In The Surf

We humans are drawn to the shoreline, to live and to play. Some of us have even found a home in the waves, riding on gentle swells or braving roaring mountains of seawater. Surfing has been a part of human lives for centuries and is enjoyed around the world today. The stormy summer we've had this year provided some spectacular (if dangerous) conditions for surfers, many of them captured in photos below. Gathered here are images from the past several months of people (and animals) in the surf, including professional surfers, amateurs, spectators, and more. [38 photos]

Australian Mick Fanning rides a wave during a round one heat at the Billabong Pro surfing competition, on Saturday, August 20, 2011 in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (AP Photo/Association of Surfing Professionals, Kirstin Scholtz)  

78 Pictures Of The IAAF Athletics World Championships

Runners, jumpers, throwers and all-rounders lived by the credo sweat, blood and tears to try and get a medal around their neck at the 2011 IAAF Athletic World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. Some great performances were captured in these images with the highlight being the amazing 4x100m race run by the Jamaicans.

1 Ryan Harlan of the U.S. competes in the shot put event of the men's decathlon at the IAAF 

World Championships in Daegu August 27, 2011. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Synchronization

The 2011 FINA World Aquatics Championships are taking place in Shanghai, China, and will run until July 31. Swimmers and divers from 74 nations are currently competing in open water swimming, diving, water polo, and more. The synchronized completions, two in diving and four in swimming, can be especially picturesque, as competitors strive to position their bodies in exacting poses while tumbling through the air or suspended in water. Photographers in Shanghai positioned their cameras above and below the water's surface to capture some of these poolside images from the 2011 World Aquatics Championships. [32 photos]

Germany's Patrick Hausding (front) and Sascha Klein dive in the men's 10m platform synchro competition in the 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai, China, on July 17, 2011. (Daniel Kopatsch/DAPD)  

Women's World Cup

After an emotional run through the tournament that few predicted, Japan emerged yesterday as the unlikely champion of the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011. After enduring the triple disasters of the earthquake, tsunami, and Fukushima Diaichi nuclear catastrophe, Japan rejoiced in the first good news in months. The final came in dramatic fashion against the United States in a penalty shoot-out after the score was tied 2-2 in regulation. Sixteen countries fought for the title in Germany, resulting in the first Asian world champion. Collected here are images of the games, fans, and celebration. -- Lane Turner (30 photos total)

Japan's midfielder Homare Sawa celebrates with the trophy and teammates after the FIFA Women's Football World Cup final match against the US on July 17, 2011 in Frankfurt am Main Germany. Japan won 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out after the final had finished 2-2 following extra-time. (Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images) 

Women's World Cup 2011

This coming Sunday, the final match of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup will take place in Frankfurt, Germany, as teams from Japan and the United States vie for the championship. Sixteen teams from around the world initially qualified for the tournament, and began playing the first round of matches in nine different arenas across Germany. This year will mark Japan's debut in the final, as the U.S. team, led by Hope Solo and Abby Wambach, tries to become the first national squad to win three Women's World Cup titles. Collected here are some images from this year's championship, from June 26 through today. The final match is scheduled to begin at 2:45 pm Eastern time on Sunday, July 17. This entry will be updated shortly afterward. [41 photos]

Hope Solo of USA controls the ball during the Women's World Cup 2011 Group C match between USA and Colombia at Rhein-Neckar-Arena, on July 2, 2011 in Sinsheim, Germany. (Joern Pollex/Getty Images) 

 

2011 Tour de France, Part 1

The world's most beautiful stadium - the entire country of France - annually hosts the most important bike race of the year: the Tour de France. Upwards of 12 million fans line the roads to watch the race. For free. No tickets needed. The race traverses over 2000 miles in 21 days of racing. Every year the route changes, but the mountains are a constant: racers must scale absurdly steep peaks in both the Pyrenees and the Alps before a victory race onto the Champs Elysees in Paris. This year's tour may be remembered most for the spate of horrible crashes that have eliminated many of the top riders. Most outrageously, a media car hit a cyclist at speed, causing a horrific crash that sent another rider cartwheeling into a barbed-wire fence. Both riders remounted and finished the stage. The race goes on through July 24. -- Lane Turner (35 photos total)

The peloton rides past the rocky tidal island of Mont Saint-Michel in the 226.5 km sixth stage of the 2011 Tour de France cycling race run between Dinan and Lisieux in northwestern France on July 7, 2011. (Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images)

 

Running wild: San Fermin festival 2011

Those mad adrenaline- (and sometimes alcohol-) infused half-mile dashes dodging 1,800-pound stampeding bulls have begun through the streets of Pamplona, Spain. Part-spectacle, part-tradition, the Running of the Bulls is the most celebrated slice of the nine-day San Fermin Festival. In addition to the daily runs, events include bullfighting and a parade featuring a statue of Pamplona\'s first bishop, St. Fermin. Pleads for safety and prayers of thanksgiving to St. Fermin traditionally begin and end the run through the streets, which was famously depicted in Ernest Hemingway\'s \"The Sun Also Rises.\" Concluding on the 14th of July every year, attendees gather on the town hall plaza at midnight for singing by candlelight. --Lloyd Young (40 photos total)

