B (2:12)

So what is your title as the person who's doing this? What's your job title here?

D (2:17)

It's chief of color. Chief of dye crew. Chief of color.

B (2:21)

That's an awesome title.

D (2:23)

Yeah, I love it.

C (2:26)

Do people call you chief?

D (2:27)

Yeah, you can. Nobody does it, but, yeah, you can.

C (2:30)

Okay.

B (2:32)

So this is happening like the lines need to be repainted whenever someone lands funny and chips the blue. So you're going out during competition between skiers and snowboarders, right?

E (2:46)

It's blue.

D (2:47)

Possible. Yeah, it's possible. For example, the last days during slopestyle, we had to recolor the lines during the training or during the competition. Like yesterday was the tv. So I wait on the knuckle next to the jump, hiding from the cameras. I wait that the rider goes by the camera, finish filming, and then when it's gone, I can go. I do maybe one landing or two if I'm really quick, and then I have to wait again for the next rider.

C (3:15)

Wow.

B (3:16)

And so when the crowd sees you come out, what is the reaction?

D (3:21)

Well, here in Lvinho, for the big air. It's big.

C (3:24)

Yeah.

D (3:25)

The crowd loves it. I just hear a little bit. I try to be concentrated on what I do, but I hear a bit, you know, when I finish the line.

A (3:36)

Wow.

B (3:38)

Was it a surprise when you started getting a reaction from the crowd?

F (3:42)

Do.

B (3:42)

Were you expecting that?

D (3:44)

No, no.

B (3:45)

Yeah.

D (3:46)

No, that was a big surprise.

F (3:47)

Yes.

B (3:49)

Has anything changed about the way you do what you do, knowing that the crowd is cheering for you?

D (3:55)

Yes and no. I mean, I hate when I don't do the jobs perfect or super nice. That always hear even more. A little mistake. The old crowd is down looking, so I see it first I get angry with myself and then the crowd is not happy, the people and everything.

C (4:12)

So have you noticed that, Nick? Have you watched a. A ski competition afterwards and noticed, like, oh, that line was crooked?

D (4:20)

Yeah, yeah.

C (4:21)

Really?

D (4:22)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. After I started this, you know, when I see videos on social media or whatever, I look both the riders and whatever, and then I look. Oh, let's see how they did the blue lines. Oh, they're not. They're not nice. Okay. I can do better like this. I mean, I can learn something.

C (4:38)

Yeah, that's right. We got to keep growing, right? Yeah.

D (4:41)

Yeah.

C (4:41)

Nick, you must be one of the first people out on that snow before the skiers hit it, right?

D (4:47)

Yes.

C (4:48)

Have you ever learned anything that you have to tell them, like, oh, you guys, it's too slow or it's too fast. Does anyone come to you and ask, what's the conditions?

D (4:57)

Not the athlete directly, but I always give the feedback to the. Or the fizz guys or the chief of competition or anything. I tell them, look, the landing there, it's not nice. Maybe there is a hole. I remember last week, one day they didn't redo the landing.

F (5:15)

Really?

D (5:16)

Perfect. So after a rail where everybody was landing the day before, there was a little hole. And of course, like you said, I'm the first one that goes on the landing and the first one that touches them. So I called the shapers right away. I said, guys, look, there is a big hole, so if you can try to do something.

C (5:34)

Are you ever tempted, Nick, to make a target for somebody so they should know where to land? Like go here? That helps them out?

D (5:42)

No, I did the opposite. For example, on the half pipe, few years, a couple of years ago, there was a place where a stone was coming out. So they told me to make the round, like target. So avoids it. Yeah.

C (5:57)

Oh, like a, like a street with a pothole. They just paint. Yeah. Oh, smart.

B (6:02)

Or like draw a heart for somebody, you know, that would be very romantic.

C (6:05)

Oh, could send a message.

D (6:08)

Yeah. You know, I was waiting Snoop Dogg to come here and we wanted to ride Snoopy on the snow. But then he didn't come up to where we have the warehouse. He just came for the half pipe. But yeah, we had the idea.

C (6:19)

Yeah, you could find him near a pipe. Well, Nick, thank you so much for talking to us about this.

D (6:26)

Thank you guys. Been a pleasure.

C (6:32)

This, this is how to do everything. I'm Mike.

B (6:35)

And I'm Ian. We're gonna stay at the Olympics. We, of course, are not actually at the Olympics. We're.

C (6:40)

We're on our couches on the phone.

B (6:42)

With people who are. One of those people is Rich Rouenen. He is an American curling legend.

C (6:50)

Rich is a two time national champion, but he never made it to an Olympic team. Now this year he's an alternate. We have him on the phone. Rich, where are you right now?

E (7:00)

I am standing outside the curling arena in Cortina looking at mountains and an old beautiful arena from 1956.

