Source: http://extremeactions.blogspot.com/2009/11/paintball-by-paintsign-paintball.html
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Getting Exercise on St. Thomas (Bird?s-Eye Views Are a Bonus)
If you?re looking for something more thrilling than lying on the beach, perhaps you should try the island?s newest activity: rock climbing.
Source: http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/travel/09COMrock.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
SWATCH GIRLS PRO France 2011 - Highlights of the Juniors Finals
16-year old Sarah Mason from Gisbourne, NZL wins the ASP 2-Star SWATCH GIRLS PRO Junior France over Dimity Stoyle (AUS) in a close final in tricky 3ft (1m) waves at Les Bourdaines. The quietly spoken goofy-footer was a standout performer in the ASP 6-Star SWATCH GIRLS PRO France and backed it up with a commanding performance against her fellow Pro Junior members.
Europe?s finest under-21 athletes faced some of the world?s best up-and-comers in the SWATCH GIRLS PRO Junior France in their attempt to qualify for the ASP World Junior Tour which starts October 3, in Bali, Indonesia.
Europe?s finest under-21 athletes faced some of the world?s best up-and-comers in the SWATCH GIRLS PRO Junior France in their attempt to qualify for the ASP World Junior Tour which starts October 3, in Bali, Indonesia.
2011 Whitewater Grand Prix
The Whitewater Grand Prix brings together 25 of the world's best kayakers for a 6-stage competition on spectacular whitewater across Quebec. whitewatergrandprix.com
Music: AWOLNATION - Sail
Camera: 7d + GoPro
Cast: Tribe Rider
eXtreme Sports Physics Gift List, Part 2
More holiday gift ideas for eXtreme sports addicts.
(In case you missed it, I posted five other ideas a little bit ago in eXtreme Sports Physics Gift List, Part 1.)
Hang Time!
When you catch air, you're in freefall. Another way to put it is that you're in a very low orbit that intersects with the ground. Either way, you're briefly weightless.If you were to strap an accelerometer to your leg to measure the forces on your body, you would see it go to zero when you're in the air. If only there was some way to hook an accelerometer to a timer, you'd know how much hang time you pulled . . .
Actually, there are at least two companies making timers to record the duration of your monster airs. My favorite is the AirPod, but you might want to look into the slightly glossier (and pricier) HangTimer. Personally, I'm all about the data, bling means nothing to me. So I'll save a couple bucks and go with the AirPod.
I'm guessing a lot of folks will be disappointed to find out how little time they spend airborne. On the other hand, once you come to terms with the fact that humans really weren't meant to fly and you learn to appreciate the few precious seconds during each run that you get to enjoy free of our earthly bonds, you'll realize that devices like the AirPod and HangTimer are excellent tools for evaluating and perfecting your aerial skills.
AirPod - fly, be free, take data
$59 and up
In Search of a Fast Frame Rate
If you're a decent photographer, you'll always be a welcome addition in any eXtreme sports road trip. You might even get a free meal or two along the way.As a rule, eXtreme sports junkies love to see themselves immortalized in high resolution action pics. One of the tricks to getting the shot is making sure you have a camera that can take lots of images very quickly. Pros spend multi-thousands for high frame rates. But you can do almost as well with a few cameras that slip in at just about a thousand bucks.
After using several digital cameras that deliver 2 to 3 frames a second, I found that I was going to need something faster, particularly in the skatepark and on the slopes. My budget limited me to the 5 frame per second and 8.2 megapixel Canon EOS 30D, which retails (with one lens included) at Amazon for $1025. Here's an example of one shot I captured of my son grinding the coping in a 10 foot deep pool at our local skatepark.In order to get this shot, I actually took 6 pictures, as you can see from this sequence. The one I wanted is number 4.
