Akrapovič Magazine vol. 6

Akrapovič Lifestyle Magazine April ‘10 Issue 06

Interview

South Africa

Audio Freaks

Janez Vlachy

PLUS

Column by Alan Cathcart

DRESSED TO IMPRESS. There’s always a way to kick it up a level. And one of the best is the Akrapovič silencer. It gives the K 1300 R everything it needs to stay king of the urban jungle: a full sound, reduced weight, plenty of power and looks that take the breath away. To find out more, visit bmw-motorrad.com

K 1300 R WITH AKRAPOVIČ SILENCER UNSTOPPABLE URBAN.

BMW Motorrad

K 1300 R

The Ultimate Riding Machine

Contents

// Si NOTE All the longer articles in the Sharp End magazine will include a text that will be marked with the // Si sign and placed in a special frame. The AkrapoviÄ? company is based in Slovenia and this is why we decided to keep this part of the text in Slovenian as well.

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Contents

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Letter

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Optimism We are already well into a year that will be an important indicator of the scope of the global recovery from the biggest economic crisis in the last 80 years. We managed to skirt another Great Depression, despite a four-time greater drop in global GDP than the one experienced in the 1930s. The world suffered a stroke and it’s still uncertain how quickly it will return to normal.

The global economy stopped falling in autumn of last year. This was to a large extent due to China, which pursued a successful fiscal stimulus plan, combined with a functioning credit system. The majority of other developing countries also weathered the downturn better than the developed world, which is why we will see an accelerated increase in their relative economic power. The great majority of them have considerably stronger economic foundations (reserves, public and foreign debt) than the developed Western states and have already accumulated over 70% of global foreign currency reserves.

We are, of course, all expecting a major turnaround in 2010. Numerous participants at the World Economic Forum in Davos agreed that the recession was a lot more shallow and shorter than they thought it would be. All the major global economies upped their growth forecasts in comparison with the projections published just a year, or even six months, ago. The World Trade Organization is also predicting a large growth in global trade, with the latest figures at around 9.5%,

with the global economy expanding by 2.9%. This has to instill optimism in us – it certainly has in our company. I feel extremely happy and honoured to have been asked to join an outstanding team several months ago. I quickly embraced the competitive spirit and the desire for perfection exuded by my colleagues, which continuously pushes us to look for perfection without compromises. We are aware that we will continue winning only if we keep innovating and maintaining our presence in different market segments. The champions of the future will undoubtedly be those who will adjust most rapidly to new situations.

Throughout our company, we are getting ready for a decade that will bring changes at an ever-increasing speed.

We will, of course, remain loyal to the automotive industry, which keeps us excited and is driving us towards new achievements. We believe, however, that our knowledge of titanium and composites (our two strategic materials); our exceptional attention to detail, design and quality; and the passion that permeates everything we do, will lead us to the podium in other industries as well. We have not set ourselves any limits; we will only change our focus when we see that we cannot reach the top.

I wish you a pleasant read in the name of the entire team.

Miloš Dežnak CEO / Managing director

Ahead of Everyone BMW’s M Power division has been the Official Car of the MotoGP for the past twelve years, turning the cars and motorbikes from Munich into a trademark of the championship and linking them closely with the best riders on the planet. And from this season on, the Safety Cars and Safety Bikes will be equipped with Akrapovič exhaust systems!

2009 proved to be one of the most successful racing

Photo: BMW

The MotoGP World Championships is in thevarious pinnaclecategories of motorseason for Akrapovič Company cycleof sports, the Formula 1 of motorbikes and features cutting motorsport.

Beside numerous national and regional edge technology. It is the crème de la crème of two wheels, championships, we gained together with teams and racers where only the best succeed and where there is no room for 12 world championship titles in 2009 in motorcycle bunglers. Only those who strive for the highest and the furthest racing and some other prestigious bike and car victories take part in it and they do more than just compete. as well. World champions who were using Akrapovič For the 2010 season, BMW has supplied a line-up of white Exhaust inin2009 are: BMW M colours. The rumbling models, liveried traditional X6M, M6, M3 Sedan and M5 Touring will be at the disposal of race organisers and directors and, lastly, provide for spectator safety as well.

Equipping the MotoGP Safety Cars this season with Akrapovič titanium and carbon exhaust systems comes as no surprise, as BMW’s Safety Bikes (BMW R1000SS and BMW HP2 Sport this year) have been using them for several years. But the use of the Slovenian exhaust systems on safety cars is nevertheless a huge recognition -- and proof -- of the quality of the Akrapovič company.

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With Suzuki in MotoGP

Sharp details

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In 2010 season Rizla Suzuki team in MotoGp will be using Akrapovič´s exhausts. It is the fourth generation of the 800cc GSV-R four-stroke prototype Grand Prix bike and has been developed for the 2010 season with a focus of improved acceleration as well as increased durability to coincide with the new engine restrictions that will be implemented into this year’s championship. Improvements to aerodynamics, chassis performance and electronic systems go to make this the most technically advanced racing motorcycle that the Suzuki factory has ever produced.

Akrapovič Enters Moto2 Class As part of the motorbike World Championships, the Akrapovič company will be heavily present in the newly created Moto2 class in the 2010 season. Moto2, which replaces the 250ccm class this year, features motorbikes with a 600ccm four stroke engine from a single supplier, also guaranteeing very competitive races already in the first season.

Best Brands for 2010 Readers of Europe largest motorcycle magazine Motorrad choosed Akrapovič for the best brand in category ‘exhaust systems’ for 2010. This is the fifth prestigious prize in a row for Akrapovič as satisfied readers proved our quality also in years 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Akrapovič voted Best brand 2010 by the readrs of another German motorcycle, PS .

Kevin Schwantz Visited Akrapovič A GP 500 legend from Texas visited Akrapovič headquarters while he was visiting Slovenia. Kevin was impressed and enthusiastic by all high technology he saw in the company, especially with laboratories for developing new materials, dimensional measurements and dyno benches.

Akrapovič on Facebook/Twitter

Photo: Bor Dobrin

The company Akrapovič is beginning the year 2010 with greater presence on the World Wide Web. Our first step is the much visited and very globally popular Facebook. Become friends of your favorite brand on Facebook and visit us at: http://www.facebook.com/akrapovic

Moto Action / 5 minutes before the race

LORIS CAPIROSSI

LORIS CAPIROSSI IS AN ITALIAN RIDER IN MOTOGP, WHO WILL KEEP HIS PLACE IN THE RIZLA SUZUKI TEAM IN THE 2010 SEASON. THE TEAM WILL THIS YEAR USE AKRAPOVIË’S EXHAUST SYSTEMS. HIS SUCCESSFUL CAREER NETTED LORIS THREE WORLD CHAMPION TITLES - TWO ON 125CC AND ONE ON 250CC MACHINES. HE HAS MORE THAN 300 RACES UNDER HIS BELT, MAKING HIM ONE OF THE MOST EXPERIENCED RIDERS ON THE CIRCUIT.

by Primož Jurman photography © Rizla Suzuki

YOU’VE BEEN RACING FOR 21 YEARS NOW, HAVE WON THREE WORLD TITLES BUT STILL SEEM TO BE SO HIGHLY MOTIVATED!

I still have a great hunger for racing. It’s in my blood and it’s what I want to do at the moment. I also really love working with Suzuki; it’s probably the best team I’ve ever been in. My new team-mate, Alvaro, seems like a good guy but I want to beat him this year -- so that also keeps me motivated!

Plus I have some records to break and some unfinished business in MotoGP, so I’m staying highly focused so I can keep achieving as much as I can.

friends in racing, but they don’t always make good team-mates. Someone that gives you good feedback and works with the team is always good, and one I can battle and hopefully beat in every race.

WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE IN THE SPORT THAT YOU ARE COMPETING IN?

I’m not a big fan of all the electronics on bikes and would like to go back to the big power 990s, but I also loved racing 500s. The travelling can sometimes be difficult, but you get used to it.

WHO IS YOUR CHILDHOOD HERO?

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH YOUR LIFE IF YOU WEREN´T RACING?

My racing hero is Fausto Gresini.

I don’t know really; like I said I’m so focused on what I’m doing now that I don’t think about that.

But it would probably be some kind of business, buying and selling stuff, that sort of thing.

WHAT WOULD WE FIND IN YOUR GARAGE?

WHO WOULD YOU PICK AS YOUR TEAMMATE IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE?

WHERE’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO BE IN THE WORLD?

That’s a difficult question because I have many

That would be telling. I have a couple of my old racing bikes and obviously some cars, as well as my Suzuki Gran Vitara.

At home with my wife and son.

YOU’RE USING AN AKRAPOVI» EXHAUST SYSTEM THIS YEAR - WHAT’S YOUR OPINION ABOUT IT?

I really like it. The guys have been very helpful and have done a great job making the system for the bike. Hopefully it will give us a little bit more in a race.

WHAT WILL BE THE NEXT STEPS IN YOUR CAREER?

I don’t really know, because I’m focused on 2010 at the moment. I do know that when I finish racing I won’t stay in MotoGP as a manager or anything.

When I stop racing I’ll probably stay at home with my family and enjoy my retirement. I might visit now and then, but I wouldn’t want to stay in racing.

YOUR ADVICE TO MOTORCYCLISTS AROUND THE WORLD?

Stay safe and always ride within your limits.

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DOM EMDE, WINNER OF THE 1972 DAYTONA 200, HEADS THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION “FRIENDS OF RIDERS FOR HEALTH.” HELPED BY YAMAHA, VALENTINO ROSSI AND THEIR SPONSORS, INCLUDING AKRAPOVI», THE CHARITY PLANS TO AUCTION OFF A UNIQUE YAMAHA R1 AND DONATE THE PROCEEDS TO CHARITY. “Riders for Health” is a story about humanitarian aid, created by Barry and Andrea Coleman and rider Randy Mamola. The charity provides medical aid to people in remote parts of Africa, with programmes carried out in Gambia, Kenya, Zimbabwe and elsewhere. It attracts donations and sponsorships through various activities and uses the financial means to educate people on the use of motorbikes and other means of transport in the remoter parts of the continent.

It’s a fact that the proper maintenance and use of transportation in these areas is often the difference between life and death. Medical aid amounts to nothing if your ride breaks down in the middle of nowhere. “Riders for Health” enjoys the support of all the major MotoGP riders, headed by Valentino Rossi.

Don Emde promotes the “Friends of Riders for Health” in the USA and he came up with the idea of a unique Yamaha R1, painted with Rossi’s graphics. The project brought Yamaha, Rossi and his designer, Aldo Drudi, together. But it also garnered support from numerous companies, which donated top-quality accessories, which were then used to replace the bike’s original parts. These donors included Akrapovič, which provided its Evolution exhaust with titanium pipes, engraved with the “Riders for Health” logo.

The bike will be auctioned off and the lucky new owner will also receive a day’s course on safe riding, courtesy of Yamaha. For more information about the auction, go to www.friendsofriders.org.

FOR CHARITY 07

by Primož Jurman photography © Yamaha/Friend of Riders for Health

Moto Action

Sharp World

Akrapovič Titanium Foundry

HOW TO CATCH A RAINBOW

by Peter Kavčič photography Branko Cvetkovič, Aleksander Štokelj

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Titanium is a metal often attributed with nearly mystical properties. And why not? It contains all the colours of the rainbow and boasts unique characteristics.

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Revolution

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The Akrapovič company employs experts to transform titanium, a modern metal of exceptional quality.

The space and airline industries pioneered the use of titanium alloys in the middle of the last century, and they were joined 20 years ago by the Akrapovič company. Well, back then it was less of a company and more a band of enthusiasts and techno-geeks, led by the “racer and motorbike guru” Igor Akrapovič. Their main goal was to boost horsepower to the max and shave off as much weight as possible.

Titanium, with its low weight, exceptional resistance to high temperature and enviable mechanic characteristics, proved itself to be the perfect material for exhaust systems.

In short, after years of work and research into various titanium types, the company has gotten to thoroughly know this highly praised metal. But in 2009, it took it to a whole new level by opening an 800 m2 foundry at its headquarters for precision titanium casting. Now everything is made inhouse – from the original computer drawings of the future product, the first plastic samples created by a specialised 3D printer and the subsequent ceramic casts, ready for vacuum titanium casting.

The decision to do so was logical.