C (7:10)

And when do you guys, when do you hit the ice today?

E (7:12)

Well, we hit the ice in about an hour and a half at 7:05 here, so. Okay, that's our first game.

B (7:20)

Yeah, I saw. I think somebody said you, you have the potential to become. You, Rich, have the potential to become the oldest American athlete in Winter Olympics history.

E (7:31)

That's true.

B (7:32)

How does that feel?

E (7:34)

It's awesome. You know, I played. My first trial to go to the Olympics was in 1988 when it was a demonstration sport. I played with my dad and my brother. We missed the final 24 or whatever it was in the country by one game. And then in 22 I played and made the final 20 some teams, but we didn't win. And Then I had to take a few years off because I went to law school. And, you know, I played, but not super competitively. But Basically, since about 2002, I've been playing to go to the Olympics, and I've had some heartbreaks. You know, a few. I think three or four second places. So just missing the Olympics and then a couple of thirds and fourth. So it's been. It's been a whirlwind, and it's fun playing with the young guys. They're keeping me young again and working my butt off.

C (8:24)

You so, Rich, you went to law school. Are you a lawyer now?

E (8:29)

Yes, I am. I'm a personal injury lawyer at TSR Injury Law in Minneapolis.

B (8:35)

As a personal injury lawyer, do you work with people who slip and fall on the ice?

E (8:41)

Yeah, we do. That's one of the jokes is the main way I can get in is if someone slips and falls on ice and hurts themselves on my team, then I can get in. So kind of. Kind of weird that that's what I do for a living. Although those. Those are very few of our cases. But, you know. But yeah, it's kind of funny.

C (9:01)

So you help your teammate up and give him your business card and take his place.

E (9:04)

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. But, no. Yeah, it's. All I got to do is throw one rock, and I will become the oldest U.S. winter Olympian ever. Wait, so I'm hoping we get in.

C (9:17)

There, just so we all know, like, how old are you?

E (9:19)

I'm 54. I'll be 55 at the end of March.

C (9:22)

Okay.

E (9:22)

You know, it was. It's. It's been a long, hard road, and just to make it after the heartbreaks and how hard we've had to work is. Is been awesome. The athlete village has been great, and the people from other countries are just fantastic. Of course, we know a lot of them because we. We curl against the same guys all the time around the world.

C (9:43)

Sure.

E (9:43)

So we're having a good time and hanging out, and it's been great. I know most of their coaches. I played against most of the coaches here back in the day because they're all in their 50s and 60s. They're like, I played you in 2002. So anyway, it's kind of funny. Anyway, I gotta go. I gotta go, though, guys, because I gotta get into.

C (10:05)

Oh, yeah, of course you do.

B (10:07)

Okay. Can I ask you just one. Can I ask you one quick question before you go? Just when you were talking about sweeping, I just wondered when you're. When you're at home sweeping in your kitchen, you know, just to clean up. Are you, are you thinking about curling?

C (10:22)

Oh, yeah.

E (10:23)

Anytime you had to sweep the garage or something, you're kind of laughing like, hey, this is, you know, this is how I do it and curling, you know, So I got, but I gotta go.

B (10:31)

Okay, run.

C (10:32)

Good luck. Take care. Okay, Bye. Bye.

E (10:34)

Bye.

A (10:35)

Bye.

B (10:39)

Well, shortly after, really right after we got off the phone with Rich, he went into the curling arena and this happened.

E (10:48)

And here is Rich Ruidan, 54 years.

C (10:51)

Of age, stepping in and able to make his Olympic debut.

B (10:57)

And Kevin, he was so emotional at the Olympic trials.

A (11:17)

This message comes from Midi Health, a virtual care platform for women in perimenopause and menopause. CEO Joanna Strober shares the mission behind working with women in midlife. It's not just about hormones. It's not just about weight loss medications. We are very much a holistic care platform and our job is to figure out whatever medications, medications are appropriate for you and offer you those medications. Midi Health committed to helping women in midlife with perimenopause and menopause care accessible via telehealth visits@joinmidi.com this message comes from BetterHelp. February is full of flowers, candy and lots of relationship talk. It can feel like everyone has it all together in their love lives, but the truth is they're still figuring it out. And whether you're married, dating or prioritizing being single, just remember you're right on time. Therapy can take the pressure off and help you feel lighter. Just a little outside perspective from a professional can lead to new understanding and a lot of progress. Visit betterhelp.com NPR for 10% off support for this podcast and the following message come from Strawberry Me. If you could go back and talk to your younger self, would you tell yourself that you have a job that truly makes you happy? Many people are stuck in jobs they've outgrown or never really wanted. A career coach from Strawberry Me can help you move on to something you actually love. Benefit from having a dedicated coach in your Corner, and get 50% off your first coaching session at Strawberry Me.

