Lindsey Vonn, American skiing’s blond pin-up, became the first US alpine skier to win the women’s downhill at the winter Olympics.
Vonn overcame the pain of her bruised right shin to win by the widest margin in 16 years. For a short while a threat came from team-mate Julia Mancuso who opened a 0.90sec margin on the nine skiing before her.
But Vonn, starting 16th, beat her time by 0.56sec to leave Mancuso with silver, a national one-two which has not been achieved in downhill since 1984. Austria’s Elisabeth Goergl took the bronze.
It was the first of Vonn’s five alpine events during these games. She starts as favorite in three and a contender in two more, but it is the downhill where she has been supreme all winter, winning five of six World Cup races she has skied.
All has not been plain sailing though as the week she arrived in Whistler her right shin was so painful she could not even put her ski boot’s on. She was therefore very relieved when early training runs and competitions were canceled.
Manatees are one of Florida’s most amazing sea mammals, but they are under threat because of collisions with boats. Join us and help save the manatee by ‘adopting’ one through the Florida Manatee Club which was founded by Jimmy Buffet. You can learn more by visiting SaveTheManatee.org
Manatees sometimes known as sea cows are noted for their friendly nature. They are up to 4 meter size and have paddle-like flippers. The name manatí comes from the Taino, a pre-Columbian people of the Caribbean meaning “breast”.
Half a manatee’s day is spent sleeping in the water, surfacing for air regularly at intervals no greater than 20 minutes. Manatees spend most of the rest grazing in shallow waters at depths of 1–2 metres (3.3–6.6 ft). The Florida subspecies has been known to live up to 60 years.
Swimming
On average, manatees swim at about 5 to 8 kilometres per hour (3.1 to 5.0 mph). However, they have been known to swim at up to 30 kilometres per hour (19 mph) in short bursts.
Intelligence
Manatees are capable of understanding discrimination tasks, and show signs of complex associated learning and advanced long term memory. They demonstrate complex discrimination and task-learning similar to dolphins in acoustic and visual studies.
Reproduction
Manatees typically breed once every two years, gestation lasts about 12 months, and it takes a further 12 to 18 months to wean the calf. Only a single calf is born at a time and aside from mothers with their young or males following a receptive female, manatees are generally solitary creatures.
It’s important we keep these wonderful creatures alive…do your bit.
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We had our “Best” team out again this weekend and they were over at Daytona to see the Daytona 500 – The Great American Race.
It was an interesting race that seemed to go on forever and the eventual winner was Jamie McMurray in his No. 1 Chevrolet.
For those of you who don’t know, the race is 200 laps of 2.5 miles for a total of 500 miles and is considered to be the most prestigious race on the NASCAR calendar…no doubt helped by having the largest purse!
The Daytona 500 is also the first race of the year and that is the main reason it attracts so much media attention.
So, enjoy this short video and next year why not stay in one of our vacation homes and enjoy the race all the more…
We talked about Lake Eola on Sunday in the Valentine’s Day in Orlando blog so today I thought I’d write about some of the other parks and things to do in the Orlando area.
First up: Winter Park, one of Central Florida’s wealthiest areas and home to “Orlando’s Rodeo Drive”. Winter Park is a captivating place and you can enjoy a quieter pace of life just wandering around exploring everything it has to offer. From locals sauntering by their flower boxes to dining alfresco and enjoying a glass of wine, you’ll soon come to love the area.
Once you’ve enjoyed passing a few hours there, taken in Park Avenue where luxury retailers abound, make a short trip to Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour and enjoy floating by towering Cypress trees, tropical birds and eying up some mouth watering residences. This is the place to peak into the backyards of lakeside mansions and not risk arrest. You’ll never know what or who you will see.
If you’re visiting on a Saturday, take in the the Farmers Market at the citys restored train depot. The perfect place to get in touch with your culinary side.
