Learn to Kayak

Kayak Paddling is a multi language, several chapters, just a wealth on information for the paddler in you from beginner to advanced. You would find a site like this on most corporate intranet sites, even Lynda but just for general knowledge, Kayak Paddling is incredible. Full flash based so it's just not one image to the next, the kayak actually bobs in the water. Each Chapter has many sub chapters that you can run right through. Explains boat dynamic, parts, nomenclature, even keyboard controls.
Just plain Awesome.

SkullLink Hydro Pack

Some packs are good at carrying stuff, other hydrate you, the best ones do the both and then combine useful features. Finally, connect your music with your phone! With just a click of the button, find out which plug type you need and choose your headset style.
It has an iPhone connection built in as well as bluetooth. Hammering down a trail listening to music, the phone rings music dampens and the voice comes through. This pack is stylish and can be used year round. The best is that you can really use it for anything from the woods to the city, what a great pack.

EARTH DAY!

Not to say that it has come and gone but let do a couple things for the year a make a big difference.
1) lights in your office, go to motion switch
2) Pick up a Grocery Bag and use it every time you shop instead of paper or plastic (Ikea blue bags are the best and big)
3) Bike at least one day to work
4) Turn the background of your desktop to black, less energy used. Did you know that a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor uses about 74 watts to display an all white web page, but only uses 59 watts to display an all black page?

Easy and simple adjustments to all peoples life's. You don't need to be a tree huger or environmentalist to do your part. Simple less stand out changes make a bigger difference.

Wooden Surfboards, a not so thing of the past.

With Clarks Foam stopping the production of the surfboard blanks, were will boards come from. Well a not so thing of the past, wooden boards. Hess Surf Boards are cranking out wooden boards and they are just as good and will last longer than foam filled (they can send me one anytime). The timeless art of making boards and the quality that goes into making a wooden board is not much different, once you get the pieces of different wood together. Once that is done shaping time. Technology can make many things better but the classic wooden board will make time stand still. Hey since GREEN is a hot topic well this meets all standards.
The weather is upon us.

A new way to see while biking at night, REELIGHT

Remember when you where a kid, a light attached to your front fork and then tilted in, rubbing against your tire, bingo light. Well finally someone has come up with a better lighter less drag, way. Reelight is Danish design and Danish technology.
The lights are based on the electrodynamic induction principle, and work when you screw two magnets on the spokes and fix the light to the wheel’s hub. Electric current is then produced when the magnets pass the light, which incorporates a spool of copper wire. The light then flashes every time the wheel rotates. Simple, effective and ingenious.
Check it out...

Specialized S-Works 2D helmet, SUPERLIGHT

It must feel great to be ridding like you were a kid again, nothing on your head screaming down your street or hill with not a care in the world for safety. This is the lightest helmet in the world and yes you will feel like a kid again. Specialized has something called, Kevlar Intermatrix, "patented uni-directional Kevlar fiber internal reinforcement holds everything together. This InnerMatrix with carbon bridges effectively supports the dual density foam, allows wide-open airflow to vents, and since it's bulletproof Kevlar, decreases overall weight without compromising strength." Whatever, it looks cool, makes it lightweight and changes how you once thought of helmets.

Now go be a kid again!

Running Correctly, Healus

Everyone is trying to find the correct running style, Nike with it's Free, Newton Running and Zoot Sports with its new running shoe. Now all are good and limiting runners from slamming their heels into the ground thousands if not millions of time over a season is smart. Healus is throwing it's hat into the ring, this video does a good job at demonstrating why heel strike is bad and this shoe could be changing all that.

"Revolutionary running shoe

European 5000m record holder Dave Moorcroft tries out a radical new running shoe.

It's been developed by marathon runner and physiotherapist Adri Hartveld who has over 25 years experience in dealing with sports injuries.

He came up with the idea of the Healus Running Shoe - a design comprised of a base shock plate and heel-less sole which minimises heal strike impact - based on his own experiences and from the athletes he has helped treat.

Dave Moorcroft is surprised with the results when he takes the Healus onto the track!"

Nike+ Sports band - the iPod

From waffle treads that started a sneaker boom to sports electronic, the athletic/exercise business is going high tech. Now Nike has made the move from Apple, coming up with a USB armband, called the Sportsband. Nike=Coach system will not only help you get to your goal, but once connected online and tracking you will go. Nikeplus.com has a full tracking, training, music, and competition function built in, it is not as robust as the Polar system but hey Nike is using Flash.
Check it out.

Doctors Compensated for Online Consultations

All of us are trying to find extra time, if you are not running to drop the kids off, food shop, get out to swim, bike or run, then you are sleeping. Imagine if you could get a doctor to visit your house like in the olden days, that would be great. Well then use technology to get that accomplished, as busy as you are doctors are just as busy. Well now doctors are being compensated for online visists. The Wall Street Journal reports that Aetna recently took a three-state pilot project nationwide, and Cigna plans to start paying for Web visits next year, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Both companies contract with RelayHealth, a company that has built a system for secure, online consults for simple health issues. Patients typically pay the same co-pay whether they go to the doctor or have a Web consult. Insurers pay doctors less for the Web consult — typically $25 to $35, according to the Inquirer.

With these types of initiatives taking place you have to like where things are heading. Full article

iPhone or iTouch Pump You Up!

Well another company has jumped on the iPhone band wagon, hitching itself to people carrying their phone around a gym and looking at their next workout.

