They said all year that the 13th man makes all the difference. Some Rider just took it a little too seriously, that’s all. Let’s regroup, and kick butt in 2010!

The Riders dominated in the first half of the game. Then Montreal came back in the second, and played just hard enough to overtake Saskatchewan for the lead on a second chance last play. Congrats to the Als, they won’t get it done in 2010.

In 1979 the then-coach of the NHL Boston Bruins had his team leading the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 with less than two minutes to go in game seven of the semifinals.

But an extra player was on the ice during a line change, Boston took a penalty, Guy Lafleur scored to tie it and Yvon Lambert won the game and series in overtime.

Montreal went on to take the Stanley Cup against the New York Rangers.

Later, Cherry famously said “I died on May 10, 1979, at 11:10 p.m., to be exact.”

Now the Riders, and coach Miller, face the same kind of history.

It hurts, but you can’t win them all. The next victory will be all the more sweet.

Anthony Calvillo & co., living it up

Yeah, I’d call that a choke. The Saskatchewan Roughriders blew a 27-11 fourth quarter lead, falling to the Montreal Alouettes 28-27 in tonight’s Grey Cup on a 33-yard Damon Duval field goal as time expired. I’m guessing this one’s a little hard to take for Regina natives, because from what I understand, the CFL is pretty much their lives.

In the end, the team that was by far the most dominant in the league this year came out on top. Sure, they got some help from an inept Rider squad late, but that’s why they play the full 60 minutes. Avon Cobourne, whose three-yard score midway through the fourth pulled Montreal within eight, picked up MVP honours. I’ll check back in with more on this one tomorrow.

Youngest rider in the Yamaha LC135 Challenge, Md Ramdan Md Rosli hopes to repeat his Sepang victory this weekend. The 13 years old who stands second in the standings is confident he is capable of snatching the chequered flag from Round 9 on December 5-6 next because he really enjoys the circuit.

The up and rising rider who also takes part in the Wira epg said the Sepang circuit (South) emphasizes more on speed, a rider’s fitness level and weight-and area which he advantages.

“One make races are different from the other classes because all the riders are given a standard set up. What differentiate us are our skills, body weight and abilities to master the circuit with a standard spec. I consider myself lucky to have a body weight that works in my favour, “said Ramdan.

Strategy wise, Ramdan intends to remain calm and focus on the race weekend because he does not want to crash and fall further behind in the standings like he did in Round 7. He who stands in second place of the Yamaha one-make race is determined to snatch the lead from Md Amin Md Azahar who leads the Yamaha standings with a distance of only 3 points ahead of Ramdan who has 83 points.

“I plan to keep a cool head throughout in Sepang and not repeat the mistake of failing to complete the race like in Pekan, Pahang caused by my own negligence. Because of that crash I lost the lead to Amin. No such thing will happen again, not during the critical stages of the Championship,” he said.

While Amin leads the Yamaha one-make race with 86 points, Ramdan stands in second place with 83 points followed by Ahmad Asree Kamarudin (75 points), Md Fitri Ashraf Razali (60 points) and Md Rafiuddin Rosle (56 points).

Issued by: Global PR Sdn Bhd

Copyright to: Safe Aim Mutual Sdn Bhd

Petite session slalom à la Défense

RRD vient de faire une nouvelle recrue dans son team international en la personne de Shawn Richman. Originaire de la rive Nord de Maui, ce rider de 20 ans est connu pour être aussi humble et accessible qu’il est puissant et engagé dans son style de navigation. On peut parier que l’on entendra parler de lui dans les mois qui viennent, ne serait-ce que par des vidéos de sessions comme celle que vous trouverez ci-dessous ou l’on voit le jeune hawaïen sur le spot de la Ventana au Mexique.

Toutes vos infos et photos: eric@chinook-leucate.com

97th Grey Cup

The 2009 CFL Grey Cup will feature the Montreal Alouettes and the Saskatchewan Roughriders . Montreal (15-3) and Saskatchewan (10-7-1) will be meeting for the first time in the Grey Cup as both teams  finished atop there respective divisions this year which earned both teams a first round bye in the playoffs. The Als and Riders then took advantage of home field in their respective Conference Final games.

The East Final was a rout in the Als’ favour, as they continued to show their dominance this year with a 56-18 thumping at the expense of the B.C. Lions. Anthony Calvillo was lights out, as he threw for five touchdowns in the game, which ties his career-high mark.  In front of a sold-out crowd at Olympic Stadium, the win was never at risk for the Als as they took advantage of a Lions team that looked sluggish and didn’t seemed to have a chance of winning.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ 27-17 win over the Stampeders wasn’t as easy. The Stampeders, looking to win there 2nd consecutive Grey Cup took an early 10-0 lead but could not match the Riders momentum after they got on the board. Saskatchewan QB Darian Durant threw for 204 yards and three touchdowns as he started to take control of the game. It was the first West Final hosted by Saskatchewan since 1976 and they made sure the home town fans had something to cheer about.

The Als will be making their 7th appearance in the Grey Cup this decade while only having one Grey Cup to show for it, that coming in 2002. The Riders will be making there 2nd appearance in three years at the Grey Cup. The Als head into the Grey Cup as heavy favourties after posting the best record, best offense, and best defence in the league. To add insult to injury, the Als went 2-0 vs the Riders this season.

