Sports imPULSE

Blocking That Glare

Anti-glare solutions have been around for quite some time.  Mueller Sports Medicine has developed No Glare strips that are interesting due to it's very simple design.  The genius is always in the design, just look at Apple.  These No Glare  Strips are pressure-sensitive, maximum non-glaring strips.  Easy to use and remove.  Won't smear or sweat off.  Won't stain uniforms and allows towel drying of face.  Supporting the performance of these strips is a good amount of research. 

In a excerpt from the study, Mike Maloney President of Bjorksten Research Laboratory found:

"When we tested the adhesive backed strips, we found that they reduced the light entering the peripheral area of the eye by about 2.5%. Since the eye black and the adhesive strips were applied in the same location and have about the same color and texture, it appears the advantage for the adhesive strips comes from the difficulty applying uniform amounts of eye black at the same location for each test.

We also tested adhesive backed strips that cover both the cheek and the bridge of the nose and found that they reduced the light entering the peripheral area of the eye by about 12%. The bridge of the nose is a larger reflective surface than the top of the cheek."

Superheroes On Snow - part 2

As previously mentioned, the Superheroes exhibit at the New York Museum of Art's Costume Institute included a Spyder downhill racing suit.  Not to be outdone, here are a few other options for the ski superhero in all of us:

Hot Dogger - Full Tilt Boots  give the legendary Raichle Flexon fit a modern update with yellow buckles, zebra patterns, and an "active" rubber footboard for cushioning on Superman-size cliff drops.

Rocker - is the name of the ski and describes the technology from Salmon Sports : an inverse camber the tip and tail rise like the bowline of a boat to displace deep snow and let you dive through like a dolphin.

Rogue - Clear vision is imperative in any sport.  The Dragon goggle's clean styling, wth a money motif or a coal-black classic, tops off your look.

Superheroes On Snow

It's appropriate that the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York included a Spyder downhill ski racing suit in its recent Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy exhibit, inspired by sci-fi movies and comic books.  With its soaring peaks, neon parkas, and speedy slopes, no other sport so perfectly combines elegant athleticism and pop art.

This year, technology in skis and apparel takes snow gear to even higher altitudes of style. Here are a few ways you can skip the superhero cape:

USA DH Race Suit - The guys on the US Ski Team fly fast in this suit, with anti-static properties for speed, thermal conductivity and Spyder's signature web pattern for battling gravity from Kitzbuhel to Beaver Creek.  Additionally, the three layer material allows for the most aerodynamic form available.

A-lotta skis - The A-lotta will supply a magic carpet experience like no other.   This ski's gutsy girth will have you moving with grace.  Handmade in Colorado, these wide pop-cool skis carve through deep powder as if it were shag carpeting.

Pulse Gear: Watt Bike

Sports Intelligence is something we take pretty seriously around here.  The ability to collect real data and then make use of that data for performance optimization or organization development, this is how elite athletes train and how leading teams and organizations implement effective player development initiatives.

Wattbike is a great example of sports intelligence.  Wattbike is a user friendly exercise bike that feels as close to real cycling as you can get. It can be used for every kind of cycling from rehabilitation to Olympic training to online racing, is suitable for riders of all abilities and ages and provides accurate and consistent performance data.

What makes Wattbike unique isn't just it's realistic ride.  Wattbike captures performance metrics up to 100 times per second across 29 parameters.  Now this is sports intelligence!  And because every bike has comparable data and has software that grows with each performance, it means you can now compare your performance wth the elite athletes out there.

The New Titleist ProV1x - Want To Go Long?

Since taking the golf industry by storm in the fall of 2000, the three-piece multi-layer Pro V1 continues to serve as the high performance standard by which all other golf balls are compared and measured.  The New 2009 Pro V1 maximizes distance, durability and performance, and benefits a wide range of golfers with varying launch conditions. 

Amateur golfers like the Pro V1x for the exceptional distance and short game scoring performance.  Pro V1x golf balls are the preferred choice on the worldwide professional tours.

New Pro V1x Features and Benefits

• Soft center, high energy 1.550'' dual core delivers low spin and increased velocity.
• New, speed enhancing Ionomeric casing layer controls driver spin for longer distance.
• Low spin can provide greater control and green-holding ability with full iron and wedge shots.
• A new, high performance Urethane Elastomer formulation offers improved cover durability on all shots.
• Tour-proven high coverage 332 multi-dimple design with Staggered Wave parting line for consistent ball flight.

Think about it, your golf ball is the only equipment used for every shot during your round.  The New Pro V1 contains the most game optimizing technology within the Pro V1 family for the majority of amateur golfers looking to lower their scores. 

Now if I can just get a consistent swing...

