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Head injuries have become a serious concern in numerous sports, and Bauer Hockey is taking the issue head on so speak by revisiting the way helmets take hits. While most helmets are designed to address linear impacts a bigger risk says a Bauer study is the rotational forces that can contribute to head injuries.

Bauer’s RE-AKT helmet is the first hockey-specific helmet designed to manage the multiple type of hits that players take including rotational-force impacts, which have been scientifically proven to cause significant head injuries. To address this issue the Bauer RE-AKT takes on the problem with the SUSPEND-TECH liner, a unique patent-pending rotational impact protection system to protect the head from excessive rotational acceleration when the helmet is impacted.

This liner is designed of a super-light pliable material called PORON XRD Extreme Impact Protection, and offers the ability to dissipate extreme force that the wearer might take. The free-floating stretchable liner also is unique in that it moves completely independently from the rest of the helmet, which reportedly better manages the rotational forces. In addition the helmet also utilizes Bauer’s Vertex foam, which is a lightweight multi-impact material that can help lessen the impact when compared to other EPP foams. Combined the Bauer RE-AKT, which has been two years in development, will manage multiple types of hits from low-energy impacts to high-energy impacts and even rotational impacts.

The Bauer RE-AKT should hit the ice later this season, and from the sound of it the helmet could be hitting back.

Bauer Official Website

The seven-bag line is built to provide organization, protection and comfort for athletes taking part in high-intensity workouts and competitions. The line is made with lightweight yet sturdy materials that protect gear, yet make it light enough to carry to a race or location to workout.

OGIO’s flagship bag, the 9.0 Endurance Bag, has several features to keep any athlete organized. The bag includes two molded and lined compartments that provide protection for goggles, sunglasses, heart rate monitors, other electronic devices and fragile goods. Several other compartments include a wet/dry pocket with built-in 360-degree ventilation gussets for wetsuits, swim suits and soiled clothes to keep them separated from the rest of the bag. Shoes get their own ventilated compartment big enough to carry two parts of shoes. Dirty clothes also get their own ventilated compartment that maintains good airflow to keep post-workout clothes from developing that locker room stink.

Six other bags, the 8.0, 7.0, 5.0, 3.0, 2.0 and 1.0, each have similar compartments for organization. Each bag offers advantages for size and sport-specific features. Bags are designed with adjustable shoulder straps that can be worn backpack-style and an integrated carry handle for options when traveling with the bag.

Expect to find the OGIO Endurance Collection in specialty bike, running, and multi-sport stores starting in February.

OGIO Official Website

The Australian-based sports clothing manufacturer will outfit 2XU Compression garments for training and recovery. This lets them realize physiological benefits such as improved circulation, heightened agility and reducing muscle fatigue and damage.

Recovery is important and if compression clothing helps cyclists recover in less time, that’s crucial throughout the season, but especially during a grand tour such as the Tour de France.

“Compression technology is becoming increasingly important in endurance sports, making our partnership with 2XU critical to the performance of our athletes,” said BMC Racing Team General Manager Jim Ochowicz.

2XU is already the official supplier of compression garments to the Australian Institute of Sport, Rowing Australia, Triathlon New Zealand, international triathlon teamTBB, GreenEDGE Cycling, the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team, the Real Cyclist Pro Cycling team and other teams and organizations.

2XU Official Website

RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK Bikes Now Available Through Trek’s Project One Program

(Waterloo, WI) – Trek Bicycle has made the new RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK team paint scheme, emblazoned upon the team’s 2012 Trek Madone 6.9 SSL and Speed Concept 9.9, available to cyclists across the globe through the company’s Project One custom bike program. The new scheme, available for order now at all authorized Trek Project One retailers, was unveiled at the team’s launch in Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg. Crafted by Trek’s internal Design Studio, the new team’s ride is available now on Madone 6-series and Speed Concept 9-series ordered through Project One.

The black/red/blue color pallet combines the marquee colors of the previous teams and is carried through on the team’s new uniforms including the Bontrager Oracle helmet. “Project One allows us to offer riders something completely unique,” said Trek Race Department Manager Scott Daubert. “It was a big effort to get the bikes ready for the team let alone have them available to the world through Project One, but it’s something that people respond to and sets us apart in the industry.”

The RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK scheme is the latest in a long line of team and athlete-inspired paint themes made available to consumers by Trek. Last season the company launched the iconic “Spartacus” theme commemorating Fabian Cancellara’s gladiatorial moniker as well as a wildly popular custom Luxembourg-themed bike ridden by Frank and Andy Schleck in the 2011 Tour de France. All Project One bikes are handcrafted in Trek’s Waterloo, WI-based global headquarters.