That being said, with this just being a one game playoff anything can happen. We’ve seen some great Grey Cups over the years and expect another this year. The Als have been too good all year to let this season get away and I expect them to win 27-24. All you bookies can start making your spreads.

If you truly want to feel Canadian on the 29th grab your nachos and beer, sit back  and relax while watching Canada’s Big Dance. If the game doesn’t rock, Blue Rodeo sure will.

1. Andrés Karmy
2. Eli Villalabeitia
3. Diego Gallardo
4. Cesar Zavala
5. Cote Miranda
6. Rodrigo Cabrera
7. Juan Carlos Robba
8. Mathias Oteiza
9. Tomás Graell
10. Felipe Harlowe
11. Luis Olmo
12. Pablo Amori
13. Andres Isola
14. Piroska Gallyas
15. Sergio Paz
16. Sebastián Bunster
17. Cristian Bunster
18. Felipe Halles
19. Eduardo Herman
20. Pablo Zavala
21. Jorge Gonzalez
22. Carlos Canto
23. Jorge Muñoz
24. Rosana Valdivia
25. Jean Batiste Ohaco

The new Bones Over Metal film starring Cierra Smith!  “Awesome Land: Women Of Dirt is a unique look into the world of Downhill Racing, Dirt Jumping and Freeriding. This film looks through the eyes of the wondrous women that have helped grow the sport of Gravity Mountain Biking with their strength and courage.“  Also check out the article and photo by Wil Smith in Bike Magazine!

Austria’s anti-doping agency ban Pfannberger after EPO positive Christian Pfannberger has been given a life-long ban by the Austrian National Anti-Doping Agency, after his second doping violation in March this year. The Austrian, who has consistently denied ever having doped, has indicated he will challenge the ban. Pfannberger, 30, tested positive for EPO at an out-of-competition control in March. He had previously served a two-year ban from 2004 to 2006 after testing positive for testosterone. “This is what we expected, since he has been caught twice,” Herbert Kocher, Vice President of the Austrian cycling federation (Österreichischen Radsportverband, ÖRV) told Cyclingnews. “We are a federation that fights against doping with our full force and are therefore satisfied with the results.” Pfannberger turned pro in 2002 with the German Team Nürnberger Versicherung and rode for Team Volksbank Ideal in 2003. His first violation came in 2004 when he was riding for the Czech team eD System-ZVVZ. When he returned, he rode for the Austrian team Elk Haus-Simplon (2006-2007), Barloworld (2008) and Katusha (2009). The Austrian was Military world champion in the road race in 1999, and won the Under-23 International Thüringen Rundfahrt in 2001. As a pro, he won both the Austrian national road title (2007, 2008) and the mountain title (2006). He finished 23rd in the road race at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Bleedin’ good game with huge amounts of gore. L4D2 is packed with a great campaign that you can play with up to 4 of your friends online. Took me about three days to complete on normal with me and my friend, and two bots. After we completed it, we went back and had fun doing some steam achievements. This game can never get boring with the multiplayer Versus and the new Scavenge gamemode. Both gamemodes also include lots of steam achievements that are challenging and fun, and usually contain good tactics too.
Had great fun getting the extra achievements and playing the minigames in the Dark Carnival.

Here’s some images I got from the dark carnival campaign, the last picture is just for the lol’s.

Special thanks to my mate Mistic for playing through the entire campaign with me.

1. It is too risky. Yes, there’s sincere gamble associated with pedalling. Riders do collide and get bashed by vehicles. But how parlous is biking in comparison with other forms of transit and with our understanding of the hazard? A lot less than you might reckon.

Think on the calculations of a company that undertakes safety and failure testing, once called the Failure Group and now called Exponent. The company reviewed a range of past-times and determined that the number of fatal accidents per 1million hrs of exposure was 0.26 for biking, 0.47 for driving, 1.53 for living (all causes of death), and 8.80 for motorcycling. To put it another way, they discovered that the hazards of biking were about 50% that connected with driving and a sixth of that connected with simply with living.

Disappointingly, the precise methods Exponent used are proprietary, and the total report is not available to the public, but rest assured that this isn’t a fly-by-night cyclists’ advocacy organization that is cooking the numbers. As Exponent reasons on its website, it has been relied on to consider high-profile misfortunes such as the sabotage of the federal building in Oklahoma City.

So, for the effect of argument, let’s assume that Exponents analysis is an underestimation and debate another detailed study that measures the risks using a minutely different yardstick—the number of kills per billions of kilometres travelled rather than per hour of activity. Rutgers University researchers who actioned this study concluded that, per kilometre travelled, cycling kills are eleven times as high as car occupant fatalities. Looks rather grim for cycling until you examine what the same study discovered about walking. Walking kills per kilometre walked were 36 times as high as driving fatalities, implying that walking is more than 3 times as risky as pedalling.

However, there is still more that riders could do to take responsibility for our protection. A disturbing 24 percent of deadly bike accidents involve an drunken cyclist. Research shows that cyclists get into many smaller accidents that could be prevented. Various studies have shown that the failure to wear lights in the dark or a helmet hugely increases a biker’s risk. Finally, riders starting out must be really careful about cars opening doors and making turns, and about pedalling on the sidewalks.

