Posts Tagged ‘water sports’
Written by Peter Suciu on 30 October 2012
The problem with many fitness and athletic products is that there is little that can be done with the material once it breaks. Some products can be recycled – such as metal bicycle frames – but all too often the broken parts and equipment is simply abandoned or tossed in the trash. For surfers this is a problem because even when thrown in the trash broken boards can end up as floating garbage.
But Southern California residents Ed Lewis and Kipp Denslow came up with another solution. They’re taking old and broken surfboards to create handplanes, essentially miniature boards that bodysurfers can strap onto their hands while catching waves. They’ve created a new company, dubbed Enjoy Handplanes, as well to sell their upcycled products and as a way to spread the word that a broken board shouldn’t mean the end of the materials usefulness.
Enjoy Handplanes Official Website
Tags: Ed Lewis, Enjoy Handplanes, Kipp Denslow, recycled, surfing, water sports
Posted in concept, Surfing, Sustainable, Water Activities | No Comments »
Written by Enid Burns on 27 July 2012
At the Olympic level, kayaks are often custom fitted to the athlete. The Australian Olympic Kayak team enlisted a Creaform 3D scanner and modeling from U.S.-based Geomatic. Modeling ensures a custom fit in the Kayak, and better controls for the slalom event. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 3D modeling, Australian Olympic Kayak team, Creaform, Geomagic, Kayak, Olympics, slalom, water sports
Posted in Computing, Equipment, Pro Sports, Water Activities | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 18 July 2012
We’ve seen a few new boards and smallcraft, but Bodyboating is a fairly new introduction to us. Bellyak is just releasing its new craft, and launching the new sport of bodyboating on the waters. This is a cross between a kayak and surfboard, but with new elements brought to water sports. Video after the jump
Tags: Bellyak, bodyboating, Kayak, small craft, surf board, surfing, water sports
Posted in Outdoors, Water Activities | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 21 June 2012
There are all sorts of ways to measure distance, speed and even altitude on a mobile smartphone. Now Shaka has added a wind gage, which can be useful for shooting, sailing and other sports where windage needs to be addressed. This portable accessory plugs into the iPhone’s 3.55 headphone jack of all things to gather wind speed.
It can measure and keep history of wind speed, direction and even temperature and the results can be shared and crowdsourced.
It is pre-production but should be blowing out soon.
Shaka Wind Meter Official Website
Tags: iPhone, Sailing, Shaka, smartphone, water sports, wind meter, windage
Posted in Gadget, Mobile Phone, Outdoors, Personal Electronics, Water Activities | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 17 June 2012
Summer is here and now is the time to get wet and wild. And Eliot Germanovsky of BoatsToGo talked with us about the new innovations in practical boats that can be folded, inflated and ready for the water. Best of all these boats are compact enough that they can be easily transported and stored when not in use. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Boats, BoatsToGo, Eliot Germanovsky, Kayak, Sunday Q&A, water sports
Posted in concept, Equipment, Outdoors, Water Activities | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 30 May 2012
The GoPro HERO camera can handle great depths underwater, but if you should drop it while in the water you might have to dive for it. If you have a super submarine like the one James Cameron has invented that might not be a problem – but for the rest of us a camera headed to the bottom of the ocean is one we likely won’t see again.
But the Bobber can ensure this won’t happen. It is a bright yellow floating handle that makes it easy to spot the camera should it float away, and best of all will float upright much like a buoy in the water. It reportedly offers enough flotation to support the GoPro’s 3D system along with battery pack. At $29.99 it is a solid investment for that pricey GoPro HERO. And fittingly the Bobber is available from GoPole! What’s not to love?
GoPole Bobber Handle Official Website
Tags: Bobber, floatation device, GoPole, GoPro Hero, water sports
Posted in Equipment, Personal Electronics, Water Activities | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 29 May 2012
We’ve seen some interesting watercraft of late, including a fold up row boat and now there is the Origami Paddler – a stand up and fold up raft! The idea here is to provide a solid paddle board that is more stable than the inflatable type but is still easy enough to transport. Unlike the FoldBoat we profiled recently, the Origami Paddler won’t exactly fit in a backpack, but it is small enough to fit in most car trunks.
