Sports-Recreation Articles
Rafting Tips For The Less Experienced
(category: Sports-Recreation, Word count: 434)
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The sport of rafting is one of recreational activity which involves using a raft on the water in order to navigate and usually it is done on whitewater with different degrees of difficulty allowed, although rafting can also take place on smaller or calmer bodies of water.
While rafts were typically made of different types of wood to begin with, they are now almost all inflatable boats rather than produced from wood. Rafting can be a particularly dangerous sport, especially if it takes place on whitewater, and of course even more so if all of the usual safety precautions are not taken.
Depending on the area you choose to go rafting, the safety precautions will sometimes be different, and so you must be sure to acknowledge yourself on the proper precautions for the particular location you choose before going rafting.
Tips For Rafting Beginners
There are a number of different tips which are good to take into consideration, especially if you are a novice to rafting. It is however incredibly easy to learn how to raft, especially if you use an experienced guide, which is recommended for first-timers to the sport. These guides will teach you everything from how to hold your paddle, to how to turn the boat, to how to stop or pick up speed, to what to do if you fall out of the raft.
In order to be comfortable and feel safe while learning how to raft, hiring a professional who knows what they're doing is a smart idea. Under the guidance of these professionals, you can learn such things as the differences between paddle and oar rafts, as well as learn such techniques as highsiding, keeping the boat straight and rigging flip lines to right the boat in the event of a capsize.
When you go on a rafting tour, the guides will usually provide you with all of the equipment that you will require, such as wetsuits, lifejackets, paddles or oars, and rafts. Besides these pieces of equipment, you should also have a pump, a patch kit, and a throw rope.
If and when you do go rafting with a tour company, be sure first that the guides are qualified and have the expertise that is essential for your own safety. Knowing what you should do in case of an emergency is incredibly important, so that you do not find yourself in a possibly compromising situation.
This is another reason as to why having a guide is important, as they will be equipped with all sorts of first aid and emergency equipment.
Popular Paintball Markers
(category: Sports-Recreation, Word count: 240)
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These are some of the best and most popular paintball markers/guns available on the market.
Spyder Electra: This model, which is the most expensive in the Spyder series of paintball markers, costs only around $300. It features an electronic board with color access mode display, a 3-rnd Burst, 6-rnd Burst and Full Auto enhanced modes, with a rate of up to 20 BPS (ball per second) and an aero twist accuracy barrel. It also has an adjustable clamp feed and electronic safety mode. The gun operates on CO2 or compressed air.
Diablo mongoose II BBS LCD with EYES: This paintball marker is capable of semiautomatic electronic fire, up to 17 BPS. The Foregrip is equipped with an expansion chamber, and a rear velocity adjuster with tournament lock. The LCD version features Shot Counter, Game Timer and Auto Shut-off. Price is about $200.
Tipmann 98 Custom Pro E: Tipmann has paintball markers with price ranging from $150 to $300. The Tipmann 98 Custom Pro E, which costs around $230, is one of their latest products. It features five electronic firing modes - Semi Auto, Auto Response, Full Auto, 3 Shot and Turbo, a Stone-Honed barrel, fully customizable receiver, removable front grip and a 200 round hopper.
Dye DMC: Dye has some of the most expensive paintball markers with price starting from $700. The three dimensional contoured aluminum bodied DMC model costs around $1400. Owing to its patented FUSE
A Look At The World Team Tennis Pro League
(category: Sports-Recreation, Word count: 438)
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The 2005 season marked 30 years of play for the World Team Tennis (WTT) Pro League. With tennis news surrounding the most popular players in the sport, Pro Leaguers are always in high demand with the tennis news media.
The World Team Tennis Pro League is comprised of the Eastern and Western Conference, each of which consists of 6 teams for a total of 12 in competition. It's regular season annually occurs during three weeks in the summer. The two best teams, one from each conference, will advance to the World Team Tennis Finals.
Each team consists of two mean, two women and one coach. Team competitions feature a total of five events, including one set of men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles. The first team to reach five games wins each set. If a set reaches all four, a nin-point tiebreaker is played.
