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Swim Competition

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Recreational swimming can be traced back to prehistoric times.  It became a competitive activity starting in 1830s England, and today, competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic sports.

In competitive swimming, the goal is to break personal or world records while beating competitors in an event.  There are varied distance individual events in competition, including the butterfly, backstroke, freestyle, and individual medley as well as freestyle or medley relay (teams of four swimmers), and each swim stroke requires specific technique with rules governing the acceptable form.  There are also regulations concerning athlete’s swimsuits, caps, jewelry, and injury tape and competition pool requirements.  The international governing body for competitive swimming is the Fédération Internationale de Natation (“International Swimming Federation”), aka ‘FINA’, and there are a large number of recognized national federations throughout the world.

Training for competitive swimming requires many hours working out in the pool (usually twice a day, 6 days a week) and outside the pool (serious gym time lifting weights, running, yoga, pilates, etc).  Prior to a competition, athletes typically decrease their training workload in order to rest their bodies.

 

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The TYR Pro Swim Series is one of the most competitive events series on the USA Swimming calendar, attracting between 400-600 of the world’s top swimmers, including USA Swimming National Team members, National Junior Team members and top-50, world-ranked swimmers.

If you missed the live stream broadcast of the TYR Pro Swim Series in Knoxville event, there’s still time watch video recordings of the competition.  Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button located on the media player below or select from ‘Event Posts’ in top right corner.   

 

If you missed watching live as the best swimmers in Europe and overseas race sprint distances at the 2019 International Swimmeet in Italy, there’s still time to watch video recordings of the competition.  Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button or select from the video posts (top right corner) located on the media player below ↓

 

 

Synchronized Swimming is a demanding aquatic sport and art form, and you can watch the competitions live streaming On2In2™WATCH 2019 Artistic Swimming Canadian Championships

 

 

 

 

Learning to swim will change your life.Can’t swim?  Why Not Learn Now?  Find inspiration and information on where and how you can learn this life saving skill and have fun doing it!

 

 

 

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Feature photo is courtesy of Pixabay/Pexels CC0

Figure Skating

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Figure skaters compete at local, regional, national, and international competitions at different levels from beginner up to the Olympic (senior) level, and disciplines, including singles (men and women), pair skating and ice dancing. Skaters typically perform two programs in competition (short and long) that include elements such as spins, jumps, spirals and lifts.

The International Skating Union (ISU) regulates international figure skating judging and competitions, including the Winter Olympic Games and World Championships.  The current ISU judging system requires a competitive program to have a set number of elements, and awards points separately for each skating element performed.  The sum of these points is called the total element score (TES).

The score received for an element is based on the element base value and the grade of execution (GOE).  A technical specialist determines base value of an element by verifying the specific movements and positions of the element.  A panel of judges determines GOE marks based on the quality of the element and how well the skater executed the element.  Then, things start to get a bit more complicated as the GOE value from the twelve judges is processed using a computerized random selection of nine judges, discarding the high and low value, and averaging the remaining seven.  The average GOE value is then added to (or subtracted from) the element base value to determine the TES.  OK, still with me?

The program components score (PCS) awards points for holistic aspects of a program or other nuances that are not rewarded in the TES judging, including skating skills, transitions, performance execution, choreography, and interpretation (exception: compulsory dance has no choreography or transition marks).  Finally, the sum of the TES + PCS is the total score for a competition segment (TSS).  A skater’s final placement is determined by the total of their scores in all segments of a competition. No ordinal ranking (i.e. judge’s preference ranking) is used to determine the final results.  Got that?  Me neither, and we haven’t even gotten to the jumping which can really make a viewer’s head spin.  In fact, it’s probably the most confounding scoring in sports.  Now, let’s get to the jumps — always exciting to watch.

There are many types of jumps in figure skating, and they are distinguished by the way the skater takes off and lands as well as by the number of rotations that are completed while the skater is in the air.  However, there are only six jumps that count as jump elements in figure skating competition.  All six are landed on one foot on the back outside edge of the skate blade, but there are different take-offs. The two categories of jumps are toe jumps and edge jumps.  Toe jumps are launched by tapping the toe pick (large, jagged teeth on the front of the blade) of one skate into the ice, and include: Toe Loops, Flips and Lutzes.  Edge jumps use no toe assist, and include:  Salchows, Loops and Axels.  A jump combination is a set of jumps, each jump taking off from the landing edge of the previous jump, and there are no steps, turns, or change of edge between jumps.  Jump sequences are sets of jumps that may be linked by non-listed jumps or hops.

