Sports & Outdoors
[Archery] [Baseball] [Basketball] [Boating] [Camping] [Croquet] [Cycling] [Equestrian] [Fishing] [Flying] [Football] [Golf] [Gymnastics] [Hiking] [Hockey] [Hunting] [Ice Skating] [Lacrosse] [Mountain Biking] [Mountain Climbing] [Motorcycling] [Off-Road] [Rafting] [Rowing] [Roller Skating] [Sailing] [Skate Boarding][Skiing] [Snowboarding] [Snowmobiling] [Swimming] [Tennis] [Track & Field] [Volleyball] [Waterskiing]
QT: The name "athletics" is derived from the Greek word "athlos", meaning "contest".
Archery has historically been used in hunting and combat and has become a precision sport.
Arrow rest - Where the arrow rests during draw. These may be simple fixed rests or may be spring-loaded or magnetic flip rests.
Back (of bow) - The face of the bow on the opposite side to the string
Belly (of bow) - The face of the bow on the same side as the string
Bow sight - An aiming aid attached to the riser
Sling - A strap attached to the bow handle, wrist or fingers to stop the bow falling from the hand
Brace height - The distance between the deepest part of the grip and the string
Grip - The part of the bow held by the bow hand
Limbs - The upper and lower working parts of the bow, which come in a variety of different poundage’s
Knocking point - The place on the bowstring where the nock (end) of an arrow is fitted
Riser - The rigid centre section of a bow to which the limbs are attached
String - The cord that attaches to both limb tips and transforms stored energy from the limbs into kinetic energy in the arrow
Tab (Thumb ring) - Is a protection for the digits that draw the string. Normally this is made of leather.
Tiller - The difference between the limb-string distances measured where the limbs are attached to the riser. Usually the upper distance is slightly more than the bottom one, resulting in a positive tiller. Reflects the power-balance between both limbs
Compound Bow
The limbs of a compound bow are usually much stiffer than those of a recurve bow or longbow. This limb stiffness makes the compound bow more energy efficient than other bows, but the limbs are too stiff to be drawn comfortably with a string attached directly to them. The compound bow has the string attached to the pulleys (cams), one or both of which has one or more cables attached to the opposite limb. When the string is drawn back, the string causes the pulleys to turn. This causes the pulleys to pull the cables, which in turn causes the limbs to bend and thus store energy. The compound bow is little-affected by changes of temperature and humidity and gives superior accuracy, velocity, and distance in comparison to other bows
Crossbow
Talisman Crossbow
With a crossbow, archers could release a draw force far in excess of what they could have handled with a bow. Moreover, crossbows could be kept cocked and ready to shoot for some time with little effort, allowing crossbowmen to aim better. The disadvantage is the greater weight and clumsiness compared to a bow, as well as the slower rate of fire and the lower efficiency of the acceleration system.
Crossbows have a much smaller draw length than bows. This means that for the same energy to be imparted to the arrow (or bolt) the crossbow has to have a much higher draw weight.
The bow (called the "prod" or "lath" on a crossbow) of early crossbows was made of a single piece of wood, usually ash or yew. Composite bows are made from layers of different material—often wood, horn and sinew—glued together and bound. The crossbow prod is very short compared to ordinary bows, resulting in a short draw length. This leads to a higher draw weight in order to store the same amount of energy. Furthermore the thick prods are a bit less efficient at releasing energy, but more energy can be stored by a crossbow.
Deflex bow
A deflex bow is a bow that has arms curved or curled at the base, to turn towards the archer. This bow form reduces the strain on the limbs and also the energy stored by the weapon. Most modern recurve bows are built with some degree of deflex. It has been used occasionally in traditional bows, for example to make a bow that looks like a traditional hornbow without using any actual horn.
Flatbow
A flatbow is a bow with non-recurved, flat, relatively wide limbs that are approximately rectangular in cross-section. Because the limbs are relatively wide, flatbows will usually narrow and become deeper at the handle, with a rounded, non-bending, handle for easier grip. This design differs from that of a longbow, which has rounded limbs that are circular or D shaped in cross-section, and is usually widest at the handle. Traditional flatbows are usually wooden selfbows
Long Bow
Traditional longbows are self bows (made from a single piece of wood), It is a type of bow that is tall (roughly equal to the height of a person who uses it), is not significantly recurved has relatively narrow limbs, that are circular or D-shaped in cross section. Because the longbow can be made from a single piece of wood, it can be crafted relatively easily and quickly.
Recurve bow
The recurve bow has tips that curve away from the archer when the bow is unstrung. the difference between recurve and other bows is that the string touches sections of the limbs of recurve bows when the bow is strung. Also, a recurve bow stores more energy than an equivalent straight-limbed bow.
Reflex bow
A reflex bow has curved or curled arms that turn away from the archer throughout the length. When unstrung, the entire length of the bow curves forward from the belly (that is, away from the archer), resembling a ‘C’; this is the difference from a reflex bow from a recurve bow.
Straight bow
Traditional bows are made approximately straight in side-view profile. They are generally referred to as straight, despite the minor curves of natural.
Baseball's home plate is 17 inches wide.
Height of the Pitcher’s Mound
According to MLB rules (Rule 1.04), the height of a mound at its peak at the rubber (pitcher's plate) is 10 inches above the level of home plate. This standard height came into being in 1969. Prior to that there was no standard height for a mound and the height could vary. The first mention of a mound in baseball rules was in 1903. The mound allows pitchers to throw the ball faster because they are striding downhill as they throw.
The song ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’ was written by Jack Norworth in 1908. The music was written by Albert Von Tilzer.
The distance between the pitcher's rubber and home plate in baseball is 60 feet, 6 inches.
Major League Baseball MLB (30 teams)
National League Teams:
American
League Teams:
Minor League Teams:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp
The game was the invention of Dr. James Naismith in 1891. He set out to invent a game to occupy students between the football and baseball seasons. The first official game was played in a YMCA gymnasium on January 20, 1892 with nine players. Initially for the basket, a peach basket was utilized, with no hole in the bottom.
The hoop is 10 feet (3.048 m) high
Regulations on the size a basketball are different if women are playing; the official basketball size is 28.5" in circumference (size 6) and a weight of 20 oz. For men, the official ball is 29.5" in circumference (size 7) and weighs 22 oz.
NBA specifies that the court be 94 by 50 feet (29 by 15 m). A regulation basketball court in international games is 28 by 15 meters (approx. 92 by 49 ft)
NBA: National Basketball Association (32 teams) Founded 1946
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Atlantic: Boston Celtics New Jersey Nets New York Knicks Philadelphia 76ers Toronto Raptors |
Southwest: Dallas Mavericks Houston Rockets Memphis Grizzles New Orleans Hornets San Antonio Spurs |
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Central: Chicago Bills Cleveland Cavaliers Detroit Pistons Indiana Pacers Milwaukee Bucks
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Northwest: Denver Nuggets Minnesota Timberwolves Portland Trail Blazers Oklahoma City Thunder Utah Jazz |
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Southeast: Atlantic Hawks Charlotte Bobcats Miami Heat Orlando Magic Washington Wizards
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Pacific: Golden State Warriors Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Lakers Phoenix Suns Sacramento Kings |
WNBA: Women’s National Basketball Association
Women's basketball began in 1892 at Smith College when Senda Berenson, a physical education teacher, modified Naismith's rules for women. The first women’s collegiate basketball game was played on March 21, 1893
TEAMS
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Atlanta Dream |
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Chicago Sky |
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Connecticut Sun |
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Detroit Shock |
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Indiana Fever |
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Los Angeles Sparks |
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Minnesota Lynx |
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New York Liberty |
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Phoenix Mercury |
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Sacramento Monarchs |
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San Antonio Silverstars |
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Seattle Storm |
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Washington Mystics |
ABA: American Basketball Association Conferences
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Southeast: Atlanta Vision Bahama All Pro Show Kansas City Spartans Kentucky Bison’s Kentucky
Travelers Knoxville Thunderbolts Nashville Broncos’
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Southwest: Arizona Rhinos Houston Takers Las Vegas Aces Mississippi Blues Phoenix Fury Southeast Texas Mustangs Texas City Rangers Texas
Fuel West Texas Whirlwinds
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Northwest Beijing Aoshen Olympian Inland
Empire 5 LINX Los Angeles Push Los
Angeles Slam Maywood Buzz Modesto Bearcats Riverside
Rage Salt Lake City Saints San Francisco Rumble Washington Raptors
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Northeast: Aurora Force Chicago Steam Cleveland Rockers Detroit Hoops Jersey Express West Virginia Wild West Virginia Blazers |
Croquet Association (UK. was formed in 1896)
There are several variations of croquet currently played, differing in the scoring systems, order of shots, and layout (particularly in social games where play must be adapted to smaller-than-standard playing courts). Two forms of the game, Association Croquet and Golf Croquet, have rules that are agreed internationally and are played in many countries around the world. The United States has its own set of rules for domestic games. More unusual variations of the game include Mondo Croquet, extreme Croquet, and Bicycle Croquet..
In Golf Croquet each player takes turns trying to hit a ball through the same hoop, the winner being the player who manages to hit the ball through the most hoops first. Golf Croquet has the advantage of being easier to learn and play, but its critics claim that the lack of croquet strokes in the game means that it is less intellectually demanding.
The "American rules" version of croquet—another six-wicket-layout game—is the dominant version of the game in the United States and is also widely played in Canada and is governed by the United States Croquet Association.
The dimensions of a regulation football field are: 360 feet long and 160 feet wide.
*"The Granddaddy of Them All" The Rose Bowl Game is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 (New Year's Day) at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California for 95 years. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is then played on the following Monday. *The Rose Bowl is nicknamed because it is the oldest bowl game. It was first played in 1902. The opposing teams were Michigan vs. Stanford. Michigan beat Sanford 49-0.
NFL: National Football League (32 Teams)
American Conference:
Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburg Steelers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers.
National Conference:
Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams.
The Pacific 10 conference (Pac-10 for short) is the same for all NCAA sports.
Arizona State -------- Sun Devils (mascot: Sparky)
U of Arizona ----------Wildcats (motto: "Bear Down")
U of Cal-----------------Golden Bears
U of Oregon -----------Ducks (mascot: Donald is compliments of Walt Disney Productions)
Stanford ----------------Cardinal (mascot: a tree)
UCLA--------------------Bruins (mascot: Joe & Josephine)
USC ---------------------Trojans (mascot: Traveler VII)
UW -----------------------Huskies (mascot: Dawg)
WA State----------------Cougars (mascot: Butch the Cougar)
Oregon State----------- Beavers (mascots: Bennie & Bernice Beaver “motto: "Dam Right, I'm a Beaver!")
NHL: National Hockey League
The league was formed in 1917 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from a predecessor organization, the National Hockey Association (NHA), founded in 1909. It started with four teams, and through a series of expansions, contractions and relocations, the league is now composed of 30 teams, 24 of which are based in the United States and six in Canada.
Each National Hockey League regulation game is an ice hockey game played between two teams and is 60 minutes long. The game is composed of three 20-minute periods with an intermission of either 15½ or 17 minutes.
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Atlantic |
New Jersey Devils New York Islanders New York Rangers Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburg Penguins |
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Northeast |
Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres Montreal Canadiens Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs |
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Southwest |
Atlanta Thrashers Carolina Hurricanes Florida Panthers Tampa Bay Lightning Washington Capitals |
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Central |
Chicago Blackhawks Columbus Blue Jackets Detroit Red Wings Nashville Predators St. Louis Blues |
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Northwest |
Calgary Flames Colorado Avalanche Edmonton Oilers Minnesota Wild Vancouver Canucks |
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Pacific |
Anaheim Ducks Dallas Stars Los Angeles Kings Phoenix Coyotes San Jose Sharks |
NHL Trophy Awards
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Stanley Cup |
Championship Team |
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Presidents Trophy |
Most Points |
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Art Ross Trophy |
Goals and Assist |
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Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy |
Goal Scoring Leader |
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William M. Jennings Trophy |
Goal keeper/fewest goals against their team |
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Hart Memorial Trophy |
Most Valuable Player |
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Vezina Trophy |
Best Goalkeeper |
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James Norris Memorial Trophy |
Top Defenseman |
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Calder Memorial Trophy |
Top Rookie |
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Lady Byng Memorial Trophy |
Skill and Sportsmanship |
It is the parent’s responsibility to keep their children safe when on the water and insisting on wearing life jackets is one of the best ways to do that.
“Just like you make your kids wear bike helmets, make them wear life jackets.”
Many adults believe themselves capable of diving into the water to rescue a child who falls overboard. This is a dangerous misconception. Adults may not notice a child falling overboard right away. Children who fall in may not surface immediately. It can be difficult to locate a child in the water—especially when the vessel is in motion.
Life jackets could prevent approximately two-thirds of all boating-related drownings of children ages 14 and under. In fact, in most states, children under 13 must wear life jackets. It’s the law.
According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, drowning remains second only to motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1 to 14. Furthermore, children are much more likely to practice safe habits when they experience similar behavior by parents and caregivers. “We have done research that indicates children whose parents wear life jackets around water are more likely to wear one themselves,” says Jen Medearis Costello, program manager at the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. “Therefore we recommend that parents not only actively supervise their children around water, but also demonstrate safe behavior—including wearing life jackets.”
The Coast Guard and National SAFE KIDS Campaign strongly recommend adults always wear life jackets as well – not only to keep themselves safe, but to demonstrate safe behavior for their children.
The U.S. Coast Guard is asking all boat owners and operators to help reduce fatalities, injuries, property damage, and healthcare costs related to recreational boating accidents by taking personal responsibility for their own safety and the safety of their passengers. Essential steps include always wearing a life jacket and requiring passengers to do the same; never boating under the influence; completing a boating safety course; and getting a free vessel safety check annually from local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or United States Power Squadrons® vessel examiners. The U.S. Coast Guard reminds all boaters, "You're in Command. Boat Responsibly!”
Power Boats
Types: (Some)
Bow Riders- These family boats are the most popular in the runabout/spotboat category
Catamarans- provide the sailor with a wide, airy main cabin along with lots of deck space for sunning (Twin-hulled sailing and many times both sail and engine-powered boat, also Catamarans and Trimarans the same terminology) “the power catamaran is usually devoid of any sailing apparatus”
Catamarans, and multihulls in general, are normally faster than single-hull boats for three reasons:
· Catamarans are lighter due to the fact there is no keel counterweight;
· Catamarans have a wider beam (the distance from one side of the boat to the other), which makes them more stable and therefore able to carry more sail area per unit of length than an equivalent monohull; and
· The greater stability means that the sail is more likely to stay upright in a gust, drawing more power than a monohull's sail which is more likely to heel (lean) over.
Center Console- Built to take rough offshore waters in pursuit of ocean fish
Closed Bow Runabouts- Closed Bow Runabouts are fast and ideal for smaller crews
Cuddy Cabins- These are great day cruisers and overnighters for small groups and family boating. Ideal for skiing, tubing and wakeboarding
Deck Boats- Deck boats have wide deck to carry 8 to 12 or more passengers
Dinghy- Usually less than 10 feet in length, easy to carry on a car top or light enough to carry on board a cruiser. Great for use off the beach, or around the harbor
Fish & Ski- This craft allows boaters to enjoy the two most popular on-water activities; fishing and skiing. This family fishing and recreational boat has enough power to pull one or two skiers.
Flat Boats- They can float and run in water less than two feet deep and are ideal for fishing with two to three people on board.
House Boats- Houseboats are designed to offer home living on the water complete with spacious floor plans and modern amenities for entertaining, dining and sleeping
Inboard Cruisers- Inboard cruisers tend to exceed 30-feet or longer and are great for sleeping, cooking and plumbing facilities
Ski Boats- Inboard ski boats accelerate rapidly, pulling up your skier quickly and also provide for quick recovering of a downed skier easily. These boats are great for skiing, racing and other waters ports activities.
Inflatable’s- These boats are suitable for saltwater and freshwater fishing, water sports and more.
Jet Boats- Like bowriders and deckboats, they come with comfortable seating and sunning areas, plus a speedy and exciting ride. They are distinguished from runabouts by their propulsion system, which is enclosed.
Pontoon Boats- Pontoon boats provide families with youngsters aboard a safe and secure place to enjoy the ride or move about when at anchor, thanks to wide decks and "like pen" side rails and gates.
Sailboats- Sailboats differ from other types of boats in that they are propelled partly or entirely by wind; they use sails to transform the power of the wind into power that moves the boat through the water. The term sailboat covers a wide variety of sailing craft, each with its own characteristics and styles. In general, sailboats are distinguished by size, hull configuration, keel type, number of sails, use and purpose.
Sedan (W/Bridge) - Sedan Bridge has a flying bridge for more deck space and comes with a swim platform. They have ample living accommodations including an electrical generator, AC and plumbing
Sport Fishing- Great for pursuing large fish. Often equipped with sleeping berths, a galley for cooking and plumbing for convenience, they have the capacity to stay on the water for days.
Stern Drive Cruiser- Used for freshwater fishing, water sports, cruising and much more, these boats have all the comforts expected from recreational cruising boats including sleeping, cooking and plumbing equipment
Trawlers- Facilities for sleeping, cooking and plumbing provide boating fun for weekends on the water with family and friends. They can handle big rivers, lakes and oceans on moderate days
Yachts- (Large Luxury Vessels) Ideal for ocean cruising or navigating large rivers, Lakes or the Oceans, as well as entertaining at the dock. Two engines, usually fueled with diesel and a generator for electricity make them self-sufficient in terms of living accommodations
Walkaround- These boats may be the ultimate family fishing boats and are most popular in coastal waters.
