| JMC |
and more often updated...
I helped rider Tom from New Mexico/Texas in designing his new website, forum and chat rooms.
It's all about motorcycles, ROAM, Honda Goldwings (that he owns), airplanes, Ham radio, etc.
I designed SubCompresseur.com's website; their business is with Junkers HP compressors.
I also designed Sud Pieds Lourds' web site - they will have their own web site - this is
an association composed of guys collecting hard hats, real antique brass, copper diving helmets, organizing dives with antique equipment;
dry suits, copper shoes, manual pumps and compressors.
See my collection of antique diving equipment.
Present winter : almost over,Hurrah! we had tons of snow in the Alps
Crans-Montana skilifts
re-opened end of November 2008 on a Sunday; there was a wind storm on the 1st Sat...
Snow and sunshine almost everyday in January in Crans-Montana !
Snow and snow in Feb. 2009
For the rest, read the online magazine 6th dimension.
Winter 2007/08 : it snowed till the end in the Alps
Zermatt added two new lifts and a ski run for the past winter - OnTheSnow.com
The old double chairlift connecting Sunnegga paradise with Breitboden via Findeln above Zermatt is being replaced by a comfortable, detachable quad chairlift with heated seats. The system, which has cost 16m Euros, accommodates 2,000 passengers per hour and has an underground station at Sunegga.
A second new lift has been built at Stockhorn to open up the Stockhorn freeride area, despite closure of the Hohtälli - Stockhorn cable railway line. In addition a medium-difficulty (red) slope has been built between Hohtälli and Kellensee to replace the Gornergrat - Hohtälli cable railway. This new connection will sharply reduce transfer time from Rothorn paradise to the Gornergrat and Matterhorn glacier paradise, greatly improving accessibility" - by Patrick Thorne
Last news: lots of windy days, storm and cold days last fall and this winter 08/09
in Giens, S. France
To start with, where is Giens peninsula ? South of the city of Hyeres !
Okay, now where's that, Hyeres ? Here :
Agrandir le plan
Now a video taken on Jan. 14, 2009, near St Tropez,
and another video taken on Nov. 20, 2008 in La Madrague Beach,
Hyeres, my home spot,
starring "Hervé Saint Tropez" :
Windsurfing: Some good wind in Hyeres, S. France in March-April 2008, also in July-August, as well as last year in
July and August 2007.
Speed slalom and East wind in December 2006.
Waves and East wind in La Bergerie on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006 with some very mild temperatures.
I live on the Giens Peninsula ( windsurfing pics here) between Hyeres and the wonderful Golden islands
(of Porquerolles,
Port-Cros, Levant) in the South-East of France;
it's a very nice area, see the fishermen boats in Niel's little cute harbor,
see some pictures
of last year's endless summer, of April-May 2006,
or some beach pics by JFI in July 05.
The West and Mistral winds blew like hell beginning of July and mid-July during 5 days, like last summer in July 04,
good for us windsurfers and kite-surfers. Last day was OK for the kite-surfers except for the guy who broke a few bones landing in the parking lot. In July 2001,
the south of France looked a bit like paradise, like on a Greek island or in Creta where I staid in July 1999.
In Hyères - l'Almanarre - le Robinson we had
the world windsurfing Championships IFCA
organised by HWO, the Hyeres Windsurf Org. on October 2-7, 2008
Antique Scuba : Leon Lyons is in the process of publishing an expanded reprint of
Skiing : the skilifts
in Crans-Montana, French speaking part of the Swiss Alps, will re-open next winter
beg. of December.
We had some good snow on the glacier till the end of the last ski season.
See my daily Webcam report since November 05
or my 2007 pics.
Here in Crans-Montana we had plenty of sun and snow.
Crans is a famous Swiss ski-resort where we speak French, English, Russian, Italian, Dutch, Spanish and German.
In March 2005 and 2006 we had the Crans-Montana snowgames with water-slide and jumps crazy.
You can see the last day of powder skiing we had at the end of the 2002/03 ski season;
that same winter we also had a super Airboard and Yeti contest.
