Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Ski History

You may be a ski lover, but do you know how and why skiing go to where it is today, or where it is heading tomorrow? Most people that take a vested interest in their hobbies do know these things, but there are those of us that just enjoy what is in the now and forget about the past as easily as if they weren’t there at all! This is understandable as some of us didn’t want to sit through US History to 1877 during school, but there are a few things that every skier should know about skiing. Here are a few facts brought to you by the good folks at www.SkiingHistory.org:

> In 1850 Sondre Nordheim discovered the perfect heel strap from the shoots of a birch tree root and figured out how to get sufficient control of the ski to make the process possible. This was the beginning as we know it of skiing in the world as an organized and designed activity.

> In 1866 competition conducted by the Centralforeigning, or Central Ski Association in the Norwegian capital Christiania (now called Oslo), Sondre Norheim and his fellow Telemarkers demonstrate what is later called the telemark turn and the Christiania skidded stop turn.

> In 1905 the National Ski Association was founded in Ishpeming, Michigan with Carl Tellefsen being elected the first president of the Association. Tellefsen was a former jumper and got his title after the first national jumping championship at Ishpeming.

> 1921 was when the first modern slalom race, the Alpine Ski Challenge Cup, was held at Mürren, Switzerland, on Jan. 6, after rules set down by Arnold Lunn: first, J.A. Joannides. The following fall, the first systematic exposition, complete with diagrams of two-gate slalom, was published was published by Lunn in the British Ski Year Book.

> In 1924 the Olympics held their first Olympic Winter Games in Chamonix, France, with Nordic ski events only. The world’s first triple gold medal winner came out of the games in Norwegian Thorleif Haug after winning the 18 and 50 KM cross country and Nordic combined. In all, the Norwegians took 11 of 12 gold medals available.
This is obviously not where the history of skiing comes to an end, but it does begin to show you its growth and history in America and abroad.For the rest of the story

Monday, November 26, 2007

Fly Fishing

Fly Fishing is a renowned fishing sport and is quite distinct in nature making use of ancient angling technique to catch fish. This method is most popular for catching salmon and trout. However, it is also used at present to grab hold of broad genus of species such as bass, pike, carp, and panfish. Besides, marine species can also be held such as snook, redfish, bonefish, striped bass and tarpon. This sport offers both challenge and relaxation to the individuals.

Fly fishing involves catching fish via making use of artificial flies, which are directed by means of fly rod as well as fly lines. Mainly made of plastics in contemporary times, fly lines are heavy cast, which directs the fly near its target. The artificial flies used for fly fishing usually vary significantly in structural characteristics as such size, color and weight. Fly fishing is employed to lure the animal and bring them out of their hiding. Flies are the lures, which are tied to hooks or a hook. These flies are developed by fur, tying hair, feathers and such materials, both synthetic and natural. Synthetic materials are more prevalent and are tremendously popular at present.

The fly fishing rods are constructed from varied materials, in the ancient times the rods were created from bamboo or green heart. However, at present graphite and fiberglass fishing rods are reigning supreme.

Technique:

Fly angler makes use of a long and lighter rod as compared to the ones used in spin and cast fishing. The fly rods for freshwater fishing can be short perhaps 2 m long and almost 4.5 m long, if indulging in 2-handed fishing for catching steelhead or Salmon. 9 feet lengthy rod is average for fly fishing. In case of salt or fresh water, the weight needs to be somewhere between 3 to 5 ounces. However, recent trend suggest more towards shorter and lighter rods especially for minor streams.
The skill required for fly fishing is indeed more than merely striking some kind of meat attached to a hook and flipping it into the water. The fly angler contrives the fly rod to and fro, enabling the fly to whirl in water simulating to attract a peculiar fish, which is more often trout.
The kind of cast employed for fly fishing is based on the conditions. Forward cast is the most commonly used casting technique, wherein the fly angler whisks fly in air, with the movement of forearm forwards till the line gets straight. Other casting methods are single haul, roll cast, tuck cast and curve or side cast. For the rest of the Story

Friday, November 23, 2007

Bicycle Built For Two

Get Into The Groove With A Bicycle Built For Two

Ask most people what they think about in regards to a bicycle built for two and the answer is probably a tandem bicycle. While there are other styles of bikes made for two people, the tandem is the most popular style by far. A tandem bicycle built for two is manufactured with two seats, two handlebars and two sets of pedals.

