davethorvald's blog

The Duff Man! - Olympic Laughs with the Superhero Skeleton-ist Duff Gibson - Olympic Outsider #8

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:42:58 -0800

Torino 2006 Skeleton Gold Medalist athlete Duff Gibson chats with Olympic Outsider host Dave Thorvald about having a beer named after him, life as a Calgary fireman, being Canada's (and the world's) oldest gold medalist, training for technical and speed courses, the Whistler track, athletic challenges and the future of the sport at an Olympic rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery in May 2006.

Download The Duff Man! - Olympic Laughs with the Superhero Skeleton-ist Duff Gibson
(.mp3, 8MB, 9:53)

China Access Eases the Way for Doing Business - Raincity Radio Podcast

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:18:38 -0800

Doing business in China in advance and following the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, is the topic as Australian businessman Andrew Gilkes, Chairman of ChinaAccess2008, an international business facilitation program, shares tips and best practices for interacting with this rapidly growing economy.

Mr. Gilkes answers host Dave O's questions about the creative arts and science industries, the effect of the Hong Kong handover, educational levels, economic growing pains, environmental remediation, understanding the culture, and diaspora of "sea turtles."

Vancouver BC Place Stadium dome collapses

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 14:20:19 -0800

Vancouver BC Place Stadium dome un-flated {Note: Cross posted at GetElastic, Urban Vancouver and Ephemeral Feasthouse}

Note: Photo updated with correct date, apologies for any confusion.

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Vancouver’s noble and venerable stadium BC Place - which opened in 1983 as one of the first self-supporting domes in the world - is the latest casualty of the wildest winter weather ever around here.

Olympic Outsider podcast #7 - Oslo Olympic Flag Ceremony

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 19:11:57 -0700

As mentioned in a previous post, ... Canada's Governor-General, Michaëlle Jean (a Haitian refuge who immigrated to Quebec as a child), and Vancouver Mayor Mayor Sam Sullivan were on hand - along with a phalanx of officers of everykind - to reveal the 1952 Oslo Winter Olympic flag.

I headed out from North Vancouver via transit to attend and watch the pagaentry. After stealthing into the media event, I asked VANOC CEO John Furlong a few questions on a snowy Vancouver morning.

Listen to Olympic Outsider #7 (.m4a)

Governor General Jean's Visit to Vancouver's City Hall

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 15:17:50 -0800

Canada's Governor General Michaëlle Jean (a Haitian refuge who immigrated to Quebec as a child) and Mayor Sam Sullivan (suddenly, the world's second most famous quadrapelegic) were on hand with a phalanx of officers of everykind to reveal the 1952 Oslo Winter Olympic flag.

Press Foibles

Tue, 07 Mar 2006 16:14:14 -0800

I've noticed various errors and ommissions by the big-time media during the Winter Olympics (nowhere near as many as i make of course but ...). Didn't screen caputre ESPN listing Jeremy Wotherspoon as USA but did catch CBC recalling Saku Koivu's days playing for the Czechs (attached .pdf).

Olympic Outsider Podcast #6 - Hockey Tournament Wrap-up with Dave and Dan

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 21:12:13 -0800

Host Dave Thorvald with Dan Funboy wrap up the Men's and Women's hockey tournaments from Torino 2006 in this enhanced podcast with pictures.

Topics include team leadership, puck possession, tactical strategies, tournament surprise teams, and a bit of looking ahead to 2010.

Grab thew show:
Olympic Outsider Episode 6 - Hockey Tournament Wrap-up (m4a)
Olympic Outsider Episode 6 - Hockey Tournament Wrap-up (mp3)

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Olympic Outsider Podcast #5 - Wrapping Up Turin XX Part 1

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 19:39:54 -0800

Olympic Outsider Episode 5 - Wrapping Up XX Part 1

Host Dave Thorvald with Dan Funboy and buddy Lance wrap up the performances of Torino 2006 with emphasis on Team Canada's athletes.

Topics include notable Men's and Women's performances in Luge, Skeleton, Bobsled, Curling, Short-Track Speedskating, Long-track Speedskating, Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing, Biathlon, Freestyle Skiing, and Snowboarding. Plus banter on doping measures, police raids, sportsmanship, new sports, and herbal remedies.

This 38:18 long podcast is enhanced with 'chapters' for your listening convenience.

Grab thew show:
Olympic Outsider Episode 5 - Wrapping Up XX Part 1 (m4a)
Olympic Outsider Episode 5 - Wrapping Up XX Part 1 (mp3)

What a lame Vancouver presentation

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 12:45:01 -0800

That was a painful segment promoting Vancouver. C'mon organizers, that was puzzling, weak, uninteresting and unfocused. Giant fake snow blocks making a stone monument ... huh? We can do better!

and Avril! What happened to the cool punky chick? What's with the Farrah Fawcett hair and froofy look? Looks like the 3rd Olsen twin. Get the handlers away from her! Should have got a BC artist (like DOA but not Bryan Adams) or even Barenaked Ladies (they were classic at SLC). Sam did all right though.