Nearby is The Charles Hosmer Morse Musuem of American Art which boasts the world’s most comprehensive collection of Tiffany jewelry, pottery, paintings and lamps. There’s also the chapel interior that Louis Comfort Tiffany designed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
From there, why not enjoy a performance by the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park at Rollins College? Rollins is the state’s oldest college and the 160 person choir and orchestra has entertained crowds for nearly 75 years. There’s nothing more charming than hearing live music in the Knowles Memorial Chapel with it’s stunning stained glass windows and stately architecture.
Next: Loch Haven Park.
One of the highlights of the Loch Haven Park is The Orlando Museum of Art. From early beginnings in the 20′s of groups of artists displaying their work, today it is known as one of the best museums of the south. Another must visit is the Orlando Science Center located in the same place. Four floors of pure fun and experiences to suit all the family.
Mennello Museum of American Art is another great venue to visit as you’ll find a treasure trove of works by folk artist Earl Cunningham while outside you’ll be sure to enjoy majestic trees and fabulous views. “The Mayor” is one of Central Florida’s oldest and largest oaks and its massive limbs that rest on the ground are simply something you have to see.
Just before you leave check out what’s playing at Orlando Repertory Theatre. Classics such as The Neverending Story and Junie B. Jones show throughout the year.
Finally: Thornton Park.
Here you’ll find sidewalk shops and craftsman style bungalows all just a heartbeat away from downtown. You an walk the cobblestones to find many wonderful shops and be sure to stop by Keila Glassworks as you’ll be sure to see a fine exhibition of glassblowing. You might even like to give it a go yourself in the mini workshop!
As you can see, there’s much to do…explore… and let us know what you find.
When you think of Orlando you immediately think of theme parks, sun and fun. However, Orlando has other wonderful things to do and there is a grown up side to the City that you may care to enjoy with that someone special this Valentine’s Day.
Lake Eola is a lovely centerpiece to the City with its footpaths and vintage fountain. For some fun you can take to the lake on a paddle boat elegantly decorated as a swan for around $15 for half an hour. Lake Eola Swan Boats can be found at 101 N. Rosalind Avenue.
While gliding across Lake Eola you can take in Orlando’s vibrant business area and like many Southern cities, Orlando has plenty of charming brick paved roads, bungalows and enormous oak trees draped in Spanish moss for you to enjoy.
From the north east corner of Lake Eola you come across Thornton Park which is home to many cafes, boutique stores and local watering holes that have lots of patio seating… great for people watching!
Orlando also has a great night life and if you wander over to South Orange Avenue you’ll stumble upon bars, concert halls and nightclubs lining the street.
Of course, you can spend the most romantic day of the year at one of Walt Disney World’s six parks, Universal Orlando or Sea World but for a really wonderful treat why not visit Discovery Cove and enjoy the Valentine’s Sweetheart Package where you can present your lover with a box of chocolates, a dozen red roses, champagne served in a private cabana and a love note delivered by a real dolphin.
Danica Patrick has had a smashing first race in NASCAR – literally.
Patrick’s debut was spoiled when she became part of a 12 car wreck on lap 68 of the Nationwide Series race at Daytona this afternoon, putting a premature end to her much-hyped entrance into the stock-car world. Among other drivers in the crash were Colin Braun, Jason Leffler, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Stanton Barrett, Josh Wise and Johnny Sauter.
“I kept it straight, hoping they’d get out of the way, and they didn’t,” Patrick radioed to her team immediately after the wreck, which started when Josh Wise and Colin Braun got together in front of her.
In reality, there was little Danica could have done to avoid the crash. Prior to that, it hadn’t been such a good day for her anyway as she fell as far back as 35th place and nearly lost the draft as the final car on the lead lap. Patrick was lapped during green-flag pit stops, but got the free pass when a caution finally came out.
After getting her lap back, she drove up to around 25th place and said she was just starting to get the hang of it when she was caught in the wreck.
The opening ceremony on Friday was enjoyable but we’re now into the competition and there are some “must watch” events coming up in the next few days.
