Gunhild Fretland er en veldig god venninne av meg jeg har kjent siden vi bodde sammen i Lagskollektivet i Oslo.
Siden den gang har mensendick utdanninga gitt henne jobb i Modum som fysioterapeut. På fritida har hun påbegynt ulike aktiviteter, inkludert snøbrett og nå bryting. Felles for de to idrettene er at hun har tatt NM-gull i begge på første forsøk. Det siste kom 25. mars mot tidligere verdens- og norgesmester Ine Barlie. Det er en sensasjonell prestasjon, og hun har enda mer uløst potensial. Den sportslade, eller skal jeg si sportsgale, jenta er en av få jenter jeg kjenner som må gi absolutt alt jeg har (i løpet av par minutter) for å (kanskje) ta handback.
Som venn er jeg kry, stolt og glad. Som journalist blir jeg inspirert til å skrive om sånne personer, uavhengig av vårt vennskap. Og det irriterer meg nærmest at Drammens Tidene på nett ikke ofrer mer enn 64 ord fra brytemesterskapet der byen tok trippelgull. Jeg måtte bare legge igjen en kommentar (118 ord) under saken.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Thursday, March 30, 2006
X: Paint war/Malingskrig
My paintball debut took place Saturday March 18 (pics here). To run around in army clothes replicas, BMX helmet look-alike and a gun loaded with balls of paint is actually very fascinating. As a pacifist I must underline that what makes the mature game (for playful grown-ups) amusing is not the shooting, but the hunting instinct and the adrenalin kick. Just like hide-and-seek.
The locality for the matter was Semoz Paintball in Echuca, a little city just past the boarder to New South Wales – as the sport is illegal in Victoria. A dozen acquaintances of Cathrine Wort, including Zoe, Taya, Ed, Darsh and I, spread in four cars gunning the 2-3 hours up north. Even with a delay, we had plenty of time to paint stain each other in high velocity. There were numerous of other players there even with a 30 degree sunshine outside. We got merged into two other groups, equaling roughly 10 vs 10. I voluntarily chose to be Darsh opponent, but never manage to get her in shooting range. In the aftermath we discussed that there is a chance she might have gotten me once. There were various of different playgrounds and games to play with various aims.
I was hit a few times by others, took down a few, and captured the flag a couple of times. Also, I was probably the one in our group struck most frequently without “dying” (i.e. hit without paintball splat).
Even with the hot day, the sweaty masks and the lousiest barbeque ever, paintball is strongly recommended.
---
Min debut i paintball skjedde lørdag 18. mars (bilder her). Å springe rundt i etterligninger av militærdresser og BMX-hjelmer med gevær full av malingskuler i hånd er faktisk utrolig fascinerende. Som pasifist må jeg understreke at det som gjør voksenleken gøyal er mer jaktinstinkt og adrenalinstøt enn skytinga i seg selv; akkurat som gjem-og-lete.
Åstedet for affæren var Semoz paintball i Echuca, nord for Melbourne, i staten New South Wales - da sporten er forbudt i Victoria. Et dusin bekjente av Cathrine Wort, inkludert Zoe, Taya, Eddie, Darsh og meg, spredte oss i fire biler de 2-3 timene kjøreturen tar. Selv med forsinkelse, hadde vi nok av tid å tilgrise hverandre i maling i høy fart. En haug med folk delte vår interesse, også denne lørdagen med 30 graders sol, men med utallige ulike baner og type kampleker, var det enkelt nok å fordele seg. Vi ble fordelt sammen med en annen gjeng til en gruppe på ca 10 x 10. Jeg valgte frivillig Darshs motstander, men fikk faktisk aldri tatt henne ut. Derimot ble jeg truffet en del ganger, traff en del motstandere, fikk has på flagget noen ganger det behøvdes. I tillegg var jeg nok den av oss alle som ble truffet flest ganger uten å ”dø” (dvs at malingen ikke spredte seg).
Selv om varmen kjentes godt, maskene var ekstra svette og grillunsjen var noe av det mest tragiske jeg har vært borte i, var det storgøyalt med paintball.
