Sports imPULSE

Gift Ideas For Triathletes

Tis the season.  Here are a few small gift ideas that any triathlete would enjoy this holiday season.

• Help any triathlete save time getting secured in their running shoes with a set of Xtenex Laces. These unique laces have an elastic core and a series of knots along the entire length of the lace at consistent length intervals. Stretch the lace and the knots disappear, release the tension and the knots reappear. The more knots between the eyelets on the shoes lessens the tension; the fewer knots between eyelets increases tension. This technology enhances footwear fit, comfort and performance. They are available in a wide variety of colors! MSRP: $19.95

• Here is a little something for the triathlete who has accomplished the ultimate test of endurance or one day dreams of doing so - a Silver M-Dot key chain. The nice thing about this key chain is that it’s not made out of plastic; it’s a nice hunk of metal and has a nice price to go with it. MSRP: $7.95 (www.shopironman.com)

• Triathlon involves spending a lot of time training and/or racing on a bike which can cause chafing in some sensitive areas. Here is a product that will make a triathlete’s ride more comfortable, DZ Nuts high viscosity chamois cream. DZ Nuts is scientifically formulated to minimize the effects of chafing and burning every time they ride. MSRP: $23.00

• Here is a good stocking stuffer, a pair of SLS3 Compression Sox. Their innovative graduated compression technology maximizes the blood circulation in the muscles. The supportive effect and the compression of the SLS3 Compression Sox reduce the muscle vibration drastically, which leads to less damage of the soft tissue and less sore muscles. This will improve their performance in training, competition and recovery. MSRP: $57.95 (www.slstri.com)

• A bike mechanical issue is bound to happen to any triathlete. The end result after fixing the problem could be dirty and greasy hands. How about getting them some Grease Monkey Wipes so they can cleanup after their unfortunate situation. Grease Monkey Wipes are individually packaged cleaning wipes that use an all-natural citrus formula to easily remove grease, grime, oil or other messes from skin and surfaces. They can store one in their bike bag or tuck one in their jersey when training or racing. MSRP: $11.99 for 12 Wipes

Sports Technologies We Love - Electronic Pin Locators

You won't see Tiger Woods using one, but amateur golfers could shave a few strokes off their scores with new devices that calculate one's distance from the pin. One such device called the Leica Pinmaster shoots a laser at the pin to measure distance, helping you decide whether to use the six-iron or the seven. With any luck, lost golf balls will someday be a thing of the past as well, with new products like Ballfinder Scout, that help duffers find balls hit into the rough or woods.  Not that I know anything about lost balls in the rough....

Is That A Camera On Your Helmet?

As you participate in sports, there are definitely times when it would helpful to see what your are doing and make sure your bio-mechanics are correct.  Enter GoPro, the world's smallest, wireless helmet and gear-mountable video camera for outdoor sports.

As you can imagine the applications are numerous, with some posting videos on YouTube, some to check their form and other to ensure their safety.   For example, the more your ride your bike for training or simply commute the more you want a record of what is going on around you. Cars not giving you the amount of room you deserve (3 feet) or truck buzzing you, at least when you go the the police and show them the video, you won't be called crazy.

The Helmet HERO Wide quick-release attaches to vented and non-vented helmets, bikes, kayaks, skis, snowboards, and even includes a head strap for wearing like a headlamp.

Shoot 56 minutes of high-resolution video and 5 megapixel photos automatically in "photo every 2 seconds" mode. Use as a hand held camera, too. Shockproof and waterproof to 100 feet/30 meters.

Oh, I can't wait to see some of these videos...

Awesome Wiimote hack to improve real-life tennis game

I like to play tennis, especially on the Wii where I don't have to leave the couch to score an ace.  But while Wii Sports tennis is a very fun game--and it uses the Wii's accelerometers well--it's not the real thing.  Some people want to play real tennis in the real world.  And some people like to win.

Because of this, Mans Shapshak, an avid tennis player as well as a gear hacker, has come up with a novel way to combine fake tennis with real tennis to improve his real-world game using a hacked Wiimote.

