Sports
What Even Is ‘Snowshoeing’?
The Washington Post has an interesting article out today with items it expects to be popular over the winter. Most of the items are no-brainers: things that have been popular (and hard to get) since everyone went into lockdown months ago. The list includes modern fitness equipment like treadmills and rowers (I’m still waiting for my Concept2 erg that I joined the waitlist for all the way back in July!) as well as timeless hobbies like yarn and jigsaw puzzles.
The wildest entry on the list, however, is an item that I thought had been confined to Hans Christian Andersen stories and Saturday morning cartoon Christmas specials. Namely, snowshoes. Snowshoes? Those retro tennis racquet-looking things people supposedly attach on their feet to walk outside in a blizzard? Yes, it turns out snowshoes still exist in the real world. And apparently they are going to be all the rage this winter.
Snowshoes in the 21st century have gotten a technological upgrade from the stereotypical pair. A perusal of REI’s “snowshoe” section reveals an abundance of interesting models, sort of like compact snowboards for each foot. Some of them even come with poles:
Rendezvous 25 Snowshoe Kit – Men’s — $189.95
But who is actually buying these? The Post article quotes a sales manager for MSR snowshoes, who predicts, ““People are going to be less interested in going to ski resorts and more interested in being outdoors with some distance from others.” That rings true enough, though I’m still not sure I see the connection with snowshoeing. Thankfully, he elaborates: “Snowshoeing has a lower barrier to entry, and retailers are expecting to see a surge in demand for snowshoe-related products. Our sales team is expecting a 20 to 25 percent increase in snowshoe demand above original forecasted business. Honestly, it could be even higher.”
MSR Evo Trail 22-Inch Hiking Snowshoes — $139.95
Alas, he provides little insight into how one is expected to use snowshoes for their leisure. Presumably, folks are supposed to buy a pair and then drive around until they find a spot with snow piled high enough to require snowshoes. If real winter sports like skiing and snowboarding are canceled this year, then that doesn’t sound like so bad an idea.
On November 25, 2022, the prestigious IRONMAN race was held in Israel for the first time in history. As part of a commitment to exhibit athletic excellence around the world, NAIPO, one of the world’s preeminent massage companies, participated as a sponsor.
Since its founding in 2017, NAIPO has assisted thousands of users in the relentless pursuit to “Find Well-being.” NAIPO and its sister brand O’YEET produce state-of-the-art massager products that promote health and wellness for people of all walks of life, from the weekend warrior to the hardcore athlete. NAIPO’s percussion massagers in particular are designed for recovery after the sort of extensive physical activity an IRONMAN race requires.
The IRONMAN has been recognized for decades as one of the planet’s most challenging and impressive feats of strength and stamina. Athletes begin the race with a 2.4-mile (3.9 km) swim, followed by a 112-mile (180.2 km) bicycle ride, and concluding in a 26.2-mile (42.2 km) run. This series of events demands racers be at the very peak of both physical and mental health.
This year’s IRONMAN in Israel represented the 2022 Middle Eastern Championship. It took place in the city of Tiberias, in and alongside the historic Sea of Galilee. NAIPO was honored to partner with IRONMAN as an Expo Exhibitor. NAIPO’s personal massager products aid athletes with post-race recovery, and regular use during training staves off delayed muscle soreness and tension. In other words, NAIPO remains committed not only to helping racers finish the IRONMAN, but also to get them ready for the next one.
About NAIPO
Founded to satisfy growing consumer demand for health and wellness, NAIPO develops affordable massage products that soothe the body, mind and spirit. In today’s fast-paced modern world, NAIPO’s products ease stress without taking up the precious resources of time and money. NAIPO is constantly conducting market research and soliciting customer feedback to further its commitment to developing industry-leading massage and relaxation products. NAIPO pairs traditional and contemporary therapy methods with modern technologies to produce affordable, comfortable and reliable massage products that help people of all ages and lifestyles “find well-being.” The company’s website can be found at www.naipocare.com.
Today is an absolutely gorgeous day, and as I stare out my window this sunny spring morning, all I can think about is playing golf. The golf season is already well underway (unofficially kicked off by the Masters a few weeks back) but because of the vicissitudes of the weather where you live there is a chance you have not played a round yet. Don’t worry: That will all change soon.
If you are a casual golfer like myself, the experience is as much about the social element as it is about getting a low score. It’s about being outdoors with friends—drinking beers, smoking cigars. Amazon sellers obviously know this, which led to the introduction of an innovative and popular product in recent years, the beer cooler sleeve.
Depending on the rules and regulations where you golf, you might be able to pack a bunch of beers into your Yeti cooler and toss it on the back of your cart. Some courses have strict rules against this, however, forcing you to pay out the wazoo for beers from the cart girl, if you can even track her down that is!
Not wanting to get in trouble with authorities, people often just end up packing a beer or two in one of the compartments in their golf bag. But the cooler sleeve presents a better solution. It allows you to fit as many as seven beers in your golf bag, and will keep those beers chilled throughout the several hours of your round. The size of the sleeve allows it to slide neatly into the top of your bag, as if it were just another club.
Having the Pins & Aces beer sleeve may not improve your golf game (although a golf instructor did once tell me that to drink two beers before each round to golf my nerves and overthinking), but it is sure to improve your enjoyment.
In the age of Zoom and the Orwellian concept of “distance learning,” snow days are a thing of the past. When heavy snow comes, students can expect another day spent in front of the computer, as Frosty remain unconstructed outside. There are still weekends, however, so opportunities for winter fun are not altogether lost. Their infrequency does mean that kids need to make the most of them whenever possible. To make sure your child is prepared, your family must own a quality toboggan.
The Paricon disc sled is the classic model, and it guarantees the type of snow day fun your grandparents had by rocketing down hills on the lids of metal trash cans.
Paricon Flexible Flyer Round Disc Snow Sled Toboggan — $29.97
Looking for a sled that is a step above the saucer? Then this one by Avalanche Brands is for you. Although more expensive, it fits two people on it so it may actually save you money if you have more than one child. Keep in mind that because it features a rope and handles, you will be expected to do the manual labor of lugging its riders around the snow banks.
Want your son and daughter to be the envy of everyone in the neighborhood? Then you should opt for the LIFECHOIC inflatable sleds. Perhaps not as reliable as the tried and true models above, they are guaranteed to catch the attention of all who see them. Before long your ears will be ringing with the presumptuous refrain, “I got next!”
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