Finland To Host Master Rowing Competition

Sulkava to host international teams next July:

Sulkava, Finland plays host to the world event from July 8-11, 2010.  Open to national and club teams from all over the world and using the distinctive Finnish “churchboats,” the competition will be held on Lake Saimaa, the largest of Finland’s 200,000 lakes and the fourth largest lake in Europe.

 

The competition will feature two events: a short race of 2,000 meters in front of the Sulkava Rowing Stadium and a long race of 60 kilometers around Partala Island, the largest island in Lake Saimaa. The competition will be held jointly with Finland´s largest rowing event, the Sulkava Rowing Race, which has 8,000 participants annually.

The World Masters Rowing Competition will be run with traditional Finnish 12-meter wooden churchboats which have sliding benches and 14 oars. “Churchboats” are long rowing boats, sometimes called Sulkava boats or Viking boats, which the Finnish people once used to travel to holy mass on Sundays and were based on models from Viking days.

The church has required maintenance of the boats since the Reformation in the seventh century.

The Masters in Rowing is open to national and club teams from all around the world. Each crew consists of 14 rowers and a coxswain, with single-sex or mixed-sex crews.  The first three crews will be awarded medals, diplomas, and a cash prize. The organizers offer a variety of packages for accommodations, transportation, and other services.  Between races, teams enjoy the region’s nature and culture and indulge in the renowned Finnish sauna.

For more information about

World Master Rowing 2010 visit www.wmrowing-sulkava.fi

Visit Finland visit www.visitfinland.com

BCB

Pink Jeep Tours Adds Death Valley Experience

The jeep that tours The Grand Canyon, ventures further West:

Beginning this September, Pink Jeep Tours will become the first independent tour company to offer in-park service at Death Valley. 

These new tours will allow guests to visit the remote areas of the park too difficult for most vehicles to access.  This is made possible by Pink Jeep Tours’ new Tour Trekker, the first-of-its-kind, high-end, state-of-the-art sightseeing vehicle. This comfortable 4-wheel drive vehicle has seating for up to 10 passengers so guests will truly enjoy this “small group” experience. 

Hotel pick-up and drop-off will be available from most park hotels, including the 4-diamond Furnace Creek Inn, the Furnace Creek Ranch and the popular Stovepipe Wells Village.  Tours will originate and conclude inside the park.  To make this possible, Pink Jeep Tours has partnered with Xanterra Parks and Resorts, the nation’s largest park concessions management company and leader in park and resort hospitality.  Xanterra oversees and manages most resort, dining and retail offerings at Death Valley.

“Pink Jeep Tours has one of the most respected names in the tour business,” says Rich Jones, regional general manager, Xanterra Parks & Resorts.  “All too many past guests have not been able to visit some of the most famed attractions due to the type of vehicle they drive.  We are pleased Pink Jeep Tours will soon provide an affordable way to see these attractions in 4-wheel luxury.”

Once inside the park, guests can visit secluded areas such as Racetrack Playa, famous for its “mysterious sliding rocks” that move across the dry lake bed on their own; Titus Canyon with its panoramic views at Red Pass and sheer towering walls in the canyon “narrows”; Charcoal kilns and Mosaic Canyon with its smooth, polished marble walls and West Side Road offering views of the valley most visitors rarely see.  In addition, guests can also join Pink Jeep’s classic Death Valley tour when it arrives from Las Vegas.  This 2-hour segment visits Badwater Basin, Devil’s Golf Course, Zabriskie Point and Artist’s Palette.

“Demand is there and we predict fall will be busy,” says Alix Reed, general manager, Pink Jeep Tours.  “This is a brand new way for visitors to experience areas of Death Valley they wouldn’t otherwise be able to see and will be able to do so in an exciting, yet educational way thanks to our highly-trained guides.”

Covering nearly 3.3 million acres, Death Valley is the largest National Park in the lower 48 contiguous states.  Guests will enjoy the dramatic contrast between Telescope Peak (elev. 11,049 feet) and Badwater Basin (282 feet below sea level).

Tour prices range from $65 to $165.

