We realized that we haven't yet put up any pictures of the Uni. Here are a couple links to web cams that are positioned around campus, with more about school to come.
This camera is from St. David's Lecture Theater (where I have my dance class) looking out over the Leith River which runs through the campus at the Clock Tower which is the most renowned building on campus.
http://www.propserv.otago.ac.nz/webcameras/WebCameraClient.aspx?ID=ClockTower
This camera looks straight at the Information Services/ Library building. On the right are the edge of the Castle Lecture Theaters (where I have my marine science lecture), and directly behind the camera is Burns where Caleb and I go for our Maori society lectures.
http://www.propserv.otago.ac.nz/webcameras/WebCameraClient.aspx?ID=ISBEntrance
Here is a link to a "virtual tour" of the campus which is actually pretty cool. Make sure you pull it up in a full screen and don't forget to run your mouse over the picture so that you can make a 360 degree turn and see all around.
http://www.otago.ac.nz/about/virtual_tour/#
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
OAWLA-Otago Area Weight Lifting Association
The Otago Area Powerlifting Championship was held at the Olympic Gym in Mosgiel on Saturday May 3. OAWLA had a great turnout, with over 40 entries combined between the Olympic Lifting and two flights of Powerlifting competitors. Olympic lifting started very early, with a 6 am weigh in. Kiara and I did not get there until about 8 am for my weigh-in and gear check for the first (lighter weight classes and Junior division) flight of powerlifting.
I was somewhat worried about making my weight class, 82.5 kilograms, but should not have been worried. I weighed in at 80.2 kilos, just over 177 pounds. Lifting started at 9:30 am for the first flight, which consisted of about 12 lifters. I lifted later in the flight, so I had plenty of time to over analyze my lifts before I had actually done anything!
Overall, I was relatively happy with the way my lifts turned out, with the exception of my squat and bench. :)
Squat-I opened too low due to a lack of confidence, and had to take too big of a jump from my second to third attempt. Adding over 50 lbs in one increment did me in!
First Attempt:150kg/330.5 lbs
Second Attempt:160kg/352.5 lbs
Third Attempt:185kg/408lbs scratched
Bench-My second attempt was a new personal meet legal bench for me. I had done a little more in the gym three weeks earlier, but the presence of three judges watching your every move seems to make everything just a little bit harder.
First Attempt:120 kg/264.5 lbs
Second Attempt:135 kg/297.5 lbs
Third Attempt:140 kg/308.5lbs scratched
Deadlift-Deadlift is not typically my best lift, but it sure went well at this meet!
First Attempt:180kg/396.5 (This came up so fast that Kiara cut my head off in the picture!)
Second Attempt: 205 kg/452 lbs
Third Attempt: 225 kg/496 lbs
After I was done lifting, there was a 90 minute break before the next flight started. (Just enough time to stiffen up!) I spotted and loaded, which turned out to be a lot of work (as usual) due to the amount of weight the bigger guys (and girls!) were moving. I had helped out at the meet about 5 weeks earlier, so it was fun to see the same guys lift again. The highlight lifter was Steve Varga, one of the best powerlifters in New Zealand and getting there in the world. Steve is a great guy, willing to give lots of pointers and help out younger lifters. He even gave me a ride home from the last meet. For perspective, Steve, who weighed in at 108 kilograms, squatted 320 kilograms, benched 200 kilograms, and dead lifted 312.5 kilograms for an impressive total of 832.5 kilos/1835.5 lbs!
At about 7:30pm, OAWLA held a nice awards banquet complete with an all you can eat buffet! Even Kiara found a lot to eat.
A big thanks to Kiara for putting up with a somewhat uninteresting sport for the entire day!
Caleb
I was somewhat worried about making my weight class, 82.5 kilograms, but should not have been worried. I weighed in at 80.2 kilos, just over 177 pounds. Lifting started at 9:30 am for the first flight, which consisted of about 12 lifters. I lifted later in the flight, so I had plenty of time to over analyze my lifts before I had actually done anything!
Overall, I was relatively happy with the way my lifts turned out, with the exception of my squat and bench. :)
Squat-I opened too low due to a lack of confidence, and had to take too big of a jump from my second to third attempt. Adding over 50 lbs in one increment did me in!
