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• Alistair Brownlee

  27 Aug

  www.guardian.co.uk

  

  Triathlon

  "Looking at the bigger picture I'm in a relatively good place. I've won a lot of big races and I've learned a lot along the way. Obviously, at the moment, I'm not in the best shape after the stomach bug that affected me at the World Championship series race in London, but that experience might end up being a help come 2012 because it makes you realise that despite all of your preparation, such a tiny thing can still upset all of your plans.

  During the race I had heat exhaustion and dehydration. I've got no memory from being 300 metres out from the finish line to waking up in a hospital bed. After London I threw myself into training again and underestimated how long it would take my body to recover. The experience taught me that anything can happen and you have to pay attention to the tiniest details in terms of eating and sleeping.

  I'm waiting on the blood tests to find out exactly what went wrong, but in terms of what I need to improve ahead of 2012 there are absolutely thousands of things. I'm working really hard on technical aspects in swimming, cycling and running. You can make massive gains by being technically efficient, so I'm learning as much as I can about what it takes to put myself in the best position on a particular day in terms of preparation"

  Biography

  Born 23 April 1988, Dewsbury, Yorkshire

  Educated Bradford grammar school. Began degree in medicine at Girton College, Cambridge, but left to pursue career in triathlon. Degree in Physiology and Sport from Leeds Uni, now studying for MsC in finance

  Hobbies Walking, going to cinema, reading, and kite-flying
  
  Favourite film Inception - quite hard to follow but it's brilliant

  Favourite book Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts - semi-autobiograhpical journey from locked-up drug addict to redemption in India

  Training

  "If one element isn't strong enough in the race season I'll do more of it the following winter in training. Then I test that work in the race season. Training is pretty much standard each year - and that will not change up to 2012. My main focus for next year is to try to avoid getting injured by being consistent and learning to stay healthy"

  Key statistics

  Major titles won
  Junior world champion 2006, Under-23 world champion 2008, Senior world champion 2009

  Olympic record
  Beijing 2008
  Position 12th

  2009 record
  World ranking 1
  Points 4400
  World Championship series wins 5

  2010 record
  World ranking 17
  Points 1235
  World Championship series wins 1

  Current world top 5
  Jan Frodeno (Ger)
  Points 2910
  Javier Gomez (Spa)
  Points 2679
  Alex Brukhankov (Rus)
  Points 2388
  Brad Kahledfeldt (Aus)
  Points 2233
  Steffen Justus (Ger)
  Points 2112

  Main rivals for 2012
  Javier Gomez (Spa)
  Age 27
  U23 world champion 2003, world champion 2008
  Jan Frodeno (Ger)
  Age 29
  2008 Olympic champion

  Olympic countdown

  8-12 Sep 2010
  ITU World Championship series grand final, Budapest

  TBC 2011
  ITU World Championship series event, Madrid

  6-7 August 2011
  ITU World Championship series event, London

  TBC 2011
  ITU World Championship series event, Kitzbuhel

  TBC 2011
  ITU Triathlon World Cup Championship, grand final

  24-25 Sep 2011
  ETU Triathlon European Championships, Pontevedra

  TBC 2012
  ETU Triathlon European Championships

  TBC 2012
  ITU World Championship series grand final

  6-7 Aug 2012
  Olympic Triathlon, London, Hyde Park

  In numbers

  6
  Best finish by a Briton in the three times the triathlon has been hosted at the Olympics - Michelle Dillon in 2004

  7
  ITU world cup and championship titles won by Great Britain's men since 1989, the most by any country

  1
  Number of medals won by a triathlete competing at a home Olympics - silver for Australia's Michellie Jones in 2000

  Venue

  London 2012's triathlon will take place in Hyde Park, with the swim section in the Serpentine

  • Olympic games 2012
  • Triathlon

  
  

  guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

  
  

  Read more over at www.guardian.co.uk

• THE ACORN AND RURAL ALBERTA ADVANTAGE ANNOUNCE FALL TOURS AND NEW RELEASES

  27 Aug

  Altsounds

  After a summer of fun in the sun, The Acorn will be embarking on an extensive fall tour of North America to support their recently-released album No Ghost. Having recorded the album at a secluded cottage in Northern Québec, the band will be bringing 'the cottage' on tour with a thematic stage show, props, and specials guests, to help bring the album to life. You can view all the tour dates at the end of this update!
  The Acorn's long-awaited follow-up to 2007's wildly-successful Glory Hope Mountain is now receiving remix treatment as well. The band have called on friends and heroes to annihilate and reinvent their music. The remixes range from glitch-pop experiments, to subtle re-inventions and sweet club jams. Make The Least of The Day will only be available physically at The Acorn's live shows and will be released digitally on September 14th on Paper Bag Digital.
  
