to be the king of the winter Olympics, will anyone listen if we say “boo” to NBC’s coverage of the skiing and snowboarding? Doubtful.

Sure, Sochi is eight time zones away, which must be a nightmare for NBC producers. Most people know the day’s results before Vermont even wakes up. But there is a better way, and the Canadians seem to have figured it out.

NBC’s winter Olympics website is a slightly better way to see the games in all their complexity and diversity. But it, too, lacks full versions of competitions. It’s all highlights, too. Boo.

Meet the candidates

Next Wednesday, the Stowe Reporter will host a forum to meet the candidates for the Stowe Select Board. Marina Meerburg and Willie Noyes are vying for one open seat, and incumbent Neil Van Dyke is running unopposed for his seat.

The candidates have been asked to offer remarks and take questions from a member of the Stowe Reporter staff and from the audience. This will be a great opportunity for citizens both to hear and to express opinions about a wide variety of local issues, from the ongoing police contract negotiations to taxes, from road conditions to village vibrancy.

We look forward to a lively discussion, and hope that other members of the select board and town committees attend to liven up the forum at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 19, in the Memorial Hall, at the Akeley Memorial Building.