Akrapovič has continuously been using the highest quality titanium alloys from around the world for its primary activity – the manufacture of sports exhaust systems for motorbikes, cars and ultra light planes. The material was always top notch, but until last year a lot of it was wasted as scrap titanium that could not be used for anything.

By recycling or utilising unused titanium, the company’s growth possibilities suddenly increased greatly – and not only in exhaust system manufacture, but also in medicine, sports, entertainment, art, and engine parts. The company was faced with an almost unlimited area of untapped opportunities.

If the first year of operations was used for tentative steps and learning, the foundry is now producing items that are vital for the company’s primary activity – the manufacture of exhaust systems, which already contain flanges and valves cast in the foundry.

Titanium foundry.

Photo: Bor Dobrin

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Final inspection.

Shelling room.

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Revolution

Melting charge.

Recycling the exceptional high-tech titanium that remains after the scrapping of titanium tubes and sheets has given the Akrapovič foundry a competitive edge. Every product is cast from a remarkable titanium alloy that has been created to meet extremely demanding criteria. Foundries generally use substantially cheaper and lower-performing titanium. This unusual connection between the foundry and the company’s exhaust systems department allows for amazing possibilities to manufacture unique products and leverage a competitive edge.

The only limitations for castings have to do with the smelting and casting plant, which allows the use of castings of up to 500 mm in diameter and 350 mm in height. The amount of titanium that can be cast at the same time is between 15 and 25 kilograms, depending on the design and shape of the cast or the final casting. An additional ace up Akrapovič’s sleeve is precision casting, which allows the product’s thickness to stay at a mere 0.8 mm. This results in extremely precise products that meet even the most demanding criteria.

Apart from the unique metal, the foundry also boasts in-depth knowledge of casting and advanced technology throughout.

Everything is controlled and supervised through computer systems.

Another very important element in casting are the two laboratories – one for dimensions and the other for mechanical and chemical characteristics, as they allow the company to guarantee the highest quality of its products.

Every casting is thoroughly inspected by highly qualified employees and X-ray radioscopy. Those that do not meet the strict criteria are “cast” aside. All of the foundry’s products are subjected to extreme stress tests. This quality check guarantees that the item is fit for use.

The foundry signifies a move by Akrapovič into a new field and presents another step in the company’s ongoing development and search for perfection. To do this it utilises titanium, a magical material that contains the colours of the rainbow.

A piece of that rainbow is hidden in every titanium piece that goes through the devilish heat of the smelter to a ceramic embrace and then continues its life in a new shape.

Wax pattern and finalized casted part.

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// Si

Kako ujeti mavrico?

Pri Akrapoviču so strokovnjaki za preoblikovanje titana, te sodobne kovine, ki si je pot najprej utrla na področja sodobne tehnologije, kjer se od materiala zahtevajo izjemne lastnosti.

A vesoljski in letalski industriji, ki sta nekako pionirsko začrtali pot uporabe titanovih zlitin v sredini prejšnjega stoletja, se je pred dvajsetimi leti pridružilo tudi podjetje Akrapovič, ali bolje rečeno Igor Akrapovič ‘dirkač in motoristični guru’ s svojo majhno ekipo zanesenjakov in ‘tehno-frikov’, ki jim je bilo glavno vodilo ujeti čim več ‘konjev’ in odbrusiti čim več kilogramov z dirkalnega motocikla. Titan se je s svojo nizko težo, izjemno odpornostjo na visoke temperature in zavidljivimi mehanskimi lastnostmi pokazal kot pravi material za športne izpušne sisteme in prav pri Akrapoviču so ga prvi uporabili za izpušne sisteme, ki so jih ponudili motorističnim navdušencem po svetu.

Melting unit.

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Hot stuff

Hot Stuff from Akrapovič 12

Akrapovič exhaust systems are designed for riders who demand maximum performance from their motorcycles. They feature exceptional production quality, hi-tech materials, and of course increased engine performance. The change is also visual, as our Hexagonal mufflers perfectly fit the exterior line of modern motorcycles and add a clean racing image.

Yamaha YZF R6 +1.2 HP/14580 rpm -1.08 kg

BMW S1000RR +11.15 HP/8450 rpm -7.57 kg

Kawasaki Z1000 +14.1 HP/10300 rpm -9.85 kg

Triumph Daytona 675 +3.6 HP/12670 rpm -1.87 kg

Husqvarna TC250 +2.6 HP/12330 rpm -0.37 kg

Honda VFR 1200F +5.5 HP/9700 rpm -2.94 kg

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Car Stuff

Car stuff

Welcome to our range of aftermarket exhaust systems for cars. We offer complete, partial, open or street legal products that significantly improve performances. We use only the best and exclusive titanium and stainless steel. We combine these two materials with high technologies and craftsmanship of our welders that divide this exhausts systems from anything else on the market.

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Chevrolet Corvette ZO6 + 13.7 HP/3450 rpm - 15.30 kg

Porsche Carrera S + 17 HP/3820 rpm - 9.84 kg

Volkswagen Golf GTI + 3.7 HP/5440 rpm - 6.50 kg

Audi TTS + 3.4 HP/6210 - 7.80 kg

Sharp World

A Portrait of Robert Kranjec 14

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Sharp World

Citius. Altius. Fortius. The Olympic motto means “Faster, Higher, Stronger.”

Ski jumping, a sport that is part of the Winter Olympic Games, could be more aptly described as “far, farther, the farthest.” And, as in all other sports, the best are those who perform at the very limits of human ability.

And maybe even surpass them.

by Primož Jurman photography Bor Dobrin

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Among the handful of top aces in ski jumping -- a sport otherwise dominated by Austrians, Scandinavians, the Swiss and Germans -- is Robert Kranjec of Slovenia.

His specialty is actually sky flying, which involves soaring up to 239 meters in the sky. That’s the current World Record among these human eagles, while Robert’s personal best stands at 229 metres. His successful sports career brought him his first World Cup victory in the 2005/06 season in Finland’s Kuusamo. Apart from numerous other successful showings at world cup events, he also won the bronze at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and finished 6th at the 2010 games in Vancouver. Kranjec took two wins and one second place in this season’s FIS Ski Jumping World Cup, winning the crystal cup for the season’s top ski flier, an award handed out by the International Ski Federation to winners in different skiing events.

Ski flying is an event that has been taken to its extreme by ski jumpers. These are athletes who are drawn to the giant ramps, where the difference in altitude from top to bottom amounts to 160 metres. These are truly impressive feats of construction and design, whose sheer size overwhelms the spectators. There are only a few such hills in the world. The one in Slovenia’s Planica is among the most widely known.

Photo: Matej Družnik

Can you imagine hurtling yourself down a slope at speeds exceeding 100 kilometres per hour, then springing like a coil from your low lean, flying 5 to 6 metres in the sky, and landing a few seconds later?

And this off of a ramp whose inclination (in Planica) reaches 38.5%!

Can you imagine the forces and winds that jumpers have to battle with in gliding over 200 metres? Yes, it is gliding. Their flight allows them to lean against an air cushion created underneath themselves. True, things sometimes go wrong and jumpers can fall like Icarus. To minimise such occurrences, this sport now also increasingly uses science to improve materials and technique. This scientific approach is becoming increasingly important, be it in the research of materials that the jumpers use, the development of skis and other equipment or for improving technique.

Robert Kranjec, born in 1981, is a thoughtful lad, whose life philosophy is devoted to ski jumping. Together with many of his jumping colleagues, he is also an avid biker and uses the Akrapovič exhaust system on his motorbike. When this top athlete visited Akrapovič in mid-2009, the wind tunnel gave us an idea for cooperation. The tunnel can, to a certain extent, be used to simulate the conditions on a hill. To clarify: a jumper has between 3 to 4 jumps available on a hill daily, meaning he can spend an average of 15 seconds in the air per day. This is not enough time for him to determine how to better position an individual body part and insufficient to analyse the situation and make necessary corrections. The wind tunnel offers a controlled environment that makes this possible. A 10-minute “practice” session in the device is the equivalent of 200 jumps on a hill. Even more importantly, certain elements can be monitored, especially wind resistance during the in-run.

Robert, and later his colleagues from the Slovenian national team, used the Akrapovič’s wind tunnel to test and practice the take-off and flight stages, during which Akrapovič engineers were also on hand to propose improvements, thereby looking to push the boundaries of this sport. But this time it wasn’t the boundaries of technique and mechanics, but rather natural laws and the laws of physics. Which is what matters most in ski flying.

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Sharp World

// Si

Kako daleč še?

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Eden izmed peščice svetovnih asov smučarskih skokov, športa, v katerem so uspešni predvsem Avstrijci, Skandinavci, pa Švicarji in Nemci, je tudi Slovenec Robert Kranjec. Pravzaprav so njegova močna disciplina smučarski poleti, to so smučarski skoki na skakalnicah, ki pravega človeškega orla ponesejo tja do 239 metrov. Toliko je trenutni svetovni rekord, Robertova najboljša znamka pa je 229 metrov. V svoji bogati športni karieri je v sezoni 2005/06 v finskem Kuusamu dosegel svojo prvo zmago za svetovni pokal, poleg kopice vidnih uvrstitev v svetovnem pokalu je leta 2002 v Salt Lake Cityu osvojil bronasto olimpijsko medaljo, na olimpijskih igrah v Vancouvru pa 6. mesto. V letošnji sezoni je kot najboljši letalec v sklopu svetovnega pokala z dvema drugima mestoma in prvim, osvojil mali kristalni globus. Letos se je pripravljal tudi v vetrovniku podjetja Akrapovič.

Interview

Modest like a Slovene, pleasant like an American, spirited like an Indian

by Katra Terlep photography Janez Vlachy

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Sunita is the only woman to have lived for over 6 months on the International Space Station. She logged a total of 29 hours in space walks. She nevertheless remains a pleasant person to talk to and is full of optimism and interesting experiences. She is a hero in three countries: the US where she was born, and India and Slovenia where her parents come from. She calls herself a citizen of the world.

Beginnings Let’s start at the beginning. You grew up in a multicultural environment. What was your childhood like and how did it influence you?

I was born in Ohio, but we soon moved to Boston, the “Mecca of medicine”, as my father is a doctor.

He comes from India, but my mother has Slovenian roots and there are not many families like that.

Since my earliest days, I got to know Hinduism and Christianity. Our lives were filled with culture. I realised at an early age what heights various people can reach if they live and work together. This is why I probably really, really enjoyed working with the international crew at the station.

My parents were also my inspiration, as none of them was born with a silver spoon and they both made it solely through their hard work. They always believed that anything was possible, which also made me take my chances and do my best.

How did you end up at NASA, was this your childhood dream?

No, I never thought I’d become an astronaut. I’ve loved animals since forever and wanted to become a vet. Then my brother joined the Naval Academy and I got enthusiastic about that as well. We were very active as children, we ran a lot, went swimming and camping… That’s why he thought the Academy would be the right choice for me and he was right. As a swimmer I felt at home in water and therefore wanted to join the divers. But because I wasn’t the best in class and there was only one place available, my wish didn’t come true and I switched to aviation. That’s how I became a navy helicopter pilot and later a test pilot. During the first Gulf War, I piloted the H-46 on logistics missions, carrying cargo to ships. We were responsible for all US shipping in the area, so we frequently worked at night. Back then, I still didn’t think that I could work in space. But after visiting the Johnson Space Center in Houston, I realised

that I already had the necessary qualifications and decided there and then to pursue a career as an astronaut.

You see, my story is not a straight line from start to finish. My wishes frequently didn’t come true and I had to settle for second best. For example, I wanted to become a vet and keep my long hair, but didn’t become a vet and had to cut my hair at the Academy. As one door closes, others open. This experience taught me that every cloud has a silver lining. You only need to take a step backwards, look around you and a new opportunity will surely present itself, allowing you to achieve much much more than you dared think was possible.

I decided to pursue my career quite late, in my mid-twenties. I think there’s nothing wrong if you’re young and don’t know what you want to be.

Even if you don’t have exact plans, things often get resolved by themselves.

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Interview

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Interview

How does it feel to be a female in a male environment, have you ever had any problems because of that?

I’ve never felt like I don’t belong in an environment and maybe that’s why I was truly accepted. I think that a helicopter doesn’t know whether it’s being piloted by a man or woman. It’s the skill and know-how that counts, not gender. Of course, some don’t see it that way and try to put a spanner in the works. And in these situations it is so much more important that you try your best to achieve what you want to.