Wouldn’t you love to have a personal trainer help whip you into shape? But who can afford one?. They typically cost over a $1,000 per month and can be hard to fit into your busy lifestyle. Enter PumpOne. Each PumpOne Trainer shows you what exercises to perform, in order and with a proper intensity -all while listening to your own music. PumpOne is your portable personal trainer.
PumpOne Trainers consist of images and/or video & audio instructions that you can download to most any handheld device such as an iPod, iPhone, nano, Zune and more."

UV Water Treatment Device

Treating water while you are out and about just got a little easier. Remember when you had the old filter that you would suck up through a pump and into your container, well those days are done.
"The AquaStar UV Portable Water Purifier is a spectracidal treatment solution appropriate for use in all climates and settings. Campers, hikers, emergency crews, and families who depend on having clean water, depend on Aquastar. Using a pair of standard camera batteries, the AquaStar UV Portable Water Purifier can safely and quickly treat a liter of water in about a minute. Lightweight -- less than 4 ounces (106 grams), rugged and simple one-button operatation, everyone should have an AquaStar UV Portable Water Purifier packed in their survival kit.

Reduces bacteria and viruses through UV light deactivation."
Now you have know excuse not to be drinking water and staying hydrated.

Bikes That Are Better Than Your Car!

This coming from Fast Company you know the world is changing or at least starting to look at things differently. Also take into account that these bikes might cost more than your first car or even worse the car you have now. Triathlete's and other high end sports addicts will send more on their equipment than they might on other things like, homes, cars, general living stuff. This article really does point to the high end of bike designs and equipment.
Here are the SIX bikes, for a complete break down go to, Six Bikes That Are Better Than Your Car

1. Trek Top Fuel 69er
   Best for: Cross country trail riding. While the 69er is dual suspension -- both wheels can absorb impacts using air-sprung shock absorbers -- it’s built lightweight with an aggressive rider position, allowing it to climb efficiently and absorb fast descents with equal aptitude.
2. Intense M6
   Best for: Downhill riding and racing. They may not look like it, but downhill bikes are more than motorcyles sans engine. Downhill riders have to be able to carve down the side of a mountain the way a snowboarder might, while maintaining enough control to thread themselves between trees and around sharp corners. That means light-but-strong componentry and a very calculated rider position.
3. Kona CoilAir Deluxe
   Best for: All-mountain riding. All-mountain combines the pedaling and varying terrain of cross-country with more aggressive terrain and bigger obstacles.
4. Specialized S-Works Ruby SL
   Best for: Expert and Professional-level road riding and racing. This bike would not be entirely out of place at the Tour de France -- except for the woman riding it.
5. Calfee Bamboo Bike
   Best for: Expert and Professional-level road riding and racing. While it’s just as much a piece of artistry as a piece of machinery, the bamboo bike doesn’t have to be treated specially, and can be ridden like any other high-end bike.
6. Orbea Ordu
   
   Best for: Time-trial road racing, in which riders race against the clock instead of head-to-head. Since the fastest time wins in TT racing and every millisecond counts, riders are outfitted with aerodynamic helmets and shoes and race in a tucked-down position.

WOW, bikes start at $2,000 and go to $6,000.

Let there be light, PentagonLight

Now you could run out and get the SureFire but does it come with a retractable sharpened spikes around the bezel that protrude outward only when the spike protector is lowered, I don't think so. Not sure that justifies the $129.00 it is however a selling point. Now the Surefire lights are tough to choose, there must be 50 lights to choose from. Hey just light the night and blind the person that is coming at you!
When did flashlight become a big ticket item, the ones at the Army/Navy store work just fine at $12.95. Your choice one is a defense weapon the other shines light.

Inflatable, foldable Rescue Carrier

Now this is just an concept but can this save time getting to a broken person. Here are some stats from NSAA: National Ski Area Association:
"STATISTICS ON SKIING/SNOWBOARDING

Fatalities - According to the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA): During the past 10 years, about 37.1 people have died skiing/snowboarding per year on average. During the 2006/07 season, 22 fatalities occurred out of the 55.1 million skier/snowboarder days reported for the season. Eighteen of the fatalities were skiers (15 male, 3 female) and 2 of the fatalities were snowboarders, both male. In two of the cases the equipment used was reported as unknown. The rate of fatality converts to .40 per million skier/snowboarder visits.

Serious Injuries - Serious injuries (paraplegics, serious head and other serious injuries) occur at the rate of about 43.7 per year, according to the NSAA. In the 2006/07 season, there were 40 serious injuries. Twenty-four of these serious injuries were skiers (20 males, 4 females) and 16 were snowboarders, (14 male, 2 female). The rate of serious injury in 2006/07 was .73 per million skier/snowboarder visits.

NOTE: A skier/snowboarder visit represents one person visiting a ski area for all or any part of a day or night and includes full-day, half-day, night, complimentary, adult, child, season and any other ticket types that gives one the use of an area's facility."

So the Inflatable Sled to the rescue, you wear it as a backpack then ski to the injured person, unfold and inflate and down the mountain to the hospital you go.
Designer: Janine Züst

Apple and Nike+ at it again!

Apple and Nike are at it again, no not getting the iPhone to work with the Nike+ but working with fitness companies to bring an integrated solution to the users. Having a user be able to plug into a treadmill, stair climber, stationary bikes, well you get the picture. Full blown athletes seem to have devices like Polar watches and Garmin's that can read your HR and many other functions. But allowing the user to hook right into the machines is really taking it to the next level and increasing the Apple/Nike+ population. They still have not contacted me regarding Health Currency. Oh well one can only hope.
Cheers