C (12:52)

NPR this message comes From NPR sponsor NetSuite. Every business is asking the same question. How did they make AI work for them? With NetSuite by Oracle, you can put AI to work. Today, NetSuite is the number one AI Cloud ERP trusted by over 43,000 businesses. It's the unified suite that brings your financials, inventory, commerce, HR and CRM together. If your revenues are at least in the seven figures, get the free business guide demystifying AI@netsuite.com story this message comes.

A (13:30)

From Warby Parker Prescription eyewear that's expertly crafted and unexpectedly affordable. Glasses designed in house from premium materials starting at just $95, including prescription lenses. Stop by a Warby Parker store near you.

C (13:46)

Hey, if you have a question for us, we are still taking questions in between watching the Olympics. You can send them to us at how to npr.org really?

B (13:57)

We're about to run out of Olympics, so we need your questions. Yeah, we need you to need us.

C (14:02)

These don't have to be sports related or winter related. They can be about anything.

B (14:08)

So, Mike, something happened earlier in the show.

C (14:12)

Yeah.

B (14:13)

That just kind of went by.

F (14:14)

Okay.

B (14:16)

And do you know what I'm thinking about?

C (14:18)

I have no idea what you're thinking about.

B (14:20)

Okay.

C (14:21)

I really don't.

B (14:22)

Let me see if I can. I'll bring up the tape plate for you. Remember we. When we talked to Nick Monte.

C (14:27)

Yeah.

B (14:28)

The chief of color.

D (14:30)

Yeah. You know, I was waiting Snoop Dogg to come here and we wanted to ride Snoopy on the snow, but then he didn't come up to where we have the warehouse. He just came for the half pipe. But, yeah, we had the idea.

C (14:41)

Yeah, you could find him near a pipe.

B (14:44)

When you, when you heard that earlier in the show, were you surprised I left it in or did you think, what did you.

C (14:52)

I want you to know I only did that for you. I only did that for you. I know it's the kind of thing that if we heard someone else do that, we would both punch ourselves in the face. But I wanted to do it just for you. That's better.

D (15:08)

You know, I was waiting Snoop Dogg to come here and we wanted to ride Snoopy on the snow, but then it didn't come up to where we have the warehouse. It just came for the half pipe. But yeah, we had the idea.

C (15:18)

Yeah, you could find him near a pipe. Do you feel like. Okay, so by including it and then now bringing it up because I didn't know we were gonna do this. Do you feel like you're giving me a chance to apologize?

A (15:30)

I just.

B (15:31)

If you want a chance to apologize.

C (15:33)

You know what, We've talked about this before when it comes to downhill skiing.

F (15:36)

Right.

C (15:36)

We've talked about this in this, maybe not in this. We didn't talk about this episode. Previous episodes. In order to get gold, you have to take risks when you're going down the mountain. Right. And I feel like same thing applies here. In order for us to get gold we have to take risks. And in that moment I took a risk. I knew what I was doing. You know what, Ian, let's hear it one more time. If you're like us, you probably can't get enough curling. But right now we're going to test that.

B (16:16)

We're going to try and give you enough curling.

C (16:18)

The stones they use, the curling stones they use all come from Cays of Scotland and Rick English is the operation manager at Kayes.

B (16:27)

Rick, do we have it right that every curling stone that we see at the Olympics, you all made it?

F (16:33)

Yep. So all the stones you see at the Olympics comes for one uninhabited island 10 miles off the west coast. And on that island you've got two different parts of the island. You've got the south side and the north side. And on the south side you've got your Ailsa Craig common green, which makes the body of the stone. On the north side you've got the ails of Craig Bluehorn. Then when you put the two bits of granite together, makes a perfect curling stone.

C (16:59)

Wow.

B (16:59)

And then so do you. You get an order like the Milan Olympics needs this many curling stones. And then you, you deliver them and then they're just for that games or how does it work?

F (17:09)

No, not just necessarily that. No. Selling stones to clubs all over the world. So just now we've just done two orders for Canada, then another order in Alabama. But there's, there's coloring all over. We've sold to some. There's an obscure place last year that you would never guess that I sent c stones to.

C (17:29)

Yeah. Where'd you send them?

F (17:30)

Guess. Antarctica.

B (17:36)

I guess they can do it outside.

F (17:38)

They can do it outside. The person who took the stones actually phoned me to tell me that the stones were working.

C (17:45)

Oh, that's great.

F (17:46)

So it's probably the most southernly game of Cullen there's ever been.

B (17:49)

Yeah, I think so.

F (17:50)

100. Yeah.

B (17:53)

I'm curious about this, this island. Have you been to the, the island where you get the.

F (17:57)

Yeah, we've been. I've been, yeah. So the island itself, as I says, so it's about 10 miles off the coast. And to be honest, if you've actually Google Ailsa Craig, it's a, it's kind of shaped like a cuddling stone, which is really strange. It really is. Wow. The island itself, as I say, is uninhabited. It's effectively a nature reserve.