How long did it take after being accepted to the astronaut’s unit to blast off into space?

I was selected by NASA in 1998. After that I undertook numerous evaluations aimed at determining the duties of an individual. This period is followed by preparations, where one has to learn the workings of a rocket and craft management.

I took off on the space shuttle Discovery in December 2006.

What did you feel during blast-off?

The training takes five years, so you definitely feel ready to leave. But I nonetheless felt awe as the countdown inched closer and closer.

Zero gravity zone

our heads pointing downwards.

Showers are replaced by a hot wet towel. I have to admit that I really missed having a hot shower!

Astronauts in space lose their muscle and bone mass, with your ankles and pelvis being especially hard hit. We need two hours of exercise a day just to replenish what you would’ve gained on Earth simply by walking and because of gravity. We exercise on special devices that are highly efficient.

I was able to communicate regularly with my family. I sent them my logs every weekend by email so that they knew what I was doing during the week.

I also called them every weekend, to see how all of them were doing and to guarantee them a call from space. I briefly spoke to my husband every two days and I also told him how much I missed our Jack Russel Terrier, Gorby. He was a bit ticked because he thought I talked more about the dog than him, even though that was obviously not the case!

What would you single out as the most/ least pleasant moment in space?

My favourite moments occurred for dinner, when we all gathered around the table, told stories, and talked about families and the languages we speak.

Also exceptional was the view of the entire Earth through the window. Another wonderful feeling is when you’re given a task and you use your little craft (which is what a space suit really is) to go for a space walk. As I already said, I really missed hot showers.

And walks with Gorby on the beach, the feeling of sand under your feet and wind in your hair.

What’s the daily routine like at a space station?

That’s tricky to define, since no two days are completely the same. Maybe I could best describe it as life on a ship. Necessary maintenance is carried out every day. And to continue using the ship analogy, instead of calling to port we’d do space walks, operate the space arm or carry out scientific experiments.

We want to make life as normal as possible in our unusual way. We’d get up at 6 AM and try to have lunch together. We always dine together. We gather around the table, but instead of sitting we float. We turn in at around 10 PM. We use GMT, as this facilitates communication with the control centres on Earth, which are located in the US and Russia, making Europe somewhere in between. But we could’ve used any time zone, since we circle the Earth 16 times in 24 hours.

How do everyday tasks, such as eating, rest, hygiene, sport, hanging out together, and communication with family look like?

The food that we eat mainly comes dehydrated in bags. First we need to knead it, add water and heat it up. It’s important to have dishes that stick together, such as stews -- otherwise they’d be all over the station. And the food must be suited to the various tastes of the international crew. The menu stays the same for two weeks, which is why we add different spices, like pepper, garlic or wasabi.

We cannot cover ourselves with blankets in zero gravity. We recreate the feeling of a cover by using sleeping bags. Because you float in space and there is no “up” and “down” feeling, we also slept with

What’s your view of Earth now? Has it changed?

The Earth from above looks like a planet, as one.

You can see cracks, colours, mountain ranges, rivers. Boundaries between countries feel completely unnatural. Of course, you can’t see people, and it’s hard to imagine that someone got stuck in a traffic jam, harder still to envisage them fighting. The side window allows you to see how thin our atmosphere is. My desire is that people living on Earth would see that and start taking better care of our planet.

Can you describe the space station?

First, I’d like to say that the space station is not as far from Earth as you might think. It’s only several hundreds of kilometres above it and is made up of Russian and US modules. I’d like to mention the Unity module that links the US and Russian segments and represents cooperation between two formerly opposing countries.

The US laboratory, where we study the effects of microgravity on humans, plants, liquids and other materials, is named Destiny. The name was chosen because it is our destiny to get to know and understand these effects. The Russian Sunrise module symbolises everything that different individuals can achieve if they work together and also functioned as our living room. It was there that we got together, dined and socialised.

You also completed the Boston marathon while at the station. What made you do it?

I became a fan of the Boston Marathon in my early days, as its route passed really close to my home.

Because it’s difficult to qualify for it and I did it before blast-off, I would’ve felt sad if I couldn’t take part in it. I was already in pre-flight quarantine, so I asked my sister to fill out my application form. I got up really early on marathon day as the event started four hours before we usually wake up. I latched myself to some elastic bands and started running. The weather in Boston was bad, it was rainy and windy. I ran under much better conditions, at a constant 24°C and that gave me an additional boost. I finished the marathon in four and a half hours. As a note of interest, during that time we circled the Earth two and a half times, so I can say that I ran around the Earth 2.5 times!

While I was running in space, my sister ran down below. We had a phone link and when the marathon was over, I called her mobile phone. She was just enjoying her cup -- and I my bag -- of hot chocolate!

What did you feel upon returning home, both mentally and physically?

During my six moths of living at the International Space Station, I got used to a peaceful life and needed time to feel comfortable being surrounded by people. Upon my return I wanted to spend a couple days just with my nearest and dearest. I wanted to meet everybody else, of course, but not all at the same time. I didn’t want to waste time with commonplace stuff, like watching TV. I wanted to go outside, take a walk on the beach, feel the gust of wind, hear the rustling of leaves and the sound of waves that I missed so much!

We returned to Earth in a sort of a reclining position and only when I raised myself did I feel how heavy my body had become. You can actually see how a returned astronaut’s head slips backwards or to the side, as if the neck muscles have forgotten how to hold it up straight. I also had problems with my balance – it’s something you don’t use in zero gravity. After returning to Earth, I needed a couple of days to reinstate the link between the brain and inner ear that controls balance. In order to get back into the same shape that I had before departing, I needed about 6 months of physical rehabilitation and constant practice.

Wishes for the future I’d first like to know the answer to a hypothetical question. Would you do things the same if you were reborn?

I’d say yes. My job allowed me to meet many exceptional people and see numerous breathtakingly beautiful sights. If I could, I’d only change the date of departure. I’d have loved to go in space when such missions were in their infancy. Or, maybe, postpone it for a bit, when we have the ability to travel further, for example to Mars.

What would be your ideal scenario for the future?

I’m getting a little gray and am slowly getting older.

Interview

Photo: NASA

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My career as an astronaut will probably be over in about 10 years. I’d love to return to space before that, this time as a commander. That would’ve been a truly exhilarating experience now, when there are six people on the station. I’d love to be a research pioneer, the next Christopher Columbus or Neil Armstrong. It’d be wonderful to surpass the limits of what’s possible and see what would happen.

My biggest desire would be to have the financial and moral support of people from all over the world to return to the Moon -- and then travel further from there, for example to Mars. I’d love to land on the Moon and see the Earth from there, that’d really be something! But I believe that this will wait for future generations. At NASA, we are currently selecting a new generation of astronauts, finalizing the construction of a new spacecraft and getting ready for a mission planned for 2020. I’d especially love to encourage kids interested in science and mathematics to be bold and try to become astronauts. I’ll be happy when the young break our records and I wish them the best of luck doing that!

Po slovensko skromna, po ameriško prijetna in po indijsko temperamentna

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Sunita Williams je edina ženska, ki je na vesoljski postaji preživela dobrega pol leta in opravila kar 29 ur sprehodov po vesolju. Ob tem ostaja prijetna sogovornica, polna optimizma, zanimivih izkušenj in življenjskih resnic. Je junakinja treh dežel; po malem si jo lastijo Američani, saj je rojena v Združenih državah, pa tudi Indijci in Slovenci, od koder izhajajo njeni starši. Sama zase pravi, da je državljanka sveta.

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C O R P O R AT E M A G A Z I N E S

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Fantastic

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Porsche 918 Spyder concept 1 2

Kindle Wireless Reading Device - books in 60 seconds!

Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered wirelessly in less than 60 seconds -- no PC required. As thin as most magazines, lighter than a typical paperback, 3G wireless lets you download books right to your Kindle. There are no annual contracts, no monthly fees, and no hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots. You can enjoy 3G wireless coverage at home or abroad in over 100 countries.

It has a paper-like display so it reads like real paper without glare, even in bright sunlight. With the Kindle you can carry your library wherever you go – it holds up to 1,500 books. With the experimental Text-to-Speech feature, Kindle can read newspapers, magazines, blogs, and books out loud to you, unless the book’s rights holder have made the feature unavailable. You can also download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy.

Samsung 3-D TV converts 2-D to 3-D If you are looking to enhance your home-entertainment system, have a look at the new 3-D television systems. The award-winning Samsung 46-inch 3-D LED TV is among the leaders in advancing this technology in the market. This is a hookup that makes every viewing experience a special event. It converts regular 2-D broadcasts into a 3-D perspective.

Additionally, there is a Web-connected application, Samsung Apps, which enables you to stream movies, play video games, and check out photos while watching television. The 3-D TV is compatible with the Blu-ray Disc Association standard and both broadcast standards. There are 3-D viewing glasses available as well. Along with the advanced technology, its diameter of only 12 inches makes it convenient to set up. The TV itself is 52 inches wide and 39 inches tall.

It measures up nicely no matter how you look at it.

The Porsche 918 Spyder was possibly the biggest surprise in Geneva. Very few people knew about this car including, apparently, the design management at Volkswagen! The last Porsche concept car was the Carrera GT that was designed a decade ago in Porsche’s old California studio. The 918 appears to be picking up the mantel where the Carrera GT left off, if perhaps also making nods to the classic 917 race car. It too has a very powerful midmounted powertrain, in this case a combination of a 500-hp petrol V8 and 218-hp from two electric motors. Its design is also closely related to the Carrera GT in general and also in details such as the straight, diagonal slim center console. But what is most striking is how compact the 918 looks -- more Boxter than Carrera GT. Beyond some Carrera GT derived themes, the design has the classically taught yet full-volume Porsche surfaces and some new design features, such as the way the body-side tapers rearward to sit inside the rear surface of the car just behind the door. Other details that are new for Porsche: lamps that are taller than they are wide (more Ferrari 430 than 911), winglets that connect the rear spoiler to the center of the rear deck, and lime-green detailing as befitting its hybrid status.

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Maserati GranTurismo Convertible: An Open Air Performance for Four Being the first four-seat convertible to bear the Maserati trident in the company’s epic 98-year history, it was a pretty high priority for this one to turn heads for all the right reasons. Well, mission accomplished.

The Maserati GranTurismo Convertible is getting second glances from drivers who demand the ultimate in style, performance, and quality. The overall package is quite impressive. The GT is attractive to both men and women of discerning tastes. Perhaps the greatest feature of the GranTurismo is its balance. It goes beyond having an ideal weight balance, which is attributable to a front mid-engine position. Four fullsize adults being able to ride comfortably in a car that accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds with a top speed of 176 mph, is an intelligently designed machine. It is mind-boggling that a driver and up to three passengers can thoroughly enjoy it without compromising on performance or comfort. That is real balance. There are so many goodies in Maserati’s inaugural entry into the high-end GT market, such as the Bose 12-speaker system with surround sound and the various custom interior options. But don’t overlook its Ferrari-designed 433-horsepower V8 engine and a six-speed ZF automatic transmission that shifts so seamlessly. Honestly, that’s probably unlikely. The tone of the exhaust note is music to the ears, with the revving of the engine a crescendo that heightens one’s expectations tenfold. For further enhancement, there is a sport button that unleashes a dual-path sport-exhaust system. The Maserati GT covers a quarter mile in 13.2 seconds with great stability and smoothness due to its extra long wheelbase and adaptive suspension system. A racing-styled flat aluminum under tray keeps it light on its tires and provides exceptional aerodynamics. The front mid-engine placement gives the car near-even weight distribution.

Gesture Cube - No need to touch – just give it a wave!

Just wave your hand to access music, web, your family and friends. The underlying GestIC® technology detects your hand´s approach and movements - your favorite apps and media all at a wave of your hand. The Gesture Cube is not just technology for tech’s sake. It is thoughtfully designed and deeply rooted in a genuine understanding of consumers’ expectations and needs. The producer has explored the possibilities of 3D technology to craft a product experience that is so intuitive it‘s almost magical. Using natural gestures to control electronics helps to draw them closer to our natural behaviour, making things easier and more fun.

The result is an intelligent product concept with unlimited possibilities for enhancing daily life with effortless interaction. The Gesture Cube´s design is simple yet so beautiful it doubles as a sculptural icon in your living space.

Let Gesture Cube inspire you!