 

As with most competitive sports, there’s often some drama as a result of judging and scoring controversies.  Ashley Wagner, three-time US national champion, 2016 world silver medalist, and Olympic team bronze medalist, did not make the 2018 US Winter Olympic Team, finishing 4th at the 2018 US Figure Skating Championships as her PCS scores (the highly subjective score awarded for interpretation aspects and the like) were surprisingly low.  In fact, her PCS scores were lower in these US Championships than they had been with international judges at recent 2018 Grand Prix events.  It’s unclear what exactly went wrong for Wagner because she did not fall or make a major mistake during her programs, and she’s been criticized for expressing her anger at the judge’s scoring.  Regardless, she’s now learning to deal with the heartbreak, and deciding what to do next.  (Ashley tells her story in the short video documentary, Showpony, below)

 

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From 10 to 19 January 2020, Innsbruck hosted the Winter World Masters Games – the world’s biggest winter sports festival for 30+ year old competitors. More than 3,000 athletes too part in this major international tournament, supported by 700 volunteers and the local population, in a shared celebration of sport with many unforgettable moments.

At the 2020 Winter World Masters Games, the figure skating competitions were divided into the following events: Men’s Singles, Ladies’ Singles, Pair Skating, Ice Dance and Synchronised Skating.  If you missed the live stream broadcast, there’s still time to watch video recordings.  Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button located on the media player below, or select an event from ‘Event Posts’ in top right corner. 

 

The competition was intense and the figure skating — fantastic at the 2019 Winter Universiade, an international student and youth winter sport competition.  If you missed the live stream broadcast, there’s still time to watch video recordings of the event.  Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button located on the media players below ↓

 

 

 

 

 

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Feature photo “Queen Yuna” is courtesy of Flickr user, Song Joo Chea, CC BY-ND 2.0

Mer de Glace

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A view of the Mer de Glace, Chamonix Valley, France at end of the 19th century
Late 19th century view of Mer de Glace, US Library of Congress, PD

Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) is categorized a “valley glacier”, a type of glacier that originates from mountain glaciers and flows down valleys, and located above the Chamonix valley within the Mont Blanc massif mountain range of the French Alps.  Formed by the confluence of the Leschaux and Génant glaciers, the Mer de Glace is the longest and largest glacier in France, and one the biggest tourist attractions in the Chamonix valley as it’s accessible by the historic Montenvers Railway (Chemin de fer du Montenvers) and offers spectacular mountain views as well as tours, exhibits, and restaurant/hotel. However, the powerful beauty and recreational benefits of Mer de Glace were not always appreciated.

During the classical and medieval periods of European history, ice was deemed mysterious, evil and dangerous, and glaciers aroused intense fear as they were thought to be inhabited by demons that swallowed up unwary victims as well as whole villages.  Consequently, glaciers were avoided, not explored, deepening myths and superstitions for many centuries.  In 1690, fearful villagers of Chamonix took action against glacial evil by retaining the services of a bishop to exorcise the glaciers.

Two Englishmen on expedition to Chamonix in 1741, William Windham (1717-1761) an English landowner and Richard Pococke (1704-1765) a high ranking clergyman and anthropologist, disregarded the forewarning of evil lurking in glaciers, and climbed up the mountain for 3¾ hours with the aid of local guides and porters to carry wine (essential drink for 18th century adventure travelers) and provisions.  It was a successful excursion as they returned safely and were able to provide the first written description of the glacier they called ‘Mer de Glace’.  The achievement also marks the beginning of change in attitude as the phenomena of the Sea of Ice later attracted writers, adventurers, artists and photographers.

 

Crossing the Mer de Glace on foot (1902-1904)
Mer de Glace Crossing, Zurich Central Library collection, 1902 – 1904, Public Domain

 

Two hundred and seventy-five years later, the explorers of Mer de Glace are on skis.  In the video Ice Call from PVS Company, pro skier, Sam Favret, takes you on a freestyle tour through the icy waves, trails, and tunnels of Mer de Glace.

