Redmond Derby Days - Race with David

This past summer Mandy and I had the opportuntity to go and watch one of her students, David, race in the Redmond Derby Days cycling race.  I admit that I've never been to a cycling race but it was pretty entertaining.  Watching the racers cruise around part of the city of Redmond was intense (and slightly dizzying).  I think being a guy I have a natural instinct to hope for a crash, kind of like watching NASCAR.  You don't want anyone to get hurt but there is something about seeing a big crash.  Thankfully there were no crashes!  David who was a junior in high school at the time was racing against many guys that are much older than him.  I was very impressed at his skills.  A few times as I watched the cyclists ride by I could have sworn I saw Lance Armstrong.  I was wrong.  Also a little disappointing was the fact that the winner didn't get a stuffed lion and a yellow jersey.  Here are a few pics from the day!

Check out more pictures from the Enumclaw Criterium Race 2011

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Seattle Sounders FC vs. LA Galaxy MLS Playoffs- Qwest Field

I got another opportunity to get on the field as a photographer for the Seattle Sounders FC playoff match against the LA Galaxy.  I was super excited for this because it was the first time David Beckham played in Seattle with the Galaxy.  The other times LA had been in town he was either hurt or probably off shooting some underwear ad. I'm not the biggest soccer fan by any means but standing a foot away from him was pretty surreal.  I could almost reach out and touch his hair.  I tried but there seemed to be a force field around it preventing me.  Another guy it was fun to see up close and personal was Landon Donovan.  I spent many hours watching the World Cup rooting the US on and now I was rooting against this guy in the MLS playoffs.  

Unfortunately the score this night was not as good as the last match I shot.  The Seattle Sounders FC lost 1-0 to the LA Galaxy.  As it was the playoffs the Sounders still had an opportunity to move on to the next round if they beat the Galaxy by 2 goals during their match in LA.  They lost in LA 2-1 on Sunday and their season was over.  

I had a great time shooting those two games and I hope to do it again next year!  

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