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Urwerk watches With their unusual approach to time indication, Urwerk has been able to establish themselves as an avant-garde brand. The company has a forward-thinking mentality, yet relies on the traditions of the past to create their timepieces.

Never once has the watch world seen such extreme complexities stemming from such a young and innovative design team. Urwerk is the future of watchmaking.

Go Wild

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MADE IN CHINA

®

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Go Wild

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LAST WEEK I WAS GIVEN A PRESENT. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL NATIVE AMERICAN COSTUME AND IT WAS GIVEN TO ME WITH THE WORDS: “THIS IS AN ORIGINAL COSTUME FROM MY COUNTRY.” AS I LOOKED AT THE REVERSE SIDE, I FOUND AN INSCRIPTION: MADE IN CHINA. SO MUCH FOR ORIGINALITY. AND SO MUCH FOR THE IDEA OF CHINA AS A PRODUCER OF CHEAP ITEMS. WELL, THINGS HAVE CHANGED! AND SO HAS CHINA.

by Jasmina Dvoršek photography Jernej Prelac

THE SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT ANYMORE Which is the “official bird” of China’s largest and most populous city, Shanghai? The “crane.” Cranes can be seen everywhere. There are thousands of them. And they have nothing to do with nature and fauna. At the moment more than 6,000 buildings are being built in Shanghai and tall cranes soar above immense areas that will soon become tall office buildings, apartments or shopping malls. And tall they are! Standing near the top of the third tallest building in the world (after Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and Taiwan’s Taipei 101), the 492-meter-tall Shanghai World Financial Center lets you admire the surrounding buildings of the Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone in the Pudong New Area.

Following plans to turn the area into a leading world-class financial center, Pudong has been a key re-development site since the early 1990s. The Oriental Pearl Tower, the highest TV tower in Asia at 468 meters and the second tallest building in the city, the beautiful Jin Mao with 421 meters, and of course the SWFC, are all witnesses to the newest daring plan to construct an even higher building. After its planned completion in 2014, the nearby Shanghai Tower will be the second tallest building in the world with 128 stories and 632 meters.

But construction itself (after all China has 10 of 20 tallest buildings in the world), has fallen second behind the drive for sustainable energy and protection of nature. This may seem surprising for anyone who wrongly sees China as a polluted county, indifferent to quality of life in its race to

modernize. The Shanghai Tower itself will stand as a monument to sustainable design. The building draws energy from geothermal sources as well as 54 wind turbines situated at the top of the tower. The funnel-shaped roof cyphons rainwater for internal use while the tower’s 120 degree twisting façade reduces wind loads by 24 percent. Its dualskin design with glass panes on the outside provides natural insulation as well as skylight views for the sky lobby atriums located in each floor of the tower’s nine self-contained vertical neighborhoods.

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Narejeno na Kitajskem Šanghaj, največje kitajsko mesto in njeno finančno srce, je tudi največje gradbišče na svetu. Trenutno se v mestu gradi kar 6.000 stavb, med njimi tudi nekatere, ki bodo med najvišjimi na svetu. Na polotoku reke Hunagpo, imenovanem Pudong, že stoji tretja najvišja zgradba na svetu, 492 metra visoki Šanghajski svetovni finančni center, poleg njega pa se v višave dvigata še TV stolp Oriental Pearl Tower in poslovna stavba in hotel Jin Mao Tower. V mestu, ki že ima 10 od dvajsetih najvišjih stavb na svetu, pa ciljajo še višje, saj gradijo drugo najvišjo stavbo na svetu Shanghai Tower, ki bo imela kar 632 metrov. Da Šanghaj postaja svetovni center, letos dokazuje tudi Svetovna razstava Expo 2010, ki je rekordna v vseh pogledih, saj se razprostira na površini dvakratne velikosti kneževine Monako, svojo udeležbo pa je potrdilo tudi rekordno število držav. Tudi investicija je rekordna, a organizatorji v času med 1. majem in 31. oktobrom pričakujejo 70 milijonov obiskovalcev. Spremembe v kitajski proizvodnji pa so vidne tudi v avtomobilski industriji. V prvem četrtletju lanskega leta je bilo prvič v zgodovini na Kitajskem prodano več avtomobilov kot v ZDA, mesto pa modernizira tudi javni prevoz z drzno tehnologijo ultra hitrih vlakov maglev, ki trenutno šanghajsko letališče in mesto povezujejo s hitrostjo nad 300 km/h. Vprašanje je, ali bo v času globalne krize Šanghaj premagal ovire in postal resnična zgodba o uspehu.

Go Wild

GREEN GOES BIG Only two years after the spectacular Olympic Games in Beijing, China is hosting another big spectacle and this time it’s Shanghai’s turn. Turning green while flexing its muscle are two main features of this year’s World Exhibition Expo.

As global awareness of climate change grows, the organizers and participants are especially focused on environmental protection and sustainable development. That is also the reason why the theme of this year’s Expo is ‘Better city, Better life.’ The Expo is a perfect opportunity for China, a member of the future economic and industrial superpowers known as BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) to show off. Spanning both sides of the Huangpu River, the site of Expo 2010 covers an area of 5.28 sq km -- this is four times bigger than that of the Archi Expo in 2005, twenty times bigger than that of Zaragoza Expo in 2008 and twice the size of the country of Monaco. An estimated budget of US$4.18 billon is being invested in the exhibition which will take place from May 1st to October 31. About US$2.63 billion has been marked for the construction of infrastructure and pavilions, including pavilions built by the Organizer, such as the permanent buildings including the Theme Pavillions, the 69-meter-high China Pavillion (already a new landmark of the city), the Performance Center, the Expo Center and the Expo Boulevard, as well as supporting facilities. Expo 2010 will also be the largest in terms of participants, with 192 countries and 50 international organizations attending. Of course the organizers are not modest when it comes to predicting the number of visitors they expect at the Expo 2010. By their estimate, it will be

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IN THE FUTURE The Bund is one of the few remnants of the first golden period of Shanghai from the beginnings of the 20th century.

Beautiful waterfront buildings of mostly former banks are nowadays elegant boutiques, restaurants and bars. In one of them, the Glamour Bar – a sensuous space that feels like a luxurious salon – I was looking at the illuminated skyscrapers on the other side of the Huangpu River and wondered: back in the 1990s there were just a bunch of small houses on the Pudong peninsula, but today (if it wasn’t for the Chinese characters) one could easily confuse it with New York or Tokyo – will China withstand the pressure and write a new success story? And if it has done so much in the past twenty years, how much will it surprise us 20 years from now?

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visited by 70 million visitors from home and aboard.

FROM QUANTITY TOWARDS QUALITY Changes in Chinese production are not only visible in construction, but also in the car industry. While the global economic whiplash has decimated a decade-long streak of optimism, the Chinese car market has continued to expand in size and sophistication. In the first three months of 2009, more cars were sold in China than in the USA, the first time such a reversal has ever occurred. After the Shanghai Motor Show last year, everybody agrees: Shanghai is now one of the world’s most important venues for new car design.

Although China has to overcome a long legacy of accepting older generation models from the West and restyling them to suit local markets, things are changing fast, starting with the budget end of the market. Western luxury brands may have only a few years grace before their unassailable quality standards are matched.

German-engineered Transrapid technology had also led to the construction of the first commercial high-speed maglev (magnetic levitation train) line in the world in 2004, connecting Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Longyang Road station on the outskirts of the central Shanghai. At full speed, the journey takes 7 minutes and 20 seconds to cover a distance of 30 km, although some trains in the early morning and late afternoon take about 50 seconds longer. The train can reach 350 km/h in 2 minutes, with the maximum normal operational speed of 431 km/h reached shortly thereafter.

But connecting the airport with central Shanghai is not the final idea. The government is planning to extend the existing Maglev train to first connect the city with the Shanghai Hongqiao Airport 35 kilometers away, and then a further 200 kilometers away to Hangzhou, the ‘sub-provincial’ city of 6 million residents. The Shanghai-Hangzhou Maglev Train, if built, would be the first inter-city maglev rail line in commercial service.

On the Road

It starts near Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, where the highway interchange is so big that you can see it from space. There you have to align your compass north and start rolling down the tarmac. The smell of fuel mixes with the salty moisture spewed from the Pacific to make an intoxicating perfume. Follow the infinite yellow line in the middle of the road and just drive and drive and drive... 1,540 miles, all the way to Washington State. The miles pass by slowly. If you are used to kilometres you feel like you’re not moving at all.

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On the Road

Sights along the route: Newport Beach / Huntington Beach / Los Angeles / Santa Monica / Malibu / San Louis Obispo / Big Sur / Carmel / Monterey / Santa Cruz / San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge / Point ReyesLighthouse / Muir Woods / Avenue of Giants / Redwood National Park / Oregon Dunes State Park / Cannon Beach / Astoria-Megler Bridge

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On the Road

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Redwood National and State Parks One of the main attractions of Route 101 is certainly the Redwood National Park, composed of several Californian State Parks.

The Redwood National Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park are a model of cooperation between the National Park Service and the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The entire area is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is an International Biosphere Reserve. The tallest trees reach higher than the New York Statue of Liberty, weigh 500 tonnes and are over 3,000 years old. They first aroused the interest of botanist Archibald Menzies at the end of the 18th century. In 1847 they were named “Sequoia Sempervirens,” most likely after Sequoyah, one of the leaders of the Cherokee tribe. Their name could be translated as “forever living.” In the 1920s, the interest in coastal forests in northern California reached such a frenzy that the state set up its first three state parks – Prairie Creek (1923), Del Norte (1925) and Jedediah Smith (1929). The Redwood National Park was established in 1968 to protect the entire area and not just the trees. The park now protects tens of miles of the Pacific coast, rivers, streams and forests.

They say America is automobile land. Without a Chrysler, Chevrolet, Dodge, GM, or Cadillac you’re like a fish out of water, you often can’t do anything; in some cities you can’t even get to a store.

This dependence on automobiles reflects itself in the American lifestyle and visitors must adjust to it as well. The number of roads is endless. Markings are simple and logical. When Americans talk about roads, they use abbreviations. Even road numbers follow a very simple method – those that run from north to south are odd.

Roads that go from east to west are even. America has quite a few routes that have spawned legends, cults, stories, songs, and movies… Its most famous road is undoubtedly Route 66, which runs from Chicago to San Diego. But Route 66 is far from the prettiest, especially now that it’s been replaced in parts by wide dual lane highways. It’s more of a dusty remnant of history than anything else. The beauty queen of US Routes is undoubtedly 101, which hugs the country’s Pacific coast. Its name alone reveals it to be something special. Roads of its length and width are normally given a double digit number by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). But because the main north-to-south routes have to end with the digit 1, the association decided to name it 101 instead of 93, 95, 97 or 99, the other four available numbers.

The West has always been an enchanting place. It’s a kind of a promised land, even for Americans. Later, especially lately, the lifestyle has become synonymous with progressiveness, relaxation, playfulness and an easy-going attitude. This is in noted contrast to

the more traditional and serious East Coast. And thus the west has acted like a magnet for young people who literally made pilgrimages to Los Angeles and San Francisco. Many books have been written about the experience, including the famous novel “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac.

But even the far American West, the one that is contoured by the Pacific, boasts considerable variety, as shown by its geography, plant and animal life and, of course, its people and social movements. California itself is divided into two parts. The southern part is dominated by Los Angeles, including Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Malibu... These names have become virtual synonyms for glitter, luxury and glamour. On the other side is San Francisco, the home of beatniks and hippies and the place where gays first held hands in public. The nature is completely different as well. In the south it seems that summer never ends. Frisco, however, can get foggy in the summer with temperatures falling to autumn levels.

But the real Northwest is still far away – you only get closer when you cross the Golden Gate bridge. The beach culture there is entirely different than in the south. While LA’s beaches are populated by muscular bodies and Hawaiian Tropic beauties, beaches in the vicinity of San Francisco, Oregon and Washington often hear the rustle of Gore-Tex jackets and the creak of rubber boots.

All this diversity and equality is linked by a single road with a length of 1,540 miles or roughly 2,500 kilometres. It starts at Dana Point, close to Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. The highway interchange is so big that you can see it from space. There you have

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On the Road

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to align your compass north and start rolling down the tarmac. The smell of fuel mixes with the salty moisture spewed from the Pacific to make an intoxicating perfume. Follow the infinite yellow line in the middle of the road and just drive and drive and drive... 1,540 miles, all the way to Washington State. The miles pass by slowly. If you are used to kilometres you feel like you’re not moving at all.

