Durham Ride 4 the United Way!

For those of you that think that Ontario is a relatively flat, boring province with no cycling challenges, think again. This past Sunday myself and 4 friends rode the Durham Ride 4 the United Way.

In 160km we climbed 5,800 ft with several hills topping out at 10% -13% gradient. It’s not the French Alps or Pyrenees, but it’ll definitely make those legs burn and change your perception of cycling in Ontario! (more…)

Toronto Mayoralty Race Heats Up

What does a wilderness canoe tripper know about municipal politics? Yeah, well, you’re reading the article so why not just finish it and decide afterward? I’m not writing from the perspective of my official Sherpa area of expertise but I do follow political goings on and I felt like commenting on it here, mostly in the hopes of generating some interest in the campaign as it enters its last couple of months.

I was always a big fan of the late Chris Farley. If he was still with us and someone could interest him in a skit about the 2010 Toronto mayoral election, he would be perfectly suited to play the character of Rob Ford. A heavy set, “speak before you think” right wing buffoon would be the perfect character for Farley. If I were writing the skit, Ford would be asked numerous thoughtful policy questions on environmental and economic issues. As he realizes that he really cannot properly answer the questions, he repeatedly responds by simply stating that he forgot to disclose his arrest for marijuana possession in Florida a few years ago because he was also under arrest for impaired driving at the time (and, presumably, it’s sometimes tough to keep all of the charges straight). He actually called a press conference a couple of weeks ago to “clear up any misunderstanding”. Don’t worry, Mr. Ford, it’s all very clear to me and always has been.
Ford is riding high as the “front runner” according to recent polls. Before we all hit the panic button, let’s remember that in these last sultry days of summer before the campaign really generates serious interest from voters, polls are notoriously unreliable and are of questionable value to begin with in municipal campaigns (due to low voter turnout and poll samples often not reflecting the typical actual voter). He has tapped into a vein of conservative, anti-immigrant, anti-gay sentiment which usually skews toward white, male, older voters. Ford is polling ahead of George Smitherman by a margin which essentially represents the poll’s margin of error. We are now less than 60 days from the October 25th election. Can Ford hold his “lead” as the campaign intensifies? Let’s hope not.

For the past few months and until quite recently, Smitherman was the acknowledged front runner, having declared his intention to run for mayor of Toronto a year ago. Mr. Smitherman’s credentials and experience are significant. First elected to the Ontario legislature in 1999 in the riding of Toronto Centre Rosedale, Smitherman was named Minister of Health and Long Term Care as well as Deputy Premier when the McGuinty Liberals swept to power in 2003. He served in the Ontario cabinet until late last year. His campaign needs to re-energize itself but he will have plenty of opportunity to do so by responding to whatever Rob Ford says, now that everyone seems to be listening to whatever Rob Ford says. The race is probably between these two.

There are three other candidates rounding out the “main five” who get the vast majority of the media coverage: Joe “pants” (as my cousin calls him) Pantalone is a very impressive and likeable candidate with decades of city politics under his belt and the recent endorsement of federal NDP leader and former Toronto city councillor Jack Layton. Rocco Rossi has been a Liberal Party insider and strategist for many years and served as John Tory’s campaign manager in the 2003 mayoral election (which was won by David Miller but Tory’s campaign was energetic and strong). Sarah Thomson is an interesting candidate as well. She brings much private sector success and has not been able to resist the temptation of joining in on the fun of criticizing Rob Ford. Can’t blame her for that.

I would really like to see a campaign which grabs the interest of Torontonians and drives them out to vote on October 25th. Let’s see if we can get the voter turnout up a little and reverse the downward trend of an ever smaller percentage of eligible voters exercising their democratic right. Issues like transit, bike lanes, city services, taxes – they actually do have a direct impact on citizens and I wish that more people paid more attention to these issues which dominate municipal elections. Party politics do not exist formally at the municipal level, and as a result, voters need to pay attention to each candidate’s platform issue by issue.

Municipal campaigns in general and the Toronto mayoralty race in particular features numerous (almost never ending) public debates. I think I saw 16 debates on the schedule for the month of September alone throughout the city and on a variety of topics. I will go to at least one of them. I just can’t pass up the opportunity to see Ford and Smitherman going toe to toe. In a way, I’m glad that Rob Ford has recently generated some interest in this election. Let’s thank him for that and then vote for someone else.

What’s on this week in the city!

Here is a taste of what is happening in the city this week.

1. Ashkenaz Festival

From the website: Now in its 15th year, the Ashkenaz Festival continues to be a strong celebration of Jewish culture, putting a spotlight on the Klezmer music revival. The event takes a look at contemporary forms of Jewish art, with a blend of traditional and contemporary music, theatre, dance and more.

http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/worldroutes2010/ashkenaz.cfm

2. Canadian International Air Show

From the website: This year’s Canadian International Air Show, marks the centennials of the Canadian Navy and Women in Aviation. The show features aerial performances, military jets and a water-and-sky tribute to the Canadian Navy. The Canadian Snowbirds celebrate their 40th anniversary by flying the grand finale daily.