With competitions regularly televised on national tennis news programs, including ESPN2, World Team Tennis is very popular among sports enthusiasts and tennis news in general. The concept was developed in the early 1970s by Larry and Billie Jean King with the WTT Pro League first competing in 1974 with a 5-year contract. After a brief hiatus, the Pro League resumed in 1981 and has been a highlight in tennis news for the 25 years that followed. In 2006, the WTT Pro League will celebrate their 31st season of play.
Since it's debut, some of the greatest names in tennis news have competed in the league, including Andre Agassi, Any Roddick, Anna Kournikova, Venus & Serena Williams, Monica Seles, John McEnroe, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and many others. As it's popularity grew, and tennis news coverage increased, the World Team Tennis organization welcomed over 150,000 fans in annual attendance. There is a good reason behind the fan craze and that is because WTT is all about the fans and serves up each experience with a side of excitement. Many of the rules governing the World Team Tennis association are designed in order to make the game a fan-friendly sport, which seems to be working with attendance steadily rising each year.
During each WTT event, fans are encouraged to participate by being vocal about a great play. In addition, they are free to enter and exit the stadium during the competition. But, for those who stay, music is often played between games in order to keep the crowd excitement intact. World Team Tennis is regularly covered on tennis news programs, in tennis news publications and on the internet.
Great British Sporting Events
(category: Sports-Recreation, Word count: 625)
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In this article I write about some of the most famous British sporting events which take place on a yearly basis. My name is Steve Hill from Birmingham and I love to watch most sports especially football, tennis, snooker, horse racing and cricket.
I am currently looking forward to the Fifa World Cup and the winter cricket Ashes tour to Australia. These are sporting events which are not played on an annual basis but are every four years in respect of the football world cup and normally every two years for the ashes series.
Horse racing has two massive sporting events in its yearly calender, the Grand National and the Derby. The Grand National has to be my favourite out of these two as it is normally packed full of incidents as it is a jumping race and there is much more of a chance for the outsiders in the race. There is normally forty horses in this race which itself makes it an exciting race and spectacle. The race takes place at Aintree which is situated in Liverpool.
The Derby is also famous throughout the world and is a flat race. This race which is run over the Epsom downs racecourse and features some of the best racehorses from around the world.
The FA Cup of football is one of my favourite sporting events of the year. Some people may argue that it has lost some of its glamour in recent years but I would have to disagree. This year as an example one of the so called lesser teams in West Ham United managed to reach the final and were in my opinion very unlucky not to win the trophy. It has to be said however that in general one of the big four teams does normally win this cup, these teams are Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.
The British Grand Prix in formula one is another great event from the British sporting calender. This out of all the events that I am going to write about is probably my least favourite, but is still worth a watch even for someone like myself who is not exactly a motor racing fan. In years gone by when drivers such as Nigel Mansell were racing this event was far more exciting. Nowadays with no serious British contenders, it has in my eyes lost part of its appeal. I am sure however that many other true motor sport observers would disagree with me.
The Wimbledon Tennis Championships are always of interest to somebody like myself as I love to not only watch this sport but I also love to play the odd game of tennis as well. Over the last ten years Tim Henman has given the Brits something to shout about and he has put in some stirling performances under the maximum amount of pressure. It is a great shame that he could not quite manage to go all the way and win the tournament. With a new kid on the block in the form of Andrew Murray, this event will continue to offer thrills and spills for British tennis fans.
In golf there is the British Open. This tournament is not as exciting as The Ryder Cup which takes place every two years but it is still very exciting to watch and there is always a live prospect of a British winner. Watch out for a young golfer called Luke Donald over the next few years as I think he is due some big tournament victories.
These are just a few of many great sporting events held each year in Britain. I have mentioned some of my favourites, I hope you find these tournaments as exciting as I do.
Repairing External Lights On Older Recreational Vehicles
(category: Sports-Recreation, Word count: 846)
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As you enjoy your Recreational Vehicle, the years and the miles start to show themselves in the outside lights. Running lights flicker, then fail completely; backup lights work sporadically; indicator and stop lights do not always give fair warning to other motorists.
ALWAYS START BY CHECKING THE BULBS.
