Prepare to be astonished as you watch parkour wonder Damien Walters show off his unbelievable gymnastic ability.
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Category: Sport
My kayaking friend Gemma recorded some footage at the Three River Rendezvous last May. She’s finished editing and tossed it up on YouTube:
[Three Rivers Whitewater Rendezvous 09 | YouTube]
I make a couple of appearances in the video — I’m the guy with the bright yellow helmet, blue PFD, and red dry top.
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Setting Forth on the Castle River
Over the long weekend I participated in the Pinch’O’Crow paddling club’s annual River Rendezvous. Here are a few memories from my excellent weekend:
Malcolm Gladwell’s interesting article, How David Beats Goliath is about how underdogs, when playing by their own strategies, can beat out the favorite much more often than one would suspect.
Eurisko was an underdog. The other gamers were people steeped in military strategy and history. They were the sort who could tell you how Wellington had outfoxed Napoleon at Waterloo, or what exactly happened at Antietam. They had been raised on Dungeons and Dragons. They were insiders. Eurisko, on the other hand, knew nothing but the rule book. It had no common sense. As Lenat points out, a human being understands the meaning of the sentences “Johnny robbed a bank. He is now serving twenty years in prison,” but Eurisko could not, because as a computer it was perfectly literal; it could not fill in the missing step-“Johnny was caught, tried, and convicted.” Eurisko was an outsider. But it was precisely that outsiderness that led to Eurisko’s victory: not knowing the conventions of the game turned out to be an advantage.
Gladwell responds to a couple of criticisms aimed at the section dealing with Rick Pitino and college basketball.
May 15-18, 2009
Club info for the Pinch’o’Crow Rendezvous 2009.
This Victoria Day long weekend I’ll be headed to Pincher Creek for some kayaking adventures at the annual Pinch’o’Crow Rendezvous. Organizer, Chuck Lee, and his crew of volunteers put on a great event each year with all sorts of river runs and clinics available for paddlers of all levels.
The Pinch-o-Crow Creekers are hosting the 11th annual WW Rendezvous on May 15-16-17-18, 2009 again this year down in the “Centre of Adventure”. We will be organizing and leading trips on the Castle, Crowsnest and Oldman Rivers. There will also be chances to go paddle Cameron Creek and the Carbondale, Elk, Wigwam, Highwood, Waterton or Belly Rivers while you are down here. Only three days and too many rivers to paddle.
The range of rivers is from class I-II to III-V (but it’s not too difficult to portage around class 5 waterfalls). Speaking of water falls, every year there are a few kayakers that put on quite a show running Lundbreck Falls.
Here’s a photo of me running it last June:
JUNE 14, 2008 — LUNDBRECK, AB Jeff Milner takes the plunge over the 36 foot drop of Lundbreck Falls. Taken with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi by Tom Buchanan. Used with permission.
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Amazing Trials Riding
This video of Danny MacAskill has got to be one of the most amazing collection of trials riding I’ve ever seen.
Filmed over the period of a few months in and around Edinburgh by Dave Sowerby, this video of Inspired Bicycles team rider Danny MacAskill features probably the best collection of street/street trials riding ever seen. There’s some huge riding, but also some of the most technically difficult and imaginative lines you will ever see. Without a doubt, this video pushes the envelope of what is perceived as possible on a trials bike.
The NHL playoffs begin today. Personally I’m rooting for the Calgary Flames, but I’ll be happy if any Canadian team wins the cup.
Whether or not you’re planning to watch any of the games tonight, take ten minutes to enjoy The Sweater, a classic Canadiana short from the NFB.
In this animated short, Roch Carrier recounts the most mortifying moment of his childhood. At a time when all his friends worshipped Maurice “Rocket” Richard and wore his number 9 Canadiens hockey jersey, he was mistakenly sent a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey from Eaton’s. Unable to convince his mother to send it back, he must face his friends wearing the colours of the opposing team. This short film, based on the book The Hockey Sweater, is an NFB classic that appeals to hockey lovers of all ages.
The Sweater, Sheldon Cohen, provided by the National Film Board of Canada.
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Through the Legs
Chris Paul throws it through Jason Terry’s legs and dishes to Rasual Butler for the dunk.
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Table Tennis Spectacular
I’m not a great ping pong player myself, but I love to watch the expertise of someone that really knows how to play the game, like in this video:
[Table Tennis -Spectacular!! – Youtube]
The Lethbridge Ultimate club is planning another spring tournament this April 4th and 5th. Last year it was quite cold on the first week of April, but despite the threat (or actual appearance) of snow, it’s still a very good time.
Here’s a poster I made for the event:
If you live in Southern Alberta and are looking for some excellent outdoor fun with some great people, come play in the Prairie Plastic 2009 Ultimate (Frisbee) tournament.