The bottom line: Its not that cycling doesn’t have risk, but some consideration is in order, more so when you begin to factor in the many health advantages that cycling provides.

2. Its too far. The ride may well take too long or take too much out of you if you live further than, say, 10 miles from work. But consider ways to expand your potential distance. Many commuters, for example, use foldable bikes so they can go half way on a morning train.

3. Bikes are expensive. Not true. You should be able to buy a new or used bike perfect for simple commuting for less than $500. Find a great, close bike shop with a knowledgeable staff, discuss the route and length of commute you’re thinking of, and they’ll help you select the proper frame and number of gears you’ll need.

If you’re just beginning, you may want to search for a functional, commuter bicycle that has fenders to save your clothes, a kickstand, and a comfy saddle. And, if you’re really looking for a comfortable ride, take a gander at the new class of coasting bikes that are designed to reconnect people with worry free recollections of cycling as a child. They have pedal brakes called coaster brakes instead of hand brakes and an automatic shifter, and while they are not designed for quickness, they’re a great way to get back into the saddle, says Doyne.

4. Its not possible to transport the kit I require. If this is what you think, you are toting far more than the normal person to work or you do not own the proper bag or features on your bicycle. A sturdy basket or touring panniers will mean you can easily carry a computer, spares clothes, snacks, a few books, a handful of folders, and whatever other gadgets you usually take with you.

5. There isn’t anywhere to scrub up. Jeff Peel of the League of American Bicyclists states that lots cyclists do worry over this, but that there are many other solutions beyond simply showing up at work stinky and sweaty. First, check to ensure that your office doesn’t have a full bathrooms somewhere. If it doesn’t, check nearby gyms or fitness clubs. They often offer shower-only memberships for bike or running types.

6. Cycling will turn me sterile. This is an accusation that has circulated since the late 1990s, and there’s a tiny amount of fact to it. There is studies that serious bicycle riders can suffer temporary and even long-lasting problems if they log many hours on a racing saddle that isn’t fitted well. But there are now plenty of seats with ergonomically designed cutaway grooves that take the pressure off the key blood vessels and nerves. As long as your saddle fits properly and you don’t ride as much as a professional rider training for the Tour de France, cycling is much more apt to reduce your odds of erectile dysfunction than increase them, since cycling will assist keep cardiovascular disease a large cause of erectile dysfunction.

A new arrival in the Expert category of the PETRONAS AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championship this season, Mohd Emir Firdaus Hassan knows that he is staying on the right track despite going through a rollercoaster ride.

The 20-year old rider chalked up his first ever podium finish in Round 7 (Pekan) by finishing the Expert race in third placing. Meanwhile, his second best performance was a fourth place at Kuala Terengganu (Round 3). He worst outing was coming in 13th at Batu Kawan (Round 6). However, after eight rounds of the championship, Emir is currently sixth overall in the standings with 64 points.

As a result, among all the Novice riders that were promoted to the Expert class this season, namely Elly Idzliaikmal Ilias, Mohd Adli Salihin, Abdul Muhaimin Roslan and Shahril Izzuwan Md Noor, Emir of Motul Yamaha YY Pang is the best rookie thus far.

Elly Idzliaikmal representing Suzuki Harian Metro SCK stands ninth in the standings with 52 points, Emir’s teammate, Adli is 14th with 40 points, and one rank behind Adli is Shahril of Idemitsu Honda Racing with 28 points. As for 2008 Novice Champion, Muhaimin (Shell Advance Yamaha Maju) who missed out three races is in 21st position with 8 points.

The 2007 Wira epg Champion and 2008 Novice runner-up rider acknowledges that not many Novice riders can adapt quickly in their first Expert season. “Racing with the big guns is really challenging. The level of competiveness is a notch higher,” he said.

Emir went on to elaborate, “In the Novice class, you will probably have to fend off challenges from only five top riders but in the Expert, all of them are your rivals. Besides that, in Expert every time you go out on the track, doesn’t matter it is only practice or timed practice, it’s crucial as our feedback after each session will make a different for us to stay competitive.”

“However, I know I am slowly but surely adapting in this premier class. I might not be the most outstanding rider but I managed to finish all the races thus far and was able to collect points. Being able to get a spot on the podium in the Expert class is a great achievement for me. It has given me the much needed confidence boost.”

Commenting on his performance so far this year, he said “At the moment, I am quite satisfied with my results as my target is to finish the season in the top-5. Now I rank sixth and I still have two more rounds to catch up with fifth placing, Elly Idzlianizar Ilias of PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Ah Hong who has 87 points. It will be an uphill task but I am not willingly to give up yet, not until I try and give my very best,” added Emir who hopes for another podium finish again.

(Versi Bahasa Malaysia)

Emir di landasan tepat

Tahun 2009 merupakan tahun pertama Mod Emir Firdaus Hasan berlumba di dalam kelas Expert Kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia AAM PETRONAS. Walau bagaimanapun, pelumba ini yakin dia berada di landasan yang betul walaupun musim ini amat mencabar.

