It is an almost stereotypical scene. Two vehicles are standing side by side, a flag carrier is in the middle of both – and suddenly tires screech for the running start and they are off, off, off! With such a blur, the only way to actually know who wins the race is when one of them pulls out far enough to be distinctly identified or in cases of close calls, through video monitoring.
Drag racing, or to be more precise professional drag racing is sport where vehicles race down a set distance down a track. Naturally, whichever car finishes first is the winner. What makes this sport different from the other auto races is that entrants to the race have to accelerate only when given the go signal. In short, this is more of an acceleration contest than anything else. In some cases though, cars with rather poor acceleration eventually catch up by the use of sheer engine power and speed – and of course, a few driving tricks up the racers’ sleeves.
Very powerful engines are needed for such vehicles, and some of the rides here have enough technology to land themselves on the moon. Although amateur drag racers often pair up for competition almost randomly, professional racing cars are classified and paired only according to the matching modifications done of the vehicles. This is one way to make sure that drag racing cars are at par with each other, ensuring the integrity of the races.
Some of these modifications may include: configuration of cylinders; engine capacity; frame type; horsepower to weight ratio; make and model of a select number of cars; number of cylinders; vehicle construction materials; vehicle type; and wheelbase. In some cases, the use of power adding devices like nitrous oxide, superchargers and turbo chargers are also taken into consideration. There are also instances when elemental adjustments to the vehicles are given serious praise or offense; and in a few cases, even grounds for disqualification or handicap, like the use of specialized fuels – particularly, higher octane gas and methanol. Advancement in vehicle suspension is also somewhat a gray area when it comes to comparison.
As a rule, drag racing vehicles are supposed to be extremely lightweight, but there are some cases where heavier vehicles like monster trucks have been entered for professional (but exhibition) drag racing – and of course in the amateur field, almost any vehicle is up for grabs. However, some of the standard drag racing vehicles include: diggers or rail dragsters; floppers or funny cars; pro mod or pro modified vehicles; and pro stock cars and bikes.
As for the actual acceleration contest, there are a few favored modus operandi that experienced drivers often use. One of them is called the burn-out method of acceleration. Basically, the driver of the car wets the vehicle tires, either by backing it in a puddle of water or his maintenance team sprays it with liquid. The driver revs up the engine burns the water out from the tires. This actually makes the tires adhere or hug tightly to the concrete, making maneuverability a lot easier. At the same time, this makes the vehicle jump forward when the go signal is given.
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Eldrick Woods was born in Cypress, California to Earl Woods, an African American retired lieutenant colonel from the American Army, and Kutilda Woods, a Thai national. His nickname Tiger was patterned after the nickname of his father’s friend Vuong Dang Phong, a Vietnamese soldier
Even at a very tender age, Tiger Woods showed a keen interest in golf, as when he was only six months old, he tried to imitate his father and watch him hit golf balls into a net. At two years old he already appeared on the Mike Douglas Show playing golf with Bob Hope. At the age of five he was featured in Golf Digest and he made an appearance in ‘That’s Incredible’ in ABC. At eight years old he showcased his talents in Good Morning America and won the 1884 Junior World Golf Championships. During the ages of 8, 9, 12, 13, 14 and 15 his golfing skills were unparalleled, being the youngest player to have ever won the Optimist International Junior tournament and only player to have won multiple times.
As a boy, Tiger loved skateboarding and riding the bicycle, but he also had trouble speaking. Tiger overcame this by possessing an intense desire to win and by talking to the family dog. He studied high school in Anaheim, California at Western High School. The usual challenges of adolescence and high school did little to prevent Tiger from soaring and playing the game that he loved. It was in 1992, when Tiger was only 16 years old, when he entered his very first professional golf tournament. This was the 1992 Nissan Los Angeles Open. The following year Tiger joined three PGA Tour competitions. In 1994 he joined three more PGA Tour events and placed 34th in the Johnnie Walker Asian Classic in Thailand. It was also that year when Tiger triumphed in the Western Amateur. He represented the United States in the World Amateur Golf Team Championships which was held in France. Tiger was the youngest player to have won that event. It was the year 1995 when Tiger won the Walker Cup Match in Wales.
