Here's one for our baller readers. Basketball, that is! Presenting the SKLZ Shoot-Around, a training chute that attaches to a standard rim's net and guides the ball back to its designated direction. The 180-degree rotation system allows it to distribute the shot back to any postion on the court. For $30 USD you too can do less ball-chasing and more shooting. Sweet!
One of the most dangerous aspects about trail skiing or snowboarding is the possibility of avalanches. Enter the Backcountry Access Float 30, an airbag-equipped backpack designed to minimize excavation time during avalanche burial. It works much like an automobile airbag, bursting open upon an incident. At $599 USD it's a small price to pay for life-saving equipment. Ride on, ride safe!
While skateboarding in the New York City subway system may be illegal, it didn't stop SLAP Magazine and a couple of local rippers from shredding the hell out of the underground "taxi" and documenting it for a full feature dubbed Subway Skating. Peep the madness. All aboard!
Introducing the Nike FuelBand, the sportswear company's latest jump into the consumer tech gadget universe. The sleek LCD wristband works like a personal monitor by recording the user's activity via an accelerometer. That activity is then translated into "Nike Fuel" a point system that quantifies and visualizes it all. Athletes can set point goals and start moving! Oh, and did we mention that you can track your progress with an app? Cool.
The social media experts over at Soshable are expecting tons of Twitter and Facebook use during the upcoming Super Bowl XLVI. So much that they actually wrote up a piece about how connection providers like Verizon are lacing Lucas Oil Field with an extra-heavy arsenal to support 3G, 4G, and WiFi. And then there's all the social media blasts and analytics that are going to be handled by digital marketing companies like Raidious--a great case study on what will most certainly be one of the most data-heavy events of the year. Hence the name, The Social Bowl.
Japanese designer, Osamu Koyama, of Complete Technique, was inspired to take his love for precious metal, molding, anime, and Nike's Greek reference to a new level. The result is the American Eagle Zoom Force 1, a winged Nike snowboard boot cast in gold. These are ill!
Chicago Bulls All-Star point guard, Derrick Rose, is rumored to be preparing to sign a $250M USD contract with Adidas. The deal, being dubbed a "lifetime" one, will span 10 years. Sources say the plan is to give the Nike/Kobe deal some competition, especially in China and the rest of the Far East. If true, Rose will make it into the books as the current highest paid shoe endorser in all of the NBA!
Our last leg of the Nike Invites series brings us to the University of Oregon, home of The Ducks football squadron. Because Nike Headquarters and the university share mutual sports program history and are in such close proximity to one another, there's an undeniable connection between the two houses.
One of the first things that you'll notice about the University's training facilities is the extensive knowledge and passion that exists for the athletic departments, in our case, football. Everything from stretching to weight training produced some extremely qualified facilitators that had no problem breaking down the essence of technique and purpose--something that we're sure cross-pollinates between Nike and the university as well.
Head Coach of the Oregon Ducks, Charles "Chip" Kelly, himself, took a few minutes to speak to us about Nike's role in helping his players train in ways that very few other teams have the opportunity to, including the use of technology like the Vapor Strobe Eyewear and how the science behind it really translates into football numbers:
And to wrap up the exclusive visit, we were able to catch an actual game between The Ducks and The University of Southern California.
Aside from the unfortunate loss to USC (38-35), watching The Ducks play and obtaining an inside look at the dynamics between the university, the program, athletic science and Nike, we've developed an insane appreciation for synergy and sports technology.
A big thank you to everyone that made this journey and series possible. Hope you guys enjoyed and learned as much as we did. Until our next invite, República out!
Stereo's got a line of nostalgic vinyl cruisers for old-school fanatics and new school day-trippers. The fun, flexy boards come in assorted colors with, fatty wheels and matching wayfarers. Slick!
To promote their new G-9300 Mudman, G-Schock has released "The Descent," a rugged tag-along with free-ride mountain bikers Cameron Zink and Kyle Straidt. The pro riders take advantage of the watch's solar power and compass features as they whip down through the Utah desert terrain.
