Friday September 18, 2020

Lift Off

 

 

It’s surfing without a wave, snowboarding without the powder, flying without a plane… it’s eFoiling, your new (albeit expensive) board sport! An eFoil is a motorized surfboard with a sleek hydrofoil design that lifts the board out of the water at speeds of up to 25 mph with control of a wireless handheld remote. Lift, the family-owned, Puerto Rico based company, is the creator of the best-selling eFoil on the market — and one can be yours for a mere $12,000.

You are likely familiar with the concept of foiling as it applies to sailing, and have seen the hydrofoil race boats that have become standard design in the America’s Cup. As speed increases, wing-like foils propel the board up and you float above the surface as the blade slices through the water below. A two-hour charge lets you ride for about 90 minutes.

Described by some as a cross between a Jet Ski and a surfboard, thankfully the electric motor is silent, and eFoiling takes some athletic skill to master. I’ve been wanting to demo an e-Foil for a while, and Lift hooked me up with a lesson in Montauk, L.I. earlier this week. Kai Costanzo, owner of KaiKai sandals located at Gossman’s Dock (and other locations) was my instructor. Telling me most people don’t stand up on their first lesson, such would be my motivation!
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Tuesday May 12, 2020

Fire and Iceland

 

Skogafoss Waterfall

 
When it came time for busy actress Alysia Reiner — star of such hit shows as Orange Is the New Black, Better Things, and The Deuce — to plan a family vacation last December, it was not one that included much rest. While many people choose a warm beach or tropical climate over the holidays, Alysia and her husband, fellow actor David Alan Basche, along with 11-year old daughter Livia, packed up for frigid but beautiful Iceland — in fact, it was her daughter’s idea!

Livia has always loved volcanoes. “Since she was tiny, she was slightly obsessed”, Alysia told Style of Sport. “I suggested Costa Rica, but she came up with Iceland”. Perhaps volcanoes are not what first come to mind when you think of Iceland — it’s more glaciers and the famous Blue Lagoon — but actually Iceland has some the most geothermal activity in the world. There are approximately 130 volcanoes, both active and inactive. Many of them are underneath the surface of the earth and underwater, which is how those incredible hot springs were formed.
 

Skaftafell 5 hour Glacier Hike with Iceland Rovers Tour Company

 
Known as the “Land of Ice and Fire”, Iceland is a natural wonderland where the freezing forces of arctic weather are in constant battle with the explosive heat of the earth. The result is a dramatic landscape of stark contrasts — fields of moss-coated lava, plains of black sand, explosive geysers, mountainous glaciers, and of course, those blue thermal hot springs. All of which make for a very adventurous vacation. Read More

 

Sunday April 26, 2020

Kassia Meador: Sound Surfer

 

 

PHOTOGRAPHS BY SARAH LEE

Back in early October, I attended a press event for Kassia + Surf in NYC. The company and its namesake founder were introducing a new line of wetsuits made from recycled neoprene and salvaged tires, along with a collection of other eco-conscious surf apparel. Considered perhaps the best female longboarder ever, Kassia Meador’s graceful and effortless surfing style is legendary — cross stepping and tiptoeing up to the nose of the board, hanging out there in a crouch, or maybe topping it off with a twirl.

The press event was hosted at Mndfl, one of the new breed of meditation studios that have popped up over the last few years, and a featured part of the morning would be a sound bath meditation led by Kassia herself. If you have never experienced a sound bath, it is style of meditation that uses vibrational sound waves produced by chimes, gongs, drums, and crystal bowls as a relaxation technique. As you “bathe” in these tones, it facilitates a shift in your brainwaves to a state of deep relaxation and rest. For those who are new to meditation or have found it a challenge, a sound bath is a great place to start. Focusing on these vibrational tones can help tune out distractions to attain that deeply meditative state many of us find so elusive. Read More

 

Monday April 20, 2020

Hooping It Up

 

SABRINA IONESCU

Last weekend was a big one in professional basketball. Though there were no live games, both the NBA and WNBA featured major stories. In the WNBA draft, “virtual” this year, the number one pick went to the New York Liberty who selected Sabrina Ionescu. Over on ESPN, The Last Dance, the much-anticipated documentary series on Michael Jordan and the 1990’s Chicago Bulls debuted.

Basketball fan or not, undoubtably the name Michael Jordan is familiar to you, but likely not that of Sabrina Ionescu. Here’s why it should and likely will be soon.

