Erk's 2014 Pacamerican Circle

[UP4014]

Keep it coming Erkie, enjoying the ride with you.

 

[erkpod]

Roller derby pics, Portland

Roller derby is tough & tumble. It's great fun to watch!

 

[Grooba]

Loving it erk! Give us a smile in your next selfie!

 

[erkpod]

More roller derby pics










This lady is having fun shooting stuff (t-shirts) out of a cannon...



... and riding a bike that was a raffle around the track at half time. I was more entertained by her than the actual half time entertainment (ring toss & spin around a bat & hit the ball).

The Americans really do pomp & ceremony well at sporting events, even local level roller derby. I got goosebumps when the American anthem started tonight.

 

[erkpod]

The Americans do pomp & ceremony very well. I was just expecting to wheel someone out to sing the national anthem & then get on with it. Before that though, out came a drumming troop, the local Last Regiment Of Syncopated Drummers. The stadium was just filled with the sound of drums. Lucky for me, I'm an audio guy so I recorded it.

 

[erkpod]

On Friday night, the venue was host to a (ice) hockey game. Saturday night was roller derby & Sunday afternoon is another hockey game. Lots of effort went in to transforming the venue for totally different requirements. Occasionally though, the roller derby surface needs to be patched up. Roller derby is very grass roots so all of the venues they use are not dedicated to the sport - everything is very temporary.

 

[erkpod]

Day 19, Portland OR
Sunday 19 January

Because I'm flying out of PDX at OMG o'clock on Wednesday, I thought I'd take a trip out to the airport today before I go to the hockey. Unlike some US airports (LAX I'm talking to you in particular with the exception of TBIT), you can shop & eat here without being airside.


So I'm eating in a place with a tarmac view. On the other side of the window next to me is the sterile area but at least I can see some planes!

 

[erkpod]

Loving it erk! Give us a smile in your next selfie!

Here you go!


Oh wait....







In all seriousness though, I use those photos in other projects & I'm more comfortable being neutral. I'm the Switzerland of selfies.

 

[erkpod]

Another hockey game & another win to the Winterhawks!



Hard to believe this was a roller derby venue last night & a hockey venue again this afternoon.



My view of the game today, front row behind the goals next to the glass. The Winterhawks were shooting into this goal for 2 periods out of 3. Lots of noise when the players & the pucks hit the glass. Lucky that the glass is really perspex.



Not sure who this guy was. He was behind the goals during play & didn't appear to talk to anyone.



They must leave the US & the Canadian flags flying at the stadium. One of the teams on Friday were Canadian & the Winterhawks play other Canadian teams also. I've heard the US national anthem 3 times this weekend.



Another Zanboni shot. This match was played Sunday afternoon & curtains were moved (so I hear) so the sky is visible.

 

[erkpod]

Welcome Winterhawks!



16: Oh look, it's the Winterhawk mascot!
24: I'm so glad that's not me....


Waiting to hit the ice for the Toss-A-Puck competition


The goal tender is arguably the hardest working person on the ice.


27: What do you think's going on over there?
4: Dunno!

(My captions)

 

[erkpod]

There's a joke that I didn't invent that goes "I went to a fight & a game of hockey broke out" - there were a few fights & lots of body slamming in the 2 games I watched live. The Winterhawks (in white) won the fight & the game.









One of several chats in another incident between the captain & an official




The goals need to be movable so the ice can be cleaned & also for safety. Sometimes players skate into the goals which forces them to move & the game stops.

 

[TomVexille]

How are you liking the hockey?

 

[erkpod]

How are you liking the hockey?

Loved it! For Friday's first game, I was with a local & was off to the side in the stands. Today I was by myself behind the goals. Interestingly, I was given row F which you wouldn't think was the front row I asked for but it was. A was at the back - go figure!

I've played field hockey in high school (I was a goalkeeper or fullback) & I casually have watched it in the past - I'm not a hockey virgin. I'll be in New York in a few days so it would be interesting to see a game there.

