That fluffy white stuff

February 12, 2010

Photographing the beauty of a mountain cloaked in a graceful blanket of snow is something I really have a passion for, in addition to the skiing of course. So here are couple of obligatory snow covered images I have made...

Yosemite and Half Dome, 2008

Skiing at Mammoth, 2008

Now, on to the event at hand: to me, winter means fluffy white stuff. And fluffy white stuff means skiing. And every four falling fluffy white stuff seasons are the Winter Olympics. And nothing in the Winter Olympics is as pure as the Men's Downhill - just ski to the bottom as fast as possible. That's it. Pure old fashioned daring and risk taking in an all out race to the bottom of the mountain. Fastest time wins. That's how I like it.

This clip is of Franz Klammer's historic 1976 win at Innsbruck. In this clip you will see a man beyond the edge of control, his fear under control, an unmatched will to win. Even if you are not a skier you ought to appreciate this. This is the epitome of that famous line to Queen Victoria "Ah, Your Majesty, there is no second." (from that yacht race all those years ago.)

Oh, one more thing - if you see me on the ski-field, I'll race you to the bottom, first one there wins...