Water Activities | Evolving Consumer

Weekend Reading List (08.10.2013): Velo Repair, Social Run, Courting Technology, Solar Life Saver

Velo Repair

From Bicycle Retailer: RecoFit donating portion of Armcoolers sales to velodrome
RecoFit Compression Gear is donating $3 from the online sales of its Armcoolers sleeves to help with the completion of the Boulder Valley Velodrome in Erie, Colorado.

The outdoor wooden velodrome was due to open later this month. However it was heavily damaged by a wind storm on Saturday. Its opening has now been pushed back indefinitely. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (08.10.2013): Velo Repair, Social Run, Courting Technology, Solar Life Saver

Trace Your Activity

The ActiveReplay Trace is not your run-of-the-mill fitness tracker. This new device is designed to help make action sports measurable, sharable and comparable. It is the first piece of technology that can correctly and automatically identify data and tricks as they are being performed by skaters, skiiers, snowboarders and surfers; while ActiveReplay’s Kickstarter campaign is aimed at helping to boost awareness of Trace and raise funds to continue its development.

With 9-axis sensors, advanced multi-Hz GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, and its own processor, Trace is a small device that measures a huge amount of events and tricks athletes perform in skiing, snowboarding, surfing and skating, and it allows athletes from all these disciplines to compare and share those metrics with leaderboards and networks via social media.

The pocket sized device offers more than seven hours of battery life and is durable, shockproof and waterproof. It consists of two parts: the data collection pod and the mount. Attaching and activating Trace is easy: The mount is attached to any hard surface like a board or helmet. Trace slides in the mount. The athlete pushes a button and begins their sport.

It can pair with a smartphone, and comes with three mobile apps including AlpineReplay (for ski and snowboard), SkateReplay (for skate) and SurfReplay (for surf). The apps are compatible with Android and iOS. Video after the jump

From Car to Water – Really Quick

Why deal with a big trailer to get the boat from storage to the water, why deal with renting winter storage at all? For those who want to hit the water but don’t need the hassle of a large size boat the Quickboat could be the answer. It is reportedly the first foldable boat that that can be put together in just about a minute.

It features a five-piece construction that makes transportation and storage a snap, and once at the water snaps together quickly. Of course you can’t sleep on this one, but that’s what tents are for. Video after the jump

Up a Creek

If you’re going to be doing any running along a river bed don’t be caught without the Creek Bed Wolverine Multi-sport shoe. It can handle its fair share of mud and water as it features a quick dry breathable mesh upper and C3 footbed that can provide traction even in wet conditions. These shoes can channel water out while fresh air circulates back in.

Creek Bed Wolverine Multi-Sport Shoe Official Website

Gadgets Get a Showers Pass

It can rain on your parade but with the Showers Pass new line of waterproof cases for the tablets and smartphones it won’t matter. These cases are designed for year-round all-weather use for cyclists and other outdoor activities, as each case offers a slim profile with welded edges to keep out rain, snow, dirt and water but retain touchscreen, phone call and camera functionality in all conditions. These cases offer a dual zip-lock feature keeps every device safe from an accidental splash in the water.

The Cloudcover include a pull-tab for easy opening on-the-go, a side tab to attach to a keychain or mini-carabiner as well as a dual zip-lock for ultra waterproof protection, plus reflective elements for easy location in the dark and welded edges that also help to cushion any falls or blows on the trail. The Cloudcover line includes cases for iPads for $49.99; iPad Minis for $37.50; Kindles for $37.50; smartphones (Samsung Glaxy, etc.) for $24.99; iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 for $24.99; as well as a dry wallet for $19.99.

Showers Pass Official Website

Water Power

Power meters are the new thing in cycling – well, maybe not the new thing but certainly the hot thing in tracking effort and energy spent. Now One Giant Leap is looking to do for kayakers what various companies have done for cyclists.

The company is introducing the world’s first Kayak Power Meter. This carbon fiber, adjustable, split-shaft can track power output, power balance (including left stroke vs. right stroke) and even stroke-rate. This unique paddle can sync – but hopefully not sink – via ANT+ and can used to record power, power balance, stroke-rate and even boat speed and heart rate. The Kayak Power Meter can be used with various software including Garmin Connect and TrainingPeaks.