The Ins And Outs Of A Bicycle Built For Two when it comes to the tandem bicycle built for two, someone has to be the leader or " captain " and take the front seat while the back rider or " stoker " serves as support. The captain should be the strongest of the riders, as he will control the direction of the bike as well as the speed and gear shifting. The stoker is the extra " muscle " that adds additional power through pedaling and also helps keep the bicycle built for two balanced.

Riding The Tande Bicycle Built For Two

The captain has an important job and should therefore ride the tandem bike solo to get a feel for it before the stoker rides on the back. For instance, the captain will learn that a quick push of speed is necessary to steer straight and that there needs to be an initial big push in pedaling in order to get two bodies going. The rear rider or stoker has a " fun " challenge of getting onto the bicycle built for two without upending the entire process.

The captain must brace with two feet solidly on the ground straddling the bike while tilting it to one side so that the rear rider can hop on. Once the stoker is set on the bike, then the captain must have a big initial push off to get the bike moving forward then both riders can start pedaling.

Handy Tips For A Bicycle Built for Two

Try and keep the speed of the tandem bike quick so as to keep a forward momentum going in a straight line as well as to avoid straining the knees with over-exertion.bicycle built for two typically must have both the captain and the stoker pedaling or coasting at the same time for maximum efficiency. In order to stop the tandem bike, the rear rider or stoker must concentrate on centering their body along the frame to maintain balance while braking. The captain signals when to stop pedaling and the stoker must dismount first from the bike before the captain.

The tandem bicycle built for two takes some practice to master the nuances of balance, speed and breaking. Therefore, if you are rather nervous about trying one of these bikes out, stick with roads in your neighborhood that have little traffic congestion or practice riding in an empty parking lot. A bicycle for two is definitely a different way to travel and see the sights!Here are some more bicycle articles...

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

The Best Bicycle Companies

If you are in the market for a bicycle, then surely you can go out to just any company and buy what you see on the shelves. But if you really want to get a good quality bicycle for a great price, then there are a few companies in particular that you are going to want to become familiar with.
Rocky Mountain Bicycles

This is one bicycle company that you definitely want to know about. They are a company that builds bikes for people who love to ride, and they really put their heart into each and every bike that they produce. They love what they do, and know that consumers out there are grateful for it.
As one of the most well respected and established bicycle companies in the world, they have truly made it their mission to create the highest quality bikes on the market today, and they are constantly striving to produce more innovative and durable models. Their success is largely due to the fact that they pay such close attention to innovation, quality and detail, and also how they offer their entire inventory at such affordable prices.

They are a semi-custom bike manufacturer, and they never plan on becoming a mass manufacturing company, because they want to be able to pay consideration and put care into each bike they produce. By staying around the same size of business that they are now, they will be able to continue to do this.

Bicycle World Another fantastic bicycle company is Bicycle World, a business that offers a lot more than just bikes they also have a large inventory of skateboards, snowboards, and related apparel. Their road bikes are especially popular, and just a few of the top brand names that they offer are: Miele, GT, KHS, Opus, and Lemond. Braun's Online

Yet another great option that you have here is Braun's Online, a company that carries an incredibly large and varied selection of bikes, from novice to pro, as well as accessories, clothing, trailers, recumbents, and much more. A few of the other categories they offer are: body armor, cycling glove, bicycle jewelry, bicycle courses, fitness equipment, fitness accessories, pulse monitors, and unicycles.

By taking a bit of time and browsing around at a few different stores, you will be able to get a better idea of what is out there and thus find the perfect bike for you at a great price.
For the rest of the Story

Monday, November 19, 2007

Tips in fishing for salmons in Alaska

Alaska is known as one of the most bountiful areas with salmon, and is ideal for fishing trips. This is because of extreme tides along the West Coast and the gush of ocean currents that create an environment ideal for the breeding of thousands of baitfish.

It is also known as one of the best places to go if one wants to fish for giant King Salmon, the largest specie of salmon fish.The best way to catch these giant salmon (in saltwater) is through trolling or by angling a baited line drawn into the water.Fishing for giant King Salmon can be a year round activity (especially in Seward).