Kite surfing
: did you know that here in Hyeres, South of France, with MFKite.com and Ludo you can
learn how to be a good kite-surfer in cristal clear hot waters ?
You don't know where Hyeres or Giens are located ?
Ask Google Earth by installing their free version or have a look here.
VENTILO-SHOW 2006:
Between Oct. 26 and Nov. 5, 2008 we'll have the 4th edition of the Ventilo Show.
With a full week of kite-surfing.
See pics at PhotoDingo.com
Sky diving: The POPs and SOS had a super 7th World POPs meet in Gruyere, Switzerland in Auguts 2004.
Floating : you want to have an exotic water-ride ? Go "floating" on the back in the Verdon Canyon with Roger in the South of France.
You want to spend some exotic times in Morocco ? Then fly to Marrakech and drive to the Oukaïmeden ski resort in the Atlas mountains; stay in this brand new 5* hotel
(tel. +33 1 47.23.75.13), the Kenzi LOUKA
I sometimes live in Crans-Montana and it's cool there;
wear your Ovo helmet (photo to the right) and ride your Rossignol board.
Winter in the French Alps ? Oohlala!!!
What about Valais in the Swiss Alps ? It's here!
Alps Resorts Getting Heaviest Early Snowfall In Decade - by Alicia Gough, OnTheSnow.com Regional Editor - Dec. 22, 2008
Ski resorts across France, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy have started the winter season with the best snow conditions in 10 years. This has not only prompted many resorts across the region to open early, but also has helped dispel fears of the credit crunch affecting numbers of winter tourists.
The French alpine resorts received up to 60cm of fresh snow over the weekend of Dec. 6-7, while Swiss resorts saw 40cm by the end of Sunday.
Winter Arrives Early In The Alps - by Alicia Gough, OnTheSnow.com Regional Editor - Nov. 2008
It's still only November, but heavy snowfalls already have been reported across Europe. The end of October brought fresh powder to resorts across Austria, France, Switzerland and Italy.
Switzerland's Crans-Montana Plaine-Morte Glacier received 200cm, Saas Fee a massive 220cm and Zermatt had 150cm between Oct. 27 and Nov. 4.
The French resorts of Megève and l'Alpe d'Huez received 50cm, Val d'Isère, Courchevel and Tignes had 20cm.
Heavy snowfall is forecast to continue in Tignes which should make for excellent powder skiing on the Grand Motte Glacier.
Fresh snow has also fallen in Austria and Italy. The Glacial resorts of Austria are seeing big dumps: Hintertux received a whopping 110cm, Molltal had 80cm,
and the Stubai Glacier had 60cm. Italy's Val Senales and Cervinia also are experiencing heavy snowfall and Cervinia's Presena Glacier opened Nov. 1.
Among the first European resorts to open for real will be Val Thorens on Nov. 22 and Val d'Isere and Tignes, Nov. 29.
Tignes is also planning an extra special New Year's Eve 2009. The resort is hosting an outdoor party with a snow-covered dance floor.
Some 15,000 people are expected to dance New Year's Eve away to tunes from the DJs of Clubland.
Val d'Isere Hosts A Winter Of Fun; Music Fest, World Ski Championships - by Alicia (OnTheSnow.com) - The biggest event of the winter season is undoubtedly the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2009 in Val d'Isere from Feb. 2 to 15, 2009. This is a major event as the championships haven't been held in France since 1962. It promises to be spectacular as the men and ladies racecourses are to be set facing each other, according to the ‘Face to Face' concept. The formal prize giving for each event will take place on the evening of the race at 6 p.m.
In Val d'Isère I discovered slalom racing on Salomon and Rossignol skis in Val d'Isère with the Gérard MATTIS' Val Gliss programme and that was a motivating experience, such an ambiance ! with trainees from 8 to 77, and good skiers, for sure, not noodles ("pas des nouilles") ! In 2001, I followed a course with the International Academy in Crans to become a ski instructor level 1 (there are 3 Swiss degrees).