Is That A Beetle Or A Cycle Helmet?

As a cycling neophyte, I have found moving around with cycling helmets in hand can be somewhat cumbersome, yet you can’t do without them. So, when portability has reached even the stiffest of technologies, it wouldn’t have been long before this utility gear would go through a revamp, and that’s exactly what we see with this folding helmet design. Designed by French designer Paul Loury, the ‘Beetle Cycle’ is a folding cycle helmet that not just protects you from injuries, in case of an accident, but it also provides comfortable handling as it easily slips in your backpack. The flexible helmet is both ergonomic and cost-effective, while sticking to significant safety measures. Moreover, the new headgear is designed to suit different weather conditions, thanks to the detachable rain and sun covers.

OK, so now I have one less excuse to get out on my bike....

Super, Speedy Swimsuits

A grand total of 108 new swimming world records were set in 2008. There's little disagreement in the swimming community that these new records were set (to a large extent) with the aid of new swimsuit technology.

This month you'll be able to purchase this new super-stretchy Rocket Skin swimsuit which has just entered the skirmish into this raging technology battle and controversy.

The new suit is the brainchild of triathlete Marcin Sochacki, who says the suit is faster than Speedo's LZR swimsuit worn by the fastest swimmers at the Beijing Olympics this year.  Unlike Speedo's LZR, the Rocket Science Sports suit has long sleeves, so it covers more of the body in that low-drag material.

Both Speedo and Blueseventy have introduced new swimsuits to the world stage that are dramatically more hydrodynamic, more slippery, and offer much more speed. The outcome---swimming world records are falling like snow flakes in Alaska.

As we highlight everyday, sports technology is here to stay.  You can't turn back the hands of time or technology.  Look at golf, golf clubs which transfer the energy and the power of the stroke are now much greater than they were before. Would we want to see Tiger Woods play with a wooden golf club? Probably not.  How about wood skis?  Now skiers race on alloy and different types of composite skis. The materials and different types of technologies enhance the sport, make the sports safer, and also make the sport more fun to watch.

Bring on the technology!

Sports Industry Awards 2009

Europe's largest and most prestigious sports commercial sports awards, Sports Industry Awards, just released the short list for the best technological innovation.  The Awards recognize and reward the best sports business has to offer in a number of categories, including sports technology.  The Sports Industry Awards will take place on April 30, 2009.

The short list for the best technical innovation include:

• Aqua Sphere - Vista Cross-Swim Goggles
• Everton FC - Everton Bluetooth 
• HI-TEC - HI-TEC featuring ion mask 
• Johnson & Johnson - The Road to Beijing 
• Speedo - Speedo LZR Racer.

Sports Technology for Para-Athletes

There have been a number of recent developments that are beginning to close the gap between able-bodied athletes and para-athletes.  The recent issue of Sports Technology highlights two specific articles focusing on running prostheses.

One article compares the sprinting mechanics data of able-bodied sprinters with that of a double transtibial amputee by examining the overall kinetics and the kinetics at the joints while sprinting at maximum speed.

The carbon blade used by the amputee sprinter has a significant advantage in both energy storage and return in fast sprinting, in comparison to the healthy human ankle joint. The blade allows the disabled sprinter to deliver the same level of performance as an able-bodied athlete but at a lower metabolic cost.

Another article examines the fitting an amputee with a prosthetic leg, particularly in runners.  It's a pretty in-depth overview of prosthesis technology.

It's great to see technological advancements in this important field, thereby providing more opportunities for all athletes to compete.

Pulse Gear: Never Go Out There Alone

What if something happened to you while you were on your long weekend run, or logging in the serious miles on your bike?  XTREME SPORTS ID  was created for the "what if" scenario.  This product was designed to link athletes to the people we care about the most and, at the same time, provide medical data in case of an emergency.  In short, the emergency identification wristband provides access to detailed information about the wearer.

The process is simple. The user locates the unique 8-digit ID number on their wristband, clicks on the “Register” link on the company’s website, and then follows the step-by-step guide to enter their ID number and vital information. Details like name, emergency contact numbers, allergies, and medical history are instantly accessible with a call to the toll free number.

The “Where Am I” feature on the company’s website may be the most widely used. Allowing the wearer to leave notes for friends and family containing details such as flight information, directions, or simply the remote location of the day’s hike.

The durable silicone wristband is available for purchase online here and also at select retailers across the country. For $8, the wearer receives the wristband and a one year subscription to the interactive service; the annual renewal fee is $5.  This is a really, really great deal, especially for children.

At some point, everyone’s out there solo. Having some additional peace of mind can go a long way.  As their motto says "Never Go Out There Alone".