Friday August 3, 2018

The Duct Tape Invitational

 

 
The first ever women’s edition of the The Vans Joel Tudor Duct Tape Invitational debuted yesterday at the 2018 Vans US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA. Hosted in partnership with the largest action sports festival in the world, 16 of the world’s best female longboarders were invited to showcase their unique style and innovation on the famed shores of Surf City, USA. Founded by one of the longboarding’s most recognized surfers, the Vans Joel Tudor Duct Tape Invitational is a celebration of creativity in the most traditional form of the sport.

Joel Tudor, the event’s namesake and originator, is often regarded as the style master of longboard surfing. He won the U.S. Open of Longboarding nine times, including six in a row from 1995 through 2000. Despite his success however, Tudor grew dissatisfied the “high performance” direction of the sport that emerged in the 1990s. Instead of the classic nose-riding style of the 1960s and ’70s, longboarders began trying to imitate their shortboard counterparts — blurring the distinction between the two forms of the sport.

The Vans Joel Tudor Duct Tape Invitational has redefined the standard of longboarding with a return to its roots, rewarding those with an affinity for the grace, style and creativity for which the sport is known. Reflecting that style and creativity is the poster and artwork for both the men’s and women’s contest created by Geoff Mcfetridge. The simplicity and innovation shown by literally using duct tape for the waves, in combination with the black cut out shapes of the surfers, embodies the essence of longboarding and highlights the originality these surfers display even on the smallest of waves.

The contest is comprised of 16 invitees competing on traditional “logs” — single fin and 9’2 length minimum. There is a no-interference rule and surfers are encouraged to ride the same wave to see what they can create together. As an added incentive, additional prize money is awarded for best shared wave. Dedicated longboarding pioneers and true style mavens such as former world champions Honolua Blomfield and Jen Smith, respected shaper Ashley Lloyd, icon Kassia Meador, local Karina Rozunko and are competing in the women’s debut of the event showing the world how the ladies get it done. 

 

Sunday July 22, 2018

Paddle For Pink

 

 

TEAM SOS AT THE HAMPTONS PADDLE FOR PINK 2017

It’s a bit like playing Russian Roulette. Every year when I go to get a mammogram I feel like I’m spinning the barrel, pulling the trigger, and wondering if it’s my turn to get that diagnosis of breast cancer. So far I’ve been lucky, but so many women are not. For them we paddle…

On Saturday, August 4th, the 7th annual Hamptons Paddle for Pink will take place in Sag Harbor, NY. The donations raised by paddlers in this Stand Up Paddleboard race go 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

 

Friday July 13, 2018

It’s Finals Weekend: Wimbledon vs. The World Cup

 

 

ILLUSTRATION BY FERDINAND VAN ALPHEN

What a sport lover’s weekend is in store! Saturday will feature Serena Williams battling it out against Angelique Kerber in the Women’s Final at Wimbledon. These two went head to head in the 2016 final, with Williams grabbing the win in a tight two set match. That was the last time Williams played at Wimbledon since becoming a mom and this only her fourth tournament back — amazing, but not surprising given her record as a Grand Slam finalist (30) and Grand Slam champion (23)! 

The men take to the court Sunday morning for the Men’s Final at Wimbledon, where Kevin Anderson will be competing against… late breaking news: Novac Djokovic! In one of the tightest, longest, and most epic semi-final matches, after 6:36 hours on the court, Anderson finally edged out John Isner winning (7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 26-24)! There are no tie-breakers in the fifth set at Wimbledon, and it took Anderson 26 games to win his spot in the final.  Read More

 

Tuesday July 10, 2018

#EveryoneOutside

 

 
If you’ve been looking for a crash course in any outdoor sport you’ve ever wanted to try, the Pursuit Series is the weekend getaway for you! Billed as the “Outdoor Adventure Camp for Grown-Ups”, the Pursuit Series takes place in different locations throughout the country. I recently visited the Pursuit at Hunter Mountain in upstate New York, where rock climbing, fly tying, and camping were just a few of the top picks on my action-packed schedule. 

The Pursuit Series offers a fully immersive experience in nature’s playground that you can customize from the most strenuous to the most relaxing activities: from outdoor sports like mountain biking, trail running, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, and fly fishing; to outdoor skills like how to pack a backpack, cook in the backcountry, and use a map and compass; to wellness experiences like essentials oils for the outdoors, restorative hammock yoga, and very important to me, how to brew the “Ultimate Kickass Cup of Coffee”!  Read More

 

Friday June 15, 2018

World Cup Mash Up

 

Image Map

CLICK TO SHOP ABOVE!

