Friday, March 20, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Rolex just loves us....
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From The Hahnenkammnews
There were also a number of changes to the aesthetics to the course: The new start house facia gave the start of the race a striking new look. The racers gave this new look a big thumbs up! Precision Timing, on behalf of Rolex, had also brought new ideas to the race that were unique to Kitzbuehel, starting with their stroboscopic platform that allowed viewers to see exactly when the racers had broken the wand and started their run. The green LED lights flashed clearly for all to see.
Those watching on the Rolex screens in the finish area as well as at home were able to see the acceleration from the start as well as the speed that racers were going over the Mausefalle just after the start. All these pieces of information gave the viewers, as well as the coaches and racers, more of an insight into how the competitors were getting on when pitched against each other.
It was in the finish area that the clearest sign of the new technology being used: The Rolex Speedometer gave everyone interested the opportunity to see how fast the racers were going as they came into the finish area. Didier Defago won The Race on Hahnenkamm Saturday and he also took the fastest speed down the Zielschuss, coming in at over 142kmh! While the technology used by the ski companies to help the racers go ever faster improves, the technology being used by Precision Timing and their partners Seltec is constantly evolving as is the partnership between the Kitzbueheler Ski Club, Rolex and the service providers. Ted Savage from Precision Timing is forthright when he says that they “focus on being the best in the world.”
Those watching on the Rolex screens in the finish area as well as at home were able to see the acceleration from the start as well as the speed that racers were going over the Mausefalle just after the start. All these pieces of information gave the viewers, as well as the coaches and racers, more of an insight into how the competitors were getting on when pitched against each other.
It was in the finish area that the clearest sign of the new technology being used: The Rolex Speedometer gave everyone interested the opportunity to see how fast the racers were going as they came into the finish area. Didier Defago won The Race on Hahnenkamm Saturday and he also took the fastest speed down the Zielschuss, coming in at over 142kmh! While the technology used by the ski companies to help the racers go ever faster improves, the technology being used by Precision Timing and their partners Seltec is constantly evolving as is the partnership between the Kitzbueheler Ski Club, Rolex and the service providers. Ted Savage from Precision Timing is forthright when he says that they “focus on being the best in the world.”
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Another Race comes to an end
Arrived home from Kitz late on Monday. Our team exceeded all of our targets and left our client in a very very pleased state. In fact, it was quoted that this was one of the top 10 Kitz races in all time (this was the 69th).
On my photo site (where I just uploaded a ton more pictures), you can see a close up of the Red Bull helicopter. Just keep in mind that he is totally vertical pointing straight down at me while I stand on the finish line.
From the time that the DH starts on Saturday to the finish of the SL on Sunday, it is go go go. Once the DH finishes on Saturday, we have to gather all our equipment and move over to the SL start. This requires getting it wired and tested (for those timing types, we use 5 pairs -- System A, System B, Headset, Display - where we feed display data up to the start. For those of you counting, the 5th is a spare pair).
The finish is no different. System A, System B, Headset, Photo Finish Camera and manual button. As well, if possible, we do add a fibre optic line for the photo finish camera. You can see the attached picture of a skier who just carved a turn over the finish line.
At the end of the SL race it is then time to pack up ALL the equipment so that it can be shipped back to Canada. Some equipment is rented from our good friends at Alge.
Now, back to the food. Sunday night we all got back to the villa at about 7:15pm. Just in time for a large 4 course dinner with some of the very key members of the organizing committee including the Marketting Rep for Rolex. All great guys.
Kitzbuhel is the mecca of DH ski racing. It all started here and is one of the safest courses in the world. You only have to go back to when the crazy canucks raced in the 80's to see the lack of safety netting. CBC clearly showed that on their broadcast.
I work with some of the best propeller heads in the business. We have a lot of fun and haven't killed each other (yet). We are family even though we are scattered to the 4 corners of the world.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Race day
Wow, what a day. Make sure you just watch it.
The data on TV really rocked. Brooker thought that the acceleration radar was just cool.
Speeds into the finish were over 140kph.