But you'll need many week-ends to be able to jump like Marc-Antoine; on La Loze, above Plantrey chairlift in Courchevel 1850:

In January 1998 I discovered a charming little village: Aussois
in the Maurienne Valley, South of Savoie, France; a winter and summer savoyard village type resort.
I used to a friend there, Christian, no longer with us. He was a ranger for "Parc National de la VANOISE"
he used to show us around, discover his "magnifique" area at the foot of La Vanoise glaciers, wild life and flowers, Genepi drinks, etc.
Lots of animals, culture, sports, traditions, mountaineering, climbing in Aussois, ...
It is 15 kms away from the new Maurienne motorway and from a gondola (Orelle) bringing you to the top of Val Thorens-3 Vallées,
10 kms away from Modane, La Norma and Val Frejus, Italy is 20 miles away.
La Norma has some very nice snow and slopes, North oriented, while Aussois is South facing and very traditionnal.
my most favourite in Switzerland,
with its sunny slopes,
its glacier (Plaine-Morte, 2950m),
its runs in the trees with a nice view on the Matterhorn (Cervin) and many summits around,
its 'piste Nationale', a run which hosted the World Cup finales in March 1999;
Alberto was the winner, but poor Picabo lost 6 months in her career due to a broken leg.
And fabulous Zermatt with its Gornergratt (take a train), Rothorn (metro), long runs, sunshine and quiet life, ...
As I used to develop, market, implement software products in the ski resorts, I do know a lot of them, even Big Bear (near L.A. my love), Squaw Valley, Aspen (nice chicks there too) in US, Oukaïmeden and Ifrane in Morocco, and Chamonix in France (Les Grands Montets with ABA Argentiere Boarding Academy managed by Olivier Rosenberg), ...
ski map.
Visit La Tania, and
Val d'Isère - Tignes
Unique skiing area: Val with "Col Pers", the Isère river sources, "Cugnaï", its private permanent stadium (Gerard Bonnevie) for those who want to beat Herminator, or just test their limits. Tignes with "la langue du glacier" or its moggle stadium.
But you'd better go skiing or snowboarding with an instructor, the French ski school ESF or Val Gliss won't say the opposite...
Val d'Isere is a classic resort in the French Alps which has been a favorite with the international ski crowd for 65 years now, and for good reason. It has an abundance of hotels and apartments, great boutiques and sporting goods stores, and an endless variety of restaurants, bars and cafés. Val d'Isère is famous for its 10,000 hectares of off-piste skiing. Plus there's a total of 136 different pistes to choose from! You can count on 6-10 meters of snow from the end of November straight through to the beginning of May.See the Information on current weather and snow conditions. You can fly, drive or take the train to Val d'Isère.

Val d'Isere is hosting the following events:
La MONGIE in the French Pyrénées
I did some powder ski there at the end of April 96 ... and if there's a Tyrolean guy singing around, it is Jacky the baker, the coolest ski-teacher on the Ski Planet. After a good day there, go find the "Yeti".
Ordino-Arcalis in Andorra
a cool resort without the crowd ...
Soldeu El Tarter
a big area in connection with the 2 other big resorts in Andorra; Grau-Roig, Pas de La Case with its duty-free stores.
Windsurfing was my main hobby : I started in LA in 1979 after a summerjob in Chicago, did a lot of funboard in Marseilles from 1982 to 1990 (the bouillabaisse country), after my 16 month national duty (not really military) in Morocco. Moving to Savoie, France, forced me to stop sailing for a while. Back on a coast called Cote d'Opale, North of France, south of Calais, during my summer holidays in 1997 with my family, brought me back to windsurfing ("Planche a voile" as we call it here). From Savoie I could quite often drive to a nice lake called Monteynard located 30 kms south of Grenoble (on the way to Sisteron Nice).
Now I live near l'Almanarre and there is nothing to compare... See the pics by photodingo.
In Switzerland, I used to find some good winds ("bise") around Geneva lake in Sept. October (like on October 26, 2002 - see picture in Vevey),
some Joran wind in Lutry, South-East winds in St Prex and Preverenges. Where I practiced a lot was on a small lake in Wallis near Martigny, la Gouille.
