frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Fr. Peter asked me to take photos of a road race in which he was participating. The course was 29 km, a distance that made no sense until he explained that the course, which was brutally hilly, followed the path of the 29 km barbed wire fence the Italians used to keep Slovenians from getting into or out of LJ without being searched and questioned during WW II in an attempt to suppress the resistance. It failed to stifle the resistance. But, LJ was encircled by the barbed wire fence for over 1100 days. The race course followed the outlines of that path.

On the way home I encountered the "Dunking Devils," a Slovenian "acrobatic basketball team" based in LJ giving a demonstration. The fifteen or so guys and one girl did close order drills using springboards similar to what one sees in gymnastics competitions to launch themselves. They were doing front flips in the air before slamming the ball into the net. They were not doing this slowly. One shooter was just touching down, one was mid-air, and one was launching at the same time. Their motto on their website is: The only way is up!

Fr. Peter (white shirt) and his team. They finished well under three hours.

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The Dunking Devils waiting to start. There were three different colors of shirts.

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Do their mothers know what they are doing?

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I'd say no room for doubt or error.

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I'll never be that flexible or fearless again.

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Amazing. I was late for lunch. Didn't matter.

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TomC. Loc: Bel Air, MD

Great action shots, Fr. Good story along with it. We'll done.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

They don't have to be crazy but it probably helps. They probably ran with scissors as kids.

cmc65

They ARE great action shots indeed. Maybe have them printed and send them to the team.

cmc65

😆

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks for commenting. Definitely a memorable moment.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Probably ran with scissors? they probably did backflips with them. They have a very impressive web site. Thanks for commenting.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

No need to print. I arrived at the square during set up. Everything appears to be recorded. Saw two or three cameras being fixed to various points near the baskets. Quite a few guys on the support team checking the equipment. From the web site it appears to be a very smoothly run group.

tbell7D Loc: Houston

Excellent and quite amusing set of action shots Fr Jack. In this set you have shown us a very different side of life in Slovenia from your previous posts.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks. That is why I posted. It isn't all old buildings and monasteries. The center of the city was packed yesterday. Spectacular weather. My jaw is still dropped after watching the Dunking Devils. One of the memorable days here was spending hours wandering during the LJ marathon with camera.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Nice set - thanks for sharing.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks for commenting. Those kids were great. If I lived her I'd hire them for a party. More interesting than pony rides.

Sirius_one Loc: S.F. Bay Area

Great, if scary, action by the 'Dunking Devils'.

sailorsmom Loc: Souderton, PA

These are outstanding images, FrJack! Really enjoyed everyone of them!

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Scary is a good word. There was little padding around the area. Thanks for looking.