Category: Pro Sports

Organix Integration of Mind, Body and Racquet

This week there was something truly “epic” in the world of tennis technology, or rather it sounded epic as it came from Epic Sports International, global licensee for Boris Becker Tennis and Volkl Tennis. The company has announced the release of its Organix racquet technology.

Does this involve some sort of “unobtainium” or other super space-age composites? Actually it is nothing so complex  nor does it involve heading to another planet to obtain the material. Instead it is base cellulose as a base material, but has been utilized with carbon nano tubes, making for racquet that provides improved sensation and power for all levels of tennis players. The Organix technology is now available in five racquet types, which were developed by Volkl, along with Munich-based Frauhofer Institute. The result is that three technologies are incorporated into the racquets, and include the Bio Sensor Handle System, Organix and Optispot. Bio Sensor Handle System offers dynamic dampening to minimize shuddering by 15 percent, while the Organix is used for enhancing vibrant power by 30 percent and it is a combination of organic cellulose substances and DNX carbon nano tubes. Finally, the Optispot offers players the capability to strike 40 percent additional balls in the sweet spot.

“Organix is the next generation technology platform which gives Völkl customers a comprehensive, highly technical and superior performing racquet to fully connect the players’ mind, body and racquet,” said Brian Dillman, vice president and general manager of Epic Sports International. “We look forward to another year of fast growth and high-level consumer visibility with Völkl on track to be the fastest-growing tennis brand worldwide.”

We’ll leave that to the court – the tennis court to decide.

Volkl Official Website

UCI Provides List of Approved Cycling Equipment

What defines a bicycle? Let’s see, two wheels, seat, chain, pedals, frame, fork? Actually that might describe the parts on a bicycle, but it doesn’t mean those parts will be legal when it comes to international racing. This week our friends at BikeRadar UK noted that the UCI (International Cycling Union) have published its latest list of new items that a “legal” for racing this season. The two lists show which frames, forks and wheels have been authorized for road, track and cyclo-cross competition under the latest approval protocol.

So how important is this list? Well, so far five new frames (as well as their respective forks) have been approved, but one has reportedly met the criteria but not been added to the list. This is important to note as race bikes tend to go into production just after the first of the year, and must be submitted for testing. Consider that as we head to the second half of March that means bikes could already have been in production for nearly three months – and if not passed, they aren’t legal for any UCI sanctioned race! While this shouldn’t be an issue for the Scott Plasma 3 – the bike that is pending at press time – we can imagine it is a concern over at the bike manufacturer’s offices.

List of Approved UCI Frames and Forks

List of Non-Standard Wheels in Conformity

Tire Rubber Makes Sports Fields More Green

Debates over natural versus artificial turf continue. Where artificial wins, actually, is when it comes to being green. The Synthetic Turf Council announced that as of this year the estimated total amount of synthetic turf installed in North America conserves more than three billion gallons of water, significantly reduces smog emissions, eliminates close to a billion pounds of harmful fertilizers and pesticides, and recycles more than 105 million used tires.

Continue reading Tire Rubber Makes Sports Fields More Green

Under Armour For Those Soon to be Under Pressure

Hopefuls for the NFL will feel a lot of things, and will likely be under pressure – but to help them, they’ll soon be able to be Under Armour today, as the company announced this week that the E39 shirt, powered by Zephyr Technology, will be used in the NFL Scouting Combine.

“When we decided to create the E39 biometric compression shirt for some of the most talented athletes in the world to wear on one of the most important days of their lives,” says Kevin Haley, Senior Vice President, Innovation, Under Armour. “We were thrilled to partner with Zephyr because the technology has already been proven on the most demanding consumer of all — the U.S. Special Forces.”

Zephyr’s Physiological Status Monitor (PSM) technology is used by U.S. Special Forces, first responders, and consumers in the Connected Health arena to monitor vital sign information within the context of activity.  The NFL Scouting Combine promises to be the perfect environment for the Zephyr to prove it can make the grade for these athletes. With this “under wear” these athletes will be anything but under dogs in the coming scouting Combine.

Zephyr Technology Official Website

Zigtech Completely Cricket

When you mention Cricket to most Americans, we think of the noisy insect – the one that was friends with the wooden kid that came to life – or we think of the British game where everyone wears the white pants and sweaters. What could possibly be high-tech about that, right?

