Sport is so cool!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cambridgeshire/8493238.stm

It was without a doubt the highlight of my day today to read about Stan Hayer and the Men’s Ski Cross Team.  Stan is an old racing buddy I grew up with in Kimberley.  He had a heck of a career on the National Ski team, mostly as a Slalom skier.  Since then he’s been rippin it up on the World Cup Ski Cross scene.  I did some investigating and found that there are a few guys on that team I used to race with….Cam Culbert, Nik Zoricic, Dave Duncan.

When we were growing up Ski cross wasn’t even invented unless you consider knowing every trail and jump on the hill our own version of it.  These dudes were all cutting it up on the FIS scene when i was racing….a couple of the guys quite a bit younger but all of them brilliant athletes.  They had a feel for the snow and a knack for speed.  To see them kicking ass in Ski Cross brings the biggest smile to my face.  My old coach Jurg Gfeller always used to say “the dream never dies”.  These guys are cranking it in a sport we all grew up loving.  Well into their 30’s I’m sure they’ve been told several times to hang it up but they obviously aren’t interested in hearing it.

So to the boys of the Canadian Ski Cross Team- I salute you.  I’ll be a regular visitor to the Ski Cross website:  http://www.ski-cross.ca and I can’t wait to watch you in Vancouver!

I flew into YVR last night and the Olympic vibe is buzzing…..can’t wait to watch.

Back in Saudi after a few months.  Flew from Dubai last night.  Yesterday was nuts.  4 hours sleep then up at 4:30am to drive to border of Oman for big group ride.  60 expats show up in the middle of nowhere to get their bike fix (not fixed).  I love the hard core roadies.  Actually quite cold in the mornings here-arm warmers and vest for sure.

We ride for about 20 minutes then cross a border with a very casual guard who cheers us on as we roll through.  Incredible landscape, could be middle of Arizona- we roll through at a moderate pace- lots of short but steep climbs up into the hills of Oman.  Oman has very little oil so is relatively poor compared to it’s close neighbors in the UAE.

Dubai continues to grow out of control.  The worlds tallest building is finally finished- the Burj Dubai stands over 800m high and has 160 stories.  Three hotels, spas, private residences etc.  It’s an awesome spectacle.  The buildings around it are normal sized skyscrapers and are completely dwarfed by it.  It’s quite surreal.

If you’re looking to buy real estate in Dubai now is a good time.  The market has completely crashed in the last year but promises to pick up again soon I hear.  Based on the last two days, I would say it’s still booming.  It’s like the Las Vegas of the middle east- if you can think of it, they have probably built it- it’s where billions of people from the middle east come to party.  Yahoooo.

Neverland by Absinthe Films from Absinthe Films on Vimeo.

Brett Favre

7-1

This video is courtesy of Scott Curry- thanks Scot- somebody has to manage the beach!

We had the pro meeting yesterday which was one of the most bizarre pro meetings i’ve ever experienced but it was in typical Xterra style, very chill, laid back and easy going.  I didn’t realize the history of this event went back so far.  They hang banners of all previous winners and the list is really cool.  Mike Pigg, Richitello, Andrew Nobel heck even Michellie Jones won this thing back in 1996.  When I was just getting into the sport back in 1994/95 these were the dudes i would read about in magazines.  Mike Pigg was the ultimate work horse, Michellie won everything on the planet but I never knew they did Xterra……kind of cool.

Kelly Guest took me on a small section of the run course yesterday, up and down, rocky, sandy stuff but good.  We also ran on the most technical part of the course on the beach and through the spooky forest.  It was exactly what I hoped it would be….fun, challenging and a bit nutty.  Transition and the finish are at the Maui Prince hotel which is called something else now but I prefer it’s maiden name.

We had dinner on the beach the other night and watched the sun set it was really great.  Took some beauty photos of the Finnster

As for the hidden message competition. Congratulations to Jaakko Hiekkaranta who answered first “Brett Favre”. I have a sneaking suspicion that you live somewhere in Europe unless you get up really early in the morning like in the 1’s or 2’s. This of course puts you at a distinct advantage, partly because of the time change and partly because of how cool Europe is in general. You have won a date with my wife but I have not told her this yet so don’t mention it if you see her. If you don’t live in Europe I apologize. I will think of a prize suitable for such an accomplishment.

Brett Favre

6-0

(Barely)