Ice-boats
Modern iceboats designs are generally supported by three skate blades called "runners" supporting a triangular or cross-shaped frame with the steering runner in front. Runners are made of iron or steel and sharpened to a fine edge, most often cut to an angled edge of 90 degrees, which holds onto the ice, preventing slippage sideways from the lateral force of the wind developed by the sails. Iceboating's popularity is primarily limited to the northern continental United States and Europe, as few places elsewhere have ice thick enough to safely use the vessels for an extended duration ( land sailing, utilizes a configuration with an iceboat-like fuselage or frame equipped with wheels instead of runners. Iceboats commonly used for racing are usually only for one person)
Types: Sloop*/Bermuda Sloop, Cutter, Catboat, Ketch, Schooner, Yawl, Dinghy, Catamarans, Trimarans.
A traditional modern yacht is technically called a "Bermuda sloop" (sometimes a "Bermudan sloop"). A sloop is any boat that has a single mast and a headsail (generally a jib) in addition to the mainsail. The Bermuda designation refers to the fact that the sail, which has its forward edge (the "luff") against the mast (the main sail), is a sail roughly triangular in shape. Additionally, Bermuda sloops only have a single sail behind the mast
If a boat has two masts, it may be a schooner, a ketch, or a yawl, if it is rigged fore-and-aft on all masts. A schooner may have any number of masts provided the second from the front is the tallest (called the "main mast"). In both a ketch and a yawl, the foremost mast is tallest, and thus the main mast, while the rear mast is shorter, and called the mizzen mast.
Sailing boats with one hull are "monohulls", those with two are "catamarans", those with three are "trimarans. A boat is turned by a rudder, which itself is controlled by a tiller or a wheel, while at the same time adjusting the sheeting angle of the sails. Smaller sailing boats often have a stabilizing, raiseable, underwater fin called a centerboard (or daggerboard,), these are usually dinghies; larger sailing boats have a fixed (or sometimes canting) keel.
* Other types of sloops are gaff-rigged sloops and lateen sloops. Gaff-rigged sloops have quadrilateral mainsails with a gaff (a small boom) at their upper edge (the "head" of the sail). Gaff-rigged vessels may also have another sail, called a topsail, above the gaff. Lateen sloops have triangular sails with the upper edge attached to a gaff, and the lower edge attached to the boom, and the boom and gaff are attached to each other via some type of hinge.
Kite Surfing-Kite Boarding
This is a surface water sport that uses wind power to pull a rider through the water on a small surfboard or a kiteboard (similar to a wakeboard). Generally kiteboarding refers to a style of riding known as freestyle or wake-style, whereas kitesurfing is more "wave-riding" oriented. These two styles usually require different boards and specific performance kites.
Kitesurfers change kite size and/or line length from the harness to the kite depending on wind strength -- stronger winds call for a smaller kite to prevent overpower situations. It is important to avoid using too large a kite, particularly when you are new to the sport.
Kites come in different aspect ratios (AR). The AR refers to how much of the kite is exposed to the wind and what angle the wind takes as it passes through the kite. Newer kites also provide a "depower" option to reduce the power in the kite. By using depower, the kite's angle of attack to the wind is reduced, thereby catching less wind in the kite and reducing the power or pull.
The more optimal these factors, the lower wind speed you will be able to perform in. A 170 lb. rider will need about 8 to 10 knots sustained wind and a larger kite (16 m² or bigger). In 12 - 15 knots you can have a lot of fun by doing low jumps and freestyle maneuvers. 16 - 20 knots on a 16 square meter kite will allow you jumping high, while 20 to 24 knots might allow you to fly with the birds on a 12 square meter kite. An experienced rider generally carries a 'quiver' of different sized kites appropriate for different wind ranges
Parasailing, also known as Parascending
Most popular paragliding regions have a number of schools, generally registered with and/or organized by national associations. Certification systems vary widely between countries, though around 10 days instruction to basic certification is standard.
There are several key components to a paragliding pilot certification instruction program. Initial training for beginning pilots usually begins with some amount of ground school to discuss the basics, including elementary theories of flight as well as basic structure and operation of the paraglider.
Students then learn how to control the glider on the ground, practicing take-offs and controlling the wing 'overhead'. Low, gentle hills are next where students get their first short flights, flying at very low altitudes, to get used to the handling of the wing over varied terrain. Special winches can be used to tow the glider to low altitude in areas that have no hills readily available.
As their skills progress, students move on to steeper/higher hills (or higher winch tows), making longer flights, and learning to turn the glider, control the glider's speed, then moving on to 360° turns, spot landings, ‘big ears’ (used to increase the rate of descent for the paraglider), and other more advanced techniques. Training instructions are often provided to the student via radio, particularly during the first flights.
A third key component to a complete paragliding instructional program provides substantial background in the key areas of meteorology, aviation law, and general flight area etiquette.
Safety Tips for Water-Skiers
Don't take unnecessary risks while water-skiing. The following tips will help you safely enjoy this thrilling sport:
- ALWAYS have an observer in the boat. This is a legal requirement in many states. The boat driver cannot watch the skier and operate the boat safely at the same time.
- ALWAYS wear a Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) designed for water skiing. Ski belts are NOT recommended. Your approved PFD will help keep you afloat.
- Never ski in rough water. High waves or a choppy sea will prevent the tow boat from maintaining a steady course and speed.
- Stay well clear of congested areas and obstructions. Water-skiing requires a lot of open area.
- Don't spray or "buzz" swimmers, boats, or other skiers. Such stunts are dangerous, discourteous, and could cause an unintentional collision.
- NEVER ski after dark. It is hazardous AND illegal. Any boat traveling fast enough to tow a skier is traveling too fast to navigate safely at night.
- NEVER water-ski while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Such activity is extremely dangerous because of the impairment to your judgment and ability to respond. A recent study conducted with expert skiers who were deliberately intoxicated indicated that even their ability to ski was dramatically reduced.
- Use hand signals between the skier and observer. Agree before you start what each signal means so there is no confusion at a critical moment.
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Windsurfing/Sailboarding
Windsurfing can be enjoyed in a variety of conditions, but the windsurfer should be aware of the dangers that may occur. Learn to match your windsurfing skills with weather and water conditions. Cautious windsurfers always check wind and weather forecasts before getting under way. While protected waters are ideal for beginners, unexpected high winds can make these waters hazardous. Sailors planning an outing on the ocean or any large body of water should be aware of wind direction. Because the sailor may be easily carried away by an offshore wind, sail with the onshore breeze for safety. The advice of a knowledgeable local windsurfer or sailboard instructor could prove most helpful in understanding local windsurfing conditions.
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Daggerboard
Head
Up Windward |
A
vertically moving foil-shaped blade that is extended from the bottom of the
board to help prevent the board from slipping sideways. |
Always be on the lookout for people on the road in campgrounds. Typically campgrounds accommodate many families with kids, and campers frequently walk and bike along campground roads. Do drive slowly and observe the campground speed limit, which is usually 15 MPH.
Be a good camping neighbor by making it a habit of regularly collecting any trash around your campsite and disposing of it appropriately. Always pack a box of plastic garbage bags, they come in quite handy for this. Don't burn trash in the campfire either. When you depart from your camping site, leave it clean.
Always travel with a medical First Aid Kit.
Camp site necessities: mandatory items, to mention just a few.
- Air mattress - and don't forget the air pump!
- Air pump – Many models run on four "D" batteries and will either inflate or deflate your mattress in a few minutes.
- Aluminum Foil - Use this for making packet meals.
- Batteries - Be sure you have backup batteries of every size that you use, and that they're fresh.
- Camp Knife - a Swiss Army Knife is worth its weight in gold, plus a kitchen knife for cooking.
- Camp Stool - This is a little folding stool with a canvas seat that's easy to pick up and move around.
- Can Opener - Indispensible item, get one with a good-sized crank. ( it might be wise to purchase pop-type cans instead of those requiring a can opener)
- Canopy - This is a large tarp that's erected over the picnic table for shelter from sun and rain. Make certain that it comes with poles for each corner and one for the center, and the corners are staked down to keep it stable in the wind.
- Chairs - Take a few comfortable lawn chairs with you relaxing around the campsite.
- Cleaning sponge - Buy one that is a sponge on one side and a scrubber on the other to make washing those dishes easier.
- Clothesline - Tie a piece of thin rope between a couple of trees, and drape your wet towels and swimsuits over it for drying.
- Flashlight - Have one for each camper. Make sure the batteries are fresh before you leave, and carry extras. It gets mighty dark at night.
- Ice Chest – There are various sizes. Igloo and Coleman make good ones, but there are others. Freeze meat before packing to make it last longer, and make sure the clasp is secure
- Propane lantern
- Proper clothing attire, AN ABSOLUTE MUST!
- Sleeping bag(s)
- Tent or shelter (preferably a tent)
- Water
- And More
Camping Check list: Printable (Of course, you are not going to use all of these, condense it to meet your individual needs)
US Campgrounds
There are in excess of 2,500 recreation areas at 450+ lakes managed by Army Corp of Engineering, plus those operated by the US Forest Service, so there are numerous choices available.
Cycling is generally broken into three large categories: off-road, on-road, and BMX or stunt riding.
The most important and basic rule of bicycle safety is to always wear a helmet (I will go into more detailed helmet rules later). You don't need a top of the line helmet, but make sure that it is certified
- When it comes to your kids, let them pick out their own helmet. That way they will be more likely to wear it.
- Kids under the age of nine should not be allowed to ride their bikes in the street (unless they are in a race situation with controlled traffic).
- When choosing which road to ride on, give preference to roads that have separate bicycle lanes, are under 35 miles per hour, are wide, don't have "blind spots"(a driver coming from behind would be able to see you well in advance), and that you could safely pull off of in an emergency.
- Never wear headphones when riding.
- If you have a road bike, always pump the tires before you ride or race.
- When locking your bike make sure that you lock the frame. It is very easy to remove the front wheel of a bike and isn't to hard to remove the back wheel either.
- Additionally, if you can, along with the frame (which is the most important), lock the front wheel of your bike or take it off and carry it with you.
Mountain Biking:
Mountain bikes are heavy (4 to 5 lbs. for a frame) and designed to take abuse. Most mountain bikes use 26 inch (559 mm) bicycle wheels with wide, knobby tires for extra traction and shock absorption. In the current century, front wheel suspension has become the norm and full front and rear suspension has become increasingly common. Some mountain bikes are also fitted with bar ends on the handlebars to give extra leverage for hill-climbing.
Major categories of Mountain Biking:
-Bike trials: Slow negotiation of man-made and natural obstacles where setting a foot down constitutes a penalty.
-Downhill DH) is, in the most general sense, riding mountain bikes downhill. The rider usually travels to the point of descent by other means than cycling, such as a ski lift or automobile, as the weight of the downhill mountain bike often precludes any serious climbing. While cross country riding inevitably has a downhill component, Downhill (or DH for short) usually refers to racing-oriented downhill riding. Downhill-specific bikes are universally equipped with front and rear suspension, large disc brakes, and use heavier frame tubing than other mountain bikes. Because of their extremely steep terrain (often located in summer at ski resorts), downhill courses are one of the most extreme and dangerous venues for mountain biking. They include large jumps (up to and including 12 meters (40 feet)), drops of 3+ meters (10+ feet), and are generally rough and steep top to bottom. To negotiate these obstacles at race speed, racers must possess a unique combination of total body strength, aerobic and anaerobic fitness, and mental control. Minimum body protection in a true downhill setting is knee pads and a full face helmet with goggles, although riders and racers commonly sport full body suits to protect themselves. Downhill bikes now weigh around 16-20 kilos (35-45 lbs), while professional downhill mountain bikes can weigh as little as 15 kilos (33 lbs), fully equipped with custom carbon fiber parts, air suspension, tubeless tires and more. Downhill frames get anywhere from 170-250 millimeters (7 to 10 inches) of travel and are usually mounted with an 200 millimeter (8 inch) travel dual-crown fork.
-All-mountain (AM) bike category typically provides 125-180 millimeters (5-7 inches) of rear and front suspension travel and stronger components then XC models, while still providing overall weight suitable for climbing and descending on a variety of terrain.
-Four Cross/Dual Slalom (4X) is sport in which riders compete either on separate tracks, as in Dual Slalom; or on a short slalom track, as in 4X. Most bikes used are light hard-tails, although the last World Cup was actually won on a full suspension bike. The tracks on which the racers race on have dirt jumps, berms, and gaps. Professionals in gravity mountain biking tend to concentrate either on downhill mountain biking or 4X/dual slalom as each is very different.
-Freeride, as the name suggests is a 'do anything' discipline that encompasses everything from downhill racing (see above) without the clock to jumping, riding 'North Shore' style (elevated trails made of interconnecting bridges and logs), and generally riding trails and/or stunts that require more skill and aggressive techniques than XC. Freeride bikes are generally heavier and more amply suspended than their XC counterparts, but usually retain much of their climbing ability. It is up to the rider to build his or her bike to lean more toward a preferred level of aggressiveness.
"Slopestyle" type riding is an increasingly popular genre that combines big-air, stunt-ridden freeride with BMX style tricks. Slope-style courses are usually constructed at already established mountain bike parks and include jumps, large drops, quarter-pipes, and other wooden obstacles. There are always multiple lines through a course and riders compete for judges' points by choosing lines that highlight their particular skills. A "typical" freeride bike is hard to define, but 13-18 kilos (30-40) lbs with 150-250 millimeters (6-10 inches) of suspension front and rear.
-Dirt Jumping (DJ) is one of the names given to the practice of riding bikes over shaped mounds of dirt or soil and becoming airborne. The idea is that after riding over the 'take off' the rider will become momentarily airborne, and aim to land on the 'landing'. Dirt jumping can be done on almost anything but the bikes are generally smaller and more maneuverable hardtails so that tricks e.g. backflips, are easier to complete. The bikes simpler so that when a crash occurs there are fewer components that are liable to dysfunction and cause the rider injury.
-Trials riding consist of hopping and jumping bikes over obstacles. It can be performed either off-road or in an urban environment. It requires an excellent sense of balance. As with Dirt Jumping and BMX-style riding, emphasis is placed on style, originality and technique. Trials bikes look almost nothing like mountain bikes. They use either 20", 24" or 26" wheels and have very small, low frames, some types without a saddle.
-Urban/Street is essentially the same as urban BMX, in which riders perform tricks by riding on, or over difficult construction objects. The bikes are the same as those used for Dirt Jumping, having 24" or 26" wheels. Also, they are very light, many in the range of 25-30 lbs, and having 0-100 millimeters or front suspension. As with Dirt Jumping and Trials, style and execution are emphasized.
-Short Cross or Speed Cross (SC) is the newest form of mountain biking. The idea is to ride short, narrow forest paths with rocks, roots and dints, but not necessarily any ramps on them. The optimal length of the paths are from a few tens to hundreds of meters. The shortness is to provide extreme speed and thrilling to get through the hindrances as fast as possible without crashing. The altitude of the paths does not have to vary much. The ultimate direction of the paths from vertical aspect can be the both ways, either up or down. The transitions between these essential parts are to be taken lightly and stopping at the beginning of every path is to provide maximum amount of thrilling action gained through the speed. This form of mountain biking is similar to what might be experienced in a XC or downhill race. The bikes for this purpose can vary from XC to FR.
-Cross-country (XCO) racing is held on a varied terrain circuit; it is normally around 6-8 kilometers (km) and is always a massed-start race. Under the controversial new 2006 UCI rules, elite, U23, and Junior Expert riders at UCI sanctioned races, are allowed technical assistance, but only in designated zones and only by an authorized team mechanic. However, riders in the same team can help each other at any point in the race. Under NORBA rules, no technical assistance is allowed. Professional level races are longer in distance, around 50km.
-Super D (SD) is a blend of cross-country and downhill. Most of the race is downhill, on trails similar to the downhill segment of a cross-country race. There are also short (100-500 m) uphill sections which make the use of downhill bicycles difficult, as a result, most riders use cross-country or 'trail bikes'. Depending on the trail and race venue, the start may either be seeded (riders start in short intervals), or Le Mans mass start (riders run to their bikes, timing is started when the riders start running).
-Marathon (XCM) is perhaps the toughest form of mountain biking because riders often have to cover more than 80 km in one race on mountainous terrain. The distances usually vary from 60km to 100km. Races often exceed 100km, but are then termed Ultra-Marathons. Recently UCI has inaugurated the Marathon World Cup. Basically it equals point-to-point (PP) discipline and that means that riders have a mass start from point "A" and they finish at point "B".
-Enduro (ND) is a relatively new development that has its roots in Marathon mountain biking. Endurance races tend either to last for 12 or 24 hours and although this can vary, there will generally be the following team categories: solo rider; pair; mixed (gender) pair; team (usually four people of the same gender); mixed team (five people of mixed gender). Aside from solo and paired riders, there are often intermediate (i.e. fun, expert, pro) classes within the other categories. Only one member of the team can be on the course at any one time, and it is a competition not to finish first, but to complete the greatest number of laps before the end of the event. Enduro races are also credited with the revival of mountain biking in recent years, mainly as a result of their participation and festival nature.
-Stage Races - Stage Races consist of several races - 'stages' - ridden consecutively, usually over a period of several days. A stage is usually similar in length and structure to a Marathon bike race. The competitor with the lowest cumulative time to complete all the stages is declared the overall, or General Classification (GC), winner. Stage races may also have other classifications and awards, such as individual stage winners.
Road (Racing) Bicycle:
They are designed for road cycling according to the rules of the (UCI). The rules were altered in 1934 to exclude recumbent bicycles are also commonly known as road bicycles.
The most important things about a racing bicycle are its light weight and the aerodynamic efficiency and ergonomics of the rider's position. To this effect racing bicycles may sacrifice comfort for speed. The drop handlebars positioned lower than the saddle order to put the rider in a more aerodynamic posture. The front and back wheels are close together so the bicycle has quick handling.