 Well, think again. Reebok has done many things for running, football and basketball, so why wouldn’t the company do something for the game of cricket. In fact, Reebok is actually one of the leading sportswear brands that, along with the International Cricket Council, has helped energize the game with some technical innovations for the team from India. This includes the futuristic Reebok ZigTech Bats, footwear and trainers. Just in time for the Cricket World Cup 2011 this year, Reebok has outfitted the Indian cricket team with “Zig-Sonic” equipped gear that helps reduce wear and tear in the leg muscles during training. Reebok’s ZigTech shoes have been called “engery drinks for your feet,” and now it seems like the drink is available in a curry flavor.  This same zig is being incorporated into the “on field” shoes, which have also been designed to meet the needs of the individual player’s patterns and foot movements. The game has clearly come a long way from simple white sweaters and wooden bats.

London 2012 Cycling Road Race to End at Buckingham Palace

Back in 2007 the Tour de France started things off in London – sort of a “Tale of Two Cities” theme going on – with the prolog as well as the first stage heading from the Mall. Now the Mall will be center stage again for cycling as start of the men’s and women’s 2012 Olympic cycling road race, which see the finish in front of Buckingham Palace.

 Our friends at BikeRadar.com reported this week that the riders will likely be a figure-eight course that will take them out of London to the southwest and then back to the city. The reported men’s race will cover 265km, whilst the women’s race will be over 140km. The mostly flat terrain around London, and especially the final stretch, will prove to make a day for the sprinters, suggesting that Mark Cavendish could feel like a king for a day as he goes for the gold.

 [Via BikeRadar.com: London 2012 Olympics road race route details emerge]

New Guidelines for Anti-Doping Protocols in 2011 Amgen Tour of California

This week the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) made known its protocols for the 2011 Amgen Tour of California taking place May 15 to 22. The new guidelines are based on previous anti-doping procedures, and expand on the elements with their frequency and rigor.

In the 90 days prior to the race beginning February 15, all race participants will be subject to no-advance notice sample collections. International riders will be subject to the same no-advance notice, out-of-competition testing. During the competition the race organizers in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code in-competition criteria will conduct testing. This includes daily doping controls following a strategic test distribution plan. Samples will be screened for substances and methods used on the WADA Prohibited List such as steroids, hormones, stimulants and various masking agents. Continue reading New Guidelines for Anti-Doping Protocols in 2011 Amgen Tour of California

National Bike Summit Brings Many Companies Together

We received a press release this week for the National Bike Summit 2011, and our first thought was, “wow, look at all the corporate and group logos.” There were quite a few and this included League of American Bicyclists, Bikes Belong Coalition, Planet Bike, National Bicycle Dealers Association, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Safe Routes: National Center for Safe Routes to School, Alliance for Biking & Walking, Saris Cycling Group, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Interbike, AAA, My Bike Law, Cycling Mobility, FTA, Bicycle Times, Toue de Cure, Dero Bike Racks, CycleSafe Secure Bicycle Parking, Adventure Cycling, Toole Design Group, Washington Area Bicyclist Association, Rails to Trails Conservancy, QBP, Cat Eye, RBA, The National Center for Bicycling and Walking, Alta Planning & Design and Polar.

What does this really mean? To us, it actually means that the future should be looking very good for those who like to ride bikes. There is always power in numbers, and the coming together of so many cycling groups, companies that make cycling products and even a few groups like AAA in the mix that the power for pedaling should be in full gear.

We’ll be sure to report on the latest news from the National Bike Summit when it takes place in March.

Master the Shot with SHOT Master

Whilst not everyone can become a master of the fairways and dominate the greens, every golfer can probably improve their technique and with it their overall game. That’s the idea behind SHOT Master, an interactive golf guide and e-tutorial that helps golfers improve their skill. It features carefully organized and detailed game improvement tips and easy-to-follow videos that can be conveniently used wherever the golfer goes. 

SHOT Master is the brain child of independent developers Charles Casteel, Jr. and Charles Casteel, Sr., an Information Technology expert, and professional golfer and golf instructor Willie Roberson. SHOT Master specializes in those rough shots, such as being stuck behind a tree in the rough or trapped in a bunker. It is a great tool as a golfer finding themselves in these “rough” situations can simply take out their iPod touch or iPhone and find out in a nice detailed tutorial how to get the best shot from where they are stuck.