The most sought-after species of salmon are the following:
1. The King Salmon (Chinook) are the largest of all these species. Its weight averages between 20-40 pounds, the heaviest recorded of which is 112 pounds, and can be as long as 3-4". It has a blue-green back that is lightly spotted.
The average life span of a Chinook Salmon is about five to seven years.
Its flesh can range in color from ivory white to a deep red.
Common names for this specie of salmon include tyee, springs, mouth/kings quinnat and tule.
2. Silver Salmon (Coho) on the other hand is slightly smaller with an average weight of 8-12 pounds.
These specie prefer small streams in which to spawn between the months of July to November.
3. Sockeye salmon, on the other hand, are the most sought-after of its entire species because its flesh has a color of deep red and it has a firm rich flavor.
In fishing for salmon in Alaska, one has to be well equipped with the right equipment (and donned with the appropriate apparel).
Listed below are some of the needed equipment/materials and tips for hassle-free fishing:
1. You must be clad in layers of warm clothes (not necessarily bulky ones as it can hinder in the fishing activity).
2. Over these everyday clothes, a waterproof overall, boots and bibs are likewise necessary to ensure that one would stay dry since after a hook-up, some fish may resist with maximum struggles.
3. Fleet or cruisers that offer services for fishing are usually stocked with bait.
4. A guide on board a cruiser ensures that even amateur fishermen will enjoy the activity by providing crash-lessons onboard. They usually hook the bait for the guest and inform the party as to where specific species of fish may thrive for selective fishing.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

A Step by Step Guide to Setting Up a Home Aquarium

There are actually quite a few different steps that are involved in setting up a home aquarium, all of which need to be taken seriously into consideration and acted out upon if you want to have healthy, happy fish.

Getting Started

The first step to setting up a home document.write aquarium is to decide on an actual aquarium. You are going to have to choose what size and style of aquarium you want, and there are many to choose from, so this process can often take a fair bit of time. It largely depends on how many fish you are planning on having and the types of fish that you want, as if you want larger sized or a large number of fish, you are obviously going to have to purchase a larger sized aquarium in order to have adequate room for them.

Preparation

The next step involved in setting up your home aquarium is to clean the tank, gravel and decorations that you are going to use with a non-soap based product. It is crucial to use a non-soap based product because if there is soap used it will get into the water and may negatively affect or even kill some of the For the rest of the Story

Homemade Christmas Gifts Offer Personal Touch

Contrary to popular belief, handmade document.write Christmas gifts are not just for the kids. While many may not have the luster as a " store bought" present, it will have a more personal meaning than anything will that is bought. In most schools, children are taught crafts around the holidays while making handmade document.write Christmas gifts for their family, which can include macaroni pictures and handprints in plaster of Paris.

For those who are handy with wood working tools, making handmade document.write Christmas gifts can be a nice wintertime project. Gifts for children can be small vehicles made of wood or even a puzzle. By taking one of the child's favorite pictures it can be divided into pieces about the same time. Thin wood can be cut into the appropriate shapes with a coping saw and picture then glued to one side of the wood. When the pieces are put together, the puzzle becomes one of the handmade

document.write Christmas gifts the parent can keep and hand down to other children or grandchildren. Holidays displays can make nice handmade document.write Christmas gifts, especially candles in a glass jar. Start with a one-quart jar and place a small pillar candle inside with some holiday For the rest of the Story

Friday, November 16, 2007

Get More Out of NASCAR with Scanners

If you're a NASCAR racing fan, you probably have a favoritedriver. After all, NASCAR is a lot like a soap opera or a movie:drivers are Good Guys or Bad Guys, and then there's Your Guy. Youwant to know as much as possible about your driver, so you'llhave the background when you watch the race each week on TV or inperson at the track.

But if you aren't listening to your driver's radiocommunications, you're missing out on a whole world of intrigue.The radio link between a driver and his Crew Chief back on thepit box is a vital tool in their quest to cross the finish linefirst. Even though everyone involved knows that NASCAR officials(and fans) monitor the frequencies, the heat of a race means lotsof spontaneous comments and outbursts.

Most of the conversations are routine. The spotter, who sits highabove the track, will call out car positions: "Three wide “or”The 6 car's in your mirror."

When it's time to head for the pits for service, the driver willstart rattling off the car's condition, telling the Crew Chief ifthe suspension needs to be adjusted or what he thinks of thetires. In return, the Crew Chief will radio back what he plans todo to fix the car.

