Learn About The Latest In Sports Footwear (base jumping)
No commentsBy Dominic Donaldson
Whatever activities you choose to do in your spare time the right footwear is essential. It might make the 100m final more interesting if they were donning high heels however it is not practical. The word technology is not usually associated with fashion however when it comes to sport fitness it is cutting edge. This article offers an impartial assessment of three leading models of sports footwear from three leading manufacturers.
We will start with walking then up the pace afterward. The Merrel Chameleon Wrap Ventilator Walking Shoe is not only a mouthful to say, it is also a model offering the latest in waterproof hiking. It has pig skin leather upper and over which combines with a breathable mesh lining making it waterproof without suffocating your feet. It works well whilst hiking however can be slippery on wet manmade surfaces. It is comfortable, durable and costs between 60-70GBP so is affordable. The only hitch being that everywhere seems to be out of stock.
From a brisk walk to a light job, next we have the Mizuno Wave Creation 8 running trainers. These use cutting edge sports footwear technology as they have replaced the standard cushion of foam with shock impact pillars which they call the Infinity Wave. They are excellent for rebound, durability
and they have excellent reflective areas which makes running in the dark much safer. They have a couple of design hitches such as the side swishes which offer no advantage and are stiff, sometimes uncomfortable.
Now breaking into a full jog we have the New Balance 857 running trainers. These are excellent for the overpronators among us as they are excellently balanced as they have removed some of the padding from the forefoot that was present in the predeceasing model, the 854. New Balance have always lead with their technology and the 857 is no exception, it boasts ABZORB foam, the ABZORB SBS, Stability Web, TS2, Extended Web and Acteva Ultra Lite. This is possibly just the same as other manufacturers however it sounds impressive and the shoe is light, comfortable and effective.
If you are from the school of thought that sports footwear technology is a load of rubbish then it is advisable that you do the 100m in high heels and see how you get on. The New Balance trainers can be picked up online for around 30GBP now and they do make a difference especially if you have a natural tendency to run abnormally, they provide excellent impact reduction.
Dominic Donaldson is a retailer of sports footwear and provides advice on all aspects of sports fitness equipment.
Skiing in the French Alps
By Roger Munns
The Alpine Mountain Range is often referred to as the “Alps” and stretches across much of Europe. The Alps are often divided into two categories: Eastern Alps and Western Alps. The Western Alps include the mountains located in Italy, France and Switzerland. Skiing in the French Alps is an adventure like no other. Royalty, celebrities and people from all walks of life can be found at various times skiing in the French Alps. The highest mountain in the Alps is Mont Blanc at 4808 meters.
La Plagne
Nestled atop a magnificent glacier on Mt. Bellecote is the world-class ski area of La Plagne. Surrounded by the majestic Vanoise Massif Mountains in the Graian Alps, La Plagne resort beckons the avid skier. It is spread over an altitude of 1250 to 3250 meters. The result is a variety of terrains and altitudes appealing to beginners and experts alike.
The resort was built in 1961 with the hope of attracting tourism dollars. It was largely conceived in the interest of four small mountain villages. The fledgling towns were dying and hoped to capitalize on the gorgeous natural beauty of the area. Today’s La Plagne is comprised of many different and distinctive villages. All are linked to one another by ski lifts and trails for those who prefer cross-country skiing. The villages continue to expand, giving it a competitive edge when it comes to tourism revenue.
Even the non-skier will find something to love about La Plagne. Non-skiers may choose from over 50 pubs and restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining. After dark visitors can hit one of the resort’s many night clubs for an evening of dancing and partying. Numerous daytime activities entertain and engage those who choose not to ski as well. Winter-sport activities include ice skating, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.
Les Menuires
Located in Belleville Valley, Les Menuires resort hosted the 1992 Winter Olympics. It is part of the largest ski area in the world, Les Trois Valleys. The Three Valleys are comprised of several resorts that host millions of skiers per year. Les Menuires boasts 62 ski trails, advanced and beginner ski slopes and 39 ski lifts. The resort’s 48 restaurants offer foods ranging from fast food to fine cuisine.