The black/red/blue color pallet combines the marquee colors of the previous teams and is carried through on the team’s new uniforms including the Bontrager Oracle helmet. “Project One allows us to offer riders something completely unique,” said Trek Race Department Manager Scott Daubert. “It was a big effort to get the bikes ready for the team let alone have them available to the world through Project One, but it’s something that people respond to and sets us apart in the industry.”

The RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK scheme is the latest in a long line of team and athlete-inspired paint themes made available to consumers by Trek. Last season the company launched the iconic “Spartacus” theme commemorating Fabian Cancellara’s gladiatorial moniker as well as a wildly popular custom Luxembourg-themed bike ridden by Frank and Andy Schleck in the 2011 Tour de France. All Project One bikes are handcrafted in Trek’s Waterloo, WI-based global headquarters.

Trek World Racing DH Team to Race Bontrager Tires
World’s top-ranked DH team to race on newly-developed G4 models and G-Mud

(Waterloo, WI) – Bontrager announced today that they will be the exclusive tire provider for the 2012 Trek World Racing gravity squad, the world’s top ranked downhill team, led by DH phenom and 2011 World Cup overall champion Aaron Gwin. The team will ride the all-new Bontrager G-Mud and G4, a tire already earning rave reviews from the gravity world that Pinkbike praises as a tire with “impressive cornering” and “top marks for reliability.”

“I’m stoked on the new tires,” said Trek World Racing’s Aaron Gwin. “I’ve gotten to ride them a fair bit now and they feel like everything I need to win races. Tires are a key part to my race bikes and I think we nailed it with the new line.”

The addition of the new DH tires represents a full adoption of the Bontrager tire family by the Trek World Racing team as the cross-country riders have ridden Bontrager’s X-series since the team’s inception. Trek World Racing is part of a major push by the components brand’s mission to develop the world’s best line of off-road tires, a move that included hiring legendary tire designer Frank Stacey, who will be working closely with the team to develop the Bontrager tire line.

“Our current G4 downhill tire has been at retailers for a few months now and is getting amazing reviews,” said Stacey. “The TWR team feels the G4 will be a big advantage for cornering and braking traction. We’ve also tested the rolling resistance versus competitors and it rolls so much faster. This allows the riders to carry their momentum easier during race runs, which is crucial at the top level of World Cup racing.”

Going into 2012, Stacey will be working closely with the team to refine the current tire designs, as well as develop new treads for the wide-ranging race conditions Trek World Racing will encounter in the World Cup.

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ABOUT BONTRAGER
Bontrager makes world-class bicycle wheels, components, apparel, and accessories. The company got its start in Keith Bontrager’s garage, where the legendary iconoclast built his own bike parts to satisfy his commitment to engineering logic and real-world performance. Bontrager is owned and operated by Trek Bicycle in Waterloo, WI. For more information, visit www.bontrager.com.

Converse DEFCON

While the lockout may be keeping the pros off the court, Converse is still in the game with a new line of basketball shoes. The Converse DEFCON and Pro Leather 2K11 shoes feature ConTain Fit Technology in the upper, unique to Converse, which first appeared in the Star Player Evo shoe. These form a lightweight brace around the foot and providing breathable structural support and cushioning. ConTain Fit further contours the foot and transfers all physical force directly to the traction system for increased on-court mobility.

The Converse DEFCON shoe, which is named after the military term identifying defense readiness, was built for players to quickly transition from offense to defense. The DEFCON shoes further integrate the upper and midsole with direct-inject EVA foam for lightness, breathability and containment, and also comes with an OrthoLite sockliner providing long-lasting comfort during extended wear.

Converse Pro Leather 2K11

The Converse Pro Leather 2K11 offers a new direction with Converse basketball, including a slight nod to the Converse Pro Leather, the first leather basketball shoe that Julius “Dr. J” Erving made famous. The Pro Leather 2K11 shoe predominantly features a “Dr. J” logo on the Y-Bar, while also boasting the iconic Star Chevron logo and a genuine leather forefoot. However, Converse notes that this is where the similarities between old school and new school end, as the Pro Leather 2K11 is built with technology demanded by today’s athletes, including the ConTain Fit Technology, which uses TPU coated mesh offering stability and durability needed on a basketball court, as well as full length Converse Balls Technology for incredible toe-to-heel impact resistance.

