Buzz: Outdoor News Shorts, April 2013
Inflatable SUP
Ready to ride the SUP wave? Sure, but hauling around a big board can be cumbersome. Unless, that is, you can deflate it and roll it up for transport like Tower Paddleboard’s new inflatable board, the Xplorer iSUP. Yes, a 14-foot board that is 8 inches thick.
Owner Stephan Aarstol, originally from Bellingham, swears his new Xplorer iSup gives paddlers the convenience of an inflatable with the stability and speed of a hard board. All direct-shipped to your home. It includes a hand pump and a paddle. It’s a compelling package for the price—it was even featured on TV during the business reality show “Shark Tank.” Retail: $899 (board, pump, paddle). www.towerpaddleboards.com
Rain, rain, go away
Summer seems a million months away, and this is the time for Northwest folks to slog through until June. It does get a bit damp this time of year, no? We love our Bogs for these months—nothing will keep your feet dry and happy like the waterproof boots from this Portland company.
It’s no wonder they are chosen by everyone from Oregon master brewers to the fishermen on Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch. Plus, they’re super stylish AND comfortable. We love this fun pattern on the women’s rain boot. Retail price: $80. www.bogsfootwear.com
Golazo!
Hydration and energy drinks are big business these days, and the choices are too many to count. However, most of the choices out there don’t fall under the category of healthy.
Golazo, a newcomer and local company based in Seattle and with production in Portland, is out to change that. They’ve entered the market with an all-natural alternative to some of the jolty sugar-filled energy drinks, and the neon-colored hydration standards. And they have a unique niche: they’re targeting soccer players.
Team Golazo: Todd Olsen (Product Development Manager/Left Mid), Jorge Perea (Marketing Manager/Midfielder), and Alex Rosenast (Co-founder/Striker).
Golazo is the brainchild of Richard Tait and Alex Rosen, both experienced in bringing products to market. (Tait was one of the founders of Cranium). But it was the search for a healthy drink for their own kids that made them think there was space for something healthier and better tasting than the current offerings. They noticed soccer players were adding Red Bull to Gatorade for a halftime boost. They thought they could do better, and hired a sports nutritionist from the University of Washington.
The result is delicious (we tested it) and works best for a 90-minute intense workout. A quick look at the ingredient label shows it doesn’t contain chemicals and hard-to-pronounce words. And people are noticing—not just soccer players. The fact that it’s being sold at such health conscious stores as Whole Foods and PCC is not going unnoticed either.
“Golazo” means roughly “super goal” in Spanish. (It’s meant to be yelled at the top of one’s lungs.)
“We’re about the amateur soccer player,” said Tait, when we visited them at their Capitol Hill Seattle office. “But it’s for everyone.” This one might be a score. vivagolazo.com
Virtual Racing
When you sign up for a race, you know what to expect—the thrill and adrenaline from running with a big crowd, pushing yourself to catch up with that runner who just seems to be just a little bit faster than you. It’s a big social thing too—with the rituals of packet pick up and then finish-line goodies.
But what if that isn’t what motivates you? Or if those big races are on weekends when you’re working or busy? There’s a new option: virtual racing.
Think of it as racing on the honor system. You sign up for a race on an online site, pay your fee (just like physical races, there is swag and charity partners), and pick a distance and time frame. Then during the chosen time frame, you run your race. It’s up to you to upload your results (and possibly photos of you doing the race) on to the website to compare with your fellow virtual races.
To some, this might sound ridiculous. But think of signing up for a race with your college friends who are scattered around the country. Or for doing your first 5k without the fear of being the last one to cross the finish line to the dreaded sound of the pity clap. Virtual races are a natural progression of the online age.
“We started with our Winter Series and I expected a handful or maybe a few dozen people who would want to try it out,” says Jim Parker, owner of Muffins to Marathons, a personal training company in North Dakota that organizes a virtual series. “Our winter series of races we had to stop all registrations when we got to 475 registrations so it definitely took off.”
Interested in trying a virtual race? Check out Running Nerds Virtual Half Marathon and Treadmill 5k, which will be July 20 –28, at a location incredibly convenient to you, such as your guestroom where you store the treadmill. Better yet—our readers at Outdoors NW receive 10 percent off any race. Use the discount code RUNBUDS10. www.runningnerdnation.com
TevaSphere: A step forward from Teva
Who hasn’t worn a pair of Teva sandals or flip-flops? A pioneer in the water-sports footwear category, Teva has recently launched the TevaSphere, a cross-training, multi-sport shoe they call the “world’s most versatile trail shoe.”
What is unique about the TevaSphere is its spherical heel, which drops the heel lower than most average square-heel shoes, coupled with a pod-arch system providing motion control and support on both sides of the arch.
The result is a cross-trainer that benefits activities such as walking, running, hiking, trail running and obstacle, mud or adventure racing. The TevaSphere is designed to reduce impact and promote stability on uneven and unpredictable terrain.
Four years in the making, Teva is making a bid to capture the motion control market in this shoe that challenges the wearer to change your shoe instead of your stride.
Available in styles and various colors for men and women, the Tevasphere offers the lightweight Speed, and the breathable waterproof Trail eVent, while the Trail is built only for women who prefer the benefits of a sturdy trail shoe without waterproof features. $120 to $140. www.teva.com.
Osprey Kode 22 pack
When our ski blogger needed a pack to tote her gear, we knew who to call. Osprey makes packs for serious play, and the Kode 22 is no different. It organizes your wet and dry gear into different compartments, and has multiple ski or snowboard options for carrying positions. Any ski or boarder would appreciate this thoughtful design for either lift-serviced or back/sidecountry skiing or riding. Pretty easy to slide around to get in your lap for the lift ride as well. Retail price: $119 www.ospreypacks.com
