Active Action Sports

Navy Moto X World Championships

mvalenti — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:47:37 GMT

I never considered myself the type to get excited about motocross. A lot of things associated with the sport actually turn me off, including the "my truck is bigger, louder and better than your truck" mentality. But none of that bothered me this weekend as I found myself cheering right along with the crowd and getting revved up at the sound of the motors. I couldn't believe the things these guys can do while suspended in the air with a motorcycle. Although the crowd was sparse, the energy generated by the riders was infectious. As this was the inaugural event, I am hoping future years draw bigger crowds.

Here's a recap of some exciting moments from Sunday's final events:

Step Up Final Part II
In his first appearance in a Step Up competition--although hardly a rookie--Ricky Carmichael impressed the crowd with his ability to clear the bar every time, and with lots of room to spare. As one of three remaining competitors he easily cleared 35 feet, however, when he landed, he hit his chin on his handlebars and fell. Judges disqualified the jump, which drew loud shouts of disapproval from the crowd.

Carmichael pulled out of the competition and it took several failed attempts by Matt Buyten and Ronnie Renner until officials pushed back the start gate, giving them more space and speed for the start. Matt Buyten cleared 35 feet on his first try, winning gold and sending Renner on a rampage that included pulling down his pants and rubbing his butt on a field marker with the EXPN logo.

Speed / Racing
It's no wonder Travis Patstrana won the ESPY award for best male action sports athlete in 2007. He is impressive to watch. In his semifinal Moto X Racing heat he crashed in the 1st lap but was able to take over 3rd place by the 3rd lap and claim 2nd place by the final lap, earning himself a spot in the finals. Fellow rider Scott Murray commented: "That's why they call him motor boy."

Even though Pastrana placed 5th in the final race, it was evident all eyes were on him with sighs of disappointment seeping from the crowd every time he got passed. Broc Helper--who held onto his lead throughout the race--took home the gold.

Most Outstanding Rider
At the conclusion of the event, fans named Nate Adams 'Evil Knievel Most Outstanding rider' of the weekend. Adams took home a custom Knievel Harley-Davidson motorcycle after impressing fans by winning gold in both the speed and style, and freestyle competitions. Adams was up against Scott Murray--who landed a double-back flip in Saturday's best trick competition---for the prize.

Burton U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships

Active Sara — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:38:39 GMT

The 26th annual Burton U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships were held March 17-23 at Stratton Mountain Resort. The US Open is the final stop on the Burton Global Series and the spot where the best male and female riders are crowned, as determined by their best 5 results in the previous stops. This year Peetu Piiroinen of Finland and Torah Bright of Australia each took home the crown along with a cash purse of $100,000.

In case you didn't catch the worlds best riders compete for the largest single payout in pro snowboarding last week, ESPN put together a highlight video for you with interviews and footage. Check out the video below and the results from the 2008 U.S. Open.

Men's Slopestyle Results
1st Place: Shaun White
2nd Place: Tim Humphreys
3rd Place: Charles Reid

Women's Slopestyle Results
1st Place: Kjersti Oestgaard Buaas
2nd Place: Jamie Anderson
3rd Place: Jenny Jones

Men's Halfpipe Results
1st Place: Shaun White
2nd Place: Mason Aguirre
3rd Place: Kevin Pearce

Women's Halfpipe Results
1st Place: Torah Bright
2nd Place: Kelly Clark
3rd Place: Gretchen Bleiler

Men's Big Air Results
1st Place: Tim Humphreys

Women's Big Air Results
1st Place: Cheryl Maas

2008 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards

Active Sara — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:21:00 GMT

The 2008 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards are quickly approaching and will take place April 11 in Anaheim, California. There was an enormous amount of big wave rides this year so the competition will be tough. Check out the video below to see the nominees and let us know how you would rank them.