 

Vallée Blanche

Mer de Glace is certainly skiable, and you don’t have to be a ski pro like Sam Favret or an expert to enjoy the unique backcountry experience via the iconic off-piste ski route, Vallée Blanche.  But, there are risks.  The surface of Mer de Glace is very rough with gradient drops, large hunks of ice, deep crevasses, and seracs, making it extremely dangerous without sufficient snowfall, good intermediate skills (in all types of terrains & snow conditions) and a local mountain guide.

The Vallée Blanche is accessible from Chamonix, France via a 20 minute ride on the Aiguille du Midi cable car to the mid-station Plan de l’Aiguille (2,317m), then a walk through a tunnel and down a precarious ridge to a small, level area— the starting point for the main Vallée Blanche runs.  There are four: the classic “voie normale” (the normal way), and the more challenging, Le Vrai Vallee Blanche, the Petit Envers du Plan and Grand Envers du Plan.

For the most part, the voie normale follows the valley floor through dynamic terrain, beginning with a descent into a bowl toward a large rock outcrop known as Le Gros Rognon (The Big Rock) and continuing along the mountainside.  The run can be nice and smooth in spots, but depending on weather conditions, there could be deep powder, crusty layers, and icy moguls to navigate.  About 2/3 down, the Refuge du Requin is a popular place to take a break, and 250 meters from there is the start of Mer de Glace.  If snow conditions are good, it’s possible to ski all the way down to Chamonix.  If not, the run ends at Montenvers, thus requiring a steep climb up iron stairs (misery!) to a gondola that connects to the Montenvers Railway.  At a leisurely pace, including lots of stops, sightseeing and long lift queues, the up/down round trip will take 4 – 6 hours, but don’t rush…..enjoy the ride and take in the views.

 

Mont Blanc and Chamonix valley illustration, including Valle Blanche

 

The Fateful Retreat of Mer de Glace

Valley glaciers like Mer de Glace are relentlessly moving, flowing, growing, shrinking and deforming as a result of weather (temperature and snowfall) and stresses caused by the massive weight.  As a result, they are appreciable indicators of climate change.

After a significant cold period in Europe during the late 19th century, Mer de Glace was so large that it reached as far as Chamonix in 1850.  Today, it’s hardly visible from Chamonix as the lower end of the glacier (the ‘snout’) has been shrinking during the last 30 years at a rate of about 4-5 meters (13-16 feet) a year.  There is concern the retreat will not stop as Mer de Glace is an important fresh water source for the region as well as a tourist destination, and Christian Vincent, a French glaciologist with the Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Geophysique (LGGE) and Institut de Recherche pour le Development (IRD), has warned it may shrink as much as 1.2 -1.4 kilometers (about ¾ of a mile) by the year 2040.

Resources/Information:
Wikipedia (Mer de Glace, Mont Blanc massif, Glacier, Richard Pococke, William Windham, Sr., French Alps, Chamonix, Chemin de fer du Montenvers, Aiguille du Midi, Little Ice Age)
The Annals of Mont Blanc – A Monograph by Charles Edward Mathews (1900)
Because It’s There – A Celebration of Mountaineering from 200 BC to Today (William Windham..from an Account of the Glaciers or Ice Alps in Savoy, in Two Letters) edited and translated by Alan S. Weber (2003)
Celebration of the Franco-English Friendship in Chamonix (1936), summitpost.org
Spiritual History of Ice: Romanticism, Science & Imagination by Eric G. Wilson
Chamonix visitor information:  findtransfers.com  (see also; chamonix.com, chamonix.net, ski-chamonix.net)
“Climate Change on Mont Blanc:  The Vanishing Mer de Glace” by Helena Fouquet (2015), bloomberg.com
Mont Blanc:  Glacier in Danger of Collapse, BBC News (September 25, 2019) – Italian authorities have closed roads and evacuated mountain huts after experts warned that part of a glacier on Mont Blanc could collapse.