  In the meantime, you can preview and download the Megafaun remix of "Kindling To Cremation" here.
  
  
  Make The Least Of The Day remixers and tracklisting:
  
  
  FOUR TET – Restoration
  SANDRO PERRI – Misplaced
  LAKE – Slippery When Wet
  JOKERS OF THE SCENE – Bobcat Goldwraith
  OHBIJOU - Almanac
  BORN RUFFIANS – Crossed Wires
  DIAMOND RINGS – No Ghost
  SNAILHHOUSE – Cobbled From Dust
  MEGAFAUN – Kindling To Cremation
  WOODPIGEON – On The Line
  CHAD VANGAALEN – I Made The Law
  
  The limited edition red vinyl version of No Ghost is all sold out in the Paper Bag Online Shop, but is still available on CD and Digital here.
  
  
  
  

  -----------

  For more information on The Acorn, you can visit:

  FACEBOOK | MYSPACE | PAPER BAG RECORDS
  

  
  

  
  

  
  THE RURAL ALBERTA ADVANTAGE IN THE STUDIO FOR NEW ALBUM
  

  The Rural Alberta Advantage will be embarking on a nine-date tour of Canada’s West Coast that will have them spending some extra time in the province that inspired their acclaimed debut album, Hometowns.

  The tour comes on the tail-end of a summer of heavy recording for the band, who have been hard at work over the summer with producer Roger Leavens (who also produces Woodhands) at Boombox Sound in Toronto on their as-yet-untitled follow-up album slated for a Canadian release in early 2011 on Paper Bag Records. Check out some photos of the band from the studio here.

  
  

  The RAA spent the past winter on the road, hitting a sold out headlining tour across Canada, a performance at the Vancouver Olympics, a relentless schedule of 11 shows over the four days of SXSW in Austin, and recently returned from their first European tour.

  The limited blue vinyl edition of Hometowns is sold out in the Paper Bag Records shop - you might be lucky enough to snag a copy from the band themselves on the road, which is a bit of extra incentive to see them on tour!

  Hometowns is, however, still available on CD and Digital at the Paper Bag Records Online Shop.
  

  
  

  -----------

  For more information on The Rural Alberta Advantage, you can visit:

  FACEBOOK | MYSPACE | PAPER BAG RECORDS
  

  
  

  

  Nearly all of Paper Bag's roster are on extensive fall tours ranging across North American and Europe! Born Ruffians and Winter Gloves will be teaming up for dates down the Eastern US before splitting ways to cover the rest of North America. Young Galaxy will be touring across Canada with former bandmates Stars as PS I Love You tears through the North American west coast and through the prairies. A renewed You Say Party will be returning to Europe to complete their previously cancelled tour.

  SUMMER 2010 TOUR DATES
  

  The Acorn

  Sep 15 - Halifax, NS - St. Matthew's United Church
  Sep 16 - Fredericton, NB - Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival
  Sep 17 - Sackville, NB - Sackville City Fair
  Sep 21 - Cambridge, MA - TT and The Bear's *
  Sep 23 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge *
  Sep 24 - Brooklyn, NY - Littlefields *
  Sep 25 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie *
  Sep 26 - Washington, DC - DC9*
  Sep 28 - Pontiac, MI - Crofoot Ballroom*
  Sep 29 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom *
  Sep 30 - Chicago, IL - Schubas *
  Oct 01 - Minneapolois, MN - Turf Club
  Oct 02 - Madison, WI - The Frequency
  Oct 13 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echo ++
  Oct 14 - San Francisco, CA - Cafe du Nord++
  Oct 16 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir ++
  Oct 17 - Seattle, WA - High Dive++
  Oct 20 - Victoria, BC - Lucky Bar++
  Oct 21 - Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore Cabaret ++
  Oct 23 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room++
  Oct 24 - Calgary, AB - Republik ++
  

