Archive for September 2011
What to Expect at the Vans Warped Tour
September 26, 2011 | 
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Expect a lot of music, and mind blowing stunts! Along with a lot of heat, and lots of people- it’s fun, but it’s not easy. It is a complete entertainment package for days, but only if you are truly prepared for it. It has a cheerful environment, with loads of tents that sell music and other merchandise. The stages are planned carefully, so that music from your stage does not mix with the music from other stages.
Expect a big mix of British, American, and other bands, including Christian rock, metal core, hardcore, post hardcore, emo, rock, alternative rock, electronica, street punk, pop punk, skate punk, and much more.
When you enter the tour, you will see a huge board that will display the timetable for the day- which band is playing where, and when. Make sure you take a note of it.
Expect a lot of running around, and dehydration (if you are not careful). If you are going to scream sing for the entire day, make sure a bottle of water is handy. Also, expect a lot of noise, as there will be people standing really close to you, and singing with the band.
Also expect a lot of ‘green’ stuff. The buses run with biodiesel, and stages are set up using solar power. Dishes are washable, and made of biodegradable plastic.
The Vans Warped Tour is basically a blend of stunts and music, so expect a LOT of thrill!
It is not just any concert- it is the concert of a lifetime.
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What Not to Do in Vans Warped Tour
If you are coming to the world famous concert for the first time, here are some handy don’ts
1. Make fun
Make sure you understand that your taste in music is not universal. There are people who prefer other bands as well. If you do not like the performance of a particular band, do not make fun of the people who are listening to that music. Everyone has a different musical preference, and some people might think your favorite band is not so cool either.
2. Be upset
Though it is advised not to make fun of people listening to other bands, some people may not be considerate enough, and might make fun of you, because of your music preference. Do not be upset at that. Be cool, and let it be. You know your band is the best, and that is what’s important.
3. Spend all your energy
Do not spend all your energy early during the day. Keep it safe, as there is lot of running to be done all day long. If you get tired early on, you are sure to miss out a lot of fun later.
4. Forget sunscreen
Apply sunscreen when you leave home, and keep applying it after some time- especially on your tattoos. The skin at your tattoos is sensitive, and thus reacts to heat faster than skin at other parts of the body. Make sure you keep the sunscreen supply high.
5. Dehydrate
You got the water bottle, right? If you feel thirsty, take a quick gulp. Do not ignore any dehydration signs. If you do not keep yourself hydrated, you might end up tired and broken, and in the medical camp.
6. Complain
This is one very important point. Hopefully you know what you are going to face at the Vans Warped Tour. It’s all in the open. It is going to be hot in the sun, and wet in the rain. If you are going to complain about the situation, it is not going to help. Expect a lot of roughness at the concert.
7. Consume alcohol
You have just one bottle of water, and whole day to pull. The stalls are packed, and if you want another bottle of water, you will have to wait in lines. So make sure you do not dehydrate yourself further by consuming alcohol. All alcoholic beverages will make you feel thirstier. Also, don’t do drugs. Illegal things can get you arrested. You can even get arrested for just holding a packet of those illegal things!
8. Avoid food
You need to fill up if you want to run around. Sure the food might be expensive, or the lines might be long. But if you really want to enjoy, you need to be energized. Going empty stomach would make you feel hungry, and you wouldn’t enjoy the concert to the full, and get tired faster. Remember, the Vans Warped Tour happens just once a year.
9. Get mixed up in the crowd
If you are coming with your group, you can easily get lost in the crowd. Do not abandon anyone from your group, and make sure you decide on a common meeting point. Else there will be a lot of extra running around, which you might not be able to do, as you would be tired at the end of the day.
In the end, don’t forget to have fun! Rules are good, and should be followed, but the number one rule of Vans Warped Tour is to have fun.
Coming up next year
Expect a whole lot of fun at Vans Warped Tour 2011. The headlining band at 2011 would be the winning band of 2010 contest. For those who don’t know, bands have the chance to participate at the Battle of Bands at the 2010 tour. Top 100 contestants will be chose from all the venues, and from them, the best 4 of each venue will play at Battle of the Bands. The band that wins will be given the headlining position in 2011 Van Warped Tour.
There is going to be lots of stunts, and new bands at the tour. The venues and bands are not planned yet, but it is going to be a blend of old and new bands. Whatever the list is, you can surely expect what you always get from Vans Warped tours- 200% fun.
Tour de France – More than Just a Cycle in the Park
The Tour De France is not only the most famous cycle race in the world, but one of the best known and most gruelling races of any kind. This year marked the 93rd race, running for 23 days across 20 different stages making a total race distance of 3,657 kilometres across France before finally finishing in Paris at the Champs-Elysees on Sunday 23rd July.
Starting in Strasbourg the race managed to cross most of France, with 9 flat, 4 medium mountain, 5 mountain and 2 individual time trial stages, before reaching its climactic conclusion in Paris: the Tour De France is a truly punishing event.
This year British sports fans who took a flight to France in order to see the race were met with one of the most exciting events for many years including plenty of controversy, an unforgettable race, and a free three hour long 10,000 seat concert in Landes.
Even before the race started there was excitement and controversy with a series of pre-tour doping scandals which lead to the withdrawal of the two favourites, Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso of the T-Mobile and CSC teams. The retirement of Armstrong meant another leading player was out of the running. While many worried that this would lead to a lack lustre event, the reality was one of the most enthralling, unpredictable and closely fought Tours in recent memory.
The eventual winner, Floyd Landis, produced an amazing performance especially in light of being in pain the entire time and needing to undergo hip replacement surgery due to advanced osteoarthritis. Despite walking with a limp and being unable to cross his right leg over his left, causing him to have to get on his bike by putting his right leg over first, Landis managed to keep his condition secret from fellow riders until a week into the start of the Tour. Whether he will be able to cycle professionally again in the future will be determined by the results of this operation.
The announcement that following his win, was that Landis has now tested positive for elevated levels of the male sex hormone testosterone, has lead to his suspension pending the results of his B sample analysis.
A statement by The Phonak team read that they where, “notified on Wednesday by the UCI of an unusual level of testosterone/epitestosterone ratio in the test made on Floyd Landis after stage 17 of the Tour de France”. They also stated that, “The team management and the rider were both totally surprised of this physiological result.”
Phonak have already announced that if the second sample confirms the positive test, Landis will be sacked. Race authorities have since tried to contact Floyd directly as well as through his agent and the team, however there has so far been no response and the rider has subsequently disappeared.