The locality for the matter was Semoz Paintball in Echuca, a little city just past the boarder to New South Wales – as the sport is illegal in Victoria. A dozen acquaintances of Cathrine Wort, including Zoe, Taya, Ed, Darsh and I, spread in four cars gunning the 2-3 hours up north. Even with a delay, we had plenty of time to paint stain each other in high velocity. There were numerous of other players there even with a 30 degree sunshine outside. We got merged into two other groups, equaling roughly 10 vs 10. I voluntarily chose to be Darsh opponent, but never manage to get her in shooting range. In the aftermath we discussed that there is a chance she might have gotten me once. There were various of different playgrounds and games to play with various aims.
I was hit a few times by others, took down a few, and captured the flag a couple of times. Also, I was probably the one in our group struck most frequently without “dying” (i.e. hit without paintball splat).
Even with the hot day, the sweaty masks and the lousiest barbeque ever, paintball is strongly recommended.
---
Min debut i paintball skjedde lørdag 18. mars (bilder her). Å springe rundt i etterligninger av militærdresser og BMX-hjelmer med gevær full av malingskuler i hånd er faktisk utrolig fascinerende. Som pasifist må jeg understreke at det som gjør voksenleken gøyal er mer jaktinstinkt og adrenalinstøt enn skytinga i seg selv; akkurat som gjem-og-lete.
Åstedet for affæren var Semoz paintball i Echuca, nord for Melbourne, i staten New South Wales - da sporten er forbudt i Victoria. Et dusin bekjente av Cathrine Wort, inkludert Zoe, Taya, Eddie, Darsh og meg, spredte oss i fire biler de 2-3 timene kjøreturen tar. Selv med forsinkelse, hadde vi nok av tid å tilgrise hverandre i maling i høy fart. En haug med folk delte vår interesse, også denne lørdagen med 30 graders sol, men med utallige ulike baner og type kampleker, var det enkelt nok å fordele seg. Vi ble fordelt sammen med en annen gjeng til en gruppe på ca 10 x 10. Jeg valgte frivillig Darshs motstander, men fikk faktisk aldri tatt henne ut. Derimot ble jeg truffet en del ganger, traff en del motstandere, fikk has på flagget noen ganger det behøvdes. I tillegg var jeg nok den av oss alle som ble truffet flest ganger uten å ”dø” (dvs at malingen ikke spredte seg).
Selv om varmen kjentes godt, maskene var ekstra svette og grillunsjen var noe av det mest tragiske jeg har vært borte i, var det storgøyalt med paintball.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
E: Advantages of NOT traveling
I came across a webpage with an insightful overview with pros and cons for traveling with a group or by yourself (to Costa Rica). What is worse to find online is a list of advantages why NOT to travel; to stay put. I decided to make a brief list of points.
¤ Not traveling enables you to partake in activities and follow up friends on a regular basis.
¤ Not traveling is needed to rest and unwind from exercise or a load of new impression and experiences.
¤ Not traveling is cheap and doesn’t require (as much) planning.
¤ Not traveling prevents you from leaving belongings somewhere to which you may not be able to return.
¤ When/if you use the word home for describing where you are, you have as safety zone.
¤ Being home is also a sign of belonging, with friends, family and familiar surroundings.
¤ Routines (if you have them) are a sign of stability.
Personally, I am still excited about be subjected to new travel destinations. Although the more I travel, the more I appreciate home when returning. There is far from any guarantee that everyone has a home and a place to which to return. I feel fortunate to have my family, many friends and an area I can return to. I do feel home in Australia too - in a different way though.
¤ Not traveling enables you to partake in activities and follow up friends on a regular basis.
¤ Not traveling is needed to rest and unwind from exercise or a load of new impression and experiences.
¤ Not traveling is cheap and doesn’t require (as much) planning.
¤ Not traveling prevents you from leaving belongings somewhere to which you may not be able to return.
¤ When/if you use the word home for describing where you are, you have as safety zone.
¤ Being home is also a sign of belonging, with friends, family and familiar surroundings.
¤ Routines (if you have them) are a sign of stability.
