Lamenting the loss of Olympic ski ballet (VIDEO)

Damn, I miss the 80's.

The movies of Kathleen Turner, the Edmonton Oilers' defensive prowess, the music of Cats Can Fly, my hair....

So much was so good back then. A young Brian Mulroney lured us all in with his molasses-thick and silky baritone siren song. Alan Thicke was a star, not Robin.

The CFL was flush with riders - of the rough variety - both East and West.

We all talked for long periods on the phone or even had what was known as a face to face conversations.

Our only darkness was a period of great divide known as the Beta-VCR wars. If you don't know what that is, ask an old-timer in their forties to explain. IF they'll talk about it.

In a decade that towered above all others in every possible way - culturally, politically, economically - there was one gift that far outstripped them all. It was once provided by the Olympics and it's a damn shame it's gone.

Ski ballet.

Ski ballet embodied all the things Canadians loved about winter in the 80's: Skis. And ballet. It got so popular as the decade grew that it was actually elevated to demonstration sport status at the Calgary Olympics in 1988. That went so well it was decided to stretch the 80's into the 90's and ski ballet held demonstration status through the Albertville Olympics, in 1992.

Watch, below, and be transfixed:

Love it. "Here he comes for his tip drag! Two and a half thumper!" We don't hear that nearly enough at the Olympics these days.

I know what you're thinking. No, it's not. It's not an old Saturday Night Live skit. Ski ballet was real. As real as life could get. And we loved it. Our viewing parties were amazing events, complete with prop betting, pre and post event dance competitions and incredible food. Nachos, wings, chili. And, of course, canapes. Lots and lots of canapes.

Here's competitor Hermann Reitberger trying to make us all forget about Elizabeth Manley, at the Calgary Games. If you doubt this is a video from the 80's just check his hair. He really ought to have been performing to Gino Vanelli's "People Gotta Move."

The International Olympic Committee must, I say, must rethink it's ill-advised decision to - never mind not elevate it to full medal sport - dump ski ballet after the '92 games.

Any coincidence that ski ballet died in the year 2000? The International Ski Federation dropped it as it's popularity declined due to - you guessed it - the fact that it didn't become a full medal Olympic sport. Where are the up and coming Lane Spina's and Rune Kristiansens supposed to go now?

Smarten up. It's time the Olympics went back to the future. Reinstate ski ballet! And while you're at it, bring ski ballet's warm weather cousin to the summer games.

We'd kill at freestyle canoe, also known as canoe dancing. Have a look at that, below, and tell me Adam van Koeverden couldn't dominate if he put his mind to it.

Ski ballet. The only thing that could have made it better was if they'd combined it with dressage. But, then again, I think that about everything.