 

 

Spanish bull fighter Alberto Aguilar looks at a Dolores Aguirre Ybarra\'s ranch fighting bull during a bullfight at San Fermin fiestas in Pamplona northern Spain, Saturday July 9 (Alvaro Barrientos/Associated Press)

2011 Special Olympics Summer Games

Last month, some 7,500 athletes from 185 countries gathered in Athens, Greece, to compete in 22 sports in the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games. These athletes, individuals with intellectual disabilities, vied for medals in events ranging from judo and powerlifting to badminton and bocce. The Special Olympics organization coordinates the games, inviting competitors to participate and be celebrated for their accomplishments. From the organization's website: "It's often the first time that our athletes have truly taken center stage and been recognized as individuals." This year's event started with a lavish opening ceremony on June 25 and wrapped up on July 4. Collected here are some glimpses from the events of the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games. [39 photos]

A young athlete from Sri Lanka celebrates after he won 100 meter event during the Special Olympics Summer Games in Athens, Greece, on June 29, 2011. (©Yiannis Kourtoglou) 

FC Barcelona Winning The Champions League

Last Saturday FC Barcelona and Mancherster United played the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley Stadium. 

What the Barca fans got was a fantastic display by their team. What the Manchester United fans got was a wake up call. 

And what the neutral fan got was a great display of football by probably the best club team the world has ever seen. 

The dominance of Barcelona was complete. If you try to beat them by playing football you will lose. Their movement,

vision, pace and technical ability has been crafted by years of training and, not unimportant, playing together with the 

same players. FC Barca won the game 3-1 after some brilliant goals by Messi and Villa. Just two of the great players 

in the Barca team. A special mention should go to Manchester’s Edwin van der Sar though, he might have been on the 

losing team on the night, but the man has to be considered as oen of the world’s best goalkeepers and we wish him well 

during his retirement from the game.

 

 1 Barcelona's fans arrive at Wembley Stadium before their Champions League final match against Manchester

United in London May 28, 2011. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

World Cup opening ceremonies

JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- The first World Cup ever held in Africa opened Friday in a dazzling burst of joy, color and noise -- and just a tinge of sadness. Before a jubilant, horn-blowing crowd in Soccer City, the spectacular stadium between Johannesburg and Soweto, hundreds of African dancers in vivid greens, reds and yellows paraded onto the field for the opening ceremony of the monthlong tournament. Most of the fans were in the yellow jerseys of Bafana Bafana, the host country's team, with a few pockets of green -- fans of Mexico, South Africa's foe in the opening match. The elation was tempered by news that Nelson Mandela, the revered anti-apartheid leader and former South African president, would not attend the ceremony. The 91-year-old Mandela is frail, and decided not to come after his 13-year-old great-granddaughter was killed in a car crash on the way home from Thursday night's World Cup concert. (30 images)

A supporter waves a South African flag as he blows a vuvuzela, prior to the World Cup group A soccer match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday, June 11, 2010. AP / Eugene Hoshiko

Thrills and spills

A look at some of the thrills and spills at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. (27 images)

Ted Piccard of France, left and Daron Rahlves of the USA, right crash out during the men's skicross 8th final at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Feb. 21. AP / Mark J. Terrill

Formula 1 2011: Spanish Grand Prix

The Spanish Formula One Grand Prix was another fine race. An exciting start, with Spanish driver Fernando Alonso getting his Ferrari ahead of the two Red Bulls to lead the race, loads of overtaking, different pitstop strategies and a great battle between eventual winner Sebastian Vettel and 2nd placed driver Lewis Hamilton in the closing 10-15 laps. Red Bull might have won again, but it looks as if McLaren is going to give them a real run for their money this year.

Another Week on May

Another end of the week means another set of coolest or most newsworthy pix from the week. Which is your favorite?

 

Short Cars – It’s Cool To Have Them

 

These are some pretty short cars even though they look so small they are quite powerful. Take a look!

Formula 1 2011: Turkish Grand Prix

The 2011 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Turkey finished about 30 minutes ago. Germany’s Sebastian Vettel lead the race from start to finish, only momentarily relinquishing the lead during the pit stops. Normally when a driver leads from start to finish one says it is a boring race, but this was far from that. The most pit stops in a single race since 1993 and dozens of overtaking manoeuvres by drivers spread across the field. In short, the 2011 Turkish Grand Prix was exciting for it’s full 58 laps.

Adrenaline Photography – Fight or Flight Situations

It increases heart rate, constricts blood vessel and dilates air passages in order to deliver more blood to the muscles and more air to the lungs and thus help a human survive in a dangerous or unexpected situation. This is the mechanism of action of a hormone, called adrenaline or epinephrine. The word “adrenaline” today is, perhaps, the only example of a medical term, known and used widely beyond medical sphere. It has become a synonym for excitement, passion, adventure, and risk, and it is now closely associated with extreme activities, such as mountaineering, jumping, and challenging sports, such as racing, parachuting, or skiing. We have devoted our today’s gallery of photographs to all kind of activities, where adrenaline plays the leading role, being at the same time the aim and the means of achieving that aim.

