It doesn’t take much for us to get Olympic fever: the thrill of competition, the unique stories of athletes at the peak of their skills and hard work, the astonished sounds of the crowd when a gold medal is clinched. We have Olympic fever pretty much all the time (we're still wearing the volunteers' blue and yellow snowsuits!), but every four years, when the Winter Olympics come around, we’re extra excited, and we go all-in to celebrate our unique place in the Olympic story.
In 1980, the world came to ski Whiteface and the whole region was full of Olympic excitement. In honor of the upcoming Games in Milano Cortina and to get you excited about celebrating with us, we’re taking a look back at some fun facts about the 1980 Games.
Fast facts about the 1980 XIII Olympic Winter Games
- Athletes: 1,072, composed of 232 women, 840 men.
- Countries: 37
- Events: 38
- Snow: Plenty of it! This was the first Games to feature artificial snow. The Lake Placid News called it “a weather-proof Olympics.”
Invasion of the "Crazy Canucks"
In the late 1970s, a group of daredevil Canadian skiers racked up an array of podium finishes on some of the world’s toughest slopes. In the downhill at Whiteface, Steve Podborski won a gutsy bronze medal, later saying, “Getting an Olympic bronze medal was a victory!” The skiers are so famous in Canada there’s even a movie about them.
A long hike
One sports fan hiked from New York City to Lake Placid to celebrate the peaceful ideals of the Olympic spirit. Over 18 days, the young man from Staten Island made his way north, encouraged by people he met along the way and undaunted by a lack of tickets.
A first on the slopes
Hanni Wenzel, from the very small nation of Liechtenstein (it’s about the size of Washington, D.C.), won that country’s very first Olympic gold medal…and then a second! Entered in all three of the women’s alpine events, Wenzel won two: the giant slalom and slalom.
All in the family
Alpine skier Hanni Wenzel was joined on the medals table by her brother Andreas, who won a silver medal in the downhill. They weren’t the only siblings competing in these Games: the American Heiden siblings, Eric and Beth, competed in speedskating, with both winning medals on the ice.
Happy camping?
Despite the fact that the Games occurred in the middle of winter, the KOA in Wilmington had camping sites available for hardy sports fans. Tenting in February: worthy of a medal!
Raccoon mania
A certain raccoon was everywhere during the 1980 Games. Roni the Raccoon, the mascot of the Games, was a hot commodity. Official posters, coins, and more were emblazoned with Roni’s blue face, but the must-haves were stuffed Roni dolls and, of course, pins! The anthropomorphized Roni was spotted on jackets, hats, and packs all over the Adirondacks, including on the slopes. As one visitor during the Games remarked, “They’re not a bad-looking animal.”
Olympic snow for the rest of us
Following the successful alpine events, the skiing season at Whiteface was extended by two weeks, with officials encouraging those who had watched the events on TV to try the slopes themselves. It's not every winter skiers get to share the snow with Olympians!
Create your own Olympic adventure
Don’t miss your own chance to ski or ride our Olympic mountain this winter: Whiteface is one of the best places to celebrate and get your own dose of Olympic fever. You'll find reminders of the Games around the mountain, including the scoreboard at the base of Mountain Run, featuring American Phil Maher's silver medal time.
Did you know that numerous Olympians have trained on this very mountain? Andrew Weibrecht, winner of two Olympic medals, grew up skiing at Whiteface and still lives in the area. Mikaela Shiffrin, one of the greatest Alpine skiers of all time, trained here too, on her way to three Olympic medals and more than 100 World Cup wins!
A visit to the Whiteface Region during an Olympic Winter Games is a real treat: local bars and restaurants offer specials, big-screen viewing, and special events. In nearby Lake Placid, visit the world-class Legacy Sites, and experience your own Olympic thrills. Start planning your visit to the Whiteface Region today!
P.S. Did you attend the 1980 Olympic Winter Games or spend time in Lake Placid and Wilmington? Did you camp at the KOA?? We’d love to hear your stories! Feel free to email content@roostadk.com with your Olympic memories.
