On Sunday afternoon just before the awards ceremony a group of triathlon industry folks assembled on the beach for a “non competitive” football game. It was initially supposed to be a “Germans versus Americans” game, but between the Hannes Hawaii guys and myself we just didn’t have enough German guys to make up a complete team. So we got support from a few Canadians and a few Americans, and before too long it was considered a game of “shirts versus skins.”
Our “skins” quarterback was primarily Graham Fraser, while the quarterback of the “shirts” included Ted Kennedy, but was rotated more often. As the game progressed we “skins” had 12 players on our side, while the “shirts” had 18 players playing at once. What seemed to be a big disadvantage turned out to be not so bad, and in the end we “worked” the shirts. 
At one point “shirts” player Paul Huddle was overheard of saying: “They only have 3 players and they are killing us.” I am not sure whether he referred to the actual number of non germans on the “skins” team, or whether it was just a metaphor for us having less players. Either way, it was a very fun game and I think everyone had a good time, well we did because we won.
After the game people shared some alcoholic beverages (I even had a couple titanium bottle openers handy) and after that we had to rush to get showered and changed for the awards.
We also agreed that this would become an “official” event.
Cheers,
Herbert
Litespeed / QR
Did you do the race the day before??
If so, you’re much tougher than I am. I get winded the day after a race and walk funny for a few days.
I think I’d go into cardiac arrest if I even tried to stride out a bit.
Sounds like a fun time for the able bodied. I’d love to take part in the drinking event.
I raced indeed, but only lasted 10 miles on the run due to nutrition problems.
So I had a bit of energy to burn.
Herbert
Litespeed/QR
FYI, Rumor has it that we won the game because due to our “skin uniform” we most of the physically fit people on our team. Well, at least those who were confident enough to take their shirts off.
Herbert,
Small world. I was in the football game to. It was great fun.
I was the tall, skinny guy wearing the green/black Hawaiin shirt playing for the “shirts”.
Fleck
P.S. Being completely out of shape, I was hurting the next day. Although it could have been from the numerous “refreshment” beverages I consumed post-game and at the awards!
It is a small world indeed and although the game was fun as it was, next time we all need to introduce eachother. As for me, I was the bald guy in the black shorts playing for the “skins”.
Herbert
Litespeed/QR
I sent you an email