The high frame rate is good for more than just photos, it also helps me do a bit of physics calculating. For instance, from these shots I can tell that my son traveled about 2 meters in the second that it took to fire off 5 frames, which means he was moving at 2 meters a second. The pool curvature is about 2.5 meters in radius at this point, so he was experiencing a horizontal g-force of about 1/6 the force of gravity. That's what was pinning him to the board as he carved around the pool. Cool, isn't it?
The 30D's older brother, the EOS 20D, has the same frame rate and resolution, but a smaller buffer, so you can't shoot as many shots in a row before stopping to let the electronics catch up.
If you're made of money, you can step up to the 10 megapixel EOS 40D at 6.5 frames per second. (The last time I checked, the EOS Rebels were all limited to 3 frames per second, so they don't make my cut.)
As far as I know, the Canon EOS line offers the fastest frame rate among the $1k cameras. If I find anything faster, I'll let you know.
Canon EOS SLRs
Just hold the button down, chances are at least one of those dozens of shots is going to be a keeper
$974 and up
Eye Witness
There's nothing like watching a crash from the first person perspective, and the best way to do that is with a helmet cam. (I'll post my own favorite crash as soon as I can get it downloaded from my son's PC.)
You can spend a bundle for a high tech, waterproof, shock proof helmet camera, or you can save money the way I did.
I bought a $99 camera that records straight to flash memory. Then I sometimes tucked it under the strap for my snow goggles (be sure to loop the camera's wrist lanyard around your goggle straps), velcroed it to my leading leg, or duct taped it to my skate helmet.It makes for cool, low budget follow shots and gives a realistic view of what it's like to cruise down a mountain or thread your way through a half pipe. The crashes are the most fun to watch, complete with brutal crunching sounds and groans of pain. Just don't show them to your parents or significant others until a season or two has passed. Otherwise they'll beg you to stay off the slopes, rails, ramps, tracks, or whatever else you ride.
Helmet Cams - first person adventure and pain
$79 and up
First Aid - it's the best kind
Despite taking things to the edge, few extreme sports injuries involve compound fractures or head trauma. A few bumps, bruises and abrasions are the much more likely results of any given adventure. But the recent epidemic of coverage in the media of staph infections makes it clear that even minor scrapes need quick attention. Besides, you don't what your favorite eXtreme athlete staining his or her stylin' new jeans or jacket with unsightly blood stains.I used to load up my backpack with a few Band-Aids and sterile pads, but it's a lot easier to just grab a prepackaged first aid kit and toss it in the trunk with the rest of my gear. REI offers a range of kits, from tiny sets that slip in the glove box to fairly comprehensive packs that include everything you need for most injuries, including a copy of "The Wilderness First Aid Manual."
First Aid Kits - 'cause your mom won't always be nearby to kiss the boo boo
$28 and up
Surfrider Gift Membership
As the nigh-invulnerable superhero "The Tick" once said after being asked if he could destroy the Earth "Ye Gods! I hope not! That's where I keep all my STUFF!"The Earth is a fragile place, and even if the Tick is no threat, without the work of groups like the Surfrider Foundation, you're likely to eventually lose all your stuff - and a lot more. In their own words . . .
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world?s oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 80 chapters worldwide.
Even if you're not into eXtreme water sports, remember that most of this precious planet is ocean, and you can't have a healthy Earth without clean water.
So join Surfrider this year or give someone a gift membership - your great grandkids will thank you for it, and you get a cool bumper sticker.
Surfrider Gift Membership
$25
Alessandra Nanni Alex Broskow Andre Englehart Andreas Trefzer
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Whitewater Grand Prix: Stage 3 - Time trial teaser
The Whitewater Grand Prix brings together 25 of the Worlds best kayakers for a 6-stage competition on spectacular whitewater across Quebec.
Cast: Tribe Rider
Whitewater Grand Prix - Boatercross Teaser
The Whitewater Grand Prix brings together 25 of the Worlds best kayakers to compete in a 6-stage competition on spectacular whitewater across Quebec.
