From Andorra to Uzbekistan, including such skiing nations as Cyprus and Haiti, over 500 athletes from 69 Nations competed in those Alpine Skiing world championships.
Each race was an excitement in itself, simply because there were no shoe-ins. Even the American Lindsay Von was not a sure thing since, throughout this meet, she was ill with a flue. But she raced to a Silvermedal in the Ladies' downhill, just 44/100 of a second behind the Austrian Champ, Elisabeth Goergl. Talk about Elisabeth: Besides winning the Downhill, she does the same in the Super Giant Slalom.
And what about the rank "outsider", the Canadian Erik Guay? In the men's down hill he beats all the Greats like Switzerlands Didier Cuche, Italy's Christo Innerhofer, along with all the Austrian Aces.
Then there was the ladies' Slalom: With Marlies Schild and Kathrin Zettel, Austria takes the Gold and the Silver. As a Nation, Austria did very well in this competition. But only because the women of this country showed how you come down a steep hill...fast.
Of the 8 medals which Austria harvested, the women won 5 and were instrumental in a 6th.
(the Parallel slalom in which Nation competed against Nation.
So there you have the Medal count:
place: nation Gold Silver Bronce Total
1 Austria 4 3 1 8
2 France 2 1 1 4
3 Italy 1 2 3 6
4 USA 1 2 0 3
5 Slovenia 1 1 0 2
6 Canada 1 0 0 1
7 Norway 1 0 0 1
8 Sweden 0 1 3 4
9 Switzerland 0 1 0 1
10 Germany 0 0 2 2
11 Croatia 0 0 1 1
It was an exciting competition, with many individual stories of "Guts and Glory"..
See you all again in 714 days, on the 4th of February 2013 for the 42nd Alpine World Championships in Schladming, Austria.
Good by from Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany.
Bertstravels.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
CELEBRATE - FRANCE - CELEBRATE
Here is one of our Canadian girls,
getting ready for the Parallel Slalom
The "Red course" and the "Blue course"
staked out side by side,
allowing for an exciting parallel race.
You can surely see the Maple Leaf on the helmet
and one just peeking out from under the white bib.
An Austrian racer, winning the Semi final!!!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
CELEBRATE - AUSTRIA - CELEBRATE
Yesterday it was Canada's turn to cheer its hero, Erik Guay, today Austria stands atop the highest pedestal. The ladies' downhill was no less exciting than yesterday's men's downhill.
It is truly unbelievable how these lovely young women bravely hurl themselves down the steep "Piste", fighting each turn, bodies hunched over in the classical "egg-style", ski poles securely tucked under their arms, goggles hiding half of their faces. Facial muscels, as much as can be seen, determined and, in some of those racers, blond hair streaming from under the helmet.
What a picture !! and in the right hand lower corner of the Television screen, the seconds, nay the hundreths of seconds, ticking by, telling in advance of the triumph or the disappointment to be felt by the young racer and her many fans.
The Austrian ace, Elisabeth Goergl, (Gold) mastered this difficult course in 1 minute and 47.24 seconds, closely followed (0.44 seconds) by the American beauty, Lindsay Vonn (Silver) and then the German hope, Maria Riesch (Bronze)(0.60).
This was, indeed, an exhibition of beauty, bravery, style, speed and everything that's good about this sport.
So, during the Medal Ceremony, Austrias "Red White Red", was centered by the "Stars and Stripes" and the "Black, Red, Gold"...
Unfortunately the "Maple Leaf" was nowhere to be seen today. (Just wait till next time)
Greetings from Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany.
Bertstravels.
It is truly unbelievable how these lovely young women bravely hurl themselves down the steep "Piste", fighting each turn, bodies hunched over in the classical "egg-style", ski poles securely tucked under their arms, goggles hiding half of their faces. Facial muscels, as much as can be seen, determined and, in some of those racers, blond hair streaming from under the helmet.
What a picture !! and in the right hand lower corner of the Television screen, the seconds, nay the hundreths of seconds, ticking by, telling in advance of the triumph or the disappointment to be felt by the young racer and her many fans.
The Austrian ace, Elisabeth Goergl, (Gold) mastered this difficult course in 1 minute and 47.24 seconds, closely followed (0.44 seconds) by the American beauty, Lindsay Vonn (Silver) and then the German hope, Maria Riesch (Bronze)(0.60).
This was, indeed, an exhibition of beauty, bravery, style, speed and everything that's good about this sport.
So, during the Medal Ceremony, Austrias "Red White Red", was centered by the "Stars and Stripes" and the "Black, Red, Gold"...
Unfortunately the "Maple Leaf" was nowhere to be seen today. (Just wait till next time)
Greetings from Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany.
Bertstravels.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
CELEBRATE....CANADA.....CELEBRATE
The World Championships in Alpine Skiing are being held in Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany. The Premier Event: The Downhill... a race, difficult to imagine, if you've never seen one. Skiers develop speeds of in excess of 130km/h. The course seems, at times, almost vertical.
You watch and hope that nobody wipes out and gets hurt. sometimes your hopes are not fulfilled and Helicopters take the insured to the nearest hospital. The downhillers are the modern gladiators, as someone said.
Today, there were over 40 racers who had qualified for this single attempt to hurl yourself down an icey surface, hopefully faster than anybody else.
