Extreme Sports

There are a lot of people who have a passion for surfing. However there are certain medical conditions that require people not to surf.

Eye problems: people who have a less than perfect vision, which requires them to use contact lenses at all times, they should try not to surf as they might lose their lenses. Eyesight is very important when you are out drifting out to the sea, so make sure that you carry your own glasses while surfing. People who have just undergone eye surgery should try to stay away from surfing for a long time. Even people who have lens displacement problems in their eyes should stay away from surfing at all times as it might aggravate the condition.

Arthritis: people suffering from arthritis should always stay away from surfing as it puts the kneecaps under a significant amount of stress. Surfing is all about balance as that puts a lot of pressure on the legs and cause a lot of pain. If you do not take proper precautions, you might end up in the wheel chair.

Knee surgery: when people undergo knee surgery, they need to take some time off from surfing. Surfing creates a lot of pressure on the knee joints and it might undo all the good work of the surgery.  The fact remains that you should take complete rest for about two months before you can ride the waves again.

Cardiac problems: people who suffer from cardiac problems should never try to go surfing as it can lead to several complications. As you get old, the arteries get very narrow and the blood pressure rises in your body, while surfing most old people with cardiac problems cannot afford the adrenaline rush. So if you are having cardiac problems you should probably quit surfing for the good.  So many people are over 35 and are in significant risk of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Many of the drowning events are preceded by cardiac arrest in the middle of the ocean so you should always go for checkups.  Read more...

Taking care of your full suspension or hardtail mountain bike can be very simple and it will also help increase its mechanical life. Below is a maintenance guide that should be considered after every ride in order to help you keep your mountain bike mechanically sound. Once you perform this maintenance plan and become familiar with the process it should take you no more then 20 minutes to complete. Let’s get started:

Steps:

Remove all of the accessories (lights, bells, etc) on the top of the handlebars.

Turn the bike upside down so you can remove the wheels and inspect the drive train.

Carefully remove the front and rear wheels to give you more room to work on the bike.

Clean the drive train (derailleurs, chain, and crank) with a brush and soapy water. Also use a wet soapy rag on the chain and rear derailleur. Try to do your best to clean all moving parts.

After you clean your bike parts make sure you dry them thoroughly with a towel so they do not rust.

Wash the underside, frame and front fork, of the bike and make sure all moving parts are free of debris.

Wash your front and rear wheels by cleaning the rim, spokes and cassette. Then put the wheels back on the bike.

After you put each wheel back on the bike spin them to make sure the wheels are true and also that they do not rub on the brake components. If the wheels are not true and or rubbing on the brake components make the necessary adjustments.

After your chain is back in place turn the pedals to check the drive train. Make sure the bike pedals smooth. If you hear any strange noises coming from your wheel bearings investigate further.

At the summertime when everything around you seems to be melting down, there’s nothing more appropriate than bathing. But wouldn’t you like to try something different this year? How about scuba diving?

Scuba diving refers to swimming underwater while using breathing equipment which is self-contained. Other swimming underwater activities such as free-diving or snorkeling use breath-holding techniques. Scuba diving implies having a compressed air source, which means that the scuba diver can remain submerged for a longer period of time and he/she is not hindered to a remote air source. Scuba diving is swimming underwater with fins which are attached to the diver’s feet. However, there are other options for scuba divers to move around, such as the diver propulsion vehicle or sleds pulled by a boat. The latter are surface tethered devices.

The term ‘SCUBA’ is the acronym for “self contained underwater breathing apparatus”. However, the term now refers to ‘scuba apparatus’ or ‘scuba equipment’. The term goes back to World War II when it arose to refer to the oxygen rebreathers used by US combat frogman in underwater warfare.

It’s worth mentioning that there are persons who confuse scuba diving for an extreme sport, and this false impression will be changed as soon as get to actually practice scuba diving. The divers wears a diving suit at all times, in addition to his/her breathing apparatus. This diver suit helps avoid skin cuts that could be caused corals, marine animals or underwater objects. They also prevent the loss of body heat. Scuba diving doesn’t require a substantial physical effort on the part of the diver. Therefore, we could say that anyone who can walk a few miles can successfully complete a scuba diving session. Although it’s underwater, scuba diving does not require swimming abilities, but some certified scuba divers may be asked to have swimming skills, just to check the extent to which candidates can adapt to water.  Read more...

There are many people who simply hate winter. When the snow starts to fall, and the days get shorter, these folks lock themselves in their rooms, and rarely come out till spring. Weight gain, as well as a condition known as SAD or Seasonal Affected Disorder, which is a winter-related type of depression, is soon to follow. Guess what? It doesn’t have to be that way! You can embrace winter and learn to ride!

 Snowboard: Who Me?

 Twenty- five years ago, snowboarders at ski resorts were conspicuous by their absence.  In fact, snowboarding was forbidden at resorts such as Aspen Colorado, Taos, New Mexico, Deer Valley, Alta, Utah and Mad River Glen, Vermont.  Times have certainly changed. While snowboarding was once in the exclusive domain of males under age 25, even baby boomers of both genders are embracing the sport. Many have found that it is easier on the knees. Others welcome the chance to wear a pair of soft and comfortable boots, as opposed to the stiff boots worn for alpine skiing.

 Today, most resorts have eliminated their ban on snowboarding, and there are only few areas where riding is prohibited. Initially, snowboarding may be harder to learn than skiing. However, once you learn the basics, many find that the learning curve is much shorter than the learning curve of alpine skiing.

 A Brief History of Snowboarding

 While many people credit Jake Burton with the invention of the snowboard, its history actually began in 1965. During this year, a chemical gas engineer by the name of Sherman Poppen decided that it would be fun to tie two skis together and put a rope at the end. His invention was inspired by surfing and skateboarding. Poppen called his new toy a “snurfer.” Poppen’s daughters adored their new play thing. Soon, their friends decided that they too wanted this new ‘snow toy,’ which was much cooler than a sled. Poppen decided to sell his idea to a manufacturer. By 1966, over half a million snurfers were sold in the United States.  Read more...

For most surfers, this sport is more of a passion and it provides them with a nice way to express themselves.  The fact remains that surfing is not as easy as it seems and if you are just starting out on this sport, you will need all the help you can possibly get. The surfing articles will help beginners get a complete understanding of the sport and hone their skills properly.

1.  What is surfing itself: this article primarily deals with the basic question that beginners might have about surfing. Surfing is a lifestyle choice and it changes your whole personality.  The whole sport is about riding the waves on a surfboard and feeling one with the ocean.

2.  Surfing lifestyle: lifestyle of a surfer is all about accepting the forces of nature and channelizing that force through the surfboard to express them. Surfers are like painters who paint on the ocean with the surfboard as their paintbrush. The surfer considers the wave as his friend and uses its power to travel at great speeds.

3.  Myths and reality of surfer’s life: there are a lot of myths around surfing and surfers themselves. Shark attacks are a part of the myths around surfing and a lot of people are deterred from surfing due to the fear of sharks.

4.  Tips and tricks: surfing tips are a great way to hone the skills of a beginner and take their skill to the next level.  If you are just starting out in the sport, you will certainly find it extremely helpful.

5.  Can larger people surf: there is a huge misconception that larger people cannot surf; the truth is that they can. Surfing is all about balance and posture so large people can also surf.  Read more...