Why do people do such seemingly crazy and obviously dangerous things, as jumping from high rocks into the sea, participating in rodeo, or feeding wild animals with bare hands? Of course, the reasons are multiple and different: from love to the wild nature to excitement of the free fall, but in every situation you will find the similar component – adrenaline. This hormone puts a human body into such a unique physiological state, which is both dangerous and cherished simultaneously. The one, who once experienced the influence of adrenaline charge, will definitely urge for the same experience again in the future. That is why, drivers usually return to racing even after the most dreadful accidents, and people of all ages return to the ferris wheel or roller coaster even if they were frightened to death, visiting those attractions earlier. Obviously, people love adrenaline… Some of the ways to get it are described on the pictures below, but, please, do not take this post as the guideline or direct motivation towards specific actions!

*** by Evgeny Vasenev

Photographer Stuart Gibson

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26th Marathon des Sables, the sand marathon

26th Marathon des Sables, the sand marathon

The Marathon des Sables is considered one of the hardest in the world, with 844 participants having to walk 250 kilometers (150 miles) over seven days in the Moroccan Sahara. The race includes a full marathon on one day, and a 55-mile stage, as well as others of varying length and terrain during seven days. Competitors must carry all their equipment on their backs. Only a carefully rationed nine litres of water and open-sided local tents are provided daily by the organizers. (23 images)

Competitors cross the erg Znaigui during the second stage of the 26th edition of the Marathon des Sables, on April 4, 2011, about 300 kilometers south of Ouarzazate in Morocco. AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

Competitors cross the dunes of Merzouga, the hightest in Morocco during the 26th edition of the Marathon des Sables (The Desert Marathon) on April 3, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

Competitors cross the dunes of Merzouga, the hightest of Morocco , about 300 kilometers south of Ouarzazate, during the 26th edition of the Marathon des Sables on April 3, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

Competitors take off on the 26th edition of the Marathon des Sables (The Desert Marathon), on April 3, 2011, in Dar Kaoua, about 300 kms south of Ouarzazate. AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

A competitor walks in a sandy and rocky valley near Mouchanne, on April 6, 2011, during the 82-kilometer stage consisting of two days and one night during the 26th edition of the "Marathon des Sables." AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

Competitors walk in a sandy and rocky passage near Mouchanne, on April 6, 2011 during the Marathon des Sables (Sand Marathon). AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

Competitors cross the oasis of Jdaid during the third stage of the 26th edition of the Marathon des Sables (Sand Marathon) on April 5, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

A competitor climbs a stony steep-sided gorge in jebel Foum Al Hopaht during the third stage of the 26th edition of the "Marathon des Sables." AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

Competitors cross a palm grove of Jdaid during the third stage of the of the Marathon des Sables, (Sand Marathon) on April 5, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

Jordanian Salameh Al Aqra from Amman (L) and Moroccan Mohamad Ahansal, four-time winner of the Marathon des Sables, cross the grove of Jdaid during the third stage of the 26th edition of the Marathon des Sables. AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

Competitors cross the palm grove of Jdaid during the third stage of the 26th edition of the Marathon des Sables. AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

A competitor crosses rocky terrain to summit a steep-sided gorge in Jebel Foum Al Hopaht, during the third stage of the 26th edition of the Marathon des Sables. AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

Competitors walk in front of villagers toward a pass of djebel El Abeth during the third stage of the 26th edition of the Marathon des Sables (Sand Marathon) on April 5, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

Competitors cross the palm grove of Jdaid during the third stage of the 26th edition of the Marathon des Sables (Sand Marathon) on April 5, 2011, about 300 kilometers south of Ouarzazate in Morocco. AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

Competitors cross the erg Znaigui during the second stage of the 26rd edition of the Marathon des Sables on April 4, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

Competitors run fron the windy erg Znaigui during the second stage of the 26rd edition of the Marathon des Sables on April 4, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

A competitor crosses the erg Znaigui during the second stage of the 26rd edition of the Marathon des Sables on April 4, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

Competitors cross the erg Znaigui during the second stage of the 26rd edition of the Marathon des Sables on April 4, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

Competitors cross the erg Znaigui during the second stage of the 26rd edition of the Marathon des Sables on April 4, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

Competitors cross the erg Znaigui during the second stage of the 26rd edition of the Marathon des Sables on April 4, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

Competitors wait for medical care, especially for their feet, on April 7, 2011, at the end of the 82-kilometer stage comprised of two days and one night of the 26th edition of the Marathon des Sables (Sand Marathon). AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

Competitors have their feet treated on April 7, 2011, in a bivouac at the end of the 82-kilometer stage during the 26th edition of the Marathon des Sables (Sand Marathon) about 300 kilometers south of Ouarzazate, in Morocco. AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy

Bikers resting under a tree watch competitors walking in the valley of oued Rheris, on April 6, 2011, during the 82-kilometer stage of the 26th edition of the Marathon des Sables (Sand Marathon) about 300 kilometers south of Ouarzazate, in Morocco. AFP/ Getty Images / Pierre Verdy