Star point guard at the University of Oregon, Sabrina Ionescu is the first player in NCAA Division I history – male or female – to record 2,000 career points, 1,000 career assists, and 1,000 career rebounds. She also finished her college career with a record 26 triple-doubles (that’s points, assists, and rebounds). Even more impressive is that she achieved this milestone just hours after delivering an unforgettable eulogy at Kobe Bryant’s memorial service in front of tens of thousands at the Staples Center (watch here).
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Thursday April 9, 2020

Mini Home Gym

 

Image Map

CLICK ITEMS ABOVE FOR SHOPPING LINKS

Working out at home with gyms closed, you need to have some training gear. Many of us don’t have a lot of extra room — nor do we want to buy big or expensive pieces of equipment during this shelter-at-home period. Here are a few multi-functional, space-saving essentials to power up any home workout!

 

ROW 1: NO KA’OI TRIANGLE LOGO MAT $212. For yoga and other floor workouts, you need an exercise mat. We love these bright ones from No Ka’Oi that come in an array of vibrant colors. With the perfect cushioned base for yoga and other floor routines, this no-slip, textured mat rolls up for easy stashing and portability.

NIKE FREE METCON 3 $120. We could all use a little inspiration, and a new pair of shoes will get you pumped for that workout! The Nike Free Metcon 3 combines flexibility with stability for support and speed from weight lifting to agility drills.

ROW 2: TANGRAM SMARTROPE ROOKIE $39.95. New from Tangram comes the Rookie – designed to be lighter, easier to use, and even more fun. LED-embedded, it displays your workout data in mid-air, and has a freely adjustable rope length for both children and adults. The Rookie syncs to your smartphone to automatically record exercise data like jump counts, calories, duration, and goal achievement. Read More

 

Saturday December 28, 2019

Great Performances: The Best of 2019

 

 

From Team USA’s Women’s World Cup Win to the Washington Nationals’ first World Series Championship to record shattering times in both the Men’s and Women’s Marathon… 2019 was filled with many an epic sport moment! Here are the 12 pinnacles of the year that had everyone talking… including you!

Team USA wins the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup!

Defending their 2015 title, Team USA won their fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup on July 7th in Paris, defeating the Netherlands 2-0. Scoreless at the half, Team USA took the lead on a penalty kick by Megan Rapinoe at the 62-minute mark, followed up by a second goal by midfielder Rose Lavelle just before the 69-minute mark.

The tournament generated as much attention for the quality of play as the inequality of pay. Despite the US women being ranked number 1 in the world, the US men’s team, currently ranked 30th, earns more when they lose than the women do when they win (Vox Media). In response to this pay disparity, 28 members of the women’s national team sued the US Soccer Federation for gender discrimination on March 8 to coincide with International Women’s Day. Crowds could be heard chanting “Equal Pay” throughout the tournament during the games in which the US played.  Read More

 

Monday October 28, 2019

Longines Global Champions Tour

 

THE NEW YORK CITY STOP OF THE LONGINES GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR

 
Last month, on a perfect fall Friday in New York, I hopped on the ferry to Governors Island for the inaugural Big Apple stop of the Longines Global Champions Tour. It was a short walk to the grounds, where a showjumping ring had been constructed, situated in front of breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty and the lower Manhattan skyline.

Along for the ride happened to be Bruce Springsteen. His daughter, Jessica Springsteen (above), is one of the top riders in the sport. Like the rest of us, he was en route to watch her and many more of world’s best show jumpers compete. Read More

 

Friday October 25, 2019

Get in Gear for World Swim Day!

 

Image Map

CLICK GEAR FOR SHOPPING INFO!

CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: ARENA ELITE PADDLE $19.95; FINIS ALIGNMENT KICKBOARD $19,95; SPORTI PULL BUOY $7.95; ARENA POWERFIN PRO $49.95; ROKA XI $27; SPEEDO BULLETHEAD SWIM SNORKEL $29.95; TYR RACER-X GOGGLES $29.99
 

Happy World Swim Day! This international holiday encourages people around the world to be more active through swimming. I certainly have been this fall, as I recover from a stress fracture in my foot! Swimming, however, is a regular part of my fitness routine. It’s the original total body workout – both cardio and strength building – with no impact on bones and joints. Plus, if you’re a gear junkie, there are all sorts of fun training tools to improve your form and conditioning – and break up the monotony of just swimming back and forth!

Fins, hand paddles, snorkels, and more! We spoke to Dan Daly, C.S.C.S, former all-American swimmer, senior Equinox Tier X trainer and founder of EQX H20, about how different pieces of equipment can benefit any level of swimmer. A special thank you to Arena for swagging me out with it all – along with an incredible collection of swimsuits!  Read More

 
 

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