Sports

How to Be a Better Skier – the Steps to Take for a Safer Experience

October 31, 2018 — by Valeriya Vimon

Are you planning a vacation to the snow-covered mountains? Great for you! Being on the piste and feeling the wind rush through you as you head down the slopes at a high speed is a thrill in itself. As a matter of fact, it is this thrill what makes people wanting to go back to the slopes year after year, especially those who prefer the more extreme elements of this sport.

However, as enjoyable as it can be, we can’t ignore the fact that, like most sports, skiing comes with a certain amount of risk. Falls are bound to occur, regardless of how good of a skier you may be, and collisions are relatively common. So, before you venture out to the slopes, it is essential that you have the right ski safety gear and know how to properly use it. Here are the basic pieces of protective equipment you should bring with you every time you head to the mountains.

Ski Helmet

When it comes to preventing life-threatening injuries, a ski helmet is the most important piece of equipment you should wear. For the ultimate protection, get a ski helmet that fits you properly and make sure to keep the chin strap properly fastened so that it stays securely in place. Don’t assume that your football or bike helmet will do the job fine because they won’t. Get a real ski helmet that has all the right features and enables ventilation.

Knee Guards and Back Protectors

Skiiers, especially beginners, usually end up with bruised knees that swell really fast. For that reason, it is smart to invest in a good pair of knee guards. You can choose from the two types – rigid and squashy. The rigid type has become a bit old-fashioned after the invention of the squashy model. Besides absorbing impact better, squashy knee guards also mold to your shape, helping you maintain better stability.

While back injuries are not the most common type of injury related to this sport, they do happen and can be extremely serious when they do. In the past, people used to avoid back protection due to the fact that it is rigid, heavy and uncomfortable to wear. However, the great advances in technology have made it much more comfortable to wear. Nowadays, back protectors are created with more flexible materials, they fit better the shape of the back and follow your movement. Available in different models, including vests and jackets, the style you choose will depend on your personal preferences and needs.

Protective Shorts

Protective shorts are padded and they help protect your back and hips from injuries. They are designed to protect the coccyx which can be excruciating if knocked or landed upon, but they also help protect your thighs and hips in case of a fall. As a beginner, you will probably spend quite some time in the snow and this may result in a cold bottom if you don’t have enough insulation. Protective shorts often come with enhanced thermal technology which is a really good addition.

Sports

Steps to Pulling Off the Skater Look

September 17, 2018 — by Valeriya Vimon

Without a doubt, skating is a sport that requires a great amount of skill. But it’s much different from, say, football or skiing. You don’t need a team or a closet full of gear to skate. It’s more improvisational, encouraging a good deal of self-expression which is also conveyed through the choice of clothes. Skatewear has always been a blend of equal parts protective and rebellious. It’s comfortable, accessible, and makes you look badass. Let’s take a look at how you can pull off the skater look.

Skate Tees

The ultimate formula for creating a skater outfit is to dress in layers. Starting from the shirt. Skateboard T shirts are loose and baggy to allow the skateboarder a wide range of movement. But their distinctiveness doesn’t solely come from the cut. It’s mostly branding and graphic prints that give skateboard T shirts their special touch. Whether it’s something political, a logo from your favourite skate brand, or a graffiti-inspired art print – skate shirts are the best form of expressing yourself. But the design of the shirt is not the only thing you should consider. Skateboarding makes you sweat a lot and putting on a polyester or nylon shirt is the worst decision you can make. That being said, cotton is the material you should be looking for.

Bottoms

Skater trousers need to be pretty low maintenance, with stain and wrinkle resistant properties in order to withstand the wear and tear that comes with this sport. Considering this, worker pants have always been a favourite among the skating community. They are robust enough to resist falls and lightweight enough for summer. Cargo pants are another practical choice, which also perfectly complements the layered look. As for colours, black, navy, or stone tones are the smartest options when you’re heading to the skate park and don’t want to come home looking like a truck ran over you. Camo trousers are always a cool option if you want to make a more rebellious statement.

