justsportsandfun

Water sports are very popular amongst athletes and non-athletes alike especially in the hot days of summer. After all, any of the water sports is an excellent way to keep cool and look cool, stay active and tanned as well as get your exercise and its health benefits.

However, water sports can be dangerous, too. Reports of drowning and other water-related accidents worry us and yet we still fail to adopt certain safety guidelines to avoid becoming the next victims. Well, if you want your family and friends to be safe at all times while engaging in water sports while having fun, it pays to take heed of the following safety tips.

Be a Strong Swimmer

In any water sport, it is important to be a strong swimmer. At the very least, you will be able to swim to shore or to avoid moving objects on the water such as boats. Likewise, you must ensure that the other participants in the sports are also strong swimmers not only because it is a competition where the strongest have the highest chances of winning but also because lives are at stake here.

Wear a Life Vest

Many drowning deaths in the open seas have been attributed to the failure to wear life vests. Even if you consider yourself a good swimmer, life vests are de rigueur in case you lose consciousness or get tired from floating on your own. And remember that not just any toy flotation device will do for the purpose.

Learn CPR

Do not rely on the lifeguards and other medical personnel to come on time to save the life of a family member or a friend. YOU must learn how to administer CPR at the soonest possible time because mere seconds can mean the difference between life and death.

Your local college, hospital and Red Cross branch offer CPR classes so take advantage of them.
Avoid Alcohol and Drugs

Alcohol and drugs will never ever mix with water sports. Both substances have adverse effects on your mind and body, not least of which is slower reaction time, lesser focus and, worst, unconsciousness.

If you must take alcohol, do so after the competition is over so that you are in no danger of drowning. Well, of course, you will be in danger of alcohol-related traffic accidents so you are better off staying away from it.
Stay in Designated Areas

Of course, one of the thrills of extreme water sports is facing death in the eyes and living to tell the tale. However, if you want another shot at that heart-pumping move, then do try to stay within the designated area of the competition.

For individuals who are swimming in the open seas, this tip is very important especially when strong currents and waves are present.

Know the Safety Rules of the Sport

Each sport has its own safety guidelines and equipment. It pays to become familiar with them and then take heed.

For example, if your sport says that you have wear shoes and a helmet like wake skating, then do so. Better yet, you should undergo sufficient training before hitting the competition circuit.
Indeed, water sports accidents, injuries and deaths can be significantly reduced if only we know how to engage in them as safely as possible.

Whitney is a lover of all water sports and participates in many wakeboard and wake skate competitions, in Louisiana, United States.

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011

The Most Extreme Professional Sport

Football, basketball, boxing and baseball were the sports I faithfully participated in as a kid through adulthood. I was fortunate enough to compete in football and boxing at the professional level. Other activities such as wrestling, track, handball, racquetball and lacrosse were used to sharpen me up for football and boxing. Each of these compliment the other to enhance skills and increase your talent. You can never be too good in any sport and someone will be there to overtake you when you ease up. You can take that to the bank with you.

Hockey wasn't a sport many individuals were interested in when I was growing up. There were no known rinks I knew of in New York City where I was located and the local sports heroes came from baseball, basketball and football in that order. Even while at college in the early 1970's I had no interest in watching hockey. I learned more about the sport during college because students from Buffalo loved the Sabres and in the first televised superstars a hockey player participated by the name of Rod Gilbert. The fact that his physique was of ordinary stature and he didn't fare very well in the different competitions failed to pique my interest for mayhem on the ice.

All of this changed in 1983 when I became a New York City firefighter. My firehouse was situated in Coney Island and I watched the engine compete against the truck at the Abe Stark rink. Though none of the individuals competing were fantastic skaters I had new found respect for the skill it takes to speed along the ice on blades I have trouble standing up on and fire a rock like piece of rubber into a goal. While attempting this feat you have individuals trying to dislodge you from the ice at incredibly fast speed. I began to follow the sport as I still continued my boxing career. Wayne Gretzsky scoring 92 goals in one season is a sporting record that will never be broken. It was 100 if you count the playoffs and the numerous records he owns far outweigh any other major professional athlete.

When you watch a hockey game up close there is nothing else like it. I always thought the live fights was the greatest thrill until I went to a professional hockey game. They are moving on their skates at an average 13 miles per hour and slap shots average 100 miles per hour. The hitting is brutal and you are afforded less protection than a professional football player. The majority of hockey players are minus some teeth because of the contact from pucks and fists since fights are common after a brutal hit while traveling at break neck speed. The way the athletes can stop and go while changing direction while carry a lethal weapon (the stick) is both incredible and thrilling. Blocking the puck with your body is another art form left for only individuals containing the strongest of wills. Elbows, high sticks, cross checks in the back and pucks and gloves in the face make this sport only for the toughest of the tough.

Boxing and football are great and test the strength and desire of every athlete but I must be honest and declare hockey as most extreme out of the major sports I have competed in and studied. It is not a game for the weak of heart but one where only the strong compete.

This author is a former professional athlete in boxing and football. He has worked as a professional and personal trainer and taught fitness programs worldwide. You can get his take on the best exercises, sports and health clubs in the country at http://www.absoluteintensity.com. He also promotes absolute intensity gym wear to make sure you look your best while competing.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Why Kids Are Crazy About Extreme Sports

Extreme Sports are the latest craze in our culture and kids as young as four and five years old are fascinated with it. As a parent of a 16 year old who has been skateboarding and surfing since he was seven, I can tell you that it does make you nervous when they do the crazy tricks. Some people hate extreme sports and some people think they are a blessing, let's take a closer look.

The positive side of kids being involved in extreme sports in that they are out getting exercise and the television in your living room is starting to collect dust, plus your electric bill is lower. You have probably been hoping for this to happen for awhile but you aren't sure about the choice of sports. Although skateboarding is probably the first of the extreme sports, it is only the beginning. Some of the others that kids are really getting into these days include BMX biking and trickblading.

BMX bikes are like a regular bike on steroids, they are built heavy and tough to be able to take the punishment of all the jumps and tricks, plus they have special pegs for the feet and padding to protect the biker where they are most likely to come in contact with the bike. These bikes are designed mainly for tricks and racing and are mostly used on dirt tracks and courses.

Trickbladers use the same parks as skateboarders and wear specially designed roller blades with smaller thicker wheels and have an added feature called a grind plate to help them do tricks like sliding down rails. I know, it makes my skin crawl just thinking about it! The idea is to be able to do a lot of the same tricks performed by skateboarders.

Skateboarding is thought of as the original extreme sport beginning in the 1960s when surfers put wheels on short boards to give them a way to cross train when the surf wasn't up. These early skateboarders are probably amazed at the way the sport has developed with the huge half pipes and long rails that you see skateboarders riding today. It just makes me cringe to watch as they slide down a handrail while standing on a skateboard but incredibly my son has done it for over nine years and never broken a bone.

If you are like me, the first time that you watch your child go sailing through the air on a jump or paddling out in eight foot surf you will feel like your heart is going to pound out of your chest and you will be cringing every time they fall but as long as they have the right safety gear and are always with a buddy they will be fine, injuries are far more common in traditional sports. Encourage your kids, these days it's hard to get them to like anything.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about trophies and Award Trophies [http://www.shop4trophies.com] at [http://www.shop4trophies.com]