The racing bicycle is less popular than the sports bike (aka training bike, a slightly heavier and less expensive version of the road racing bike), the sport/touring bike (a road-only bike with more relaxed frame geometry for general recreation and day touring), or the mountain bike their basic entry-level form, mountain bikes, through mass production and popularity, tend to be less expensive than road racing bikes, though this is not true of more esoteric dual-suspension models. An entry-level mountain bike starts around half the price of an entry-level road racing bike.
Unless a rider intends riding on rough tracks, road bicycles including racing bikes are more efficient for road use. Cyclo-cross bicycle are used for racing on off-road circuits, and are closer to racing bikes than to mountain bikes.
Safety: A Must!
Helmets provide important head protection, as falls can occur over rough, rocky, sandy, or mountainous terrain. Helmets include full-faced helmets or regular.
Gloves differ from road touring gloves, are made of heavier construction, and often have covered thumbs or all fingers covered for hand protection. They are sometimes made with padding for the knuckles. Leather baseball gloves can also be used as a substitute by some.
Glasses with little or no difference from those used in other cycling sport’s; help protect against debris while on the trail. Filtered lenses, whether yellow for cloudy days or shaded for sunny days, protect the eyes from strain.
Shoes are chosen for their comfort and ability to withstand difficult terrain,
Clothing is chosen for comfort during physical exertion in the backcountry, and its ability to withstand falls. Road touring clothes are often inappropriate due to their delicate fabrics and construction.
Hydration systems are important for mountain bikers in the backcountry, ranging from simple water bottles to water bags with drinking tubes in lightweight backpacks.
GPS System is sometimes added to the handlebars and is used to display and monitor progress on trails downloaded from the internet or pre-made mapping systems, record trails on the fly, and keep track of trip times and other data. The GPS system is often a handheld GPS device with color screen and rugged, waterproof (IPX7) design.
Pump to inflate flat tires.
Bike tools and extra bike tubes are important, as mountain bikers frequently find themselves miles from help (where their cell phones may not work), with flat tires or other mechanical problems that must be handled by the rider.
Body armor Similar to the armor worn on motorcross bikes. These can consist of knee pads, elbow pads, padded shorts or armored under jackets. It is especially popular with downhill cycling.
Equestrianism refers to the skill of riding or driving horses. This broad description includes both use of horses for practical, working purposes as well as recreational activities and competitive sports.
Did you know that when viewing a statue of horse and rider? The position of the front legs of the horse signifies the way the hero died. All four legs on the ground: The rider died of natural cause and not in the military. One front leg rose: The rider died while in the military. Rearing up on hind legs: The rider died in battle.
Some Horse Breeds of the World:
(Breeds are Animals that, through selection and breeding, have come to resemble one another and pass those traits uniformly to their offspring)
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Acuelo Creole |
Buckskin Camargue Crillo/Crioulo
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Haflinger Lusitano Mangalarga Maremmano |
Missouri Fox Trotting |
Quarter
Horse Saddlebred Shagya
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For more: Click here
Cross-country sports
Competitive Mounted Orienteering, is a form of orienteering on horses - consists of three stages: following a precise route marked on a map, negotiation of obstacles, and control of paces.
Le Trec comprises three phases - trail riding, with jumping and correct basic flatwork. Le Trec, which is very popular in Europe, tests the partnership's ability to cope with an all-day ride across varied terrain, route finding, negotiating natural obstacles and hazards, while considering the welfare of the horse, respecting the countryside and enjoying all it has to offer.
Competitive trail riding, is held across terrain similar to endurance riding, but shorter in length, depending on class). Being a form of pace race, the objective is not to finish in the least time. Instead, as in other forms of judged trail riding, each competitor is graded on everything including physical condition, campsite, and horse management. Horsemanship also is considered, including how the rider handles the trail and how horse is handled and presented to the judge and vet throughout the ride. The horse is graded on performance, manners, etc. "Pulse and respiration" stops check the horse's recovery ability. The judges also set up obstacles along the trail and the horse and rider are graded on how well they perform as a team. The whole point is the partnership between the horse and rider.
Show Jumping is a timed event judged on the ability of the horse and rider to jump over a series of obstacles, in a given order and with the fewest refusals or knockdowns of portions of the obstacles.
Endurance riding, a competition usually of fifty miles or more, over mountainous or other natural terrain, with scheduled stops to take the horses' vital signs, check soundness, and verify that the horse is fit to continue. The first horse to finish and be confirmed by the veterinarian as fit to continue is the winner.
Hunter Pacing is a sport where a horse and rider team travel a trail at speeds based the ideal conditions for the horse, with competitors seeking to ride closest to that perfect time. Hunter paces are usually held in a series. Hunter paces are usually a few miles long and covered mostly at a canter or gallop. The horsemanship and management skills of the rider are also considered in the scoring, and periodic stops are required for veterinarians to check the vital signs and overall soundness of the horses.
Ride and Tie is a form of endurance riding in which teams of 3 ( a horse and two riders) alternate running and riding.
Trail riding is pleasure riding any breed horse, any style across the land.
English
The following forms of competition are seen in the United States and Canada and they are referred to as English Riding, to contrast them with western-style riding
Hunter classes is judging the movement and the form of horses suitable for work over fences. A typical show hunter division would include classes over fences as well as "Hunter under Saddle" or "flat" classes (sometimes called "hack" classes), in which the horse is judged on its performance, manners and movement without having to jump. Hunters have a long, flat-kneed trot, sometimes called "daisy cutter" movement, a phrase suggesting a good hunter could slice daisies in a field when it reaches its stride out. The over fences classes in show hunter competition are judged on the form of the horse, its manners and the smoothness of the course. A horse with good jumping form snaps its knees up and jumps with a good bascule. It should also be able to canter or gallop with control while having a stride long enough to make a proper number of strides over a given distance between fences.
Eventing, combines the obedience of dressage with the athletic ability of show jumping. The horses jump over fixed obstacles, such as banks, ditches, logs, stone walls and water, trying to finish the course under the "optimum time."
Saddle seat is a primarily American discipline, was created to show to best advantage the animated movement of high-stepping and gaited breeds such as the American Saddlebred and the Tennessee Walker.. There are usually three basic divisions. Park divisions are for the horses with the highest action. Pleasure divisions still emphasis animated action, but to a lesser degree, with manners ranking over animation. Plantation or Country divisions have the least amount of animation (in some breeds, the horses are flat-shod) and the greatest emphasis on manners.
Western
Western riding style evolved to meet the working needs of cowboys in the American West. Though the differences between English and Western riding appear dramatic, there are more similarities than most people think. Both styles require riders to have a solid seat, with the hips and shoulders balanced over the feet, with hands independent of the seat so as to avoid disturbing the balance of the horse and interfering with its performance.
The most noticeable feature of western style riding is in the saddle, which has a substantial tree that provides greater support to horse and rider when working long hours in the saddle. The western saddle features a prominent pommel topped by a horn (a knob used for dallying the lariat after roping an animal), a deep seat and a high cantle. The stirrups are wider and the saddle has rings and ties that allow objects to be attached to the saddle. Western horses are asked to perform with a loose rein, controlled by one hand. The standard western bridle lacks a noseband and usually consists of a single set of reins attached to a curb bit that has somewhat longer and looser shanks than the curb of an English weymouth.
Western horses are asked to have a brisk, ground-covering walk, but a slow, relaxed jog trot that allows the rider to sit the saddle and not post. The Western version of the canter is called a lope and while collected and balanced, is expected to be slow and relaxed. Working western horses seldom use a sustained hand gallop, but must be able to accelerate quickly to high speed when chasing cattle or competing in rodeo speed events, must be able to stop quickly from a dead run and "turn on a dime."
Cutting is an in the western riding style where a horse and rider are judged on their ability to separate a calf away from a cattle herd and keep it away for a short period of time. The sport originally evolved from cattle ranches in the American West, where it was the cutting horse's job to separate cows from the herd. Eventually competitions arose between the best cutting horses and riders in the area. The horses involved are typically Quarter horses, although other breeds may be used. A horse that instinctively knows how to keep a calf from returning to the herd, and is trained in a manner to be shown competitively, is considered a cutting horse.
Rodeo
Timed events
Barrel racing and pole bending - the timed speed and agility events in rodeo’s. At most professional, sanctioned rodeos, barrel racing is an exclusively women's sport. In a barrel race, horse and rider gallop around a cloverleaf pattern of barrels, making agile turns without knocking the barrels over. In pole bending, horse and rider run the length of a line of six upright poles, turn sharply and weave through the poles, turn again and weave back, then return to the start.
Steer wrestling is a rodeo event where the rider jumps off his horse onto a steer and 'wrestles' it to the ground by grabbing it by the horns. This is probably the single most physically dangerous event in rodeo for the cowboy, who runs a high risk of jumping off a running horse head first and missing the steer, or of having the thrown steer land on top of him, sometimes horns first.
Goat tying is usually an event for women or pre-teen girls and boys, a goat is staked out while a mounted rider runs to the goat, dismounts, grabs the goat, throws it to the ground and ties it in the same manner as a calf. This event was designed to teach smaller or younger riders the basics of calf roping without the more complex need to also lasso the animal.
Calf roping is an event where a calf is roped around the neck by a lariat, the horse stops and sets back on the rope while the cowboy dismounts, runs to the calf, throws it to the ground and ties three feet together. (If the horse throws the calf, the cowboy must lose time waiting for the calf to get back to its feet so that the cowboy can do the work. The job of the horse is to hold the calf steady on the rope.
Team roping is the only rodeo event where men and women riders may compete together. Two people capture and restrain a full-grown steer. One horse and rider, the "header," lassos a running steer's horns, while the other horse and rider, the "heeler," lassos the steer's two hind legs. Once the animal is captured, the riders face each other and lightly pull the steer between them, so that it loses its balance, thus in the real world allowing restraint for treatment.
Breakaway roping is an easier form of calf roping where a very short lariat is used, tied lightly to the saddle horn with string and a flag. When the calf is roped, the horse stops, allowing the calf to run on, flagging the end of time when the string and flag breaks from the saddle. In the United States, this event is primarily for women of all ages and boys under 12, while in some nations where traditional calf roping is frowned upon, riders of both genders compete.
Rough Stock:
Bronc riding - there are two divisions in rodeo, bareback bronc riding, where the rider is only allowed to hang onto a bucking horse with a surcingle, and saddle bronc riding, where the rider is allowed a specialized western saddle without a horn (for safety) and may hand onto a heavy lead rope attached to a halter on the horse.
Bull Riding - though technically not an equestrian event, as the cowboys ride full-grown bulls instead of horses, skills similar to bareback bronc riding are required.
Riding:
For beginning horseback riders:
To begin with: take a safe ride, this means wearing a helmet, boots, look out for traffic,
Mounting the horse is best done on the left side. Use a mounting block to avoid that the saddle slips to one side.
To start moving, cue the horse with your legs and push the seat forward. If this doesn't get your horse moving, use your heals.
Don't pull the reins too hard, but only so that you feel a light connection with the bit. If you want to go left, pull the reins to the left, to go right pull the reins to the right.
Relax your body and try to follow your horse's movements.
Balance yourself by using the pressure of your feet in the stirrups. Grab the horn for additional balance.
To stop moving, pull the reins backwards.
Always stay relaxed, you can get a lot more done from a horse by being friendly and showing your appreciation then by getting angry and frustrated.
Many of our parks, forests, and wilderness areas can still be explored on the back of a horse for a unique natural adventure. Many Federal recreation areas offer trail riding as well as off-trail riding. Stables and guides may be available at some public land recreation areas. Licensing, fees and seasonal restrictions vary from site to site.
Safety While Horseback Riding:
Wear proper clothing and footwear, according to the terrain and season
Be courteous and remember that you are sharing the trail, roadway, or public land with other riders and recreationists
Do not ride on unauthorized trails, roadways, or public lands
Bring along extra safety items such as water, flashlights, maps, and a cellphone or radio
Happy Trails
Freshwater & Saltwater
Catching a fish with a hook is known as Angling.
Types of Nets
The Cast net is a small round net with weights on the edges which is thrown by the fisher. Sizes vary up to about four metres in diameter. The net is thrown by hand in such a manner that it spreads out on the water and sinks. Fish are caught as the net is hauled back in.
A Drift net is a net that is not anchored. It is usually a gillnet, and is commonly used in the coastal waters of many countries.
The Gillnet net is used to catch fish which try to pass through it by snagging on the gill covers. Thus trapped, the fish can neither advance through the net nor retreat
Hand nets are held open by a hoop and are possibly on the end of a long stiff handle.
The Seine net is a large fishing net that may be arranged in a number of different ways. In purse seine fishing the net hangs vertically in the water by attaching weights along the bottom edge and floats along the top. A simple and commonly used fishing technique is beach seining, where the seine net is operated from the shore.
The Stake net is a form of net for catching salmon. It consists of a sheet of network stretched on stakes fixed into the ground, generally in rivers or where the sea ebbs and flows, for entangling and catching the fish.
Trawl net is a large net, conical in shape, designed to be towed in the sea or along the sea bottom. The trawl is pulled through the water by one or more boats, called trawlers. The activity of pulling the trawl through the water is called trawling.
Sport fishing is usually done with hook, line, rod and reel rather than with nets or other aids.
Reels:
For the beginner, the best reel is a spinning reel.
There are
different reels for different types of fishing. The basic difference is how the
spool is set: fixed spool reels (spinning and spincasting) have the spool
parallel to the rod. When you cast or let line out, it "spins" off
the end of the spool. When you reel in, a part (the bail) rotates around the
spool and wraps the line back onto it.
Revolving spool reels (bait casting, conventional, and fly reels) have the
spool perpendicular to the rod, so to let line out the spool has to rotate.
When you're winding in, the spool turns the other way.
Spinning reels are popular because they're easy to use and can cast light
weights a good distance. Spincasting reels are somewhat easier to use, though
they can't cast quite as far.
Bait casting reels have better drag systems (better for fighting larger fish),
and when you learn how to use them, can cast more accurately than spinning reels,
though with very light weights, a spinning reel is better. (When casting a
revolving spool reel, you have to control the spool speed with your thumb,
which takes a bit of practice to learn.) Conventional reels are larger versions
of bait casters, generally without the level-wind mechanism, used for ocean
fishing. With heavier weights, the revolving spool reels can cast much farther
than spinners.
Quick tip: When fishing with live bait, you must let the fish run with the bait (take the line) before you set the hook.
Reel Mechanisms
Direct-drive reel
Direct-drive reels have the spool and handle directly coupled. When the handle moves forwards, the spool moves forwards, and vice-versa. With a fast-running fish, this may have consequences for the angler's knuckles. Traditional fly reels are direct-drive.
Anti-reverse reel
In anti-reverse reels, a mechanism allows line to pay out while the handle remains stationary. Depending on the drag setting, line may also pay out, as with a running fish, while the angler reels in. Bait casting reels and many modern saltwater fly reels are examples of this design. The mechanism works either with a 'dog' or 'pawl' design that engages into a cog wheel attached to the handle shaft. The latest design is Instant Anti-Reverse, or IAR. This system incorporates a one-way clutch bearing on the handle shaft to restrict handle movement to forward motion only.
FYI: Some flies used in trout fishing. Blue Professor, Bottle Imp, General Hooker, Tango Triumph, Walla Walls and Rat-Faced McDougal?
Drag Mechanisms
Drag is a mechanical means of applying variable pressure to the turning spool in order to act as a friction brake against it. It can be as simple as a flat spring pressing against the edge of the spool, or as sophisticated as a complicated arrangement of leather and Teflon discs. Properly set drag allows larger and more powerful fish to be safely brought to boat and landed, as the drag will "slip" below the breaking point of the line, but in combination with the angle of the rod, it puts relentless pressure on the fish, quickly tiring it. As a rough general rule, drag is nominally set at about one-half of the line's breaking strength. It can be adjusted up or down as needed by the fisherman while playing a fish, though it takes practice to do this without adding too much drag which frequently results in a broken line and a lost fish.
Four basic types of fishing reels: spin casting reels, spinning reels, bait casting reels, and fly-fishing reels. Spin casting and bait casting reels usually sit on top of the rod, while spinning reels and fly-fishing reels hang below the rod. More specialized types of reels include big game reels, boat reels, and surf casting reels. Most of today's reels are labeled according to the type of fishing line they are meant to handle, while others suggest a range of length capacities for different line weights. Larger reels will generally have greater line capacities.
Quick tip: When cleaning your boat chrome use white toothpaste to scrub off oxidation or other stains.
Spin Casting Reels
Spin casting reels are ideal for beginner fishermen because they are inexpensive and easy to use. Spinning reels are more expensive and more versatile than spin casting reels, and they can cast lures farther as well. Bait casting reels, also known as casting reels, afford the fisherman more control when casting and when fighting a fish. However, they are rather difficult to use and are susceptible to backlash, a condition in which the line becomes tangled. Fly-fishing reels are used by fly fishermen to hold the fly-fishing line and, in some cases, to fight strong fish with their drag systems, but they are not involved in the casting process.
Quick Tip: When fishing with jigs on a low visibility day, add a rattle to the jig. The noise will attract the fish more.
Spinning (fixed spool) Reels
They were originally developed to allow the use of artificial flies, or other lures for trout or salmon, that were too light in weight to be easily cast by bait casting reels. Fixed spooled reels are normally mounted below the rod. Spinning reels also solved the problem of backlash, as they did not have a rotating spool to overrun and foul the line. The earliest fixed-spool reels turned the spool 90 degrees in the body of the reel for retrieval, and then reversed it back into casting position. In casting position, line was drawn off in coils from the end of the fixed, non-rotating spool. And they are good for saltwater. Many people, especially beginners, choose spinning reels because their mechanisms eliminate tangle-producing backlashes. Spinning reels come in varied sizes which depend upon the line size being used.