During the length of Tiger’s amateur golf career he had won an impressive three consecutive US Amateur title also being the youngest to have done so. He was the youngest ever to have won the US Junior Amateur and the only player to have won more than once. Tiger studied at Stanford University for two years, but he decided to leave college and pursue a life as a professional golfer.
It was when Tiger won the U.S. Masters in 1997, at the age of 21, with a magnificent score of 270, did his star truly shine being the youngest and the first ever African American to have done so. In the course of the years Tiger have won the 1999 and 2000 US PGA title. He also won the US Open in 2000 and 2002 and U.S. Masters in 2001 and 2002. In 2003 Tiger would win five more tournaments including the Buick Invitational and the Western Open. In 2004 Tiger married his long time girlfriend and Swedish model Elin Nordegren. In 2005 he won six major tournaments and was hailed the PGA Tour Player of Year, his seventh time in a span of nine years.
In 2006 Tiger would suffer a devastating loss when his father Earl, then 74 years old, would succumb to prostrate cancer. Tiger tried to play at the US Open that same year but his grief is evident as he failed to qualify for the major, his very first time to have done so in his career.
Tiger was able to overcome this and won various events including the British Open and the PGA Championship. It was also in 2006 that Tiger would open the Tiger Woods Learning Center in Anaheim, California. He spent $5 million on the Center with the purpose of guiding and mentoring children from 10 to 18 years of age. The foundation also offers some academic courses and programs for the children. Tiger also hosts an annual concert called ‘Tiger Jam’ which is a fundraiser for Tiger’s foundation. In 2007 he won the US PGA Championship and the World Golf Championship. In February 2008, Tiger won his third WGC Match Play Championship title.
I’m pretty sure Tiger Woods would win more golf tournaments but when one looks at Tiger Woods, one does not simply see an accomplished athlete and a golf player. One sees a man driven by excellence and honed through time. His sheer talent leaves one in awe but his quiet strength and his innate love to help others in need are the qualities that are even more inspiring and that merits him the title of a legend in the making.
Skydiving is perhaps one of the most exciting hobbies or sports to get into. This particular activity elicits such a sure of adrenaline rush that most people get into it because of the different kind of stress relief which it can bring. However, skydiving is not as easy as it seems. You do not simply get out of a thousand miles up there jet plane only to jump after doing the sign of the cross. Skydiving is also an extreme sport in the sense that you never know what you’ll likely expect when you are a thousand miles up and floating in the air.
So before you take that air plunge, the first things you need to know are the basics of skydiving. And on top of it all, you must be familiar with the right skydiving gears highly specialized for the occasion. If you simply take the plunge without considering these essential skydiving gears, you might end up not surviving at all. Yes, you should definitely not forget the fact that skydiving is a very risky sport. So as much as it is fun to engage into it, do not forget that you are actually putting your life on the line as you are doing it.
Among the most important skydiving gears you must have is a parachute. Nobody will ever be that bold to jump out of a plane, thousands high up without a parachute to back him up. No amount of mattresses can save your life with the impact of such a fall. But if it will be your first time to skydive, you should definitely consider some professional help before you skydive. The best place to do this would be in a skydiving center. Here you will be presented with certified and updated skydiving gears which also met current standards. Not only is this option safe but it will also cost you less since you are not purchasing from a commercial store.
Then after settling with the right parachute, the next most important skydiving gear you must have is a jumpsuit. You can never go skydiving with just some other type or sports apparel or a pair of jeans and shirt. Jumping high up in the air will expose you to various elements such as strong winds and other atmospheric conditions. You have to have the total protection. Wearing a jumpsuit helps buffer up your body so that it can be protected against the strong resistance of air. Moreover, jumpsuits are very strong so they will not get torn apart when exposed to the strong winds. Not only will it be able to protect you while you’re on air but it can also prevent you from getting cuts and bruises as you land on the ground.