Designed by Tim Niemier, who invented the sit-on-top kayak, the Origami Paddler is still in concept and he’s working to raise funding for what could be a bit of a game changer for those looking to paddle up stream. The version that Niemier has designed can be carried like an over-sized suitcase and weights in at about 50 pounds. It can be unfolded quickly with locking hinges, providing an 11.5 foot board that is basically ready to go. Video after the jump
Tags: Foldboat, Kayak, Origami Paddler, Tim Niemier, water sports
Posted in concept, Equipment, Outdoors, Water Activities | No Comments »
Written by Enid Burns on 15 May 2012
This week GoPro announced the launch of its new Dive Housing, which features a large flat glass lens that allows for maximum photo and video sharpness underwater and in all resolutions. This new housing, which is compatible with all HD HERO cameras, mounts and accesses is waterproof to 197 feet (60 meters), and can be used for diving, snorkeling or any deep sea adventures.
It comes with protective lens cap, tether string and even assorted mounting hardware, and is available now for those looking to take a dive.
GoPro Official Website
Tags: Camera, Dive Housing, GoPro, HD HERO, water sports
Posted in Gadget, Personal Electronics, Water Activities | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 15 May 2012
We’re always on the lookout for new and innovative fitness products, and this week we heard about the Bellyak, which is essentially a hybrid of a kayak and a river body board. This hand-paddled craft can be used to head down a river head first!
Invented by husband and wife team Adam and Anna Masters, it was reportedly inspired by the duo’s desire to create a craft that could be used by anyone, even beginners. It is thus easier to exit than a traditional kayak, and offers an easier learning curve. It also puts riders in the water in a way that other craft don’t do – namely head first at water level. Currently the Masters are working on two models that could hit the rapids this summer. Video after the jump
Tags: Adam Masters, Anna Masters, Bellyak, Kayak, water sports
Posted in Equipment, Outdoors, Water Activities | No Comments »
Written by Enid Burns on 17 April 2012
With summer approaching, we’re looking to ways to cover up and protect our skin from the harmful rays as much as we’re looking forward to spending some time in the sun. One product that helps us gauge how long we’ve been in the sun, and tells us when we’re at risk, is UVSunSense Monitoring Bands. These bands are plastic strips you put on like a bracelet, and apply sunscreen to when you apply to your skin. This strip then works as a timer to let you know when to reapply, and simply when you’ve had enough time in the sun. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Summer, sun exposure, sun screen, sunblock, sunproof, UVSunSense, water sports, waterproof
Posted in Apparel, General, Hands On, Outdoors, Swimming, Travel, Water Activities | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 09 April 2012
While the TAT7 iPhone Scuba Case won’t actually let you use the handset as a phone underwater, it will let you snap away with the smartphone’s digital camera.
It is made of clear polycarbonate and features a hinged opening, while double gaskets allow the iPhone to go deep to 100 feet (or about 30 meters). It provides three buttons on the back to allow users to access the basics, including touchscreen photo and video controls.
For those who want to snap a few “deep sea” or just “in the pool” shots, this should be an excellent solution for making the iPhone your own under water camera.
TAT7 Official Website
Tags: iPhone, TAT7 iPhone Scuba Case, water sports
Posted in Equipment, Gadget, Mobile Phone, Personal Electronics, Water Activities | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 27 March 2012
There are many rugged cameras that can do the underwater thing, but only a few SLR cameras that can get anywhere near the wet stuff. However, Nauticam has released a new housing for the Panasonic DMC-GX-1 camera. The NA-GX1offers an ergonomic grip that is sculpted into the housing, and ports for the various lenses that can be used underwater including Lumix 14-42mm kit lens, the Lumix G Fisheye 8mm, Lumix 7-14mm, and the Panasonic Leica 45mm macro lens.
The NA-GX1 is rated for 100 meters and features a housing back that is sealed with an easy to operate safety clasp to avoid accidental opening when going deep.
Nauticam USA Official Website
Tags: digital camera, NA-GX1, Panasonic, Panasonic DMC-GX-1, SLR, water sports
Posted in Gadget, Personal Electronics, Water Activities | No Comments »
Written by KineticShift on 16 March 2012
While there is no device to actually let you take flight easily – at least not without riding in a plane, you might be able to get the sensation of flying while underwater with the Subwing. Designed for underwater sports the wings essentially give you “wings” for gliding through the water. The only equipment needed is diving mask but it can be used with a snorkel and fins as well, while it is recommended that users are towed by a boat – which should travel at about 2 knots. The Subwing is available in either fiberglass ($700) or carbon fiber versions ($850 for Carbon Matte or $895 for the Carbon Glossy), while the rope is made of Dyneema fibers. Video after the jump
Tags: Subwing, water sports, Water wings, wing
Posted in Outdoors, Water Activities | No Comments »
