All about Sport

Archive for February, 2010

Ice hockey evolved and developed from the concept of field hockey that was played in Europe for hundreds of years. A McGill University student named J.G.A Creighton, as many of us know took the modern day version of ice hockey from its roots in Canada. He was the dubbed the ‘grandfather’ of ice hockey regulations since his rules were used in the first game of ice hockey played in Montreal in 1875. Around the 18th century the first rink or playing area for ice hockey was used in a game common at the time in Scotland called ‘curling’. The original team line up consisted of 30 people on each side and their answer to a goal was frozen stones on both ends of the field which is known to us as goal lines.

The rules of ice hockey were drafted at McGill University in Montreal in 1879 and by 1893 the sport of hockey had made its way to the United States and by the turn of the century in the 1900s hockey had slowly made its way to various parts of Europe and England. This also brought the birth of the first ice rink (mechanically-refrigerated) was built in 1876 called the Glaciarium, this place was built about 30 years before hockey had really implemented itself as a popular sport in England.

Ice hockey in its infancy needed maintenance because the ice would be rough and difficult to skate on and they didn’t have a zamboni machine, which was later invented in 1939 by Eureka, Utah native Frank Zamboni and later released, for commercial use in 1942 and since then more than 8,000 Zamboni resurfacing machines are used by professional, college, university, and recreational ice facilities to keep their rinks maintained. This was a long way from the birth of the automatic refrigerated rink, which required people to hand scrape the rink, which was time consuming. Until the Zamboni machine cut that time down drastically by being able to drive the length of a rink and have it smoothed out in virtually 15-20 minutes before and after use. The University of Minnesota was the recipient of the 8,000th Zamboni machine in 2005.

It wasn’t until 1867 when a factory foreman by the name of John Forbes developed the first steel bladed skate at the Dartmouth, Nova Scotia-based factory Starr Manufacturing Company and the prototype was a clip on design, but 13 years earlier James A. Whelpley had came out with the first “official” ice skate that was designed for long distance skating called the “Long Reach Skate”.

This skate got its name after an area along the St. John River in New Brunswick where James Whelpley and his family owned a factory that manufactured the skates. The skate along with Forbes’ later modification of the skate had steel blades on them with the exception of Forbes’ design that was changed to make the blade shorter for rink skating. Over the years more modifications followed to what we have as the modern skate today that’s manufactured by companies like CCM (Canadian Cycle and Motor Company-established in 1889 out of Weston, Ontario, Canada)-the main supplier of hockey gear for many college, university, semi and pro hockey teams for their skates, and other Canadian-U.S. based companies like Bauer Sports to make the skates that are purchased by hockey enthusiasts all over the world today. Many hockey buffs are usually very selective in their skates because they want the best and top of the line skates since a serious hockey player will pay good money for skates.

If you have chosen a snowboard or ski vacation this winter then you must have the right equipment that will enhance the excitement of winter sports. Ski vacation gives an amazing experience of skiing in a pleasant environment along with great exercise to your body. Safety is the essential element that has to be up most on the mind to enjoy uninterrupted fun of winter sports. Safety equipment can be had from ski resorts on rental or you can have your own equipment that can give a perfect fit for you.

Choosing The Accessories

1. Right clothing: The first important requirement for winter sports is to get perfectly clothed. You will have to wear snug clothes and dress in layers to retain the body heat. The idea behind the multiple layers of clothing is that it helps in trapping the heat and keeps you warm.
o The first layer: Good and long underwear forms the base of the layer. Here you should ensure that you feel warm rather than look sexy.
o The second layer: The next layer is the waistcoat to provide warmth to the middle of the body. Make sure that the clothes are of easily removable kind in case you feel too warm. You can wear a woolen sweater or a snow jacket with an inner lining. Fleece tops would be a good choice in this case; as they are specially designed by the clothing companies and are popular among people regularly engaging in winter sports.
o The third layer: Protecting the open body parts forms the last layer of clothing. A jacket with inner lining should be chosen that is able to provide proper ventilation with waterproof qualities. Choose a pant with a gaiter fitting over the top of the boot that will prevent the snow from entering inside and making you cold.