Shoes

The shoes are not only an important part of the skateboarding style, but they can also affect your performance. There are a variety of shoe brands to choose from, but it’s best to stick to the tried and tested classics. Converse are one of the first trainers to be adopted as part of the skater look. Now, they are available in every colour and design available, so you’re bound to find something you’ll like. Vans are another brand synonymous with skate fashion. They are great for the warmer weather, but some designs like the Sk8-Hi can also be worn throughout the whole year.

Sports

3 Steps to Picking the Right Cruiser Skateboard

September 11, 2018 — by Richard Dawson

Riding a cruiser skateboard to work, school, the mall or the burger joint nearby can be a fun way to get around and get some exercise in the meantime. Why a cruiser skateboard in particular? Well, because you’ll be riding on flat ground for the most part, and cruising decks are the best type for that kind of skating. But which boards are cruiser boards? There are a couple of things you have to consider when buying one – the length of the deck, whether the deck you want should be stiff or flexible, and whether you want the deck to feature a kicktail or not.

First and foremost, when shopping for cruiser skateboards, you need to consider the deck length. Ideally, you want a deck that’s in the 28-46inch length range. You can go for a smaller one, but if you’re a beginner, that’s not advisable. Larger decks provide a more comfortable ride, especially if you’re tall. That being said, you could look at some sizing charts online, or talk to a skateboard store employee, and they’ll probably be able to tell you the ideal board length for your size.

Sports

Steps to Buying the Ideal Skate Shoes

May 28, 2018 — by Richard Dawson

Shoes are one of the staples of the skateboarding culture. In fact, skateboarding has made a particular type of shoes so popular that their popularity has skyrocketed into a couple of different cultures, such as the streetwear culture. But the main reason why skaters use special skating shoes, is simply because they put them through a lot of abuse. The life of the average skate shoe can be brutal, as there are countless stunts which delegate heavy impact on the shoe, and the grip tape constantly grinds away its exterior.

When it comes to buying sneakers skate shoes come in two basic styles (vulcanised and cupsoles) and one of them (cupsoles) leans towards heavier defense against impact when coming down from an aerial, while the other one (vulcanised) offers better board control, allowing you to perform more technical tricks.

Vulcanised skate shoes are similar to casual shoes, as they’re slim, lightweight, flexible and feature thinner soles. All of these properties are ideal for maneuverability and board control when performing technical flip tricks. However, what these boots offer in control, lack in cushioning, so skaters who suffer from constant heel bruising might not be comfortable wearing them.

Cupsoles, on the other hand, are ideal for skaters who prefer flying down stairs and bucking themselves off large drop-offs, and as a result need to protect themselves against severe impact. Bulky shoes with heavily padded tongues and thicker soles provide the much needed cushioning for extra support from the arduous riding style, but sacrifice the maneuverability and control of vulcanised shoes.

When buying sneakers skate shoes offer protection in the form of a heel collar, dual heel cushioning and midsoles. Midsoles are typically lightweight and flexible EVA foam, made of thousands gas bubbles which release on impact then refill when the foot leaves the ground. PU foam is also a popular alternative to EVA, which is heavier and denser, but doesn’t break down as fast as EVA.

A heel collar is the thick padding around the heel which traps the foot in an attempt to prevent losing the shoe when performing tricks. Dual heel cushioning is the extra heel cushion which offers extra heel protection. G2 cushioning is the most common type of dual cushioning on vulcanised shoes, as it offers more impact resistance in thin-soled shoes.

That being said, skate shoes should be durable enough to withstand the abuse you put them through when performing tricks and maneuvers, and they should offer optimum protection for your feet, especially your heels.

Sports

3 Easy Steps to Using Your Bike Power Metre Properly

May 22, 2018 — by Richard Dawson

There is a plethora of useful accessories that you could get and mount on your bike in order to give it a few features it didn’t have and one of the more useful features comes with installing a power meter. All a power meter is a device that is fitted onto the bike in order to be able to tell the power output the rider can generate. It is a strain gauge that calculates the power output by also taking into account the angular velocity. While that might not have cleared much up, you really don’t need the exact science, since all you need to know is how it can change your entire biking experience and how you work out.

