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Random Sports Articles http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us Backpacking Basics! http://www.articletrader.com/sports/backpacking-basics.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/backpacking-basics.html Sun, 23 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0500 Backpacking Basics!

Backpacking is perhaps the greatest get-away possible to man! Backpackers leave behind most ties to civilization and take nothing with them but what can be carried on their back! Backpacking the miles of wilderness around you can be an exhilarating experience. Whether the trail leads up through high mountain forests, or along a shore, or even the desert, backpacking brings us close to nature like nothing else can.

As with any outdoor activity, planning is essential to a good backpacking experience. While nature is astoundingly beautiful, it is also hazardous, and being prepared is a must. Guided backpacking tours are gaining in popularity, but most people prefer to strike out into the wild. Long before the backpacking begins, the route to be taken should be identified and appropriate people notified of your intentions. Whether the backpacker is a beginner or a well-seasoned old-timer, precaution should be taken for safety. Backpacking gear should be especially lightweight and compact. Backpacks are greatly improved over what they once were, with stronger and lighter aluminum frames, and designed for optimum comfort and support. Backpacking supplies, from nutritional meals to the first aid kit, need to be well thought out in advance. There’s a fine balance in backpacking to carry with you everything you may need, remembering to expect the unexpected, and still fit it all into the backpack! There’s a saying: “The joy of backpacking is inversely proportional to the weight of your pack”!

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Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> The put-across roll http://www.articletrader.com/sports/the-put-across-roll.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/the-put-across-roll.html Sun, 23 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0500 A good kayak roll to teach beginners is the put-across roll.

One of the biggest fears that most people have of kayaking is the worry that their kayak could capsize, and they would be trapped inside of it. Another fear is that there is no way to right an over turned kayak by yourself - however, this is not actually the case. People who are worried about their kayaks capsizing should learn how to do one of the various rolls which will help right an overturned kayak. The put-across roll is one of these methods.

The first move that you should learn before you even begin to learn any of the actual rolling techniques is the hip flick. There are a lot of ways to learn the hip flick, but the most effective method involves working on it in a pool at first. After you learn how to do this move in a pool, then you should move to an area where the water will be a little bit rougher. That way, you can learn how to do these techniques in situations that are similar to the real situation you will face if you ever do capsize while you're on a kayak tour.

One of the first rolls that you can learn is called the put-across roll. This is also similar to the Pawlata roll, so if you're just starting out, you should make sure that you learn one or the other. However, the put-across roll probably has the most benefits for people who are just beginning to learn rolls, and who probably have some difficulties in doing any of the rolls they learn, this is a good place to start.

One of the reasons for this is that the first step of the put-across roll is to do the hip flick in almost the exact same way that you would do it if you were just doing the hip flick in a drill. This makes it easy for people who have either just learned the hip flick, or who don't want to go through the trouble of learning variations on it. In order to learn the put-across roll, you can either look for free advice, take a course, or get a book on the subject. Once you've learned the put-across roll, however, you'll be able to help yourself if your kayak capsizes while you're on a kayak tour.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Please visit his complete kayaking guide for all skills and ages.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> Reverse paddling http://www.articletrader.com/sports/reverse-paddling.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/reverse-paddling.html Sun, 23 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0500 Reverse paddling is an important kayaking technique.

While forward paddling is probably one of the most commonly used paddling strokes, reverse paddling is just as important. In fact, before you go kayaking, you should definitely practice both forward and reverse paddling to make sure that you have the necessary skills so that you do not end up in trouble while you are out at sea.

First, when you are reverse paddling, you should make sure that you are holding the paddle lightly, just like you would if you were paddling forward. This will help you have more control over the paddle, and it will also keep you from getting injured while you are paddling.

Next, you should make sure that you are using the back of the paddle blade when you are kayaking. While you should put the blade into the water near your feet in order to paddle forward, reverse paddling requires you to put the blade into the water near your hips instead. Then, you should push the paddle toward the bow of your kayak while turning the trunk of your body.

You should make sure that you always keep your elbows bent while you are reverse paddling, that way you will not hurt yourself. You should pull your paddle blade out of the water about when you are even with your knees in the kayak.