Ini adalah kerana walaupun Emir kurang pengalaman, pelumba berusia 20 tahun itu berjaya menghabiskan Pusingan 7 di atas podium di tempat ketiga.  Bukan itu sahaja, dia juga menamatkan perlumbaan di Terengganu (Pusingan 3) di tempat ke-4.Persembahan Emir yang kurang memberangsangkan adalah pada Pusingan 6 di batu Kawan. Dia hanya menamatkan perlumbaan tersebut di tempat ke 13.

Tetapi, yang menariknya, Emir yang hanya sekali menaiki podium sepanjang 8 pusingan musim ini kini berada di tangga keenam carta keseluruhan kelas Expert dengan 64 mata!

Ini secara tidak langsung menyatakan Emir merupakan pelumba rookie Expert terbaik berbanding rakan-rakan seangkatan yang turut sama berlumba di dalam kelas Expert ini. Pelumba-pelumba rookie yang melayakkan diri dari kelas Novis tahun lepas ke dalam kelas Expert tahun ini adalah Elly Idzliaikmal Ilias, Mohd Adli Salihin, Abdul Muhaimin Roslan, Shahril Izzuwan Md Noor dan Emir.

Elly Idzliaikmal yang mewakili pasukan Suzuki Harian Metro SCK berdiri di tangga kesembilan dengan 52 mata manakala rakan sepasukan Emir, Adli berdiri di tempat ke-14 dengan 40 mata diekori Shahril dari pasukan Idemitsu Honda Racing dengan 28 mata.

Juara Novis musim lalu, Muhaimin dari Shell Advance Yamaha Maju pula berada di tempat ke-21 dengan 8 mata akibat terlepas peluang beraksi untuk tiga perlumbaan.

Emir yang merupkan juara kelas Wira epg musim 2007 dan naib juara kelas Novis tahun 2008 itu mengakui kebanyakan pelumba Novis yang kini berlumba di dalam kelas Expert akan berhadapan dengan pelbagai masalah.

“Bersaing dengan pelumba Expert adalah amat mencabar. Persaingan antara mereka jauh lebih hebat daripada kelas Novis. Ini kerana di dalam kelas Novis, risiko utama hanya datang dari lima pelumba terbaik. Lain kisahnya untuk kelas Expert di mana semua pelumba merupakan pesaing. Tambahan pula, di dalam kelas ini, adalah penting untuk memberikan input kepada pegurus serta mekanik pasukan tidak kira samada hanya untuk ujian masa ataupun ujian bebas . Ini dilakukan bagi memastikan sentiasa ada peningkatan pada prestasi pelumba serta jentera,” jelas Emir.

“Secara keseluruhan, saya masih di dalam proses membiasakan diri. Walaupun saya bukan pelumba yang paling cemerlang, saya mampu untuk menamatkan semua pusingan dan mengutip mata kejuaraan. Pengalaman pertama menaiki podium di dalam kelas Expert itu merupakan salah satu kejayaan besar dan ia memberikan saya sedikit sebanyak hembusan positif untuk terus mara.”

“Pada waktu ini saya berpuas hati dengan keputusan yang diperolehi kerana matlamat asal pasukan (Motul Yamaha YY Pang) adalah untuk tamat di tempat lima teratas. Kini saya berada di tempat ke-6. Peluang untuk saya memperbaiki kedudukan masih terbuka kerana terdapat dua pusingan lagi sebelum musim ini melabuhkan tirai. Saya akan berusaha untuk mengejar Elly Idzlianizar Ilias yang berada di tempat ke-5 dengan 87 mata. Ia bukanlah tugas yang mudah tetapi saya akan memastikan saya berusaha,” jelas Emir yang ingin menaiki podium sekali lagi.

andy appears in WEDNESDAYS WITH REDA part 9 on theberrics.com telling his best joke. reda seemed to like it
ted also makes a short cameo

Spaniard Joaquím Rodríguez will have the opportunity to race the Tour de France for the first time in his career next season. He met with his new team, Katusha, last week to discuss his 2010 schedule.

“It will be like a dream to be at the start,” said Rodríguez in a press release. “I intend to approach it as I did the 2008 Giro: calmly and looking for a stage win.”

Rodríguez finished 17th overall at the 2008 Giro d’Italia and placed third on two stages.

Last month, Tour organiser Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO) presented the 2010 Tour de France route. It starts in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on July 3 and will end in Paris on July 25. Its first mountains come in the Alps, at Morzine and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. Four Pyrenean mountain stages will feature in the race’s final week, with a stage to the Col du Tourmalet only four days before the finish in Paris.

Rodríguez also planned his first half of the season leading up to the Tour de France. He will start at the Volta a Mallorca in February and then race the Volta ao Algarve and Tirreno-Adriatico. At the Tirreno-Adriatico, he will target the stage he has won the last two years in a row, to Montelupone.

He will then race Spain’s Volta a Catalunya and País Vasco prior the Ardennes Classics in April.

“Amstel Gold, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège will be the season’s highlights for me,” Rodríguez continued.

He finished second in Liège-Bastogne-Liège this year and has helped his former-Caisse d’Epargne teammate Alejandro Valverde win the event twice. Last season, he finished eighth in all three Ardennes Classics.

After the Classics, he will race the Tour de Luxembourg and Tour de Suisse. He plans to lead Katusha on the mountain stages at the Tour de Suisse, his last preparation race prior to the Tour de France.