Great runs, jumps & tricks on these ski videosThere are more bold backcountry runs, big jumps and tricks to see on the “Downhill Runs” video channel and explore at Skiing China

 

 

The terminus, or "toe" of Exit Glacier, as seen in 2011 from the Outwash Plain below it. Exit Glacier will likely never look like this again as warmer temperatures over the past few years have reduced the mass of the glacier.Filmakers traveled to Alaska to explore Exit Glacier, but along with stunningly beautiful mountain views and amazing blue ice, they saw melting.  FREE 2 WATCH → Glacier Exit 

 

 

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Feature photo is a still shot from the video “Ice Call” by PVS Company
Mer de Glace photo by Detroit Publishing Co. (1890-1900), US Library of Congress Prints & Photographs, Public Domain
Chamonix Valley Map sourced from chamonix.net
Crossing the Mer de Glace on foot, photo taken about 1902-1904, Zurich Central Library, Public Domain

The Power of a Bike

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The people, experiences and emotions involved in a bicycle’s search for new purpose are eloquently told in “The Bicycle“, a short film by Chris McCoy & Adam Neustadter.


 

Bikes from Santa, and a little sister’s smile (Zeester family photo)

I was 8 years old, my sister was 5, when Santa Claus surprised us with two shiny and new bikes under the Christmas tree.  Our first ride!  It was exciting for the entire family.  Mother and Dad took us both out early the next day and taught us how to ride.  I remember being a little nervous about getting on a big bike, but it didn’t take me long to get the hang of it, and then I wanted to go fast and ride forever.  What a thrill to ride all day long —cruising the hood in search of solo adventures, going to the library to hang out, testing my racing skills against any challenger (bikers, dogs & cars), visiting neighbors, and finding new friends.  Many years later, my mother revealed the bikes were not exactly “new”.  Dad had found rusty old, beat up bicycles, and spent weekends repairing and restoring them in my grandparent’s home cellar.  That, of course, made a special gift and cherished ‘first bike’ memories even more dear. 

 

“As a kid I had a dream – I wanted to own my own bicycle. When I got the bike, I must have been the happiest boy in Liverpool, maybe the world. I lived for that bike.”                                                                                                                         —- John Lennon

 

[su_dropcap]A[/su_dropcap] kid with a bicycle is empowered with the ability to travel and explore, building confidence and independence, and learning valuable lessons and lifelong skills with each ride.  However, many children are not able to enjoy the benefits of bike riding  as there are obstacles, financial as well as safety issues that have resulted in a shocking decline in the number of children who ride bikes or walk to school in the US (48% in 1969 to 13% in 2009).  Addressing these problems are community and global organizations dedicated to making bicycles accessible to every child and creating bike-friendly cities and neighborhoods, offering ‘build & earn a bike’ programs, bicycle give-aways, mechanic, repair and safety classes, group touring and activities as well as citizen advocacy projects for walk & bike safe streets.  You can participate in efforts to get kids on bikes by donating time, money and/or used bikes.  Sometimes it’s the smallest thing that can make a big difference in the world.

Here’s a short list of community & global bikes for kids programs and information on bike safety:  

Austin Yellow Bike Project in Austin, TX

The Oasis Bike Workshop in Nashville, TN

Free Bikes for Kids (Minnesota, Utah, Georgia)

World Bicycle Relief

Safe Kids Worldwide (bike safety tips)

Kids Health – Bike Safety

More Information/Resources:
League of American Bicyclists – A non-profit organization that works to create safer roads, stronger communities, and a bicycle-friendly America through information, advocacy and promotion. Established National Bike Month in 1956 to showcase the benefits of biking and “encourage more folks to give biking a try”. [May is National Bike Month, May 14-18 is National Bike To Work Week, and May 18 is Bike To Work Day]

Smart Cycling – safety guide, tips and videos, League of American Bicyclists

 

 

I was 3 years old and life was becoming a drag, then my grandfather came to my rescue and built me a Tree Swing. 

 

 

 

 

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Feature photo of “My first bike, first ride” is courtesy of Zeester Media LLC, CC BY-NC-ND

Epic Skimo

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Ski Mountaineering (Skimo) involves climbing a mountain on skis or by carrying them and descending on skis using varied ski touring, Telemark, backcountry skiing and mountaineering techniques. A recreational as well as competitive sport, skimo requires a high level of physical ability and stamina along with technical know-how and skills.  Enthusiasts enjoy the adventure, variety of terrain, extreme challenges, and pushing limits.