Personally, I am still excited about be subjected to new travel destinations. Although the more I travel, the more I appreciate home when returning. There is far from any guarantee that everyone has a home and a place to which to return. I feel fortunate to have my family, many friends and an area I can return to. I do feel home in Australia too - in a different way though.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
X: Pre-season drop/førsesongsnedrykk
Morning update: False alarm. The first team stays in 2nd div, while the second team drops as they finished 10th last year in 4th division. I got worked up by a rumor/mistunderstanding. What is below does not apply for my team.
---
Oppdatering: Falsk alarm. Førstelaget vil fortsette i andredivisjon, mens andrelaget rykker ned et hakk fordi de endte på tiendeplass i fjerdedivsijon. Jeg tok tenning for et rykte/feilinformasjon. Så tankeutbruddet under bygger ikke på realitetene.
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
Wed 27/03, 10 PM
After a long and good soccer practice Monday night, us players from Northern Pumas just found out that we will play in 3rd and 5th division this season, not 2nd and 4th as believed. A dozen new teams have joined the association and a new division has been formed. That new teams come along is great, but in all other circumstances (and sports?), the new teams would have started on bottom; division 5. For me this was a really low blow. And it is not fair. Even though we are playing in a church league, that the most important is not winning, and that we will meet some of the teams we were going to meet anyway. We are after all divided in levels and playing with goals and points which rank us in tables.
This is the first time after returning to Australia I have been properly worked up about something. I was very close to try out for the Melbourne Uni soccer club, which is a fair bit better than the Northern Pumas, and closer to where I live. I found that 2. division was just challenging enough to stay with the guys. Now however, the same week as the season starts, we suddenly receive the verdict that we have automatically been moved down a division. As I write this, I almost feel like check the possibilities to have my registration fees back and check is the uni team is short of players for half a season.
For my part it has been the new coaches that convinced me to stay with the lads at Bundoora. Now it’s about the only reason not to leave (strictly focusing on the sportive side). If we are not going to meet equals in our matches, I might as well just train and not play games.
I reckon this is a sign that I still have the competitiveness and passion for soccer within.
---
Onsdag 27/03, 2006
Etter en lang og rimelig god trening i går kveld, fikk vi med ett vite at lagene spiller i 3. og 5. divisjon, ikke i 2. og 4. som antatt. 12 nye lag er kommet til, og en ny divisjon er opprettet. At nye lag knytter seg til assosiasjonen er vel og bra, men i alle andre sammenhenger ville de startet på bunnen. Hvordan de har sluppet til de nye lagene her og der vites i skrivende stund ei.
For meg var det et slag under beltestedet. Selv om vi det er en kirkeserie, at det viktigste tross alt er ikke er konkurranse, og at vi møter en del av de samme lagene vi ville møtt uansett, er det ikke rettferdig. Dessuten er vi tross alt delt inn i nivå og spiller både med mål og poeng, som vil rangere lagene i en tabell.
Jeg har ikke vært irritert etter jeg kom tilbake til Australia før nå. Det var like før jeg meldte meg opp på trening med universitetslaget i stedet for Northern Pumas, da 2. divisjon var akkurat høyt nok å gå med på. Nå, samme uka som sesongen starter, får vi plutselig beskjed om at vi har hatt et automatisk nedrykk. Motivasjonen er delvis der til å høre om det er mulig å få pengene tilbake og sjekke med Melbourne Uni om de er interessert i en spiller for halve sesongen.
For min del var det de nye trenerne som overbeviste meg om å fortsette med gutta ved Bundoora, og de er i bunn og grunn de eneste jeg virkelig anser som grunn nok til å forbli. Sosialt, jo da, men om vi ikke møter ordentlig matching, kan jeg likeså godt bare trene og ikke spille kamper.
Dette er vel et tegn på at jeg har konkurranseinstinktet og sportspasjonen i meg.
---
Oppdatering: Falsk alarm. Førstelaget vil fortsette i andredivisjon, mens andrelaget rykker ned et hakk fordi de endte på tiendeplass i fjerdedivsijon. Jeg tok tenning for et rykte/feilinformasjon. Så tankeutbruddet under bygger ikke på realitetene.