The Converse Holiday 2011 Basketball collection continues to deliver quality, versatile performance footwear for the 2011 season. The Converse DEFCON, offered in 12 colorways, is available nationwide at Foot Locker and specialty retailers for a suggested retail price of $90. The Converse Pro Leather 2K11, offered in white/black/red and black/white, is available nationwide at Foot Locker and specialty retailers for a suggested retail price of $100.

Even if the pro season is canceled, basketball court with Converse is in session!

Converse Official Website

“Between regular practices and games, a player’s equipment experiences hours of use,” said Dan Arment, president of Riddell. “Inspecting equipment throughout the season helps ensure it’s prepared to perform its job – protecting players on the field.”

Riddell’s five-point, checklist is designed to keep proper fit and protection top of mind for all young football players and includes: Inspecting the helmet shell for cracks and dents; checking hardware and internal helmet padding; ensuring proper helmet fit; accessing the chin strap; and making sure shoulder pads fit properly as well.

While it is a game, safety has to come first! Here is where winning isn’t the most important thing.

Riddell Official Proper Equipment Fitting Guidelines

Introducing the Nike Seitrio Hi-Vis ball, which builds on the legacy of excellence in the T90 football range that has served as the official match ball in the world’s leading leagues including Barclay’s English Premier League, Italy’s Serie A and Spain’s La Liga. Continuing to bring new innovations to football, the Hi-Vis ball features Nike RaDaR technology, which means Rapid Decision and Response.

Nike has tested the ball in the lab and on the field and the result is the Nike RaDaR technology, which makes it easier for players to see the ball better and capitalize on split second scoring and passing opportunities. In the game of football, precision sight is of utmost importance, and the Nike Seitiro is engineered to stand out on pitch even when conditions are not ideal. The yellow and purple color combination flaunts additional fluorescence and brighteners, making it even more visible in low light conditions than previous generations of Hi-Vis balls.

The Nike Seitiro features patented hi-vis casing, performance graphic, and unique five-layer construction, along with aerodynamic stability. The new ball saw its official debut on the pitch this past weekend. Chances are we’ll be seeing a lot more of it.

Nike Seitiro Premier League Hi-Vis at The Nike Store

Nike just released its Nike T90 Laser IV soccer shoe. The “football” shoe is 20 percent lighter than the previous version. It features a streamlined silhouette that provides enhanced fit and lets wearers feel the ball. The forefoot area has a newly configured adaptive shield design that works with the foot’s natural motion to boost performance. Constructed from high performance synthetic leather, the upper provides a soft and close-to-the-foot fit. On the sole, a new stud design enhances speed and movement, without added weight or pressure.

To coincide with the launch, Nike Football created the T90 Strike Counter on Facebook. This app allows users to log their goals, and recreate the action in a 3D image. Report the spot on the pitch from where a goal was scored; where in the goal the ball went, and what part of the boot (shoe) was struck the ball. The data render a 3D image that can be shared with friends. Participants can also check out the 3D image and input from pro football players.

Nike T90 Laswer IV Football Shoe Official Website

Nike’s LeBron line has a new shoe. The Lebron 9 Cannon design “focus on functionality without sacrificing style,” according to the company. Nike claims this basketball shoe is the first to combine its Flywire and Hyperfuse technology. While this may be a closer integration, previous shoes including a prototype shoe developed for Tiger Woods this past spring. This may, however, be the first commercially released pair of shoes from Nike using both technologies.

Flywire is an innovative way of constructing shoes that adds strength and support while keeping the shoe lightweight. Hyperfuse is a technique of building a composite mesh structure in shoes that adds strength to the mesh so it remains strong and intact. The result is a pair of shoes that are lightweight yet built to provide support and endurance to last a good, long season.

The shoes are built with a Max Air 180 heel, which is identified by the clear air cushion on the back half of the sole. Built in the sole is also the Nike Zoom forefoot, which gives the cushioning needed for LeBron’s quick response time. A mid-foot harness and textile wings add stability, durability and flexibility.

LeBron 9 Cannon comes in an eye-catching colorway. A slate background with military green detailing tops an orange sole. A bright green swoosh brings it all together. The LeBron 9 Cannon will first be released exclusively in Miami. This is to show appreciation and respect for LeBron’s South Florida fans. Last year’s LeBron 8 “SouthBeach” colorway got the same treatment. The Cannon was released at select retail locations in Miami earlier this week with wider availability to follow.

Nike Official Website

Vick reported looked to have his helmet re-fitted by Unequal Technology, which would use Kevlar to “disburse the effects of a blow to the helmet.” It was also reported that while this technology is new to the gridiron it has been used in hockey helmet and of course in the military.

