October 23, 2021

#TrainersforHire

 

CLOCKWISE TOP: DEGREE DEODORANT INCLUSIVE POP-UP CYCLING CLASS; STEVE SERIO, 2-TIME PARALYMPIAN GOLD MEDALIST TEAM USA BASKETBALL; GARRISON REDD, TEAM USA PARALYMPIC POWERLIFTER

Event Photos Courtesy of Degree Deodorant

In late September, Degree Deodorant launched the #TrainersforHire Campaign, an initiative for of National Disability Employment Awareness Month challenging the fitness industry to hire trainers with disabilities. The kick-off was an inclusive pop-up cycling class in New York City’s Flatiron Plaza, led by eight-time Paralympic Track & Field medalist, Blake Leeper. The class included people with and without disabilities, on both spin bikes and hand cycles, to showcase how simple it is to create an inclusive fitness class.

As a participant, I can attest to the inspiration of a spin class taught by an instructor with a disability – a Paralympian no less – and the fact that it was a great class regardless. Blake told me that he actually has an advantage to offer that others don’t. “I use my personal experiences of adversity and challenges, that mental toughness from being born without legs, and apply that to the class. I’ve had to push through, so push through with me.”

Blake was born with a congenital birth defect, and has worn prosthetics since he was 9 months old. He made his international Track & Field debut in 2009, and his first Paralympic Games were London 2012. Blake set his sites beyond the Paralympics last summer, with the goal of competing in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, but was barred from competition on the grounds that his blade-like prostheses might give him an unfair advantage. Read More

 

September 18, 2021

Love All

 

 
Hey tennis fans! The Grand Slams may be done for 2021 but the spirit of US Open continues in NYC at the Wilson NY Pop Up Museum.

For more than forty years, Wilson has been at the center of New York tennis as the official ball and racquet stringer of the US Open. The pop-up pays homage to their history in the game with the exhibit: Love All: A Wilson Tennis Experience. Highlighting legendary champions like Billie Jean King, Jack Kramer, Serena Williams, and Roger Federer, their iconic racquets are on display, in addition to the new Kith x Wilson Pro Staff 97.
Read More

 

June 5, 2020

Drew Brees Fumbles… Again

 

 

In October of 2018, New Orleans Saints fans cheered as their beloved 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. We celebrated this accomplishment but with a more scathing view in Go Rylan Brees.

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 boys, hey boys!” Brees exclaimed. “You can accomplish anything in life that you want to work for, right?” (watch here)

I was stunned when I first saw it, unable to believe how rampant sexism still was in this sensitive climate – not just in sports, but the media too. I couldn’t believe no one picked up on it or told that story. But thankfully Drew Brees’ fumble on Wednesday did not go unnoticed, when a statement he made in an interview with Yahoo Finance went viral and became headline news. Read More

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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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