Hi Trav,

Wow, I'm speechless! You should seriously work for MeteoMedia . For some reason, I'm sure that you would give better predictions than them, even with all their supercomputers . It's amazing how much you know about weather conditions.

Dan

Hey Everyone,

It's so nice to be back in here with all of you, after months of absence and months of waiting for this great event (Montreal firework international competition) to finally arrive!

About the Swiss display, I had little expectations because all I wanted to get from it, was the satisfaction to watch a firework display, thing that I had been craving for for soooooo long! But I won't lie to you though.........as I am a finale AND salutes lover, I wanted and needed to see an intense finale loaded with salutes! Did I get what I wanted? Let's see.

The display started with a nice intensity, which I found promising! Nice colours, good pace. Sorry, but I will not get technical since all of you are quite better in this regard.....and since I am an amateur at describing fireworks, I'll just tell it as I felt it. All in all, I found that the display was "nice". I never got overly excited at any time, which really disappointed me, but still, I liked the 30 minutes it lasted. As for the finale, "Je suis vraiment resté sur mon appétit!" At first, the intensity increased slightly, so I thought they were on the right track, but at one point, everything stopped and I thought it was the end.........a few seconds later, they resumed but this time, with less intensity and the display came to an end! I looked at the ferrous wheel to make sure it was over......it was!
I had the feeling that the crowd around me, was feeling disappointed (as I was), by the lack of intensity of the finale, but also by the way it was conducted.......the pace was decreasing instead of increasing! At least, I got to see a few salutes here and there, which made me happy

Anyway, it was so nice to be back on the bridge again, enjoying this June evening with the sky lighting up to beautiful colors and sounds......and exchanging thoughts with all of you in this forum.

A special "Hello" to Travis whose participation in this forum is incredible, and also to Enkil.

I am really looking forward to Italy's performance next week. If they could only be half as good as IPON S.R.L., I will be very happy!

Talk to you later, guys!

Pierre

Hi Dan,

Thank you for the compliments, my friend. Indeed, I am a weather fanatic while the spark of interest began when I was barely less than 3 years of age (because of a strong storm). Ever since then, I've always been taken up by the weather, while it does affect each and every one of us somehow. However, I simultaneously feel that it's my duty to update the latest weather conditions for you guys, especially for each fireworks display, though I so do enjoy doing it. I know it's also simple just to go and check a simple forecast anywhere, but sometimes, especially in the case of an unstable day (like today), it's important that we also rely on our "own" observations to get an idea of what we can expect on a local scale. Satellite imagery is also very important.

I'm particularly fascinated by lightning and all the aspects of a Cumulonimbus (thundercloud). This is also very well the reason why I'm passionate about fireworks for so long, too! I believe Paul had mentioned this back on August 10th, 2004, when we had that night time storm. He said that pyrofreaks seemed to be just as fascinated and interested in thunderstorms as they are in fireworks or anything that happens in the sky. I certainly believe that he's right while I've felt this way for a long time! Keep in mind that thunder and lightning possess the same idea as fireworks, where in both cases you see the flash and then hear the noise.

The supercomputers that they typically use at the weather stations give them loads of data, and yet precision on even an hourly basis is still quite the challenge. In this respect, my predictions are just as good as the meteorologists there, but I like to take on a different approach where I monitor physical and visual observations on an hourly basis to garner further accuracy, especially cloud watching. Cloud watching is quite intriguing, efficient and it is, at the same time, really fun to name or identify different clouds (kind of like naming fireworks). This is usally what I do before I write up weather reports on the forum (but more so on threatening days when it's vital) while I supplement these observations with data from the Weather Network.

In any case, I thank you for the encouragement, Dan. I've always wanted to be a meterologist, climatologist or even as part of a storm chasing team. If there's anything you're curious about or always wanted to know based on the weather, you can always send me an email and I'll be more than happy to explain to the best of my ability. Thanks again, Dan, I really appreciate it.

Hi Pierre,

Well, it's really good to see you again after such a long period of time! Seeing you here in addition to the rest of us only brings only more enthusiasm!

Indeed, you're right to say that the ending of the Swiss display was a little disappointing because of the lack of a fully fledged climax. The build up was really good since it consisted of a set of faux finales, but it didn't seem to get to the point. The pauses in between were also, as I've said, quite provocative as well as perplexing. The take off real ending was a little too short for my tastes and didn't really leave me shaking. Nevertheless, this was an exciting and loud display as a whole considering most of it was devoted to high leveled effects. I, too, looked at the ferris wheel in hopes that it wasn't the ending, but the 2 smileys made it obvious of true ending, so it wasn't as devious. I'm also certain that you loved the ABBA songs as well as the some of the other soundtrack used. BTW, are you attempting to record the finales again this year, Pierre?