http://www.cias.org/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

3. Julian Schnabel: Art and Film

From the website: Julian Schnabel is best known as a filmmaker, directing movies like Basquiat, Before Night Falls and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. However, he is also an accomplished painter; his new exhibit at the AGO examines the connectedness of his work in the two fields. Over 25 works, mostly done in the mid-70s, are included in the exhibit, and showings of four Schnabel films will occur on Saturdays during the show’s run. Schnabel himself makes an appearance on opening night.

http://www.toronto.com/arts/event/653123

4.  Shelter Valley Folk Festival

From the website: This Northumberland County folk festival is the spot to see up-and-coming performers — artists like Serena Ryder and The Good Lovelies played Shelter Valley years before hitting it big. Each year, over Labour Day weekend, attendees are given a taste of musicians both legendary and undiscovered in a grassroots, laid back setting, overlooking Lake Ontario.

http://www.sheltervalley.com/home.htm

5. Artisans At the Distillery Craft Show

From the website: The Artisans at the Distillery Art Show,  featuring Canadian artists: oils and acrylic, water colour, photography, mixed media, metal sculpture, stone, etched glass, ceramics, wood.

http://www.artisansatthedistillery.com/

FanExpoCanada

On Saturday, I put on my creative hat and hit the FanexpoCanada to see what the heck goes on at these conventions. I am long time gamer (love the Final Fantasy franchise and also the Mortal Kombat one too) and am a fan of all things science  fiction and zombie so I was right at home amongst all the creative genius at the event. Entrance on Saturday was $35. That was the base cost and what got you into the event. Everything else cost on top. Not knowing what to expect I was hoping to get an autograph of Adam West or Leslie Neilson – not so much luck there unless you were willing to pay decent money for the privilege. William Shatner was also scheduled to make an appearance but only on the Sunday and your fee only covered the one day.

Line up’s were insane for everything once you got inside. I heard rumors an expected 69,000 fans would be passing through the convention center on Saturday alone. So what did my $35 bucks get me?

Access. Access to the various trade show booths some of which were extremely creative. You could line up and lie in a cryogenic pod from the Alien movie franchise and see what would be like to be in a pod and have the movie broadcast. For $5 you could see what it was like to lie in a coffin for a few minutes (I figured why rush the inevitable I will wait on this one). There was lots of free fake tattoos of vampire fangs, lots of t-shirts and swag to buy and lots and lots of people.  The celebrity line up was good, if you were willing to pay for a signature. That was definitely a point of contention with me. If you wanted to be involved in any of the Q & A sessions, it also cost you big bucks.  On the lower level they had a Warcraft room, an indie game room and the VIP areas. If you wanted to eat, there was pizza pizza on site but again, line ups were long. If you left, you could get back in but you were looking at about 1.5 hour to get back in.

All in, I was mildly disappointed but in the spirit of the trade show and the overall feel of the event was good. There were some good exhibits, some interesting characters and everyone was in a good mood. I can’t fault that. The costumes were amazing, I took some photo’s of Star Wars characters and I have to say the detail was amazing right down to the voice box.  I did learn a couple of things from the experience. They are:

1. Bring a backpack and fill it with food and water.

2. Have a good camera.

3. Be prepared to pay cash for everything.

4. Last of all, wear comfortable shoes!

I would like to checkout Comic Con when it’s in Toronto, Fanexpo overall was a good experience, maybe a little expensive for what you got but it was worth seeing the hard core fans do their thing.

Tour de Greenbelt VIP Preview!

There is nothing better then riding out on country roads and breathing in that fresh country air. Getting out of the city, is one of the reasons I love cycling as a sport. Yet, it’s rare to find a ride these days (whether organized or even recreational) that promotes taking it slow and soaking it all in.

The Tour de Greenbelt is series of bike rides in September that allows you to do just that and more. (more…)

Outdoor Week Continues with – The Death Race

The Death Race. The name alone conjures images of a cheesy Stephen King movie or some odd cult activity. You can’t say “I competed in the Death Race” without SOME kind of reaction. So, what is the Death Race? It’s 125km of the most grueling terrain you will ever meet and it’s 100% Canadian. Considered one of the toughest races in the world, it takes you up and down through the swampiest and the steepest terrain. With 17,000 feet, yes you read that correctly, 17,000 feet of elevation change it is not for the feint of heart.

Some details:

It’s a five stage race, which can be done solo or relay.

125 km long, the fastest time to complete was by a solo competitor in 2009 which, took him approximately 13 hours.

It takes place every August long weekend and is located in Grande Cache, Alberta.

It’s entirely a run, but an all terrain run.

You can quit at anytime and there are medics throughout the course.

Its entirely marked you can’t “get lost”.

No one has ever died racing.

I had the opportunity to chat with one of this years competitors, Willis Kolody.  Here is his amazing take on the experience.

NR: How did you get involved with this race? Have you been an adventure racer for awhile now?

WK: We live close to Cypress Hill provincial park and I do a lot of camping and hiking, but for this race in particular I work with a lot of police officers (Willis works with the power lines) and I also do this training called Cross Fit (also see Nad’s experience with Cross Fit here) where a lot of the cops do their training. I am friends with one of the cops who was doing it and one thing lead to another and he asked if I wanted to try it out and I said for sure.

NR: Now was this your first adventure race ever? The Death Race?