On February 17 and 18 you can get a double dose of snowboarding. The men’s halfpipe takes center stage on Feb 17 and the woman’s event takes place the next day.
On February 21st get ready for the US hockey team takes on the games host country, the traditionally tough Canada. Much of the NHL’s top talent comes from north of the US border so you expect a lot of pride to come into this one as the US men try to seal a victory.
The women’s figure skating always seems to dominate the Olympics and this year should be no exception as the short program is set for February 23rd with the free skating taking place on 25th.
Before all that though make sure you catch the Alpine skiing on Feb 16. For me, who has no clue how to ski, I find it fascinating how they maneuver down the mountain so quickly. It’s an event made for TV.
Perhaps the most amazing event is the biathlon. The men’s 10km sprint is on Valentine’s Day while the 12.5km event is on Feb 16 and then on Feb 18 you get chance to catch up with the 20km. These guys are amazing athletes as they need to be great cross country skiers as well as being steady enough to hit a target.
Daytona 500, the Great American Race comes round again this weekend. If you’re not into NASCAR, I should explain that it is a cornucopia of noise and speed, from pre-race music to high-powered engines, with colored flags waving on the track and the American flag all around.
Sunday’s 500-mile, 200-lap race starts at 1 p.m but this blog will first address some of the most popular questions that people ask.
What Does NASCAR Stand For?
National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing, formed in December 1947 with the help of Daytona Beach’s Bill France Sr., who ran a local service station and promote local races.
There are three divisions: Sprint Cup, Nationwide and the Camping World Truck series.
Sprint Cup is the top tier. The other two are developmental series.
Why is the Daytona 500 arguably NASCAR’s biggest race of the year?
The sport was founded in Daytona and the race has always been first on the schedule. It’s a combination of tradition, history, weather and marketing that makes it the great race it has become today.
What is the big deal with Danica Patrick?
Popularized by GoDaddy.com commercials, Patrick is an accomplished Indy Racing League driver. (She is the only woman to lead the Indianapolis 500 and owns the highest finish by a woman, fourth in 2005). But she’ll make her NASCAR debut when she drives in Saturday’s Nationwide race (the DRIVE4COPD 300).
What happens if drivers have to go to the bathroom during a race?
That’s the No. 1 question fans ask, drivers said. And, yep, they go in their suits.
“I have only done it a couple of times in my career,” said Casey Mears, who has driven 252 Sprint Cup races. “You don’t get out and go to the bathroom. It doesn’t happen frequently.”
Veteran driver Jeff Burton agreed.
“If you’ve got to pee,” Burton said, “you just pee.”
What’s the deal with the cars?
Top drivers drive only only a Chevrolet Impala, Dodge Charger, Ford Fusion or Toyota Camry.
They typically weight 3,450 pounds without the driver.
Top speed is 200 mph.
Transmission is 4-speed.
What do the colored flags means?
Green flag: Go. It comes out at the start of the race and when caution period is over.
Yellow flag: Caution. Cars must slow to near-minimal speed. This comes out because of a hazard or a crash.
Black flag: Get off the track. It’s used when a driver breaks the rules or is driving a dangerous car.
White flag: One lap to go.
Checkered flag: The race is over … and we have a winner.
What is Bump Drafting?
Drafting = when two or more cars race nose-to-tail and the first car breaks the air, giving the second and third cars less resistance and making them all go faster than a single car.
Bump drafting occurs when one race car taps the back end of another car in front. That propels the first car ahead and the draft pulls the second car along, too. Done right, it’s racing at its most skillful. Done wrong, it’s an accident waiting to happen.
NASCAR instituted a no-bump-draft rule to make racing safer. But drivers and fans complained about how it made the races major snooze fests.
Last month, NASCAR lifted the regulation against bump drafting. It should make for more fun. And more wrecks.
“If you don’t bump draft the guy straight in front of you, it will cause a wreck. If he has his wheel turned to the left and you hit him, he can spin out,” said driver Elliott Sadler, a 12-year Sprint Cup veteran.
