Internet chatter sometimes is akin to the old middle school gossip train of “Did you hear …” where a nugget of info gets pounded into tiny bits by the time it makes the rounds.

So when some hunting forums and social media sites started chattering about Lone Wolf Tree Stands and a U.S. Alpine Ski Team coach sitting in them over in Sochi, Russia, it was one of those “Ah, let’s find out some more” moments.
Truth! The coaches were using Lone Wolf stands, according to company president Jared Schlipf.
We were as surprised as anyone when we saw the Lone Wolf treestand being used by the coach,” Schlipf told D&DH Monday afternoon. “It was an Alpha Hang On II. Our stands are very recognizable in look.”
After seeing this video on Lone Wolf’s Facebook page, there’s no doubt. U.S. coach Sasha Rearick is being interviewed. As Schlipf noted, the platforms are unique. Deer hunters all over were doing double takes, texting friends and posing the question of whether it was a Lone Wolf.
It was kind of like during the Super Bowl when hunters noticed the Stormy Kromer cap on Tim Tebow during one of the commercials. The cap, like the stand, are iconic. Hunters just know.
Kudos to Rearick, the coach, for wearing a safety harness. The TV guy doesn’t appear to have one on and, if so, he’s an idiot. They’re about 80 feet up a tree.
Rearick said they had five stands hung in different places so they could sit and watch the men’s (and maybe women’s?) downhill ski run. He said he could see about 30 seconds of the run, which sounds like a pretty good seat to view the action. Chilly, maybe, but a good view.