WK: Yup, I figured you just go big or go home.

NR: How did you prepare for it?  Did you have any idea what you were getting into?

WK: Absolutely not!  He warned me a little bit, he said its tough. We used Cross Fit and police dummies and we would run the stairs and jump the stairs. There are two tiers of stairs to Medicine Hat; there are the stairs that go from downtown Medicine Hat up to the north side and we would jump them one at a time to get the burn. He warned me that when we actually get to the race you will hurt. It will burn. I am not sugar coating anything. Your feet are going to be bruised; it’s just the way it is.  For example, you run through 6km of pure mud.  It’s called the “Slugfest” (see race stages below) and it’s by far the hardest part of the race.  It’s all mud and it’s very wet.  If you get stuck in mud, suction prevents you from trying to get your foot out and you yank it out and your other foot is already buried; now you have two legs buried. It’s a challenge like running downhill: downhill is harder than uphill.

NR: I guess because you have to control yourself so you don’t go flying.

WK: Yea, I broke my trekking pole. I broke about a foot off it. So I had to finish the race with a shorter trekking pole which wasn’t a big deal I still had the majority of it. I slipped on a rock and put all my weight on my right side and I snapped my pole off. Its all part of it.

NR: How many team members did you have? Did you do all 125km?

WK: There were 5 team members,  I did the second leg and assisted with the fifth 5. Leg two is 27km (the Slugfest and also the most difficult leg)

NR: Is it a straight run? Or are you canoeing and biking as well?

WK: There is no swimming or anything. Its just strictly running and the word running is not the right word. There is very little actual running its more jogging and walking and trekking up the mountain side. Leg two for example was 6,530 feet up and it works out to more coming down.

NR: How long did it take your team to complete it?

WK: We completed it in 17 hours, and a guy from Edmonton set the record last year. One guy, 13 hours and 43 minutes. He was mad as he had to walk 5,000 meters. He said he wasn’t at his best as his back was hurting. Its absolutely crazy, but the rush of the whole race is just absolutely phenomenal. It is the greatest feeling I have ever felt. I am no Olympian but when you actually finish the race it is just wild. We were also doing it for a cause not just personal satisfaction. We also wanted to get the name out there too, get The Death Race out there.

NR: What was your favorite part?

WK: Finishing it. My wife wanted to do it too but we just had a baby 9 months ago so she couldn’t train with me. But she does want to do it, next year as a duo.  She will do leg one to start it then I will leg two then she will do leg three and I will do leg four and five.

NR: So how does transportation work?  If the person who is doing leg one is also doing leg 3, do they have someone transport you to the next part of the race?

WK: You have to get yourself to the second leg, you  have to drive there. When you start the race you get a timing chip and a silver coin. You have to transport that wherever you go, if you lose that little chip even by accident you are finished. Some people will just toss it in their pocket and as you are running you will see silver coins sitting on the path, but you are told not to pick them up. All the coins have special numbers on them.

NR: How many competitors where there this year?

WK: There were about 100 soloist, and only about 20% actually finish the race in the time allowed. There are cut off times and you have to make it to the ferry point by 6:15pm if you don’t then you’re disqualified. You can still finish the race but it will be outside of the organizers responsibility. They won’t be looking for you. You sign a waiver ahead of time stating exactly that.

NR: Now would you ever do this race solo?

WK: Yes, that is what I am actually  training to do. I want to do it solo, I may do it solo next year. My wife may do a couple of legs with another team. We are going to see what happens but that’s my goal to do it solo!

NR: Were there a lot of women in the race?

WK: There were a lot of women in the race, I would guess maybe 30%.

NR: And the age demographic? Mid 30′s early 40′s?

WK: Yes, I would say that is fair and there were even some men in their 70′s. There was a guy in front of me and he was 70.

NR: What was the hardest component? What it the mental? Was it the physical? A combination of both?

WK: When I was in leg two, you get to the top of the mountain and they tell you, you’re not even half way yet. You are beat, you don’t know what to expect. They call it the Death Race,  but until you actually do it you have no idea what to expect when you get to the top. I think they do it to mess with your mind a little – sorry man you’re not even half way yet – you’re 600 feet to half way then you get up there and it’s all down hill.  Its through a power line cut line and you’re walking sideways so you don’t slip and fall and then you start going through the Slugfest and the fun has just begun. When you start the mud, your legs hurt by the time you are done your legs are just absolutely burning. You got to finish otherwise your team could be disqualified, you have to look at the big picture.

NR: What would you advice to people who are interested in doing it? What would your best piece of advice be for anyone going into this race?

WK: Don’t think you can’t do it. The people you train with will say that it’s hard but when you actually finish the race its just a wonderful feeling, totally uplifting.  Don’t think you can’t do it. When you see 125km it actually goes by fast, if you think about it,  it’s only 17 hours it does not even take a full day to do it. Don’t be scared, your feet will get sore and toes a little bit bruised but in the end you go home and you have a shirt to prove it that you actually raced it, such a wonderful feeling.

NR: Recovery?

WK: 3 – 5 days I didn’t want to do to much just kinda hang out.

NR: What about equipment? What would be the best footwear to use for example?

WK: Don’t wear runners. There is no flat place on this whole race course. It’s all mountain, it’s all rock, and that’s another thing the balls of your feet just kill by the time you are done. We wore Salomon shoes, had hydration packs. I wore a waist pack too with four water bottles around my waist and then snacks. Trail mix and boiled baby potatoes and stuff like that. As you’re going pop little bits at a time.

NR: Once you have satisfied yourself with the Death Race, do you want to try another challenge like a 24 hour race? Would you go elsewhere to do them or would you stay in Alberta?

WK: I would definitely want to try other races. I would go elsewhere to do a couple of these races. People may think I am a little crazy but its good. I enjoy doing it, I love doing it. From a personal standpoint its a good feeling to say that you did it. Whether it’s one time or ten times to actually say you completed one of the hardest races in the world is an accomplishment. Additionally, the way it’s organized is phenomenal. There are no kinks  there are people hiding in the trees with camera’s and video camera’s and you get to certain points and they have Gatorade booths set up it’s insane how well it’s planned.

Willis started training for his next shot at the Death race on August 16th. He is back at Cross Fit and also working with police and fire members to step up his game for next year. His passion and drive for the sport could be felt throughout the conversation, I think it’s safe to say he is a changed man after his experience on the Death Race Course. Willis was delightful to speak with and I hope to touch base with again next year to see how it went and if he met his goal of going solo. Wishing him all the best!

For information on the Death Race please see DEATH RACE.

What is happening in the TDOT this week

Ok, so fall feels like it’s around the corner. I heard the “C” word even (christmas) already if you can believe it.  All that aside, the EX is on there is still labor day weekend coming up and all is good in the city.

Looking for something to entertain yourself? Well, here is what I managed to drum up for the weekend.

1. Fanexpocanada

My spidey sense is tingling, it’s going to be a wicked couple of fabulous nerdom days!  Fanexpo is back, and caters to all sorts of interests from Horror to comic, to sci fic and anime. Caught your interest? Tickets available on the website.

FanExpo

2. Buskerfest

Always an entertaining couple of days as well, Buskerfest hosts all kinds of unique talent from around the world.

I recall a giant steam powered tricycle with a contortionist in the front wheel that spite out bubbles and had a crazy frenchman singing as it drove through the crowds last year. It’s anything but dull.

Buskers

3.  Rockstar Energy Drink UPROAR Festival

Just wanna rock? The UPROAR Festival is happening at Molson Amphitheater August 25th.

UPROAR

4. Live Green Toronto Festival

Toronto’s annual celebration of all things green turns Yonge Street into ‘green street’ with more than 100 exhibitors of green products and services, local food, live music, and more.  Live Green

5. Toronto’s China Town Festival

• Celebrate and promote Canada’s diverse cultures and communities
• Boost local and regional economies through increased tourism from different regions and across the border
• Offer a unique opportunity for corporations, government officials, industry representatives and the general public to network in this annual event of Asian heritage and traditions
• Foster cross-cultural understanding and harmony
• Raise public awareness and share the many positive attributes of the ethnic, racial, religious, and culturally diverse communities

China Town Fest

6. Havana Cultural Festival

Bringing Cuba to the city. Havana

7. The Chocolate Race

With various distances of runs to select from it’s certain to be a divine ending. Chocolate Race

Philly LIVESTRONG Challenge!!

Well, the end of summer is in the air, but for me there is still sooooo much cycling to be done! Friday morning my boyfriend, best friend and I are on our way to Philadelphia for the LIVESTRONG Challenge! If you don’t know LIVESTRONG,  it’s Lance Armstrong‘s Foundation created to support people living with cancer and their families and, ultimately beat cancer for good.

Of course this is a cause near and dear to my heart, with 2 family members losing the battle to cancer and one very good friend battling as I type this blogpost, how can I not show my support?

On top of the great cause, there is a challenging 160km route or 100 miler (I should say!) which my legs are more then ready to rock! All the consistent riding inside (at CYKL) and outside this summer has made me much stronger than seasons past! Vroom vrrrroooom!

And on top of a great route, there are rumors of the-one-the-only LANCE ARMSTRONG will be riding with us!!!!!!!!!!! HOLY MOLY!! Lance is every female cyclist’s dream cake!!!!!!!! Puuurrrrrrr!!! I could ride behind him all day… if I could keep up!

Anyways, regardless if we do or don’t actually see (touch, kiss) Lance, I’m stoked for my weekend away of riding, and proud to support a worthy cause like the Livestrong Foundation!

Any recommendations on where to get the best Philly cheese steak?

Jen Fawcette

my perosnal donation page

What’s Happening in the City this Week?

September is creeping up quickly! Before the last hurray of the summer, here is what’s on this week in the CITY!

1. Lets Go to Ex! Starts

CNE time, food, rides, entertainment and of course the air show to finish it off (but that’s not till September)

On the web CNE

2.  Warriors Day Parade

When: August 21

From the web “Although formally established as Warriors’ Day in 1921, military parades and demonstrations have been an important tradition of the Canadian National Exhibition since its inception in 1879. Initially recognizing the importance of allocating a specific day to pay formal tribute to the Veterans of the Great War of 1914-1918, the Warriors’ Day Parade Council was established to ensure that ongoing tribute be paid to the ex-service men and women of Canada.” Warriors Day

3.  Retro Night Boat Cruise

When: August 21st

Dinner and dancing with music from the 70′s and 80′s! Big hair and slick moves. Who wouldn’t want to go?

Check out Retro Night for tickets and information.

4. Window on Toronto

When: August 20-28th

From the web “The artists of the Soulpepper Academy, under the leadership of master director László Marton, shine a theatrical light on our city as dozens of characters are illuminated through the window of a hot-dog vendor.” Window on Toronto

5. A Mid Summer Nights Run

When: August 21st

Race your heart out in this evening themed race with a choice of 30km, 15km or 15km walk.

Proceeds raised go to support Sick Kids.

More info available at Race Info

5.  Island Girl 10km

When: August 21

Taking place at Halin’s Point, it’s a good warm up race for any half and full marathoner’s getting ready for the fall race season. Info available here.

6. Tour For Kids

When: August 19-22

From the web, “Tour For Kids is the premier cycling adventure of the summer! With 2 and 4 day options, Tour for Kids has something for everyone. Each day you can choose your distance from 100 km, to 160 km all the way to the 200 km challenge route. Throughout the day you will be supported by Tour Marshalls, mechanics and rest stops with delicious food. Finish your day with indoor accommodations, an incredible dinner followed by evenings where you will meet kids & families who are impacted by kids cancer and teams from the charities we support. You will laugh, you will cry but throughout you will have an experience that will bring a smile to your face for years to come.” Tour Info

Want m3330K, 15K run, 15K walk0K, 15K run, 15K walk 30K, 15K run, 15K walk0K30K, 15K run, 15K walk 15K run, 15K walk 30K, 15K run, 15K walk

What to do in the city this week!

With the close of summer upon us, the city is HEATING UP with festivals, long anticipated events and a major start for fall.

Curious as to what’s going on? Here is a “diversified list” of some of the events happening in Toronto this week.

1. Les Stroud aka Survivor Man will be at CBC Radio to be interviewed by Jan Arden on Friday August 13th. I am hoping to secure a spot to watch an participate. Interested? Check out his Facebook link below.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=104312836291077&ref=ts

2. Toronto After Dark Film Festival- August 13 – 20th

Feeling the need for a little bit of a scare? The Toronto After Dark Festival starts this Friday. Friday THE 13TH. Their timing could not be better. With a fantastic mix of films, a zombie film night (excuse to dress up as a zombie woo hoo) and the premier of The Last Exorcism there is a plenty going on to satiate your appetite.

http://torontoafterdark.com/2010/

3. CanFitPro Trade Show  August 11 – 15th

Calling all athletic junkies, this is the place to be! Offering great presenters, group work outs of the most imaginable sizes (just think 300 of your closest friends doing a spin class together) clothing, gear and just lots of STUFF its bound to be a great couple of days to socialize and network. I will be covering the conference over the weekend and will tweet and post my reviews Monday.

http://www.canfitpro.net/conferences/events/toronto5/

4. Rogers Cup August 7 – 15th

Not much I can say on this one, its pretty self explanatory. The men are here to compete. There are still lots of tickets floating around and good competition to come.

http://www.rogerscup.com/

5. The Hot and Spicy Festival – August 15-17th

Mmmm, Hot and Spicy. Sounds amazing. Can’t go wrong with a little spice!

Hot, sour, sweet and salty! The Hot & Spicy Food Festival serves up diverse hot food and flavors from around the globe, and occasionally pairs a spicy dish with a complementary sampling of the hot sounds of the region. One of our most popular festivals.

http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/worldroutes/festivals.cfm?festival_id=19

6. A Clue to Murder @ Casa Loma – Friday August 13th

Interested in a little murder mystery in an old castle on Friday the 13th? Includes full dinner with festivities.

http://www.casaloma.org/Seasonal/

7. Conscious Food Festival August 14-15th

From the site:

This foodie festival celebrates the sustainable food movement, and aims to bring together city dwellers and their rural neighbours, to highlight the connection between our plate and the planet. The event features tastings, demos by farmers and chefs, live music, debates, exhibits and more.

http://www.consciousfoodfestival.ca/

For whatever your fancy is this weekend, get out and enjoy the city!

Upcoming Orienteering Events

In these hot summer days, running in the trails and wooded areas of the parks of Toronto can be quite a refreshing experience. The Toronto Orienteering Club continues to host orienteering runs every Wednesday starting at 6:15pm. For a full schedule of the runs in different parks visit http://www.toronto-orienteering.com/wednesday.html

Also, the Club will be hosting the 3rd race of the “Why Just Run?” series on August 14th at the Toronto Islands. If you have never done orienteering or adventure running before, this is a great opportunity to get started. The race basically works like this: you will receive a detailed topographical map with control locations identified and you’ll decide on the best course to visit all of the control points. You’ll carry an electronic timing chip that will capture the time it took for you to get to each control. You will have the choice to run the beginner course where only minimal map reading abilities are required. Early bird registration rates are valid until August 3rd, so hurry to enjoy the discounts.

If you have any questions on how to get started at orienteering please get in touch with me at guilherme.barboneATgmail.com

Cheers!