If a bulb is blown, it will never work. But if it works on and off, and the filament inside is sound, suspect bad connections.
No need to rush over to a repair shop to get the connections repaired. This is a job you can do yourself, even with no electrical knowledge. Repair shops like to make it look like a very tough job when, in fact, it is one of the simplest tasks.
WARNING: if the shop starts talking about re-wiring your lights, jump in the cab and drive away as fast as you can. Either they do not know what they are talking about, and will wreck your vehicle, or they have marked you as an easy dupe and are about to take you for a lot of money. Here is why:
1. The wiring of the outside lights is very solidly done at the factory. The wires are stapled in place and will likely never need replacement. Almost all troubles with outboard RV lights are due to faulty ground connections, which are easy to remedy.
2. An outboard light has one wired connection, carrying the +12 volt battery supply. This is the only actual wire connecting to the bulb fixtures. (Two wires for brake-signal-backup bulbs.)
3. The connection to the negative side of the battery (the ground return) is through the vehicle chassis. In other words, the battery is grounded to the chassis, and the electrical circuits are normally grounded to the chassis, as well. This makes it simpler to supply power to the circuits; only one physical wire needs to be routed to each device. The negative connection for an outside light is a simple sheet metal screw fastened through the grounded aluminum siding of the vehicle.
4. Are any of the other running and signal lights working? If so, the fuses are probably OK.
Again: make sure the bulbs are still good, and that the metal spring contacts are tight against the bulb contacts. Running lights have only one filament in the bulb, while the signal-brake-backup bulbs have two, and therefore two wires and spring connections to the back of the bulb.
THE USUAL PROBLEM? The grounding screw! The ground return is through a screw fastened to the weakest part of the system - the thin aluminum exterior siding of the RV. Bumpy roads, rain, dirt, all help weaken the connections. The older the vehicle, the more these screws work their way loose. Once the ground screw starts to loosen even a little bit, the electricity starts to arc; corrosion gathers in the joints between the screw and the bulb connector, and between screw and chassis.
THE FIX? Clean up the connections. Here is how:
1. Remove the plastic light covers. The larger ones will have little tabs on either side: push in the tab on one side and gently lift the cover off. The small running lights will pry off with gentle pressure from behind any one of the sides.
2. Inspect the grounding screw and the metal connection to the light underneath it. You will likely see some corrosion, and the screw may even be rattling around loose.
3. Remove the screw and polish up the connection with some fine emery cloth (not sand paper) You want as smooth and shiny clean a surface as possible for good electrical connectivity. Look behind, at the screw hole in the aluminum siding. Clean that up, too!
4. Replace the screw with a new one of the same size. If the screw hole in the siding has been enlarged through miles of vibrations, or over-tightening, then use a screw one size larger in diameter. This will cut a slightly larger hole, making a clean, new connection.
NEVER USE A LONGER SCREW! You never know what you might puncture behind the aluminum sheeting!
Finally, tighten the grounding screw firmly in place, but not so hard that you strip the hole.
5. Older light covers have flat putty strips on the inside for waterproofing. (Most people prefer instead to run a thin bead of silicone caulking around the outside edge of the colored lens covers to keep dirt and moisture out.) Clean away all the old putty first, though.
6. It pays to check all of the running or signaling lights once you are at it. Re-tightening ALL the screws ensures that all your lights will function well for a long time to come.
While you are at it, clean all those colored plastic lenses: brush the dirt out and then give them a wash-up with a little dish washing liquid. Your outboard lights will shine like new.
Now you are ready for many more years of road-running with safe lights, and you will avoid fines for improper lighting.
How Stress Can Make You Fat
(category: Sports-Recreation, Word count: 437)
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If you are like most people you've probably gone through difficult periods in your life, if you have, you may have noticed that you put on weight, even if you were actually eating less. The fact is that stress can make you fat.
Here's Why...
Research scientists have discovered that the hormone cortisol, loves stress and basically the main job of cortisol is to degrade your muscles and cause you to put on weight. It is impossible to stop cortisol from being released from your body and it would be unwise to do so. However there are a few things that you can do to help keep cortisol levels in check and under control.