2. A perfect pair of boots: Perfect fitting is the most important element for winter sports. While choosing boots for skiing, remember that they should be snugger than your normal fitting. They should prevent the risk of twisting of ankles due to the pressure exerted on them while swerving and turning. The socks that you wear should be made of woolen fabric, and fit well in your shoes.

3. Gloves: A good grip over the skates can help you ski easier and faster. Hence, the gloves that you wear should be made up of material that increases the grip. Gloves with thermal lining are advisable for winter sports.

4. Other things : The other materials like a helmet, earmuffs and scarves and a pair of sunglasses are needed to protect the other exposable parts of body like the head, neck and eyes. These are the vital parts and not to be ignored or it may lead to several severe injuries.

5. Accessories: Of course, the right choice of accessories like skis and poles are important for a good skiing experience and they are available in a number of varieties. The type of poles that are to be used depends upon the kind of ski sport you choose.

Most of the equipments for winter sports are expensive hence if you are a beginner try with the rental equipments before investing in some of your own. However, clothes are an exception to that. Safety comes first while participating in any kind of sports and more so with winter sports.

When it comes to the game of golf, many people understand that it is very important for the individual to be able to find quality equipment in order to make sure that they are at the top of their game. When individuals invest in Junior golf equipment for their kids, they can make sure that the golf clubs and other items that they are using are up to superior standards. Many people will notice the different between using the right size Junior golf equipment and using golf equipment that has been made for other sized individuals. There is high quality equipment that is able to be couple with cost effective prices. This is good since many people want to feel that the items in which they are investing will be worth it in the long run. The right golf equipment items are able to help their investors out by offering them a lifespan that is very competitive and appreciated by many.

Some golf equipment companies will greatly overcharge for their equipment because there is such a great dependence of the player on their equipment when it comes to the game of golf. However, players are in luck because the prices that are placed on some Junior golf equipment maintains that players are able to get equipment that is of a good material and standards are set on the equipment in order to make sure that they are beneficial to the players of golf and that the cost of this venture will not put the players out. It is important that individuals do the proper amount of research in order to figure out which company’s items would be best for them. In addition, there is a great selection that is available to the player, so whatever the player needs they can likely find something that will help them out when they look at the many different types of equipment that is available.

It is very easy to find Junior golf equipment on the internet. In addition to the fact that individuals will be able to find even more highly competitive prices, they will be able to have the equipment shipped directly to their homes. For many people, this is much more convenient than going out to the store and purchasing the equipment and bringing it back home themselves. Being offered the convenience of shipping online is often attractive enough to people that they will make this their primary mode of shopping for goods and items that they are interested in purchasing. Saving time and money is often a big concern for people that are trying to balance busy lives.

Being able to purchase these types of items online allows individuals to manage their schedules more effectively in order to allow them to do things, such as playing golf, which they may enjoy more. Many people may not initially understand that in order for children to play golf correctly, they need the proper equipment just like anyone else. This is why it is so important to get quality junior golf equipment for players of younger ages or smaller statures.

Winter cycling is one of the types of winter sports that are available for people who like adventure. This sport is a challenging one because cycling in winter is not a duck soup. There are great risks involved with the unpredictable climatic conditions like rain and snow. Also the short length of the day during winters adds more to the discomfort.

Equipping yourself with the right clothing and preparations to keep you visible are necessary before going for winter cycling. A person who has riding experience in the winter can guide you better with the precautionary measures for winter sports. However, the bike, which is the most important aspect in winter cycling, should be well conditioned with lights, reflectors, tires and mudguards to withstand the extreme climatic conditions.

The two important factors that play a major part in winter cycling is clothing and maintaining a good visibility. Let us see what care should be taken for a good riding experience.