“We are pleased to fill a void for the avid golfer to get help in real time. We know there are some very difficult golf shot and we wanted to create a coach that can be with the golfer at all times”,  said Charles Casteel, Sr., SHOT Master part-owner and developer. “Golfers all over the world can improve their game by mastering some of golf’s most changeling shots by using our Golf App while on the golf course from the convenience of their iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad.” Continue reading Master the Shot with SHOT Master

Stick it To ‘em

It might be easy to dismiss all hockey sticks as one and the same, but nothing could be further from the truth. Last month we reported that wooden sticks have completely vanished from the NHL, and last week The Wall Street Journal offered an interesting take on how hockey sticks are becoming as unique as “fingerprints.”

Seriously, the days of taking a stick off the rack, putting your own custom brand of tape on it and hitting the ice it seems is long over. With many materials now allowing for ever so slight adjustments hockey sticks have gone high tech – in low sort of ways. Players had traditionally made small tweaks back in the day of wooden sticks, but now players can adjust their composite and graphite sticks – and even have the manufacturer run off a batch.

However, notes the WSJ, the sky is not the limit on what tinkering can be done:

“Of course, there are limits to how much tinkering the players can do. The NHL stipulates that no stick may be longer than 63 inches from knob to heel, unless the player is taller than 6-foot-6. And, more importantly, the blade may not be curved more than three-quarters of an inch—a number that refers to the distance between the top of the curve and an imaginary line drawn between the heel and toe of the stick.”

But even with simple tools like a blow torch and a sander, hockey sticks are truly become custom tools for the game on the ice.

[Via The Wall Street Journal: Fiddling With Their Sticks]

Shimano Ultegra To Go Electronic in 2012?

Our friends at BikeRadar.com noted that rumors are circulating that Shimano might introduce electronic shifting for its stepdown Ultegra group. This follows reports from various blogs that the group would come out in 2012. BikeRadar followed up on the story, but so far it just remains very much something that is only spinning round in the rumor mill. Dare we say that the electronic Ultegra is just vaporware at this point?

For now riders can use electronic shifting with the Dura-Ace Di2 (Digital Integrated Intelligence), and there is certainly nothing wrong with it. As has been noted, it has received acclaim from racers, riders and the press. The downside is that the shifting system will have you shifting a lot of money in the process, as in more than $3,000.

So unless you want the absolute best, and need it to be electronic, you’ll have to do the non-electronic shifting in 2011.

[Via BikeRadar.com: Is electronic Shimano Ultegra on the horizon?]

Shimano Dura-Ace Official Website

An App to Stack ‘em and Attack ‘em

Last week STACK Media announced a new partnership with ATTACK Athletics to create a new app for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. This app will let you stack and attack through a 12-week program designed for the ultimate workout for basketball players.

The STACK ATTACK Workout was created by Tim Grover, founder of ATTACK Athletics in Chicago, and this one requires no special equipment, but provides 80 instructional videos that take users through two bodyweight workouts each week with step-by-step instructions.

Grover, a former coach for Michael Jordan, developed his cutting edge physiological and nutrition-based performance enhancement program for other NBA players include Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant. Now he shares his secrets in this app.

“During my career, I’ve had the privilege to train some of the best athletes in the world,” Grover said. “This app allows me to bring that training knowledge and expertise to all athletes, so they too can improve their performance through smart training and hard work.”

The STACK ATTACK Workout is available now for download for $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

STACK Media Official Website

NFL Stars to Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with Wounded Warriors

There is an old question, why climb a mountain? The answer has typically been, “because it is there.” But for the Wounded Warriors Project climbing a mountain will mean so much more. Having served in uniform for our country, it is our military veterans that our warriors, our heroes.

And to show their appreciation for what the soldiers have done, former NFL players Ken Huff and Joe Demielleure will join several wounded warriors and head to Africa to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro as part of a 10-day expedition called the Boots and Cleats on the Summit Experience. From New York City to Tanzania, Africa, the group will take part in a seven-day climb of Africa’s highest peak. This professionally-guided trek approaches Kilimanjaro from the south along the Machame Route, through dense tropical rainforest all the way up to the mighty snow-capped summit at 19,341ft for simply breathtaking views from the roof of Africa. Continue reading NFL Stars to Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with Wounded Warriors