So What Is Cortisol?
Cortisol is actually released from the pituitary gland in the brain; its primary role is to help regulate your blood pressure. So when you get stressed, cortisol is released in large levels to help keep your blood pressure under check. The bad thing however is that is also breaks down protein and converts it into fat. It does so by breaking down the protein to amino acids, these are then broken down to give you energy. The problem is, if you are stressed over nothing, then you aren't using the energy, so it gets converted to fat and you lose muscle as well.
Ways To Control Cortisol Levels
There are a number of ways in which you can control cortisol levels; the easiest is simply by thinking positive and thinking happy thoughts. Don't forget that stress is physical as well as mental, so if you are overtraining you are putting extra stress on your body and muscles which can induce your body to release more cortisol.
It is quite uncommon for your body not to be able to control cortisol levels or to consistently produce too much. However you can get medicines to help control cortisol levels for people who blame their weight gain on cortisol. But before you try these, give the natural methods a try first as you'll be much healthier for it. Just relax, chill out or even try yoga or meditation.
It is almost impossible to avoid stress and if you do find yourself stressed don't stop eating. Eat healthy snacks to provide your body with the energy it needs in these stressful situations, which should help reduce excessive cortisol release. If you maintain healthy eating and sleeping habits you should be able to reduce your stress levels. If you still think that your cortisol levels might be excessively high, speak to your doctor and get a proper consultation.
Taking A Closer Look At Fishing Rods
(category: Sports-Recreation, Word count: 331)
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Contemporary fishing rods do not resemble the primitive cane poles and which can easily retrieve the fish caught in its bait with the aid of the reels in its rod.
Some of the fishing rods sport sophisticated movable shafts that can move except handle and can make it easier to catch a struggling fish caught on snare bait.
The basic design of a fishing rod has remained unchanged. It is thick at the handle (bottom) and tapered and thinner at the tip to make it flexible and provide it handling stability.
Fishing rods are normally 6 and 16 feet (2 and 5m) and have variable capacity to tolerate fishing activity strains. Length of the pole determines the withstanding power of a rod and also decides upon the angling rod's performance.
One of the smallest and less sophisticated fishing gadgets are the Cane poles, which has a basic fly line attached to it and are either made of bamboo or other flexible materials. A cane pole lacks a reel used for applying or for retrieving a baited fish.
Spinning rods are normally used for fishes like trout, walleye and bass fish but are also good for catching any heavyweight or lightweight fish. Measuring 5 and 7 (1.5 and 2.5m) they are the most popular rods presently. Being very flexible and stress resistant they are used in bass fish competition. To prevent line tangles during unfolding of fold lines they accommodate bigger and tougher fly lines.
For heavy catches around 180 to 200 feet under the ocean's surface the jigging rods are the best. Being made of fine, solid material they are heavy and can catch fish even in alternating currents. Often erratic undersea current disturb the fly line and consequently the lure. So to avoid confusion the fly lines of jigging rods are made long and heavy. Such rods are best suited for halibuts and cods that normally dwell at the bottom of the sea.
How Do I Make The Most Out Of Each And Every Training Session
(category: Sports-Recreation, Word count: 677)
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If you're reading this article then you have probably already begun your study of the martial arts and in all likelihood have progressed through the first few belts. You now understand what karate is about and you are fully familiar with your weekly training schedule. The question that you may still have though is "How do I make the most out of each and every training session?" The following are some suggestions to help you answer this question.
There are several things that you can do to maximize your overall training experience, all of them are easy to implement, and will help you take your karate to the next level. I have presented these tips in a simple cheat sheet that you can post on your bulletin board and look at before each training session.
So here they are:
1.Go to class regularly - When it's time for your next class, get up out of your chair and go straight to class. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, GO TO CLASS! Half the battle of karate is getting to class. Don't lose this battle, or you are doomed to failure from the start.
2.Always give your best - Don't ever accept anything less than your best effort. You are more than likely paying good money to attend your karate classes. Don't waste your money, and especially don't waste your time by being half-committed in your training.