  Oct 26 - Saskatoon, SK - Amigo's

  Oct 27 - Winnipeg, MB - Park Theatre

  Oct 28 - Thunder Bay, ON - The Apollo

  Oct 29 - Sault Ste. Marie, ON - Loplop Lounge & Gallery Dec 04 - Ottawa, ON - Capital Music Hall++
  
  * w/Basia Bulat
  ++ w/Leif Vollebekk
  

  
  Born Ruffians

  Sep 17 - London, ON - London Ontario Live Arts Fest

  Sep 28 - Rochester, NY - Bug Jar
  Sep 29 – Cambridge, MA – Middle East Downstairs
  Sep 30 – Northampton, MA – Iron Horse
  Oct 01 – Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory
  Oct 02 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
  Oct 03 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
  Oct 04 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
  Oct 05 – Washington, DC – Rock & Roll Hotel
  Oct 06 – Charlottesville, VA – Random Row Books
  Oct 07 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506
  Oct 08 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl
  Oct 09 – Birmingham, AL – Bottletree
  Oct 10 – Orlando, FL – Backbooth
  Oct 11 – Tallahassee, FL – Club Downunder
  Oct 12 – Baton Rouge, LA – Spanish Moon
  Oct 13 – Houston, TX – Mango’s
  Oct 14 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
  Oct 15 – Denton, TX – Hailey’s
  Oct 16 – Kansas City, MO – The Riot Room
  Oct 17 – Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge
  Oct 18 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
  Oct 19 – Tucson, AZ – Plush
  Oct 20 – La Jolla, CA – The Loft
  Oct 21 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
  Oct 22 – San Francisco, CA Bottom Of The Hill
  Oct 23 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir
  Oct 25 – Seattle, WA – Chop Suey
  Oct 26 – Missoula, MT – The Palace
  Oct 28 – Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club
  Oct 29 – Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
  Oct 30 – Detroit, MI – The Majestic

  PS I Love You

  Sep 13 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern
  

  Sep 15 – Chicago, IL - Schubas
  Sep 19 – Costa Mesa, CA – Detroit Bar #
  Sep 20 – Santa Barbara, CA – Jensen’s #
  Sep 21 – Santa Cruz, CA – Crepe Place #
  Sep 23 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge #
  Sep 24 – Boise, ID – Neurolux #
  Sep 28 – Nelson, BC – Hume Hotel**
  Sep 30 – Banff, AB – Wild Bills **
  Oct 01 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room**
  Oct 02 - Regina, SK - Distrikt**
  Oct 03 - Winnipeg, MB - Pyramid #
  Oct 04 - Saskatoon, SK - Louis' Pub**
  Oct 06 - Calgary, AB - Republik**
  Oct 08 - Victoria, BC - Logan's Pub ##
  Oct 09 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre ##
  Oct 10 - Seattle, WA - The Highdive
  Oct 11 - Portland, OR - The Rotture
  Oct 12 - San Francisco, CA - The Hemlock
  Oct 13 - Santa Monica, VA - The Central
  
  Oct 14 - Los Angeles, CA - The Mint
  Oct 15 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar
  
  Oct 17 - Denver, CO - The Hi-Dive
  Oct 20 - New York, NY - CMJ
  Oct 21 - New York, NY - CMJ
  Oct 22 - New York, NY – CMJ
  
  # w/ Japandroids
  ** w/ Japandroids and Frog Eyes
  ## w/ Japandroids and Ladyhawk
  
  
  
  

  The Rural Alberta Advantage
  

  Oct 27 - Winnipeg, MB - The West End Cultural Centre
  Oct 28 - Regina, SK - The Exchange
  Oct 29 - Edmonton, AB - Myer Horowitz Theatre
  Nov 01 - Lethbridge, AB - The Slice Bar & Grill
  Nov 02 - Calgary, AB - The Legion
  Nov 03 - Canmore, AB - Canmore Hotel
  Nov 04 - Kelowna, BC - The Habitat
  Nov 05 - Victoria, BC - Sugar
  Nov 06 - Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore Cabaret
  

