Category Archives: Tech of Sports

From the shoes we wear on our feet to the high definition televisions in our living room, wearable devices, the sports universe is a breeding ground for technology. Writer and Photographer Rick Limpert will examine this each week on The Tech of Sports – With guests which include athletes, inventors and journalists that cover the intersection of sports and technology.

Dr. Huma Haider, Brain Injuries, Including ones that Happen in Sports

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Rick is joined by Dr. Huma Haider this week. Check out https://nationalbii.com/dr_haider/ for more.

Every year more than 3 million people suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI). While those are the reported cases, it is estimated that the actual number is two-three times higher. A TBI occurs from the sudden jarring of the brain such as in a car wreck or fall.

Dr. Haider answers the tough questions.

When these events occur, the brain is rocked violently against the inside of the cranium, generating a shock wave that reverberates back through the brain severing valuable nerve fibers and rupturing sensitive neurons. Over ninety percent of those with a TBI receive a “mild” categorization. Those with “Mild” TBI suffer from a myriad of symptoms, not much different from those who have received a “Sever” categorization. The symptoms may include headaches, depression, dizziness, memory loss and many other symptoms. These symptoms may take days, weeks or months to manifest – which has also made it difficult to associate the cause of TBI with the symptoms. With “objective proof of injury” the millions of victims suffering from TBI will receive the coverage they require to treat permanent brain injuries.
Topics:

What are the most common causes of these injuries? Do you have tips on how to avoid them?
Tell us your personal story. When and why did you start the National Brain Injury Institute?
What is Diffusion Tensor Imaging? Why is this technology so important in diagnosing patients?
Where can we find more information?

More About Dr. Huma Haider: Raised in Pakistan, the single mother of two children, Huma left everything behind and moved to Chicago to complete her medical training. Her medical career led her to Houston where she founded the National Brain Injury Institute. She is pioneering a technique and protocol to activate a 20 year-old imaging technology called Diffusion Tensor Imaging. Now serving patients in all 50 US states, Dr. Huma Haider is a rare gem. She’s someone who genuinely cares for people who are suffering from this terrible injury.

Dr. Huma Haider knows firsthand how devastating this can be. She lost her husband to a TBI and has devoted her life to the study of traumatic brain injuries.

Mike and Rob Barnes, Selkirk Sport, What is New in Pickleball

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It’s pickleball this week with Mike and Rob from SelkirkSport.

As the popularity of Pickleball continues to surge during the COVID-19 era, Selkirk Sport has been recognized as the Pickleball Manufacturer of the year by Racquet Sports Industry (RSi) in conjunction with their inaugural Champions of Pickleball Awards. The family-owned Company based in Hayden, ID is at the forefront of driving growth of the sport, offering a full line-up of Made in-the USA Pickleball Paddles for all levels and an assortment of accessories.

As outdoor activities continue to adapt to adhere to CDC and local/national health guidelines, the sport of Pickleball serves as the perfect “social distancing” physical activity. Today, Pickleball boasts more than 3.46 million players across the U.S., according to the most recent data by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association and RSi recognized Selkirk Sport alongside individuals and organizations that continue to make a positive impact, while helping to accelerate the game’s growing popularity and success.

The RSI excerpt from the November/December issue: MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR – Selkirk Sport

Founded in 2014 by brothers Mike and Rob Barnes and their father, Jim Barnes, this family-owned company in Hayden, Idaho, is a leader in pickleball paddle design and technology, building high-performance pickle-ball equipment. Selkirk’s current product line includes paddles, balls, bags, apparel and accessories. Selkirk’s mantra—“We Are Pickleball”—applies as much to the creation of innovative equipment as to the effort to improve and promote the pickleball community as a whole. The brand partners with, among other groups, the Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships, but also with Third Shot Sports, an organization to help bring pickleball awareness and clinics to all ages. Selkirk recently introduced its Vanguard Paddle series, pushing the envelope in technology and its $200 price—which has not deterred consumers, as the paddles quickly sold out on the brand’s website.