Rodríguez ended four years with Caisse d’Epargne at the Japan Cup last month. He signed a contract earlier this year to join Russian team Katusha for 2010.

More than delighted Round 9 of the PETRONAS AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championship will take place in Sepang is Ahmad Fazli Sham. The Shell Advance Yamaha Maju rider has a good record there and is hoping to bag another impressive win.

Last year, the 27 years old rider won the race in Sepang  and timed the fastest lap of practice at 1:22.851s. This year he bagged the winning podium as well on the same circuit for Round 5 and improved his practice lap time by 2.21s- raising the benchmark to a higher level of 1:20.642s.

But still, his best performance in Sepang was back in 2007. Not only did Fazli win the race, he also timed the fastest lap of race at 1:15.662s. On top of that, he won the race in Sepang in 2006 too.

Being the humble rider that he is, even so he is feeling positive; Fazli plans to proceed cautiously because Md Zamri Baba and Ahmad Fuad Baharudin remains a serious threat.

Zamri would be the aggressive rider. He has taken home two chequered flags and finished three races on the podium.  Meanwhile, Fuad has been consistent in picking up points and picked up two winning podiums so far this season.

In addition, in Fazli’s view, the machines in the Expert class are evolving steadily and the standards are not too far apart, regardless of the make.

“There is not much difference between the Expert machines anymore. This is natural because after 8 rounds, for certain the riders and mechanics will start to get use with the 130cc machines. In order to boost the chances of winning the next round, we are running some R&D with our Yamaha machine. Progress is there but we can only confirm it after the test session,” said the 27 years old.

Fazli went on to add,” Sepang (South) is not a technical track. The key to winning the race here is speed, skill and a little bit of luck. I’m hoping to get the maximum points because I have had a good record there,” he said.

Zamri of PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Ah Hong leads the current standings with 116 points while Fuad of PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Raceline stands in second place with 114 points. Fazli on the other hand stands in third spot with 112 points. Not too far behind is Fuad’s teammate, Md Iskandar Raduan who has 98 points under his belt followed by Elly Idzlianizar Ilias with 87 points.

(Versi Bahasa Malaysia)

‘Perbezaan jentera tidak ketara lagi,’ Fazli Sham

Antara pelumba yang gembira Pusingan 9 Kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia AAM PETRONAS akan berlangsung di Litar Antarabangsa Sepang (Selatan) ialah Ahmad Fazli Sham. Ini adalah kerana pelumba Shell Advance Yamaha Maju tersebut mempunyai rekod yang baik di litar tersebut.

Segalanya bermula sejak tahun 2006 di mana Fazli pertama kali menakluk litar tersebut. Kehebatan Fazli di atas litar tersebut terserlah lagi di dalam tahun 2007 di mana dia sekali lagi menjuarai perlumbaan di litar Sepang dengan catatan masa terpantas 1:15.662saat.

Tahun lepas juga menyaksikan Fazli sekali lagi merampas podium kemenangan. Selain itu dia mencatatkan masa terpantas latihan dengan 1:22.851s. Keunggulan Fazli berterusan untuk Kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia tahun ini di dalam pusingan 5 yang diadakan di Sepang.

Walau bagaimanapun, Fazli bukanlah terlampau yakin. Walaupun dia positif akan kemungkinan untuk meragut kemenangan itu jelas ternyata, dia ingin mengharungi perlumbaan tersebut dengan berhati-hati kerana terdapat banyak risiko seperti kehadiran pelumba Md Zamri Baba dan Ahmad Fuad Baharudin.

Tambahan pula, dari pandangan Fazli, kebanyakan jentera kelas Expert kini sedang meningkat dari segi prestasi dan perbezaan kuasa jentera tidak begitu ketara lagi.

“Susah untuk mengagak keputusan untuk perlumbaan di Sepang nanti. Ini adalah kerana jentera-jentera kini sudah meningkat dari segi kelajuan dan ketahanan. Peningkatan ini merupakan hasil usaha keras pelumba dan mekanik pasukan melakukan pelbagai ujian ke atas jentera 130cc ini sepanjang musim ini.

Oleh hal yang demikian, untuk menjamin kemenangan di Pusingan 9 nanti, kami (Shell Advance Yamaha Maju) kini sedang melakukan R&D ke atas jentera Yamaha kami. Walaupun terdapat sedikit kemajuan, kami hanya boleh meletakkan kata putus pada sesi ujian nanti sebelum Pusingan 9 bulan hadapan,” ujar pelumba berusia 27 tahun itu.

Fazli terus menambah,”Litar Sepang (Selatan) bukanlah litar yang teknikal. Oleh itu, kunci untuk memenangi perlumbaan di sini adalah jentera yang boleh memecut, skil dan sedikit nasib yang baik. Saya berharap untuk memenangi perlumbaan tersebut dan mengutip jumlah mata maksima kerasa sejak tahun 2006, saya mempunyai rekod yang baik di sana,” jelas Fazli.