Cast: Tribe Rider
Whitewater Grand Prix: Stage 3 - Time trial teaser
The Whitewater Grand Prix brings together 25 of the Worlds best kayakers for a 6-stage competition on spectacular whitewater across Quebec.
Cast: Tribe Rider
Why is Snow so Slippery?
Snow sports are a blast. I prefer snowboarding, but I would never miss out on a toboggan ride or a turn on one of those old fashioned snow saucers (What genius conceived of those anyway? Is there anything more insane that cruising down a hill on a disk with no obvious way to steer or stop? Of course, I love it anyway.) As embarrassing as it is, I've even been known to to ride an inner tube now and then.The key to all those sports - as well as skiing, snowlerblades, ski bikes, and cafeteria lunch trays - is that things slide well on snow. You could leave it at that and simply go outside to have fun, but I just had to know a bit more.
If you hunt around, you'll see that there are at least two possible reasons why snow is slippery. One common explanation is that the melting point of ice rises as you squeeze it. Water ice is unusual in that way. This could explain why ice skates work. When you stand on skates, it creates very high pressures under the sharp blades. The pressure raises the melting point of the ice until it creates a thin layer of water, which is very slippery. (This is, however, not a universally accepted explanation.)
Pressure might work for ice skaters, but it's not much help for sleds, skis, snowboards, or any other device that slides on a large, flat surface. Because your weight is distributed over a big board, the pressures are very low. At best, you might raise the melting point of the ice by a degree or so, but if the temperature of the air and snow outside is more than a few degrees below freezing, you won't actually melt any snow with pressure.
Another possibility I've heard on occasion is that the friction of the board sliding on the snow creates heat, which melts some of the snow and creates a thin lubricating layer of water. Now, this explanation sounded just absurd to me. But I didn't want to dismiss it until a estimated just how much heating you might get from snowboarding down a hill.
You know what? I was stunned -- STUNNED -- to find out that cruising down a hill creates lots of heat. At a relatively modest 36 kilometers an hour (22 mph) down an equally modest hill (imagine a 15 degree slope or so), someone about my size (75 kilograms) creates about 300 watts of heat power due to friction between the snowboard and the snow. That's three times as much power as put out by a typical light bulb. If you've ever touched a lit incandescent bulb, you know that's hot. Theoretically, friction could heat the bottom of the board by nearly 40 degrees Celsius (about 100 degrees Fahrenheit)! In the real world, the bottom of your board will never get that hot. It will only warm up to the point that it melts the snow. It takes energy to melt snow, and the melting ends up using the energy that would heat your board to any higher temperature than 0 degrees C (32 degrees Fahrenheit).
But suppose you were snowboarding on a day when temperatures went as low as at -40 degrees C, even moving slowly would generate enough heat from friction to melt the snow and provide a very thin layer of water for you to slide on. (Of course, -40 C is just about the lowest temperature ever recorded in Alaska, so you'd probably get an awful case of frostbite before you got to the top of the lift.)
So there you have it - it's friction, not pressure, that melts snow below your board and let's you whiz down the hill at a breakneck pace. Wacky.
For those of you who like the details, the math that led me to this conclusion is below.
The Math and Physics
You can change the parameters of the problem to model any sliding sport you like, but I'm using a snowboard in my analysis.
The first thing to do is figure out how much work is done when you slide on a snowboard. Work is defined as force times distance. Specifically, we're interested in the frictional force multiplied by the distance traveled.
The force of friction is just the force pushing the snowboard down onto the snow multiplied by the coefficient of friction (u).
Because the snowboard is moving downhill, the force pushing against the snow due to the mass of the snowboard and rider is reduced by the cosine of the hill slope.
Friction force = m g u cosine(theta)
m = rider's mass (I'm using 75 kilograms)
g = acceleration due to gravity (0.8 meters per second squared)
u = coefficient of friction for a waxed board sliding on snow (about 0.04, according to Wikipedia)
theta = slope of the hill (I'm using a modest 15 degrees)
If you multiply this by the distance traveled on the hill, you get the total energy expended on the trip. If instead, you multiply the force by the velocity of the snowboard, you get the work per unit time. That's the same as the power (watts in SI units).