Overall, Ugh. Embarrassing. Vancouver is so much cooler then they showed and this is B.C.'s games, not 'Canada's' per se. Let BC show off, no reason to include shots of Toronto in the cheesy montage.

VANOC clearly needs some folks with artistic sensibilities on staff. Comments?

Security breach in Closing Ceremonies

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 12:26:22 -0800

What was up with the security breach with the t-shirted guy running upon stage during the Torino Organizing Committes' President's speech? Anyone catch what he said or what was on his t-shirt? Any other security/protest issues of note on the ground?

Swede Finnish to Torino 2006

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 10:43:36 -0800

Just an early morning note to say that a fine game between neighbors Sweden and Finland provided a fitting end to an Olympics of unknowns and intrigue. Several Vancouver Canucks coming home with medals, as well as a few with injuries.

Overall for Canada, a bit sweet (24 medals including curling and lots of speed skating) and a bit bitter (wither Wotherspoon, Men's hockey, lots of 4th places) but all in all outstanding results abounded.

While CBC's coverage was better than NBC, it wasn't near enough and i am glad i will be in person in Vancouver 2010 and i wish there were more fan-podcasts rather than the corporate pablum-casts rehashing the same schnews.

I spent the last couple of days cross-country skiing, hottubbing and snowboarding (ouch) but will be posting an extended Olympics Outsider wrap-up cast in the next couple of days hopefully with Dan Funboy's loquaicous insight.

Olympic Outsider Podcast #4 - Quarter-final Hockey Predictions

Tue, 21 Feb 2006 17:06:37 -0800

Quick wrap-up from the preliminary round of the Men's hockey tournament with Dave Thorvald and Toadler from upstairs. Plus bold predictions for the quarter-final round and a wee bit of history tossed in.

Download Olympic Outsider podcast #4
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Listen in iTunes

Olympic Outsider Podcast #3 - Coffee talk with Gold Medalist Ross Rebagliati

Mon, 20 Feb 2006 20:47:20 -0800

An enhanced Olympic Outsider podcast with host Dave Thorvald visiting with 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics Gold Medalist and Snowboard legend Ross Rebagliati.

At a symposium in a noisy Take 5 coffeeshop, Dave asks Ross about the drug-testing incident in great detail plus discuss Ross's aspirations for 2010 and beyond, recreational hobbies, real-estate dealings plus Dave relates anecdotes and gives thanks to Ross for inspiring the people.

Thanks to Bread for pics, Mudhoney for tunes, Bryght and Raincity Studios, and props to Roots for supporting Ross.

Olympics Outsider 3 - Coffee Talk with Gold Medalist Ross Rebagliati

And/Or just grab the Canucks/Olympics Outsider Feed

Olympic Notebook for Feb. 19th - Day Eight 'not so Great' but Day Nine 'looking Fine'

Sun, 19 Feb 2006 12:38:48 -0800

Well after the euphoria of Day Seven, Day Eight was a bit of a reality check after a variety of disappointments and underwhelming performances. Day Nine though is shaping up nicely despite the being down 2-0 to Finland after 1 period.

A few notes:

Men's Hockey loses to Suisse

For a loss, oddly this one didn't hurt all that much. Switzerland played their guts out and scored another huge victory. I won't go on cause i blogged live during the game, but the short version is, ... Way to go Switzerland for stepping it up and (with your 2 huge wins) welcome to the big leagues.

Men losing to Finland

Underway now in the second which must be better than the first in which Canada stood around and watched Finland put on a clinic in team play, skill and hustle. I am bit peeved right now so will hold my tongue in anticipation of a spirited comeback.

Canadian choke on Swiss Cheese

Sat, 18 Feb 2006 08:11:07 -0800

In-game notes Canada vs Switzerland

Switzerland coming off a huge win versus Czech Republic while Canada has been clipping along nicely withs comfy wins versus Italy and Germany.

The Swiss start goalie Gerber over Aebisher but no let down in play early as Gerber (wearing his NHL Carolina Hurricanes mask) is playing out of his mind.

Broduer looks a bit tired and unsteady and is coming out of his net a little *too* much for my liking but doing his soft goalie hands routine with some long lead passes and even getting passes back from the D (which isn't my favorite play).

Bertuzzi had an apparent goal disallowed when the play had been whistled down since he was in the crease. Sakic, Iginla and Bert are playing OK but not as dominant as recent games and overthinking the plays a bit. Bert's positional play and passing looks very good and he buried one guy into the boards.