C (18:19)

Okay.

F (18:19)

We go there with ecologists. We have. One of us has to be a certified rat catcher because there used to be rats in the island. Many years ago. So we have to set rat traps in the landing craft before we go. Rat traps round about the island. So there's a whole plan. And it's not just as simple as jumping on a boat. Go and get some grant and bring it back.

C (18:40)

So, Rick, when you're watching the Olympics, are you looking at those stones with a critical eye and thinking like, oh, that's not a good rock or that's one of ours?

F (18:50)

No, because you know how tough and durable the material is. We're watching it fully pride, that's what we're watching. We're knowing that this stones have been made in a small factory in Scotland and we make it with hand and there's no many places left in the world. And it's 175 years old.

B (19:08)

So, like, when I'm watching, I'm like, wow, that, that was incredible aim or incredible sweeping. You might be thinking, that stone looks amazing.

F (19:17)

Yeah, that's what we do. To be honest, my partner, she's going to get fed up at watching it, to be honest, because it's always on the telly. I've never seen so much in all my.

C (19:27)

It's.

F (19:27)

Can you. And then try to get the kids involved in it to have a look at the stones.

C (19:31)

Are they impressed when they watch it?

F (19:33)

I made that impress for two settings and then away back in the PlayStations of the iPads.

C (19:38)

These kids, they don't get it.

F (19:40)

No.

C (19:41)

Let me ask you this. You're watching the Olympics now. You're paying attention to curling. Do you think Canada was cheating when they touched extra against Sweden?

F (19:51)

People understand the way I get involved with that kind of chat because. But I'm no sure it's the same as anything. If you're chucking a stone, you're throwing a stone.

C (20:00)

Yeah.

F (20:01)

I don't think it would be intentional. It's more probably more like a muscle memory. That's the way I throw in that spare release. I don't think there's. I don't think there's any malice or any intentional cheating behind it, to be. To be brutally honest.

D (20:13)

Good.

B (20:13)

Maybe a way to think about it is the stone is so nice, who could blame him for wanting to touch it?

F (20:19)

For. Want to touch it? I think it was more a reaction that got most of the views, to be honest.

A (20:23)

Yeah.

F (20:23)

Yeah.

C (20:24)

Well, Rick, thank you so much for telling us about this stuff.

F (20:26)

No, no problem at all. That's absolutely fine.

C (20:33)

Well, that does it for this week's show. What'd you learn, Ian?

B (20:36)

I learned that there is a Job called chief of color.

D (20:41)

Yeah.

C (20:41)

Right.

B (20:42)

Which I think probably if you were, you know, if you were a kid and somebody said that's a job, you would imagine that person is in charge of filling the world with color.

C (20:51)

Like choosing all the colors that we experience just going outside.

B (20:55)

Yeah. I declare the trees green.

C (20:59)

Oh, yeah.

B (21:00)

Really? It's just. It's just the one color.

C (21:02)

It's just what? Blue.

B (21:03)

He's the chief of blue.

C (21:05)

He's just drawing blue lines.

B (21:07)

It's a lot of power, though.

F (21:09)

Yeah.

C (21:10)

Yeah, that's true.

B (21:11)

He could write anything.

C (21:13)

Oh, that's actually a really good point.

B (21:14)

If he wanted all the skiers to come over to his house. Yeah, he could do that.

C (21:18)

Yep. It's at the end, he's got the big air final, and he's got his lines that go perpendicular across the hill, and then he has two parallel lines at the end. They're probably like, oh, this is the way. And it just takes them right into his house, and he's prepared a meal for them. I thought maybe you guys would like to try some Italian cuisine. How To Do Everything is produced by Skyler Swenson with technical direction from Lorna White.

B (21:49)

Some of our music this week came from Moby Gratis.

C (21:52)

Please send us your questions. Send them to us@howtopr.org I'm Ian. And I'm Mike. Thanks.

A (22:05)

This message comes from Lisa. Lisa has a lineup of beautifully crafted mattresses to tailored to how you sleep. Each mattress is designed with specific sleep positions and feel preferences in mind. From night one, you'll feel the difference. Premium materials that deliver serious comfort and full body support, no matter how you sleep. Go to leesa.com for 30% off mattresses, plus get an extra $50 off with promo code. NPR. This message comes from Capital One. With the Venture X card. Earn unlimited double miles, a $300 annual capital one travel credit, and access to airport lounges. Capital One, what's in your wallet? Terms apply. Details@capitalone.com this message comes from Intuit. TurboTax with TurboTax Expert. Full service. Match with a dedicated expert who will do your taxes for you from start to finish, getting you every dollar you deserve. It's that easy. Visit turbotax.com to match with an expert today.