  
  

  Winter Gloves

  Aug 14 - Cumberland, BC - Cumberland Village Works Festival

  Sep 04 - Montreal, QC - Jacques Cartier Pier (M For Montreal)

  Sep 17 - Kingston, ON - The Grad Club

  Sep 22 - Peterborough, ON - Red Dog

  Sep 23 - Ottawa, ON - Mavericks

  Sep 25 - Montreal, QC - Il Motore

  Sep 28 - Rochester, NY - Bug Jar*
  Sep 29 – Cambridge, MA – Middle East Downstairs*
  Sep 30 – Northampton, MA – Iron Horse*
  Oct 01 – Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory*
  Oct 02 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom*
  Oct 03 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s*
  Oct 04 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar*
  Oct 05 – Washington, DC – Rock & Roll Hotel*
  Oct 06 – Charlottesville, VA – Random Row Books*
  Oct 07 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506*
  Oct 08 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl*
  Oct 09 – Birmingham, AL – Bottletree*
  Oct 10 – Orlando, FL – Backbooth*
  Oct 11 – Tallahassee, FL – Club Downunder*

  * w/ Born Ruffians

  
  

  Young Galaxy

  Oct 20 - Kingston, ON - Sydenham Street United Church#

  Oct 22 - London, ON - Music Hall#

  Oct 23 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall#

  Oct 29 - Winnipeg, MB - Burton Cummings Theatre#

  Oct 31 - Edmonton, AB - Winspear Centre#

  Nov 03 - Kelowna, BC - Communite Theatre#
  

  Nov 04 - Vancouver, BC - The Vogue Theater#

  
  

  # w/ Stars

  You Say Party

  Sept 05 - Squamish, BC - Squamish Music Festival
  Sep 23 - Victoria, BC - Rifflandia Music Festival
  Oct 27 - Utrecht - Helling
  Oct 28 - Brussels - Witloof Bar @ Botanique
  Oct 29 - London - Barfly
  Nov 01 - Paris - Flèche d'Or
  Nov 02 - Zurich - Ziegel Oh Lac
  Nov 03 - Schorndorf - Manufaktur
  Nov 05 - Schaffhausen - TabTab
  Nov 06 - Salzburg - Yeah! Club @ Rockhouse
  Nov 07 - Munich - Atomic Café
  Nov 08 - Berlin - Comet
  Nov 10 - Prague - Matrix Club
  Nov 11 - Innsbruck - Weekender
  Nov 12 - Bologna - Covo
  Nov 13 - Roma - Init @ Parklife Winter Session
  Nov 15 - Milano - Casa 139
  Nov 16 - Zagreb - K-Set
  Nov 18 - Vienna - Flex
  Nov 19 - Aflenz - Sublime
  Nov 20 - Dresden – Starclub
  Nov 21 - Hamburg - Molotow
  Nov 24 - Stockholm - Lilla Hotellbaren
  Nov 26 - Copenhagen - Beta
  Nov 27 - Istanbul - Bronx Pi Sahne
  Nov 28 - Athens - Gagarin
  Nov 30 - Brighton - Freebutt
  Dec 01 - Cambridge - Portland Arms
  Dec 03 - Manchester - Sound Control
  Dec 04 - Glasgow - Captains Rest
  

  
  

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  For more info on our artists and the PBR shop, visit us at:
  PAPER BAG RECORDS

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• The Snowleopard Qualifies for Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

  27 Aug

  j2ski.com

  We were delighted to spot this on the website of the Ghana Ski Team this week…
  
  
  

  After 4 years of heart ache, sweat and being away from his family, Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong has finally qualified for the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010. Kwame and the Ghana Ski Team would wish to extend their heart felt thanks to all the sponsors and partners who have made this dream a reality. Kwame is also grateful to all his friends and family who supported him throughout his campaign, especially his wife (Sena) and kids (Ellice and Jason).

  
  
  Kwame in action, courtesy of The Ghana Ski Team

  

  Best of luck from everyone here!

  Read more over at www.j2ski.com

“simple and engaging, saving time and effort”

Reuters