WHERE WAS THE MAPLE LEAF ???

The Hahnenkamm (Rooster comb) is a mountain near the town of Kitzbühel. The Streif is the downhill course for only the very best of the very best in the world of skiing. It is one of the most challenging downhills anywhere.  At the steepest part the course drops down at an angle of 72 degrees and the skiers develop speeds of up to 145 km/h....  (I don't even drive this fast in my car...)

The annual "Hahnenkamm Race", which is skiing's Stanley Cup and the Superbowl wrapped into one, was held today. It attracted well over 50,000 visitors and untold millions watching it on television. If you want to know details, just google it... I will only tell you that at the end of this exciting race, an Italian, Dominic Paris, from South Tirol stood on the highest pedestal. 

The Canadian, Eric Guay won the Silver, coming in 0.13 seconds behind Paris and in third place, the Austrian Hannes Reichelt prevented an Austrian shut-out.

When the announcer introduced Reichelt, a sea of Austrian flags were waved by the crowd of 50,000.

Then he introduced the Silver Medalist, Guay... there was not a single Maple Leaf to be seen.

The first place winner of course caused hundreds of Italian flags enthusiastically to be waved.

Throughout the playing of the Italian National Anthem, the cameras scanned the crowds. It was an absolute see of Flags...the Austrian, the Italian, the Swiss, the Slovenian.... I strained my eyes... but No !

There wasn't a Maple Leaf... Do we really not understand Eric Guays fabulous achievement? Or did we not expect to do so well and therefore left our flags at home?

I hope that Eric will, upon his return to Canada,  receive the adulation and homage which is due to him.

And, by the way, Eric is not only one of the best skiers, he also proved, during his many interviews, to be a thoroughly nice man.

that's the way Bertstravels sees it, anyway.