Power = m g u cosine(theta)* v
v = velocity (for this problem, I'm using 10 meters/second, which is about 36 kph, or 22.5 mph)
Plug all that in, and you find a power output of about 284 watts to slide down the hill.
The equation for heat conduction through a slab of material (such as a snowboard deck) is
Power = dQ/dt = k A (T2-T1)/L
k = thermal conductivity (about 0.25 Watts/(meters*degrees Kelvin))
A = area of board touching the ground (about .25 square meters for a typical board)
T2 = temperature on the hot side of the board (in Kelvin)
T1 = the temperature on the cold side of the board
L = the thickness of the board (I'm using one centimeter, 0.01 meters)
When I rearrange this to solve for the temperature difference between the two sides of the board (T2-T1) and plug in the numbers, I get temperature difference of about45 degrees.
As I mentioned above, that's the maximum temperature difference between the two sides, but the hot side should never get above the freezing point of water because the heat generated by friction would have to melt all the snow before it could lead to higher temperatures. That's because of the phase transition from ice to water that occurs at the freezing point (It's the same reason that water with any ice in it at all will have a temperature of exactly 0 degrees Celsius. You can confirm this by putting a pot of snow on the stove and turning up the heat. The temperature will rise to 0 degrees C and stay there until all the snow is melted.).
So, if you're out snowboarding when the air temperature (and top of your board) are at -5 degrees Celsius, the temperature of the bottom of your board be about 0 degrees Celsius when you're moving along at 10 meters/second. In fact, it will always be at about 0 degrees Celsius if you're moving at almost any reasonable speed, and there will be a very thin layer of water under it due to all the frictional energy you're generating by sliding down the mountain.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uUCU/~3/98TqO5Qa59k/why-is-snow-so-slippery.html
The Results of the 2010 Crocodile Trophy Ring D�j� Vu
The Results of the 2010 Crocodile Trophy Ring D�j� Vu
Despite severe flooding and mudslides at the 2010 Crocodile Trophy in Australia, this year's athletes endured it all. The final results of the 10 day bike race are strangely similar to the results of 2009.Source: NEWS/Biking/Crocodile_Trophy_2010_Australia_Results_0798.htm
Alessandra Nanni Alex Broskow Andre Englehart Andreas Trefzer
Monday, June 6, 2011
iXS European Downhill Cup 2010: Julien Camellini Dominates In Pila, Italy
iXS European Downhill Cup 2010: Julien Camellini Dominates In Pila, Italy
One of the most beautiful races of the European series was staged last weekend in Pila. The cup�s penultimate race attracted 320 riders from 15 countries.Source: NEWS/Biking/iXS_European_Downhill_Cup_Pila_Italy_2010_Results_0760.htm
Kite Surfing
EJ Bergin posted a photo:
off Goring Beach.Sussex. 22/05/2011
Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race 2010: Part 1
Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race 2010: Part 1
At the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race, one of the hardest adventure runs in the world, the participants have to constantly push it to the limit.Source: NEWS/Extreme_Sports/Wenger_Patagonian_Expedition_Race_2010_Part_1_0698.htm
WWA Wakeboard World Championships 2010: Soven and Butler Win Wakeboard Crowns
WWA Wakeboard World Championships 2010: Soven and Butler Win Wakeboard Crowns
Pro riders from across the world spent the day fighting for world titles, with the results from the Pro Men and Pro Women�s divisions also deciding the winners of the King of Wake and Queen of Wake series.Source: NEWS/Wakeboarding/WWA_Wakeboard_World_Championships_2010_Orlando_Results_0763.htm
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Kite Surfing at Merimbula, New South Wales, Australia IMG_8598_Merimbula
Darren Stones Visual Communications posted a photo:
Kite surfing action on Merimbula Bay at Merimbula, New South Wales, Australia. Located on the Sapphire Coast.