La Grave la Meije
La Grave is a commune in southeastern France and the location of La Meije. Three summits comprise La Meije with the highest summit being 3,984 m. Mountain climbers and rock climbers challenge themselves to reach the highest summit of La Meije. The very first successful climb was by Emmanuel Boileau de Castelneu and Pierre Gaspard and his son on August 16, 1877. Glacier climbing or ice climbing is a very popular sport in La Grave as well. One hundred to 300 meter climbing routes offer a variety of difficulty.
Much of the La Grave la Meije ski area is glacier and considered dangerous. Guided skiing is recommended. Extreme skiers find a great deal of fascination and appeal in La Grave la Meije due to the enormous vertical drops and extreme ski conditions. The largest vertical descent can be extended to 2,300 m when skiers ski past the resort to the road.
More information about skiing in the French Alps is covered at an Andorra ski guide yourandorra.com
They also include for skiers ski holiday to Andorra and current ski Andorra information.
Andorra is a tax haven, and they have a seperate category on Andorra property
Your Source For Extreme Sports
Majorca Helps British Cycling Hit Olympic Goldmine
By Roger Munns
The majority of Olympic athletes train their entire lives for a shot at competing in front of the world. Only the absolute best make it that far. Every little thing matters when you’re going for the gold: diet, training, mindset, and support.
In the 2008 Summer Olympics, the British Cycling Team was more successful than even they could have hoped. The team that once didn’t have enough money for proper uniforms took home an astonishing eight gold medals out of a total of 19 for Great Britain.
Under careful and constant leadership, the British Cycling Team worked very hard to shake off the team’s humble history and climb to the top of their game in Beijing. Following their promising performance in Athens in the 2004 Olympics, the team was dedicated to training hard, improving every aspect of their performance, and taking home a pot of gold.
Part of their training equation was superior leadership and teamwork. The entire British Cycling Team, from the helpers in the pit to the team’s performance director Dave Brailsford, worked tirelessly to hone the cyclists’ abilities. Through training and the heartening results of the World Cup, the British team pushed themselves to a new level of greatness.
One of the highlights of the team’s ascent was their performance in the 2007-2008 UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics series. Over the course of the five rounds, the British team showed incredible skill. But even more than that, they showed admirable team cohesiveness.
In order to get where they were during the World Cup series, and where they are now after the Beijing Olympics, the British Cycling Team had to train like never before. Their routine consisted of up to seven hours on the road every day. The grueling schedule and merciless drive to succeed were somewhat tempered by the luxurious surroundings during part of their training.
The luxurious period of the team’s Olympics training was spent in Majorca; a Balearic Island known for its hospitality and near-perfect weather.
For the British Cycling Team, though, it meant long days of grueling training. The team had a favourite area of tough hills where they would ride until they simply couldn’t go any longer. This is a far cry from the vacations most people spend in Majorca. But if you have to push yourself to the edge of your physical endurance and strength, there’s no lovelier place to do it.
The British Cycling Team isn’t the only group of cyclists using Majorca as an idyllic backdrop to their training. Several other groups of amateur cyclists make their way to the island every winter and spring to train in the beautiful setting. They may not be headed to the Olympics right away, but among those amateur cyclists could be another great British Cycling Team in the making.
All of the elements present in the training of this record-breaking team came together to create something wonderful. Whether it was the brilliant leadership of Dave Brailsford, the tough but effective daily workouts or the overall positive chemistry of the team, one thing is certain. The British Cycling Team of the 2008 Summer Olympics will go down in the country’s history as national heroes, and enthuses Britain to the London 2012 Olympics.
Details about Majorca flights to Palma Airport are available through travel guide yourmajorca.net - and they have other Majorca information.
Companies who specialise in cheap holiday to Majorca late offers and Majorca villa holiday companies who do Majorca holiday villa packages are also featured.
Sunday, August 31st, 2008 at 8:35 am and is filed under sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
