I was mildly disappointed when my press credentials didn’t come through for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. But I didn’t let the obvious oversight get me down.

Thanks to an invitation from Tourisme Quebec (www.bonjourquebec.com), I joined three dozen journalists from around the world to participate in Quebec City’s Carnaval de Quebec. Let the games begin!

The Quebec Winter Carnival (www.

carnaval.qc.ca) is the world’s biggest winter celebration. For the past 48 years it has played out during the first two weeks of February, and is the third largest carnival in the world (Rio de Janeiro is first, followed by New Orleans).

It’s all about good, clean, cold fun. There’s no downhill, giant slalom or snowboarding competition. Nor is there curling, ski jumping, ice hockey or that scary skeleton race. Just simple snow stuff like tubing, sleigh rides, dogsledding, ice-skating, snow sculptures and parades. And unlike Salt Lake City, there’s no ticket scalping going on. This is a family affair, and to be a spectator will only cost you five bucks (that’s about $3.50 U.S.). Presiding over the party is Bonhomme (“Happy Man”), a giant snowman who lives in the Ice Palace, constructed of 5,000 blocks of ice weighing 75 lbs. each.

Worried about the language? Quebec (pronounced “Ke bec”) is often described as France without the attitude, and if you make an attempt to say “Bonjour!” and “Merci,” the friendly Quebecoise will respond to you. My French is pretty pathetic, and I managed to do just fine except for an incident at the Tribune Cafe. That’s where I tried to send an e-mail and discovered that on the French-Canadian keyboard, @ is not in the same place as our @ is at home. Eh?

Here are a few of the official and unofficial Quebec Winter Carnival events that I participated in, along with the medal winners. Note that all the judging was done by moi, since the French judges were forced to flee for safer grounds following Skategate 2002. It should also be noted that I was up against some semi-stiff competition from fellow journalists representing the USA, Great Britain, Mexico, Germany, Korea, Brazil and Japan. Not to mention our good-natured “Gotta have the gold!” Canadian hosts.

ICE FISHING: I’d like to say I was out in the ice floes of the St. Lawrence River, but not true. The venue was the Place Desjardin on the Plains of Abraham, where most of the carnival activities are held. That’s where I tried my skill at putting a line into a hole in the ice. I lost the first little trout, but the second one I snagged in record time! Not as exciting as catching that 40-pound salmon in Alaska last summer, but I was proud just the same. GOLD: USA – Judy from Detroit. SILVER: USA – Sue from South Whidbey. BRONZE: Canada – Eric from Quebec City (he didn’t fish, but took photos).

ST. HUBERT’S SNOWBATH: If you want to show it in the snow, this is the place to go. About 75 brave souls bared their bones and/or blubber and took a “bath” in the snow, much to the amusement of hundreds of onlookers. I was disqualified in the opening round for refusing to don a swimsuit in public. Unfair! GOLD/SILVER/BRONZE: Brazil. The female TV reporter was not shy about revealing her assets in a very small bikini. Locals are still trying to figure out what station they can catch her on, and she was splashed all over the morning papers the next day. Ooh la la!

BOMBARDIER RUN: Joseph-Armand Bombardier of Quebec invented the first snowmobile in 1935, and it’s not the snowmobiles we know today. Originally running on rubber and cotton caterpillar tracks, the tank-like machines could hold up to 25 people. I rode in a covered blue 1961 Bombardier along with seven other passengers. Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to get behind the wheel during the five-minute trip, but I led the international group in raising our arms and shouting, “Wheeeeee!” as we sped down the snowy hills. GOLD: USA – Sue from South Whidbey SILVER: Canada Jean Francois from Montreal BRONZE: USA – Judy from Detroit.

CARIBOU TOSSING: There are a number of traditions that go along with Quebec Winter Carnival, and one of them is drinking Caribou (not to be confused with the four-legged Canadian creature, except for its kick). Tasting somewhat like sweet red wine, the ingredients vary: The best I could gather is it’s a combination of brandy, vodka, sherry and port and served hot or at room temperature. I tried it both ways, and the result was the same — warm all the way down. GOLD: USA – Sue from South Whidbey SILVER: Canada – Bard from Montreal BRONZE: Great Britain – Giles from London.

My medal count? Two golds and a silver. And if I am issued press credentials for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy — I think I’ll pass. I’m going back and hang out with Bonhomme in Quebec City.

Joyeux Carnival!

Sue Frause can be reached by e-mail at skfrause@whidbey.com.