3.Ask questions if you don't understand something - You are the customer, you are paying your instructor to provide you with quality karate. Don't be afraid to ask questions if you don't understand something. Any good instructor should be more than happy to answer your question, no matter how insignificant they may seem to others.
4.Set specific goals for your training and an appropriate timeframe in which to achieve them - Put this list of goals on your bulletin board (preferably next to this article!) and look at them every day or at least before every training session.
5.Write a diary of what you did in each class - OK, OK, I know this is a tough one, and yes I promised to keep it simple, but quite honestly if you do only this one thing I can personally guarantee that your karate will improve dramatically. There is nothing more valuable than keeping a written record of what you did each lesson to keep you on target and help you understand what you learned and where you need to improve.
6.Use your diary notes for your benefit - Oops there I go again, more work for you but hopefully you're listening by now. A diary is not much use unless you re-read what you wrote and then find out the answers to any questions you had from each lesson. Remember tip #3, it's OK to ask questions after the lesson too, or even before the next lesson.
7.Find a great training partner - There is nothing worse than going to class and then having to pair up with someone who doesn't want to be there. Avoid these people like the plague! Find a good partner who shares your same goals and values and make sure you both know that you will work together at every opportunity.
8.Attempt to understand the overall theme of each class - Most good instructors have an overall theme or objective that is carefully woven into each class. Through the content of each lesson many greater insights can be gained by understanding how each content item relates to the overall lesson, and by understanding the general context of each class. This integration of big picture concepts helps to take your karate training to the next level.
So hopefully this quick cheat sheet will help you to glean some extra benefit and insights from each lesson and if nothing else it should serve to better focus your efforts on effective training strategies.
Good luck and best wishes on your journey in karate.
Blame That Horrible Golf Course Sand Trap Bunker On Scottish Sheep 8207
(category: Sports-Recreation, Word count: 560)
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Sand Traps on golf courses - better called "Bunkers" cause great trouble for most golfers. How is that these demons came about to be the scourge of most ordinary golfers?
Amazingly bunkers came about due to geography and topography surrounding the origins of golf and golfing on the windswept desolate Scottish early historic golf courses/ because these holes were sheltered from the cold Scottish breezes, sheep would take refuge in these areas. Thus the holes expanded. When this land came to be used for golf pursuits, it was often too much hard work and time for grass to grow back. Hence the locals took advantage of the sheep's efforts and fashioned sand filled bunkers from the holes.
On these old courses, the golfing greens were sited so as to maximize the bunker's threat to golfer's shots. Hence the sand traps, properly called "Bunkers" came to be named "hazards" in the rules of golf and golfing. Later on in golf and golfing course architecture, golf architects would place these insidious "traps" so as to penalize wayward shots. As a result golf course bunkers are seldom in the middle of the golf fairway - they are usually on the sides of the golf course fairways. Talk about mean and sadistic.
How deep is the usual bunker? That is like asking - what is temperature in New York or what the temperature in Winnipeg, Canada is. It all varies depending on the course , type of sand, the golf course greens keeper preferences and laziness and even the time of year and weather - making a difference as to how wet the sand is and how much has blown away. The usual depth of the sand in a golf bunker can be said to be generally 2 inches in depth. This amount does stop the golf ball form burying too much on landing bit still provides a decent cushion for the escape shot.
Sand bunkers can be the most frustrating and feared part of most golfers. It is the last places most want to be in or finish. It's a reasonable fear but then again why should such simple sand in a hole cause so much grief on the golf courses of the world?
Fear of the golf bunkers need not be pervasive. It all comes down to a lack of technique, understanding and lack of practice of dealing with these shots. On top of that many golfers will only hit the ball harder getting even angrier all the time.
It all comes down to preparation and practice. Your local golf pro can show you easy tips. Most people never practice sand bunker golf shots. It's akin to a belief that if you never go near the water you will never. However in this case you will play golf, and at some time you will end up in the sandbox - properly called the "bunker".
Take the time during the golf season or better yet in the off season to ask your local golf pro for some help and tips on how to get your golf ball out of the horrible sand bunker. If you want to reduce your golf tension level and frustration level as well as reduce your golfing score this is time and money more than well spent.
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