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
Wed 27/03, 10 PM
After a long and good soccer practice Monday night, us players from Northern Pumas just found out that we will play in 3rd and 5th division this season, not 2nd and 4th as believed. A dozen new teams have joined the association and a new division has been formed. That new teams come along is great, but in all other circumstances (and sports?), the new teams would have started on bottom; division 5. For me this was a really low blow. And it is not fair. Even though we are playing in a church league, that the most important is not winning, and that we will meet some of the teams we were going to meet anyway. We are after all divided in levels and playing with goals and points which rank us in tables.
This is the first time after returning to Australia I have been properly worked up about something. I was very close to try out for the Melbourne Uni soccer club, which is a fair bit better than the Northern Pumas, and closer to where I live. I found that 2. division was just challenging enough to stay with the guys. Now however, the same week as the season starts, we suddenly receive the verdict that we have automatically been moved down a division. As I write this, I almost feel like check the possibilities to have my registration fees back and check is the uni team is short of players for half a season.
For my part it has been the new coaches that convinced me to stay with the lads at Bundoora. Now it’s about the only reason not to leave (strictly focusing on the sportive side). If we are not going to meet equals in our matches, I might as well just train and not play games.
I reckon this is a sign that I still have the competitiveness and passion for soccer within.
---
Onsdag 27/03, 2006
Etter en lang og rimelig god trening i går kveld, fikk vi med ett vite at lagene spiller i 3. og 5. divisjon, ikke i 2. og 4. som antatt. 12 nye lag er kommet til, og en ny divisjon er opprettet. At nye lag knytter seg til assosiasjonen er vel og bra, men i alle andre sammenhenger ville de startet på bunnen. Hvordan de har sluppet til de nye lagene her og der vites i skrivende stund ei.
For meg var det et slag under beltestedet. Selv om vi det er en kirkeserie, at det viktigste tross alt er ikke er konkurranse, og at vi møter en del av de samme lagene vi ville møtt uansett, er det ikke rettferdig. Dessuten er vi tross alt delt inn i nivå og spiller både med mål og poeng, som vil rangere lagene i en tabell.
Jeg har ikke vært irritert etter jeg kom tilbake til Australia før nå. Det var like før jeg meldte meg opp på trening med universitetslaget i stedet for Northern Pumas, da 2. divisjon var akkurat høyt nok å gå med på. Nå, samme uka som sesongen starter, får vi plutselig beskjed om at vi har hatt et automatisk nedrykk. Motivasjonen er delvis der til å høre om det er mulig å få pengene tilbake og sjekke med Melbourne Uni om de er interessert i en spiller for halve sesongen.
For min del var det de nye trenerne som overbeviste meg om å fortsette med gutta ved Bundoora, og de er i bunn og grunn de eneste jeg virkelig anser som grunn nok til å forbli. Sosialt, jo da, men om vi ikke møter ordentlig matching, kan jeg likeså godt bare trene og ikke spille kamper.
Dette er vel et tegn på at jeg har konkurranseinstinktet og sportspasjonen i meg.
Monday, March 27, 2006
E: Online clips 4
Metacafe is a professional online video clip page I was introduced to (and hooked on) a week ago. Unlike most pages these days, you are actually able to download the movies to you computer if you want to. Here comes the first compilation of clips from the page I consider time well spent viewing.
See an inspiring magazine ad, watch a bunch of morons or more skilled people with remarkable talents.
The last three clips deals with basketball: Top ten (NBA) dunks, a series of far far away three-pointers (is this real?) or just once in a lifetime (or history) shot.
Did you miss part 1, 2 and 3 in the Online Clips series?
See an inspiring magazine ad, watch a bunch of morons or more skilled people with remarkable talents.
The last three clips deals with basketball: Top ten (NBA) dunks, a series of far far away three-pointers (is this real?) or just once in a lifetime (or history) shot.
Did you miss part 1, 2 and 3 in the Online Clips series?
Saturday, March 25, 2006
E: Aussiewealth Games
The 18th Commonwealth Games is currently blossoming in Melbourne. From March 15 to 26 (this Sunday), 4500 athletes from all the 71 Commonwealth nations compete against each other in 16 sports in a total of 24 events, including netball, mountain bike cycling, lawn balls, shooting and the various events in track and field. An estimated 50,000 interstate and 40,000 international visitors add to the 3.3 million inhabitants for these weeks of sports and festivities.