BCB

Travel Educator Yukon Adventure Was No “Fish Story”

Bangor writer , Travel Educator, and sled dog racer Julia Bayly is telling no “fish tale” regarding The Yukon (we have video):

http://ca.video.yahoo.com/watch/5611758/14728543

And you thought travel writers were pampered sorts who won’t sing for their supper. Julia’s article on the region appears here:

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/111492.html

BCB

Sports Tourism, Harlem Style

My colleague Claude Johnson takes a bike ride, and points out that the Apollo Theatre isn’t the only cultural attraction in Harlem:

http://blackfivesblog.com/?p=1939

BCB

Spirit Bear Lodge Kicks Off Pre-Olympic Tourism

I’ll be headed to The Yukon this weekend, but Spirit Bear Lodge in Klemtu, B.C. has some exciting news:

Spirit Bear Adventures kicks off the pre-Olympic season with their new Spirit Bear Lodge and a new website to interact with eco-cultural travelers world-wide

First Nations owned and operated destination offers a rare opportunity to experience the natural beauty and ancient culture of coastal British Columbia

Klemtu, British Columbia, July 2, 2009- Nestled along the rugged central coast of British Columbia in the small village of Klemtu, Spirit Bear Adventures is ready to welcome the world to one of the most unique eco-cultural experiences that Canada has to offer.

The doors of the new Spirit Bear Lodge are wide open for visitors who are in search of a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience a rich cultural journey from past to present while also connecting with the rare white Spirit Bears in the Great Bear Rainforest, the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world.

For the past eight years visitors from as far away as Australia and Japan have been heading off the beaten path to spend time exploring the ancestral lands of the Kitasoo Xai’xais First Nation in search of the Spirit Bears. The grand opening of the $1.5 million dollar Spirit Bear Lodge will allow guests on the four and seven day tours to enjoy relaxed and comfortable accommodations. The new lodge has been built in the spirit of their First Nations heritage and with the comfort of their guests in mind.

“Architecturally, the exterior of the Spirit Bear Lodge pays homage to the traditional long houses built for thousands of years by west coast First Nations. Inside, the atmosphere is modern and relaxing. Through Tsimshian art, wildlife photography capturing the beauty of the area and other unique touches, the lodge has been designed to really tell the stories of the people and their connection with the land,” explains Sean Kerrigan, director of marketing.

After a day of Spirit Bear viewing, guests can share stories in “The Great Room”, an intimate central room with 20-foot high windows looking out to the Pacific Ocean. Surrounded by art, guests can gaze out towards the grey blue waters and watch for passing orcas, white-sided dolphins and sea lions. Two locally crafted 12-foot, solid cedar dining tables remind guests of the rich natural resources of the area.

Guests can listen to the perfect silence as they take in the natural wonders of the pristine and raw landscapes that surround them in this culturally authentic lodge. Each guest room takes full advantage of the ocean and rainforest viewscapes and offers a king size bed, private bath and local art. Upon returning to the lodge after a day of wildlife viewing, guest are greeted with an evening of local, west coast cuisine, most likely caught or harvested in the waters of the Kitasoo /Xai’xais Traditional Territory.

The guides at Spirit Bear Adventures are amongst the best in British Columbia. Lead guide Doug Neasloss was recently awarded the Young Adult Achievement Awards by Aboriginal Tourism BC for his outstanding work as an Eco-tour Guide. “We are honoured to be able to share our culture, our history and the natural world that has always surrounded our people. As the Olympics approach we are excited about sharing our stories and our experiences with visitors from around the world,” say Neasloss.

Unprecedented Aboriginal Involvement in the 2010 Olympic Games
As the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada prepare for their unprecedented involvement in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Spirit Bear Adventures is also getting ready to bring their incredibly unique eco-cultural experience to the world.

The new Spirit Bear Adventures interactive website that is being launched this week is just one way that they are reaching out to visitors from all corners of the world. (www.spiritbear.com)

About Spirit Bear Adventures
The 2009 Spirit Bear Adventures bear viewing season runs from the beginning of August through until the end of September. Four and seven day eco-cultural tours are available. A typical tour day begins with a ride in a 10 passenger, enclosed cabin motorboat, which takes you deep into the lush inlets and fjords. After an hour or so of traveling, guests disembark onto land to hike the river mouths, tidal flats and old growth bear trails, searching for an encounter with the Spirit Bear and other abundant wildlife. The tours are accessible to anyone with a certain amount of agility but a high level of physical fitness is not required.

Although the bear viewing tours are only available in August and September, the Spirit Bear Lodge is open year round and offers a memorable place to stay as you travel north or south through the Inside Passage, a journey along British Columbia’s central coast.

Daily float plane service, with connections from Victoria and Vancouver, brings visitors to Klemtu. BC Ferries also services Kelmtu once a week.

The Great Bear Rainforest is home to the world’s only Kitasoo Spirit Bear Conservancy. The Kitasoo/ Xai’xais First Nation have inhabited this geological region for thousands of years and their traditional territory is the location of these eco-cultural tours. The ancestral lands of the Kitasoo Xai’xais First Nation encompasses 5320 sq kms and includes over 100 documented ancient cultural sites.

Spirit Bear Adventures is a major player in the sustainable development and management of the Great Bear Rainforest. The company is focused on building healthy communities through eco-cultural tourism. The five main goals include the creation of employment and capacity building, cultural preservation and pride, the cultivation of a sense of place, economic diversification and value add and the creation of infrastructure and capital for the community.

BCB

BMX Hall of Fame Finds Permanent Home

Chula Vista to host dirt bike valhalla:

The ABA is proud to announce that the ABA BMX Hall of Fame has found a permanent home at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA.  The Olympic Training Center has set aside nearly 1000 sq. ft. inside the OTC Visitor Center to pay homage to BMX heroes from days gone by; the National BMX Hall of Fame will be one of the main attractions for over 300,000 annual visitors.

 

OTC Director Tracy Lamb stated, “It is a great honor to have this collection housed at the Olympic Training Center and it’s very exciting to know that most of the items in the collection have never been on public display”. Tracy went on to add, “now with an Olympic replica BMX track for the Elite riders, an ABA sanctioned amateur track and now the BMX Hall of Fame and Museum Chula Vista will become a world renown BMX destination”.

 

To commemorate this occasion and in conjunction with the UCI Supercross and US Open Amateur National, the San Diego Hall of Champions will host the 25^th annual BMX Hall of Fame banquet Thursday, September 17^th, 2009. The San Diego Hall of Champions is the nation’s largest multi-sport museum, boasting three levels of memorabilia and 70,000 square feet. The museum offers a state-of-the-art theatre, an interactive media center and fascinating displays on the nation’s favorite sports. The Hall of Champions is located in San Diego’s Balboa Park at 2131 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101. http://www.sdhoc.com/

 

“With the history of BMX being somewhat anchored in Southern California it is only fitting that the home of the National BMX Hall of Fame be here in Southern California” said Mike Kitts, Sponsorship Director for the San Diego Sports Commission. Mike added “The San Diego Hall of Champions is honored to host the Hall of Fame induction banquet.  As the nation’s largest multi-sport museum, The Hall of Champions will provide a unique and fitting venue for this event”.

 

The ABA BMX “Hall of Fame” is the who’s who of BMX and consists of riders and industry members who have made notable contributions to the sport of BMX racing.  Each year since 1985, a select few BMX (Bicycle Motocross) riders and industry veterans have been inducted into this elite group of individuals.

 

The induction banquet will be limited to the first 300 individuals to purchase tickets; all proceeds will go directly to the National BMX Hall of Fame Scholarship fund. There will also be a silent auction at the banquet featuring items from Hall of Fame inductees and present day racers with all proceeds going to the Scholarship fund as well.

In addition to the “Early BMX Pioneers”, “BMX Racers” and “Industry Members” categories, a “Freestyle Riders” category is being added to the ABA BMX “Hall of Fame”. This will be a great addition to the “Hall of Fame”, allowing many talented riders to be honored.

 

American Bicycle Association, CEO B.A. Anderson had this to say, “We have been in search of a home for our extensive collection of Hall of Fame memorabilia for years and I cannot think of a more suitable location than the U.S. Olympic Training Center.”  B.A. added “utilizing the San Diego Hall of Champions for the induction ceremony will truly make this a must attend event for all avid BMXer’s”.

 

About the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista:

The U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista is the first USOC training facility to be master-planned from the ground up and is dedicated to the development of America’s future Olympic athletes. The Training Center rests on a 150-acre complex adjacent to Lower Otay Lake in San Diego County. The center has sport venues and support facilities for nine Olympic sports: archery, canoe/kayak, cycling, field hockey, rowing, soccer, softball, tennis, and track & field. For more information about the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, click the link below:

http://www.usoc.org/content/index/1375

BCB

Soul Man: Moore of Sam & Dave to Perform at Hall of Fame Game

When we think of the name Sam in football lore, names such as Huff and Baugh spring to mind. But hold on, Sam Moore’s coming to the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

 

 

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has invited a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer to be a part of the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival celebration. Sam Moore of the historic soul duo Sam and Dave will perform during halftime of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game between the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans on Sunday, August 9, at 8 p.m. ET.

 

Moore, a critically acclaimed Grammy Award winning artist, has collaborated on recordings and live performances with many of today’s top artists. Some of his hit songs include: “Soul Man,” “Hold On I’m Coming” and “I Thank You.”  He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and has received several prestigious music awards.

 

Also performing at halftime and accompanying Moore as he sings some of his best known hits of the 1960s, will be the Aurora High School Marching Band.  The theme of the halftime production is a Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the American Football League.

 

“It has been a lifelong dream of mine to be accompanied by a marching band,” Moore informed the show’s producer. “Many of my original band members played in marching bands and I am beyond thrilled and flattered to finally have the opportunity to do so with the Aurora High School Marching Band,” stated Moore.

 

Moore will also sign the National Anthem at the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Enshrinement Ceremony of the Class of 2009 – Bob Hayes, Randall McDaniel, Bruce Smith, Derrick Thomas, Ralph Wilson, Jr., and Rod Woodson on Saturday, August 8, at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Enshrinement Ceremony is nationally televised by ESPN and NFL Network.

 

The Hall of Fame Game officially kicks off the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the American Football League. As part of the celebration, both the Bills and Titans will play in throwback uniforms.  The Titans, who originally played as the Houston Oilers, will wear a 1960s styled Oilers uniform. The game is televised nationally by NBC at 8 p.m. ET.

 

Tickets for both the Hall of Fame Game and the Enshrinement Ceremony may be purchased online by visiting the Hall’s website at Profootballhof.com or by calling (800)-913-9788.

 

The cost for Enshrinement tickets is $28 for sideline seats and $60 for floor seats and $150 for special VIP seats.  The floor and VIP seats are for 2009 only and non-renewable in future years. 

 

Ticket prices for the NFL Hall of Fame Game are $45 for end zone seats and $55 and $60 for sideline seats.  All tickets sales are final and are non-refundable and non-renewable.  In addition to individual Enshrinement and Pro Football Hall of Fame Game tickets, special fan travel packages are also available through Sports Travel and Tours. For fan package information visit Profootballhof.com or call (888) 310-4255.

 BCB

Where Will President Obama Stay (And Play) On Martha’s Vineyard?

Link is from Baller-in-Chief blogger and sportswear CEO Claude Johnson:

http://baller-in-chief.com/photos/some-basketball-options-for-obama-at-marthas-vineyard?utm_campaign=Twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter

Summer basketball on Martha’s Vineyard has a rich tradition, and many lifelong friendships were made on its courts. One place much of that history took place was at the public courts in Niantic Park, where a summer league for boys, teens, and adults was founded in 1970 by Vineyard Regional High School basketball Coach Jay Schofield and his aide Chris McCarthy. From the 1970’s util the 1990’s, young men, and later girls, from Boston and its suburbs, New York City, Connecticut, and island natives battled for individual and league honors there. Vacationers and year-round residents still tell fond stories of their days or observations in those leagues (a few pros even found their way to the park). There is a photo of the hallowed court in the “Baller-in-Chief” blog article.

If President Obama or his girls go to Niantic Park to shoot around, they’ll make the court famous, but for thousands of Americans it’s already a special place.

BCB

Sweet Shoutout To Sweet Spot Golf

More kudos for some slick ladies’ sticks:

http://realwomengolf.blogspot.com/2009/06/nothing-like-hitting-sweet-spot.html

Keep up the good work fellas.

BCB

Sports in St. Louis’ Loop: The Pin-Up Bowl

Smack in the middle of the booming, luminescent night life of St. Louis’ trendy Loop district is a place where you can knock down pins near where President Obama knocks down pies (pizza, that is).  At 6191 Delmar, The Pin-Up Bowl is equal parts eight lane bowling alley and martini bar:

http://www.pinupbowl.com

There are not too many trendy downtown bowling alleys in America (only Cleveland’s Corner Alley comes to mind). Pin-Up is conveniently located near a Metro stop, the new boutique hotel The Moonrise, Thai Cafe, the popular Pageant Theatre, and the aforementioned pizzeria al presidente, π (get it, “pie”?). Hoops fans, Hall fo Famer and longtime St. Louis Hawks’ star Bob Pettit is commemorated with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame across the street from The Moonrise.

Make a night of it here, from the Eclipse Restaurant, or chic rooftop bar of  The Moonrise. The hotel, which opened in March, has a lunar-retro motif, is swarming with attractive singles, and features valet parking. Take in the view from the top, from which one can see the Gateway Arch. But back to the sports. Whether you’re bowling, for dollars, giggles, or nostalgia, an evening at Pin-Up Bowl has it all. The place is done out in what else- vintage pinup “girl” art.  If you love music, St. Louis native Chuck Berry rocked his 80th birthday there, and rapper Nelly has also been in the house. It’s perfect for a knockdown, drag out good time. No wonder The Loop in “The Lou” is packed with patrons on Friday and weekend nights.

BCB