Incredibly sad news...

You know it's not going to be a good day when it starts off with your whole team suddenly being summoned to the board room for an emergency meeting. Then to arrive, open the door and see your function managers, workforce grief counselors and Furlong himself awaiting you, ...along with many boxes of klennex boxes awaiting us, distributed around the board table.

Generally, this happens in one of two situations... and since I knew that the games are happening despite whatever protesters may wish for ...we weren't all about to be let go (Option-1). Therefore, it must be Option-2...

They dropped a bomb on us with the loss of an incredible man! A man who not 5min earlier I was upset at for missing an early morning meeting we had. That thought instantaneously evaporated and disbelief set in at the news. Such a young and inspiring individual! Today our studio and the 2010 games lost it's heart and soul.

It was a pleasure and an honor to get to know him and to have the opportunity to work with such a remarkable and indescribable person. It may have only been a short period of time that I knew him, but his impression on me was a great one. The saddest thought for me is that in a few short months from today Leo will not get to take part in the party he created and dreamed of.

Whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed at work I rewatch the Olympic Torch video to be rejuvenated and help me through closer and closer to the games. As I sit and watch it over again tonight it has an even more calming and encouraging impact than regularly.

Rest In Peace Leo.

World Cup Luge... Men's Final... for only $5!!!!

Since early January there's been a world cup sporting event held at each of the 2010 venues almost every weekend. These events are considered as test runs for the real deal next year. The same venues, ...the same operations ...and the same athletes. But unlike next year a minute fraction of the ticket price accompanied by a much higher probability of coming upon tickets! Really can't beat that! Which is why I find it odd that I haven't managed to get out and take in some of the action. Well finally that changed last weekend. Of course it was for the one event that has actually garnered interest and sold out the week before ...the Men's final at the final stop on this year's World Cup Luge circuit.

After hearing about how racers hit speeds faster than my car would ever think of going and pulling corners at 5 times gravity ...I had to see this live! Being physically at VANOC does have some benefits and when I heard about two tickets for the sold out event I jumped all over these $5 tickets ...yeah 5 dollars! ...and wow what an evening of entertainment it was!

The sheer thrill of watching and hearing these things roar past you less than 4ft away while pulling 5G's in the corners and 150+ km/hr in the straights! The organizers knew this track was going to break any existing speed records for the sport, which was previously just shy of 150km/hr ...well they were reaching 152 pretty consistently last weekend. There were even a couple of wipe outs on the corner we were standing at, which I managed to get pics of. Unfortunately for these two guys, the positions I photographed them in ...well they're still traveling at speeds of over 100km/hr. I don't think is proper luge technique.

It was also a great opportunity to play with Elena's and my new camera (we are sharing custody of it and I was glad to have it with me for this). It was great practice for my limited skills; really challenging capturing these guys due to the speed and the night time conditions. I came away with over 1000 photos, which I've already widdled down to ~150. Typically I shot on rapid fire with the ISO cranked and tracked a slider around a bend, getting a dozen or so shots per pass (where maybe one or two actually contained the slider within the frame).

My friend Lior joined me and even found himself getting interviewed while we were waiting for the awards to start. A beautiful facility and an incredible evening of shear fun and excitement!

Robbin Williams on the sport of Luge:

What drunken, German gynecologist invented this sport? What guy went, "I want to dress like a sperm, shove an ice skate up my ass, and ride balls first down an ice chute. Ya. That would be fun." ?

...all I've got to say after watching today is "...yeah, where do I sign-up?!!!"

Further and higher quality pics are available over at Flickr.

A year minus a day to go...

C.