Personally I have briefly watch a few moments on TV, including parts of the opening ceremony. The only actual event I attended was the Rubgy7s with Darshini last Thursday, watching 12 teams playing 16 games to qualify for the playoffs (see pictures). Amongst them where the nations which a few days later proved to finish on top: New Zealand, England, Fiji and Australia. I mainly came to see Fiji playing, after being inspired by their enthusiasm when visiting.
Coming from a school of criticism (journalism), I have a few reflections to make.
¤ The Commonwealth of Nation is a organization based on the former British, imperialistic empire. 53 states plus some 18 territories make up an English speaking group of nations scattered randomly all over the world. In spite a population of numerous 1.8 billion, I struggle to see why the colonist history should be such great grounds for athleticism. It’s not regional, nor is it worldwide.
¤ The assemblage of countries, The Commonwealth Games Federation, leaves out many of the biggest sport powers in the world and will not really measure who is good or bad in the carefully selected sports, other than within the geopolitical construct. There are only a few countries with athletes in these certain sports to really content each other. And by the looks of the medal tally, this is more Aussie games than anything else. The people and the media love it though.
¤ Except the ability to compete in the wealthier countries every four years, the poorest countries did not then, nor now, really benefit much from belonging to a compilation of some Western powers. Except, of course, when athletes from the poorest country, Sierra Leone, decides to suddenly (illegally) “disappeared” on Australian soil.
¤ I also appreciate the inclusion of the “Elite Athletes with Disabilities” (EAD).
I struggle a bit to understand the motivation for the event walk (Norwegian: kappgang), where the athletes compete with a constructed moving handicap: “Walkers are expected to maintain good form and are penalised for bending the knee as it passes under the body or having no foot-to-ground contact.” It is not natural, it doesn’t look healthy, it makes the races last longer and it just looks funny.
¤ I must say though, sport is a fun way to get together, and people seem to enjoy themselves in spite increased traffic and crowded streets. It’s good for the city and the country.
Personally I have briefly watch a few moments on TV, including parts of the opening ceremony. The only actual event I attended was the Rubgy7s with Darshini last Thursday, watching 12 teams playing 16 games to qualify for the playoffs (see pictures). Amongst them where the nations which a few days later proved to finish on top: New Zealand, England, Fiji and Australia. I mainly came to see Fiji playing, after being inspired by their enthusiasm when visiting.
Coming from a school of criticism (journalism), I have a few reflections to make.
¤ The Commonwealth of Nation is a organization based on the former British, imperialistic empire. 53 states plus some 18 territories make up an English speaking group of nations scattered randomly all over the world. In spite a population of numerous 1.8 billion, I struggle to see why the colonist history should be such great grounds for athleticism. It’s not regional, nor is it worldwide.
¤ The assemblage of countries, The Commonwealth Games Federation, leaves out many of the biggest sport powers in the world and will not really measure who is good or bad in the carefully selected sports, other than within the geopolitical construct. There are only a few countries with athletes in these certain sports to really content each other. And by the looks of the medal tally, this is more Aussie games than anything else. The people and the media love it though.
¤ Except the ability to compete in the wealthier countries every four years, the poorest countries did not then, nor now, really benefit much from belonging to a compilation of some Western powers. Except, of course, when athletes from the poorest country, Sierra Leone, decides to suddenly (illegally) “disappeared” on Australian soil.
¤ I also appreciate the inclusion of the “Elite Athletes with Disabilities” (EAD).
I struggle a bit to understand the motivation for the event walk (Norwegian: kappgang), where the athletes compete with a constructed moving handicap: “Walkers are expected to maintain good form and are penalised for bending the knee as it passes under the body or having no foot-to-ground contact.” It is not natural, it doesn’t look healthy, it makes the races last longer and it just looks funny.
¤ I must say though, sport is a fun way to get together, and people seem to enjoy themselves in spite increased traffic and crowded streets. It’s good for the city and the country.
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