Friday, January 23, 2009
This is worth posting
From the Hahnenkammnews
The evolution of time: Bringing technology to the forefront
The concept of the Race is simple: The fastest man from top to bottom is the winner. This is straightforward. The cooperation between the Kitzbueheler Ski Club as the host, Precision Timing as the timing provider, Seltec as the data organiser and Rolex as the sponsor brings four partners together, all have the same goal: To provide the best possible service. In the words of Precision Timings Ted Savage: “The partnership with the Kitzbueheler Ski Club and Rolex brings the ‘Best in the World’ together.”
Savage explains that racing is all about “performance that is relevant to time” and the evolution of ideas and concepts brings more excitement to the viewer. The service orientated product that is created for the Hahnenkamm weekend is not available at any other World Cup ski race and is unique to Kitzbuehel. From the moment the racer breaks the wand and starts his descent down the Streif, there is an abundance of information available to the media, the television commentator and all the way around the world to the television viewer, as well as on the hill to the coaches situated along the course. According to Savage, coaches can even use touch screens that are set up to pick up data that is relevant to their racers including acceleration out of the start gate, speed at the first major hurdle- the Mausefalle- and then the deceleration through the Laerchenschuss, all available to the coaches as soon as it has happened. For the fans watching the race from the finish area or on television, the Rolex Speedometer is also visible, showing how fast the racers go. American Scott McCartney was logged at 142km/h last year and the fastest in training this year was France’s David Poisson, at just shy of 140km/h.
The technology that all of this involves is incredible. Sitting in the Zielhaus next to the audio and TV studios of ORF, the Austrian broadcaster, the Precision Timing team and Seltec’s team coordinate a group of twenty spread out along the course. They have all worked together over the years at many events and offer an extremely professional service. Two four-kilometre long cables send the data down from the start to the finish, and then a mixture of fibre optics and hardwire sends the information out to the world. The data is collected through nine sensor points and four radar systems throughout the course. Once collected, the data is sent outbound to the Commentator Information System (CIS) and the waiting world through the use of radar, photo cell systems and hill management systems.
It is all about being the best in the world and this year there are a number of exciting new developments that can be seen on the course. By using a stroboscopic platform, in this case a flash of green light, spectators can see exactly when the racer breaks the wand and leaves the new starting area. The acceleration profile available on the TV screens last year will also be available in 2009. According to Savage, this is a “moment of external transparency that you just do not see in the sports timing at other events.” Commentators and viewers alike can also see the speed at which the racers leave the Mausefalle, just a few seconds after the start. Savage explains: “This is unique technology that Kitzbuehel has allowed us to evolve in partnership with Rolex and is typical of Kitzbuehel in that you will not see this anywhere else.” As the racer flies over the Hausbergkante and down the Zielschuss into the finish, the Rolex speedometer gives the thousands of fans watching an idea of just how fast the racers are going.
Precision Timing and their partner Seltec are constantly testing out new ideas and listening to what Kitzbuehel would like. Savage explains: “We would not be able to do these things unless Rolex were willing to be as avant garde about this as they are or as accepting as a sponsor. As technologists, what we bring to the table are independent views and expertise that work off one another and as a triad we push the event forward. We then inject into this, the point of view of the historic ski club of Kitzbuehel. This brings a solution that you just will not see anywhere else.”
Surrounded by a bank of laptops and a few desktops with larger drives, Savage explains that the race is “an athletic test of very pure dynamics, it requires a certain appreciation of the basics and evolves beyond that.” While the fans soak up the information provided in the graphics, the teams need the information to discover where the racer is winning and losing time. Peter Gridling from Seltec explains this further: “The teams do not realise quite what we can do for them. They need to learn what we can do for them.” Savage adds that “the information is available straight away and is instantaneous.” For the future, as telecommunications develop, there are plans for the coaches and athletes to be able to log on to the internet and access this information. At the moment, as per the request of the live communication portals, the information output on the screen is limited.