§ Clothing: As you are going to ride in bad weather conditions proper clothing should be maintained to keep yourself warm and dry during winter sports. You have great options to choose from the sports clothing if you are able to afford some expensive investment. A wide range of thermal layers, breathable jackets and stretchy polyester are available for winter cyclists. If you prefer low budget clothing then you have woolen and synthetic materials perfectly suiting your pocket. Never go for cotton clothes, as they will not provide the warmth required and it would be a wrong choice for winter cycling. Instead of wearing one or two thick clothes, it is always advisable to wear sufficient thin layers during the ride. It acts as a natural insulator as the layers help in trapping the air within and keeps you warm. Moreover, it would be easy to pull off a layer if you start feeling hot whereas maintaining the required warmth at the same time.

§ Visibility: The next most important factor that has to be considered for a safe winter cycling is maintaining good visibility. Usually motorists will be monitoring your ride and therefore it is necessary to highlight your upper part of the body. You can wear fluorescent colored jersey or jacket so that you can be easily identified in bad weather that is common during winter sports. You can even get some reflective straps affixed to your jacket. Not only the upper part of the body, even your hats and gloves should possess some reflective material. A pedaling motion catches the motorist’s eye easily if the shoes and pedals are also highlighted with reflective strips.

On the other hand, in case you are going to ride in a rainy weather it is going to be prove to be terrible if you are not properly equipped for the situation. Once again, plenty of options are available for cyclists like breathable jackets, leg wear, small pocket sized capes etc. It is a wise idea to invest some amount for winter sports like winter cycling if you have decided to ride regularly.

Changes in weather conditions are something that is out of man’s control. However, we can take measures to prepare ourselves and face them bravely. Winter sports can be much more fun if indulged in with care.

Nobody likes to stay cooped up within the house for long, and winter sports provide the exhilaration and mad rush of adrenalin when the sun has decided to go into the shadow for months! These sports provide a fun alternative to staying inside a gym for workouts!

While there are certain sports like basketball that can be played around the year most of the winter sports are based around snow and ice. Hence, it becomes all the more important to take extra precautions and follow measures of safety against the dangers of overexposure to extreme cold weather.

In order for the body to work efficiently, it is essential to maintain the right temperature, or the body would start consuming more energy for warmth. And this could leave you feeling weak and exhausted soon, not letting you really enjoy your winter sports. It could also lead to severe medical conditions like frostbite and hypothermia.

What Is Frostbite?

Frostbite is a common condition of the extremities of the body caused due to extreme cold exposure. Without proper warm clothing like hats, mittens, earmuffs and correct footwear, the surface tissue of the ears, face, toes and fingers freeze up. And this painful condition could be a total dampener to the spirit of winter sports!

The symptoms of frostbite include pain, numbness and burning in extremities. The skin becomes hard and white and eventually changes to a firm, yellowish-gray. It becomes blistered and starts itching and peeling off! If a person gets frostbitten during winter sports, he should be taken to a warm, dry place, and the affected areas should be raised and applied with moist, warm compresses, taking care not to rub them.

What Is Hypothermia?

Hypothermia is another serious condition resulting due to inadequate safety measures during winter sports. In the extreme cold, the body’s core temperature drops significantly, leading to intense violent shivering. There could be lack of coordination, muscle-stiffness, sluggishness, slurred speech, goose bumps, numbness, confusion, depression and even unconsciousness. The victim should be immediately taken to a warm, dry place and covered with extra warm clothes or blankets, or given your own body heat.

How To Prevent Such Conditions?

The best way of defense against such afflictions is warm clothing. Use layered clothing – several thin layers provide more warmth than a single heavy layer. There are ideally 3 layers that go with all winter sports: base, mid and outer. The base layer keeps perspiration away from your skin; mid layer provides insulation and the outer layer allows moisture to escape while keeping wind and water out.

Also make sure to get enough carbohydrate-rich nutrition in the form of quick short meals, and drink plenty of water while taking care to avoid caffeine and alcohol, as they dilate blood vessels and increase the loss of body heat. All these measures will help to make your winter sports even more enjoyable.