But there’s no need to. Because you’d like nothing better than to stop time. First, you are waved along by palms while the endless beaches are caressed by playfully angry waves in a coating of white foam. The golden sand is used by pelicans and seagulls, which take off and land without a timetable but also somehow in harmony. Their landing areas are often used for sunbathing by seals and sea lions. Some 100 kilometres farther north, the sea plays with majestic rocks. You obviously won’t see them move.

But if you come several decades later, you’ll see that their shapes have changed completely. Then you hit the woods. Big Sur. And the nearby Carmel, which you can’t help but fall in love with.

Then it’s on to Monterey and Santa Cruz. And then ever more houses. Thousands of colourful wooden houses that cover the hills of San Francisco. They are often hidden by the fog in the summer, but glimmer proudly in the September sun. In Frisco, the road merges with Van Ness Avenue and Lombard Street, the curviest street in the world.

You then cross the Golden Gate into Marin County, a place that could easily have been its own shire. Even though you really want to stay in Sausalit, nature beckons you on. After San Anselmo, home of Gary Fisher, the father of the mountain bike, you enter a different world. Thankfully the wind gusts are so hard around the Point Reyes Lighthouse that it blows the scent of wine coming from Sonoma and Napa. Everything is a bit “chilled out” in Mendocino. What lingers in the air there is the intoxicating smell of weed. This is the place of upscale hippies, who cannot possibly come to harm in their pretty wooden houses.

In the Avenue of the Giants, several thousand-year-old trees stand as tall as skyscrapers. It seems for a moment that navigating the 101 has changed into Gulliver’s Travels and you have to check that you haven’t turned into a Lilliputian. The trees are so majestic that their shadow turns the brightest of days into dusk. In the Redwoods, deer roam among the sequoia trees. But when you meet one on its home turf, you will not get a welcoming look. They do not particularly like cars that disturb their peace. And California just doesn’t seem to end. When things start turning their greenest, you enter Oregon, a state that is basically a giant plateau, reaching from the hills to the ocean. The endless sea dunes are the playground of boys with AWD buggies. Yet you cannot hear them at all over the loud music of the waves. Sometimes you’re the only person on the beach. Sometimes so alone that you’re afraid of yourself. When you see a tsunami warning post, you may get a moment of fright.

And you may also feel a bit out of place in Coos Bay when you go for a burger and are eyed by the locals because of your California plates. But you forget the weird stares once you reach Oswald West. The beach can be accessed by a fairy-tale forest path, cooled by tens of streams that trickle their way into the ocean. Friendly surfers and their scrawny dogs welcome you with a smile. They’re in no hurry. If the waves are good they hit the water, otherwise they light a fire, meditate, or talk to each other and to themselves.

A few turns down the road you’ll find the charming Cannon Beach and nearby Haystack Rock. Here you’ll want to just walk on the beach for hours on end, pick up black pebbles and not have to worry about everyday problems. This place also marks the beginning of the end for Oregon -- a state with over 400 miles of coastline. The only things left are the towns of Seaside and Astoria and the humongous mouth of the Columbia River, followed by the sign “Welcome to Washington.” At Olympia, where all this beauty and delight flow into the Interstate 5 Highway that leads on to Canada, even the acute exhaustion cannot overpower the desire to turn southwards and relive it all. To see the scenes that were previously displayed in the rear view mirror on the windscreen.

All of these joys can be found on the American 101, otherwise known as U.S. Route 101, Highway 101, El Camino Royal or Pacifica, the “Oregon Coast Highway” (as its known in Oregon) or simply the “Pacific Highway.” Its pronounced, simply, “one oh one”. The westernmost route on the US road network is for many people the road of all roads, prettier even than the Milky Way. The 101 is much more than just a fantastic and smooth single-lane road that includes a fast lane every couple of miles and expands into four lanes in cities. It used to be the main road link between the northern and southern US West Coast. After the completion of Interstate 5 in 1964, the lorries, a kind of road train, moved o the interior. And that left Route 101 to pleasure seekers. Its busiest part is between LA and San Francisco. The wealthy from these two megalopolises use the heavenly turns to test the performance of their Ferraris, Porches and Corvettes and engage in road duels, occasionally attracting the participation of the police. Mere mortals in their Chevrolets, Fords and Dodges and tourists in rent-a-cars drive much more peacefully and reservedly. Partly because their wallets are not endless, but probably because of the “better late than never” attitude. On Route 101, the 55 mph (88 km/h) limit seems like the ideal travelling speed. In other places you might feel like you’re going nowhere fast, but everything is different by the Pacific, because U.S. Route 101 is like a giant national park... Many people who have driven the whole length of that road have had time to think about deep things in those long hours of loneliness. The more you think about the meaning of life, the more you feel that the only things that you really need are gas, food and lodging. And then it hits you that all those truck drivers actually have it pretty good.

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Lepotica ob Tihem oceanu Začne se v Los Angelesu, tam blizu Sunset Bulevarda, kjer je avtocestni vozel tolikšen, da se ga vidi tudi iz vesolja. Potem paziš, da kompas kaže proti severu. In se znajdeš na asfaltu, na katerem se bencinski hlapi mešajo s slano vlago, ki jih v zrak buta Tihi ocean in ki bi jo vdihaval še in še. Potem slediš tisti neskončni rumeni črti na sredini ceste in voziš in voziš in voziš in voziš ... 1540 milj, vse do zvezne države Washington ... Počasi letijo te milje. Če si navajen na kilometre, se zdi, da ne gre nikamor ...

MANDELA, FREEDOM AND FOOTBALL

by Jaka Lucu photography Jure Eržen, Alamy, Corbis, South African Tourism

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Ride With Us

Ride With Us

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“I in no way doubt Africa’s ability to organise an event like this,” FIFA president Sepp Blatter said during an official visit to the Republic of South Africa in September 2009. Following thunderous applause, the self-styled “happy president” left the stage, accompanied by FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke, as well as the head of the local organising committee, Irvin Khoza, and the global chair of the 2010 World Cup organising committee Danny Jordaan. The group departed for talks with Jacob Zuma, the head of ANC, the country’s largest party, to look for guarantees that the replacement of the incumbent president Thabo Mbeki with Kgalema Motlanthe would not result in a dramatic change in the country’s hitherto market-friendly policies. A little bit after the Holy Trinity (Valcke was for all intents and purposes a marginal companion to Blatter), Zuma was also visited by a member of the organising committee and FIFA’s goodwill ambassador, Tokyo Sexwale. The charismatic and, for his age, extremely vital Sexwale is one of the closest confidants of Nelson Mandela, whose reputation brought the World Cup to South Africa. He had served a term on the infamous Robben Island together with Mandela, and together they forged the country’s non-violent liberation from apartheid. The pair’s exceptional vision guided several other influential members of the resistance towards freedom, which was not achieved through violence but through a patient diplomatic offensive culminating in Mandela’s inauguration as president. The date was May 10, 1994, when Mandela addressed tens of thousands of people in the magnificent amphitheatre of the Union Building in Pretoria. A crowd had gathered on a crystal clear day to hear his first official words. Only the occasional gusts of cold wind reminded those present that it was the onset of autumn in the southern hemisphere. And how tremendous President Mandela’s first words were!

After all, he could have called on the 40 million, nonwhite South African residents to settle their scores with the representatives of apartheid, thus unleashing devastating chaos across the country. Or Mandela could have immediately sacked all white personnel from administrative posts, as these were the people who appropriated the riches of one of the most beautiful countries in the world in the erroneous and arrogant belief that white men are sanctioned by God to be superior to everybody else. But instead, Mandela had the incumbent president, Frederik Willem De Klerk, standing next to him in a comically looking bullet-proof speaking box. Mandela spent a couple of moments calmly observing the crowd, which was nearly bursting with anticipation, before finally speaking:

“Let us forget the past.”

“Let us now work together.”

These two immensely simple sentences pushed South Africa towards peace and democracy instead of an armed conflict with the past, which would have been extremely bloody. “Let’s make this country exceptional,” he continued, visibly taken in by the moment. “There is no doubt that we live in an exceptional country. There is no doubt that this country can, with your help, play an important role on the African continent and globally.”

At the height of its arrogance, the rusty apartheid regime used to advertise itself at international trade fairs with a poster proclaiming “A World in One Country.” The text would be placed above a photo of one of the magical sights of South Africa’s abundant natural treasures. The aim of this poster was, of course, to present South Africa as a multinational society, in which all of its independent tribes were connected with the white tribe, which was, of course, located at the pinnacle of the ethnic confederation.

“This was, of course, a political fantasy, a fantasy of bribery and an unfair attempt at face-lifting an evil system, and what happened was that the fantasy and the attempt at its rationalisation deservedly got their nightmare,” said Allister Sparks, a writer with an exceptional ability to join historical facts into readable stories, as well as the editor of the Rand Daily Mail between 1977 and 1981, and the South Africa correspondent for The Washington Post, The Observer and NRC Handelsblad between 1981 and 1992. He was very seriously considered for the Pulitzer Prize in 1985 for his series of articles on interracial violence in the country that year. He also wrote a book: “Beyond the Miracle: Inside the new South Africa.”

As he wrote in an introduction to his book: “A dramatic twist of events resulted in the infamous slogan being reincarnated. The Republic of South Africa today truly represents a world in one country with its mix of races and ethnicities, its widening gap between rich and poor and, especially, attempts by the new forces of globalisation, which impact its internal events and its relations with other African countries and the world.” In this introduction, the last in an unplanned trilogy on the country, Sparks was referring to the goings-on in free South Africa, which, at times remains unsure about what to do with its freedom and how to turn it to everybody’s benefits – even after decades of enforced prison sentences. Robben Island as such is not a bad island at all, Tokyo Sexwale said once; it is actually quite beautiful with rich

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THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Is located at the southernmost tip of Africa. Its 2,798 kilometres of coastline is divided between the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the Indian Ocean in the east. More than 79% of its inhabitants are black, while whites account for less than 10%. South Africa is incredibly picturesque and full of natural sights, and her inhabitants place great emphasis on music and sports. Even after her death, singer Miriam Makeba is known as Mama Africa, due to her amazing voice and role in abolishing apartheid. The country’s black majority favours football, while the white minority still swears by rugby and cricket.

The financial heart of the country is Johannesburg, where the good life is threatened by a relatively high crime rate, but the country’s pearl is Cape Town, which also has a much more easygoing lifestyle than Johannesburg. Apart from diamonds, long under the exclusive control of the De Boers company, the country also boasts a wine trail.

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vegetation. But Robben Island was a prison and the essence of a prison is to restrict movement, he continued.

And the consequences of such restrictions can be felt for a long time.

A couple of years ago, The Economist labelled Africa, with its seemingly endless tribal conflicts and tragic abuses of power, the “hopeless continent”. But is that really the case? Is it possible to write off a continent that gave birth to life? Is it possible to write off a continent that for years lived its sleepy but happy life, at least by our standards, before its natural order was destroyed by emissaries of European empires and Vatican missionaries? Is it possible today to write anybody off and hope that this will not bring consequences?

“Africa is important,” writes Sparks. “We are all neighbours in a global village and because of that we must take care of each other. Someone could start getting richer and get a better life, while his neighbour would be doing worse and worse, causing him to get increasingly desperate. This could result in the poor neighbour robbing the home of the rich one, or in his children contracting a disease which they could unwittingly pass on to the rich neighbour’s children, or even in the poor neighbour throwing a hand grenade on the rich neighbour’s house in his despair at the lack of attention his problems are getting.”

Last December, Pim Lentz, once employed by the advertising multinational company Ogilvy & Mather and nowadays a guide to the vineyards of Western Cape province, told me: “I was born under apartheid and I felt it was completely normal for whites to treat the blacks as second-rate citizens. But then Nelson Mandela woke us up and, believe me, the shock was immense and I had long-lasting issues when I looked at myself in the mirror in the morning and saw the face of an ignoramus.” Pim, who eats weekly at the Italian delicatessen Giovanni’s in Cape Town’s wealthy but still bohemian Green Point quarter, where black Africans still dine only rarely, is nevertheless very optimistic about his country’s future.