Gui

2010 RBC Canadian Open

The Canadian Open took place at the gorgeous Royal St. Georges Golf and Country club this year. I had the privilege of attending on championship Sunday and I was blown away by how beautiful the course was and how much of a challenge it would provide if I were lucky enough to get onto the course to play a round, as the course and club are private. The tournament itself provided a lot of drama and swings throughout the weekend, non-more exciting then the race to the finish by Dean Wilson and Carl Petterrson. Dean Wilson held a 4 shot lead going into the final day with Petterrson behind him. They took over the lead from Brent Delahoussaye who began the tournament shooting incredible well with a first two rounds of 62 and 69 respectively. He followed this up however with a third round 76 and quickly fell off the leader board. Carl Petterrson was out of contention and had to hole a put on the final hole of the day to make the cut. The next day he stormed back and shot a record setting 60 catapulting him to the top of the leader board and a share of the final group. Many people thought that Dean Wilson, who got a last minute exemption thanks to the help of his old roommate Mike Weir, would have an easy day just play smart golf and come out on top. He started the day well enough racking off a string of Par’s on the front nine with a birdie and bogey thrown in. The back nine was far less friendly to him as he came down the stretch netting two more bogeys at 12 and 14. His lead quickly evaporated as Petterrson continued his tremendous play on this course by dropping six birdies in eight holes.

All of a sudden Petterrson had a two shot lead and Wilson was struggling to find his form. Petterrson, who loves these old style courses having one on a similar style course earlier this year, held his form well and showed poise and nerves of steal as he held it together and dropped his last put to take the fourth oldest national championship in PGA Tour history, behind the U.S Open, British Open, and BMW Championship (formerly the Western Open). The other storyline that didn’t get much play was the performance of a little known 21-year old Canadian. Adam Hadwin was the best ranked Canadian when it was all said and done and I had a chance to follow him on the course for a couple holes. He surprised me with his calm cool demeanour in playing on such a big stage so young. He ended up tied for 37^th after posting a +1 final round but being so young and performing on home turf I think he did an exceptional job and he will continue to improve and be a mainstay on the tour and another role-model for Canadian Golfers to look up to. Overall the tournament had a backdrop of rolling hills and challenging greens, only Petterrson hit a putt beyond 7 feet on the final day that challenged golfers and provided an exciting finish to what is a tournament rich with history and always provides a good show for the fans, me included.

Interview with TJ Grant, UFC Fighter

UFC. Those three letters alone are usually enough to get most people’s attention regardless of whether they are fans or not. It’s a brand that has made it’s presence known and of which is steadily growing in popularity from a competitor and fan base.  I personally have always admired the skill and discipline behind these martial artists the slightest movement seems simple but the execution in reality is far from that. MMA is an art form into itself and one that I am naive and inherently curious about. After doing some research I jumped in both feet first and managed to get an opportunity to speak  with an active UFC fighter TJ Grant. TJ hails out of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia (my birthplace province – God’s country for certain) and took some time out of his busy training schedule to chat with me.

First up some stats:

Age: 26

Record: 15-4-0 (Win-Loss-Draw)

Height: 5’11

Weight: 169 lbs

Style: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/Muay Thai

Next Fight: UFC 119 VS Julio Paulino  September 25th

UFC 119

NR: How has the whole UFC experience been?

TJ: Its pretty amazing getting to be on the same card as so many fighters you have looked  up to for so long.  For my next fight Minotauro Nogueira is going to be there as the main event. Its amazing, its kinda cool to be back stage and see all those guys going through the same thing you are. I have always pictured myself making it to the UFC and really its just a dream come true.

NR: Do get to chat with the other fighters? Are they social guys? The stuff you see backstage must be a little wild sometimes.

TJ: Everyone is pretty is cool. I haven’t met anybody that I would consider a dick. We’re all in there for the same reason, we’re all going through the same thing. People are cracking jokes, its a really neat experience its like fighting on any other card, you see a lot of bigger faces coming up and its really neat.

NR: Any traditions? Anything you do right before you fight?

TJ: I just try to stay as relaxed as I can and keep my mind positive back stage. Every time on fight you go to warm up and you feel weak, you feel like you didn’t train enough you question everything but that’s normal, that is just part of competing. But when you get out there you start believing in all the training and hard work that you did leading up to it and there are so many people to help you.

NR: Being in Nova Scotia, are you doing the bulk of your training there? Are you going internationally and tuning up? How does the whole training regiment work leading up to your fight?

TJ: I do almost all my training here in Cole Harbour. I do make a three week trip to Thailand every year. We bring in fighters to train for specific opponents for example my last fight against Johny Hendricks they brought in top wrestlers for me. Or any other guys that want to make the trip out they can benefit from training with me as much as I can benefit from training with them.

NR: Is there a huge MMA society out  East?

TJ: Its growing, definitely. I would say it has been around a long time. Obviously the sport wasn’t legal in the Maritimes until 2006. It wasn’t legal to host shows here until then, so that definitely gave it a jump start. Previously, guys would train and then drop off as there was no real motivator to train. With the sport growing in popularity I would say it has quadrupled in the last few years there’s bound to be tons of good fighters coming out which is the way it’s been here. There are more and more shows in the Maritimes, and I hope that there will be more in the future.