You can improve your reverse paddling power by reaching further behind your hips.

Finally, it's important to make sure that you are checking behind yourself and over your shoulder while you are reverse paddling. That way, you can make sure that you are not going to run into anything dangerous.

This stroke is even more important since some of the techniques that you will learn by working on it are important in order to learn the emergency stop technique.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Please visit his complete kayaking guide for all skills and ages.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> Never paddle alone! http://www.articletrader.com/sports/never-paddle-alone.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/never-paddle-alone.html Sun, 23 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0500 An important thing to remember about kayaking is that you should never paddle alone.

One of the biggest rules of thumb when it comes to kayaking is that you should never paddle alone. The reasons for this are many, but most of all, if you make sure that you have somebody with you, then you'll be able to stay safe in almost any situation. Having an extra person with you means that if something happens to one of you, the other one will be there to help out - either with the first aid kit, with going for help, or even just by being somebody on the other end of a throw rope.

Never paddle alone is a good idea for other reasons as well. For instance, if you're going to be kayak touring, chances are good that you'll see a lot of amazing things - and it's always good to have another person there to share them with you. Plus, it will likely be a fun and exciting event to share with your friend.

Another thing that you should consider is that if you never paddle alone, then you'll be able to go kayaking in the wilderness without feeling too lonely. After all, it can be very lonely to be alone out on the water with just you and your kayak. If you have another person to talk to, you'll more than likely have more fun out there.

You will also have somebody nearby to encourage you if you start to feel at all discouraged. For that reason, if you never paddle alone, you'll probably be better able to go kayaking without getting discouraged and stopping. This is a good thing to keep in mind if you are going to be kayaking in an area where the going might get a little rough - the last thing you want is to be stuck somewhere alone, and not want to continue.

Finally, and most obviously, never paddle alone is told as a general rule because it is the best way to make sure that you will be safe when you are kayaking. In addition to this, however, you should make sure that other people who are not accompanying you on your trip also know where you will be kayaking. That way if anything happens, the emergency teams will know where to look for you.

However, if you make sure that you never paddle alone, then chances are good you'll be able to have a safe, fun time on the water.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Please visit his complete kayaking guide for all skills and ages.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> Theater Ticket! http://www.articletrader.com/sports/theater-ticket.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/theater-ticket.html Sun, 23 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0500 If you are planning a trip and want to purchase a theater ticket, make sure you get them in advance! For highly renown shows or theaters, these tickets sell out months in advance. Here are a few guidelines to finding theater tickets.

First, if you are planning a trip in advance and plan to visit a well known theater, you need to plan to purchase your theater tickets well in advance. Often times you may need to purchase these tickets before you find the hotel you will stay at! A Broadway theater ticket for a hot show will sell out quickly, so be prepared.

If you are purchasing theater ticket for a local event, you may have several options available to you. First, you can go to the venue or call them to purchase theater tickets. You can also contact a company such as Ticket master to arrange for tickets. Of course, using any outside service means you will be charged a handling fee to that company. Or, you can find the best theater tickets available from your home. That's right. The easiest, most convenient way to find and purchase theater tickets is to use the Internet. You can go to these same venue's websites and find the tickets quicker. You can choose your seating and see what's available by looking at a seating chart. You can also, in some case, print off your tickets right there.

So, if you want to find great theater tickets, whether for the London theater or the local theater, use the Internet to find the best available seats at the best possible rates from your home. Theater tickets are a great treat and shouldn't be impossible to get if you know where to look for them!

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Mike Yeager Publisher

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> Trekking Poles And Hiking Staffs http://www.articletrader.com/sports/trekking-poles-and-hiking-staffs.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/trekking-poles-and-hiking-staffs.html Sun, 23 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0500 Are walking sticks longer than trekking poles? What about hiking staffs and hiking sticks? Whatever you call them, and whatever their differences, they are supposed to help your knees more than anything. This they do very well, at least when you're going downhill.

What else are they good for? They help you keep your balance. You can use them as defense against wild animals as well. I use a walking stick to rest my head on from time to time, and I also use it as a monopod for steadying the camera.

