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.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
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.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
THE GREATEST SLALOM NIGHT RACE ....
Kitzbuehel, the Hahnenkamm, the Streif, was a disappointment for the Austrian Ski-enthusiasts, of which there are about 8 million. A Frenchmen, Jean-Baptiste Grange snatched the Goldmedal from the Austrian. So, it was: wait till the night slalom in Schladming.
About 50,000 were expected to gather to see the race. I considered the likelyhood of seeing anything if you are jammed in between such a mass of people as very very small indeed. Therefore I decided to stay home and watch the race on Television.
The Austrians had six entries, so did the Canadians. Then there were the Suiss, always good for a gret race and a win. The Italians (from the South Tirol) had to be considered. Germany had some strong entries, so did the USA. There also were skiers from Sweden and even some from Japan.
The skiing world met in Schladmning to watch the great race.
Austria had great hopes. There is, after all, Benni Raich, who had won on this course four years running. There is crazy Manfred Pranger, who, at the start gate, with eyes closed, races the entire course in his mind. Having learned every gate by heart, he moves his body through every virtual curve and turn. Then he throws himself with abandon down the mountain. There is Hirscher, Herbst and Matt: all technicians of the first water. How can we not win?
Well, there was this Frenchman, called Jean-Baptiste Grange, who, when all the runs were finished, came in first, then 0.04 seconds later came the Swede, Andre Myhrer, and then, 0.60 seconds later, can you believe it, another Swede, Mattias Hargin. Then came an Italian, and a Croatian, another two Swedes and another Italian. Then, in 9th place, Benjamin Raich, the first Austrian. The crowds, and there were 50,000 vociferous supporters of every racer, was exuberant and noisy. The conditions were perfect.
The course was stone hard, but not icy,
the night was brisk, but not freezing cold,
the air was pure without even a trace of fog.
the snow fell, but only in gentle flakes,
the lights were bright without being blinding.
It was a perfect night.
If only an Austrian had won, or came in second, or third, or......
Bert
About 50,000 were expected to gather to see the race. I considered the likelyhood of seeing anything if you are jammed in between such a mass of people as very very small indeed. Therefore I decided to stay home and watch the race on Television.
The Austrians had six entries, so did the Canadians. Then there were the Suiss, always good for a gret race and a win. The Italians (from the South Tirol) had to be considered. Germany had some strong entries, so did the USA. There also were skiers from Sweden and even some from Japan.
The skiing world met in Schladmning to watch the great race.
Austria had great hopes. There is, after all, Benni Raich, who had won on this course four years running. There is crazy Manfred Pranger, who, at the start gate, with eyes closed, races the entire course in his mind. Having learned every gate by heart, he moves his body through every virtual curve and turn. Then he throws himself with abandon down the mountain. There is Hirscher, Herbst and Matt: all technicians of the first water. How can we not win?
Well, there was this Frenchman, called Jean-Baptiste Grange, who, when all the runs were finished, came in first, then 0.04 seconds later came the Swede, Andre Myhrer, and then, 0.60 seconds later, can you believe it, another Swede, Mattias Hargin. Then came an Italian, and a Croatian, another two Swedes and another Italian. Then, in 9th place, Benjamin Raich, the first Austrian. The crowds, and there were 50,000 vociferous supporters of every racer, was exuberant and noisy. The conditions were perfect.
The course was stone hard, but not icy,
the night was brisk, but not freezing cold,
the air was pure without even a trace of fog.
the snow fell, but only in gentle flakes,
the lights were bright without being blinding.
It was a perfect night.
If only an Austrian had won, or came in second, or third, or......
Bert
The NIGHT SLALOM IN SCHLADMING
... of course attracts the Prominence:
Anybody who is anybody was there.
Austria's Chancelor Werner Fayman
applauds the skiers.
above and below:
One of Austria's great hopes: Manfred Pranger
readies himself for the race.
...he finished in 12th place,
only 1.72 seconds behind the eventual winner:
Jean Baptiste Grange of France, who mastered the course
in 1 minute and 46.54 seconds.
Andre Myhrer of Sweden was Second,
only 0.04 ( 4 /100th) seconds behind.
A small section of the crowd of almost 50,000 fanatics.
Night Slalom in Schladming
This course spelled disaster not only for Austrian Skiers
but the Swiss Ace, Silvan Zurbriggen, also was unable to place.
Brad Spence of Canada could not conquer the
difficult Schladming Slalom.
The Canadian, Michael Janyk, (below)
placed a respectable 14th
Below:
The Slalom Course at Schladming.
The worlds Slalom Aces met here to decide
who is the best of them all; today !!
Wait until tomorrow.
THE DREAM HAS ENDED
Austrian Flags are waving !
All dreaming about a victory of one of their aces.
Marcel Hirscher of Austria threads a gate
half way down the course.
One of Austria's hopes is dashed.
Reinfried Herbst, Austria's last hope,
throws himself down the steep slope
and through difficult gates. Half way down he is
leading the pack.
... but then comes disaster: with 24/100th of a second
in the lead, one moment's miscalculation,
he hits the snow
and the dream is over.
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