The Wiimote uses Bluetooth as its wireless connection; thus with a little work it can communicate with other Bluetooth devices, like laptops.  Then, combining the wireless aspect with some open-source Wiimote libraries, some basic coding, and a bit of simple math, Shapshak was able to start tracking his toss and serve.  Then he started graphing his results.

By using the data as performance feedback (a very important trend that is beginning to gain serious momentum, particularly among national sports organizations) he can practice more efficiently and, hopefully, get a more consistent serve.  The same idea could be used for bowling, golf, or any other sport.  I'd like to use it for soccer (my sport of choice) but can't fathom running around with a Wiimote taped to my leg.

Golf Gear That Just Might Shave Some Strokes From Your Game

Every game gets more fun with new gadgets, equipment and technology.

Since the US Open is being postponed by rain, we though we would highlight some of the latest golf gadgets that come across our desks. 

Of course, if you had the best of everything you needed when it came to golf equipment, you’d have no excuse for your questionable play. But these items might, just might, shave a few strokes off your soon-to-be inexcusable score.

Visual Golf simulator

Turn that spare room or unused garage bay into any golfer’s dream by installing a full-size simulator. You hit from a mat, slamming a real ball onto a huge screen; a sophisticated system of cameras and sensors tells you how far away your ball settled. Make another club selection and hit again, all the way until you drain it on the green. With the Visual Sports Systems' simulator, you play just about any course you like, anytime you like — and never pay another cart fee — and you can play against real partners or virtual ones. The golf simulator uses four high-speed cameras that take 2,000 pictures each second; the MicroSight technology determines the trajectory, direction and speed of the ball with uncanny accuracy. If you don’t start dropping strokes with this, take up hockey. The system also doubles as your multimedia room for watching movies and listening to music. Basic systems start at $7,500; installation varies.

Bored On The Treadmill? Try GameRunner

 As some of you may know, every year CES introduces the world to cool gadgets and new technologies.  The health and fitness industry takes advantage of this opportunity to showcase products that blend technology with fitness and sports.  A very important topic for us.

One of the coolest things at CES was the treadmill/video game combo from GameRunner.  You are literally in the game and have to walk or run after your opponent.  Their flagship game, First Person Shooter, puts you in the middle of a war situation and you have run your way out without getting killed.

Interesting concept and I look forward to other games.  I might get tired of being shot at during my entire workout, but then again, maybe that's the point.

SKIGYM Lets You Ski Anytime

Want to get some skiing in, but wish there were better weather conditions?   How about skiing from the comfort of your own home with SKIGYM. It's fully motorized and designed for you to experience skiing games on your TV screen.  This takes Wii Fit's games to another level.

SKIGYM, developed by Pro-idee in Germany with some help from sports specialists, ski instructors, and physical therapists, has created one of the best virtual skiing simulators to date.  It not only improves your skiing ability but it gives you a workout in the process. You have the option to either plug this device up to your PC and play the included Alpine Ski Racing game, which has 32 different ski slopes including 18 real life ones like Lake Louise, Beaver Lake, and Chamonix. or you can simply use it on its own as a piece of excercise equipment.

Technically, SKIGYM is a sophisticated training device that transmits your body movements on the screen using a microchip. You also have the option of setting difficultly levels from junior, amateur, and even professional, and can choose between from six different disciplines including slaloms and super G.

I'm feeling like a double black diamond run this weekend...

Exercise While You Work

For all the exercise nuts, I mean the folks who have to work out all the time, here is the exercise device for you.  The WalkStation provides those people working from home, call centers or uniquely equipped offices the opportunity to literally exercise while you work.  At a maximum speed of 2 mph, the WalkStation lets you walk comfortably, burn calories, feel healthier and more energized...all while accomplishing the work you would normally do while seated.  No sweat!

This does sound like a healthy option for sedentary workers at the office, enabling them to burn calories while they work.  Calories are burned every day through normal day-to-day activity.  The WalkStation simply accelerates the burning of a few more calories.  For example, there are a large number of people who spend most of their day seated in front of a computer.  If seated time were replaced by walking while working, energy expenditure could increase by 100 calories per hour.