Do You Need Trekking Poles?

What if you don't have knee problems, and you are hiking on level ground? Then maybe there is no point to using trekking poles. They can be just more things to carry.

Do they save energy? They take weight off your joints, but logic says you'll expend more energy by carrying them. I use a walking stick at times, when my knees insist, and it's fun to poke at things, but it's not a necessity. For what it's worth, Ray Jardine, the "father" of ultralight backpacking, doesn't recommend trekking poles.

If you decide to use them, consider the incredible Bozeman Mountain Works Stix Xls Trekking Poles. They're made of a high-strength carbon fiber and weigh 2.7 ounces each! That's is half the weight of the nearest competition.

Walking Sticks and Other Options

I often cut dead sticks and use them until I lose them. I always lose my walking stick - a good reason not to buy the expensive ones. If I do still have it at the end of the trail, I leave it for the next hiker. Hand-cut walking sticks are heavier than high-tech trekking poles, but you can just leave them behind when you get tired of them.

You can use bamboo to make good light hiking staffs. It's stronger than it looks, so use a piece that's only about 3/4" thick. I bought cheap decorative bamboo at Pier One Imports, and cut it to size. You can glue some soft scrap leather on for a comfortable handgrip.

Finally, ski poles work as trekking poles. It's best if you remove the baskets, especially if you're hiking in wooded areas where they may catch on something.

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Steve Gillman is a long-time backpacker, and advocate of lightweight backpacking. His advice and stories can be found at

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> Karate a History http://www.articletrader.com/sports/karate-a-history.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/karate-a-history.html Sun, 23 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0500 Although the basic forms of self defense are probably as old as the human race, the art of karate as it is practiced today can be traced directly to the Okinawan technique called, in Japanese, Okinawate-te (Okinawa Hands). This system of defense in turn is a descendant of the ancient Chinese art of chuan-fa (kung-fu).

Little is known about the historical development of karate in Okinawa, but there is an interesting story to be told about it. About five hundred years ago, the famous King Hashi of the Okinawan Sho dynasty succeeded in uniting the Ryukya islands into one kingdom. To ensure rule by law and to discourage and potential military rivals, he seized all weapons in the kingdom and made the possession of weapons a crime against the state. About two hundred years later, Okinawa became part ot the domain of the Satsuma clan of Kyushu, and for a second time all weapons were seized and banned. As a direct result of these successive bans against weapons, it is said that the art of empty-handed self defense call Okinawa-te underwent tremendous development.

The man most responsible for the systemization of karate as we know it today was Funakoshi Gichin. He was born in Shuri, Okinawa, in 1869, and when only a boy of eleven began to study karate under the two top masters of the art at the time. In time he became a karate expert in his own right. He is credited to be the first man to introduce karate to Japan proper, when he gave exhibitions in 1917 and again in 1922 at physical-education expositions. The art soon caught on in Japan, and Funakoshi traveled throughout the country giving lectures and demonstrations. The main universities invited him to set up karate teams, and hundreds of people studied the art under his guidance.

As the study of karate in Japan became increasingly popular, many other experts from Okinawa came to give instruction. At the same time the ancient native Japanese hand-to-hand fighting techniques of jujitsu and kendo (sword fighting) were being widely practiced, and modern sports imported from the West were becoming popular. Karate soon took over many elements from these, and the basis was laid for the modern Japanese-style karate.

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Michael Smith is a Black Belt in Hapkido and has also studied Karate, Kung Fu and Kick Boxing. Learn the secrets of the worlds most popular martial arts. Visit Web Site Today

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> Swimming Pools http://www.articletrader.com/sports/swimming-pools.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/swimming-pools.html Sun, 23 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0500 Summer is a welcome treat, especially if you live anywhere that gets a lot snow over the winter! So when summer arrives, getting the pool open and ready is probably your highest priority, and your family and friends are likely already lined up with their swimsuits on!

Starting your pool up for the season

When starting up the pool for the first time in the season, you'll need to drain any water in the pool along with any antifreeze you used to keep the equipment free of ice. Then you can refill it, adding the chemicals necessary to continue keeping it clean for the summer.