www.darrenstones.com.au
� Darren Stones
All Rights Reserved
Jamie Nicholls Wins 2011 4Star Ride Shakedown In Germany
Jamie Nicholls Wins 2011 4Star Ride Shakedown In Germany
Blue skies and a perfectly-shaped course gave the competitors the opportunity to shine at the 2011 4Star Ride Shakedown in Germany. At only 17, Jamie Nicholls has a promising future in snowboarding.Source: NEWS/Snowboarding/4Star_Ride_Shakedown_2011_Germany_Results_0838.htm
Jonathan Bergeron Jose Felix Hormaetxe Josh Clark Josh Obert
WWA Wake Park World Championships goes to Turkey in 2010
WWA Wake Park World Championships goes to Turkey in 2010
The World Wakeboard Association (WWA) announced the location and date for the 2010 WWA Wake Park World Championships. The event will be hosted in Antalya, Turkey from Monday September 27th � Saturday October 2nd, 2010.Source: NEWS/Wakeboarding/Wake_Park_World_Championships_goes_to_Turkey_0546.htm
ADAC 2009: Kiwis capture top two spots
ADAC 2009: Kiwis capture top two spots
As the race hits its mid point, early front runners Desert Islands (NZ) see their race lead reduced with the power paddlers vying for supremacy over the second 82 km sea-kayaking section.Source: NEWS/Extreme_Sports/Abu_Dhabi_Adventure_Challenge_2009_Day_3_0220.htm
Become A Pro Skateboarder: Tips and Tricks
Become A Pro Skateboarder: Tips and Tricks
This is your chance to make it big as a pro skateboarder. These tips and tricks will guide you on your way to becoming a professional skateboarder.Source: NEWS/Skateboarding/Become_A_Pro_Skateboarder_0660.htm
How to Skateboard
How to Skateboard
Do you love reading skateboarding articles and watching videos of the pros? Wish you could land the tricks with ease like they do, but you just don't know how to get started?The History of Snowboarding
This is all there is to it. Pay close attention - this stuff will be on the quiz.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/uUCU/~3/-eNSa2s9hos/history-of-snowboarding.html
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Icebreak 2011
Footage from Icebreak 2011 whitewater kayaking competition and event in Helsinki. All material was shot on Canon EOS 7D at 720p / 59.94 fps and most it it was slowed down to 24 fps in Cinema Tools before importing to Final Cut Pro. Music is Nine Inch Nail's Hand That Feeds which they have released for public use in Apple's Garageband format. Is the beginning too silent? It's your laptop speakers... please try headphones or better speakers.
Cast: Petri Tuohimaa
Pro Wakeboard Tour 2010: Harley Clifford Wins In Acworth
Pro Wakeboard Tour 2010: Harley Clifford Wins In Acworth
The top wakeboarders of the world took to the water in Acworth, Georgia for the 2010 Pro Wakeboard Tour. After several rounds of elimination, Harley Clifford was left standing as Acworth's winner.Source: NEWS/Wakeboarding/Pro_Wakeboard_Tour_2010_Acworth_Harley_Clifford_Results_0694.htm
ADAC 2009: From pedal to paddle
ADAC 2009: From pedal to paddle
For the second day of the race, based on the picturesque Sir Bani Yas Island, the teams started with an opening 45.5 km MTB section followed by a 27km kayaking leg culminating at Umm al Kurkum Island.Source: NEWS/Extreme_Sports/Abu_Dhabi_Adventure_Challenge_2009_Day_2_0219.htm
Alessandra Nanni Alex Broskow Andre Englehart Andreas Trefzer
Red Bull X-Fighters 2010: Battersea Power Station In London
Red Bull X-Fighters 2010: Battersea Power Station In London
New Zealand�s Levi Sherwood recharged London�s iconic Battersea Power Station on Saturday as he won the fifth stop of the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2010 in the British capital.Source: NEWS/Biking/Red_Bull_X-Fighters_Battersea_Power_Station_London_Results_0755.htm
Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race 2010: Part 1
Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race 2010: Part 1
At the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race, one of the hardest adventure runs in the world, the participants have to constantly push it to the limit.Source: NEWS/Extreme_Sports/Wenger_Patagonian_Expedition_Race_2010_Part_1_0698.htm
The Results of the 2010 Crocodile Trophy Ring D�j� Vu
The Results of the 2010 Crocodile Trophy Ring D�j� Vu
Despite severe flooding and mudslides at the 2010 Crocodile Trophy in Australia, this year's athletes endured it all. The final results of the 10 day bike race are strangely similar to the results of 2009.Source: NEWS/Biking/Crocodile_Trophy_2010_Australia_Results_0798.htm
Friday, June 3, 2011
Iceland Schoolyard Jibbing - One For The Road Almost Live - Episode 8
This week's episode of Almost Live joins Byron Wells, Andreas Haveit, Rory Bushfield and Nick Martini in Iceland for some urban jibbing. Watch as they are given free reign to let loose on a local school's campus. As Andreas describes, "It's crazy...they got us permission to do whatever we want with this school campus and they've been helping us...build."
The Results of the 2010 Crocodile Trophy Ring D�j� Vu
The Results of the 2010 Crocodile Trophy Ring D�j� Vu
Despite severe flooding and mudslides at the 2010 Crocodile Trophy in Australia, this year's athletes endured it all. The final results of the 10 day bike race are strangely similar to the results of 2009.Source: NEWS/Biking/Crocodile_Trophy_2010_Australia_Results_0798.htm
Kitesurfers at the Belgian coast
Konrad Dwojak posted a photo:
Few days in de Haan on the Belgian Coast at the beginning of April was great. Even though it wasn't summer yet, the weather was nice enough to enjoy some sun and relax. www.photo-folio.net
LA Skate Film Festival 2010: Last Call For Submissions
LA Skate Film Festival 2010: Last Call For Submissions
Since the announcement of its debut in the city of Los Angeles back in April, The L.A. Skate Film Festival has been going through a great deal of developments that foresee a bright future for the organization.Source: NEWS/Skateboarding/Los_Angeles_Skate_Film_Festival_2010_Preview_0695.htm
Thursday, June 2, 2011
The Ruins - Redux
The Whitewater Grand Prix brings together 25 of the worlds best kayakers for a 6-stage competition on spectacular whitewater across Quebec.
Cast: Tribe Rider
Record Number Of Teams Registered For Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge 2010
Record Number Of Teams Registered For Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge 2010
Since its inception in 2007, the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge has built on previous accomplishments, bringing ever-increasing numbers to its ranks further cementing its position as the world�s premier adventure race.Source: NEWS/Extreme_Sports/Abu_Dhabi_Adventure_Challenge_2010_Preview_0778.htm
Corsica Creeking 2011
Video recap of another fine week of creeking in Corsica despite low levels. Sadly the Rizzanese will be gone soon.
Paddlers: Alex Keller, Suzanne Sp�lminck, Pascal Schaffner, Arnd Sch�ftlein, Harald Glanz
Creeks: Golo, Travo, Fium Orbo and Rizzanese
Cast: GBP Productions
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race 2010: Part 2
Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race 2010: Part 2
Source: NEWS/Extreme_Sports/Wenger_Patagonian_Expedition_Race_2010_Part_2_0699.htm
Xterra World Tour 2010: Next Stop Saipan
Xterra World Tour 2010: Next Stop Saipan
Following the great championship in South Africa, racers now prepare to set their minds and bodies to the limit in the ninth annual Xterra Saipan Championship Race.Source: NEWS/Extreme_Sports/Xterra_World_Tour_2010_Next_Stop_Saipan_Preview_0583.htm
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