World Cup fever is spreading fast! Sport and fashion brands have

teamed up with hottest fan gear that will have you cheering long after the

2018 Fifa World Cup champion is crowned! 

 

CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT: NIGERIA NATIONAL TEAM KIT. The Team Nigeria kit, with its bold green zigzags and florals, has become the most hyped collection of the 2018 Fifa World Cup. Unfortunately getting your hands on any fan gear is proving to be as challenging as winning the World Cup, as most pieces quickly sold out after its release.  

PUMA FOREVER FOOTBALL TRACK JACKET $75. Not just for soccer fans, these track jackets will appeal to all with their retro-style as they pay homage to a few winners of World Cups past and the countries that hosted them. 

“SOCCER STYLE: THE MAGIC AND MADNESS $29.99”. Reputed Creative Director Simon Doonan shares his other passion besides fashion, which is soccer, in this new retrospective that looks at the style of the game. Through a fashion lens, Doonan entertainingly documents soccer style from its beginnings to present day. He celebrates the style icons of the game, from George Best to David Beckham, before turning his gaze to the hair, tattoos, and cars, in addition those other fixtures of the sport — the fans! 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

 

Monday February 26, 2018

Bye Bye Pye: A Photo Farewell to PyeongChang 2018

 

JOHANN ANDRE FORFANG OF NORWAY COMPETES IN SKI JUMPING MEN’S LARGE HILL
 
PHOTO BY MATTHIAS HANGST/GETTY IMAGES 

 

Though PyeongChang and the 2018 Winter Olympics are now behind us, the unforgettable performances of its athletes will be forever remembered thanks to the incredible photographs captured during the games. Since 1988 Getty Images has been the IOC Official Partner, entrusted with the responsibility of capturing every event from every angle, and making these images available to the public almost as soon as they happen.

For PyeongChang, Getty Images deployed an all-star roster of over 80 sports photographers, photo editors, and support staff to document each of the 102 Winter Olympic sports. Well before the Games began, approximately 80 kilometers of state-of-the-art fiber optic network were laid in preparation across the Olympic venues to connect the key photo positions back to the Main Press Center. Those views from the field were transferred to consumers in under a minute — .58 seconds to be exact.

From 159,266 total images available on Getty.com from PyeongChang, Ken Mainardis, Vice President of Sports Imagery and Services at Getty Images, and Stuart Hannagan, Vice President of Editorial at Getty Images made a selection of images for STYLE of SPORT they felt most represented the scope of imagery captured during the 2018 Winter Olympics. Here they are, along with commentary about why…
Read More

 

Wednesday February 21, 2018

A Photo Finish

 

TEAM USA’s JESSICA DIGGINS AND KIKKAN RANDALL CELEBRATE AFTER WINNING GOLD IN THE WOMENS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM SPRINT AT THE PYEONGCHANG 2018 WINTER OLYMPICS. (ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)

 

Team USA’s Kikkan Randall and Jesse Diggins made history today becoming the first Americans to win a gold medal in Cross Country Skiing. Winning the Womens Team Sprint by just 0.19 seconds, their victory was too close to capture with the naked eye and was decided by a photo finish. The Men’s 15km Mass Start Biathlon was won by a similarly narrow margin in another photofinish earlier this week.  

Omega is the Official Timekeeper of Olympic games, and has fulfilled that role for 27 Olympics since 1932, when the games were timed with just 30 chronograph stopwatches. Among Omega’s many contributions to sports timing since has been the development of photoelectric cells. First used in 1948 in St. Moritz, a highly reactive beam of light was emitted onto the finish line. It stopped the timer as soon as the first athlete crossed it, measuring to 1000th of a second.
 

TOP: PYEONGCHANG 2018, WOMENS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM SPRINT, TEAM USA’S JESSICA DIGGINS CROSSING THE FINISH LINE JUST AHEAD OF SWEDEN’S STINA NILSSON; RIO 2016, WOMENS 400M FINAL, BAHAMAS’ SHAUNAE MILLER FALLS ACROSS FINISH LINE AHEAD OF USA’S ALLYSON FELIX

 
This technology was integrated into a new slit technology photofinish camera that captured a sequence of events through a narrow field of vision from a single point on a vertical dimension. While a conventional photograph shows a variety of locations at a fixed moment in time, a photo finish shows a variety of times at a fixed location. The time markings along the bottom of the image show the exact crossing time of any racer, and the elevated angle highlights the position of every racer in relation to the others. What results are these beautifully abstract and elongated horizontal streaks of the athletes bodies crossing the finish line. Read More

 
 

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