Mengetuai carta keseluruhan kelas Expert ini ialah Zamri dari PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Ah Hong. Pelumba berusia 25 tahun ini mempunyai 116 mata diikuti pelumba PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Raceline, Fuad yang mempunyai 114 mata. Fazli pula berdiri di tangga ketiga dengan 112 mata, diikuti Md Iskandar Raduan dan Elly Idzlianizar Ilias yang mempunyai 98 dan 87 mata masing-masing.

Issued by: Global PR Sdn Bhd

Copyright to: Safe Aim Mutual Sdn Bhd

A Message from Arson Rider Ian Paone (Whistler BC)!

So Swollen Members came to town on November 11th (lest we forget) Swollen Members rolled into town and played a show with Bliss n’ Esso, one of the biggest Aussie hip-hop duos. Oh man what a show it was. Here’s a picture of just the crowd in this tiny club

Since Whistler is full of Aussies, Bliss n’ Esso were a huge hit and they got the entire bar jumping. I’ve only heard 1 of their songs before but I was getting right into it as well. They also do a cover of a really good Citizen Cope song “A Bullet and a Target.

Then Swollen took the stage, I dragged my broke and tired ass out of bed after skiing to go see them(I drove up to Kadenwood in whis to sesh the mini jib park that was built up there, no photos though sorry!) and oh man they didn’t disappoint . My first ever concert was these guys back in 2001 in Victoria but this show was 100x better. I was 2nd row, center stage and had a prime view of the show. Here’s some photos

So yea that was my Wednesday night. I may be a reggae kid now but I will always listen to Swollen Members. They’re music has always been a huge part of my life and my skiing. I have so much respect for these guys. Madchild is going through so much shit right now and he’s still going strong

If you get the chance, go see a Swollen Members show. It will change your perspective on live shows forever. Keep shredding. Peace.

 

20 Tips For First-Time Horse Riders

I wrote this article some time ago – but it is always important information to keep in mind when working with first-time riders…

Many people know that I have had horses for years. And like me, I’m sure you get frequent requests from people who want to ride your horses. Does this sound familiar? “My children love horses, they have always wanted to ride a pony!” Or, “I used to ride horses (at summer camp), I know all about them, could I ride yours some time?” The automatic answer is “Sure, just let me know when!” But afterward, we realize that this is not just a “ride”.

 Tip 1: Any first-time rider should have instruction before they take their first ride. This takes extra time on your part, but it is a very necessary step. If not, it could be dangerous for them, as well as you.

I talk to numerous people, and many times the subject of horses comes up. About 90% of one-time riders tell me the same story. “Yes, I rode a horse, got bucked off and that was the last time I will ever get near a horse.” The accounts amaze me; horse bites, riding run-away horses, saddles that fall off, getting kicked, and all because the horse owner did not give any instruction beforehand. I try to explain that if they would have known a few simple things before they got on the horse, they truly could have had a wonderful experience. Most people shrug and say ”never again.” With a little instruction, we can help put a stop to these incidents and make first time rides safe and enjoyable.

Before a rider ever gets near the horse, we need to explain some key points. Riders of any age should know that you will be assisting them, and they must listen to what you tell them for their safety.

One of the first steps we can take to help ensure a great experience is with attire.

Tip 2: Proper helmets should be worn, as well as a protective boot or heavy shoe with a heel. Flat-soled shoes increase the risk of the foot slipping through a stirrup and getting caught-up.

Tip 3: If you have protective vests, use them also.

Tip 4: During the warmer months, let parents know that long pants are the best attire. Although shorts may keep their child cooler, a pair of jeans will be much more comfortable than a child’s bare legs rubbing against the leather of a saddle.

Some other basic instructions should include:
 

Tip 5:  How to touch the horse by gently petting, not patting, with easy movements. Explain that horses can spook with fast movements.

 
Tip 6:  Voices need to be kept at indoor levels for smaller children, not outside voices.

Tip 7:  Explain how to walk around a horse at least 2 arm-lengths away from the horse’s haunches and tail. If younger children are involved, walk with them explaining how far this distance is.

Tip 8:  Talk about walking around the front of the horse, touching him as you go, and talking to the horse.

 
Tip 9:  Small hands, as well as adult hands, automatically reach to the horse’s head and mouth. Show new riders how to hold their hands. If you allow people to feed your horses treats, show your guest how to hold their hand flat and feed with their palm instead of their fingers.

Tip 10:  Explain that you stand on the left side of the horse to hold, lead and saddle-up.

Tip 11: Show how to lead properly by having slack in the lead rope and allowing the horse to carry his head at a natural level.
 

Tip 12:  The lead rope should NEVER be wrapped around a hand or arm. If smaller children have a hard time with a long lead rope, find them a shorter one or help them hold the horse.

Tip 13: . Demonstrate how to brush the horse, with a curry-comb first and a brush second. Show them how to follow the direction of the horse’s hair. Also, explain the “ticklish spots” and areas where gentle brushing needs to be done.

Tip 14: New riders should never ride a horse that is not a calm packer. If older (or younger) riders ask to ride a horse because they like the way it looks, but the horse is too spirited, tell them “no”. It is better to have a bit of disappointment than the consequence of an accident.

Tip 15: Once you have groomed and saddled the horse, be sure to use a lead rope or a lounge line with the horse. The best scenario would be to have a small paddock or round pen to ride in, in addition to using the lead rope or lounge line. This will give the new rider a sense of security, helping them to relax.