This is the order of nominees in the video:

2008 BIGGEST WAVE NOMINEES

Grant Baker (South Africa)
Cortes Bank (off California)
January 5, 2008

Tyler Fox (California)
Ghost Tree, California
December 4, 2007

Brad Gerlach (California)
Ghost Tree, California
December 4, 2007

Vincent Lartizen (France)
Belharra Reef, France
January 4, 2008

Mike Parsons (California)
Cortes Bank (off California)
January 5, 2008

RIDE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

Michael Brennan (Australia)
Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania
January 14, 2008

Carlos Burle (Brazil)
Ghost Tree, California
December 4, 2007

Shane Dorian (Hawaii)
Teahupoo, Tahiti
November 1, 2007

Manoa Drollet (French Polynesia)
Teahupoo, Tahiti
November 1, 2007

Ian Walsh (Hawaii)
Teahupoo, Tahiti
November 1, 2007

What do you think? How would you rank the nominees?

To see the nominees for other awards go to 2008 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards.

Vonn's Road to History

Active Sara — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:24:43 GMT

At age three, Lindsey Vonn put on a pair of skis at a local mountain in Minnesota for the first time and she has been making a name for herself ever since as an elite member of the U.S. Ski Team.

She began racing at age seven and by nine she was competiting in international events. At the age of 14 she became the only American female to win the Trofeo Topolino contest in Italy. In her first year of top-level competition, 15-year-old Vonn placed in numerous NorAm events. At the age of 18, Vonn raced in both slalom and combined in her Olympic debut, with her best result placing her sixth in slalom.

Vonn climbed up onto the World Cup podium for the first time in her career at the age of 20. A year later she attended the World Championships in Italy, taking fourth place finishes in both downhill and combined and a ninth place finish in Super G. She finished the season ranked sixth overall in the world.

At age 22, Vonn was set to compete in her second Olympic Games as a top hopeful for the Women's U.S. Ski Team. Unfortunately, this would not be her year. During a training session, Vonn crashed and was evacuated by helicopter to a local hospital. Vonn returned to the Games, despite a bruised hip, and finished eighth in Downhill, seventh in Super G, and fourteenth in Slalom.

Later that year, Vonn won silver in both downhill and Super G at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Are, Sweden. She also finished third in the women's 2007 World Cup Downhill and Super G before a knee injury ended her season early.

This past season, 23-year-old Vonn returned to the slopes ready to make history and that is exactly what she did. Her latest Downhill win in Crans-Montana, Switzerland last Saturday, made her the most succesful American in Downhill history and set a new record for World Cup Downhill victories by a U.S. skier with ten. The previous record was held by Picabo Street in 1996 and Daron Rahives in 2006.

Furthermore, Vonn just recently captured the overall World Cup title in Bormio, Italy. Fellow American, Bode Miller, took the title for the men. The last time American's won both the men's and women's overall titles in the same year was in 1983.

It was a very successful season for Vonn and we should expect to see many more victories and possibly some more historical moments as she continues to represent the U.S. Ski Team.

For more information about Lindsay Vonn check out the Official Lindsay Vonn Website.

BMX Olympic Hopefuls Have New Playground

mvalenti — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:19:17 GMT

BMX is getting a lot of attention lately as the sport readies itself to make an Olympic debut in Beijing this year. In preparation for the Games, a new USA Cycling BMX training facility was unveiled at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California on January 21. The track, designed around the Beijing course, was built by Tom Ritzenthaler who also built the Beijing track. The course replicates the Supercross-style course that athletes will see in China and it is the only permanent Supercross course in the U.S.

Olympic hopeful, Mike Day tests the new BMX course at the Olympic Training facility in Souhtern California. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

With sights set on the 2008 games, the 2008 USA Cycling National Championships will take place on March 29 in Desoto, Texas. Riders will not only be competing for a national championship, but along with last year's UCI BMX World Challenge in Victoria, B.C this is the only direct automatic qualifier for Challenge Class riders to earn a spot on the U.S. National Team for the 2008 UCI BMX World Challenge in Tiayuan, China, May 27-June 1.

Heikki Sorsa's One Footed Frontside 360

Active Sara — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:15:07 GMT

As it turns out for Heikki Sorsa, he will return to Finland with only street credit for the one footed frontside 360 he threw over the 65 footer on the last hit in the Winter X Games 12 Slopestyle competition. According to the judges, the rest of his run simply wasn't clean enough to score him the points he deserved for throwing such a creative trick. Sorsa will go down in Winter X history despite the fact that he only finished 5th overall.