“Of course I’m aware that street crime and carjackings in Johannesburg scare foreign tourists, but reports on these are overrated and their gloom does not reflect everyday life. I think that the World Cup will be a huge success,” he said. “The words spoken by Mandela during his inauguration were taken to the heart by our people. Of course I’m aware that everybody needs to work together in order for our country to prosper, it would make no sense to

abuse the creative powers of the still relatively unsatisfied mass of people and destroy the good and quality things that have already been built.”

South Africa needed only 14 years of freedom to pass a Constitution that is viewed by many as the most progressive in the world. The country has successfully organised several national, regional and local elections, without even a whisper of miscounts. Its Constitutional Court is populated by world-class jurists and the ideas written in the Constitution are felt by the Independent Electoral Commission, the Human Rights Commission and the Commission for Gender Equality. The country has scrapped all race laws in the past 14 years, has guaranteed freedom of speech and the press, legalised abortion, protected the rights of gay people and put women in numerous important posts in the state administration and giant corporations. At the same time, access to drinking water has been provided to more than 9 million people who did not have it before, electricity to more than 2 million people and phone lines to over 1.5 million people.

The literacy rate for the young, aged between 15 and 24, reached 95% and over 30,000 previously racially segregated schools were joined under a single system, as were all the universities and other higher education institutions.

The Republic of South Africa ended its diplomatic isolation, resuscitated an economy that apartheid had wrecked, restored financial discipline, reduced budgetary deficits and national debt, brought down its sky-high inflation and set up a healthy macroeconomic base. Sepp Blatter was very courageous when he entrusted the country with organising the Football World Cup. There’s only one tiny snag. In contrast to 1995, when the country became world rugby champions on home turf, South Africa will almost certainly not win the football world cup. Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cameron and Nigeria have a better chance. But, hey, that’s Africa as well.

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Mandela, svoboda in nogomet Bilo je namreč 10.maja 1994, ko je Nelson Mandela v

veličastnem amfiteatru zgradbe Union Buildings v Pretoriji

nagovoril na na desetine tisoče ljudi, ki so na kristalno jasen dan, v katerem je le občasen mrzel veter dajal vedeti, da je

na južni polobli vendarle jesen, srečnih in nestrpnih čakalo na prve besede. In kako velike in kako pomembne so bile

prve besede predsednika Mandele! Mandela bi namreč lahko

štirideset milijonov nebelih prebivalcev Južnoafriške republike

Nelson Mandela

pozval k obračunu s predstavniki apartheida in začel bi se

ga kaos, kot ga svet še ni videl. Če nič drugega, bi Mandela

lahko nemudoma iz vseh najpomembnejših položajev v državi odstavil vse bele može, vse, ki so si izjemno bogastvo ene

najčudovitejših dežel na svetu vzeli zase v zmotnem in aro-

gantnem prepričanju, da je beli človek z božjim dovoljenjem nadrejen vsem drugim, jasno tudi črncem. Toda ne, Mandela je ob sebe v tisti komični neprobojni govorniški zabojnik

postavil tudi dotedanjega predsednika Frederika Willema De Clerka, nekaj trenutkov povsem mirno opazoval množico, ki jo je kar razganjalo od pričakovanja, zdelo pa se je tudi, da veliki mož trenutek vpija tudi zase in spregovoril.

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NELSON MANDELA

When will the world again see such a skilful and upstanding leader as Nelson Mandela, the South African politician, statesman and anti-apartheid fighter, who was born on July 18, 1918 in Mvezu in the Transkei region. A former boxer, Mandela led the mainly peaceful stand against apartheid and in the end defeated it. He spent his youth in a clan of the Thembu tribe and then went on to study law. In the 1950s, he became active in the African National Congress (ANC), an organisation striving for equal rights for all, regardless of race. He was imprisoned in 1962 for being active in the ANC’s armed wing and his sentence was extended to life in 1964. Due to pressure from both the ANC and abroad, then-President Frederik Willem de Klerk released Mandela in 1990. The peaceful transfer of power resulted in both leaders receiving a Nobel peace prize in 1993. In 1994, Mandela was elected as the country’s president. After the end of his term in 1999, he remained active in efforts to boost world peace and fight AIDS. The word “Madiba”, a honorary title for older male members of the Mandela clan became synonymous with Nelson Mandela in South Africa. A statue of him stands in Johannesburg’s modern shopping and congress centre, Sandton.

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Burmester High-End Surround-Sound System One Goal - The perfect sound for the new Porsche Cayenne

Seychelles Mainland Island of Mahe Le Bonheur Privat Villa

The new Porsche Cayenne has become a mobile concert hall. The Burmester High-End Surround Sound-System for the new Porsche Cayenne offers the ultimate high-end music experience. Sixteen separate amplifier channels, with an overall rated output power of more than 1,000 watts and a record-breaking total diaphragm area of 2,400 cm2 distributed to 16 loudspeakers, including an active subwoofer with integrated 300-watt-amplifier are the foundation and requirement for the distinctive Burmester sound. As a result, all octaves down to the lowest bass foundation can be reproduced.

The lowest bass range in particular has a considerable impact on the transmission of powerful sounds and the ability to strike a chord with the listener.

The loudspeaker cones, the crossover network technology, and the ribbon tweeters (Air Motion Transformer, AMT), characteristic traits of Burmester loudspeakers, are transferred directly from the High End Home Audio division.

Le Bonheur is a private luxury villa situated on the Seychelles Mainland Island of Mahe, about a 15-minute drive from the capital, Victoria. Le Bonheur sits proudly on the white sands of the North East Point beach, fringed with coconut palms, Casuarinas and Takamaka trees. The waves of the Indian Ocean lap gently a few steps from the Villa.

Each room separately appointed with comfort in mind.

The communal area provides indoor/outdoor living with spacious sitting room facilities, while a large veranda and outdoor rest area around the sparkling swimming pool offer privacy. Le Bonheur has a restaurant table for guests only and serves only the very best in local and continental cuisine. The owner, Marylene, has an international reputation for outstanding cuisine in plentiful proportions and will construct a menu based on the availability of only the freshest ingredients each day. Her experience as both a professional restaurateur and lover of fine dining is combined with a Joy de vie for life and food true to the name of the villa “Le Bonheur�. Both Marylene and her husband Don help guests feel like they are in heaven. www.lebonheurvilla.com

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A unique Cape Town (South Africa) experience The Grand Daddy Hotel Airstream penthouse A gleaming fleet of seven iconic American Airstream trailers have packed up their corndogs and tucked away their picnic blankets to roost on the rooftop of The Grand Daddy Hotel in Cape Town. Here, the quintessential African skies and the alluring outline of Cape Town’s Table Mountain are reflected in the polished aluminium of the American Dream. Each of the seven trailers has been handed over to some incredibly creative Capetonian soul to find new life through playful, eccentric and dazzling décor interpretations of how life in an Airstream can be. Airstream is enclosed by a tidy garden complete with US Postal Service mailboxes. Watch an outdoor movie on hot summer nights at The Pink Flamingo Cinema and find an excuse to make this the destination for your next gathering of family and friends. All the Airstreams are air-conditioned, incredibly well-insulated, have hot and cold running water, flushing toilets and showers. For those who want to pimp their park life and flash their trailer trash – or for those who simply want to experience the world’s only trailer park penthouse suite - just take the vintage elevator to the third floor, take the rooftop exit and enter the adventure.

Photo: Markus Hofmann

Fashion shoot with Leslie Porterfield at the BMW Aerodynamic Test Centre

When you’ve assembled a collection of haute couture from top designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Marcel Ostertag and Thomas Kirchgrabner, you need a stunning location and a beautiful model to show off the clothing in all its glory. Fortunately for top fashion photographer Markus Hofmann, he was able to gain access to one of the most unique locations in Germany – the largest and most sophisticated wind tunnel in the world at the new BMW Aerodynamic Test Centre in Munich. The closest a lot of fashion models get to feeling the wind in their faces is when their hair is getting blow-dried before hitting the catwalk. However, selecting the right type of girl to suit the challenging conditions of the BMW Wind Tunnel was an easy task for Markus Hofmann, as he knew exactly who he wanted to photograph in these special designer creations. Her name was Leslie Porterfield and she is the fastest woman in the world on a motorcycle. The 33-year-old American currently holds multiple land speed records, and during last September’s speed trials at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, she achieved an amazing top speed of 246.6 mph (396.864 km/h) and set an average speed of 240 mph (386.2 km/h) through the timed mile after being slowed down due to ‘wheelspin’ on the salt.

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ENORMOUS PERFECTLY SHAPED MUSHROOMS IN UNEARTHLY COLOURS SPROUT FROM THE TWILIGHT OF THE AUDITORIUM. WAS THE INSTALLATION MADE OF TRANSFORMED CLASSIC GRAMOPHONES? UNKNOWN FLYING OBJECTS? OR WAS IT JUST MY IMAGINATION? THEN THERE WAS SOUND. “THUS SPOKE ZARATUSTRA,” THIS IS THE WAY THE GODS ANNOUNCE THEIR WILL, THIS IS HOW YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO ROCK. MOZART SHOULD REWRITE THE QUEEN OF THE NIGHT’S ARIA FOR THE TRIO, THE AVANTGARDE TRIO TO BE MORE PRECISE, AND THEN WE WOULD STILL BELIEVE IN THE PIECE’S MAJESTY AND VINDICTIVENESS. WHO COULD POSSIBLY GO TO SLEEP IN A HOUSE IF BREATHING IN THE KID’S ROOM WOULD BE MONITORED BY THE TRIO, SUPPORTED BY A SIXFOLD BASSHORN?

You will never forget the first time you come across speakers made

by Germany’s Avantgarde Acoustic Lautsprechersysteme GmbH. Their design, sound, vibration and feel… You simply have to caress the funnels to make sure that they really do exist, to let your fingers appraise the quality of the expensive varnish.

“What the heck is that?” was the dazed question meant for no one in particular more than ten years ago. “Horns, by the German company Avantgarde. Crazy, aren’t they?” was the smiling reply

by Igor Kante. The auditorium in his shop is not exactly small, but these speakers fill it up to the brim visually and stretch the walls by

several metres with their sound.

What are horns? Trumpets, funnels? The principle behind these speakers is not new; it is as old as Earth, maybe even older still. The funnel boosts the sound, it really is that simple, everybody knows that. Your mouth is a funnel, your cupping palms enlarge it, then direct and boost the sound. A palm next to your ear serves as an improvised funnel for focusing and directing sound, allowing you to pinpoint and understand the person you are talking to in a noisy environment. A horn is a horn, it is meant for blowing. It can amplify sound to such an extent as to send both game and enemy running.

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AUDIO FREAKS

HORNS OF PLENTY

by Andrej Krbavčič photography Branko Čeak, Jože Maček

It can pierce a sea fog; it is the loudest instrument in an orchestra.

Funnels have for a long time been used to help the partially deaf.

They allowed a sufficiently deep groove for phonographs and its effective transformation back to sound. Funnels helped speakers put to good use the watt or two that used to come out of early tube amplifiers. Almost all public announcement systems use funnels.

But a horn is, of course, not perfect, as no speaker is. If nothing else, it has to be gigantic and very well designed to play all audible frequencies in high fidelity. A small horn can only reproduce a narrow frequency range faithfully, the lowest tones require its mouth to

be three or more metres in diameter. Some audiophiles build such horns in their newly-built houses, but the rest of us require other ways to get such sound. Funnels have some amazing characteristics, unmatched by any other speaker. They are the most dynamic and responsive speakers, have an exceptional efficiency, do not require powerful amplifiers and almost completely meet the main requirements for high fidelity. No wonder that scientists made extensive research into them, with Paul Voigt and Paul Klipsch being at the fore, prior to World War II. The pair managed to fold a large horn into a still manageably-sized wooden box. Unfortunately this resulted

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in several compromises: sound colourations and uneven dynamics, especially at very low frequencies. Horns also suffer from lower spatial surround than other types of speakers. Be that as it may, the Klipschorn was for years one of the finest speakers. A certain Holger Fromme bought a pair of Klipschorns in 1983 and crammed them into his 16 m2 student room. It must have been heaven and hell combined.

Fromme was soon left unsatisfied. You can still read Goethe’s quote on Avantgarde’s website: “When all is in agreement it gives us peace of mind, but the contradiction is what makes us productive.”