Don’t forget how it feels to ride for the very first time. It seems very high from the ground, unbalanced, almost like you could fall. It feels like you’ve lost control, and there isn’t much to hang on to! Take these thoughts into consideration and you’ll realize that a short, well-guided ride is better than a long, unsupervised experience.

Tip 16: Due to liability issues, be sure your insurance will cover any mishaps. It is an issue that most of us feel will never come up, but many accidents can turn into more than ever expected.

Tip17: Be sure all young riders under 18 have parents present with consent to let their child ride. Be sure all older riders understand that accidents can happen, and they are not going to hold you liable.

Tip 18: Contact your insurance company, the experts in this area, and get their advice before you let friends ride. It’s worth it.

Tip 19: Additionally, check the equine liability laws in your state. Some states require that signs be posted throughout a facility, while others require signed waivers. Some require both. Make sure that you follow whatever your state requires so that you, your horses and all riders and spectators are protected.

Tip 20: Give the gift of kindness when you think about allowing someone to ride your horses. Be sure it’s a safe, informative, and fun experience. After all, we all have our passion because we truly enjoyed a horse ride-way back when. Pass it on!

We went downtown, yesterday, to see the new Gold Line light rail line extension and to ride it into east L.A.

I was with my mother, who walks with difficulty after her hip operation last year.

We parked somewhere east of Little Tokyo, where art and commerce are slowly converting old factories into sunny communes of post-industrialism.

Along Alameda, a band played and friendly crowds stood along the light rail track waiting to board trains that ran to Pasadena (Northbound) or Atlantic Avenue (Southbound). Many yellow shirted Metro employees handed out brochures, maps and smiles answering any questions from excited and bewildered riders.

This is still new for Los Angeles, the idea that human beings might ride on trains to travel around this city. In Prague, Paris, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Buenos Aires, Montreal, Vancouver and Boston people crowd unselfconsciously into those steel boxes on steel tracks, but here in a city that was last progressive 60 years ago, the light rail was ripped out along with our civic engagement.

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I had driven down the 405, yesterday, from Van Nuys to Marina Del Rey. The sun was brilliant, the air was cool, the wind was blowing, and I have lived here long enough to feel uneasy in these ideal conditions.

Somewhere in the left lane, near the Getty Center, I was traveling about 60 MPH in fairly heavy traffic, moving along. A BMW sped up behind me. I looked in the mirror and could see an impatient face on a young male driver. I pulled out of his lane and moved to the far right.

In the far right lane, I found space and accelerated. The BMW also pulled into my lane, behind me and began to tailgate me. I went into another lane, and he did too.

I was going 80 as I passed the 10 off-ramp, and he was right behind me. As I turned to go west on the Marina Freeway, he pulled up on my right, slamming his foot down on the accelerator and tore up the road to pass me fading fast into the 405 South.

Where did his aggression come from? I had moved out of his way. I gave him his road. I tried to escape.

But that was not enough. He was in the mood for a race, and overcome with the urge to beat me and to alpha guy fuck off another male driver.

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On the train, my mom and I met a young woman who told us to disembark at Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights where there was a street fair, with entertainment, food and other events.

One emerges from the underground into the unfiltered, concrete-baked sunlight of east LA.

A stained glass canopy covers the escalators. This is a cathedral of light, an ecclesiastical structure imbued with a Catholic message for this old Mexican-American neighborhood. Rays of gold, red, blue and green pour through the roof and illuminate riders as they pass through Mariachi Plaza. In an age where every new building in Los Angeles is stripped of meaning and constructed so obtusely and abstractly, this Metro station gently merges church and train.

We spent a little time walking around and ate some ceviche and stood next to the Lucha Reyes statue.

Then we got back in a long, outdoor line to wait for the train. As we waited there, an older woman walked up to us. She said she had lived in Boyle Heights her whole life, but was going to ride the train two stops to downtown. She was scared and wanted us to accompany her.

Her name was Rosalie, and she asked us if we were Jewish. I said yes, and she said, “the activist traditions of Boyle Heights came from the Jewish people”. She was 75-years-old and remembered the community when there were Jews living in it.

As we went down into the station, she panicked. “Maybe I shouldn’t ride the train,” she said. Over and over she asked how she would find her way back to Mariachi Plaza. I told her that many employees were around and she would not get lost. She was afraid of disorientation, suffocation, crowds, and unfamiliar surroundings.

“Your son is so sweet,” she told my mom. What Rosalie didn’t know is that I have had panic attacks. And, like Rosalie, one of my fears is claustrophobia and the other is getting lost. Her irrational worries were perfectly sane to me.

On the station platform, more old people introduced themselves. A gregarious man from Panorama City said he was born and raised in Chicago, and had graduated from Von Steuben High School in 1955, a few years after my mother.

The train pulled up, we all stuffed ourselves in. Rosalie was smiling, happy, laughing. She had found friends in strangers just by talking, riding and moving on light rail.

We got off at Little Tokyo. Rosalie shook our hands and crossed to the other side of the platform where she met some other people who were going back to East LA.

One afternoon, in the new Los Angeles, where a normal urban venture suddenly opens up a new avenue of hope.