This reporter, who has experience as the author of books and articles on actual military helmets, can attest that there is a difference in what Kevlar is designed to do. Kevlar is typically used in ballistic helmets, namely those meant to stop a bullet on a battlefield to save a wearer’s life (where a concussion would be preferable to death), and not for the brunt force trauma that one might experience on the playing field.

Yahoo! Sports also weighed in on this issue and noted, “Despite new technology in helmets developed over the past two years, concussions are still at the forefront of the NFL. A lawsuit was filed in July when 75 former players claimed the NFL hid the dangers of concussions from players intentionally. Statistics may back up the lawsuit. Concussions were up 21 percent in 2010 over the season previously. Over eight weeks, 154 such injuries were reported versus just 127 in 2009. Based upon a survey of former NFL players in 1996, as many as 61 percent of NFL players suffered from some kind of concussion.”

Leather football helmet, 1917. Syracuse University's first football team appeared in 1890. Gift from A.C. Atterbury.

Helmets have long been a part of football, but they weren’t always used, but there has long been the military connection. The Atlantic noted:

“The first football helmet belonged to Admiral Joseph Mason Reeves who wore it in an Army-Navy game in 1893 in Annapolis, Maryland. A local shoemaker made the moleskin contraption after a Navy doctor warned Reeves that one more kick to the head might result in death or ‘instant insanity.’ Early aviation caps were based on the shoemaker’s design.”

 Helmets of course evolved, but there was yet another military connection. The Atlantic story on the development of helmets adds:

“In 1939, the Riddell sporting goods company (still one of the top football-helmet manufacturers) made the first plastic football helmet, but because of wartime plastic shortages, such helmets were not widely adopted for several years. That same year, colleges began requiring their players to don helmets. The NFL followed suit four years later.”

What that article doesn’t note is that the U.S. Military at the same time was looking to develop the helmet that would become the M-1 steel helmet, which would eventually remain in use from 1940 until it was replaced in the early 1980s by the PASGT (Personnel Armor System Group Troops), and Riddel’s suspension system was used in the M-1 helmet liners. Thus the military and football helmets have had a long and interesting history together.

Body Armor and Beyond
And it seems that concerns over personal safety go beyond just the helmet. This week Unequal Technologies noted that Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Tony Romo had suited up with two new products in the EXO Skeleton Body Armor line of supplemental full-body, protective performance padding. These include the two customizable products, The Wall and Egis, which are designed to ensure athletes take tackles and hits head on.

“In the end, all that stands between an athlete and his enemy on any given day is paper-thin polyester and ineffective foam,” said Rob Vito, founder and President of UNEQUAL Technologies, in a statement. “Romo knows first-hand the dangers that are associated with sports, as does Michael Vick, who also wears our padding to protect his chest and thighs. They know that additional protection is needed to survive the game. This is why they chose our EXO Skeleton padding to protect them on the field. Now, we’re expanding that line to further protect athletes.”

The question is what it says when athletes have to turn to military style gear to suit up. The Exo Skeleton products feature DuPont Kevlar at its core, which according to the press release from Unequal Technologies is “the world’s only patented suite of impact-absorbing protective sports padding to dramatically reduce the possibility of injury to the head or body brought on by a tackle, hit or flying object.”

Even the warning in the Unequal Technologies press release sums up that helmets are not the final word:

WARNING: NO HELMET OR PAD CAN PREVENT SERIOUS HEAD, BRAIN, BODY, AND/OR NECK INJURIES INCLUDING PARALYSIS OR DEATH A PERSON MIGHT RECEIVE WHILE PARTICIPATING IN ACTIVITIES, GAMES, OR SPORTS. CONTACT WITH A PERSON, OBJECT, SURFACE, OR PROJECTILE CAN RESULT IN SEVERE HEAD, BODY OR NECK INJURIES, PARALYSIS OR DEATH TO YOU AND POSSIBLE INJURY TO YOUR OPPONENT. THIS CONTACT MAY RESULT IN CONCUSSION-BRAIN INJURY OR SEVERE BODILY INJURY WHICH NO HELMET OR PAD CAN PREVENT. SYMPTOMS INCLUDE: LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS OR MEMORY, CONFUSION, DIZZINESS, HEADACHE, NAUSEA, PAIN, SORENESS, DISCOLORATION, NUMBNESS OR TINGLING. IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS, IMMEDIATELY STOP PLAYING AND REPORT THEM TO YOUR COACH, TRAINER AND PARENTS. DO NOT PLAY OR RETURN TO THE ACTIVITY, SPORT, GAME OR PRACTICE UNTIL ALL SYMPTOMS ARE GONE AND YOU HAVE RECEIVED MEDICAL CLEARANCE. IGNORING THIS WARNING MAY LEAD TO ANOTHER AND MORE SERIOUS OR FATAL INJURY. UNEQUAL PRODUCTS ARE NOT BULLETPROOF OR BULLET RESISTANT. REMEMBER TO ALWAYS “PRACTICE SAFE SPORTS(TM).”