Firstly, before you get started, you will need to decide on the exact type of meter you will be using. There are plenty of different road bike power meter types that you can choose from and all of them are essentially capable of the same thing with the major difference being the place on the bike that they are mounted on. For instance, the crank meter is positioned on the crank spider, the pedal one is located in the pedal axel or the pedal body itself, and the chain type is placed…well take a guess. All of these work in slightly or even vastly different ways, but they are all meant to gather data on the amount of torque the rider can put out. So don’t worry much over what type you get.

Next comes the trickier bit that’s little harder than just picking out the right item to buy. If you plan to get some accurate data out of the road bike power meter, then you will have to make a schedule and stick to it as consistently as possible. This means that you will not only have to try and get a consistent time while putting out what you judge to be your best or a base average strength while riding, but also taking a few other factors into consideration. What I mean by different factors is things like how you perform if you haven’t had a full night’s sleep or if you’ve just had an energy drink or a coffee, both of which might affect your output.

Finally, you will want to take your findings and look up the difference between days that you felt good or like you were in top condition and days that you didn’t feel like you were capable of much. These results and their variations can easily let you see what you are capable of, what regiment works for you best and what you would like to achieve next time so that you can set that as your goal.

That’s pretty much it. Strive to continue to improve yourself by trying not to skip too many days of cycling, and just remember not to overexert yourself since that may actually make your results come out worse in the long run.

Furniture Sports

Steps to Buying the Right Exercise Mat for Your New Hobby

February 15, 2018 — by Valeriya Vimon

If you’ve ever sat for a few minutes on a hardwood floor, you know how uncomfortable it can be. So why would you exercise that way, putting pressure on your knees and joints and risking getting a bad injury? Without a doubt, if you’re planning to even stretch out on the floor, you should get a proper exercise mat that will cushion your movements and provide a clean surface for you to lie on. However, not all exercise mats are the same; depending on what you choose you may either help or hurt your workout – and your body. Here are a few steps to ensure you’re buying a good mat that will give you proper support.

Health & Beauty Sports

Simple Steps for Making the Most of a Foam Roller

October 10, 2017 — by Valeriya Vimon

Muscle recovery is an important part of every exercising routine. After each workout you need to make sure your muscles recover properly before you hit the gym again. Beginners are more likely to experience muscle sourness after the first few workouts simply because their bodies are yet to adjust to the workout sessions. However, this can also happen to bodybuilders and professional athletes. They might experience pain in the muscles and limbs when increasing the intensity of their workout or when they expand their routine with more demanding exercises. Muscle pain is the direct result of inflammation within the muscles. When performing any kind of workout, be that weight lifting or running, your muscle fibres break down due to the enhanced pressure they have to endure while doing such an activity. After each workout, the fibres expand and become stronger, so next time they can withstand the exercising pressure better.

Sports

What Makes Pull Buoy a Stepping Stone for Swimmers and Triathletes

August 24, 2017 — by Richard Dawson

A lot of people prefer to stay away from pools this time of the year, but not triathletes. Experienced and aspiring triathletes and swimmers use the off season to get ahead of the curve. For most triathletes, swimming is the biggest nemesis in races. Trying to compete in three disciplines is challenging, so it’s of utmost importance to make sure when an athlete goes in the water, they make the most out of the session.

Sports

3 Steps To a Safe Skateboarding Experience

May 19, 2017 — by Valeriya Vimon

Skateboarders – you can’t just not love them. Everything about skateboarding is so cool, restless and simply awesome. We love their style, their moves, their skateboard decks, their shoes, their adrenaline-filled yet often-times funny youtube videos…that’s why many of us want to become “one of them” so badly.

Although most people that don’t practice skateboarding think of it as a simple hobby, if you ask any skateboarder out there they will tell you that it’s a lot more than that: for them it’s a way of life. And we understand them because, c’mon, have you seen what skateboarding looks like? It breaks boundaries and social rules just to make us rethink our everyday reality and problems.

Skateboarding actually is a creative force that drives fearless people into unknown parts of their souls and that’s why it’s so addictive and powerful. However, with skateboarding it’s not all fun and games. If not done right it can be a really dangerous sport. This is why no matter what you do and no matter how long you’ve been boarding the streets, you have to make sure you always follow some general rules.