In the mountains, you may find a ‘Netherworld’ … “where pain, grief, joy and exhilaration mix into moments of transcendent beauty”.*   

In 2018, ski mountaineers, Hilaree Nelson and Jim Morrison, completed the first ski descent of the 27,940-foot (8,516 m) Mount Lhotse, part of the Everest massif and the fourth-highest mountain in the world.  An incredible accomplishment when you consider the extreme challenge of just climbing to the summit of Lhotse (less than 400 climbers have summited Mount Lhotse and at least 20 have died trying), and there have been about a dozen failed attempts to ski down. Video documentary, Lhotse, tells the story of Hilaree and Jim’s extraordinary climb up and ski descent with personal and expert commentary and mind-blowing photography of this “mini-miracle” skimo adventure.    

 

 

In 2016, Aaron Rice set out to climb and ski 2.5 million vertical feet in the backcountry without using climbing assistance from motorized equipment (e.g., chair lifts, helicopters), challenging the world record of 2 million vertical feet set by Greg Hill in 2010.  It’s an epic endurance test as Aaron must chase after snow around the world and ski more than 330 days in order to accomplish his record breaking goal.  Watch this amazing journey in the short video 2.5 million, filmed, directed and edited by Tyler Wilkinson-Ray.

 

Video documentary Follow Through tells the story of skier Caroline Gleich’s motivation and determination to ski the 90 difficult and insanely dangerous ski mountaineering lines in the backcountry of Utah’s Wasatch Mountains first described by ski mountaineer Andrew McLean in his **1998 book “The Chuting Gallery: A Guide to Steep Skiing in the Wasatch Mountains”.

 

Information/Resources:

International Ski Mountaineering Federation – governing body for ski mountaineering competitions
United States Ski Mountaineering Association –  sanctions and governs competitive ski mountaineering racing in US, and promotes recreational ski mountaineering.  The USSMA website includes how-to information, resource links and videos.
*The Long Road To Lhotse by David Bunker, Tahoe Quarterly, Winter 2018-19  

 

If you ski, board or ride in the backcountry or live in snow covered mountainous terrain, avalanches are a destructive and deathly threat that must not be ignored.Avalanches are a powerful and deadly threat to ski mountaineers as well as anyone living or playing in snow-covered mountainous areas;  therefore, no one should venture out in the backcountry unless up to speed on avalanche safety and accident prevention measures.

 

 

Follow adventure skiers as they travel the world in this 3 season video series, A Skier's Journey.You should also watch Adventure Skiing (Free to Watch, On-Demand video documentaries)  Adventure skiers travel the world, discovering great beauty and dangers in the mountain landscapes of Europe, Asia, North and South America, and the Middle East.

 

 

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Feature photo is courtesy of Robson Hatsukami Morgan/Unsplash, CC0

Telemark Skiing

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Telemark skiing (aka ‘teleskiing’), combines Alpine and Nordic skiing techniques, including cross-country, slalom and ski jumping, with special lightweight ski equipment for travelling both up and downhill. Introduced in the late 19th century by Norwegian farmer, Sondre Norheim, telemark skiing was primarily used as a mode of transportation through backcountry regions until a resurgence in the early 1970’s as an alternative backcountry skiing style.  It’s now an international sport, officially recognized in 1995 by the Federation International de Ski (FIS) with competitions involving several race formats that combine elements of speed and rhythm with giant slalom gates, distance ski jumping, and skating from Nordic skiing.

 

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It’s the 2019 FIS Telemark World Ski Championships!  Live streaming from Rjukan, Norway (March 20-24).  If you missed the live stream broadcast, there’s still time to watch video recordings of the competition.  Just click/tap the “Watch Again” button or select from the video posts located top right corner of the media player below ↓

 

If you missed the live stream broadcast of 2018-19 Telemark World Cup Tour competition, you can watch video recordings of tour stops — just click/tap the “Watch Again” button located on the media players below ↓

 

 

 

 

 

If you missed the live stream broadcasts of the 2018 FIS World Cup Telemark season, there’s still time to watch video recordings of the competition, just click/tap the “Watch Again” button or select from the video posts located on the media player below ↓  

Information/Resources:

FIS Telemark (event list and results)
United States Telemark Ski Association
British Telemark Ski Team
The Ups and Downs of Telemark Skiing (And 5 Reasons Why You Should Give it a Try) by Tim Jones, Appalachian Mountain Club website (December 21, 2015)

 

Watch US Alpine Ski Championships LIVE & FREE On2In2™It’s FREE To WATCH 2019 Alpine Ski Racing

 

 

 

 

Follow adventure skiers as they travel the world in this 3 season video series, A Skier's Journey.Watch adventure skiers travel the world discovering great beauty and dangers in the backcountry—  A Skier’s Journey, a video series by Vancouver filmmaker Jordan Manley

 

 

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Feature photo ‘Mt Adams Descent’ by Flickr user, Bill Devlin, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Retreat of Exit Glacier

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Located in Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska, Exit Glacier is one of 38 interconnected valley glaciers in the Harding Icefield, the largest ice field contained completely within the United States.  In the spring of 1968, the first documented mountaineering party succeeded in crossing the Harding Icefield, and Exit Glacier was given its name for serving as the exit off the ice field during the expedition.

Exit Glacier is one of Harding Icefield’s smaller glaciers, but is one of the most visited because of year-round, easy access by a roadway and hiking trails around and above the glacier.  When snow arrives in the area (usually mid-November) until early May each year, the access road is closed to cars but open to a wide range of winter sports and recreation, including snowmobiles, dogsleds, fat-tire bicycles, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

According to park research studies and recent enhanced monitoring and mapping, Exit Glacier has retreated about a mile in the past 100 years, and shrinking has escalated during the last few years with 187 feet (57 meters) lost from 2013-14 and another 136 feet (41.5 meters) in 2015.

Filmakers, Raphael Rogers, Kristin Gerhart and Paul Rennick, traveled to Alaska to explore Exit Glacier, but along with stunningly beautiful mountain views and amazing blue ice, they saw melting.  Local guide, Rick Brown, explained what they were seeing and what’s been happening at Exit Glacier in this short video documentary, Glacier Exit.

 

Understanding Valley Glaciers

In order to understand why glaciers are considered a visual indicator of climate change, it helps to understand some basics about glacier formation, movement and their sensitivity to fluctuations in temperature.

Exit Glacier is what is known as a valley glacier (aka alpine glacier) that forms when more snow falls on mountain peaks during a year than melts during the summer, creating a snow pack that builds up and thickens.  Over time, the weight of the snow causes the snow pack to compress and turn into ice, and the glacier grows as more and more snow and ice accumulate.  Then, the weight of the ice starts to slowly push down the mountain through the valley.  This downward movement of the glacier is hardly noticeable to the observer, but it’s a powerful force of nature that erodes the ground beneath it, stripping the valley floor and knocking loose rocks and debris.  Along the way down, the glacier becomes a mixture of rock, dirt and ice.

While snow falls in the cold, higher elevation temperatures at the top of the glacier (the ‘accumulation zone’) during valley glacier formation, the ice is continually melting in the warmer area at the bottom of the glacier (the ‘ablation zone’).  If the accumulation at the top pushes ice down the valley faster than the ice melts at the bottom, the glacier advances.  When ice at the bottom melts faster than ice accumulates and moves down from the top, the glacier recedes.

During a glacier recession, ice and rock continue to flow downhill to the toe of the glacier (the end of the glacier at any given point in time, aka ‘terminus’ or ‘snout’), and the rocks are then continuously deposited on the ground at the front edge of the glacier as the ice melts.  During periods of ‘stagnation’, the ice at the front of the glacier melts at essentially the same rate as the ice flows down, resulting in the toe of the glacier staying in one place.  Rock and debris, however, continue to be pushed downward to the front edge of the glacier where it is deposited as the ice melts away.

Information/Resources:

Exit Glacier – visitor information.  How to get up close to the glacier and explore the area.

The Retreat of Exit Glacier  by Susan Huse

Kenai Fjords National Park   (Where Mountains, Ice and Ocean Meet) – learn more, plan your visit, get involved

Physical Science in Kenai Fjords, by Virginia Valentine, Keith Echelmeyer, Susan Campbell, Sandra Zirnheld (Alaska Park Science: Volume 3 / Issue 1, 2004)

⇒ Exit Glacier conditions (May 28, 2018 update), an ice fall hazard zone was identified by Kenai Fjords park officials at the toe and sides of Exit Glacier.  The condition is dangerous due to tall blocks and slabs of ice, and entry into the ice fall hazard zone is prohibited;  however, the road to Exit Glacier and hiking trails remain open.