Did you see Heikki Sorsa's one footed frontside 360 in the Winter X Games Slopestyle competition? What'd you think? Check it out below. Do you think he should have scored higher and finished above 5th place?

Men's Slopestyle Finals

1. Andreas Wiig, 92.00
2. Kevin Pearce, 88.33
3. Shaun White, 83.33
4. Eero Ettala, 82.66
5. Heikki Sorsa, 77.00
6. CHas Guldemond, 76.33
7. Mikkel Bang, 68.66
8. Mason Aguirre, 63.66
9. Mathieu Crepel, 43.00
10. Jussi Oksanen, 42.00

White Dominates SuperPipe in Winter X Games 12

Active Sara — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:17:39 GMT

World-class athlete, Shaun White, put on a world-class performance in last night's Snowboard SuperPipe Men's Final to close out Winter X Games 12 in true X style. Despite the snow storm that moved into Aspen during the competition which slowed down riders and lessened their visibility, White still found a way to throw down one of the best runs in X Games history to win the gold with a score of 96.66.

White's final run included a huge Lean Air, a flawless McTwist, a clean Frontside 1080 into a Fakey to Forward 1080, Front and Backside 900s, and - to finish it off - a Frontside 1260 at the bottom of the pipe. In true X games fashion, White went bigger than ever before by ending his run with an improbable 1260. White admitted later that he had been practicing the four spins since last season and knew he was ready to throw it down for the fans.

White's gold medal in last night's SuperPipe tied him up with Tanner Hall, one of the most influential skiers of his generation from Kalispell, Montana, with seven first place finishes at the X games.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Snowboard SuperPipe Men's Final
Winter X Games 12
Aspen/Snowmass, Colo. - Jan. 27, 2008

Name / Bib # / Hometown / Score

1. Shaun White / 347 / Carlsbad, Calif. / 96.66
2. Ryo Aono / 324 / Matsuyama City, Japan / 88.00
3. Kevin Pearce / 343 / Norwich, Vt. / 85.66
4. Mason Aguirre / 300 / Mammoth, Calif. / 84.33
5. Kazuhiro Kokubo / 377 / Sapporo, Japan / 83.00
6. Antti Autti / 329 / Rovaniemi, Finland / 82.00
7. Danny Kass / 337 / Portland, Ore. / 81.00
8. Iouri Podladtchikov / 384 / Zurich, Switzerland / 73.66
9. Gary Zebrowski / 388 / Papeete, Tahiti / 65.00
10. Elijah Teter / 385 / Belmont, Vt. / 52.33

Volcom - Pushing the Limits

Active Sara — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 18:02:00 GMT

Have you ever wanted to make history? Have you ever wanted to be the first to do something? Well, here is your chance. It's been over a month since Volcom announced it would give away $10,000 to the first surfer to successfully execute and document a 'kick flip' and the contest will continue to run until a winner is crowned. Although there are numerous videos floating around the internet of documented attempts, there has still been no sign of a surfer landing a "proper, above-the-lip" kickflip, as Volcom describes it.

In order for the kickflip to count, the surfer must launch in the air, flip the board with their front foot, and cleanly land and ride out of the wave. There is to be no towing, grabs, wakeboards, boogie boards, trays, shoes or dolphin-assistance. Yes, you read that correctly-no dolphin assistance.

It is only a matter of time before Volcom hands over a big check to some lucky surfer who's been stomping waves, not for the money, but for the feeling that comes with being the first ever surfer to document a kickflip. This is an extremely difficult trick, but surfing will always be a sport where limits are pushed. Volcom is simply adding a little extra motivation for surfers all over the world. What are you still doing reading this? Grab your board and start paddling out. It's time to make history!

Go to Volcom Kickflip-Off Contest for official rules and entry forms.

Around the World in 13 Years

Trish18 — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 20:01:00 GMT

Jason Lewis set off from Greenwich, London, in July 1994 on a mission to circumnavigate the globe using only human power. Thirteen years later, he has completed his journey using bicycles, in-line skates, kayaks, swimming, rowing, walking and a unique pedal-powered boat to travel more than 45,000 miles across five continents, two oceans and one sea.