NR: What does your family think of it? Are they supportive? Unsure?

TJ: They are very supportive. My brother used to box for many years, so I think my mom got rid of the nerves from watching him fight back then. Every brother, they just break the parents down more and more by the time it was for me they have seen it all. They are very supportive of my career.

NR: What has been the nicest/most unique place you have ever fought?

TJ: Maybe Memphis. I fought in Kelowna, BC  too and that was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been in my life. The Okanagan, one of best places I have ever fought.

NR: What is a typical training regiment like for you?

TJ: Usually in the morning is the conditioning aspect. Strength training or cardio. But in the evening is usually when I work the mixed martial arts aspect.  I will do the wrestling and the Jujitsu and kick-boxing. I will do it all separately, one class a night and just go hard at it. I like to train the martial arts separately to get the best out of all them.

NR: Any nemesis?  Any person you are dying to fight?

TJ: No nemesis, everyone in the UFC are strong fighters. But I am dying to fight Julio Paulino

NR: Is there a style of fighter that you find technically the most difficult to overcome?

TJ: I tried to be as well rounded as possible. I think the toughest guys to fight in the whole game are wrestlers, just because its a style you can dictate where the fight goes. It’s also one of the most exhausting things you can do. Tough wrestlers are  always tough to fight you have to prepare extra hard for that.

NR: How was your first fight experience in the UFC (being in the cage)?

TJ: I had a lot of fights prior to that, I had fought in that arena in the TKO organization. You fight in the same cage all the same lights/music. It was kinda familiar but you know looking  out and seeing guys like Joe Rogan and super stars in the front row its gets you motivated. It doesn’t make me intimidated or anything. It’s cool, I feel really comfortable in the cage.

NR: What’s the first drink you have after a fight is done? First food?

TJ: I usually head backstage and have a bottle of water, and usually then somebody hands me a beer. I usually watch the rest of fights throughout the evening and kinda relax have a couple of beers. I love watching the fights and its pretty cool I get to take them in after I fought.

NR: Who would you like to see, if you had the choice?

TJ: Good question, I think Shogun Rua vs. Anderson Silva

NR: With the lobbying going in Ontario to legalize it, the concern has been raised that there is always a possibility of someone being killed. That being said, how does the medic part work for the fighters? Do you have your own doctors? Are there doctors on site for all the fighters?

TJ: You have to complete a medical form, you have to bring to your doctor. You get licensed typically once a year, you have to have up to date blood work leading up to every fight. A lot of eye testing, an MRI has to be done depending on the severity of your fights. If you get knocked out they will make you go for an MRI. UFC is very strict with their testing. You bring in your forms, then there is another doctor that will look you over before the fight.

NR: What about steroid use? Is it banned?

TJ: Definitely banned. There have been numerous titles striped due to steroid use. Its one of those things, the tests are done randomly. Championship belts are all tested.

NR: How do you advance your career in the UFC?

TJ: Gotta win. I have a couple of good fights coming up and they will push me forward as I win.

NR: How many fights will you have in one year?

TJ: It will be my second fight in September, I am going to see if I can get another one in December. On average its 3 fights a year for most guys.

NR: Besides winning is there anything else that will help you move up the ranks?

TJ: Its how you win, are your fights exciting for example. I know they like the trash talking aspect. Its something I have never really got into. I don’t think a lot of guys like to to do it but they will do it when they are trust into the main card spotlight. Right now there is no trash talking for me, I respect my opponents but I will beat the shit out of them. That’s my game plan. You have to be exciting, you have to put on a good show. If you’re a knock out artist fans love that, or if you bring a really aggressive style they love that.

NR: What’s your weight on a non training schedule?

TJ: 190 lbs, I never go above that. I try to keep it down.

NR: What is your favorite thing to do on your off time?

TJ: I like to play a lot of Xbox, Call of Duty, just doing regular things. Training is my life, I do it because I love it.

NR: As you progress in your career, will you stay in NS to train, will you relocate?

TJ: This is my home, I am just going to keep doing what I am doing. We have a great group of guys here. I have been making trips to train. I have been to training camps I have also brought people in to work with me. I plan to just keep doing what I am doing.

NR: Any pre-fight traditions?

TJ: I get some food back into me, I may go see a movie. After weigh-ins is probably my favorite part of the lead up to fighting. After you weight-in that night is probably my favorite part. You relax, chill out, eat a bunch of food.

NR: Is there anything that intimidates you?

TJ: Nothing. Nothing all (says laughing). Losing actually. Losing intimidates me.

NR: What’s the fan base like out East?

TJ: Everyone treats me well. Its kinda neat getting recognized just going to the store. It happens from time to time. Usually right after fights it’s a lot more. I grew a beard and more people recognized me with it from the pictures.

NR: Any last words? Quotable quote for your fans?

TJ: Thanks to all my fans for the support and I am going to go and do my best to put on a good fight in September.

TJ Grant Fan Club on Facebook.com

Canadian Barista & Coffee Championships

Yesterday, I popped down to St. Lawrence Market to checkout the Regional Barista Coffee Competition. Not being very familiar with the culture and a bit unsure what to expect it was an interesting experience nonetheless.

