Wildwater World Championships, the Alps, Cinque Terra, Tuscany

Ivrea, Italy in the foothills of the Alps (6/1/08) Total destruction of an expensive C-2 on the difficult high-water sprint course Mauricio shows us the proper technique of an offensive gesture The US Wildwater Team Parade through the piazza Opening ceremonies, with a ballet and orchestra re-enacting the town's history Team USA's perfect organizational skills at work Hotel Gambino Ivrea's castle Brief moment of glory (before everybody else had a turn) Dropping into the difficult part of the sprint course Forte de Barde in the Val D'Aosta In the Val D'Aosta Charlotte in a medieval village The usual cobblestone pattern in the streets of Ivrea Ivrea in twilight, the night of the sprint race Evening stroll through town In the team race IMGP1532 Anitque cars to escort the race winners through town IMGP1535 Dogs can read Driving into Switzerland Near the Rhone Valley The climber's graveyard in Zermatt High mountains near Zermatt Blinding sunlight on the glaciers near Zermatt The Matterhorn in late spring Evening scene in Zermatt, with the moon and the mountain aligned The huge Eagle statue guarding Simplon pass between Switzerland and Italy Granite gorge along Simplon pass, Napolean's early route to Italy IMGP1604 The town of Stresa, in the Lake District north of Milan Lake Maggiore One of many ice cream stops Sunset over the Ligurian Sea, in the Cinque Terra After a nice evening walk near Riomagiorre, about 1000 steps up to the monastery IMGP1622 Monterosso at last light Monterosso An old stone arch bridge The trail along the Italian Riviera, with terraced vineyards Vernazza Vernazza View from the Villa Lecci balcony in Tuscany Tuscany sunset IMGP1658 Mist in the valley below San Gimignano Inside a walled Tuscan village More gelato (6/12) The Florence skyline Our favorite view Near the Duomo in Florence Practice run on the sprint course, photo by Mick Feeney The sprint race, photo by Mick Feeney Sprint race, photo by Mick Feeney