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Have You Seen This? Skiing the Great Wall of China and across natural wonders
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Professional skier Candide Thovex shows us that skiing isn't just for snow because apparently as long as you have a hill, skis, and the will you can ski anywhere. - photo by John Clyde


EVERYWHERE I have been waterskiing and snow skiing, I've even been sand boarding, but little did I know skis have many other places they can go.

For example, I've never been jungle skiing, grass skiing, dirt skiing, lava skiing or Great Wall of China skiing, but professional skier Candide Thovex has.

This video is an ad for the Audi Quattro and takes Thovex all over the world to ski in just about everything. From rocky mountain slopes totally void of snow to rolling grass hills inhabited by sheep, Thovex does the seemingly impossible and skis all of them with precision.

At first, it was impressive he was speeding down a volcano over lava rock, but then he started jumping and doing iron crosses and double backflips and my jaw dropped to the floor. I had a hard time walking down my stairs this morning and this guy is doing a 360 on the Great Wall of China on skis.

This video is mesmerizing and the lack of music along with the ambient sounds of the skis and elements makes it beautiful. It will likely be the most impressive four minutes of your day.
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Have You Seen This? Street musician slays with clarinet
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Better than almost every face-melting guitar or drum solo. - photo by Facebook video screenshot

THE BIG EASY — Yeah, yeah, we all know that New Orleans is stuffed to the gills will incredible musicians.

But knowing that fact and then hearing that fact are two different things. You can step into any number of jazz clubs on any given night on Bourbon Street, and you’ll probably be impressed with virtually every act. Or you can sit at home on your comfy couch and watch this featured video.

In the video, you’ll see a woman who is in the groove. She is swinging hard, and wailing on her clarinet with a practiced expertise that makes it sounds so easy.

From note one you’ll be drawn in; your appreciation will grow with every second, and then your face will melt off when you realize how incredible she really is.

If you’ve never played a woodwind or a brass, you may not know everything that comes with a performance like this. Lung capacity and breath control are huge factors in keeping your notes clear and loud, and hitting those high notes is especially difficult.

So when this woman hits that high note and holds it for several seconds, you know you’re dealing with an exceptional musician. It means she has worked hard for years to develop skill on top of her natural talent, and we get to benefit.

It kinda makes you wonder how we let people get away with mumble rap and autotune when talent like this exists in the world.

I wish this video were longer, and I wish I had more information about this woman, but as it is, we’ll just have to appreciate the little flavor of New Orleans jazz posted by the Facebook group Clarinet Life.

Street musician killing it on clarinet

She must have lungs of iron! Its inspiring hearing the upper registers being played so well.

Posted by Clarinet Life on Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Martha Ostergar is a writer who delights in the ridiculous that internet serves up, which means she's more than grateful that she gets to cruise the web for amazing videos to highlight for your viewing pleasure.
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