While the Hahnenkamm weekend is the most exciting weekend on the FIS Audi Alpine Skiing World Cup, the development of the technology behind the scenes means that the waiting world, watching both at the race and around the world, can access information up to the thousandth of a second at the touch of button. From the moment the racer leaves the start to the moment he leans forward to break the beam at the bottom, the information deliverance is constantly evolving through the use of technology.
Timing and data are integral parts of the whole event and the collaboration with Rolex and Kitzbuehel means, in the words of Seltec’s Peter Gridling, “We want to show the best overview they can get!” Ted Savage sums up the whole relationship between the various partners, and in particular the Kitzbueheler Ski Club, when he says, “They drive the event and lead the world.” Kitzbuehel is unique and with the Rolex sponsorship, the event leads the world with its use of technology.
The concept of the Race is simple: The fastest man from top to bottom is the winner. This is straightforward. The cooperation between the Kitzbueheler Ski Club as the host, Precision Timing as the timing provider, Seltec as the data organiser and Rolex as the sponsor brings four partners together, all have the same goal: To provide the best possible service. In the words of Precision Timings Ted Savage: “The partnership with the Kitzbueheler Ski Club and Rolex brings the ‘Best in the World’ together.”
Savage explains that racing is all about “performance that is relevant to time” and the evolution of ideas and concepts brings more excitement to the viewer. The service orientated product that is created for the Hahnenkamm weekend is not available at any other World Cup ski race and is unique to Kitzbuehel. From the moment the racer breaks the wand and starts his descent down the Streif, there is an abundance of information available to the media, the television commentator and all the way around the world to the television viewer, as well as on the hill to the coaches situated along the course. According to Savage, coaches can even use touch screens that are set up to pick up data that is relevant to their racers including acceleration out of the start gate, speed at the first major hurdle- the Mausefalle- and then the deceleration through the Laerchenschuss, all available to the coaches as soon as it has happened. For the fans watching the race from the finish area or on television, the Rolex Speedometer is also visible, showing how fast the racers go. American Scott McCartney was logged at 142km/h last year and the fastest in training this year was France’s David Poisson, at just shy of 140km/h.
The technology that all of this involves is incredible. Sitting in the Zielhaus next to the audio and TV studios of ORF, the Austrian broadcaster, the Precision Timing team and Seltec’s team coordinate a group of twenty spread out along the course. They have all worked together over the years at many events and offer an extremely professional service. Two four-kilometre long cables send the data down from the start to the finish, and then a mixture of fibre optics and hardwire sends the information out to the world. The data is collected through nine sensor points and four radar systems throughout the course. Once collected, the data is sent outbound to the Commentator Information System (CIS) and the waiting world through the use of radar, photo cell systems and hill management systems.
It is all about being the best in the world and this year there are a number of exciting new developments that can be seen on the course. By using a stroboscopic platform, in this case a flash of green light, spectators can see exactly when the racer breaks the wand and leaves the new starting area. The acceleration profile available on the TV screens last year will also be available in 2009. According to Savage, this is a “moment of external transparency that you just do not see in the sports timing at other events.” Commentators and viewers alike can also see the speed at which the racers leave the Mausefalle, just a few seconds after the start. Savage explains: “This is unique technology that Kitzbuehel has allowed us to evolve in partnership with Rolex and is typical of Kitzbuehel in that you will not see this anywhere else.” As the racer flies over the Hausbergkante and down the Zielschuss into the finish, the Rolex speedometer gives the thousands of fans watching an idea of just how fast the racers are going.
Precision Timing and their partner Seltec are constantly testing out new ideas and listening to what Kitzbuehel would like. Savage explains: “We would not be able to do these things unless Rolex were willing to be as avant garde about this as they are or as accepting as a sponsor. As technologists, what we bring to the table are independent views and expertise that work off one another and as a triad we push the event forward. We then inject into this, the point of view of the historic ski club of Kitzbuehel. This brings a solution that you just will not see anywhere else.”
