Gizmag: Sports

Snowboarding through the summertime: the Snowtunnel

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:21:02 -0600

The trouble with seasonal sports is that you've literally got to follow the seasons around the globe if you want to live your passion year-round. That, or let technology find a way to bring you your outdoor thrills indoors - like the Snowtunnel does. We've seen Dubai's lavish indoor ski slopes in the middle of the desert - now, this Aussie invention gives snowboarders the chance to cut a neverending icy edge for a fraction of the cost it takes to operate other indoor ski facilities. Sure, it'd be nothing like the feeling of dropping in, carving and jumping your way down a mountain slope, but the Snowtunnel looks like its own kind of fun...

Tags: Snowboard, Snowboarding

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AlterG M300 Anti-Gravity Treadmill: train or rehabilitate weightlessly

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:16:28 -0500

There are two things that are immediately appealing about the AlterG M300 treadmill. The first is being able to maintain fitness levels whilst nursing an injury, and the second is that you’ll feel as light as a feather whilst working out. The M300 allows people to run or walk at a reduced body weight of up to 80 percent, while the differential air pressure technology assists by applying a comfortable lifting force to the body. By reducing the body weight, there is less impact on the muscles and joints, and people are able to move more naturally and without pain...

Tags: Fitness, Sports, Treadmill

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Reduce your Carbon skateprint: K2 Eco inline skates

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:32:25 -0500

Undoubtedly a pretty environment-friendly way to travel, donning a pair of skates still leaves you with a bit of an eco-headache. With all that plastic and metal wrapped around your ankles, the skates themselves are a bit of an environmental let down - until now. Inline skate innovators at K2 skates have recently added another industry first to the company's catalogue of cutting edge developments. Not only are the boots and laces made from recycled plastic bottles but the wheel frame is made from one of the most sustainable materials on the planet, bamboo...

Tags: Bamboo, Eco-friendly, Environmental, Inline, Recyclable, Recycling, Skate, Sustainable

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Loopy design or best board ever?

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:22:49 -0500

The Loop-In concept board could be an extreme skater’s dream, an answer for out-of-season snowboarders, or perhaps surfers who find themselves a long way from the ocean and want to keep up their skills. The Loop-In’s huge wheels can rotate over almost any surface while the board will rotate 360° within its interior independently...

Tags: Acrobatics, Backpack, Board-riders, Concept, Design, Hardcore, Ride, Rotate, Skate, Snow, Snowboard, Surfing, Wheel

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Powerbocking: jump like a kangaroo, run like a gazelle & stride like a giant

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:46:08 -0500

They’re enough to fulfill anyone’s dreams of bionic powers: jump six feet in the air (and over cars, if you’re in the mood), run at 25 miles an hour or more, and stride nine feet at a time. But, instead of costing Six Million Dollars, you can invest in a pair of “powerbocks” for just a couple of hundred. A cross between stilts and a pogo stick that harnesses energy in the same way as a trampoline, a set of Powerbocks will not only make you part of a sport that can help you lose weight, build strength and reduce cholesterol, but you’ll also be drawn into a craze that’s swept the world from Korea to Canada. ..

Tags: Air-Trekkers, Fly-Jumpers, Jumping stilts, Power stilts, Powerbocks, Powerisers, PowerSkips, PowerStriders, Pro-Jumps, Spring stilts

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Exclusive: Cranklock system delivers massive corner speed advantages for racing cyclists

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:00:09 -0500

Seconds are everything in cycle racing. A 10-second gap on the nearest guy behind you means he's got to work his butt off just to stay in touch. So a device that can reliably give you an effort-free 20-second advantage on a 3km twisty downhill stage is clearly going to be dynamite in the racing market. It's called the Cranklock, and it allows cyclists to enjoy motorcycle-style lean angles and massively improved cornering speeds by putting your center of gravity low and to the inside of the corner, like you can on a motorcycle. And if initial reactions from pro racers in New Zealand are any indication, it's going to revolutionize the world of competitive cylcing. Oh - and there's safety and security benefits for your average road rider, too. This is a sensational idea...

Tags: Bicycle, Cornering, Cycling, Motorcycle

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Nike's new Nike+ SportBand

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:34:17 -0500

Nike's new USD$59 Nike+ SportBand goes on sale tomorrow, adding yet another information device for runners into the marketplace. The SportBand offers runners real-time performance feedback on their distance, pace, time and calories burned and the wrist-worn form factor is designed to offer the info “at a glance.”..