Quick Tip: Trout will always face upstream waiting for the current to bring them food. Casting your spinner ahead and bringing it downstream will help improve your chances of landing a trophy trout.
Bait Casting Reels
Unlike spinning reels, bait casting reels are small revolving spool reels, many of which have level wind mechanisms. Today's bait casting reels are popular because they offer a combination of free-spool casting and adjustable drags. Other improvements include anti-backlash aids, multiple ball bearings, and variable gearing. Some bait casting reels even offer an anti-reverse, which means the handle can rotate backward similar to older types of bait casting reels. The point of this is to allow small amounts of line to be let off the fishing reel by cranking backward. There are two basic families of bait casting reels. Round reels have round end plates, and have a greater line capacity than the other family. Round reels are best used in salt water and for long-running freshwater fish. The other type of bait casting reel is smaller and lighter in weight, and has elliptical end plates. Because these reels are designed to cast farther and more efficiently, they are particularly well suited to bass anglers.
Fish are enticed by trolling fishing lures (designed to resemble squid or other baitfish) or baits behind the boat. Multiple lines are often used. Outriggers were designed to spread the lines more widely.
Fly Reels
Most fly reels are single action, meaning that they have no gears. Instead, the spool goes around one turn every time the crank is turned. Automatic fly reels are another type of reel, most often used for light freshwater fishing. These reels have no crank handle whatsoever. Instead, line is retrieved by winding up a spring mechanism and then pressing a trigger. The type of fly reel you use becomes a real consideration once you fish in saltwater or fish larger, longer-running freshwater fish. Reels used in fighting and bringing in fish must have a larger capacity in order to hold the fly line, as well as a quantity of backing line. If you are angling for offshore fish, the single-action reel should be passed over in favor of a more rugged machined model.
Big Game Reels
If you are fishing for big game, chances are you'll need "tournament" class tackle. Some of the highest quality — not to mention the highest priced — reels fit into this category. Big game reels are generally divided into two categories. Star-drag reels are sturdy, dependable reels that feature a free spool lever and separate star-drag mechanism. Lever-drag reels, by comparison, combine the free spool and the drag-setting lever into one unit. These reels allow drag changes, which is a huge advantage over star-drag reels.
The billfish (broadbill, marlin, sailfish and swordfish and larger tunas (bluefin, yellowfin, and bigeye) and sharks (mako, great white, tiger, hammerhead and other large species) are the main species recognized as big-game fish.
Boat Reels
Boat reels should have a free spool lever, a star-drag adjustment device, and a metal spool. Level wind reels are very popular boat reels, because they lay the line evenly on the spool so that the angler doesn't have to do this manually. When all is said and done, choosing the right boat reel depends upon the line size. As a rule of thumb, inshore fishing, including fishing done in lakes and bays, requires a reel with a minimum of 200 yards line capacity. Reels used for offshore fishing should hold 300 to 400 yards of line.
Surf Casting Reels
While surfing reels are similar to most other saltwater reels, they are equipped with wider spools, and sometimes additional features, which make them easier to cast efficiently
Quick Tip: When using a spinnerbait for bass, slide on a plastic twister tail to the hook, to give it even more action that Bass cannot resist
Fishing Rods:
Cane-Fiberglass -Graphite –
Quick Tip: Freshwater fishing poles are different from saltwater or ocean fishing poles, they usually are much smaller.
Spinning Rods
Spinning rods are made from graphite or fiberglass with a cork or PVC foam handle, and tend to be between 5 and 8.5 feet (1.5 - 2.6 m) in length. Typically, spinning rods have anywhere from 5-8 large-diameter guides arranged along the underside of the rod to help control the line. The eyes decrease in size from the handle to the tip, with the one nearest the handle usually much larger than the rest to allow less friction as the coiled line comes off the reel. Unlike bait casting and spin casting reels, the spinning reel hangs beneath the rod rather than sitting on top, and is held in place with a sliding or locking reel seat. Spinning rods and reels are widely used in fishing for popular North American sport fish including bass, trout, pike and walleye. Longer spinning rods with elongated grip handles for two-handing casting are frequently employed for saltwater or steelhead and salmon fishing. Spinning rods are also widely used for trolling and still fishing with live bait.
Surf Rods
Surf-casting rods resemble oversized spinning or bait-casting rods with long grip handles for two-handed casting. Surf rods need to be long, 10 to 14 feet (3 to 4 m) in length, so you can cast beyond the breaking surf where the fish are. And they need to be sturdy so you can use heavy weighted lures or bait that can stay on the bottom of rough waters.
Some surfcasters use powerful rods to cast half-pound bait and lure rigs more than two hundred feet into the ocean.
Bait-Casting and Closed-Spin Casting Rods
Bait-casting and closed-spin casting rods are designed to hold reels that are mounted above the handle. So the line-guide eyes are on the top and the casting trigger is on the bottom.
They're made from graphite or fiberglass with a cork or PVC foam handle and tend to be between 5 and 8.5 feet (1.5 to 2.6 m) in length. They have anywhere from five to eight guide eyes to help control the line. The eyes decrease in size from the handle to the tip, with the one nearest the handle usually much larger than the rest to allow less friction as the coiled line comes off the reel.
Longer rods, with elongated grip handles for two-handed casting, are frequently used for saltwater or steelhead and salmon fishing. Spinning rods are also widely used for trolling and still fishing with live bait.
Bigger rods are used for bigger bait and bigger fish.
Chumming, or chunking, is the process of throwing pieces bait fish overboard to attract larger game fish.
Fly Rods
In fly fishing the side and reverse casts are generally used when wind is a problem. They are also used if there are obstacles that can make a regular cast difficult.
Fly rods come in a variety of sizes to catch anything from small freshwater pan fish to large saltwater game fish. Fly rods tend to have a single, large-diameter line guide (referred to as a stripping guide), with a number of smaller looped guides (“snake guides”) spaced along the rod to help control the movement of the relatively thick fly line.
Fly rods are almost always built out of carbon graphite and the rod tapers from one end to the other. The degree of taper determines the amount of flex in the rod. The flex and length of your fly rod depends on where you're fishing and what you're after.
Fly fishermen love to make their own flies. They also like to make their own rods. Custom rod building is a popular hobby with fly fishermen.
Sea Rods
If you're trying to catch big fish, you need big equipment. Sea rods are long (around 10 feet on average), extremely thick and feature huge and heavy tips, eyes, and handles. There are different rods designed for surf casting and for fishing from a boat on the ocean.
Ice Fishing Rods
Really short spin casting rods, varying between 24 and 36 inches in length, are used for ice fishing.
Telescopic Rods
Telescopic fishing rods are designed to collapse down to a short distance and open to a long rod.. This makes the rods very easy to transport.
Telescopic fishing rods are made from the same materials as conventional one- or two-piece rods. Graphite and fiberglass or composites of these materials are designed to slip into each other so that they open and close. The eyes are generally, but not always, a special design to help make the end of each section stronger. Various grade eyes available on conventional rods are also available on telescopic fishing rods.
Care for telescopic fishing rods is much the same as other rods. The only difference being you should not open the telescopic rod into the open position rapidly.
Carbon-Fiber Pole
Carbon-fiber poles are commonly used by professionals. They're made with a variety of different qualities of carbon fiber that result in precise casting.
Ultra-light Rods
If you want to catch smaller fish, such as trout, bass, bluegill, as well as other types of panfish, or get more fight out of a larger fish, then try an ultra-light fishing pole. They're shorter (4 - 5.5 feet is common), lighter and have more flex than normal rods. Tip actions vary from slow to fast, depending on your intended use.
Tackle: (Terminal)
This includes hooks, sinkers, floats, leaders, swivels, split rings and wire, snaps, weights, diving lures, top water suresbeads, spoons, blades, spinners and clevises to attach spinner blades to fishing lures. Each type of fishing lure performs differently underwater depending on its design. As with Spinners, spoons, jigs, and soft plastic baits, they will all perform in a different way when reeled through the water. And as to the proper fishing line, Choose a high strength monofilament (single strand) fishing line that has been a benchmark for knot strength and abrasion resistance, the wrong type of line and you may not be able to land your catch.
Gliding: *Paragliders, Hang gliders , Gliders/Sailplanes
(Paragliders have much greater lift and range than parachutes).
Thermals
The most commonly used source of lift is created by the sun's energy heating the ground which in turn heats the air above it. This warm air rises in columns known as thermals. Soaring pilots quickly become aware of land features which can generate thermals; and of visual indications of thermals such as soaring birds, cumulus clouds, cloud streets, dust devils, and haze domes. Also, nearly every glider contains an instrument known as a vaiometer (rate-of-climb indicator, a vertical speed indicator (VSI), or a vertical velocity indicator (VVI)) which shows visually (and often audibly) the presence of lift and sink. Having located a thermal, a glider pilot will circle within the area of rising air to gain height. In the case of a cloud street thermals can line up with the wind creating rows of thermals and sinking air. A pilot can use a cloud street to fly long straight-line distances by remaining in the row of rising air.
Ridge lift
Ridge lift occurs when the wind meets a mountain, cliff or hill. The air is deflected up the windward face of the mountain, causing lift. Gliders can climb in this rising air by flying along the feature. Another name for flying with ridge lift is slope soaring.
Mountain waves
The third main type of lift used by glider pilots is the lee waves that occur near mountains. The obstruction to the airflow can generate standing waves with alternating areas of lift and sink. The top of each wave peak is often marked by lenticular cloud formations.
Convergence
Another form of lift results from the convergence of air masses, as with a sea-breeze front. More exotic forms of lift are the polar vortexes.
Comparison of gliders, hang gliders and paragliders
The three classes of hang glider:
- The flexible wing hang glider, having flight controlled by a wing whose shape changes by virtue of the shifted weight of the pilot. This is not a paraglider.
- The rigid wing hang glider, having flight controlled by spoilers, typically on top of the wing. In both flexible and rigid wings the pilot hangs below the wing without any additional fairing.
- Class 2 (designated by the *FAI as Sub-Class O-2) where the pilot is integrated into the wing by means of a fairing. These offer the best performance and are the most expensive.
* The Federation Aeronautique Internationale is the world governing body for air sports and aeronautics and astronautics world records
There is sometimes confusion between gliders, hang gliders and paragliders. In particular paragliders and hang gliders are both foot-launched aircraft. The main differences between the types are:
|
Paragliders |
Hang gliders |
Gliders/Sailplanes |
|
|
Undercarriage: |
Pilot's legs used for take-off and landing |
Pilot's legs used for take-off and landing |
Aircraft takes off and lands using a wheeled undercarriage or skids |
|
Wing structure: |
Entirely flexible, with shape maintained purely by the pressure of air flowing into the wing in flight and the tension of the lines. Prone to collapse in turbulence. |
generally flexible but supported on a rigid frame which determines its shape and thus does not collapse in turbulence, but note that rigid wing hang gliders also exist |
rigid surface to wings that totally encases structure |
|
Pilot position: |
Sitting ‘supine’ in a seated harness. |
Usually lying ‘prone’ in a cocoon-like harness suspended from the wing. Seated, and 'supine' are also possible. |
Sitting in a seat with a harness surrounded by a crash-resistant structure. |
|
Speed range (stall speed – max speed): |
slower – hence easier to launch and fly in light winds, can get into trouble when winds pick up, poor wind penetration and no pitch control, cannot dive for speed, although some pitch variation can be achieved with speed bar. |
faster – much faster, up to 145 km/h (90+ mph), hence easier to launch and fly in stronger conditions with better wind penetration, and can outrun bad weather, full pitch control |
Even faster - maximum speed up to about 280 km/h (170 mph); stall speed typically 65 km/h (40mph). Able to fly in windier turbulent conditions and can outrun bad weather. Exceptional penetration into the wind. Semi- or fully aerobatic. |
|
Maximum glide ratio: |
about 12, relatively poor glide performance makes long-distances more difficult |
About 17 for flexible wings, though up to 20 for rigid wings. Glide performance enables longer-distance flying, 700km (430+ mile) record |
about 70, high glide performance enabling long distances, 3000km (1800+ mile record) |
|
Turn radius: |
tighter turn radius, allowing circling in the rapidly rising center of thermals |
somewhat larger turn radius, not allowing such a high rate of climb in thermals |
even greater turn radius but still able to circle tightly in thermals |
|
Landing-out: |
Smaller space needed to land, offering more landing options from cross-country flights. Also easier to carry back to the nearest road |
longer approach & landing area required, but can reach more landing areas due superior glide range |
Can land in less than 200 meters and can often reach another airfield. Specialized trailer needed to retrieve by road |
|
Learning: |
Quicker to get ‘into the air’ with most skills learned in the air; flying tandem with an instructor is rarely necessary during instruction. A citation is needed |
basic control skills are learned in ground school, and in flights close to the ground prior to high flights; |
teaching is done in a two seat glider with dual controls |
|
Convenience: |
pack smaller (easier to transport and store); lighter (easier to carry); quicker to rig & de-rig; transported in the trunk of a car |
more awkward to transport & store; longer to rig and de-rig; transported on the roof of a car |
Trailers are typically 10 m (30 ft) long. Rigging & de-rigging takes about 20 minutes |
|
Cost: |
cheaper but less durable |
more expensive, a flying citation is needed but more durable |
Long lasting (several decades), so active second hand market in all price ranges, but cost of new gliders very high. Often syndicated. |
Helicopters:
If you just want to enjoy the scenery on nice days in your area, a helicopter beats an airplane anytime. The visibility from a helicopter is better than from almost any airplane. One can see from the paragraph below, that helicopter officers you great sightseeing opportunities.
The FAA regulation: FAR 91.119 says "Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes..." and it turns out to be illegal to fly an airplane less than 1000' above the rooftops of a city (i.e., about 1200' above the ground) or 500' from any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure in the countryside (i.e., at least 500' above the ground). This is a much closer look than you would get in a commercial airliner, but it isn't all that close. FAR 91.119(d) says "Helicopters may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section if the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface." As long as the helicopter could autorotate to a tennis court, road, or field in the event of an engine failure, the pilot can fly much lower than in an airplane.
The FAA requires that you have at least 40 hours of helicopter time before they'll give you a Private certificate. In practice most students take closer to 60 hours. New pilots have to learn all the rules and regulations, how to read charts and understand airspace, how to talk on the radio, how to navigate when on a cross-country flight, and how to fly a helicopter.
If you are already a certificated airplane pilot you already have all of the required skills except knowing how to fly a helicopter. The FAA relaxes the flight time requirement to 30 hours and in practice many students are able to pass their checkride after 40 hours.
Skydiving: (Parachutes are designed to absorb the stresses of deployment at terminal velocity)
Accelerated Free Fall
This method of skydiving training is called "accelerated" because the progression is the fastest way to experience solo freefall, normally from 10,000 to 14,500 feet "Above Ground Level" (AGL).
Tandem
Student skydiver is connected via a harness to a tandem instructor. The instructor guides the student through the whole jump from exit through freefall, piloting the canopy, and landing. In dual sky diving, the jumpers utilize a drogue parachute, which slows down the free fall of two to that of one jumper.
QT: The modern parachute was invented in the late 18th century in France, and the first recorded public jump was in in 1783 by Louis-Sébastien Lenormand . Two years later, another Frenchman, Jean-Pierre Blanchard demonstrated it as a means of safely disembarking from a hot air balloon. While Blanchard's first parachute demonstrations were conducted with a dog as the passenger, he later had the opportunity to try it himself in 1793 when his hot air balloon ruptured and he used a parachute to escape
Golf: From Teeing ground to the Cup.
|
Term on |
Specific term |
Definition |
|
-4 |
Condor |
four strokes under par |
|
-3 |
Albatross |
three strokes under par |
|
-2 |
Eagle |
two strokes under par |
|
-1 |
Birdie |
one stroke under par |
|
0 |
Par |
strokes equal to par |
|
+1 |
Bogey |
one stroke over par |
|
+2 |
Double Bogey |
two strokes over par |
|
+3 |
Triple Bogey |
three strokes over par |
|
+4 |
Quadruple Bogey |
four strokes over par |
Basic Rules of Golf:
Identifying Your Ball
You may mark and lift your ball in order to identify it anywhere except in a hazard. However, you must tell your opponent or fellow competitor before doing so and you may not clean it except to the extent necessary to identify it.
Striking the Ball
For a stroke to be considered to have been played, the player must have had the intent to strike the ball. Likewise, if you intend to strike the ball and you miss, that IS a stroke. You may not improve the area in which you intend to make a swing. When tree limbs or weeds are in your way they cannot be moved except to fairly take your stance.
Playing a Wrong Ball
There is never a penalty if you play a wrong ball from a hazard. If you have done so, you must then play the proper ball from the hazard. Outside a hazard, in match play, if you play a ball that is not yours, you lose the hole. In stroke play, if you play a ball that is not yours, there is a two-stroke penalty. You must then play out the hole with your own ball. If you do not do so, you are disqualified
Match Play
Match Play is when you play the game by holes. If you win a hole over your opponent you are 1 up. When you have won more points than there are holes remaining you have won the match.
Stroke Play
Stroke Play is sometimes referred to as medal play. The player who finishes the round in the fewest strokes is the winner in stroke play. If you have 94 and your opponent has 97, you are the winner. The ball must be played into each and every hole. There are no gimmies in proper stroke play. The general penalty in stroke play for a violation of the rules is two strokes.
When keeping score in stroke play, you keep your opponent's score and your opponent keeps yours. Be sure the scores are properly recorded at the end of each hole. This will eliminate problems at the end of the round. Be sure to sign and attest the scorecard at the end of play.
In stroke play, there is no penalty if your ball strikes your opponent, their caddie or their equipment and the ball is played as it lies.