 

A view of the Mer de Glace, Chamonix Valley, France at end of the 19th century

Located above the Chamonix valley within the Mont Blanc massif mountain range of the French Alps, the valley glacier, Mer de Glace (‘Sea of Ice’), is the largest and longest glacier in France and a popular tourist attraction as it offers spectacular mountain views as well as tours, exhibits, off-piste ski runs, and restaurant/hotel.  Unfortunately, it has also been retreating during the last 30 years.

 

Artist Zaria Forman captures the massive, but fragile beauty of amazing ice and snow formations in her work, and reminds us how important glaciers are to every living being on Earth, now and in the future.

 

 

Feature image “Toe of Exit Glacier” is courtesy of the US National Park Service/Paige Calamari, PD. The 2011 photo of the toe of Exit Glacier was taken from the Outwash Plain below.  Since that time, warmer temperatures have reduced the glacier mass of Exit Glacier, and it will likely never look like this photo again.

 

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THROW

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It’s written that Ancient Greek philosopher Plato said, “Life must be lived as play”.  A simple, but profound truth that goes back 2,400 years.  Today, Coffin Nachtmahr inspires us with his story of how a simple toy invented by the Ancient Greeks — a yo-yo changed his life.  Watch the video-doc Throw, and discover the amazing benefits of play.    

“Throw” is a video documentary from Early Light Media.  [Editor’s Note: As with all media content provided within On2In2™ website, this video is intended for adult audiences, not children. The dialogue in “Throw” contains some expletives.]

YO-YOING

First invented by the ancient greeks, the yo-yo went down & up, and that was it— until 1928.  That’s when Pedro Flores, founder/owner of the Yo-yo Manufacturing Company, introduced his ‘looped slip-string’ design modification.  A simple twist, but it changed the game by boosting variety in movement and spin, and started the yo-yo modern era.  New technology and designs in yo-yo body shape, type and mechanism have continued to transform the yo-yo over the last four decades, enabling throwers to create and perform more and more amazing tricks.  More tricks adds to the challenge and the fun, but a big-time throw is not all about the yo-yo, is it?

Mastery of the yo-yo takes some know-how and practice.  Best to start with the basics:  Click/Tap the link “How to use a Yo-Yo” for a 12-step instruction.  The Yomega Power Brain XP * yo-yo is designed for beginner & intermediate play, includes instructions, and priced at less than $15 (10/1/2016).

      ⇓  Yomega gift set* includes 3 classic yo-yo’s (beginner, expert & pro level) plus instructional DVD.

* If you purchase a yo-yo via a link within this page, Zeester Media LLC may receive a small commission. This in no way affects the price you pay for the purchase.

 

Cherished memory of the swing my grandfather made for meFind More Inspiration
How to Beat the Bull
Happy and Proud
A Thousand Sparks
Life Inspired (an On2In2™ collection of videos)

 

 

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Feature photo is a screen shot of Throw video

Avalanche

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“Climb if you will, but remember that courage and strength are nought without prudence, and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime.”  — Edward Whymper, Scrambles Amongst the Alps 

Avalanches are not rare or random events.  Most common during winter and spring, avalanches can occur any time of the year, and they are among the most threatening natural hazards to life and property in mountainous terrain.

Spontaneous avalanches result from either a weakening of a snowpack and gravity or an increased load on it due to precipitation.  Avalanches are also triggered by disturbances from skiers, snowmobilers, animals, and seismic activity.  A loud noise or shouting, however, is not a trigger as commonly believed unless the sound comes from an explosive device (frequently used to prevent avalanches in at-risk areas by triggering a small avalanche to remove instabilities in a snowpack).

If you ski, board or ride in the backcountry, live in or travel through snow covered mountainous terrain, the threat of avalanches must not be ignored as the dangers are very real.

This too real video by TahoeChappy captures the frightening experience of a backcountry skier as he triggers an avalanche, is buried and miraculously dug out in 4 minutes/28 seconds.  He got very lucky. Not everyone gets that kinda luck.