Tags: Apple, iPhone, Nike, Running, SportBand

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Pool-Mate goes stroke for stroke with swimming's best

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:11:06 -0500

For swimmers and triathletes in training or racing, keeping a tab on laps is tedious, but also it can be easy to lose track at times, especially as you tire. Plus there are frankly better things to think about while you’re working out in the pool. British company Swimovate has come up with a swimming computer, worn like a wristwatch, which takes the mental work out of keeping a lap count. But being a smart bit of tech, the Pool-Mate does a heap more besides. ..

Tags: Athlete, Computer, Cycling, Running, Sports, Swimmers, Swimming, Swimovate, Triathlete, Wristwatch

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Suunto's new heart rate monitors - laboratory on a wrist

Thu, 14 May 2009 20:41:34 -0500

Elite athletes know that training smarter is much better than training harder, and to do that you need to know exactly what's happening in your body. Suunto has introduced its new Triathlon collection heart rate monitors which measure the time interval between heartbeats and its variations to produce seven different body parameters as well as analyze these readings to provide the information needed to maximize their training efforts. ..

Tags: Athlete, Bike, Exercise, Fitness, GPS, Heart Rate Monitor, Sports, Triathlon, Watch, Watches

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Fitness out of the box

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:43:24 -0500

The Fitness Cube is an ultra-compact fitness solution for your home. Within seconds it transforms into a weights machine and all the exercise accessories are contained neatly within the cube. An eight-position resistance switch ensures you work out at your optimum fitness level and the supplied poster details the correct way to perform 30 different exercises...

Tags: Exercise, Fitness

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Scarpar's 60kmh all-terrain twin-tracked Powerboard

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:02:51 -0500

It's rare that you see a whole new segment open up in personal mobility - and this one looks like an absolute cracker. The Scarpar Powerboard is an off-road powered skateboard capable of taking on pretty much any terrain other than water. An electric or 4-stroke petrol engine powers two articulated tank-style tracks up to a terrifying 60kmh, using a hand control for acceleration and braking. Mud, grass, sand, snow - the Scarpar is capable of driving over just about anything, including rock piles and even fallen logs. Calling venture capitalists - get this thing to market!..

Tags: Electric, Off-road, Prototype, Scarpar, Skateboard, Snow, Video

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RoboCup Ball Return Robot makes putting practice easy

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 19:48:46 -0500

April 18, 2009 Winner of the Best New Product’ at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando this year was the RoboCup, a new ball return robot designed to play personal caddy on any practice green. When your putts drop into the hole, the US$50 RoboCup automatically shoots the ball right back to you. RoboCup runs on 4 AA batteries and will return the ball up to 14 feet about 15,000 times – more than enough for even the most ardent practice session. Combine it with the RoboCup Caddy Cord, and even missed putts shoot back to you. ..

Tags: Golf, Practice, Robocup

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Shimano's Dura-Ace Di2 electronic shifting to give road racers a time advantage

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 03:18:05 -0500

Japanese bike component manufacturer Shimano seems to have the pro-cycling world in a bit of a spin with its newly launched electronic Dura-Ace road racing components. It’s still early days but already the Dura-Ace Di2 – which stands for digital integrated intelligence – is receiving favorable reviews, with talk of significantly slicker, cleaner gear changes and one expert opinion describing the electronic component series as “revolutionary”...

Tags: Bike, Electronic, Racing, Shifting

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Garmin update Forerunner fitness watch range

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 03:42:44 -0500

Garmin will release two updated Forerunner fitness watches this Summer, the 310XT and the 405CX. Both come equipped with the latest GPS technology and can be synced wirelessly to the user’s PC or Mac so workout data can be automatically downloaded. Performance information can be acquired by simply tapping the bezel, calorific consumption is calculated by the user's heart rate and the user can even challenge a virtual partner to a workout. ..

Tags: Fitness, GPS, Sports, Watches

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The world’s most advanced bicycle to be unveiled

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 04:21:30 -0600

We first reported on the high performance bicycle being created and built by F1 engineering specialists, BERU f1systems in December. Now we can disclose the bike will be fully revealed next week at the launch of the U.K. Science Museum’s free exhibition “Fast Forward: 20 ways F1 is changing our world” The UKP20,000 Factor 001 is much more than a bicycle, and is actually a ground-breaking training tool combining innovative design and advanced electronics. The company claims the Factor 001 will change the way athletes and serious enthusiasts undertake fitness training...

Tags: BERU f1systems, Bicycle

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Splitstream Dynamic Triathlon Handlebars make switching a breeze

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:50:27 -0600

Up until now, triathletes have had no option other than to switch between two different handlebar set-ups when cycling, but this prototype design provides a new approach. Splitstream Dynamic Triathlon Handlebars combine two configurations in one, utilizing a hinge mechanism in the center which enables the cyclist to seamlessly navigate between two riding positions...