Surrounded by a bank of laptops and a few desktops with larger drives, Savage explains that the race is “an athletic test of very pure dynamics, it requires a certain appreciation of the basics and evolves beyond that.” While the fans soak up the information provided in the graphics, the teams need the information to discover where the racer is winning and losing time. Peter Gridling from Seltec explains this further: “The teams do not realise quite what we can do for them. They need to learn what we can do for them.” Savage adds that “the information is available straight away and is instantaneous.” For the future, as telecommunications develop, there are plans for the coaches and athletes to be able to log on to the internet and access this information. At the moment, as per the request of the live communication portals, the information output on the screen is limited.
While the Hahnenkamm weekend is the most exciting weekend on the FIS Audi Alpine Skiing World Cup, the development of the technology behind the scenes means that the waiting world, watching both at the race and around the world, can access information up to the thousandth of a second at the touch of button. From the moment the racer leaves the start to the moment he leans forward to break the beam at the bottom, the information deliverance is constantly evolving through the use of technology.
Timing and data are integral parts of the whole event and the collaboration with Rolex and Kitzbuehel means, in the words of Seltec’s Peter Gridling, “We want to show the best overview they can get!” Ted Savage sums up the whole relationship between the various partners, and in particular the Kitzbueheler Ski Club, when he says, “They drive the event and lead the world.” Kitzbuehel is unique and with the Rolex sponsorship, the event leads the world with its use of technology.
Enough about the food -- I guess
Today was Super G day. Weather started out great, but it got cloudy by race time.
The fun with SG is that it is raced almost at downhill speeds, but the racers only get to inspect it, but not train on it like they do with the downhill. Also ORF TV does to ski racing what CBC does to hockey. You get lots and lots of race analysis. Like right now as I write this. Even though it is in German, with the replays, you can tell what they are discussing. ORF is even doing the racer vs. racer overlay so you can see how the favourites did and how each turn affected the outcome.
It is a blast to hear the crowds roar as the Austrian's (or Swiss) show up in first place as their time is measured and reported on the big display boards. Then as they blow it approaching the finish, the 60,000 of the groan. Sort of like the Leafs giving up a 2 goal lead.
IF you happen to watch the DH race tomorrow (which should be a GO as the weather should be fine), as you watch the racer make a right hander to head to the finish, they are on a 40 degree slope with their skis barely on the snow. Pretty amazing.
Sunday is the Slalom race. The weather for that day could be very very interesting with high winds, etc.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
This is a dangerous sport
Today (Thursday if I remember correctly) started just like any other. About 0C this morning and the humidity running a little high. Our walk over to the hill takes about 10 minutes, just like any other day.
The inside guys that do the timing and data handling start to arrive about 8am for an 11:30 start. We gather our backs of equipment (which include the 4 radar units, lots of eyes for intermeditate times, and head over to the Hahnenkammbahn (lift) to the top.
Brian, who manages the start and overseas most thing 'outside' has boxes of timing equipment to ensure that we don't have any issues during a race that is sent to live TV. Ted, oversee'r of all, the rest of the world covered and from any angle.
I leave the start about 90 minutes before the start of the race and start setting up the start radar which shows how fast they accelerate followed by the Mausefalle jump (just seconds after the start) - racers hit 120+kph here. This radar unit is installed on the side of a scaffolding that is somehow clued to the side of a cliff. They even charge you to watch the race from here. If you check the photos on my web page you can see it pointed down at almost 45 degrees (it doesn't look like much as it is just a box about 4" x 4").
Next, I ski through most of the course (bypassing the Stielhang) which I avoid at most costs. I've skied it once there year just to say I did. It is nothing but a wild off camber high speed turn. Oh, it is steep as well.
Larkenschuss is fairly straightforward as it is on somewhat flat terrain. But, the Zeil makes up for that. If it is 'soft' enough I can almost ski to the TV tower that the radar is mounted on. If it scraped down to the ice, it is better that I walk down through the snow so that I don't end up on ORF TV in a slide for life. This radar is the money shot though. It defines the speed that 60000 spectators see as the racer klings to his edges as he blasts through the finish.
Which brings me to todays race under somewhat sunny skies. Daniel Albrecht mis-judged the Zeilsprung and landed very poorly requiring him to be airlifted unconcious. More on Ski Racing.
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