First off, for anyone who is unaware of what a Barista is, they are the delightful individuals who serve coffee in coffee houses. But, what I also learned as someone from the general public is that these talented individuals are highly underestimated and unappreciated in their skill sets.

Regarding the event itself, the 2010 Regional Championship is being held in three locations: The Round House in Vancouver, BC, at St. Lawrence Market in Toronto and in Calgary. The finalist of the three competitions will then head to the Nationals August 2-27th.

The event itself in Toronto consisted of 20 contestants who were required to prepare 12 drinks in total for judgment from the 4 panelist. This was broken down into 4 espresso, 4 cappuccinos and 4 signature drinks. Competitors were allotted 15 minutes in total to prepare the beverages and were judged on station cleanliness, taste, beverage presentation and technical skills.

I did arrive at this event with some skepticism (see point above re: attitude on coffee house servers, really how hard can it be?) and I was surprised and dually intrigued by what I saw. All in, it’s tough, it’s technical and it is an art form unto itself.  These people know their coffee, and know it well. They would prepare and present with an entire history on the coffee they were using, a brief blurb on the molecular relationship (yes science!) of the coffee to it’s aroma/flavor.

It was a thorough presentation of the coffee’s origins why’s,what’s, how’s, everything from inception to service.

The neatest part was definitely when the Barista’s talked about their own personal specialty coffee and how they came to create it. One Barista’s coffee had organic chocolate shredded into the drink as a garnish/extra flavor experience. It looked amazing.

I walked away from the event, more educated, enlightened and grateful for the experience. I have a new respect and appreciation for the trade, its definitely not as easy as one would think.

Ironically, I actually drank no coffee the entire time I was there.

The Open 2010

The 2010 British Open started with two surprises. The weather usually hounding the course with high winds and rainy weather was absent on the first round leaving the course wide open to be attacked by the players. Attacked it was, especially from a young kid from Northern Ireland named Rory McIlroy. He came flying out of the gate and tied the record for lowest round in a major by shooting a -9 (63). After that amazing first round however he struggled during the remaining rounds and battled back to tie for third at -8, this was a fantastic feat for someone so young.

I am sure we will be seeing much more of Rory in the future after he has notched some valuable experience in the high pressure stakes of major championships. Having taken a beating in the first round the course decided to hit back and provided high gusts of wind and rain, which lead to play being suspended for the second round. The scores showed this change in conditions and many shot over par for their second round. Through all this weather and record rounds one player was quietly posting consistent rounds and was comfortably holding the lead after the second round.

Louis Oosthuizen had a remarkable tournament posting low scores throughout the 4-day event when people were struggling to shoot under par. This unknown from South Africa put it all together when it counted and came home with the British Open title winning by a clear margin of 7 strokes. This was an outcome that could not have been predicted as many of the top players leading into the event ended up four back of the leader some didn’t even make the cut. Now the biggest storyline going into the tournament is, of course was Tiger Woods and how well he will perform, could he get back to form and win another major? Many people expected him to just that. After changing putters right before the tournament, which seemed like a very odd move coming into such a big event, it was his undoing as his putting was off the mark all weekend and added unnecessary strokes to his game. His comeback was not to be at this tournament as he fought his way to a -3 tying him for 23rd place.

Much was expected of him having placed 4th at previous majors this season but it was not to be. All that hype surrounding him seems childish to me, in a world where we are so obsessed with other people’s lives, just let the guy play golf, the Tiger we know will be back he just needs some time to get back in the rhythm.

I started on a little rant had to get myself back on track and to the main point of the blog, congratulations to Louis Oosthuizen who surprised everybody, probably even himself, for winning the British Open. He posted a tremendous score in very difficult conditions and was clearly the better golfer in the field with a well deserved win and hopefully much more success in the coming tournaments

What’s up in the city this week – Toronto to do list

On vacation this week? Not sure what to do? Here is a list of what’s happening in the city this week and where to find it.

1. RBC Canadian Open- Tickets still available

http://www.rbccanadianopen.com

From the web:

Once the third most prestigious tournament in the golfing world, the Canadian Open has been entertaining golfing fans since its inception since 1904. The most prestigious tournament never won by the great Jack Nicklaus  a 7-time runner-up. Although the bloom is off the rose, the Open

Hosted on one of Canada’s most prestigious course St. George’s, for the first time in 42 years. Although widely considered the best mature layout of any course in Canada, a lot of room for all the tents, trailers and hospitality areas associated with key tournaments, are challenging when wedged into the west end of Toronto.

2. Star Wars In Concert

Love Star Wars? Love the music? See it happen live with a backdrop of the movie.

http://www.starwarsinconcert.com/

3.  Toronto Burlesque Festival

It’s time to get saucy!

http://www.torontoburlesquefestival.com/

4. Masala! Mehndi! Masti!

South Asian music and arts festival.

http://www.masalamehndimasti.com/2010/

5. Caribana!

The parade, the food the excitement!

http://www.caribanafestival.com/

6. Camp Drake

Summer camp for adults.

http://www.thedrakehotel.ca/

7. The Dream in High Park

Romance and theater all outside.

http://www.canadianstage.com/dream

8. Frugal Fashion Week

http://www.frugalfashionweek.com/