 

[TomVexille]

Loved it! For Friday's first game, I was with a local & was off to the side in the stands. Today I was by myself behind the goals. Interestingly, I was given row F which you wouldn't think was the front row I asked for but it was. A was at the back - go figure!

I've played field hockey in high school (I was a goalkeeper or fullback) & I casually have watched it in the past - I'm not a hockey virgin. I'll be in New York in a few days so it would be interesting to see a game there.

Awesome. I'm a big Blackhawks fan myself (interesting that the Winterhawks use the Blackhawks logo but the mascot is a hawk). It's a great sport that probably doesn't get the exposure it could in Australia. I would assume because ice skating doesn't really happen much in this climate.

 

[amaroo]

Hockey is a big deal in Canada. We walked into a place in Montreal called Reuben's Deli on a Saturday afternoon for a drink - the place (and it's huge) was filled to the beam with people dressed like this....



Liking the TR erkpod

 

[erkpod]

Awesome. I'm a big Blackhawks fan myself (interesting that the Winterhawks use the Blackhawks logo but the mascot is a hawk). It's a great sport that probably doesn't get the exposure it could in Australia. I would assume because ice skating doesn't really happen much in this climate.

It's been confusing to me all day. The Winterhawks (shortened to Hawks) in the hockey & the Seahawks (also shortened to Hawks) in the NFL who have made it to the Superbowl a little earlier today. So today's been filled with Hawks in 2 different cities in 2 different sports.

 

[erkpod]

Hockey is a big deal in Canada. We walked into a place in Montreal called Reuben's Deli on a Saturday afternoon for a drink - the place (and it's huge) was filled to the beam with people dressed like this....

View attachment 23283

Liking the TR erkpod

I know of a certain person who complains about the lack of specific female jerseys for the various football codes (primarily A League). No such issues here, seemingly.

One great thing about the hockey jerseys here is that they are designed to be worn over padding so it's easy to wear thick clothes under the jersey which you need to do here.

 

[erkpod]

Day 20, Portland OR
Monday 20 January

Started the morning with a walk across the nearby Broadway bridge. I zigzagged around downtown until I found that trivia has been cancelled tonight - my local quizmaster & her family are ill.

So I'm off to the Winterhawks tonight & I'm getting a behind the scenes tour. The arena tonight is the main arena where the Winterhawks play if there's not a clash with the NBA's Trailblazers. Can't wait!

 

[erkpod]

Day 20, Portland OR
Monday 20 January

I headed to the Moda Centre for this evening's Winterhawks game & was promised a totally different experience. Even without the behind the scenes tour I received, the stadium is bigger & seemingly newer to the one I spent part of the last 3 days in.

The Portland Trailblazers (basketball) are obviously the bigger of the two sports played at the centre at this time of year with some facilities specially for them.

In the hockey configuration, the stadium seats around 10500 whereas the basketball configuration is around 19000 due to a higher level of seating being open.

My first stop was the media centre where I met several key members of the Winterhawks staff as well as the mascot out of suit. Accompanied by my host (the announcer), I learnt more about how the team & the competition are set up. Most of the players are in high school or college but can get drafted to the NHL. Most of the playing roster are actually Canadian, are are most of the teams in the wider competition.

I got to see both teams warming up off the ice without all the bulky gear as well as the umpires who don't walk around the stadium in gear that identifies them as match officials.

Next stop was the cheerleaders area, where I got to meet a couple of the cheerleaders. The Rosebuds are one of the quality cheerleading groups in the competition. They have special shoes to enable them to walk & dance on the ice.



I got to sit on (but not drive!) the Zamboni which cleans the ice & the people carrying version which takes people for laps around the ice.





I got to walk on the ice which would be in use around an hour later.





I posed in front of the goals while they were off the ice.

I also got to meet the guy who plays all the music (that's not the announcer's job) among others before it was time to go to my seat. It was great to meet people that I'd never get to in places I'd never get into.

 

[erkpod]

My view of the ice


I can think of a certain quizmaster who hates these horns...



... but I don't think she's anti cowbell.





Kiss Cam is really a thing. Who knew!