His historical adventure is known as Expedition 360 and followed a five-pointed mission:

* To circle the world by means of human power alone.
* To use the adventure as a classroom learning tool.
* To encourage world citizenship between cultures.
* To promote environmental responsibility.
* To live fully and enjoy the experience.

Sounds like a fun and rewarding journey-but it wasn't all enjoyable. The expedition was expected to last only 3.5 years. Lewis broke both legs, narrowly avoided an amputation, spent six weeks in hospital and nine months in recovery before continuing his record-setting skate across America. Another major setback occurred when he was arrested by Egyptian authorities who thought he was a spy. His trip was also interrupted for weeks at a time as Lewis and his team of supporters worked to raise money to continue. Odd jobs along the way included work on a cattle ranch in America and at a funeral home in Australia.

After Lewis takes some time to rest, he plans to start a career organizing "mini expeditions" for young people and giving talks about climate change. I'm not sure how much rest is needed after a 13-year, 45,000 mile trip-but he definitely deserves it.

World Snowboard Day December 23rd

Active Sara — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 20:17:00 GMT

It's official! World Snowboard Day will be celebrated December 23, 2007. World Snowboard Day started in Europe in 2006 and is now an internationally recognized day based on free discovery of the sport. World Snowboard Day is organized by EuroSIMA (European Boardsports Industry Manufacturers Association) and is backed by the World Snowboard Federation. The day will feature free activities like snowboard lessons, contests, concerts and much more at resorts around the world. Check out the website for more details and resorts near you celebrating World Snowboard Day.

World Snowboard Day

Mountain High Joins Fight Against Breast Cancer

Active Sara — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Don't be surprised if you see skiers and snowboarders wearing pink tickets on the slopes this year. Mountain High, Southern California's closest winter resort, has teamed up with Revlon to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. This season, guests at the resort will have the option to upgrade their normal lift tickets to a customized "Pink Ticket" for just $1 more. Mountain High will match every dollar and the proceeds will go to the Revlon Run/Walk for women, one of the largest events for cancer research. Mountain High hopes to raise over $100,000 this season for the cause and has added a pink terrain on the mountain to further promote and raise awareness for the cause.

It's really great to see two different sports-skiing and running--come together for one great cause. I'm definitely going to head up to Mountain High for a "Pink Ticket" this winter.

Here are some links for more information:

Revlon Run/Walk

Mountain High Resort

No More Olympic Dreams for Skateboarding

Trish18 — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:31:00 GMT

Attempts to introduce skateboarding to the 2012 London Olympics have failed.

The International Olympic Committee wanted to debut the sport to increase the youth appeal of the 2012 Games.

Skateboarders have been divided over the idea of taking part in the Olympics. Some would have welcomed the exposure; others said it would lead to a conformity that doesn't lend itself to the sport that grew out of the Californian surf craze.

As the deadline for a completely new sport at London 2012 has long passed, the only chance skateboarding has to be included is if it is adopted by an existing Olympic sport as a discipline. The International Cycling Federation did not even consider adopting skateboarding as a "wheel-based" sport.

However, the federation remains in talks with the IOC about introducing an additional form of BMX for London. The cycling sport will make its debut at next year's Beijing games but, by 2012, a "freestyle" discipline could be added.

Do you think skateboarding and BMX should be included as Olympic sports?

10 Tips for an Active Lifestyle

Active Toby — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:42:00 GMT

Hey everyone, Trish and Toby here. We're firm believers that the active lifestyle involves more than just being physically active--it's about being intellectually and socially active too. We compiled a list of 10 tips for being active in all areas of life. Because no matter what stage of life you are in, you should always strive to be the best version of yourself.

1. Maintain a positive mental outlook. There's a clear connection between living well and having a cheerful outlook on life. Research has found that people who think positively about life live an average of seven and a half years longer than negative thinkers.

2. Avoid processed food. Eating processed, boxed, canned and frozen meals guarantee that you are eating unnecessary chemicals, sodium, sugar and fat. Eat fresh, natural food and eliminate trans fat from your diet.