“We are committed to supporting the growth of Pickleball at the recreation and professional level, and it’s humbling to be recognized by such a well-respected organization, as a Champion of Pickleball,” said Rob Barnes, Managing Partner, Selkirk Sport. “While 2020 has been a challenging year battling a pandemic, it’s refreshing to see so many individuals of all ages and backgrounds embrace Pickleball as an activity that can be enjoyed in a safe and responsible way.”

Selkirk Sport is one of the industry’s fastest growing companies, and their paddles are used by many of the game’s premier players, many who are national/regional champions. Team Selkirk Ambassadors include: Tyson McGuffin, 4-Time National Champion and one of the top ranked players in the world; Cammy MacGregor, Top ranked senior player and former top 75 women’s professional tennis player; Morgan Evans, Coach to the world’s elite Pickleball players; Enrique Ruiz: Hall of Famer & 6-Time National Champion; Kaitlyn Christian, 28-year old Professional Tennis Player – Top 50 in Doubles on WTA Tour; Joanne Russell, 1977 Wimbledon Doubles Champion; Lindsey & Riley Newman, Top five ranked players and college basketball officials and Sherri Steinhauer: former LPGA star, 3-Time Women’s British Open Champion & 4-Time United States Solheim Cup Winner, among many others.

Tom Whaley, CEO of Aloe Up

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From Surf Expo, Rick talks with Tom Whaley of Aloe Up, about skin care products for athletes.

Aloe Up bases all of their products with pure Aloe Vera Gel and continually update and enhance their formulas to keep Aloe Up safe for our customers as well as their environments.

“We pride ourselves in creating the most comfortable, clean, and effective sunscreen available.”

Dozens of athletes use Aloe Up products because they want to, not because they are compensated.

Most people know a little about Aloe Vera Gel, but not the whole story. We know it’s good for you, natural and helps with burns. How many times have you come back from the beach with a bad sunburn — then, someone finds an Aloe Vera Leaf, breaks it open and rubs the gel on your burn? Feels better, right?

Bruce “Snake” Gabrielson, Surfing Hall of Fame, National Surf Schools and Instructors

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An honor to talk with Bruce Gabrielson this week at Surf Expo about surfing, surf instructing and his life.

Founder of National Surf Schools and Instructors Association. Bruce “Snake” Gabrielson was a true multi-sport athlete, scholar, successful contest surfer, board builder, and leader in the surfing world during Surfing’s dynamic 60’s and 70’s.

His first experience with surfing was in Belmont Shore in Long Beach during the mid-1950s, but it wasn’t until the early 1960s that he began surfing seriously at the Power Plant in Seal Beach. His parents moved to Huntington Beach in 1964.

Snake was a very successful contest surfer during most of his competitive surfing career. He started entering USSA contests in 1964, received a 3A ranking in 1967, and soon after placed as high as 3rd at the US Championships. That same year he finished 3rd in the final US Rankings. Snake continued contest surfing through the 1970s and then after he moved to the East Coast in the early 1980s. In the 1990s he retired from active ESA competition and only occasionally enters a longboard or legend event, mostly for fun. He also sometimes judges contests in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Besides a top competitive surfer, Snake was also a strong surfing organizer and leader. He was one of the founders of the first inter-collegiate surfing association while at California State University Long Beach. Then, while in graduate school, he founded the first official high school surfing league and first varsity surfing team in the US at Huntington Beach High School. He also founded Edison High School’s surf program, plus published a book geared towards surf team coaches.

Bruce was also a shaper and board manufacturer. Taught to shape by the legendary Dale Velzy during his tenure at Soul Surfboards, Snake opened his Wave Trek Surfboards shop in 1969, and continued making boards in Huntington Beach until 1978. Wave Trek was a leading innovator in board design, plus a strong contender in the Southern California manufacturer’s team competitions during those years.

Snake was the President of South Sea Surf Club in Huntington Beach in 1965 and 1966. Then, as President of Huntington Beach Surfing Association from 1967 until 1977, Snake successfully built the HBSA into a leading force in the surfing world at all levels from competitions to political influence. Additionally, as both the Western Association Director, and as a Director of the US Surfboard Championships, he was able to give the competition surfing world its “Declaration of Independence” from sponsor control and traditional community influence.