Joining the final round of the Spanish 125cc National Championship will be Malaysian Wildcard rider, Muhammad Zulfahmi Khairuddin of Team Malaysia. The race is set to take place this weekend in Valencia, Spain, November 21-22.

This will be the first time Fahmi will be racing out of Malaysia and he is very excited and nervous. However, he emphasized that this is no vacation as he will have to prove his worth to all the parties that have played a role in his development as a rider-namely the PETRONAS AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championship, Modenas Yuzy Pachi Racing and Team Malaysia.

The 18 years old rider who completed 20th position in the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix last month in Sepang is also very proud and honoured to be able to race in the Spanish National Championship.

“Right now, I am having a mixed feeling. No doubt, I am happy but at the same time, I am feeling anxious. All the hard work and sacrifices is finally paying off and I am now moving into another phase-the international level. I can’t help but feel anxious because the Spanish National Championship is no joke as it is very challenging and  there are many current GP125 riders taking part as well,” said Fahmi.

The Banting rider went on to add, “Nonetheless, I will not let anxiety take the best of me. I will try my best to remain calm and focus. Preparations have been made and I have studied the Valencia circuit layout. All I have to do is try it out, get the feel of it and deliver results.”

As for his targets this weekend, Fahmi clarified much alike the MotoGP, the main objective is to qualify and finish the race. That’s the responsibility handed down to him- although he does have his own aim.

“The target this weekend is to make the cut and finish the 125cc race. It’s not going to be easy but I’m willing to take the chances. Furthermore, I will be using an Aprilia bike there and Team Ongetta ISPA will help us ease into it. I’m looking forward to working with them and hopefully we will be able to achieve the desire results,” concluded Fahmi.

(Versi Bahasa Malaysia)

ZULFAHMI BERLEPAS KE VALENCIA

Pelumba Wildcard Malaysia, Md Zulfahmi Khairuddin mendapat tiket untuk beraksi di dalam pusingan akhir Kejuaraan Nasional Sepanyol kelas 125cc yang dijadualkan berlangsung hujung minggu ini, November 21-22 di Valencia, Sepanyol.

Ini merupakan kali pertama Fahmi beraksi di luar Malaysia dalam sepanjang karier perlumbaannya. Anak muda tersebut amat gembira dan gementar untuk mewakili Malaysia di tahap antarabangsa. Walau bagaimanapun, Fahmi akui ini bukanlah sebuah percutian tetapi merupakan peluang bagi dia membuktikan bahawa dia mempunyai bakat untuk bersaing dengan pelumba-pelumba dari negara lain di dalam Kejuaraan tempatan mereka sendiri.

Fahmi juga menyatakan bahawa perlumbaan hujung minggu ini juga merupakan peluang untuk membuktikan Program Wildcard Malaysia bukanlah satu usaha-sama yang sia-sia. Pihak-pihak yang disebut Fahmi itu adalah Kejuaraan Cub Prix Malaysia AAM PETRONAS, Modenas Yuzy Pachi Racing dan Team Malaysia.

Tambahan lagi, Fahmi yang menamatkan perlumbaan kelas 125cc Kejuaraan Motosikal Dunia bulan lalu di tempat ke-20 itu juga berbangga kerana diberi peluang untuk berlumba di dalam Kejuaraan Nasional Sepanyol itu.

“Ketika ini, perasaan saya bercampur-aduk. Tidak dapat dinafikan saya amat gembira tetapi pada waktu yang sama saya turut berrasa gementar. Saya gembira kerana usaha dan pengorbanan selama ini tidak sia-sia manakala saya gementar kerana Kejuaraan Sepanyol itu bukanlah satu perlumbaan yang mudah. Ia tentu sangat mencabar dan tambahan pula ramai pelumba GP125 mengambil bahagian di dalam perlumbaan tersebut,” jelas Fahmi.

Fahmi yang berasal dari Banting itu terus menambah,” Walau bagaimanapun, saya tidak akan biar perasaan cemas dan gemuruh ini mengambil alih diri saya. Saya akan berusaha untuk menenangkan perasaan dan memberikan fokus sepenuhnya pada hari perlumbaan. Persediaan telah pun dilakukan dan saya telah mengkaji litar Valencia. Saya hanya perlu menguji litar tersebut dengan jentera sebelum saya boleh memberikan keputusan yang memberangsangkan.”

Apabila ditanya mengenai keputusan yang ingin dicapai, Fahmi menjelaskan, objektif yang diberikan kepadanya adalah untuk melayakkan diri ke perlumbaan akhir dan menamatkan perlumbaan di kedudukan sebaik boleh, sepertimana dilakukannya di dalam Pusingan 16 MotoGP di Sepang.

“Objektif untuk perlumbaan ini adalah untuk melayakkan diri dan menamatkan perlumbaan akhir kelas 125cc itu. Saya akui ia bukanlah tugas mudah tetapi saya akan berusaha untuk melakukan yang terbaik. Tambahan pula, saya akan menggunakan jentera Aprillia di sana dan pasukan Ongetta ISPA akan menghulurkan sedikit sebanyak bantuan. Saya berharap semua akan berjalan lancar di sana,” kata Fahmi.

Issued by: Global PR Sdn Bhd

Copyright to: Two Wheels Motor Racing Sdn Bhd