Get Skateboard Decks That Suit You

In skateboarding the deck is your life and soul – if you choose the wrong one you’ll be doomed to have a very bad skating experience. This is why when you buy skateboard decks make sure they are made of high-quality materials. Since normally most decks are made of wood, you have to make sure when you buy skateboard decks they are made of durable and quality wood material. Some of the high-quality wood materials include: Canadian maple, plywood, bamboo and birch. Besides the material of the deck, make sure you examine closely the wheels and the bearings.

Don’t Forget About Safety

As I mentioned before, skateboarding can be dangerous. And I know making tricks and boarding down the streets or the boardwalk is super cool and it makes you feel like the ultimate rebel around, but don’t forget that a simple mistake could be fatal for your skateboarding career. So whenever you get on that skateboard make sure you wear a proper helmet and some pads that will keep you safe from injuring your legs and arms.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Skateboarding is all about practice. Don’t forget that even masters were all once beginners. Don’t go too hard on yourself and always remember that by going slowly and patiently the results will be better and quicker.

Sports

3 Steps to Enhancing Your Immune System

April 26, 2017 — by Valeriya Vimon

Even though we in Australia don’t feel the colder months in the year the same way other countries do, thanks to our naturally warm climate, we’re still prone to flues and colds. Trying to maintain a healthy immune system requires a lot of care. One of the best ways to ensure you skip this flu season is by having proper nutrition. This will help you fight infectious illnesses which could be reason enough for you to miss gym sessions and therefore, will keep you from reaching your fitness goals.

In the past few weeks I’ve been hearing and seeing a lot of infections and viruses spreading around the gym. Sniffling, coughing and sneezing are just some of the symptoms that announce flu season, and honestly, if you see someone having them, you should keep your distance. But that’s not always possible in the gym as there are ill people who don’t necessarily show symptoms.

To best prepare for the flu season and successfully avoid getting infected in the gym, take these 3 simple steps: drink a lot of water, take immune support supplements, and don’t overwork your body. Let’s discuss all of these more in-depth.

Immune Support Supplements

There are a couple of immune support supplements you can take to maintain a healthy immune system, with the main ones being antioxidants and supplements made from herbs. Antioxidants preserve and protect the compounds of the body from free radicals (oxygen atoms with 1 electron), which can damage tissues and create health problems. These molecules are linked to diabetes, cataracts, aging and cancer. Out of all the nutrients we can consume, 6 of them offer support for the immune system: vitamins A, C and E, the minerals Zinc, Selenium and Sulphur. Taking enough of all these nutrients on daily basis will definitely help you remain healthy and avoid illness during this infectious season.

Sports

Steps to Becoming a Scuba Diver

April 24, 2017 — by Richard Dawson

Isak Dinesen was right, salt water is the cure for anything. This goes to show why a trip to the ocean can be so therapeutic. Humans and the ocean – an unbreakable bond that has been existing for millennia considering there are many scientific theories showing every living being on this planet originated in the very depths of the ocean. It’s an innate connection if you will, considering water is our source of life, relaxation and enjoyment. Any adventure seeker would tell you water sports have plenty of fun potential when you want to break away from the monotonous daily routine. There are of course those ocean activities that outweigh others in the joy they offer; such is the case with scuba diving.

Sports

3 Steps to Organizing Your Tackle Bag Perfectly

April 20, 2017 — by Valeriya Vimon

Since this year Easter comes a bit later, it gives us yet another reason to impatiently wait for it and enjoy the days off with our family and friends. It’s been a long time since Christmas holidays and we all need a few days to feel jolly yet again.

In my family we have a fun Easter tradition: we all go fishing. The only things that change each year are the river and my cousin Sal’s girlfriends, everything else is practically the same like it was 20 years ago. My mother prepares all things sugary and sweet, my uncle is our barbecue boss (we bake what we catch), my aunts are responsible for the cocktails and my job is to teach all my little cousins how to fish.