The most interesting conversations, though, happen when things gowrong. Drivers say what they think, and that gives you a clueinto their personality and how they feel about the race.

During one recent race, Michael Waltrip, who is having a toughseason, told his crew what was wrong with Car 55. It was shakingbadly, and he held the microphone open so they could hear hisvoice vibrate along with it.

The Crew Chief asked him, "What do you want us to do?"

That's when Waltrip, in a rare display of anger, shouted into theradio, "I don't know! That's your job! I tell you the symptoms,and you figure out how to fix it."

If you watch the race on TV, you'll find that a great dealhappens while the network is in a commercial break. Anotherdrawback to watching on TV is that they can only cover so manydrivers at a time, and yours may be left out.

Fortunately, you can listen to those radio transmissions at thetrack or at home.

At The Track:

You have two options. You can bring your own scanner or rent one.Serious race fans have their own and have their drivers'frequencies programmed into them in advance. Radio Shack sells ascanner that's pre-programmed with NASCAR channels, but it isvery simple to buy a "regular" scanner (about $80-$120) and findthe frequencies on-line. If you buy your own, you will also needto buy a heavy "double-muff" headset. This is very important,because the engines are so loud that you will no be able to hearyour scanner with anything less. Walkman-style headphones, EarBuds, or earphones will not work. Even at top volume, the roar ofthe cars will drown out the sound.

If you rent a scanner at the track, it comes with those headsets,and the radio is pre-programmed as well. Renting will set youback about $50 for the weekend, so if you're going to more thanone race, buying is the way to go.

At Home:

If you watch the races at home, you can still listen to thescanner traffic. Through its website NASCAR offers a subscriptionto Raceday Scanner, which lets you listen to drivers through yourcomputer. (Note that not all drivers are available, so you'llwant to check and see if yours is one of them.) The ideal setupis a laptop computer you can move near the TV, or a desktop thathappens to be nearby, with a broadband connection. The sound isdelayed about six seconds because of the time it takes to get toyour computer, but it is still well worth the minimal cost to subscribe.

There's a lot going on that you don't know if you aren'tlistening in. Once you hear the behind-the-scenes action, NASCARracing will never be the same.

Tips in fishing for salmons in Alaska

Alaska is known as one of the most bountiful areas with salmon, and is ideal for fishing trips.
This is because of extreme tides along the West Coast and the gush of ocean currents that create an environment ideal for the breeding of thousands of baitfish.
It is also known as one of the best places to go if one wants to fish for giant King Salmon, the largest specie of salmon fish.
The best way to catch these giant salmon (in saltwater) is through trolling or by angling a baited line drawn into the water.
Fishing for giant King Salmon can be a year round activity (especially in Seward).
The most sought-after species of salmon are the following:
1. The King Salmon (Chinook) are the largest of all these species. Its weight averages between 20-40 pounds, the heaviest recorded of which is 112 pounds, and can be as long as 3-4". It has a blue-green back that is lightly spotted.
The average life span of a Chinook Salmon is about five to seven years.
Its flesh can range in color from ivory white to a deep red.
Common names for this specie of salmon include tyee, springs, mouth/kings quinnat and tule.
2. Silver Salmon (Coho) on the other hand is slightly smaller with an average weight of 8-12 pounds.
These specie prefer small streams in which to spawn between the months of July to November.
3. Sockeye salmon, on the other hand, are the most sought-after of its entire species because its flesh has a color of deep red and it has a firm rich flavor.
In fishing for salmon in Alaska, one has to be well equipped with the right equipment (and donned with the appropriate apparel).
Listed below are some of the needed equipment/materials and tips for hassle-free fishing:
1. You must be clad in layers of warm clothes (not necessarily bulky ones as it can hinder in the fishing activity).
2. Over these everyday clothes, a waterproof overall, boots and bibs are likewise necessary to ensure that one would stay dry since after a hook-up, some fish may resist with maximum struggles.
3. Fleet or cruisers that offer services for fishing are usually stocked with bait.
4. A guide on board a cruiser ensures that even amateur fishermen will enjoy the activity by providing crash-lessons onboard. They usually hook the bait for the guest and inform the party as to where specific species of fish may thrive for selective fishing.