Saturday July 13, 2019

Paddle For Pink

 

 

TEAM SOS AT THE HAMPTONS PADDLE FOR PINK

On Saturday, August 3rd, the 8th annual Hamptons Paddle for Pink took place in Sag Harbor, NY. The donations raised by paddlers in this Stand Up Paddleboard race went to benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), which is dedicated to ending that diagnosis of breast cancer by advancing the world’s most promising research. Founded by Evelyn H. Lauder in 1993, BCRF funded research has played a critical role in every major breakthrough in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and survival.

The Hamptons Paddle for Pink was founded by Maria Baum — a Sag Harbor resident, mother of four, and breast cancer survivor. Maria is an investor and entrepreneur who created Tutto Il Giorno and Dopo La Spiaggia restaurants, as well as Splash Mixers, following a successful career as a derivatives trader on Wall Street. Maria discovered Stand Up Paddleboarding shortly after being diagnosed with breast cancer and found it to be a therapeutic outlet during her treatment and subsequent recovery. Read More

 

Monday May 13, 2019

Turbo Tots!

 

 
My sister sent me this Facebook video last week. 6 little girls in motocross helmets were lined up on tiny bicycles behind the starting gate of a race. The clock counted down, gate dropped, and like bullets they took off, with one girl quickly surging to an early lead. Wearing pink leggings and a skirt, her pigtails streaming behind under her helmet, she and the other girls sprinted the straightaways and slid around turns — running, not pedaling, on what are known as balance bikes. My jaw dropped open as I watched them cross the finish line, and I found myself replaying it – again, and again, and again.

Forget training wheels. Balance bikes have become the new way to teach your kid how to ride a bike – and get into competitive racing! Pushing with their feet, balance bikes are pedal-less and low enough to the ground so that kids gain confidence learning how to coast – and balance – on two wheels before they graduate to pedals. Strider has become the biggest selling manufacturer of these balance bikes with over 1.6 million bikes sold and distributed in over 75 countries.

The Strider Cup World Championship and racing series are held across the US and all over the world. With both competitive and non-competitive events, Strider bike races are created to be fun and positive experiences for the entire family. With 2-and-under, 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-year-old classes – it’s huge! And as I watched these little girls haul ass around that track, all I could think was ‘Where was this when I was growing up?’

 

Monday March 25, 2019

The E-Fleet Band

 

FARADAY CORTLAND $2499

 

Electric bikes, or “e-bikes”, have become one of the most popular categories of bicycles for both fun and commuting, opening the road up to many who might not have previously considered cycling as their mode of recreation or transport before. We’re talking “pedal assist” here, not those motorized bikes your take-out gets delivered on that require no pedaling at all. For those times when you need an extra boost of power while riding, and don’t want to break a sweat — say up a hill on your way to work — the e-bike is the way to go.

In the US, there are three classes of e-bikes defined by the speed and type of power assist. Class 1 bikes have a motor (max 750w) that assists while you’re pedaling and maxes out at 20 mph. Class 3 can assist up to 28 mph. Both are allowed in most states and cities without requiring a license. Class 2 models have throttles that don’t require pedaling in order to get a boost. The miles before recharging, or range of the bike, is determined by how much assist you use.

Most big name cycling companies now offer a class 1 e-bike option, as well many design-oriented bespoke brands, and even urban bike-sharing systems like Citibike have added e-bikes to their fleet. I rode an electric Citibike home from work earlier this week (they’re hard to find!), zipping up Madison Avenue in no time with a “I’m having a blast” look on my face. Even the taxi drivers were smiling at me. Read More

 

Friday October 19, 2018

The All Stars

 

CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: DOUGLAS FORBES, 16; CC KAPLAN, 12; ARIA BEVACQUA, 11; KAI YUDELSON, 16; KAILEY BOGART, 13; IZYAN AHMAD, 8

 

Look out Roger Federer, Michelle Wie, Alex Ovechkin, and Chloe Kim… the next generation of superstar athletes is comin’ for ya! CC Kaplan, Izyan Ahmad, Aria Bevacqua, Kai Yudelson, Kailey Bogart, and Douglas Forbes: though these 6 young athletes are different ages, gender, and compete in different sports, what they share is an unrelenting passion and dedication to their pursuit.

They train for hours a day like professional athletes, but unlike professional athletes they still have school and homework to do. It makes for a jam-packed daily life many grown-ups couldn’t handle. They’re at practice before their peers wake up and starting homework when most are going to bed. So why do they do it? It’s the love of the game and their dream to be the best.

There is no way to know for sure whether a promising young sport phenom will become the next all star, but each one of these athletes featured here has the talent and drive to make those dreams come true… Read More

 

Thursday October 11, 2018

Go Rylen Brees!