Kayak Power Meter Official Website

Anti Shark Suit

Despite what movies such as Jaws or Discovery Channel’s Shark Week might suggest, shark attacks are actually not all that common. However, about 100 people are attacked by sharks each year and this isn’t all that comforting to surfers and divers.

Researchers have suggested that black wetsuits could make wearers look like seals, which just happen to be a shark’s favorite snack. Australian based Shark Attack Mitigation Systems (SAMS) has developed a line of wetsuits that are designed to look a little less appetizing to sharks. These feature a disruptive pattern that sharks may have trouble seeing, or even make them think otherwise about taking a bite.

While sharks can reportedly detect small amounts of blood in the water from miles away and can detect electric currents in the water for the kill – or rather bite – the shark depends on vision. This is where the SAMS suit comes in as it could provide enough to confuse the shark, and give the wearer time not to be the catch of the day. Video after the jump

Board of Light

Stand-up paddleboarding remains a fast growing sport, and start-up firm Nocqua looks to get boarders out at night as well as during the day. Unlike surfboards this slower paced type of board riding can be done on calm lakes, rivers and even reservoirs.

The Nocqua board offers a little light for those nighttime treks out on the water as the board features the company’s 2000 LED light system, which include two waterproof LED light bars with 72 LEDs. These put out more than 2,000 lumens (hence the name of the system), and can cast an almost inspiring glow on the water.

Nocqua Official Website

Peugeot Hits the Waves

Back in the day Peugeot produced a line of bicycles that rivaled Schwinn. Those days are long in the past, but the Peugeot Design Lab continues to innovate, and recently created a unique concept surfboard that combines original balsa wood of early planks (nose) with carbon fiber (tail). It is quite a concept indeed, and the GTi Surfboard Concept – as it is being dubbed – will be displayed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013.

[Via Surfer Today: Peugeot unveils futuristic surfboard]

Show Your Surf Shape Skills

Can you see a surfboard in a big chunk of foam? We can’t but probably someone with more vision than us likely can. To that end the Chuck of Foam Challenge will kick off this September in Orlando as surfboard makers show what they can do.

Four shapers in total will take the foam and in just three hours will likely turn it into surf pieces of art at the Boardroom’s Surf Expo, September 7-8 in Orlando Florida.

The Boardroom Official Website

Press release after the jump

Seamaster and Commander

If spending nearly $7,000 for a watch is a normal occurrence for you and you know the sport of sailing, then you certainly know the Omega brand. The company unveiled its Omega Seamaster Diver ETNZ Watch to commemorate the 34th America’s Cup at an event in San Francisco last month. It doesn’t hurt that the watchmaker also has a partnership with Emirates Team New Zealand.

This watch is water resistant to 1,000 feet but most who take part in sailing hope not to test that feature out. It also offers a rotating bezel, a helium escape valve and we expect keeps perfect time.

Omega Official Website

Can’t Tip This Canoe – Make that Kayak

Some watercraft are far more stable than others, but no one would suggest ever standing on a kayak even in stable waters. The folks at California-based TrueRec have come up with such a boat that can remain stable for those who wish to stand to fish or just stretch their legs.

The DFP (Dive-Fish-Paddle), which is being developed by TrueRec through a Kickstarter project, is a sit-on-top kayak, but it is notable that it features spring-loaded pontoons that fold out to the sides and provide added stability when stopped. It offers a multi-function cavity that can be used as storage, making this a boat that can haul you and your gear where you need to go. Video after the jump

Sea Drone Camera

We’ve seen a number of attempts to put GoPro and other action cameras in the air to capture a bird’s eye view, but the creators of the Ziphius had another idea. They are looking to Kickstarter to see if their “Aquatic Drone” would hold water – or more accurately not sink.

The Ziphius can take pictures and videos of a user’s aquatic experiences, and as it can be controlled via an app on a mobile device is also part remote controlled watercraft as well. As a camera platform it features a 160-degree titling angle HD camera that can capture images above and below the water level, while an LED flash light can enhance the image.

Pictures and videos can uploaded directly to social media sites including YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. So for those who want to chronicle their underwater adventures – and have some fun with a controllable water craft – this might just be the thing. Video after the jump