So yes, my family is addicted to fishing. However, I’m the only one who cares about the equipment, so I make sure everything stays clean and in order because I’m also the only one who likes to keep the tackle bag perfectly organized. I’ve tried to share some tips with my family on how they can organize their tackle boxes, but they never bother to listen to my suggestions. This is why I decided to share my all-mighty organizing skills with a bunch of strangers on the internet who hopefully will appreciate the effort.

However, before going any further, I need to tell you that every fishing bag should offer enough storage where you can conveniently organize all the stuff. When I bought my most recent soft tackle bag it came with another, smaller bag and they both featured supple plastic webbing for storage for the most frequently used items. The large bag includes 2 X 370 tackle boxes while the smaller one comes with 2 X 360 tackle boxes.

Make Some Room For All the Lures

The first thing I do is separate my lures into two main categories – hard and soft. The soft ones are divided into those fished above bottom (floating warms, frogs, flukes) and those fished on bottom (tubes, warms, lizards).

I classify the hard ones according to depth and profile. For example, a Rapala DT-6 fits the small profile while a DT-16 fits the bigger profile. Depending on the types of lures you’re using, you can separate them by size, action or color.

Get Hooked Up on Hooks

Don’t forget to bring as many hooks with you as you can. Even if you are an experienced fisherman, you still need small hooks. That’s why you can see me carrying a wire hook, a kahle hook or even a thick gauge hook because who knows when big fish all fishermen dream of might appear.

I organize my hooks in small utility boxes dividing them according to their size. Since I love colorful things, I place the small ones (from 5 to 1/0) in a green box and the large ones (from 2/0 to 5/0) in a blue one.

Label It Before It’s Too Late

Although I have perfected organizing my tackle bag, I always want to be 100% sure that in case of emergency, I will be able to grab the right lure or hook. Also, since I take a lot of items with me, it’s easy to forget where exactly I put the floating warms especially if I’m in a hurry. So labeling my tackle and utility boxes is the last thing I do when I prepare my fishing equipment.

Lastly, it’s important to know where you’ll be fishing and what kinds of fish dwell there. That’s why I arrange my tackle bag prior to every fishing trip – my organization method depends on the equipment I take with me.

Sports

Powdered Whey Protein: a Stepping Stone to a Hercules-Like You

March 3, 2017 — by Richard Dawson

I like to think that we live in the golden age of gym supplements, which motivates a lot of young people to start working out and achieve their results faster than they could a couple of years ago. At the forefront of all supplements lies protein, as the single most important and most consumed supplement. But with so many protein powders on the market, it’s a tough decision to pick the right one.

Protein can be viewed as the bricks of the body, and I’m glad more people are finally starting to embrace its power. It helps grow and repair muscles after working out and it undeniably helps the body’s performance, strength and composition. So if you’re looking to get into fitness and work on your body and overall health, the first thing you should do after getting a gym membership is buy powdered whey protein. Why whey protein precisely?

Sports

Steps to Finding the Perfect Exhaust Resonator

February 20, 2017 — by Richard Dawson

Internal combustion engines are known for making a lot of noise while running, which can be very annoying and exhausting to your ears, especially while on long rides. Thus, mufflers were invented to reduce this noise generated by the exhaust system. However, an even newer solution to the unwanted noise is the exhaust resonator, which further reduces the noise by making sound waves that cancel other noises out.

Sports

Steps to Choosing the Adequate Baits for Successful Fishing

February 13, 2017 — by Richard Dawson

Fishing is rightfully considered one of the best hobbies a person can have if it’s relaxation and the chance to catch a hearty meal is what you’re after. Since it’s a kind of philosophy of its own, it takes making it part of your life to be able to truly understand it. The fact it’s beaten the test of time and is still very much popular just proves its effects on people.

Sports

3 Steps to Choosing the Right Skateboard Trucks

January 3, 2017 — by Richard Dawson

There comes a point in every skateboarder’s life when he breaks his beloved skateboard or at least breaks some of its parts. If you haven’t broken the board itself, then you probably won’t have to worry about changing much. The wheels are the part that is most often changed, which makes many skateboarders disregard the fact that they should take care of the skateboard trucks as well. For the newbie skaters who have no idea what these pieces are – the skateboard trucks are the parts which hold the wheels. There are usually two trucks per set up, each one holding two wheels.

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