 

 

On Monday night, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke Peyton Manning’s record to become the all-time leading passer in NFL history – and on a touchdown pass no less. The game was stopped while Brees celebrated with his teammates and coaches before running over to his family waiting on the sidelines. The headlines read, “Drew Brees Gives Inspiring Talk To His Kids After New NFL Record”.

Except he didn’t give an inspiring talk to his kids. He gave it to his three sons as his daughter watched, held in the arms of her mother, “Hey boy, hey boys!” Brees exclaimed. “You can accomplish anything in life that you want to work for, right?” Read More

 

Monday August 6, 2018

Water World

 

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From the laps in the pool, to aqua running, to open water swimming…

we’ve got all the cool gear you’ll love to keep wet workouts fun.

C’mon and jump in!

 
I have not had my typical sporty summer of running, stand up paddleboarding, surfing, and cycling. I’ve had a stress fracture in my foot that has kept me from many of the sports I usually enjoy. The good news is it has opened up all sorts of new sports — all in the water!

Swimming truly is the sport of a lifetime. Non weight-bearing, it allows you to do the cardio, strength, and endurance workouts that injury or age prevents. I’ve seen that first hand with my new silver haired fitness tribe in the Deep Water Running class at Alphalt Green, where I’ve gotten a preview of my workouts at 80! It’s become my Soul Cycle replacement for the summer giving me that group exercise motivation and comradery I love.

Then there has been the solitary and meditative discipline of swimming — open water in particular. I’ve always been a pool swimmer, but this summer I’ve conquered my fear of what lies beneath in murky water with an experienced training partner, and discovered the goal achieving satisfaction of swimming to a destination – like a long distance run! Read More

 

Wednesday June 6, 2018

Happy Running Day!

 

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It’s Global Running Day, a worldwide celebration that highlights the passion so many of us enjoy and encourages everyone to join in the fun. We’ve got all the cool gear to get you going, no matter how far or fast you may run!

CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: GARMIN FENIX 5 now $449. For any athlete, the ultimate sport watch is the Garmin Fenix. For runners it offers bio-mechanical measurements such as cadence, stride length, ground contact time and balance, in addition to total multi-sport functionality such as a heart rate monitor, GPS, and other cycling, swim and fitness specific metrics. A bright, high-resolution, full-color display with LED backlighting assures great readability in all ambient conditions. Each model offers a variety of stainless steel finishes, with quickfit watch band combinations to match both your fashion and athletic style. Wi-Fi enabled, automatically send activity uploads and receive smart notifications as well. 

ROKA RIO TITANIUM SUNGLASSES $260. Don’t be fooled by these stylish aviators, they are really performance sunglasses designed for the most demanding athletes. Titanium frames make them ultra lightweight and durable, with geko pads on nose and temples for multi-directional grip and comfort no matter how sweaty. Carl Zeiss lenses offer outstanding clarity with ballistic-impact resistance. Available in other sizes, colors (rose gold!), and models such as the Phantom and Falcon.  Read More

 

Tuesday May 22, 2018

Volvo Ocean Race

 

From top: Leg 9 start day, Newport to Cardiff, May 20, 2018. Photo by Ugo Fonolla/Volvo Ocean Race; Leg 6, Hong Kong to Auckland, February 18, 2018. Day 12 on board Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag with John Fisher (1970-2018) at the helm. Sadly underlining just how dangerous this race is, Fisher was swept overboard on March 26 in gale force conditions in the Southern Ocean and never recovered. Photo by Jeremie Lecaudey/Volvo Ocean Race; Leg 2 start day, Lisbon to Cape Town, November 5, 2017. Dongfeng Race Team drone shot from above. Photo by Eloi Stichelbaut/Dongfeng Race Team

 
Crossing the Atlantic Ocean as I write are 7 race boats sailing from Newport, RI to Cardiff, Wales in the 9th leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. With 11 legs in total, ranging from approximately 3 to 22 days at sea, the Volvo Ocean Race is described as the longest and toughest professional sporting event in the world. The race covers 45,000 nautical miles that cross four oceans, touch six continents, and visits 12 landmark Host Cities. What began in October of 2017 in Alicante, Spain will finish in The Hague in the Netherlands at the end of June 2018 in what will have been an 9-month test of endurance in some of the most grueling conditions imaginable.

Since 1973, the Volvo Ocean Race has provided the ultimate test of teamwork and adventure. Originally known as the Whitbread Around The World Race, Volvo took it over in 1998. The race is held every three years, and for more than four decades has held an almost mythical power over some the sport’s greatest. In the current era of One Design racing, every team races the exact same Volvo Ocean 65, ensuring the race is all about the sailing and not about the boat. There is no prize money awarded for the relentless intensity and perseverance required in this round-the-clock pursuit, but for a sailor to see their name etched into one of the silver rings of the Volvo Ocean Race Trophy has a value beyond compare. Put simply, the Volvo Ocean Race is an obsession many of the world’s best sailors have dedicated years of their lives trying to win. Read More

 
 

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