Keeping your pool clean throughout the season

Throughout the swimming season you should be brushing the sides of your pool to loosen debris that collects there, you should be reversing your pumping system to help clean out any build up, and you should be vacuuming the water and skimming the surface. This will keep your pool in tip top shape through out the season and it will make your pool an enjoyable place to be near.

Preparing your pool for winter

As winter approaches, and after everyone reluctantly takes that one final swim, you need to prepare it to sit dormant for the few months that you won't be able to use it. Drain the water below the freezing line, drain the water out of the plumbing, and filling the pump and pipes with antifreeze. Finally, cover it for the winter. And, if you get a lot of snow where you live, be sure to mark out where your pool is in case snow builds up and hides your pool, which creates a potential hazard that someone could fall in.

Working on your pool can be a lot of work, but the time and expense involved in maintaining it is much less than the cost associated with repairing it if it does fall into disrepair. And, the squeals of delight from the children as they show off to their friends will make the few moments of work in the spring and autumn not seem so bad.

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Jeff Lakie is the founder of Pool Resources a website providing information on Pools

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> NBA Basketball http://www.articletrader.com/sports/nba-basketball.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/nba-basketball.html Sun, 23 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0500 Basketball’s rich history.

Basketball has a rich history of superstar players. Although the game continues to evolve, the talents of yesterday's stars are seen in today's NBA basketball.

Russell and Chamberlain
The greatest rivalry in pro sports during the 1950s and 1960s in NBA basketball may have been that between Bill Russell's Celtics and Wilt Chamberlain's 76ers and Lakers squads. Russell and Chamberlain defined the role of the dominant big man in different ways. Chamberlain was the better offensive player, providing his team with low-post scoring while passing out of double-teams to open teammates. Russell was the greater defender, providing an intimidating presence for his team by blocking shots and rebounding. This started the fast break for his teammates, allowing them easy baskets in transition. The interior presence of Russell and Chamberlain has been seen in later generations of NBA players, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson.

Chamberlain had the statistical edge, averaging 30.1 points and 22.9 rebounds for his career. Russell, though not the scorer Wilt was, led in another impressive category: NBA titles. Over the course of their careers, Russell won an astounding 11 championships, while Chamberlain won two. Russell's ability to raise the level of his teammates' play contributed to the Celtics' championship dynasty. By making the players around him better, Russell created a model for future championship players like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.

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Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> Paddle floats http://www.articletrader.com/sports/paddle-floats.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/paddle-floats.html Sun, 23 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0500 Paddle floats can save your life, so make sure that you get an easy to use paddle float.

If you're going to be kayaking in deep water (whether this is the ocean or a lake) you may not always be able to go to shore if your kayak flips.Paddle floats provide a great tool for you to recover your boat and get back inside if needed. As a result, you should always make sure that you have a paddle float on hand when you are at sea.

There are many different types of paddle floats that are sold at various stores. However, it's understandably hard to tell which floats work better than others. You should always look for floats that are easier to inflate than others. There are two ways to do this. First, you should read the instructions for use of whatever paddle floats you're thinking about buying. If you do not think that you'll be able to use the paddle float then it is probably not your best bet.

You should also check and see how long the manufacturer says that it should take you to right your boat while you're using. You can also read the recommendations of people who have tried that particular paddle float in the past. If they say that it was difficult to use, then that may mean that you're better off looking for a different paddle float.

Most paddle floats are made out of nylon and are brightly colored. That way, if the paddle float is lost, or if it comes free of the paddle, it will be easily found. Considering the types of locations where you will need to use the paddle float, this is very important.

Paddle floats are used to right your kayak after it has tipped over. Essentially, the paddle float turns your kayak paddle into an important tool. Since one end of the kayak paddle will float, you'll be able to use the kayak paddle to push against the water on the other side of the kayak. The direct result is that the kayak will not flip over again, and you'll be able to get back inside.

Since it is not particularly easy to use paddle floats, it's recommended that you go somewhere relatively safe and practice using them before you get out on the open water and need to know how.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Please visit his complete kayaking guide for all skills and ages.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>