End of Another Year

   As another year blends into darkness, I thought I would post a picture of a recent sunset. They make a great closer for a story, photo sequence or any good tale but for me they are openers as well. After I see one, especially a really memorable one, I can not wait to see the next one in hopes of it surpassing anything that went before. I saw this one on the way back from the mountains recently and the timing was perfect as I saw a windmill next to the road. Best memories of the year that is drawing to a close and I wait with poorly concealed excitement for what the new one has in store.

Lone Windmill and tree in the Texas Panhandle.

Late Season

  Living in Texas you soon realize that the seasons that are equated with certain months of the year do not always coincide with what you experience in this state. Spring comes really early, like January, and summer can last well into October, when other states have a few feet of snow. Yesterday I found the last few brightly colored leaves that were just changing from green to red, on the 15th of December no less. Just in time to beat the first day of winter. I bet they are still hanging on the tree when the really cold days of winter get here. Just have to hope the change over to spring happens early this year though.

The last colors of Fall.

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Ligety Does it Again

  An absolutely beautiful day for ski racing at Beaver Creek and the Birds of Prey race course. The final  race of the 2014 FIS week in Colorado is the Ted Ligety specialty of Giant Slalom. After the first run he was fourth fastest but with a blistering second run he overtook the rest of the field for another dominating victory at the most prestigious ski races on the North American continent. That guy sure can turn a pair of skis.

Ted Ligety during his first of two runs. 

Rubie Brennan of the United States on course.

Manual Pleisch of Switzerland cuts it close on a gate.

Super Austrian

For the Super-G races on the Birds of Prey course the Norwegian Kjetil Jansarud was fast again but Austrian Hannes Reichelt was faster. With an extremely difficult course set, lots of DNF's, a few hard crashes, the podium finishers were glad to survive. Wonder if this is what they have to look forward to at the World Championships on the same course in February?

Hannes Reichelt of Austria celebrates.

Kjetil Jansrud on course.

Didier Defago of Switzerland is disappointed in his final "Bird" race.

American ski fans were in full force.

Russian skier Alexander Glebov celebrates finishing in the points.

Kjetil Kills It

Travis Ganong crosses the finish line.

 Norwegians are at the top of the Birds of Prey Downhill again, but this time it is Kjetil Jansrud, not Aksel Lund Swindal who is out for the season with a knee injury. Those scandinavians just seem to have a knack for the speed on skis.

The Beaver Creek area reflected in a fan's goggles.

Kjetil Jansrud with the bouquet.

Manuel OSborne-Paradis airs over the Redtail jump.

Birds Of Prey

  It is December and the FIS World Cup Sk Racers are back in Beaver Creek, and this year it is advance of the World Championships to be held in February at the same course. Course is changed just slightly for this year, in an attempt to make the crazy lads go even faster with four fewer gates. With unusually warm weather it makes for a wonderful day on the slopes.

Guillermo Fayed of France flies over the Redtail Jump.

Kjetil Jansrud of Norway makes his way down the course.

Christof Innerhoffer of Italy clears the gate at Redtail.

Marcel Hirscher of Austria comes in for a landing.