So that’s a brief round up… sit back and enjoy the race… and here’s Chris Rea’s “Daytona” to get you in the mood.
Well, today’s the day that the 21st Winter Olympics begin and they run all the way through to 28 February. The Winter Olympics feature many winter sports held on snow or ice, such as alpine sking, cross country skiing, figure skating, bobsledding and ice hockey. Cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating have been competed at every Winter Olympics since 1924. Other athletic events have been added as the Games have progressed. Some of these events, such as luge, short track speed skating and freestyle skiing have earned a permanent spot on the Olympic programme. Others, like speed skiing, bandy and skijoring have been demonstration sports but never incorporated officially as an Olympic sport.
With a population of more than 2.5 million people, Vancouver will be the largest metropolitan area to ever host a Winter Olympic Games.Vancouver is a beautiful low-altitude, seaport city with a perfect climate to host the games. Most of the venues will be located in the Vancouver metropolitan area, with the exception of the alpine, Nordic, and sliding events, which will be held in Whistler…a truly wonderful place.
The big news ahead of the events is the news that American ski star Lindsey Vonn is injured and may not compete in the first test of the women’s downhill run.
Vonn, who stunned fans and media alike by announcing she had picked up a shin injury during training in Austria last week, was left grimacing in agony after pulling her ski boots on for the first time in days.
The 25-year-old two-time World Cup champion had harboured hopes of winning at least one, and at most three gold medals here in Whistler.
However, after gingerly walking past onlookers as her coach carried her skis to the lift, a dejected looking Vonn looked a million miles away from the top step of the Olympic podium.
Vonn was set to start the first downhill training run for her first scheduled race, the super-combined on Sunday, with bib number 16. Let’s hope she recovers…the world deserves to see the best compete.
Injuries also seem to be dominating the world of men’s ice hockey as well.
The list of Olympic walking wounded grew this week with Canadian forward Ryan Getzlaf going down with an injured left ankle while playing for the Anaheim Ducks in the National Hockey League.
Canadian general manager Steve Yzerman announced that Philadelphia Flyers forward Jeff Carter was put on standby in case Getzlaf can’t play in Canada’s first game against Norway next Tuesday.
“I talked to Ryan and his condition is improving. He will try to play this weekend. He needs to skate and see what he can tolerate. Healing is a slow process,” Yzerman said.
Doctors carried out a medical scan on Getzlaf Tuesday which revealled no broken bones.
Injuries are not just limited to Canada with defending champions Sweden also suffering.
Forward Tomas Holmstrom is listed as day-to-day with a leg injury and defenceman Niklas Kronwall is out with a knee injury.
Sweden was given a scare last month when Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson separated his shoulder and ended up missing 11 NHL games before making his return to the Senators line-up.
The United States is one of the hardest hit teams by injuries in the weeks leading up to the Games.
Team USA lost defenceman Mike Komisarek due to a season-ending shoulder injury that will need surgery while they are also without defenceman Paul Martin of the New Jersey Devils with a broken arm.
Ryan Whitney of Anaheim and Tim Gleason of the Carolina Hurricanes were named as replacements by American general manager Brian Burke.
Finnish goaltender Niklas Backstrom has been battling a sore back but he is expected to return to the Minnesota Wild lineup this week.
Forward Teemu Selanne also vows to be ready for Vancouver despite breaking his jaw in a January 13 game against Boston.
He will wear a protective face guard over the jaw area.
It was the second serious injury this season for the Ducks star Selanne, who will be competing in his fifth Olympic Games, after missing 17 games earlier this season with a badly broken hand.
Slovakia is still waiting word on the status of superstar forward Marian Gaborik who is out of the New York Rangers’ lineup after suffering a thigh laceration in practice on Tuesday.
The injury occurred when Gaborik collided with Swedish Olympic goaltender and Rangers’ teammate Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist’s skate sliced into Gaborik’s thigh causing a deep gash that required stitches.
Here’s a link to the schedule for the 16 day event and a video preview:
