Ski Europe Now

Holy Crap! HUGE FILES!

I have been playing around with the new camera and can't tell any real difference in video quality between the settings aside from the lowest not being a movie frame size.  The lowest three settings are at 29 frames a second, and the highest is at 59 frames a second (my eye can't tell the difference).  Too much of a good thing and all that.  Plus skiing with it in my hand is a bit tricky.  Maybe if I put the Gorillapod tripod on and use that as a handle.

Classic Ski Video.

Another hidden gem courtesy of Youtube.  A bit on the older side but what's not to like? 

 

Actually, I was a bit disturbed to notice the "deer" are actually pronghorn antelope.  How the hell they filmmakers got them to stand still with all those people around is beyond me.

Another Neat Old Ski Video.

Found this gem while trolling around Youtube.

 

A bit on the long side but I remember skiing at this place in the late 80s.  It had changed a lot, even back then.  Wonder what it is like now?

Some Neat Old Ski Videos.

It is amazing the stuff you find on Youtube.  I ran across this old ski video posted by markjohnson5.  I love the vibe of this video; reminds me of times when skiing was sexy, fun, a bit mysterious, and ski bumming was a hell a lot of fun.

 

I really love the star pants.  Classic.  Makes me nostalgic.  Also makes me want to watch Last of the Ski Bums again.

All Kinds of Fun.

Poking around Youtube and ran across this video from tonytheclimber.  I still think he is a nutter.  No audio because it was removed.  Silly boy, you have to remember about copyrights.

 

I don't think I would like doing this stuff.

Lolligagging.

It's been almost six days since my last post so here is a quick video of the Ostafa 2 piste on the Champoluc side of the Monterosa ski region.  Really nice skiing on this side with fantastic corn snow and few if any people.  This particular piste was open the following day and then it was shut down (some pretty big cancer spots poking through).  I liked the video quality of the Sony tx10 camera: 1080 video with 60 frames a second so it is nice and sharp with no stuttering.

 

Be patient.  It is a pretty big file at the full HD.

Weenie Video: Alpe Ricka Piste.

How can I compete against some nutter who speedclimbs the Eiger in winter?  Answer:  I can't so here is my offering.  A nice, mellow, weenie video of the Alpe Ricke piste in Monterosa ski area.  Not as exciting but there you are.

 

Not the best quality, but that's the Sony Bloggie for you.  Thankfully I only took about 5 videos with the thing.

I also got a comment from my friend who sent me the link for the Eiger speed record video; apparently the new record is 2:26 now.  Insane.

Video Quality.

    Made it through all the photos and made all the stitch photos I think I can so now I am working on the videos.  I can tell a huge difference in the video quality between the Sony Bloggie and the Sony tx-10.  The 60 frames a second of the tx-10 make the videos much less jerky.  Love/hate technology: what was great 18 months ago sucks now.

    On a more disturbing note, I got a new catalog in the mail and on the front cover was Bear Grylls, that British nutter who places himself in scary situations to show how you too can do this and survive.  Yeah, right, as if my jetliner crashes on Greenland I'll somehow survive.  NOT.  Anyway, I thought, "Hmm.  I guess he is in the catalog and is sponsored by the company."  Not exactly.  It is a catalog of clothing designed and supported by him and has his name plastered all over everything.  I think his show is pretty cool but I'll draw the line on wearing some polarfleece with his name all over it.  Not my scene.  It will be a big hit with certain males in certain large urban centers, I'm sure.

Holy Sh!t!!! Lucky Bugger.

Someone told me about this crazy video from this guy who fell off the backside of a mountain in the Austrian Alps and lived.  I watched it and he definitely fell off the wrong side.  Amazingly, he was unhurt (aside from the obvious bruises); one lucky friggin' bastard.  I cringe when I watch it.

Holy crap.  It's like watching a bad car accident happen:  you know you shouldn't look but you do.

Last Sylvain Saudan Ski Video.

This is the last video I have of skiing with Sylvain Saudan in Chamonix, April 2009.  Lots of fun skiing with such a great man.  It certainly made it easy to get into a restaurant.