Author: Peter Suciu

Brain Bucket for the Slopes

Salomon Patrol C.Air Mike Douglas Ski Helmet

A decade ago chances were you’d be more concerned with keeping your head warm while hitting the ski slope than with actually protecting it. But as helmets have come to be standard gear for biking, so too have the brain buckets have become part of the outfit for skiing. Getting a helmet to fit properly has never been easy – so when Saloman decided to introduce a new ski helmet they turned to Whistler-based pro skier Mike Douglas to help with the design.

To truly make a “one-size-fits-all” helmet, Salomon utilized a built-in inflatable pump. The same technology has been used in previous models, but the Mike Douglas pro-model features lightweight and breathable design that will be good for all sorts of weather conditions – because the last thing you want is a helmet that is hot or uncomfortable. If the helmet doesn’t fit right people simply won’t wear it. Continue reading Brain Bucket for the Slopes

Hit 18 Holes Without Actually Going Outside

With the aboutGolf simulator you won't have to search for lost balls in the woods

People pay good money to join a golf club, and even more money to travel to some of the world’s most scenic courses – but despite this fact there are times when you just can’t get outside for a round of golf. One way to avoid the weather and still get in a full 18 holes is to take advantage of the latest indoor golf simulator technology. And we’re not talking about a simple putting green in the corner or even golf on the Nintendo Wii, because while the video game experience is good, it isn’t quite like the real deal. For that you’ll have to turn to companies such as aboutGolf, which recently announced that it was the “secret weapon” in Canada’s University of Waterloo recent season.

The technology was utilized by the University of Waterloo’s engineering school, which took it to a new level with UW golf equipment and biomechanics researchers. This included studies of the technology, where engineering students used the aboutGolf PGA TOUR Simulator with new shaft and clubhead deisgns, as well as biomechanic modeling, motion capture, and golf ball simulation and optimization. This collaboration allowed UW’s men’s and women’s golf teams as part of their training for the 2010 season. Continue reading Hit 18 Holes Without Actually Going Outside

Hands On: Hitting the Trail With the Montrail Sabino

Montrail Sabino Trail Shoes

Over hill, over dale, I hit the dusty trail and the Sabino carried me along. After years of primarily being one to pound the pavement, I laced up with a pair on Montrail Sabino shoes and got off road. Now truth be told, given the state of many roads and even sidewalks in much of the country these days, finding “off road” isn’t as hard as it seems. But these performance running shoes are really designed for stability in true trail conditions.

The Sabinos are heavier than many of today’s lightweight running training shoes, but that’s because these need to stand up to harsher terrain. In other words you wouldn’t use a sports car where a SUV needs to go – then again, many SUVs probably couldn’t go where these shoes will take you. Made of synthetic leather and lylon mesh upper materials and thermoplastic midfoot shank, the Sabinos fit like a glove and were just right for the rather humid and warm day when I hit the trail. Whether we’ll be able to say if these were neither too hot nor too cold will have to determined at another time, but it is safe to say that these will do the job in a variety of weather conditions. Continue reading Hands On: Hitting the Trail With the Montrail Sabino

BLAZE Gets Scary With Fitness First for Wii Based Products

Global popstar and former Spice Girl Mel B has teamed up with BLAZE and Fitness First to spice up the fitness video game market with a range of new products for the Nintendo Wii. The erstwhile Scary Spice began her relationship with Fitness First last year, when she became the not-so-scary face of National Fitness Week, and followed up with a workout DVD titled “Totally Fit.” Now she’s jumping into the video game arena with a range of products, with the first being released next month. Continue reading BLAZE Gets Scary With Fitness First for Wii Based Products

Wheels Keeping on Turning and Turning

While the general economy in the United States seems to be barely moving, Elasco, Inc. is just wheeling along. The company, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deltron, has seen a significant increase in the sales of its high performance roller skate wheels. And we thought roller skates were as dead as disco.

 But in fact Elasco has increased sales of its proprietary polyurethane wheels to existing quad skate OEM customers by 116 percent this year. Although part of this could be that consumers are replacing wheels on old skates, as roller skating as a retro activity is catching on, the other part of the equation is that roller derby is also hot again.  Continue reading Wheels Keeping on Turning and Turning

AT&T U-Verse Offers Multiview of Cubs Games

 

If you can’t get out to the ballgame, but still want to root, root, root for the home team you can do so from home of course, but it isn’t quite the same. You’re always stuck watching what the TV director wants you to see. That is until now. This year AT&T and WGN-TV are offering a new TV app that lets users view up to four different camera angles of the Chicago Cubs home games at one time. Users can choose from the main WGN-TV Chicago game broadcast as well as six alternate camera angles. This gives viewers the ability to feel like they’re in the stands at Wrigley Field. Continue reading AT&T U-Verse Offers Multiview of Cubs Games

Sidewalk Surfing With the Flowboard

Think of this as 14-wheeler for the sidewalk

When singers Jan and Dean sang about sidewalk they probably never could have envisioned the Sport Technology Flowboard, but unlike the traditional four-wheeled skateboard that we’ve come to know and love (and at times loath after ending up in the ER during finals week), this one uses 14 wheels! The idea behind this unique design is that the it provides riders with vastly greater flexibility in leaning and turning, thus making it far more like an actual surfboard or snowboard than the average skate deck.

