Tenerife went crazy when local football team CD Tenerife broke through into the first division.  Having finished the 2008-9 season in third place in the second division their breakthrough to the premier league in June this year after a seven year absence was heart-stoppingly exciting.  It was as if the whole island had won the lottery. There was dancing in the street, flag waving, lakes of celebratory beer and wine and car horns tooting through the night.

Of course, getting back into the premier division is only the first step on a very steep ladder  but CD Tenerife fans can keep an eye on the competition via Sportal Maps – a clever mash up of Microsoft Virtual Earth, Google maps and Google street view which provides a pretty unique look at sports facilities around the world. Football is one of the topics and there is also Nascar, Forumla 1 and 360 degree views of international stadiums.

Once on the site you can manipulate the images in several ways and come up with some excellent views. This is a part map, part 3d shot of the CD Tenerife stadium. Although you might not see it on the  screen shot, the view is close enough to see players in action on the field (still shots).

You can choose to see 2D, 3D, arial, bird’s eye or with labels – all of it a very cool and clever use of web services. You can click through on the picture to get to the CD Tenerife page on SPortal and have a fiddle.

It is not only Spanish Premier league home grounds you can spy on either. Look up the English and Scottish first league teams, Germany, France and more.

Every day at more or less the same time I can hear rhythmic music from the park out at the front and I know that the local kids are practising capoeira out there under a large shady tree. Combining music and movement, tradition, rhythm, folklore, art and harmony into one overall philosophy, capoeira teaches not only self-defense but also respect for oneself and others, racial tolerance and the benefits of healthy diet and fitness. Listening to the music I know that the kids who are practising their moves out there are not the same ones that will be hanging out round the corner smoking and getting into trouble in the evening.

If you have an active child and are looking for something to occupy him or her then you might want to consider the Terra Firme Canarias capoeira lessons which are subsidised by the ayutamientos of San Miguel de Arona, Guia de Isora and Arona council.

The Terra Firme Canarias Association was established by César Barreto in 2007. As a young boy in Tenerife, César was captivated by the performance of a capoeiria master he saw in a movie. That was the start of a journey that would eventually take him to Brazil to learn the art of this Brazilian traditional fighting skill from internationally recognised Maestre Hulke and in time receive his own capoeira title, ‘Instructor Pescador’ from his teacher.

Capoira Classes are held:

Ayuntamiento San Miguel de Abona (Concejalia de Deportes)
Barrio de Guargacho – Colegio el Monte
Tues & Thurs:  18:15 to 19:45 hrs

Ayuntamiento Guia de Isora (Concejalia de Juventud)
Barrio del Fraile, Centro  Juvenil del Fraile
Wed & Fri: 18:00 to 19:45 hrs

Ayuntamiento de Adeje (Concejalia de Deportes)
Barrio de Los Olivos, Complejo de Deportivo Las Torres
Mon & Wed: 16:00 to 17:30 hrs

Academia de Arte Marciales ACAD
Los Cristianos, near the bus station
Tues & Thurs: 18:30 to 20:00 hrs

Academia de Danza
Barrio de Los Olivos, Adeje
Friday: 16:30 to 17:30 hrs

As far as I know these classes are free as they have been  subsidised by the various councils mentioned but you can contact the Terra Firme Canarias Association yourself to confirm that and class schedules. You might also want to ask about demonstrations as Instructor Pescador and his team can often be seen at festivals or shows.

Contact Details:

Website: Terra Firme Canarias
Email: terrafirmecanarias@hotmail.com
Tel: 696219518 or 638579432

Capoira – Martial Art or Dance?

Head to Playa El Socorro tucked between Puerto de la Cruz and Icod de los Vinos to catch the Santa Surf Pro Junior in which 98 of Europe’s best under-21 surfers will compete to bag a US$4,000 prize. This is a Grade 4 ASP Junior Men’s Event and is taking place between the 4th and 8th of June 2008.

Live Coverage from Surfer’s Village