 

In North America, 42-45 people on average are killed by avalanches (more than 150 worldwide), and hundreds more are injured.  Most are snowmobilers, skiers, and snowboarders.  Sobering reminders that whether you’re a backcountry expert or newbie, don’t venture out without understanding and preparing for the dangers.  The good news — there are many resources available to help you learn how to reduce the risks.

 

Information/Resources:

Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center – non-profit organization based in Bozeman, Montana USA supporting avalanche awareness and education – find forecast, information and events
Colorado Avalanche Information Center  and Utah Avalanche Center – backcountry avalanche forecasts, observations, accident reports, and education
Avalanche Training recommended by American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) for both recreational and professional backcountry adventurers
What You Can Do? – Avalanche Awareness Tutorial
The Power of Training – Avalanche Canada 
European Avalanche School
What To Do If You Get Caught in an Avalanche, by Kate Baggaley, Popular Science (May 16, 2017)

 

Watch skiers face the many physical and mental challenges of the mountains in order accomplish ski mountaineering world recordsEPIC SKIMO  –  Free-to-watch ski mountaineers take on extreme challenges of the mountain with a world record & personal goals in mind

 

 

 

Follow adventure skiers as they travel the world in this 3 season video series, A Skier's Journey.A Skier’s Journey A free-to-watch, on-demand video series that follows adventure skiers as they travel the world, discovering great beauty and dangers in the mountains.

 

 

 

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Feature photo is courtesy of Flickr user, Prasan, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Surfing the Greats

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It’s certainly not easy to surf Toronto.  Some would say impossible.  When you’ve got the passion and the right attitude, you really can do just about anything, and at the same time, have fun, make friends and inspire.

See what it takes to catch a wave in the icy cold waters of the Great Lakes in this short documentary On Days Like These We Must Surf by Jake Kovnat.

 

NASA photo of Great Lakes covered in snow and ice shows how brutal surfing the lakes is during the winter months.
Great Lakes 1/27/2005, NASA Visible Earth, PD

The Great Lakes are a series of five interconnected freshwater lakes (Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron aka Michigan-Huron, Erie, and Ontario) located primarily in the upper mid-east region of North America on the Canada-US border. By total surface area, the Great Lakes are the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth, and they are often referred to as ‘inland seas’ because they look much like oceans with rolling waves, winds, currents, great depths, and distant horizons.

Think you’d like to give lake surfing a try?  Surfing the Great Lakes any time of year is difficult.  Add the freezing cold winter elements, and it becomes brutal.  The best surfing, however, is during the winter months because winter storms generate strong winds that produce the biggest waves that come in super fast.  Other challenges involved with lake surfing include wind forecasting, getting the proper gear and board, and avoiding debris in the lake.  Not for everybody, and getting images of a sunny beach out of your head is another big challenge.

Information/Resources:
Surf the Greats surf shop,  sells gear and boards specifically designed for lake surfing, offers classes on lake surfing and wave forecasting, and organizes meetups and competitions.
NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory – Scientists study, monitor, and predict ice coverage on the Great Lakes
The Alliance for the Great Lakes, a non-profit organization that works to protect the Great Lakes

Nordurland is about surfing in the harsh, cold waters of the North Atlantic.  Watch as three friends from the subtropical northern rivers of NSW Australia travel to isolated, snow covered coastlines in search of remote waves, and discover the great challenges and rewards of a northern adventure.  Filmmaker Ishka Folkwell beautifully captures the vast and stunning landscapes, and you’ll see glaciers, mountains and powerful icy surf come to life on screen. 

 

Big wave surfing is an extremely dangerous sport.  So, who does it and why? — Free 2 Watch video documentaries capture epic rides as well as personal stories of big waves surfers, including Rodrigo Koxa’s record breaking ride on an 80 foot (24 meter) wave at Nazaré on November 8, 2017.

 

Watch the world's best wakesurfing pros compete in the 2017 World Wake Surf Championship

FREE 2 WATCH – On Demand Great surfing action and stories on the Cranking Surf video channel, an On2In2™️ selection of favorite videos.

 

 

 

 

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Featured image of surfer by George Nietsch/Unsplash CC0

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