Fromme wanted an even higher fidelity, but that was not available on the market. So he began to research and develop spherical exponential speakers and even managed, after months of efforts, to acquire several books from Dresden, then in the German Democratic Republic. Based on his studies he then wrote a computer programme for funnel design. He was enthused over the contrast between the primordial principle and the breakthrough innovations he was creating. He made a glass fibre cast prototype of the Trio speakers in 1985. As is evident in the name, this is a three-speaker system that can handle frequencies between 100 and 20,000 Hz. This means that you will have to look for an active subwoofer, preferably the Basshorn. The Trio outputs an astonishing 109 dB (1W/1m), has a nominal impedance of 19 Ohm and therefore requires a measly two watts to generate sound. Nowadays, demanding exponential funnels are made by injecting ABS resin into precise steel moulds, guaranteeing excellent build quality. The sound expands naturally and accurately from the funnels, resulting in far fewer distortions and defects than from the mainly folded and angular horns found in wooden boxes.

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Fromme was, from an early stage, helped considerably by Matthias Ruff, who already had experience in horn design. The pair soon built speakers for themselves and in 1991 established the Avantgarde Acoustic Lautprechersysteme GmbH. They unveiled their speakers for the first time at the 1993 Berlin entertainment electronics fair, causing huge ripples among the visitors. The smaller Uno and Duo speakers were unveiled just a year later in Frankfurt. The success quickly exceeded the capacity of the small Walsdorf factory, necessitating a move to a 400 m2 plant in Bad Camberg. However, even that only sufficed for two years. The company built a fourtimes larger facility in Lautertal, which sufficed until last year.

Avantgarde plans to finish its newest factory in mid-2010, including a top-notch gallery and auditorium – perfect for introducing the company’s products.

Based on popular demand for a small speaker with a big sound, Avantgarde presented the Solo in 2002, a compact device with 119 dB of sound pressure and a frequency range starting at 35 Hz. The stunning Basshorn was introduced in 2003. This modular and active horn subwoofer sports a compact shape and can reproduce frequencies as low as 18 Hz, a feat that had been hitherto impossible. The same year Avantgarde introduced an integrated low power amplifier for its horns, the Model Five, which generates only 1 watt in the A class. The following year saw the introduction of even more high quality electronic components from Series One. Today the company boasts an extensive product range while keeping the quality as high as it’s always been. Speakers start with Solo, a favourite for high-quality home theatres, followed by Uno, which is (contrary to its name) a two-speaker system, then Duo, the backbone of the company’s offering in the two-speaker range, and finish

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with the flagship Trio. The company states with amazing sincerity that the Trio is not a necessity – but exists because it represents the limits of what is possible and doable.

Apart from top-quality amplifiers in Series One, the offerings also include the integrated Model Three amplifier. Avantgarde launched a G2 version of its products last year, which include a stiffer supporting frame for the speakers and other minor adjustments.

“Vklop” is far from just a shop and sometimes does not even feel like one. Instead, it seems like a perpetually friendly meeting point run by Igor Kante. However, this is far from just a common meeting point. Its interior is filled with top-notch (and accordingly pricey) products, such as Avantgarde’s. In fact, the shop’s ambience was very aptly described as providing foreplay to sales! You hear a word, you see the sample, hear the praise and a need is implanted.

Renowned B&O designer David Lewis once told me: “Needs have been fulfilled long ago, now we’re making dreams come true.” We could add: “If you have no dreams, we can whisper them into your ear, and create your needs.” And this is what happens when you go to “Vklop”.

Igor Kante is a music aficionado – the highest form of art he says – and a lover of all that is beautiful. He admires Philippe Starck, confirmed in an instant by the Aprilia Moto 6.5, placed just below the ceiling, together with heaps of Starck’s watches and the spidery squeezer. He never forces his views on anyone, but knows why he has them, which makes him convincing and a centre of his circle.

He does not abandon his customers, accompanies them in their metamorphoses and growth, and tries to find what will satisfy them.

Well, at least temporarily, because audiophilia is a chronic disease with sporadic bouts. Nothing is so good that it could not be better or at least different and new.

It is not wise to plug in. You must have a strong character to come in, request and pay for a certain item, decline any debate and pro-

fessed alternatives, walk out and not return until you need to scratch your next specific itch. “Vklop” is a drug, addictive for most on the first try. The store always has something beautiful, something that sounds good, something outstanding and something out of reach for us weaklings who just wander around, buy this or that knick knack, take a cable or an amplifier home for a few-day trial, or just debate the gulf in prices and quality among video projectors. It is by no means the worst thing in the world to meet interesting fellow sufferers as they include top musicians and audiophiles with extensive experience… as well as scars. “Vklop” is flexible and responsive; if you do not show up for a month or so, you will probably bow down to new idols. There are only a few constants such as the Avantgarde.

Audiophile amateurs are bothered by an illogical phenomenon: some people build an entire house that functions as a speaker, but no plastic surgeon offers ear silicon implants to boost higher frequencies. Even “Vklop” does not yet sell a specific audiophile solution for ear cleaning or acoustic duct razors or golden earplugs to fight off the draft. Is the ear not an important part of the Hi-Fi chain?

Rogovi izobilja Prvo srečanje z zvočniki nemškega podjetja Avantgarde Acoustic Lautsprechersysteme GmbH ostane za vedno v spominu; podoba, zvok, vibracije in otip - tiste lijake preprosto moraš pobožati, da se prepričaš v njihov materialni obstoj, da ti prsti potrdijo kakovost dragocenega lakiranja.

“Kaj zlomka je to?” je bilo pravzaprav nikomur namenjeno osuplo vprašanje pred več kot desetimi leti. “Horni so, nemška firma Avantgarde. Čisto noro, ne,” se je smejal Igor Kante. Poslušalnica njegove trgovine ni ravno majhna, toda ti zvočniki jo do vrha napolnjujejo na pogled, zvočno pa raztegnejo stene za nekaj metrov.

Best Shot

Between a Story and Minimalism

by Saša Bojc

photography Janez Vlachy

The Slovenian photographer and artist Janez Vlachy lives and works in Ljubljana, the capital of the small Alpine country, but his exhibitions in Prague, Tokyo, Montreal and seven publications of his photographs in the prestigious New York Graphis journal (Annual Advertising 2009, Photography Annual 2006, 2002, 1999, and a series of nudes: Nudes 3, Nudes 4) ranks him among the global celebrities from the world of photography, such as Albert Watson, Sheila Metzner and Joyce Tenneson, and the movie and music industries, including Bruce Willis, Elton John and Mick Jagger.

Even though he focuses on nudes, mainly semi-nudes, the photographs of his still life with exhaust pipes, made for AkrapoviË Exhaust Systems, were put into the limelight as selected ads.

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He has a specific taste for faces. He looks for the timeless ones, comparable to symbols of human history, such as New York’s Statue of Liberty or Michelangelo’s David. These inspire him and allow him to tell a story in his triptychs as well as capture the expressions that flicker in us during contacts with our friends and family. Even though the moments captured on his photographs might appear deceivingly simple to the audience, they actually present the inspiration that connects the artist and the subject.

Representations of a naked female body have been with us since the dawn of humankind and now span innumerable genres and an even greater number of artists, but Janez Vlachy has nonetheless managed to eke out his own personal style. In doing so, he is guided by his idiosyncrasy, an innate sensibility for certain things, while his works are characterised mainly by minimalism and a story, captured in an “intimate” moment: an erotic gesture, a smile, an arm movement...

“This is a process when rational thinking and sensibility appear in the just right proportions. I only need to improve on it. This can be a very dangerous game to play, you can quickly sink into mawkishness and kitsch. It is about non-verbal communication, a type of chemistry. When I feel that I’m at the peak, I usually give up,” Vlachy says. He describes his direct dependence on the subject and adds that he still feels like a beginner before a new shoot, even after some two decades of photography. “You don’t know where to start. What happened before is no longer important. The creative process always forces you into modesty and humility,” the artist says, whose working process is deliberate and detailed, but still being amended during sessions of what he calls creative improvisation.

He rarely uses props and needed many years to find a model that he “dressed up” in porcelain cups.

Years ago he bought tawdry plastic roses sprinkled with dew for three euros, but has not used them yet.

“I try to breathe a secret life, a new meaning if you will, into objects, which is what artistic photography is all about,” he says. He tries to keep his technical requirements simple – his photographs could be compared to a road movie, albeit shot in a studio.

And he also wants to keep simple the point he is trying to get across – but that mainly depends on the mindset of each subject. “A model must have character, must be able to carry the message over to the photo through simple and sincere motions. There is no room for improvisation once the studio lights are turned on. You either have it or you don’t.”

The subject can be very attractive, interesting and full of energy, but once the shooting starts, it all vanishes in a puff of smoke. The subject’s personal

freedom is vital to overcome what Vlachy calls the “mindset barrier.” It’s happened that one of the models quit after five minutes, saying that she couldn’t do it. He adds: “Sometimes we only click at the end of a photo shoot, which usually lasts less than two hours. After that the concentration drops drastically both for me and the model.” Vlachy believes that the conditions he desires must be created artificially.

His photographs are usually untitled. Naming them would link his depictions of a moment too closely to the subject, causing the photograph to lose its abstract qualities and possibilities for free interpretation.

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Photography has changed greatly in the last decade.

“While there were great leaps in development and we saw the emergence of new directions, technological progress also caused a drop in sensibility.

Technology is of no use if you have nothing to say.

A painting, film or photograph that is fresh and simple is indeed a sight for my sore eyes. You know you’re looking at a product of someone who knows what they’re doing.”

with modern cameras. “My photo shoot produces a single shot,” he says, “and that requires the photographer to prepare everything in advance. I have no room for error. Moreover, these restricted possibilities turn you into a director for every single snap and that makes my work so precious and fun. I’m happy for the return of the classic black and white photography and would like to use even older procedures in the future, such as wet plate photography.”

Recently a new trend has emerged in photography – the use of a large-format 4x5” or even 8x10” camera, a technique similar to a contemporary man looking through an old lens. Janez Vlachy works more or less in line with this trend, using a 4x5” field camera as his principal device, and a nearly 100-year-old accordion camera with a wooden frame and a similarly old lens that provides his photographs with a softness that cannot be reproduced

Vlachy is more and more focused on capturing night-time images of city suburbs. This is also the theme of his next exhibition in Washington DC, organised with the Boston art gallery Tepper Takayama Fine Arts, where he was featured last year together with Japanese legend Daido Moriyama.

Med zgodbo in minimalizmom Slovenski fotograf in umetnik Janez Vlachy živi in dela v Ljubljani, glavnem mestu tako rekoč žepne državice (square inch country), a je z razstavami v Pragi, Tokyu, Montrealu in sedmimi objavami svojih fotografij v prestižni newyorški publikaciji Graphis (Annual Advertising 2009, Photography Annual 2006, 2002, 1999) in v seriji aktov (Nudes 3, Nudes 4) tudi svoje portretirance uvrstil med slavna imena iz sveta fotografije, kot so Albert Watson, Sheila Metzner ali Joyce Tenneson, ter filma in glasbe, med Bruca Willisa, Eltona Johna, Micka Jaggerja, ... Čeprav so njegova glavna tema akti, praviloma pol-akti,(nudes), so se tudi fotografije tihožitij s cevmi, ki jih je posnel za Akrapovič Exhaust Systems, proslavile z objavo med izbrane oglase.

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Porsche chooses The Dutch architecture agency VBJ architectuur & bouwmanagement in Veenendaal is used to designing for the automotive branche. The acency worked several times for the car industry before and also designed a new showroom for Porsche in Heteren. At the end of last year VBJ was commissioned to design a new Porsche Centre in Amsterdam. They decided to use the highquality panelling of Qbiss by trimo for the outside building front.

“Assembly is running full speed”, says architecture Asta Kristinsson.

“The panelling makes the various building parts of the Porsche Centre look like one closed front. This time we did not need to uphold the mandatory Porsche-concept”. The reason for this is the unique shape of the building lot and the intention of the client to integrate an independent office into the building that can be let out to a third party.

“It means that this time we had the opportunity to build higher”.

Many positive reactions

Awarded innovation In December, the modular façade system - Qbiss by trimo - received an award from the Slovenian Chamber of Engineers (IZS - Inženirska zbornica Slovenije) for innovation in building construction. In the same month it also received an award for the best Slovene innovation, together with innovative technology for surface re-design of the ArtMe panel, which was announced at the 4th Slovene Innovation Forum.