First Attempt:150kg/330.5 lbs
Second Attempt:160kg/352.5 lbs
Third Attempt:185kg/408lbs scratched
Bench-My second attempt was a new personal meet legal bench for me. I had done a little more in the gym three weeks earlier, but the presence of three judges watching your every move seems to make everything just a little bit harder.
First Attempt:120 kg/264.5 lbs
Second Attempt:135 kg/297.5 lbs
Third Attempt:140 kg/308.5lbs scratched
Deadlift-Deadlift is not typically my best lift, but it sure went well at this meet!
First Attempt:180kg/396.5 (This came up so fast that Kiara cut my head off in the picture!)
Second Attempt: 205 kg/452 lbs
Third Attempt: 225 kg/496 lbs
After I was done lifting, there was a 90 minute break before the next flight started. (Just enough time to stiffen up!) I spotted and loaded, which turned out to be a lot of work (as usual) due to the amount of weight the bigger guys (and girls!) were moving. I had helped out at the meet about 5 weeks earlier, so it was fun to see the same guys lift again. The highlight lifter was Steve Varga, one of the best powerlifters in New Zealand and getting there in the world. Steve is a great guy, willing to give lots of pointers and help out younger lifters. He even gave me a ride home from the last meet. For perspective, Steve, who weighed in at 108 kilograms, squatted 320 kilograms, benched 200 kilograms, and dead lifted 312.5 kilograms for an impressive total of 832.5 kilos/1835.5 lbs!
At about 7:30pm, OAWLA held a nice awards banquet complete with an all you can eat buffet! Even Kiara found a lot to eat.
A big thanks to Kiara for putting up with a somewhat uninteresting sport for the entire day!
Caleb
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Kiara and I are back safe and sound after a great weekend in the Catlins working on various conservation projects. We were put up by Fergus and Mary Sutherland of Catlins Wildlife Trackers, who provided transportation, accommodation, and tons of great home cooking.
We got to their place late Friday night. Saturday morning we went to the Te Rere Yellow Eyed Penguin reserve which was home to the largest colony of the penguins on the mainland. The population dropped dramatically after a fire in 1995, but the population is steadily climbing due to reforestation efforts. Our group paved the way for the planter (who will be coming in a few weeks) by clearing and maintaining the trails on the reserve. It was an all day event! We both had a great time, and were treated to a great view of some of the penguins after we were done.
Sunday we worked on clearing a DOC trail down to a beach, as well as killing one of the most invasive species in New Zealand, the Broom Bush. We worked for the morning, after which we went back to the Sutherland's for lunch and a free afternoon. They provided kayaks for us, so we took a short paddle up the estuary and river in front of their house. ( I am quite biased against kayaks...give me the Lead Sled any day.) We also went for a short walk down the beach, and had to collect some of the great shells we found washed up...we even found a Paua Shell!
What a great way to spend a weekend!
Caleb
We got to their place late Friday night. Saturday morning we went to the Te Rere Yellow Eyed Penguin reserve which was home to the largest colony of the penguins on the mainland. The population dropped dramatically after a fire in 1995, but the population is steadily climbing due to reforestation efforts. Our group paved the way for the planter (who will be coming in a few weeks) by clearing and maintaining the trails on the reserve. It was an all day event! We both had a great time, and were treated to a great view of some of the penguins after we were done.
Sunday we worked on clearing a DOC trail down to a beach, as well as killing one of the most invasive species in New Zealand, the Broom Bush. We worked for the morning, after which we went back to the Sutherland's for lunch and a free afternoon. They provided kayaks for us, so we took a short paddle up the estuary and river in front of their house. ( I am quite biased against kayaks...give me the Lead Sled any day.) We also went for a short walk down the beach, and had to collect some of the great shells we found washed up...we even found a Paua Shell!
What a great way to spend a weekend!
Caleb
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Weekend in the Deep South
Hi Everyone,
We will be gone this weekend at the AustraLearn Volunteer Conservation Weekend in the Catlins. Unfortunatly, lots (and lots, and lots...) of rain is in the forecast.... but we should still get some good pictures.
Also, a very Happy Mother's Day to our respective Moms! We love you lots!
Caleb and Kiara
We will be gone this weekend at the AustraLearn Volunteer Conservation Weekend in the Catlins. Unfortunatly, lots (and lots, and lots...) of rain is in the forecast.... but we should still get some good pictures.
Also, a very Happy Mother's Day to our respective Moms! We love you lots!
Caleb and Kiara
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