Tags: Aerodynamics, Athlete, Design, Triathlon

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Teflon-infused waxes reduce friction for skiers and snowboarders

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 23:50:56 -0600

Now here's a good idea! Zardoz has introduced Teflon-infused hard waxes for skiers and snowboarders which reduce friction between the ski or snowboard base and the snow. This means better speed and turning control in any weather condition. The new wax comes in two formulas - one for warmer, moist snow and one for colder, dry snow. ..

Tags: Snowboard, Teflon, Zardoz

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Gladiat8r: a modern take on Roman battle-gear

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:12:41 -0600

This intriguing helmet concept from Canedo Studio and spotted by Yanko Design is said to be inspired by the protective headwear worn by Roman Gladiators and we mention it mainly because, well, it's a very cool design. Although on one hand it may look like an industrial brain slicer, the design is indeed intended to protect one's noggin, with weight being distributed evenly across the arch structure to reduce pressure on the bridge of the nose...

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The Mountain Monk transforms from backpack to downhill bike

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 01:26:33 -0600

Riding downhill is fun, riding uphill is not, and depending how mountainous the terrain you're tackling is, it can sometimes be easier to walk the uphill part. That's the starting point for this innovative folding bicycle design. The Bergmönch, which means "The Mountain Monk" and is a reference to the kneeling position you can adopt on the descent, is a pedal-less downhill bike (or should it be scooter) complete with hydraulic disc brakes and shock absorption front and rear that weighs only 9.5kg and folds into a backpack in around two minutes to provide walkers of an alpine bent with a fast, exhilarating ticket home... and one that's a lot easier on the knees...

Tags: Bike, Design

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The Whip hits the slopes

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:55:26 -0600

Back in December we brought you news of a radical new design that sets out to improve on almost every aspect of snowboard riding - more speed, higher jumps, quicker turns, better fit and less chatter. Now, after four years in development, "The Whip" as it's known has been officially launched. Gizmag spoke to inventor Adams Lin to learn more about what sets the design apart. ..

Tags: Design, Sports

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Slegooning: snow sledding for speed demons

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 23:22:52 -0600

December 29, 2008 Flipping upside down on a snow sled usually puts an abrupt end to your downhill journey and leaves you with - at best - a face full of the white stuff and a short slog to retrieve your errant steed. Enter the Slegoon, a concept design from Londoner Spike Reid which puts a new spin on sledding by seating the rider in a semi-enclosed pod that can continue its run even when upside down...

Tags: Design, Snowboarding, Sports

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Gyroscopic golf club irons out your swing

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:37:38 -0600

Part of the attraction - and frustration - of golf is that the slightest imperfection in your swing can quickly be transformed into a utter disaster on the scorecard. Because of this, the game has also created a huge market for devices designed to help you train your swing correctly and the Gyro Swing - a training club that incorporates a 20,000 RPM gyroscope into the head - is one of the most high-tech examples we've seen to date...

Tags: Golf, Sports

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The Whip promises a revolution in Snowboard design

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:28:38 -0600

Developed in the 60s and 70s and first appearing as a Winter Olympic Sport in 1998, snowboarding has now well and truly taken a hold on the ski-slopes. But despite the growing popularity of the sport, slicker graphics and better board construction have been the only notable innovations in recent times, with the core design of the snowboard not undergoing any major changes since steel edges were added two decades ago. That's the argument put forward by Cheetah Ultra Sports, a company that is set to reveal what it calls the most advanced snowboard ever - "The Whip". ..

Tags: Design, Snowboarding, Sports

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The TAG Heuer Grand CARRERA Calibre 36 RS

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:24:09 -0600

The newest member of TAG Heuer’s high-end Grand CARRERA watch collection, the Calibre 36 RS Caliper Chronograph features a COSC-certified movement oscillating at 36,000 vibrations per hour and is the only automatic chronograph capable of both measuring and displaying 1/10 of a second intervals using an innovative rotating scale design...

Tags: Sports, TAG Heuer

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Golf watch forged from Seve Ballesteros' clubs

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 04:14:59 -0500

Looking for a highly-credentialed lucky charm to help lift your game next time you step out on to the tee? This limited edition of 50 golfing watches created by Swiss watchmakers Jaermann & Stübi in conjunction with former World No. 1 golfing legend Seve Ballesteros just might be the answer. There's a good reason for the "limited edition" tag - each of the cases in the run has been forged from the irons used by Ballesteros in his five under par victory at the Chunichi Crown Open in Japan back in 1991. ..

Tags: Golf, Watches

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