In the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, Dr. Gabrielson, a successful engineer in the field of computer security, took on a number of “give back” roles in the surfing world. He has been an active speaker for many surf organizations, clubs and schools since the mid-70s, has been a strong supporter and spokesperson for the Surfrider Foundation for several years, has become one of the worlds leading mentors for numerous high school and college students doing serious research into various surfing related areas, has joined and supported surf clubs and museums throughout the US, personally led the development of Internet use for surfing sites, and has worked with various national sports organizations, including the USSF, to help gain surfing’s recognition as an Olympic sport.

Among his notable sport firsts, in 1993 he put the first surfing oriented web page on the Internet and in 2002, he completed the USSF USOC application for surfing to become an official Olympic sport.

In 2005 Snake founded the National Surf Schools and Instructors Association to professionalize the industry and subsequently wrote another surf related book “Teaching Surf Instructors to Teach” as a manual for the organization. He also re-opened his Wave Trek Surfboards company, now in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, and started shaping again. In 2012 Bruce became the East Coast director for the International Surfboard Builders Hall of Fame. In 2017 Bruce received an Honor Role on the Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame for being the first varsity surf coach at Huntington Beach High School.

In 2012, Bruce opened his Bruce “Snake” Gabrielson Surfing Museum and Surf Art Gallery in Chesapeake Beach. The museum has received a tremendous response and has been ranked among the top 20 Cultural Museums in Maryland by the Maryland Department of Tourism.

Egypt Taylor and ‘Bounce Back Challenge’

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Rick talks with the multi-talented personal fitness trainer, Egypt Taylor this week on ‘Tech of Sports.’

`As a personal trainer, Egypt believes in online fitness and offers a variety of solutions for those looking for a healthier body, mind and soul.

Her 5 week Bounce Back Challenge will set you up for a great 2021!

Egypt attended Southern University, where she was captain of the Cheerleading team. In college, she attended theater/acting classes, which opened her eyes to the entertainment industry. Egypt earned her degree in broadcasting journalism, which then piqued her interest in film. Upon graduating, her passion for film continued to grow, & she is continuing to study and further her career in film & television. Productions: MTV Revenge Prank (2020) Zero (III) (2018), Music & Murder (2017), Push (II) (2016), The Perfect Race (2019), 2015 Push, 2015 Bad Apple. Fitness is also a passion and Egypt is active and interactive on social media.

Get details on how Egypt can help you here.

Follow Egypt on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/3gyptianfit/?hl=en

“The Future of Fitness Fun”

Jeff Zwiefel, EVP and COO for Life Time Talking Fitness in 2020-2021

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Rick is joined by the COO of Life TIme, Jeff Zwiefel, this week.

Each year millions of Americans set resolutions and fitness goals to kick off their New Year, however with many living a generally sedentary lifestyle during the pandemic it’s been difficult to stay in shape. A recent study from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows there’s been a 32% reduction in physical activity this year and another poll finds 53% of people say their mental health has been negatively impacted by the pandemic. As we enter 2021, personal health and fitness has never been more important.

Life Time is encouraging people to get back to their health and fitness goals by taking one positive action during its Commitment Day celebrations. On Wednesday December 30th, Chief Operating Officer of Life Time Jeff Zwiefel will be available to share how to kick off the New Year and commit to health in 2021 with a variety of tips and events such as virtual 5K, live and on-demand classes and more.

Topics:

How had the pandemic affected overall health and fitness?
What is the importance behind Commitment Day and One Positive Action and how can people get involved?
Can you share some key tips on how people can create flexible and sustainable fitness goals in 2021?
Where can listeners go for more information?

For more information, visit: www.commitmentday.com.

Zwiefel joined Life Time in December 1998 as Vice President of the Health Enhancement Division, and became Vice President of Fitness, Training and New Program Development in January 2004. He was subsequently named Senior Vice President of Life Time University in March 2005, Executive Vice President of Operations in June 2008, and Chief Operating Officer in October 2013. Zwiefel brings more than 30 years of comprehensive and diverse experience in the health, fitness and wellness industry. Prior to joining Life Time, he was a senior leader at NordicTrack, Inc. for more than nine years, where he last served as Vice President of Product Development. He holds a M.S. in exercise physiology.