According to the company the Flowboard can allow riders to lean up to 45 degrees, which is quite a drastic set up from the typical 25 degrees that you can get from a regular skateboard. The wheels and layout also allow for more curving, which can be a very good when going down hill at speed. Now the board probably can’t handle the half-pipe quite the same way, but it would be fun to watch someone try!

Sport Technology Flowboard Official Site

Shoot Straight With Polara Golf Balls

The new Polara golf balls probably wouldn’t have kept Tiger Woods from straying, but they probably could help you shoot straighter. These specially designed golf balls utilize “self-correcting technology” to reduce dreaded hooks and slices by up to 75 percent according to the company. The result should, at least in theory, keep you on fairway and out of the rough or woods, even if it won’t keep a certain pro out of the dog house.

The Polara golf balls are now available in two different models, including the Polara Ultimate Straight with a two-piece construction with 386 dimples, and the Polara Super Straight with a three-piece construction and 386 dimples. Each of these dimples – and there are more of them then in all the Shirley Temple movies combined it seems – is designed with a very specific purpose, and just enough difference in over all shape to help keep the balls flying straight and level. Continue reading Shoot Straight With Polara Golf Balls

Kung-Fu Live Lets You be the Next Karate Kid

Try some stretches before you try this at home and pull something

Think you have what it takes to throw down with Jackie Chan or Jet Li? Chances are you probably aren’t at their level and never will be. So what is an aspiring Kung Fu master to do? You could spend the next few years training, honing your skills and doing all that Karate Kid styled “wax on, wax off” stuff. Or you could fake it and show off your skills in a video game. Of course that means sitting on a couch, which we don’t recommend. As an alternative to just more button mashing, there is the Kung-Fu Live fighting game, which will let players show off their badass fighting skills for the PlayStation Network this fall. The game is currently being developed by the Virtual Air Guitar Company, a Helsinki-based independent game producer and computer vision specialist. And yes, virtual air guitar does sound a bit redundant to us too. Continue reading Kung-Fu Live Lets You be the Next Karate Kid

Eye-Hand Coordination Gets Serious Attention From Dynavision

Today pre-season football training isn’t just limited to weight lifting, running sprints and hitting the tackling dummies. Elite athletes are looking for that special edge to become faster, smarter and stronger, because this edge can truly mean the difference between winning and losing. Now it looks like many NCAA athletic programs and other performance institutions around the country are casting an eye on sports vision training equipment. Who knew that eye-hand coordination could be something you could actually use as part of your training, but that’s exactly what Dynavision D2 can bring to the field or court. Continue reading Eye-Hand Coordination Gets Serious Attention From Dynavision

Adidas Brings miCoarch to iPhone and BlackBerry

Earlier this year Adidas unveiled its miCoach system, which put sensors on a runner’s shoes as well as a device on the arm to measure distance, pace and even stride rate. Users could get a lot of information, and could even sync the data to a website. Now the company has taken the next step by introducing a miCoach application for the iPhone and BlackBerry that is meant to work as a virtual personal and real-time trainer.

As with the miCoach devices, this app utilizes GPS capabilities, where real-time pace-based coaching and tracking is provided. The app essentially transforms a smartphone into a personal guide complete with voice coaching, personalized and sports-specific training regimes, workout calendar and workout feedback. The app also monitors, manages and analyses progress over time. Continue reading Adidas Brings miCoarch to iPhone and BlackBerry

Bill Gates to Keynote 2010 mHealth Summit

Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who is currently co-chair and trustee of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will offer the keynote address at the upcoming 2010 mHealth Summit to be held November 8 – 10 in Washington, D.C. Gates will address the potential of mobile technologies to improve health outcomes in the developing world. This interactive discussion will take part on November 9 at 1:00pm ET. Continue reading Bill Gates to Keynote 2010 mHealth Summit

Iowa Congressman Introduces P.E for the 21st Century Act

Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa)

While lawmakers in the United States looks to improve education in this country, one congressman has introduced a new pilot program to improve physical education as well. Congressman Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa) has introduced the P.E. for the 21st Century act, with the goal to establish a competitive pilot program for physical education classes in elementary and secondary school systems. Under this program fitness technology would be introduced to help students reach fitness goals. These would includes devices such as heart rate monitors and body fat testing, and would be part of a core curriculum of physical fitness in American schools.

The congressman introduced this legislation last week after several tours and meetings with physical education leaders at Grundy Center Community Schools in Iowa. Currently the school district’s PE 4 Life program already incorporates interactive technologies as part of its own physical education curriculum. This includes using heart rate monitors to track activity levels and progress, and gives students the ability to track personal health goals, to ensure that they are maintaining and improving their own fitness levels.

“We must utilize all available technologies to encourage physical fitness among our nation’s children,” Boswell said. “The equipment that will be available from the grants are proven tools toward not only improving physical education curriculum, but also encouraging children to remain physically fit outside of the P.E. class.”

IowaPolitics Press Release: U.S. Rep. Boswell: Introduces physical education legislation

Congressman Leonard Boswell Official Site