3. Reduce stress. We're so focused on being go-getters that we often forget to de-stress. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like--walk on the beach or in a park, read a book, visit a friend, play with your dog, listen to soothing music or watch a funny movie. Don't forget to take some time to focus on clearing your thoughts and giving your mind, body and spirit a chance to rejuvenate.

4. Invest in a quality pair of shoes and socks. Visit a specialty store that understands that every foot and foot strike is unique. When your feet are happy, so are you. Comfortable, supportive and well-fitting shoes and synthetic socks are worth the investment of time and money.

5. Socialize. Having a social network is important to the body, mind and spirit. People who are socially active tend to be healthier, happier and less likely to become depressed. To stay socially active, make a point of getting out of the house. Make plans with your friends to go out to lunch or better yet, make plans to exercise regularly with a friend or group of friends. Exercising with others is usually more fun than exercising on your own--and it can help you stick with your exercise program. Try joining our online community today!

6. Exercise your brain. The key to keeping your memory sharp is continuing to challenge it. Having a book on hand and discussing what you've read with friends or a book club is one way to keep your brain in good shape. Crosswords, Sudoku and puzzles are also excellent ways to keep your brain agile. There is always more learning to do. Find out what works for you.

7. Volunteer. Donating your time at an aid station during a race or soup kitchen over the holidays, puts life into perspective. Be thankful for all you have and give to others who are less fortunate.

8. Omit high fructose corn syrup from your diet. Widespread use of this highly modified sweetener is making us and our children unhealthy. High fructose corn syrup bypasses the digestive process and goes straight to the liver, where it gets turned into fat. Combined with the typical American high-fat diet, the result is increased danger of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Try using honey as sweetener instead. As an added bonus, ingesting locally grown honey before allergy season helps your body acclimate to some pollen levels in advance.

9. Maintain close relationships. Make a point to strengthen ties with your family, friends and loved ones. Volunteer work, religious ties, even pets--anything that keeps you involved with others--reduces stress and enhances health. Having a strong network of family and friends and a broad range of activities will support your health.

10. Give yoga a try. You'll be amazed at the difference it makes when your body is limber and flexible. Plus, yoga reduces the chances of injury. Try a beginning yoga class to enjoy the wide range of benefits--your mind and body will both thank you.

Comments are encouraged--please share your tips for staying healthy and active with the rest of us.

Women are Welcome Sight in Outdoor Sports

Trish18 — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:36:00 GMT

Things on beach fronts across America have changed since Chester Allen learned how to surf at Malibu Beach in Southern California in the early 1970s.

Back in those days, guys surfed and most girls stayed on the beach and kept their Farrah Fawcett-Majors hairdos dry and fluffy.

From hunting to skateboarding, read about Allen's observations on the increase of women in outdoor sports that have been male-dominated for years.

Staying Motivated with Self-Talk

Trish18 — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:12:00 GMT

Last month we addressed the importance of setting S.M.A.R.T. goals for ensuring a path to success. Whether your goal is to run a marathon, shed some pounds or help your team make the playoffs, staying motivated will get you there. I teamed up with Toby Guillette, the endurance sports specialist, to discuss strategies that will keep you on track to reach your goals.

There will always be obstacles along the way to reaching your goal. When you encounter hardships or setbacks, stay focused by using positive self-talk. Self-talk is the internal dialog that reflects and creates our emotional states. Your self-talk can influence your self-esteem, energy level, performance and even your health.

According to sports psychologist Dr. Andrew Jacobs, a study on negativity and positive thinking found that the average person requires 12 positive statements to overcome one negative statement. For example, if you say that hitting a certain pitcher is "too difficult," you have to say "I can hit this pitcher" 12 times in order to give you a better chance to make it.

So what is the solution? Use awareness and practice to change your negative self-talk. The first step in beating the cycle is recognizing how often you think negatively. The second step is substituting positive thoughts for the negative ones. Instead of telling yourself "I feel slow and tired" remind yourself that "I will keep my pace and finish strong."

In addition to saying the positive statement, visualize yourself being successful in your mind, and see yourself doing it over and over. Once you become aware of your negative thinking, and substitute the negative thoughts with positive ones, you will have a much greater chance at succeeding.