FYI: "stymie”: To be stymied means an opponent's ball is between your ball and the hole on the green.
Player's Responsibilities
As the ball lies, it should also be played as such.
You are allowed no more than fourteen clubs. Except in special circumstances, you must use the same ball for the entire hole. If you have cut your ball during the play of a hole and wish to change it, you must first ask your opponent for permission to do so.
During the play of a hole, you may not hit any practice shots. You may practice putting between the play of two holes so long as you are not delaying play. This always causes confusion because such putting between holes is not permitted on the PGA Tour.
During a round, you may not ask anyone except your caddie or your partner for advice as to how to hit a shot. You may ask for information about the Rules or the fixed position of hazards or the flagstick. Example: It is okay to ask, "Is the hole cut in the back of the green?" It is not okay to ask your opponent, "Do you think I should use a 7 iron?" Likewise, it is not permissible to offer advice to your opponent.
The Putting Green & Flagstick
Your ball is considered to be on the green if any part of it is touching the green. You may brush away leaves and other loose Impediments that are on your line of putt with your hand or a club.
You are not allowed to use a cap or towel to do this. Ball marks or old hole plugs should be repaired but damage from shoes or spikes cannot be repaired until play of the hole is finished.
You may mark your ball on a green by putting a coin or other marker behind it when you want to pick it up to clean or get it out of another player's way.
If your ball is off the green, there is no penalty if you play and your ball strikes the flagstick, provided no one is holding the flagstick. If your ball is on the green, do not putt with the flagstick in the hole. Either remove the flagstick from the hole or ask another player to hold it and remove it after you have struck your putt. If you putt and your ball hits the flagstick when it is in the hole, in match play you lose the hole. In stroke play, you must add two penalty strokes to your score for the hole.
Relief: Lifting & Dropping the Ball
You must put a ball marker like a coin behind your ball if you are going to lift the ball. When you drop a ball, stand erect, hold your arm out straight and drop it. If anyone else's ball interferes with your swing or is in your line of putt, you may have it marked and lifted. If you believe your ball is in a position to help your opponent you may mark and lift
Relief: Hazards & Obstructions
A hazard is any bunker or water hazard. In a hazard, you may not touch the sand, the ground or the water with your club before or during your backswing.
In a hazard, you may not remove loose impediments which are natural items like as leaves, twigs, stumps, nuts, etc. Obstructions are artificial objects like cigarettes, milk cartons, rakes, etc. Obstructions can be moved.
Relief: Ball Lost or Out of Bounds
A ball is lost if it is not found within five minutes after you first begin to search for it. It is out of bounds when all of it lies out of bounds.
If your ball is lost or out of bounds, (OB) you must add one penalty stroke and replay your shot from where you last played.
If you believe your ball may be lost or out of bounds, you are allowed to play a provisional ball from where you originally played. You must declare that it is a provisional ball. This is designed to save time.
If you find your original ball you must play it -- you do not have the option of playing your provisional.
Additionally:
Be sure you pick up your feet when walking. If you shuffle your golf shoes, you are very likely to make spike marks on the fragile putting surface.
Don't step within two feet of any hole.
Don't walk in another player's "line" while putting.
Never place your tee in front of the tee markers while driving. Only between or behind is acceptable.
Make sure your cell phone is either off or on silent while on the golf course.
Talking on your cell phone is discouraged and considered rude.
Always give the "honor" of teeing off first to the best player on the hole previous.
ALWAYS take out the flag when you are putting in a competition, once all the other players have reached the green. If you putt with the flag in, it is a two stroke penalty. Suddenly, your chance at a birdie turns into a bogey.....
Have respect for your fellow players. Never talk while they are making a stroke, or comment on their style of play or swing.
Don't delay in taking a shot. Your post shot routine, practice shot and swing itself should only take a minute or less.If you aren't playing fast enough and there is another group waiting to play behind you, step out of their way, and wave to them, motioning for them to play through you. However, make sure you are out of the way, or you could get seriously injured.
Before taking a shot, look around, and make sure that there is nothing you could hit or collide with while you are taking a shot, especially golf bags, trees, and people!
Club use: = Control &Yardage
The sequential clubs in a set (3-iron, 4-iron, 5-iron and up) are designed so that there should be a regular yardage interval between clubs. For most players, that interval will be 10-15 yards (a 3-iron will go 10 yards farther than a 4-iron, which will go 10 yards farther than a 5-iron). Again, this will vary from player to player.
Manufacturers control distance mainly through shaft length and the loft of the clubface. A 5-iron will be shorter than a 3-iron - resulting in less clubhead speed - and the 5-iron will have more loft on the face, which will cause the ball to fly higher.
One must also take into consideration that wind will usually require the use a higher numbered club
Quick Tip: Pulled shots come from a closed clubface or the path swing; most players suffer from the latter as they start their downswing. Work on this, and your putting will improve.
Major Championships
Men’s: The major championships are the four most prestigious men's tournaments of the year. In chronological order they are: The Masters, the U.S. Open, the “British” Open Championship and the PGA Championship.
Women’s: The LPGA Championship, the U.S. Women's Open and the Women's British Open.
Senior’s: The Senior PGA Championship, the U.S. Senior Open, the Senior British Open, The Tradition and the Senior Players Championship.
Types of Golf shots
The drive is a long-distance shot played from the tee box, intended to move the ball a great distance down the fairway.
The approach shot is made with the intention of placing the ball on the green.
A chip shot is a very short lofted shot, generally made with an abbreviated swing motion with a lofted club. Chip shots are used as very short approach shots as a "lay-up" shot to reposition the ball on the fairway, or to get the ball out of a hazard such as a sand trap.
The putt is a shot designed to roll the ball along the ground. It is normally made on the putting green using a putter, though other clubs may be used to achieve the same effect in different situations. A lag is a long putt designed less to try to place the ball in the cup than to simply move the ball closer to the hole for an easier putt into the hole
Addressing the Ball: This really refers to the final position taken by a golfer just before the swing.
One will have their feet at some fixed position relative to the ball. This is the address position and is sometimes referred to as "addressing the ball". Of course, there are other aspects, such as the golfer’s posture at this moment, such as a slight bend of the knees.
The Grip:
1. Take your hands and grasp the club as you normally would.
2. Interlock the index finger of your left hand and the pinky of your right hand.
3. Understand that this will feel awkward at first, but you will get used to it and it will hold your grip.
Tip: It is best to learn this with a glove.
The Swing:
·Stand with your spine in a neutral position and bend from the hips, with feet shoulders width apart.
·Rotate the torso on the back swing, and 'set' the lead wrist fully before you reach the top, creating a 90 degree angle between your lead forearm and the shaft.
·When swinging down, 'haul' the head of the club so that it lags behind everything else, and allow the 90 degree forearm/shaft angle to increase, then unwind rapidly through the impact area. This creates tremendous clubhead speed while allowing the body to move relatively slowly and maintain control.
·Make sure to have the shaft leaning forward toward the target at the moment of impact, this will help to have the face of the club face square at impact, an important factor in directional control.
·"Swing-set-through" is the rhythm. It isn't critical how far back you take the club but if you have released the club correctly, you will follow through completely; your belt buckle will be facing the target, the club will be behind you, you will be balanced on your lead foot with the back foot balanced on its toe. You should be able to comfortably hold this finish as you watch the ball fly off into the distance.
·Be sure your swing isn't coming too far inside your body and your ball is heading left. Also be careful that you're not opening up and getting the ball shooting off to the right.
** By not finishing your golf swing completely, you don't get your hands turned over which can leave the club face open at impact and cause a fade or a slice can, it can also cause you to lose distance on your shots
Practice one skill or mechanical change at a time. If your instructor makes four swing changes, pick one change to work on at a time. Stick to one swing thought or one drill at a time.
Quick tip: Do yourself a favor and improve your game, give in and get some instruction (at the very least, basic) from a golf pro, it will make a world of difference in your game.
“KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL AND -----**follow-through with your swing----”
GET A TEE TIME @ Activegolf.com
Quick Tip: If playing by the book, only 14 clubs are allowed in a player's bag at one time during a stipulated round.
Reading the Green & then Putting:
Prior to every putt, squat behind your line to find the high and low side, it will make a world of difference in sinking the ball.
As you approach the green, take a mental inventory of its general shape. Is it sloping toward your ballr away from it? Does the green fall off on one side, and which side? These larger features will take priority over smaller breaks when determining how your ball will roll.
* A good rule of thumb “each foot of distance requires one inch of backswing with your putter”.
Most greens are built low in the front and high in the back. They are designed the way they are for two reasons. First of all, they have to have a run off for the drainage. And secondly, the nature of the game is for the putting surface to take an approach shot. The green has to have some angle facing the fairway so the golf ball will have chance to stop on the green
When you land on the back of the green, take into consideration that your putt is going to be a downhill putt, conversely, when putting too the cup, you are going uphill.
When you approach the green it is important to look at the contours and assess the slopes and lie of the land. Also observe the dampness of the green.
Check your break from the low side of your line.
Stabilize and Putt: Putting is accomplished by the upper body only. The lower body must stay as still as possible. If it doesn't, you'll have a lot of inconsistencies in your putting.
Controlling the speed of your putt is extremely important. Consider that breaking putts should enter the hole from the side, not the front.
In order to make the ball holds its line, hit a putt a putt that would take the ball about 16 inches past the hole.
With your pace of putt in mind, pick the break you envisage the putt will take. Then pick your target out as a straight line and hit the ball at the right speed so that it takes the break.
Chip Shots:
During the entire chipping swing
the arms are the only part of the body that moves. As the swing begins
the arms, hands and golf club move in one motion together to the top of the
swing and they move together in the downswing. Swing
only your arms.
Your shoulders do no turn, they tilt. During the backswing the right shoulder tilts up because of the address position. The arms swing independent of your body. Chipping is such an exact stroke that you must stay as quiet as a putt. Swinging the arms will generate enough power to send a chip shot the desired distance and location.
Pitching:
The further back in your stance the lower the trajectory and the less backspin and more roll. The further forward in your stance the higher the trajectory and the more backspin and less roll.
The benefit to playing the ball back in your stance is the ability to make ball turf contact. If the golf ball is back in your stance it is easier to make contact because the club head is swinging down towards the golf ball.
The further forward you move the golf ball in your stance the greater the risk of hitting the ball on the upswing. If you make contact on the upswing you will strike the middle or top of the golf ball and the result will be a low shot with flat trajectory.
Addressing the golf ball forward in your stance the leading edge of the golf
club will swing down into the ground directly under the golf ball. As the
leading edge of the club makes contact with the ground and the bottom of the
golf ball, the ball will climb up the clubface which subsequently lifts the
ball in the air. The lifting motion impacts trajectory and backspin, the two
key elements to pitching the golf ball softly around the green.
Gymnastics: (Agility, Balance, Flexibility, Rhythm and Strength)
Acrobatic Gymnastics:
There are five types of events (women's and men's pairs, women's and men's group, involving three and four partners respectively, and mixed pairs). The sport combines dance, tumbling and partnering skills that involves dynamic (aerial) and balance (posed) movements.
Balance Beam:
A balance beam routine typically includes both a mount and a dismount of the beam, normally a flip depending on the level of competition. A mount may be as simple as climbing up on the beam, or as complicated as flipping onto it. Normally this involves some very difficult flips.
The performance routine last between 60 and 90 seconds, depending on the level of competition. The choreography of the routine typically includes acrobatic elements, turns, leaps and dance poses performed singularly or in combination.
The gymnast may compete barefoot or wear beam shoes if she so chooses. She may also chalk her hands and/or feet for added stability on the apparatus.
Once the performance has started, the gymnast's coach may not spot her or interfere in any way. The only time the gymnast may be accompanied on the podium is in the case of a mount involving a springboard. In this instance, the coach, or another athlete from the team, may quickly step in to remove the springboard from the area.
In the event of a fall, the athlete has ten seconds to remount the apparatus and continue the routine. If she does not return to the beam within this time limit, she is not permitted to continue
Also, during competition, there are no restrictions on choreography; however, the gymnast must fulfill several requirements set forth by the Code of Points. Among these requirements, gymnasts must successfully complete a 360 degree turn, a leap demonstrating a 180 degree leg split, and forward and backward acrobatic elements. Athletes must also complete a "flight series" -- a series of two or more linked acrobatic skills -- and a "mixed series" composed of two or more linked dance and acrobatic skills. Gymnasts may earn points by successfully executing difficult acrobatic elements, mounts, dismounts, leaps and jumps. They may also increase their scores by linking several elements together.
Horizontal Bar:
Mainly this is a men’s sport, the exhibinist typically wear grip gloves while performing on the bar. In completion, elements on horizontal bar are regulated by the code of points. A routine (sequence of 11-15 or more skills) usually includes giant swings with various grips (overgrip, undergrip, dorsal grip, mixed grip), in-bar work, turns, release/re-grasp skills, and a dismount. Generally, high bar is considered one of the most exciting gymnastics events due to the power gymnasts generate through giant (giants) swings and the impressive aerial releases and dismounts which often include multiple flips or twists.
Parallel Bars:
Traditionally performed by males “artistic gymnastics”. Two long parallel bars held above the floor, and are held parallel to each other. The bars are usually made of composites, plastic or wood material and the vertical members of the supporting framework are adjustable so the height of the bars above the floor and distance between the bars can be set optimally for each gymnast. Traditionally, in competition only male gymnasts perform on the Parallel bars. Gymnasts may optionally wear hand grip gloves when performing a routine on the parallel bars.
A routine performed on the parallel bars must include various elements that depend on the gymnast's competitive level. A typical performance will involve swinging skills in a support position (on the hands), a hanging position, and an upper arm position. The basic swings may be modified in order to execute various flips and turns. Also, parallel bar routines often feature a strength or static hold skill. Each routine ends with a dismount from either the ends of the bars or the side of the apparatus. A common dismount is a back off, in which the gymnast swings forward in a front support (between the bars) and then executes a backflip over one of the bars, landing in a standing position next to the apparatus.
Rings:
Still rings/ Is traditionally performed only by males due to its extreme upper-body strength requirements. The gymnastics consists of swing, strength and hold elements. Generally, gymnasts are required to fulfill various requirements including a swing to held handstand, an aerial dismount, and a static strength hold. More experienced gymnasts will often perform more than one strength element, sometimes swinging into hold positions or consecutively performing different holds. The performance of the Iron Cross is an example of supreme strength.
Flying rings/ The gymnast jumped or was lifted until he could grasp the rings; then an assistant pulled or pushed him, starting his swing. At the end of each arc the gymnast would do pikes, dislocates or front or back-uprises to build up height. A typical routine would show a number of "flying" dislocates or inlocates (a dislocate leading directly to a support above the rings or a handstand was called a flange). The performer might also do additional moves typical of the still rings while in flight, such as a flying cross. After several passes the routine would end with a (usually) spectacular dismount.
Men’s competition.
Men’s teams compete on six different apparatus, as follows:
Floor—Dance-type movements with acrobatic skills are performed on a mat 12 m (39.4 ft) square.
Pommel horse—Performed on a leather-covered apparatus, in the center of which are inserted two wooden pommels, or handles, 40 to 45 cm (15.8 to 17.7 in) apart, the routine consists of a series of continuous swinging and circular motions with the trunk and legs as the athlete travels from one end of the horse to the other, using only his hands for support.
Vault—The apparatus (horse), 1.6 m (5.3 ft) long and 1.35 m (4.4 ft) high, without pommels, is approached lengthwise. The athlete takes off from a springboard, places both hands on the surface of the horse, he then completes his flight with an acrobatic maneuver before making a controlled landing.
Parallel bars—Performed on two flexible parallel wooden rails 42 to 52 cm (16.5 to 20.5 in) apart, the routine is a series of swinging moves, balances, and changes in grip.
Horizontal bar—Performed on a single steel bar suspended 2.55 m (8.4 ft) above the floor mat, the routine requires continuous swinging and vaulting motions around the bar with frequent changes in direction and grip. In the dismount the athlete casts himself off the bar, soars through the air, and then makes a stable landing.
Still (motionless) rings—The rings are suspended from straps and hung parallel to each other 2.55 m above the floor mat; gymnasts grasp one ring in each hand. The routine combines static positions with rapid movements that are designed to test strength and precision.
Women’s competition.
Women’s teams compete on four apparatus, as follows:
Vault—The routine is the same as in the men’s event, except that the “horse,” similar to that used by the men, is lowered to a height of 1.25 m (4.1 ft) and is approached sideways.
Uneven bars—performed on a set of two highly flexible oval wooden bars, the upper bar is 2.3 m (7.6 ft) from the floor and the lower bar, parallel to it, 1.5 m (4.9 ft) above the floor. The routine demands continuous swinging and vaulting over, under, and between the bars with a formal mount and dismount.
Balance beam—Performed on a single wooden beam 10 cm (3.9 in) wide, the routine consists of continuous tumbling moves, half-turns and full turns, and jumps and leaps. A formal dismount is required.
Floor—Performed on a floor mat 12 m (39.4 ft) square, the routine is quite similar to the men’s floor exercise, except that it is performed to music.
Rhythmic gymnastics. (Dancelike movements)
Rhythmic gymnastics, still focused on women, combines the handling of small equipment with body movements and dance of varying types and difficulty. The emphasis is on beauty, grace, flexibility, and agility. Certain pre-acrobatic elements, such as rolls, are permitted (no more than three (3) per routine), providing the gymnast shows no flight. Handsprings and aerials are not permitted. Participation is either single competitors or pairs, trios or even more (generally five) manipulate one or two apparatus: rope, hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon. Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport that combines elements of ballet, gymnastics, theatrical dance, and apparatus manipulation. The winner is the participant who earns the most points, as awarded by a panel of judges, for leaps, balances, pivots, flexibility, apparatus handling, and artistic effect.