'Want to see if it is windy there ? See the WebCam.
Or what about looking for good spots on Mars
with Nasa, pourquoi pas ?
Send me a note from there... Or ask Mr mark Shuttleworth who paid a lot for an outer space trip.
WARNING
Windsurf may easily cause a lifetime addiction that may affect your performance at work, the way you interact with people and the ability to contribute to society
In Switzerland I tried lots of boards (ACE, AHD, Drops) thanks to Alain Corthesy, owner of Nauti-Fun (+41 21 792 1066) in Lutry, East of Lausanne; (AHD International: +41 24 472 8230, Fax 8232). Alain is an expert sailor, windsurfer; snowboarder in Crans as well. With his
"nonante" kilogs (90), he flies on the lake with an 3m10 or 2m85 AHD + North 3D sail (7.50 m2); my weight is 69 kgs for 1m69 and I sail with a Neil Pryde 7.20 m2 max).
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Scuba DivingThe Red Sea - Hurghada and the Giftun islands - was my best diving trip so far. In 2nd position come the Florida Keys, so well organised there. Do you want to go to Sharm-El-Sheik or Dahab ? Ask Blue Lagoon
Equipment : drysuits - if you dive in cold waters, you might buy a Viking drysuit, a Hunter drysuit (ex Gates), have a look at Lekies page in German, or you can buy something like this Balaena diving suit. It is a new concept of equipment (2 layers of neoprene) created by Patrick Rosso (a friend of mine, also former windsurfer in Marseilles) assisted by Theo, a Comex professional diver - I worked for this company in '82-83. Patrick founded another company, the later 3D dive and 3D kite.
Books : For sale Cast A Deep Shadow, a book on Joe Savoie's helmet by Gary Harris who just published
his 4th book now for sale. The book is about Joe Savoie and the invention of the modern
diving helmet. Joe invented the modern lightweight helmet. Gary is selling the books
for USD $32 each including shipping to Europe. If you would like a copy
let me know.
It has about 200 pages and 90 photos of Joe, his helmet and other older oil-field divers and gear.
Above left is a download of the book's cover.
Movies : Sphere was filmed underwater in LA featuring Dustin Hoffman and Sharon Stone. Two other good films' websites behind the scenes : the Deep and Abyss with Jacqueline Bisset, Nick Nolte, Ed Harris, directed underwater by Dive Operations manager Kris Newman (Team Hydro) and famous producers Al Giddings and J. Cameron. |
I am looking for more Hard Hat Helmets,
for some guenuine Copper (Brass) Diving Helmets and equipment. See my collection.
If you have in your cellar or sell a diving helmet, knife or pair of shoes PIEL, PETIT, SIEBE-GORMAN, US NAVY Mark V (MORSE, MILLER-DUNN, SCHRADER or DESCO), GALEAZZI, SALVAS, SCAUDA, DRAEGER, HEINKE, please
tell me.
We still have a rare shallow water helmet from Lou Hammond, Florida for sale (picture to the left), as well as some pumps, thermometer, gauges, etc.
The Historical Diving Society has a new affiliate and Web site : HDS France Welcome to our new president, Georges Koskas, formerly working for SOGETRAM and still Scaph50 secretary.
Any question on our diving heritage ? Visit Archives Maritimes. Any idea how much this Italian SALVAS helmet (circa 1920) on the right picture might cost ? Tell me.
During the summer, I experimented it with Les Guides de Courchevel and Marc Lazzaroni in nice canyons near Annecy, in Doron de Bozel near Brides in a river 15 kms from Courchevel. Near Nice, "clue d'Amen" was a truly nice experience, with Valberg Pulsion, directed by Alain Nicoletta, the Valberg "Ski school" director.
Goody good too; from the village of Bourg St Maurice - Les Arcs (near Peisey, La Rosiere) to Aime (La Plagne) in Savoie.
Did you know that Hyeres has a nice area reserved for kite-surfing in the middle of
the 4 mile long beach of l'Almanarre ? And Ludo from MFKite can train you and give you lessons ?
Visit this Swiss Web site Kite shop, the kitesurfer association website
and the French Web site 3D Kite of my friend Lawrence.