However, anything that can make it safer to play the game, without having the actually change (or worse ban the game, as been discussed more than 100 years during the 1905-06 season) is a good step forward. Hopefully the use of these new technologies will help make it safer for those on the playing field as has been seen on the battlefield.

Read More:  10 Steps in the High-Tech Evolution of Pro Football Helmets – Popular Mechanics

Rosie Jones, the U.S. team captain, selected Sunice for its attention to styling and exceptional performance in a difficult wet climate and the players will wear as part of their exclusive uniform multiple Sunice garments manufactured using only Gore-Tex fabrics to ensure they are provided ultimate performance and protection from the elements.

“As we get closer to the Solheim Cup, the anticipation is mounting as we anxiously await the appearance of Team USA in their custom-designed Sunice outerwear suits,” said Mark Fletcher, President of Sunice. “The design and development process that involved our top product people working in conjunction with Rosie Jones and her assistants was a fun experience and we worked well together as a team.”

Sunice, which was founded in 1976 in Alberta, Canada as a skiwear brand, successfully transcended its technical outerwear capabilities into the golf market in the early 1990s as the golf industry gravitated towards designing sport-specific garments that truly helped enhance the game. For this year’s Solheim Cup, Sunice has named their ladies Ultimate jacket, “the Rosie” in honor of the U.S. team captain.

Golf fans will get to see the Sunice Outerwear in action during the 2011 Solheim Cup, which will be played at Killeen Castle in County Meath, Ireland, Sept. 19-25.

Sunice Official Website
Solheim Cup Official Website

(Video by Mike Prendergast) For a higher resolution video click here

From August 22nd through August 28th, one of the biggest professional cycling races in the United States will commence in Colorado Springs. This is one of the largest U.S. stage races in recent years, drawing international stars like Cadel Evans and the Schleck brothers to do battle on our soil, with our heroes including Levi Leipheimer, George Hincapie and Colorado favorite, Tom Danielson. KineticShift.com will be there; and actually we have already been there and had a chance to pre-ride Stage 2, the ‘Queen Stage’ of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge (UPCC).

At 131 miles and with two 12,000-foot mountain passes, Stage 2 of the UPCC will arguably be the hardest day of racing for the pros due to the altitude, length and unpredictable Colorado weather. Experience it here from a rider’s view as we climb, descend and film our way through the Queen Stage… returning with some interviews and insight for you!

This week’s coverage:

The Riding of Stage 2 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge – Part 1: Gunnison to Buena Vista
The Riding of Stage 2 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge – Part 2: Buena Vista to Aspen
Watching the Queen Stage – Spectator Information for Gunnison to Buena Vista
Watching the Queen Stage – Spectator Information for after Buena Vista to Aspen
Inspired by the USA Pro Cycling Challenge to Climb Some Colorado Mountain Passes?
USA Pro Cycling Challenge: Strider World Cup Answers the Challenge

How KineticShift was able to ride Stage 2 of the UPCC…

A few weeks ago an inquiry was made to ask if we were interested in previewing a stage or two of the upcoming USA Pro Cycling Challenge (UPCC) being held this August 22-28 throughout Colorado. The offer was made for us to visit a host city, be driven through the course and visit with the host city on the other side of that stage. As much fun as that sounded, it also sound like torture. It was not that we were not anxious to see the course and meet with all of the representatives, but the thought of being in a car and not getting to experience the stage first-hand on a bike is the part that sounded like torture.

Mike Prendergast and Brian O’Connor proposed that the pair drive up to the start of a stage to meet with the representatives, ride the stage on our bikes while recording video and meet with the representatives on the other end of the stage. Being avid cyclists, they wanted to experience at least one stage, but requested that it be the hardest stage. They were given the opportunity to ride Stage 2 – the Queen Stage. From Gunnison to Aspen, this 131 mile stage features 9,746 feet of climbing crossing the Continental Divide at Cottonwood Pass (12,126 feet) and Independence Pass (12,095 feet). As a bonus for the racers, actually as a bonus for the spectators, the ascent up Cottonwood Pass offers 14 miles of dirt road with a number of switchbacks and potholes. The thought of riding over the two highest climbs of the race sounded perfect. We hope you find the information helpful as you try to catch a piece of history fly by on two wheels!