Trampoline.
This discipline has competitions for both men and women. Performing on the Trampoline is informally known as “bouncing.”
The trampoline is an elevated webbed bed supported by springs within a metal frame. A regulation trampoline is 16.5 ft (5.03 m) long, 9.5 ft (2.9 m) wide, and 3.6 ft (1.10 m) high. The bed is made of nylon or string and is only about 6 mm (0.24 in) thick. The trampoline is surrounded by a safety platform, or a large thick mat, designed to cushion the impact of a fall.
Trampoline competition performance scores are based on difficulty and aesthetics. And are scored on a scale up to a 10.0. The high and low scores are deleted, and the middle three are added to compute the final score for the routine. The compulsory routine, in which skills must be performed in a specified order, is judged solely on aesthetics. In the optional routine, each skill (including multiple somersaults and twists) has a difficulty rating, with the total value of those skills added to the aesthetic total to determine the overall score for the routine. The maximum difficulty is 7.0, and skills may not be repeated within the routine.
A trampoline competition consists of one compulsory routine and one optional routine. Competitors are limited to eight contacts with the trampoline per routine. The 10-move routines may take as little as 30 seconds.
Men's rhythmic gymnastics is growing in some Countries; their participation is mostly directed in artistic gymnastics and wushu martial arts.
QT: In the 2nd Century bc, men and women of Crete developed the art of bull leaping. In bull leaping the performer would run toward a charging bull, grab its horns, and, upon being tossed into the air, execute various midair stunts before landing on the bull’s back, then dismount with a flip. This was the beginnings of modern day gymnastics.
Hiking is one of the fundamental outdoor activities on which many others are based. Many beautiful places can only be reached overland by hiking, and enthusiasts regard hiking as the best way to see nature. Hiking over long distances or over difficult terrain requires both the physical ability to do the hike and the knowledge of the route and its pitfalls.
Types & Related activities
· Backpacking/Trekking is a multi-day, often arduous hike especially in mountainous regions
· Free Hiking is off-trail hiking without clothes
· Hiking refers to cross-country walking of a longer duration than a simple walk and usually over terrain where hiking boots are required. A day hike refers to a hike that can be completed in a single day, often applied to mountain hikes to a lake or summit, but not requiring an overnight camp, in which case the term backpacking is used.
· Thru-hiking is long-distance trail from end to end. The term is most commonly associated lengthy trails and long distance hikes, including the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail. Thru-hiking is also called "end-to-end hiking" or "end-to-ending" on some trailsHiking a trail from end to end
· Waterfall hunting and waterfall hiking is hiking with the purpose of finding and enjoying waterfalls
· Orienteering requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain. Participants are given a map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they use to find control points. Also the participants are racing against a clock.
· River Trekking is a combination of trekking and climbing and sometimes swimming along the river. It involves particular techniques like rock climbing, climbing and clinging on wet surfaces, this sport is particularly popular in Hong Kong and Taiwan,
· Trailblazing is the practice of marking paths in outdoor recreational areas with blazes, markings that follow each other at certain — though not necessarily exactly defined — distances and mark the direction of the trail.
· Extreme Day hike: Most of the "extreme" hikes described here will have an elevation gain of 4000 feet +, 14 miles round trip, and on a trail. Shorter day hikes that are not "extreme" are described on this site, especially if there is an unique aspect such as exotic, entertaining, scenic, or otherwise exciting.
Additionally, any hike to over 14,000 feet altitude, a "Forteener," is considered to be an extreme day hike due to two challenging factors: Lack of oxygen and quick changing weather. Even after acclimatization, some people do not cope well with the high altitude and become ill. Secondly, the danger of an unexpected storms bringing heavy rain, snow, or thunderstorms is greater at higher altitudes.
The bare minimum to bring on a hike over 2 hours long is:
-Small
daypack or fanny pack.
-Water* (At least 2 liters, preferably 3 or 4)
-Sunscreen
*Bring as much water as you can. A rule of thumb is 8 oz. for every hour you plan to be gone. If you bring an even number of bottles and strategically place them in your backpack or hang them on your clothes, you won’t even notice the extra weight. Remember this hiking tip; it could save your life!
Poison-oak, Poison-ivy and *Sumac (Leafs of three, let it be!) The hyphenated form "Poison-oak" is used, rather than "Poison Oak" to clearly indicate that it is not a variety of oak, just as "Poison-ivy" is not a variety of ivy.
*Poison sumac grows exclusively in very wet or flooded soils, usually in swamps and peat bogs in the eastern US & Canada.
In the U.S. Occasionally it grows as far west as southern Idaho.
If you're hiking in a region that has poison ivy, oak or sumac, make sure you
are aware of what the plants look like and how to avoid them. If you have never
suffered a reaction in the past, don't think you are immune, it can be the
exact opposite. The oils that cause the rash can have a cumulative effect on
your resistance. Sometimes it isn't until the third or fourth expose that some
people develop symptoms. If you believe you may have been exposed to poison
ivy, oak or sumac, taking immediate action can reduce the length and severity
of an outbreak.
Pack light-weight
Most experienced hikers would never recommend trying to carry more than 1/3 of your weight. However, this assumes that you are in excellent physical condition and that the weight is distributed properly on a pack that fits you correctly. If you are 150 pounds, this means that you are carrying 50 pounds if you are carrying the maximum FSO. To truly enjoy your hike and to avoid exhaustion and injury, don't carry more than 25% of your body weight
Trekking Poles & Environmental issues:
Tips:
· Do consider rubber tips, which cover the sharpest part of the steel point and prevent them from scarring rocks, while still maintaining decent traction.
· Place poles carefully. Avoid easily scarred rocks, fragile trailside vegetation, and other hikers.
· Place poles narrowly. Try to confine your pole tips to the established tread surface of the trail.
· Use baskets. Tip baskets limit the depth to which the pole tips can penetrate the soil, reducing impact and the potential for erosion.
Trekking poles can add up to 20% efficiency to the body by transferring some of the load to your arms. Even more significant is the stability the poles provide, greatly reducing the need for leg muscles to continually provide balance. The chances of a sprained or broken ankle, being one of the worst examples of a hiker a long way from help, is greatly reduced by the use of poles. Stream crossings, wet rocks or logs, ice, loose rocks, and steep terrain are made safer.
A single walking stick is better than nothing, but is more awkward than two lightweight trekking poles. Additionally, telescoping poles can be stowed in your daypack at times when they are not needed. You can find some models that have shock absorbers built in, which allows less stress on the wrists when stroking hard with the poles.
Necessities for a Safe hike
A hat can provide cooling in the summer, warmth in the snow, and protection from sun. (Wear the largest, lightest brim hat you can tolerate. It keeps you cooler and lessens the chance for skin cancer and skin wrinkles.)
Swiss army knife (multi-purpose
Flashlight plus spare batteries and bulb
Compass- and know how to use it
First Aid kit
Lighter or matches
Water flask, and water if needed
Water Purification tablets and/or filter (Giardia Lamblia and Cryptosporidium have set up shop in our wild places, traveling from mammalian intestines to pristine-looking streams through feces. Other contaminants include pesticides and herbicides )
Whistle
Food, and preferably with a low water content to keep the weight down (if water is readily available on the spot) Any number of things could keep you out longer than expected: a lengthy detour, getting lost, enjoying time by a stream, an injury, or difficult terrain
Plastic bags various types and sizes to keep things dry and pack things out. Ziploc bags are very practical because they are easily closed and opened.
Clothing- best worn in layers, so one can easily adapt to changing circumstances. So two thin sweaters make more sense than one thick one. Also, on overnight trips, keep one set of clothes dry for evenings and nights and put the day clothes back on before you start walking, even if they are wet. You will thank yourself for that during the next evening.
A warm up hat or cap - even when no cold weather is expected. Per weight and volume, this is the best insulator because a lot of body heat escapes through the head ("If your feet are cold, put on a hat").
Parka or Rain jacket- preferably either one that fits over the backpack or accompanied by a separate pack liner
Good boots, Blisters* are the curse of any hiker's existence. They can be avoided, however. Blisters are caused by moisture, heat, and friction against your skin. Wear boots or hiking shoes that fit properly. If you are hiking for an extended period of time, bring a change of socks. Switch pairs about halfway through your hike (or sooner, if your feet get wet during your trip). If you consciously decide to get wet during the trip -- by cooling off in a stream, for example -- be absolutely sure you thoroughly dry your feet before replacing your socks and boots.
Toilet Paper*
Sun Glasses and a high UV (sunscreen) cream or spray are both essential, especially above tree line. High altitude and summer time are brutal to the skin. Low altitude and any sun are brutal to the skin. Put sunscreen on all days
Bug repellent
* Blister Prevention:
A study by US Army Medical researchers found:
That applying antiperspirant to your feet for several days before your hike, aided shoes or boots rubbing from against moist skin produce greater friction -- and blisters -- than the same friction against very dry or very wet skin, by enlisting the help of more than 600 cadets at the US Military Academy, West Point, New York. Some cadets received a 20% solution of aluminum chloride hexahydrate -- common ingredients in antiperspirant. Others received a placebo. All were instructed to apply the solution to their feet for five consecutive evenings. Then all were sent on a 13-mile hike. About 6 hours later, all cadets removed their boots and researchers examined their feet. Their research conclusions, was that the cadets who used the antiperspirant on their feet had less than half as many blisters as those who did not. But the antiperspirant group were also much more likely to report other types of skin irritation.
This is a reasonable suggestion. But, one should always consider the use of any aluminum products as they are toxic and can lead to a variety of problems later on. Washing the feet with a good soap and then applying some white vinegar, adding a couple of drops of any essential oil if you like. Although the vinegar smell dissipates quickly.
*Catholes: "Leave No Trace." Human waste produces environmental impact from hikers, as well as can contaminate the watershed and make other hikers ill. 10 inches) deep, depending on local soil composition and covering after use. If at all possible, catholes should be dug at least 60 m (200 feet) away from water sources and trails; the risk of contamination is minimized.
SLEEPING BAGS:
With fall here and winter just around the corner, nothing can make an overnight
backpacking trip less enjoyable than having the wrong sleeping bag.
Most sleeping bags sold today come with a temperature rating. You should only
take the rating as a suggestion and not an absolute value. Also, only compare
temperature ratings within a manufacturer’s line: a 25 degree rating for one
manufacturer may be a 35 degree rating for another.
Mummy style sleeping bags are the warmest style sleeping bags available because
they have less air inside to heat. You can also pull the hood over your head to
help warm the interior of the bag and retain your body heat.
And finally, don’t forget about your sleeping pad. The warmest sleeping bag
will do you no good if you don’t have an insulating barrier between you and the
cold ground. During the coldest months consider using two open celled sleeping
pads stacked on top of each other.
Hiking with Children:
The best hikes
with children are short, interesting hikes that keep the children interested
and make them want to come back outdoors again. Remember, you should gear the
hike to your youngest child's abilities. A child aged 2 to 4 can only hike
about 1/2 mile to a mile or two, and a 6-10 year old can cover about 3 miles,
so don't expect them to hike for hours like an adult.
Kids like to stop every few minutes to rest and explore, plan for breaks about
every 15 to 20 minutes. Pick easy, flat trails, especially in the beginning,
and leave the strenuous trails for their older years.
Another way to keep the children's interest is to take self-guided nature
hikes, where they follow a map and find different locations on the map. This
keeps them interested, and they'll learn about the natural world at the same
time. The best hikes with children are the hikes that make them want to go back
and do it again!
SLEEPING OVERNIGHT ON THE TRAIL
A few quick tips for doing an over stay. These tips are more about your comfort
and less about gear needed: that is an entirely different discussion.
· Take along camp clothes; something different to sleep in then what you hike in.
· Eat a small snack before you go to bed; it will keep you warmer at night.
· Keep a bottle of water handy; makes night time thirst easier to quench.
· Keep a flashlight nearby; for animals invading your camp and all that water you drank throughout the night.
Tent Care
Here are a few things to keep in mind.
· Seal Your Seams - Make sure you seal all of your seams. Once you apply the seam sealer, let it dry for 24 hours, and then set up your tent under a water sprinkler. Even if the manufacturer says that you don’t need to seal the seams, test your tent just to make sure.
· Dry your Tent - As soon as you get home, hang your tent or set it up inside until it is 100% dry. This prevents mildew which will cause your tent to stink and also remove the water-repellant coating.
· Do not put away a Wet Tent - If you can avoid it, hang your wet tent and allow it to dry before stuffing it in its sack. If you can’t avoid stuffing it wet, make sure you remove it and dry it as soon as possible.
· Use a Ground Cloth - This will prevent wear and tear on the floor of the tent. Make sure the ground cloth is just slightly smaller than the tent foot print to avoid water channeling underneath the tent if it rains.
Q.T Reminder
Don't over pack. Don't under pack. Learn from experience what to bring on an outing.
Be aware how loudly you are talking on a hike. Your voice can carry farther than you think.
Always carry a small flashlight when hiking. In cases of miscalculations of time & distance it could be invaluable when stuck in the woods in dwindling light. Check the batteries beforehand to make sure they are working.
Cellular phones can help in an emergency. If you own one, bring it along. Leave it switched off until you need to use it in an emergency.
Always sign trail registers. This could save your live if you get lost. This information is also used by park officials to determine trail use and conditions.
Be prepared for changes in weather. It's not uncommon for the temperature to be below 50° when you start out and 75° later in the day. Wear clothing in layers that can adapt to changing temperatures. Consider how much space discarded clothing takes up in your backpack
Your thirst is not a good gauge of how much water your body needs. Bring a minimum of two quarts of liquids for a warm weather hike. Three quarts would be better
Play it safe, be aware of your surroundings, both on the ground and in the sky.
The Up’s & Down’s of hiking.
Hiking up steep uphills:
One mistake people make when climbing the hills is to get up on their toes, DON”T. Keep your heels down, this will stretch out your calf muscles and Achilles tendons, reducing cramping and strains and it will keep all or most of your boots soles on the ground where they belong. Slow your pace by shortening your steps, don’t try to race up the hill, you’ll tire quicker.
Steep downhill:
As with uphill, shorten your stride, slow the pace. Bend your knees slightly to lower your center of gravity downward but not back. Too much leaning back will see your feet sliding out because your weight will be behind you, not over your boots where it should be. Done correctly you’ll find the quadriceps or upper leg muscles take the brunt of the load. Keep your toes pointed down for the best grip and stability. Most hiking boots are designed to have dirt and mud build up behind ridges on the soles and thus work best pointing straight ahead.
Off-angle or Traverses:
Often a trail paralleling a slope or ridgeline will angle down on one side. Usually leaning the upper body a little more over the uphill foot can help but for some awkward sections it may be easier to turn the feet sideways so the toes point down the off angle and then sidestep the trail for a short distance. This extreme is rare and only for serious odd angles, washouts or more often foot bridges and boardwalks that may have settled on one side.
Rocky Trails & Crossings:
When rocks and tree roots stick up out of the trail it is once again time to slow down. A little more care and focus will see you through. Keep eyes focused a few feet ahead of you and look through or past obstacles, looking at them will usually promote walking into them. The same can be said for log and bridge crossings, focus on the log a few feet ahead and walk with an even pace; don’t look down into the water as it can cause disorientation. Lastly, always cross one at a time, two or more people on a log can cause it to bounce or sway.
--Safe Hunting Is No Accident--
Quick Fact: A rifle is designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves ("rifling") cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile, imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the orientation of the weapon
A Real Hunter Will:
Portray good hunting ethics.
Communicate and teach other hunters.
Search for an arrow hit or bullet hit animal that is wounded for as long as possible.
Not take a chance at shooting an animal that is out of range or take a shot that is bad or unmanageable.
Assist a fellow hunter who needs help tracking a hit or wounded animal.
Promote a fair chase and ethical hunting standards and abide by the rules of fair chase.
Follow and obey the laws of both local and state governments determined by the Department of Natural Resources
Display and give respect to any animal taken.
Promote hunting to younger hunters and take youngsters hunting whenever permitted. The most basic purpose of a hunter education course is to teach safe, responsible firearm handling in the field, in the vehicle, and in the home after hunting.
Transport deer correctly and display taken game respectfully to non hunters.
Popular shotgun actions for hunting:
- Break-Barrel action
- Pump action
- Semi-automatic shotgun
Single-shot firearms used for hunting generally fall into three categories:
- Falling-block action
- Break-barrel action
- Single-shot bolt action
Quick fact: Deer establish a territory and will not leave it. Deer are known to starve rather than leave their domain.
Typically game animals are divided into several categories for regulatory purposes.
Typical categories, along with example species, are as follows:
Big game: White-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, elk, reindeer (caribou), bear, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, boar, javelina as well as exotic species, usually found at hunting ranches.
Small Game: rabbit, hare, squirrel, oppossum, raccoon
Furbearers: beaver, red fox, mink, pine martin, must rat, bobcat
Predators: cougar (mountain lion/panther), coyote
Upland game bird: grouse, turkey, chukar, pheasant, bobwhite quail, dove
Waterfowl: ducks including mallard, geese including Canada goose
Some Hunting Methods used:
-Baiting is the use of decoys, lures, scent.
-Beagling is the use of beagles in hunting rabbits and sometimes in hunting foxes.
-Blind or stand hunting is waiting for animals from a concealed or elevated position
-Calling is the use of animal noises to attract or drive animals
-Dogs may be used to course or to help flush, herd, drive, track, point at, pursue or retrieve prey
-Driving is the herding of animals in a particular direction, usually toward another hunter in the group
-Flushing is the practice of scaring animals from concealed areas
-Glassing is the use of optics (such as binoculars) to more easily locate animals
-Glue is an indiscriminate passive form to kill birds
-Netting, including active netting with the use of cannon nets and rocket nets
-Persistence hunting is the use of running and tracking to pursue the prey to exhaustion.