There were, of course, the favourites, much talked about in the media, slated to win this spectacle: The Suisse racer, Didier Cuche, who two years ago came in second to a Canadian outsider, Cousineau. Didier surely would come in first. First, that is, if can beat the speed-kings: Christof Innerhofer (Italy), Axel Svindal (Swe) Michael Walchhofer and Romed Baumann (Aut) and don't forget: Bode Miller (USA)...
There were six or seven favourites. Drawn by lot for start numbers 15 to 22.
The race started under ideal weather conditions at 11AM.
Startnumbers 1 to 8 established respectable times. then cam one of the favourites, Christof Innerhofer of Italy. Just the other day he had won the Giant Slalom. so you had to give him strong consideration for a medal.... He tore down this course in 1 minute, and 59.17 seconds.
Right after him, Erik Guay, a young Canadian, who was considered an outsider. But, lo and behold, he beat Innerhofer's time by 0.76 seconds. Measure this: 76/100th of a second.
At a speed of about 130 km per hour, 76/100th of a second isn't even the blink of an eye or the length of a ski.
So Erik replaced Christof on the top pedestal... temporarily, that is, until one of the earlier mentioned aces would replace him. There were, after all, still Didier, Axel, Bode, Michael, Romed
at the start gate and surely several of those would come down this hill faster than Erik.
The next four skiers did not come worrysomely close to Guay's time.
The Austrian Walchhofer did not have one of his better days, placing, I think no better than 16th. Then came the always dangerous Swede, Axel Svindal. ..1.42 seconds behind Erik Guay.
Right after Svindal, the Swiss ace, Didier Cuche hurled himself down the hard, icey slope. Surely, he would beat the Canadian's time. Our hearts beat in our throats, my fingers hurt from squeezing them for Erik's Good Luck. Didier gave everything he had... it just wasn't good enough.
32/100 of a second short of Erik's time. Bode Miller, the somewhat eccentric American, with start number 22 could not even come close....
So there it was. After the very last racer came through the finish line it was a fact:
THE CANADIAN, ERIK GUAY,
Talk about being a proud Canadian. ....
I am always one of those....
But today I was doubly proud.
With a lump in my throat:
Bert
You watch and hope that nobody wipes out and gets hurt. sometimes your hopes are not fulfilled and Helicopters take the insured to the nearest hospital. The downhillers are the modern gladiators, as someone said.
Today, there were over 40 racers who had qualified for this single attempt to hurl yourself down an icey surface, hopefully faster than anybody else.
There were, of course, the favourites, much talked about in the media, slated to win this spectacle: The Suisse racer, Didier Cuche, who two years ago came in second to a Canadian outsider, Cousineau. Didier surely would come in first. First, that is, if can beat the speed-kings: Christof Innerhofer (Italy), Axel Svindal (Swe) Michael Walchhofer and Romed Baumann (Aut) and don't forget: Bode Miller (USA)...
There were six or seven favourites. Drawn by lot for start numbers 15 to 22.
The race started under ideal weather conditions at 11AM.
Startnumbers 1 to 8 established respectable times. then cam one of the favourites, Christof Innerhofer of Italy. Just the other day he had won the Giant Slalom. so you had to give him strong consideration for a medal.... He tore down this course in 1 minute, and 59.17 seconds.
Right after him, Erik Guay, a young Canadian, who was considered an outsider. But, lo and behold, he beat Innerhofer's time by 0.76 seconds. Measure this: 76/100th of a second.
At a speed of about 130 km per hour, 76/100th of a second isn't even the blink of an eye or the length of a ski.
So Erik replaced Christof on the top pedestal... temporarily, that is, until one of the earlier mentioned aces would replace him. There were, after all, still Didier, Axel, Bode, Michael, Romed
at the start gate and surely several of those would come down this hill faster than Erik.
The next four skiers did not come worrysomely close to Guay's time.
The Austrian Walchhofer did not have one of his better days, placing, I think no better than 16th. Then came the always dangerous Swede, Axel Svindal. ..1.42 seconds behind Erik Guay.
Right after Svindal, the Swiss ace, Didier Cuche hurled himself down the hard, icey slope. Surely, he would beat the Canadian's time. Our hearts beat in our throats, my fingers hurt from squeezing them for Erik's Good Luck. Didier gave everything he had... it just wasn't good enough.
32/100 of a second short of Erik's time. Bode Miller, the somewhat eccentric American, with start number 22 could not even come close....
So there it was. After the very last racer came through the finish line it was a fact:
THE CANADIAN, ERIK GUAY,
IS THE NEW WORLD CHAMPION DOWNHILLER.
Talk about being a proud Canadian. ....
I am always one of those....
But today I was doubly proud.
With a lump in my throat:
Bert
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Brandstaetter portfolio
I am still working diligently on a "Brandstaetter show"
Now I am waiting for the date one which I am invited to his home and studio.
I still have to get my head around his "Faust" series.
With those three images I am giving you a "teaser"
of the work of this great artist.
I have taken 100s of images of dozens of his paintings,
painstakingly comparing colour of the photograph with the original painting.
Once I get to his home and studio
I expect to be taking 100s more.
Keep watching this Blog, on which I shall tell you
where to see the final show.