And Kitesurfing Info4U
It's everything about Kite Surfing, from Costa Rica Kite Surfing to World Champion Kite Surfing.
Did you know that Wales is also at the forefront of the hot new sport of kitesurfing, with top location Rhosneigr on Anglesey ?
Did you know that John Kerry is a kite-surfer ?
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Roger Verdegen and Verdon Animation Nature (+33.4.92.74.66.94) invite you to have an exotic water-ride, feet front, on the back, in Gorges du Verdon, Verdon Canyon, La Palud, South of France, kms away from Digne, Castellane, Moustiers. An experience with a guy who knows the river. See ProvenceWeb.
In Crans-Montana, Valais, Switzerland, on a superb golf course we had the
Omega European Masters between Sep. 4 and 7, 2008.
This is the 2nd largest event in Europe after the British Open.
The 2001 edition winner was Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez with an average drive of 303 yards.
On Sunday Sept.5, 2004, Luke Donald won with a score of -19.
My best golf links were in Pebble Beach,
California (where you have to play in 4h30!), Palos Verdes Estates, south of LA; Monaco (ah Stéphanie !), Algarve in Portugal and of course Méribel, France and Crans-sur-Sierre.
Riding Motorcycles
How about a good motorcycle riding summer ? In July 2004,
30,000 motorcycle came together to take part in the 5th annual BMW Motorrad Biker Meeting in Garmisch, South Germany.
And see the photos of the 4th edition - 4th BMW biker meeting in 2005.
In September 04 we had the Intermot trade fair in Munich, next one will be held in Koln.
Find here my photos of the 3d BMW biker meeting in Bavaria, July 2003 (official BMW Web site).
Here you can find some other motorcycle pictures
that I took with my Sony camcorder. Also here are pictures taken in May 2004 of
the French Police Motormen show in Switzerland.
I used to have a blue "mobylette" when I was in high school, spent too much time working on it instead of studying for my baccalaureat!
My first ride on a 250cc motorcycle was somewhere in Southern California, North of LA, back in 1978, before graduating as an engineer.
It was my girlfriend's father from Palos Verdes who invited me to share some very good moments;
3 motorcycles on a trailer and off we went in the desert.
In Switzerland several years ago I decided it was time to have a rider's licence; I purchased a BMW 650 ST and rode it for several months. It's only after 2 years of riding a bike less than 850 that you could take a 2nd exam on a bigger model.
That's when I traded my 650 for a safer 2002 BMW R 1150 RT that I liked much.
I was thinking of trading again for the new K1200GT (4 cylinders) or a Honda Pan ST 1300
but my preferences might go sooner or later for a Goldwing 1800 - see my pics of the 2003 GW Treffen in Switz. - especially
since my ride on a gold Goldwing rented at Joe Harrison - JHMS in San Antonio, Texas, in June 06
with Chapter O members from Austin. In
Switzerland, I might rent another one at Goldwing Center.
I used to have a Scott mountain bike in addition to a Cannondale road bicycle. Then my friends from T9 - a distributor in Marseilles, France - gave me a new Carbon frame sample from the Canadian company ARGON18. I now ride a Decathlon mountain bike which did not cost a lot at all and a road bicycle with a Daccordi frame.
My goal: be a Business Objects or Cognos expert (SAP BW could do too).
I used to work in software development, project coordination, Internet/Intranet, learning eCommerce, Visual C++
lately with a Swiss watch group. Now I am a part-time instructor,
I was a CRM project manager for CNet Europe working with the package
eRelationship from Pivotal, I was a consultant with the Swiss agency of the American consultancy CAMBRIDGE Technology Partners (CTP),
a company of the NOVELL group, training on the CRM package Siebel,
on Microsoft IIS and developing in MS-ASP. I worked for quite a while as a Project Leader on a large project for one of the top (and the best) US company with HQs in Lausanne;
working in all sorts of environments, ERPs like:
SAP R/3,
ORACLE APPLICATIONS,
JD EDWARDS.
CTP was a partner of PEOPLESOFT.