At the beginning of this year, at the Budma Fair (Poland), Qbiss by trimo also received the Top Builder Award 2010 for being one of the most innovative products on the Polish market.

The new Porsche Centre does not have a real front or backside, it is all-round.

The eyecatcher is the round shaped awning-like façade with view to the motorway. VBJ was looking for a panelling that did not just look elegant but that was also fire-resistant and waterproof. Kristinsson was introduced to Qbiss by trimo through the Dutch cladding firm Bijlbouw BV (which specialises in assembling sandwichpanels) of the building contractor Pleijsier Bouw. “I had never heard of Qbiss by trimo before, but the product completely comes up to our high expectations. The outdoor panelling of Qbiss by trimo is filled up with rock wool and is waterproof. We also like the high design level.”

VBJ architectuur & bouwmanagement already received many positive reactions to the project in Amsterdam. “Working with Qbiss by trimo went very well and we will certainly work with it again.”

Solution with Qbiss by trimo round shaped façade elements

For the purpose of constructing the rounded part of the façade in the Porsche Centre project, Trimo additionally developed round-shaped façade elements that have all the characteristics of standard Qbiss by trimo façade elements. The solution meets all the technical requirements (superior aesthetics, thermal insulation, fire resistance, self-supporting, and water and air integrity) and is the result of innovative treatment, design, and assembly process of an individual element; that is, the rounded element retains its functional integrity and meets the high architectural and aesthetic demands.

Trimo, d. d, Prijateljeva cesta 12, 8210 Trebnje, Slovenia | t: +386 (0)7 34 60 137 | f: +386 (0)7 34 60 127 | qbiss@trimo.si | www.qbiss.eu | www.trimo.eu

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Original

S H AU N G L A DW E L L .

T H e P O E T T H AT P U S H E s B O U N DA R I E S T O T H E E X T R E M E

by Yenny Huber photography Shaun Gladwell, portraits Ann Ouchterlony

RED SAND, AN ENDLESS HORIZON OF NOTHING, A RACING BIKE, PARKED IN A CLOUD OF RED DUST, IN THE FOREGROUND A MOTORBIKE RIDER, CLOTHED ALL IN BLACK, ANONYMOUS AND YET FAMILIAR. HE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, CARRYING A KANGAROO, LIKE A BABY, CRADLED IN HIS ARMS. THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF A ROAD-KILL ACCIDENT AND THE JUXTAPOSITION BETWEEN THE BLACK-CLAD HERO AND HIS “INFANT” IS STRIKING. IT IS AN ALLURING IMAGE, DESPITE THE CLICHÉ.

SHAUN GLADWELL’S INSTALLATION MADDESTMAXIMVS , AN EVOCATIVE SUITE OF FIVE THEMATICALLY RELATED VIDEOS, ALL WITH SCULPTURAL AND PHOTOGRAPHIC ELEMENTS, RECEIVED GREAT ACCLAIM FROM CRITICS EVERYWHERE WHEN SHOWN IN THE VENICE BIENNALE IN 2009. IT INSTANTLY PUT ITS YOUNG CREATOR ON THE WORLD MAP OF ART. The body of work was created in the remote Australian landscape near Broken Hill, NSW, over a period of two years.

Gladwell has always had a fascination with desert landscapes and travelled extensively both within Australia and overseas, as he explained to me one Saturday morning in his lofty studio in Sydney. Two of the most profound experiences he remembers were in the Rajasthan desert in India and the Northern Sahara. “The environment of the desert here and there is different, yet the experience of the wide-open space is similar,” he says.

The Australian desert, in particular, stands out with its unique colour and has fascinated many Australian artists for years. One of Gladwell’s greatest inspirations for this series is Sydney Nolan. He mentioned his work several times during the interview, also referring to the associations that most Australians would make when seeing a “man with a helmet in the desert,” stemming from Nolan’s famous Ned Kelly painting, which captured one of the most intriguing myths with the stoke of a brush.

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Of course, in Gladwell’s case it is not all about costume but also the fact that the rider requires protective gear throughout the shoot and various stunts that push the human form to its limits, whilst simultaneously putting it into context with its surrounding landscape. The outcome is a series of mesmerizing photographic images, videos and installations.

Gladwell’s ongoing interest in extreme sports and performance art and the connection between the two is apparent throughout his work. Both forms try to push the limits of the body. Artists like Marina Abramovic, Chris Burden, Dan Graham or Vito Acconci show a great commitment to their own physical self, similar to a professional skateboarder or biker.

Having immersed himself into both worlds over many years, he continuously tries to link the two, offering new experiences and thoughts for both worlds and for the audience.

Neither need the other, yet both can learn from each other, he believes, mostly judging from his own personal experience.

His first major work, Storm Sequence, captures him skateboarding in slow motion on the steps to Coogee beach in Sydney. The sky is grey and stormy, raindrops are slowly dropping onto the footpath, the skater’s moves are controlled and almost dance-like.

There is a certain poetic and meditative quality to the work that is not only a piece of art but also represents a snapshot of a generation and urban youth culture that is all too often misunderstood.

“I like the idea that I try and bring another style of representation to that kind of work, which is more about the meditation, instead of getting people all excited about the activity.”

But Storm Sequence also evolves around the idea of the sublime, the human figure against the force of nature -- another continuous theme throughout Gladwell’s work.

The video became a revolutionary piece of art on the Australian market, and got Gladwell his first representation in the Venice Biennale in 2007, showcasing as part of the ‘Think With the Senses, Feel with the Mind’ exhibition, curated by Robert Storr.

In 2003, one of the copies sold by Gladwell’s dealer, Sherman Galleries, went for $3,000.

Only three years later the work sold in the secondary market for $85,000.

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As the title of the MADDESTMAXIMVS show refers to, another important influence to the work also stems from the popular movie series Mad Max. For its final show at the Venice Biennale 2009, Gladwell even produced a replica of the famous Mad Max car, a collector’s item for any car lover and “recognisable even for someone who knows nothing about sculpture”.

“I am interested in how video relates to sculpture and environments, about the relationship that the video has to the objects that are in the video. I like playing with preconceptions about ‘what can be touched?’ ‘What can be experienced?’”

Shaun Gladwell — Video poet od tam daleč spodaj Shaun Gladwell je avstralski video umetnik, ki s pomočjo performansov, videa, slikarstva in kiparstva sodobno kulturo povezuje z zgodovino in tradicijo. To počne z unikatno mešanico kritike in poetike.

Njegov poseben odnos do sodobnega sveta se kaže tudi skozi njegova dela, v katere pogosto vključuje ulične športe, kakršna sta BMX in rolkanje, navdušuje se tudi nad grafiti, breakdan-

Like Warhol or Duchamp, Gladwell enjoys pushing the idea of the ready-made in his work: the instantly recognisable is re-contextualised within the medium of art. He enjoys that people can identify with the subject matter and that ideas are not inaccessible but can still be extremely complex. It is like a game of making as many connections as possible whilst still leaving enough room for mystery and interpretation.

“The project is essentially one of speculation,” he concludes.

com in hiphopom.

Kljub temu da gre za avtorja mlajše generacije (letnik 1972), se lahko pohvali z bogatim seznamom razstav, inštalacij in performansov na različnih koncih sveta. Leta 2006 mu je Australian Council for the Arts podelil prestižno nagrado Visual Arts Fellowship. Njegova dela so bila razstavljena v številnih uglednih galerijah in muzejih: v Bloomber Spacu v Londonu (2001), na trienalu sodobne umetnosti v Yokohami (2005), Museum Kunsthaus Baselland v Baslu (2005) … Sodeloval je tudi na bienalu v Benetkah, bienalu v Busanu v Južni Koreji ...

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Column / High Gear

Column / High Gear 56

Not For Men Only Female riders represent an ever-growing proportion of the motorcycle community, even if relatively few of them participate in competitions. The achievement of Britain’s 32-year-old Northampton-based racer Maria Costello (nicknamed ‘Elvis’ by her fans, after the British singer-composer!) in promoting the cause of distaff biking by being the fastest female around the famous Isle of Man TT circuit, as well as the first female solo racer to finish on the TT Course podium in the history of the Isle of Man TT and Manx Grand Prix, was recognised by being made an MBE/ Member of the British Empire for services to motorcycling in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

by Alan Cathcart illustration NatanEsku

However, her investiture at Buckingham Palace, when Costello received the award from Prince Charles (both of whose sons, Princes William and Harry, are of course avid bikers), didn’t go entirely to plan. Maria was forced to resort to her favourite mode of transport in the rush to get to Buckingham Palace on time, after getting stuck in a gridlocked London traffic jam while being driven to receive her MBE from the Prince of Wales. So despite being dressed up for the royal occasion in a short black skirt, matching jacket, sheer black tights and a string of pearls around her neck, Maria jumped on a motorcycle to get to the Palace on time. “I wanted to arrive on a bike, but not like that,” she said afterwards. “We got stuck in traffic, so we called a friend of mine who works for Virgin taxi bikes, and he picked me up to take me there. You wear an apron sitting on the bike, so my modesty was preserved, but I did change my heels into flats, though. The Prince said, ‘Did you come by motorbike?’ and I said ‘Yes, I did – but that wasn’t my original plan!’”

A former veterinary nurse and now a journalist, Costello began racing thanks to a compensation payoff she received after being involved in a motorcycle accident. ‘’It was just a mode of transport for me at the time. I actually got knocked off my bike on my way to work, broke some bones, and I bought my first race bike with the compensation cheque.’’ In 2004, Maria finished third in the Manx GP on her Honda RVF400 to become the first female on the TT Course podium, the same year she became the fastest woman yet to lap the TT Course – a feat achieved from a standing start on the first lap of the 1000cc Production TT race, when she lapped at an average speed of 114.73mph along the kerb and tree-lined public roads circuit on her Suzuki GSXR750. But unbeknownst to Maria, she

achieved this record with a broken collarbone from a previous injury, making her achievement all the more praiseworthy!

Costello describes herself as the ‘’grandma’’ of female bike racers, and in 2009 her five-year reign as the TT’s fastest lady came to an end when 28-year old rival Jenny Tinmouth set a new record aboard her Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade at her TT debut, at a speed of 116.835 mph. “But I’ll be trying to get it back again this year,” says Maria Costello MBE. Don’t count her out!

In the meantime, two recently published books reflect the ongoing growth of the female motorcycle community down the ages – one historically, the other in a more modern context.

To describe author Christine Sommer Simmons’ The American Motorcycle Girls 1900-1950 as a “coffee table book” would envisage a table capable of holding a hill of beans rather than a cup of freshly brewed java. It’s a very large, extremely heavy, beautifully produced and very substantial 240-page volume by Parker House Publishing at $50 in the USA actually represents something of a bargain. That’s because of the wealth of fascinating facts it contains to accompany the huge variety of period photos and assorted memorabilia such as ads, cartoons, paintings and postcards that Ms.Simmons has collected in this book, combining to create a photographic history of early female motorcyclists in the USA. But female bikers everywhere, and men, too, will enjoy having their eyes opened to the broad scope of women’s early two-wheeled involvement over the years, with six chapters covering the different decades of the book’s chosen aegis. I liked the page on glamorous Hollywood star Norma Talmadge, who ended up being enlisted as a speed cop

because she “rode her motorcycle with such speed and control that even practiced motorcycle cops couldn’t match, so they immediately appointed her to the job, with a shiny badge on her sweater as a license”! The book is packed with images of female mechanics, long-distance record-breakers, stunt daredevils, showbiz glamourpusses, and everyday female motorcycle enthusiasts, which together create a fascinating record of women on wheels during the early part of the last century. And, being a picture book, it’s a world product that doesn’t require you to read and understand English.

Right up to date, but different in every way, is a paperback published by Motorbooks International, The Chrome Cowgirl Guide to The Motorcycle Life

by Sasha Mullins, one of the 10% of female riders among the US biking community today, which comes out to over 4 million women in all. Mullins has written this inspirational, motivational volume aimed at empowering women of all ages to get on a bike and head for the horizon. If you’re looking for riding tips to learn better braking technique or improving cornering skills, look elsewhere – but as an insight into the cruiser lifestyle from a female standpoint, this book appeals. From choosing, maintaining, and repairing a bike to honing your vocabulary and checking your attitude, there’s something here for every woman who has ever dreamed of saddling up and becoming an easy rider in control of her own destiny. It’s Zen and The Art of Being a Female Biker.