You also deserve a "special hello", Pierre, considering that we haven't seen you in quite a while. I also did get your email and was very glad that you could make it. Knowing you would be there as well only made me happier, considering that you're on the bridge. I'm sure that it felt good seeing familiar faces on the bridge while also seeing that sort of atmosphere brought you a lot of zeal.

And yes, I'm sort of speculating whether we may see a scary ending from Soldi (Italy) this coming Sunday since they had a tremendous finish back in 1995. I'm also hoping for something bigger than even IPON's finale back in 2004 and in 1998. I'm sincerely hoping for this, especially since you missed IPON's ending in 2004.

Thank you for the kind reply as well as for sharing your fireworks report.

Trav.

Hey Travis!

Thanks for your reply and your warm welcome!

Yes, I did enjoy the fact that the fireworks from the Switzerland team included songs from ABBA in its soundtrack, althought these two songs are far from being my favorites.

In answer to your question, of course I did record the Swiss finale (wink, wink) and I will do the same throughout the season, so that I can share them with you in August........Man, I don't want to think of the end of the competition already!

As for the Italian team (Soldi) who will perform next Sunday, you got me so curious when you mentionned their performance in the finale of 1995, that I went and read the report......woof......they used a lot of salutes back then so I hope they will again this year! My digital camera will be ready and so will I!

As you said in your posting, I did miss IPON's performance on the 3rd of July 2004......and I am still mad at myself for that.....so I hope I will get to see IPON S.R.L. again soon....maybe next year? I am keeping my fingers crossed!

Take care and talk to you later.

Pierre

Hi Pierre,

I am also looking forward to a possible unbelievable ending like the one I remember in 1995. I remember it so well in which the ending started and ended. I remember my mom and aunt screaming so much, too! Well, let's see what they'll plan 11 years later.

Oh yes, Pierre, do you remember the ending of Spain (Igual) of 2001? To be honest with you, as I've said before, I thought that one was even way more intense that IPON of 2004.

I also did forget to mention in my report that the serene parts of the display more and less reinforced the theme of the show, though I didn't really care for that coconut tree shell segment.

And a good job on recording the finale. Oh yes, today is the first day of SUMMER.

Edit: I forgot to mention that Soldi has played many times in the past while the last time they actually presented was in 2002.

Trav

Hey Travis,

I do remember a wonderful finale by Spain around that year (2001), but I don't know if it's the one you mentionned....probably is though, but I don't have a sharp memory like yours! ;-)

To me, Italy's IPON S.R.L. is still my favorite, because they did make me shake and cry on June 6th 1998.....I'll always remember that finale, for as long as I live!

Have a great weekend.........I'll be on the bridge on Sunday, hoping for a finale flooded by thunderous salutes!

Pierre

Salut les mordus de l'art pyrotehnique

J'arrive un peu sur le tard pour écrire mon commentaire sur le feu de Bugano représentant la Suisse.
J'ai retrouvé ma place sur le pont juste au dessus du site.
C'est la 3 ième fois que cette firme compétitionnait à montréal.
Entre autre Bugano était là en 1999 alors que j'étais membre du jury.
Je suis d,accord avec tous ceux qui considèrent que les concepteurs ont utilisé la même formule à chaque occasion.
Cette année le thème choisi était "Balade Suisse"
La trame sonore avec des choix assez disparates devait nous aider à voyager dans l'histoire et les particularités de ce magnifique pays.
Je cherche encore le lien entre le concept choisi et les pièces musicales.On dirait que le concepteur a choisi des séquences musicales et s,est ensuite demandé comment faire un tout avec ces divers éléments. Donc un concept tiré par les cheveux.

La force des Suisses dans cette présentation ce fut la très grande qualité des pièces; richesses des couleurs lors du déploiement dans le ciel, un agencement raffiné des formes et des couleurs, une assez grande variété , et une très bonne utilisation des possibilités du site. Il y avait beaucoup de chaleur dans ce feu (!!) et des passages sont venues touché mes émotions.

La syncronisation était aussi très bonne dans la plupart des segments.

Comme je l'écrivais plus haut le concept était incohérent d'un bout à l,autre de la présentation . Le concepteur avait choisi de ne pas faire de transitions harmonieuses entre chacunes des pièces musicales ce qui par moment a nui à la qualité du rytme et de la recherche de créer un tout en évolution vers le bouquet final

Toutefois ce fut une excellente présentation sur le plan pyrotechnique...un feu roulant , parfois intense et des tableaux très beaux.
Malgré mes quelques remarques plus négatives le feu de Bugano a manifestement plu aux spectateurs dont j'étais.
Le jour où cette firme sortira des sentiers battus en choissisant un concept vraiment cohérent , innovateur ils seront de sérieux prétendants à un Jupiter.

La saison 2006 est lancée et de la bonne facon.

Roger