-Scouting includes a variety of tasks and techniques for finding animals to hunt
-Spotlighting or shining is the use of artificial light to find or blind animals before killing
-Stalking or still hunting is the practice of walking quietly, in search of animals or in pursuit of an individual animal
-Tracking is the practice of reading physical evidence in pursuing animals
-Trapping is the use of devices (snares, pits, deadfalls) to capture or kill an animal
Carry the Right Equipment
Survival starts before your hunt — prepare your gear with the possibility of
being stranded or injured. At a minimum, carry a knife, fire starting material
(I recommend at least two forms of flame — waterproof matches, windproof
lighter, for example — and enough tinder to start several fires), signal
whistle and mirror, flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries, rope or
parachute cord, a method to collect and purify water, basic energy foods, extra
compass, shelter material (a small tarp, poncho, or even 5- mil painter’s
plastic), and first-aid kit.
A closed season is a term used to describe a time during which hunting an animal of a given species is contrary to law
Choosing the right weapon for firearms hunting is essential to success in your pursuit. Arguably the most popular weapon used in firearms hunts is the rifle. And there are plenty of variables to consider when hunting with a rifle. As you check out the hunting rifles on offer, consider its fit, sight, weight and action
Poaching is illegal hunting, and punishable.
Shooting range terms
Archery: The shooting of arrows or bolts from a bow.
Backstop: A device constructed to stop or redirect bullets fired on a range. This is usually an earthen structure, placed between 16 and 20 feet in vertical height, built in accordance with NRA recommended standards.
Baffles: Barriers to contain bullets and to reduce, re-direct or suppress sound waves and possible stray bullets. Baffles are placed either overhead, alongside or at ground level to restrict or interrupt errant or off target shots. A special baffle referred to as an eyebrow can be placed at the firing line to provide cover and minimize problems caused by double firing, or they can be placed atop backstops to ensure on-site containment of all fired rounds.
Berm: An embankment used between shooting ranges to divide them, or positioned to restrict bullets to a specific area. These are built to establish shooting lanes, and are usually 8 to 12 feet in vertical height.
Bullet trap: A device designed to trap or capture entire bullets or fragments versus redirecting the projectile into a water body, wetland or earthen backstop.
Firing distance: The distance between the firing line and the target line.
Firing line: A line parallel to the targets, from behind which firearms are discharged. Firing Range: (1) A facility designed for the purpose of providing a place on which to discharge firearms, shoot air guns and/or archery equipment; (2) May refer to several ranges constructed together, referred to as a complex or firing range complex.
Handgun: A term used to describe pistols, either auto-loading, single shot or cylinder types held in either one or two hands.
Impact Area: The area behind a target on a backstop or bullet trap, where bullets are expected to impact. This term may also refer to an area down range at an outdoor range where bullets will impact if not captured by a backstop.
Line of site: An imaginary straight line from the eye through the sights of a firearm to the target.
Misfire: Failure of a bullet cartridge to discharge after the firearm's firing pin has struck the primer. Also referred to as a hangfire.
Pistol: A firearm capable of being held, aimed and fired with one hand. Also known as a revolver or hand gun. Plinking: Informal shooting of any kind at inanimate objects.
Range: The distance traveled by a projectile from a firearm to the final point of impact. Three terms apply to range: "point blank", "effective" and "maximum". For the purposes of shooting range design, point blank refers to distances of five yards or less, effective range means the greatest distance a projectile will travel with accuracy, maximum range means the maximum distance a projectile will travel.
Rifle: (1) A modern firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, generally having a barrel more than 15 inches long. Its main characteristic is a rifled (knurled grooved) barrel that imparts a spin to a single projectile as it travels through the bore. (2) Some rifles designed for military or law enforcement use will have a pistol grip in lieu of a shoulder stock.
Safety rules and regulations: Standards used in the operation of a shooting range. Safety rules and regulations are set up to govern the method of range operation to include health and safety procedures that must be followed throughout the facility. Violation of range rules and regulations generally carries penalties such as suspension or banishment from a range for future use.
Safety baffles: Vertical or sloping barriers designed to prevent a projectiles from traveling into an undesired area or direction. Most often used to prevent bullets from leaving the shooting range.
Shotgun: (1) A firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder with a smoothbore barrel that fires shotshells possessing a varying number if round pellets. (2) Some barrels are designed to be used with rifled slugs, most generally having smooth-bores, but in rare cases may be rifled. Law enforcement and military shotguns may have a pistol grip in lieu of a shoulder stock.
Shotshell: A shotshell designed to be used in shotguns. It is composed of a hull or shell, a primer, powder, shot cup or wad and shot. Shells are normally composed of paper or plastic.
Small arms: Firearms that may be discharged by one person, versus artillery pieces. Small arms are not subject to precise definitions, but the term generally refers to rifles, pistols, shotguns, submachine guns and machine guns.
Small bore: An NRA-sanctioned shooting event using .22 rimfire rifles and bullets on bulls eye targets.
Target line: A line parallel to the firing line along which targets are placed. Trajectory: The path a projectile travels from the muzzle to the point of final impact.
Velocity: The speed at which a projectile travels (usually measured and reported in feet per second or meters per second)
Quick Fact: Deer can live up to 11
years in the wild.
Types of Ice Skates
·Figuring Skates (Omni-directional type skate blade)
·Ice Hockey Skates (Omni-directional skates-blade is same length as boot)
·Speed Skate (Forward fast moving type blade, flat bottom)
Ice Skating jumps (basic)
·Axel Jump
·Flip Jump
·Loop Jump
·Lutz Jump
· Salchow Jump
·Toe Loop Jump
Figure Skating:
Figure eights, loops, circles, brackets, all of these terms mean just one thing: the basis of which this sport began. Being able to control your edges at all times means that your jumps, spins and footwork will be much more solid. A tool called the “scribe” which is really a large compass is used to make a tracing onto the ice that you follow. With practice, one should be able to do the same figure three times in a row in the exact same spot.
Moves in the field are a name given to elements of figure skating that emphasize basic skating skills and edge control. In the context of a competitive program, moves in the field include spirals, spread eagles, Ina Bauers, hydro-blading, and similar extended edge moves. The U.S. Figure Skating Association requires each skater to pass a Moves in the Field (MIF) test (3-turn, Bracket Turn, Choctaw Turn, Counter Turn, Crossover, Mohawk Turn, Rocker Turn and a Twizzle), as well as a free skating or free dance test, in order to qualify for the various levels of competition. The skater must perform each field move in the specified pattern while demonstrating adequate power, quickness, edge control, and extension throughout the pattern to be accepted into the level.
Ice Dancing:
Ice dancing requires two figure skaters working together, meant to be an example of ballroom dancing, yet taking place on the ice. As with all types of pairs skating, there is a need to choreograph the routine, making sure the movement is fluid and natural. Unlike many forms of figure skating, ice dancing is not meant to include a number of gymnastic style moves and plunges. The objective behind ice dancing is to present a graceful and entertaining routine that could easily be moved to a ballroom floor and still be performed with similar results. To that end, ice dancers need accompanying music that has a steady beat, which is also a difference with other forms of pairs skating
Freestyle:
Axels,
those other triple and double jumps with the odd names, and spins, is called
Freestyle. It’s generally the most common type that people associate when they
link skating. All freestyle skating is performed to music. Sometimes the music contains
lyrics, oftentimes it doesn’t. In amateur skating, i.e. Olympic eligible,
skaters can only use instrumental music. But when an amateur skater does an
exhibition or an officially sanctioned event, lyrics can be used. Freestyle
skating is more than just being able to do triple jumps and a variety of spins.
Footwork, the connection of various skating steps, strong edges, and the
ability to do spirals [like ballet’s arabesques] and other graceful and/or
dynamic static moves is important.
Pairs:
Pairs are designed for those who wish to perform jumps and spins, just not alone. Pairs can allow for more innovative skating moves such as the death spiral and the loop lift, and it can test your timing when you’re required to do side by side jumps and spins.
Synchronized skating completion:
Synchronized skating is a team sport where a group of eight to 20 ice skaters perform a routine together. The group must move as one, performing intricate steps and formations on the ice that include spins, pair moves, lifts, circles, wheels, intersections, and other difficult movements. Each member of the team must be a strong figure skater, capable of performing complex steps with ease and confidence. The team skates to music, flowing through seamless formations as they move in unison Teams who compete in the U.S. can participate in 15 different levels of competition. This is determined by the ages and abilities of the skating teams. Using teamwork, advanced skating skills, complex formations, and speed, the skaters work together to create a constantly flowing routine on the ice.
Speed Skating:
Long track speed skating, short track speed skating, inline speed skating, marathon speed skating and quad speed skating can be done with individual start, as in long track speed skating or in time trial races of inline skating, where a maximum of four skaters start at the same time. Skaters are timed, and the times are compared at the end. Races may also be held with a mass start, as is done in marathon skating, tour skating, short track skating or in most roller skating events. The first skater to cross the finish line wins, though there may be a series of eliminating heats where finishing among the top fraction of the participants is enough to advance in the competition.
(ISU): International Skating Union
Designated Championship Events:
Speed skating:
·World All-round Speed Skating Championships
·World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships World Sprint Speed Skating Championships
· World Sprint Speed Skating Championships
·World Junior Speed Skating Championships
·World Short Track Speed Skating Championships
·World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships
· World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships
· European Speed Skating Championships
·European Short Track Speed Skating Championships.
Figure skating:
- World Figure Skating Championships
- World Junior Figure Skating Championships
- European Figure Skating Championships
- Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.
Men's field lacrosse is played with ten players on each team: a goalkeeper; three defenders in the defensive end; three midfielders free to roam the whole field; and three attackers attempting to score goals in the offensive end. It is the most common version of lacrosse played internationally. The modern game was codified in Canada in 1856.
Major League Lacrosse
Is a professional men's field lacrosse league that is made up of five teams in the United States and one team in Canada
Teams.
You
FREE, personalized sports web site
National Lacrosse League
Is the league of men's indoor lacrosse in North America. It currently has 12 teams; 3 in Canada and 9 in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter
Teams:
Motorcycle travel is a great
way to see the country. You can soak up the fresh air and sunshine as you drive
down the highway. You have a much greater sense of being a part of yourself you
enjoy the outdoors; motorcycle travel is a great way to see the country. You
can soak up the fresh air and sunshine as you drive down the highway. You have
a much greater sense of being a part of your surroundings while riding a
motorcycle. You feel you can almost reach out and touch the beauty of roadside
flowers, trees and wildlife.
There is also a special feeling of freedom and exhilaration that comes from
racing down the highway with the power of the engine roaring between your legs
and the wind in your face. That feeling cannot be matched with any other form
of travel. You feel you can almost reach out and touch the beauty of roadside
flowers, trees and wildlife.
There is also a special feeling of freedom and exhilaration that comes from
racing down the highway with the power of the engine roaring between your legs
and the wind in your face. That feeling cannot be matched with any other form
of travel.
A motorcyclist
QT: Gottlieb Daimler built the first modern (actually, it had wooden wheels) motorcycle, called an Einspur in 1884; it had 2 outriggers with wheels for stability.
Different types of motorcycling:
- Pleasure Riding - This type of riding is characterized by non-competitive riding alone or in a group and is confined to distances generally not exceeding 125 miles or so and no overnight stays.
- Touring - A form of pleasure riding, touring is characterized by covering long distances and spanning a number of days with overnight stays. They provide lots of suspension travel and upright postures that are comfortable for lengthy rides They often have backrests, large windscreens, and comforts such as radios.
- Trail Riding - Another form of motorcycle riding that takes place off-road, usually with motorcycles specialized for handling the rigors of natural terrain.
- Competition - competitive events pitting the skills of on rider with his or her machine against another.
- Road Racing
- Flat Track
- Mini-Bikes: Mini bikes are miniature replicas of larger motorcycles, most have a gas engine, and are usually 39cc or 49cc although many of these pocket bikes are now being produced with a higher engine displacement, in some cases up to 200cc. Mini bikes are capable of very high speeds, with the slowest bikes still being able to easily reach 35-40mph.
- Sports Bike: The epitome of performance plus. Arms-forward posture. Large tires and Very powerful engines and tight handling.
- Off-Road Motorcycle Competition:
- Dirt Bikes: Typically featured w/knobby tires, and designed with long suspension travel and a minimum of frame and body.
- Enduro: Long distance off-road. Fitted with lighting for nighttime events.
- Motocross: Based on race machines that compete on a combination of road and dirt surfaces, Supermoto bikes combine off-road characteristics such as deep suspension travel with road.
- Trials events: A light weight bike with stiff suspension and no seats. They are competition bikes tailor made for trials events, in which motorcycles are maneuvered around off-road or man-made obstacles, and riders are penalized if their feet touch the ground. Extremely lightweight, trials bikes lack seats
- Cross country: Cross country motorcycle riding is an incredibly exhilarating feeling. For motorcycle riders planning a cross country trip or a camping trip while riding your motorcycle, careful planning will help make your trip more enjoyable.
- Hill Climbing: Hill so steep, you cannot walk up them. Gut retching scary, serious challenges, a broken bike, broken bones, a disaster in waiting, exhilarating and not for the faint of heart, and only the best win. That says it all. Tuning these bikes is not as easy as going to your local track and running a bunch of laps until you have dialed in the bike setup. It is difficult to find a hill worthy of testing your bike. In addition, many of these bikes are designed for close course competition, so going to a state riding park is not an option. Most testing is done at the event on race day, and getting the proper set up is tough as the hill changes from one run to the next. This only adds to the excitement of hill climbing. This sport has an equivalent level of “extreme” as motocross free-style.
There are 3 classes in the national hill climb events:
•
0-450cc
• 450-700cc
• Open Exhibition class (701cc – plus)
- Speedway: Oval Circuit heats. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually consisting of dirt or loosely packed shale. Competitors use this surface to slide their machines sideways, power-sliding or broad-siding into the bends. As speedway bikes do not use brakes, the clutch is used as a release mechanism at the start of races. Regulations state that the motorcycles must have no brakes, are powered by pure methanol, use only one gear and weigh a minimum of 77 kilograms (170 lb). By using engine and rear wheel sprockets the gear ratio can be adjusted as required for track conditions. The use of methanol allows for an increased compression ratio to the engine producing more power than other fuels and resulting in higher speeds
- Grand Prix: Motto “No Brakes-No Gear-No Fear” -Sixteen (fifteen riders and 1 wild card) riders take part in each Grand Prix and over the course of twenty heats each rider will race against every other rider once. The top eight scorers advance to a semi-final and from each semi-final the 1st and 2nd placed riders will advance to the GP final.
Mountaineering
Avoid risky conditions!
Mountain climbing is about challenge and perseverance, about putting hands and feet onto rocks and ice and snow and finally reaching a summit. It is also sometimes known as alpinism, particularly in Europe. While it began as an all-out attempt to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains, it has branched into specializations addressing different aspects of mountains and may now be said to consist of three aspects: rock-craft, snow-craft and skiing, depending on whether the route chosen is over rock, snow or ice.
The Worlds Seven Summits: in order
1. Asia: Mount Everest 29,035 feet (8850 meters)
2. South America: Aconcagua 22,829 feet (6962 meters)
3. North America: Denali (aka Mount McKinley) 20,320 feet (6194 meters)
4. Africa: Kilimanjaro 19,340 feet (5895 meters)
5. Europe: Mount Elbrus 18,510 feet (5642 meters)
6. Antarctica: Mount Vinson 16,067 feet (4897 meters)
As you move on the mountain you should always be aware of:
· What have the weather conditions been over the past few days? Recent heavy snows?
· Can you observe any wind loading on the slopes?
· If a slope looks suspect, are there alternative routes?
· Do you have a good sense of the snowpack? Have you performed any snowpit or shear tests?
· Have you noticed many fracture lines, heard "whumping" or cracking sounds, or hollow noises in the snowpack?
· Are you keeping an eye on the orientation and steepness of the slopes as you cross them?
· Are you lingering in gullies, bowls, or valleys?
· Noticed any recent avalanche activity on other slopes similar to the one you are on?
Extra precautions to take
· If there is no alternative to crossing a suspect slope, do so one person at a time to minimize risk.
· When descending or ascending a slope, try to stay as far to the sides of a potential avalanche chute as possible to decrease your chances of being caught if an avalanche runs.
· Be aware of the condition of those in your party. If someone is tired, hungry, or cold they may not be using their best judgement.
· Remain constantly aware of changing weather or temperature conditions, particularly if your outing will last more than a few hours.
· Consider avalanche rescue equipment, such as beacons, ski-pole probes, and collapsible shovels, as a necessary part of your backcountry gear.
Commonly used knots
A number of knots are required for traditional climbing, to create anchors, to tie in the climbers and even to be used during the climb.
- Figure 8 is commonly used to tie in the climbers at both ends.
- Clove Hitch is used when building an anchor using the rope and sometimes to make a climber safe quickly at a belay ledge
- Alpine Butterfly can be used to tie a climber into the middle of a rope.
- Munter Hitch is commonly used to belay without a belay device
- Slip Knot or girth hitch can be used during a climb to sling a protrusion of rock known as a chickhead or any trees that may be on the route.
- Lark's foot is used to attach slings to trees or spikes and also to a climbers harness
There are many types of avalanche, but two types are of the most concern:
- Slab avalanche
This type of avalanche occurs when a plate of snow breaks loose and starts sliding down; these are the largest and most dangerous.
- Hard slab avalanche
This type of avalanche is formed by hard-packed snow in a cohesive slab. The slab will not break up easily as it slides down the hill, resulting in large blocks tumbling down the mountain.
- Soft slab avalanche
This type of avalanche is formed again by a cohesive layer of snow bonded together, the slab tends to break up more easily.
- Loose snow avalanche
This type of avalanche is triggered by a small amount of moving snow that accumulates into a big slide. Also known as a "wet slide or point release" avalanche. This type of avalanche is deceptively dangerous as it can still knock a climber or skier off their feet and bury them, or sweep them over a cliff into a terrain trap.
Dangerous slides are most likely to occur on the same slopes preferred by many skiers: long and wide open, few trees or large rocks, 30 to 45 degrees of angle, large load of fresh snow, soon after a big storm, on a slope 'lee to the storm'. Solar radiation can trigger slides as well. These will typically be a point release or wet slough type of avalanche. The added weight of the wet slide can trigger a slab avalanche. Ninety percent of reported victims are caught in avalanches triggered by themselves or others in their group.
When going off-piste or traveling in alpine terrain, parties are advised to always carry:
- Probe
- Shovel (retrieving victims with a shovel instead of your hands is five times faster)
- Avalanche beacon
Concerning Weather:
The primary dangers caused by bad weather centre around the changes it causes in snow and rock conditions, making movement suddenly much more arduous and hazardous than under normal circumstances.
Visibility in blizzard conditions.
Whiteouts make it difficult to retrace a route while rain may prevent taking the easiest line only determined as such under dry conditions. In a storm the mountaineer who uses a compass for guidance has a great advantage over a merely empirical observer. In large snow-fields it is, of course, easier to go wrong than on rocks, but intelligence and experience are the best guides in safely navigating objective hazards.
Summer thunderstorms may produce intense lightning. If a climber happens to be standing on or near the summit, they risk being struck. There are many cases where people have been struck by lightning while climbing mountains. In most mountainous regions, local storms develop by late morning and early afternoon. Many climbers will get an "alpine start"; that is before or by first light so as to be on the way down when storms are intensifying in activity and lightning and other weather hazards are a distinct threat to safety. High winds can speed the onset of hypothermia, as well as damage equipment such as tents used for shelter.
Rock climbing:
Here Climbers climb up or across natural rock formations or man-made rock walls with the goal of reaching the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route. Rock climbing is similar to scrambling (another activity involving the scaling of hills and similar formations), but climbing is generally differentiated by its need for the use of the climber's hands to hold his or her own weight and not just provide balance.
Rock climbing is a physically and mentally demanding sport, one that often tests a climber's strength, endurance, agility, and balance along with his or her mental control. It can be a dangerous sport and knowledge of proper climbing method and the usage of specialized climbing equipment which is crucial for the safe completion of routes. Because of the wide range and variety of rock formations around the world rock climbing has been separated into several different styles
Styles of climbing:
Most of the climbing done in modern times is considered free climbing -- climbing using one's own physical strength with equipment used solely as protection and not as support -- as opposed to aid climbing, the gear-dependent form of climbing that was dominant in the sport's earlier days. Free climbing is typically divided into several styles that differ from one another depending on the equipment used and the configurations of their belay, rope, and anchor systems (or the lack thereof).
- Aid Climbing is still the most popular method of climbing big walls. Progress is accomplished by repeatedly placing and weighting gear.
- Traditional Climbing - Traditional or Trad Climbing involves taking rock climbs in routes which do not have permanent anchors to help climbers when ascending.
- Sport Climbing - Unlike Traditional Rock Climbing, Sport Climbing involves the use of protection or permanent anchors which are attached to the rock walls.
· Bouldering is a style of climbing emphasizing power, strength, and dynamics. Its focus is on individual moves or short sequences of moves, which generally demand more endurance over longer stretches of rock where the difficulty of individual moves is not as great. Boulder routes are commonly referred to as “problems” because the nature of the climb is often short, curious, and is much like problem solving. Sometimes these problems are eliminates, meaning certain artificial restrictions are imposed. To reduce the risk of injury from a fall, climbers rarely go higher than 3-5 meters above the ground. Anything over 7 meters is generally considered to be free-soloing, although such climbs might also be termed high-ball bouldering problems. For further protection, climbers typically put a bouldering mat (crash pad) on the ground to break their fall. Further, climbers often have one or more spotters who work to direct the climber's body toward the crash pad during a fall, while protecting the climber's head from hazards.
- Free Climbing is the most commonly used method to ascend climbs refers to climbs where the climber's own physical strength and skill are relied on to accomplish the climb. Free climbing may rely on top rope belay systems, or on lead climbing to establish protection and the belay stations. Anchors, ropes, and protection are used to back up the climber and are passive as opposed to active ascending aids. Subtypes of free climbing are trad climbing and sport climbing. Free climbing is generally done as "clean lead" meaning no pitons or pins are used as protection
- Free Soloing (not to be confused with free climbing) is single-person climbing without the use of any rope or protection system whatsoever. If a fall occurs and the climber is not over water (as in the case of deep water), the climber is likely to be killed or seriously injured. Though technically similar to bouldering, free solo climbing typically refers to routes that are far taller and/or far more lethal than bouldering.
- Indoor Climbing - With indoor rock climbing you can train year round and improve your climbing skills and techniques. Indoor climbing is great for beginners because it gives you an idea of what it's like to climb actual rocks outdoors.
- Scrambling - Scrambling basically uses hands and feet, of course, when going up ridges, rock faces, or buttresses. Its main feature is the freedom it offers from the use of the different pieces of climbing equipment.
- Deep Water Soloing - Having to climb a rock and fall on deep water sets it apart from the other styles.
- Mixed climbing is a combination of ice and rock climbing, often involving specialized ice climbing slippers and specialized ice tools.
- Rope soloing is solo climbing with a rope secured at the beginning of the climb allowing a climber to self-belay as they advance. Once the pitch is completed the soloist must descend their rope to clean their gear and re-climb the pitch. This form of climbing can be conducted free or as a form of aid climbing.
- Simul climbing is when two climbers move at the same time. The pseudo-lead climber places gear that the pseudo-follower collects. When the leader runs low on gear they construct a belay station where the follower can join them to exchange gear. The stronger climber is often the pseudo-follower since a fall by the follower would pull the leader from below towards the last piece of gear. A potential devastating fall for the leader. In contrast the fall from the leader would pull the follower from above, resulting in a less serious fall. Most speed ascents involve some form of simul climbing but may also include sections of standard free climbing and the use of placed gear for advancement (i.e. partial aid or pulling on gear).
- Top raping is climbing with the protection of a rope that's already suspended through an anchor (or also known as a "Top Rope System") at the top of a route. A *belayer controls the rope, keeping it taut, and prevents long falls. Most indoor climbing or "gym climbing" is top roping on indoor purpose-made climbing walls although it's also common to boulder and sport climb indoors. Gym climbing is used as training for outside climbing, but some climb indoors exclusively. Due to its simplicity and reduced risk, most beginners are introduced to climbing through top-roping.
Equipment:
One of the major appeals of bouldering is its relatively scant equipment requirements. It is not uncommon to see people bouldering with shoes, a chalkbag, and a small mat to wipe their feet on. Although nothing is actually required, common equipment includes:
- Loose, powdered chalk as a hand drying agent while climbing.
- A mattress-like object called a crash pad. These are generally thick, rectangular foam pads with a heavy-duty fabric shell. They are opened and placed at the base of a boulder to cover irregularities in the landing and provide some cushion if the climber falls.
- Climbing shoes, for better traction and edging capabilities.
- A brush, or several brushes of differing sizes, typically with nylon bristles but sometimes coarse animal hair, is used to clean holds and is often mounted on a telescopic pole to allow greater reach.
- Sports tape is useful for covering cuts or blisters, as well as providing support for joints that may have been strained.
- Clothing usually includes a sleeveless shirt and shorts, though anything that's comfortable and flexible enough will generally work.
Equipment for Rappelling (Abseiling "to rope down" in German)
- Ropes: Climbers often simply use their climbing ropes for rappelling. For many other applications, low-stretch rope called static rope is used to reduce bouncing and to allow easier ascending of the rope.
- Anchors for rappelling are sometimes made with trees or boulders, using webbing and cordellete, or also with rock climbing equipment, such as nuts, hexes and spring loaded camming devices. Some climbing areas have fixed anchors for rappelling.
- A descender or rappel device is a friction device or friction hitch that allows rope to be paid out in a controlled fashion, under load, with a minimal effort by the person controlling it. The speed at which the rappeller descends is controlled by applying greater or lesser force on the rope below the device or altering the angle at which the rope exits the device. Descenders can be task-designed or improvised from other equipment. Mechanical descenders, include braking bars, the figure eight, the abseil rack, the "bobbin" (and its self-locking variant the "stop"), the gold tail, and the "sky genie. Some improvised descenders include the ***Munter hitch, a carabiner wrap, the basic crossed-carabiner brake and the piton bar brake (sometimes called the carabiner and piton). There is an older, more uncomfortable, method of wrapping the rope around one's body for friction instead of using a descender, as in the Dulfersitz or Geneva methods used by climbers in the 1960s.
- A harness is used around the waist to secure the descender. A comfortable harness is important for descents that may take many hours.
- A **prusik might be used as safety back-up.
- Helmets are worn to protect the head from bumps and falling rocks. A light source may be mounted on the helmet in order to keep the hands free in unlit areas.
- Gloves protect hands from the rope and from hits with the wall. They are mainly used by recreational abseilers, industrial access practitioners, adventure racers and military as opposed to climbers or mountaineers. In fact, they can increase the risk of accident by becoming caught in the descender in certain situations.
- Boots or other sturdy footwear with good grips.
- Knee-pads (and sometimes elbow -pads) are popular in some applications for the protection of joints during crawls or hits.
*Belayer: As the climber moves on the climb, the belayer must remove the slack from the rope by paying out or pulling in excess rope. If the climber falls, then they will free-fall the distance of the slack or unprotected rope before friction applied by the belayer will start to slow their descent. It is extremely important for the belayer to concentrate on the climber's situation, as their role is crucial for the climber's safety.
** A Prusik is a friction hitch or knot used to put a loop of cord around a rope
*** The Munter hitch, also known as the Italian hitch, is a simple knot, commonly used by climbers and cavers as part of a life-lining or belay system.
To date, Gangkhar Puensum in Bhutan (located on the Tibet & Bhutan border) is the 40th highest mountain in the world; and the highest unclimbed mountain in the world, due to spiritual beliefs and customs
Nascar: (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)
Stock Car Auto Racing
Consists of only street vehicles that can be bought by general public, is sometimes now called Street Stock, Pure Stock, Showroom Stock, or U-Car racing. The first showroom stock racing series began in 1972, with a price ceiling on the cars of $3,000. Some modern showroom stock racing allows safety modifications done on showroom stock cars. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately ¼ mile to 2.66 miles (about 400 meters to 4.2 kilometers) in length, but are also raced on road courses. Nascar is the world's largest governing body for stock car racing
Super Stock classes are similar to street stock, but allow for more modifications to the engine. Power output is usually in the range of 500-550 horsepower
The most famous event in the series is the Daytona 500 an annual 500-mile race at Daytona Beach, Florida. The series' second-biggest event is arguably The Brickyard 400, an annual 400-mile race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the legendary home of the Indy 500.
Stock car races take place predominantly on oval tracks of 3 or 4 turns, with all turns to the left. Oval tracks are classified as short track (less than 1 mile), intermediate or speedway (1 to 2 miles) or superspeedway (over 2 miles). Road courses are any tracks having both left and right turns.
Drag Racing
NHRA (National Hot Rod Association)
Several measurements are taken for each race: reaction time, elapsed time, and speed. Reaction time is the time from the green light illuminating to the vehicle leaving the starting line. Elapsed time is the time from the vehicle leaving the starting line to crossing the finish line. Speed is measured through a speed trap near the finish line, indicating the approximate maximum speed of the vehicle during the run.
There are literally hundreds of different classes in drag racing, each with different requirements and restrictions on things such as weight, engine size, body style, modifications, and many others. NHRA and IHRA share some of these classes, but many are solely used by one sanctioning body or the other
- Top Fuel Dragster (TF/D) (NHRA and IHRA). The rail dragsters, or "diggers", the fastest class -- up to 90% nitro methane fuel is used.
- Top Fuel Funny car (TF/FC) (NHRA and IHRA) Nearly as fast as the diggers, the "floppers" (marginally) resemble actual cars. IHRA will be bringing back Top Fuel Funny Car in 2006, and Top Alcohol Funny car (A/FC) is already a pro category in IHRA.
- Pro Modified (Pro Mod) some engine restrictions, very high power. Cars can run superchargers or nitrous oxide. Cars running blowers are limited to 8.6 L (527 cubic inches) while cars with nitrous oxide can run up to 12.1 L (740 cubic inches).
- Pro Stock (NHRA and IHRA) must maintain stock appearance. NHRA cars can run no more than 8.2 L (500 cubic inches) while IHRA cars can run a maximum of 13.4 L (820 cubic inches) ("Mountain Motors").
- Pro Stock Bike (NHRA only) heavily modified motorcycles.
Other classes:
- Top Alcohol Dragster
- Pro FWD
- Super Comp/Quick Rod
- Super Gas/Super Rod
- Super Street/Hot Rod
- Super Stock
- Stock
Glossary
- Beam—starting line electric eye controlling "pre-staged" and "staged" lights
- Bottle- refers to the nitrous system
- Blow—supercharge; wreck. Said of an engine.
- Blower-a supercharger (occasionally turbocharger); in '90s, generally grouped as "power adder" with turbocharger and nitrous
- Blown—supercharged
- Blowover—flipping of a car, due to air under car lifting front wheels. Commonly suffered by dragsters
- Breakout—running quicker than dial-in; also "breaking out". Grounds for disqualification if opponent does not commit a foul start or cross boundary lines.
- Christmas Tree (or tree) — The series of lights that signal the approach and start of a race in addition to showing starting violations
- Dial-in—when bracket racing, drivers must estimate or 'dial in' the time in which they expect to run. Therefore two unmatched cars in weight and power can compete, by a handicap system. If one runs a faster time than dialed in, it is a breakout.
- Dope- a commonly used word in the southern states if the car is using nitrous or propane injection on diesels
- Digger—dragster (as distinct from a bodied car or flopper)
- First or Worse-if both drivers commit a foul, the driver who commits the foul first loses, unless it is two separate fouls, where the loser is the driver who committed the worse foul (lane violation is worse than foul start, and failure to participate in a post-run inspection is worst).
- Flopper—Funny Car, short for "fender flopper." Coined by dragster crews in the late 1960s to separate Funny Cars, which had fiberglass bodies with fenders, from dragsters. Erroneously attributed to flip-top bodies of Funny Cars.
- Fuel—mix of methanol and nitromethane", nitro); race class using it
- Fueler—any car running fuel or in Fuel class (most often, TFD or TF/FC)
- Grenade—wreck an engine (the engine "grenaded") due to internal failure. Distinct from "popping a blower".
- Heads-up Racing—where both drivers leave at the same time and is used in all professional ("pro") classes.
- Holeshot—getting a significant advantage off the starting line. The other driver gets "holeshotted" or "left at the tree". A "holeshot win" is any win in a heads-up class where a slower car beats a faster car because of bettesr reaction time.
- Hook Up—Good traction between tires and track resulting in increased acceleration and reduced slipping or smoking of tires.
- James Bond - where a driver's reaction time (when he leaves the start line) is seven thousands of a second after the green light (.007). A "James Bond Red" is a reaction time of -.007 seconds (red light), which is disqualification unless the opponent commits a more serious violation.
- Kit-refers to a turbo kit or a nitrous kit
- Lit the tires—lost traction, causing smoke
- Nitro—nitromethane (sometimes incorrectly used to refer to nitrous oxide)
- Overdrive-The ratio between the revolutions of the supercharger to the revolutions of the engine, controlling amount of boost; see underdrive
- Oildown — When a car's engine or lubrication breaks during a run, leaving a streak of oil and other fluids on the track. This is punishable by fines, point penalties, and/or suspension.
- Pedalling—working the throttle to avoid lighting the tires, or as a way to sandbag; "pedalled" it, had to "pedal" it
- Pro tree—timing lights which flash all three yellow lights simultaneously, and after four tenths of a second, turn green.
- Put on the trailer—lost (got "put on the trailer") or won (put the other driver on the trailer). From the obvious, losing drivers trailer their cars home.
- Quick 8 (Q8) Quickest eight cars in a defined race. Rules appear to can differ per location/race. Search for "Quick 8 rules" for more.
- Rail—dragster (as distinct from bodied car or flopper). From the exposed frame rails of early cars.
- Redlight(ed) a.k.a. bulb(ed)—jump(ed) the start, left before tree turned green. This is a loss unless a more serious (opponent crossing the center boundary line) foul occurs.
- Scattershield — metal sheet protecting driver in case of transmission failure
- Slapper bar — traction bar
- Slicks—rear tires with no tread pattern and softer rubber compound, for increased traction
- Slingshot—an early “front-engine” dragster, named for the driving position behind the rear wheels (erroneously attributed to launch speed)
- Standard tree—timing lights which flash in sequence five tenths of a second between each yellow light before turning green. Traditional form, before introduction of Pro tree.
- Throw a belt-losing the drive belt connecting the engine's crankshaft to the supercharger
- Top end—finish line of strip; high part of engine's rev band.
- Traction bars—rear struts fixed to rear axle to keep rear axle from twisting, causing wheel hop and loss of traction; also called slapper bars.
- Trap(s)—the 20 meter (66 ft) timing lights at top end of race track to measure speed & E.T.
- Wheel Hop—violent shaking of the car as the tires lose and regain traction in quick succession.
- Wheelie bars—rear struts fixed to rear axle, which protrude out to rear of car to help prevent car's front from rising too high or flipping over on launch.