As you get those things covered, the next thing you need to work out with is the automatic activation device also known as the AAD. This particular type of equipment is essential because it automatically triggers your parachute to open should you have any difficulty of doing it manually. What it does is to detect your current speed in going down from the jump. As it detects the programmed speed and if you haven’t opened up your chute yet, the AAD will automatically open a back up chute and save your life.
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Rafael Nadal Parera was born in Manacor, Mallorca, Spain on June 3, 1986 to Sebastian, a restaurant owner and businessman and Ana Maria. He stands at 6 feet 1 inch and weighs 189 pounds. He plays tennis with a left hand but is actually right handed off the court.
Known as simply Rafael Nadal or Rafa, this young man has ranked consistently as the number two tennis player in the world since July, 2005 next only to the great Roger Federer. Nadal started his interest in tennis at a very tender age. He played his very first tennis championship tournament at the age of 8 in Baleares.
Nadal became a tennis professional in 2001 when he was just 15 years old, winning his first ATP match and becoming the ninth player to have done so before reaching 16 years old. In 2003, when Nadal was only 16, he ranked among the top 100 singles player of the world. He was the second-youngest tennis player to have ever done so. At 17, Nadal’s debut at the Wimbledon earned him the honor of being the youngest male player to have reached the third round since 1984 after the 16-year old Boris Becker.
2005 was definitely Nadal’s year as he won two ATP Masters Series events in Rome and Monte Carlo. It was also in this year that Nadal won 24 consecutive games, breaking the record of Andre Agassi in winning 23 matches in a row in 1988. In May, 2005, Nadal had reached the top 5 ranking in the world making him the youngest player to enter the top 10 since Andrei Medvedev in 1993.
On his 19th birthday Nadal defeated Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the French Open. Two days later Nadal championed the French Open, garnering the title of being the fourth youngest tennis player to have done so. He also won his first Grand Slam event and was only the seventh player to have triumphed in their first attempt. Nadal also holds the honor of being one of the only two players in the world to have won at Roland Garros in their first try. Nadal was the first teenager to have a Grand Slam singles title since the 19-year old Pete Sampras won the 1990 US Open. Since the win of Agassi in 1988, Nadal was the first teenager to have triumphed in at least six titles in the same year.
In May of 2006, Nadal crushed Federer in the Rome Masters giving him the record of winning 53 games in a row on clay. It was also in this year that Nadal went on to again conquer Federer in the 2006 French Open. He was ecstatic with his victory saying “Federer is the best player in history - no other player has ever had such quality.”
By April of 2007, Nadal won the Monte Carlo Masters against Federer but Federer took revenge by winning the Hamburg Masters title against Nadal. However, in June, 2007 Nadal won his third consecutive French Open title against Roger Federer in the finals.
Most professionals tend to like playing golf during their spare time. Because of this, most people tend to have an impression that golf is a game of professionals such as top executives. However, there’s just something about golf that makes it quite an appealing sport especially for these so-called business professionals and executives. It is mainly because the said sport is very relaxing yet competitive at the same time. It poses a subtle challenge to those who play it without implicating a very stressful vibe.
Moreover, golf courses are also among the main factors why most people choose the said sport. In the US alone, there are plenty of golf courses that are such appealing and eye-catching venues for most golfers—amateurs and professionals alike. Most of these golf courses in the US are also characterized by the fact that they really vary in terms of physical and territorial appearance. It can also happen that golf courses have both the characteristics found within a smooth and a rugged terrain.
Among the top choices when it comes to golf courses in the US is Pebble Beach Golf Links. It is actually such an icon on its own and even became critically acclaimed. It has started to make a mark in the golf scene back in 1919 and was a top ranking golf course back in 2005 based on the US’ Golf Digest. The said golf course owes much of its popularity on its beautiful terrain. Most of its golf holes are incorporated throughout its ragged coastline and is crafted beautifully along the Pacific Ocean. Because of its intricate detail and its inherent beauty, the Pebble Beach Golf Links often becomes a host among major golf tournaments. It is also the home of US Open Championships.
Another popular golf course in the US is Pinehurst Resort and Country Club. This particular golf course holds a lot of historical value since it was built way back in 1895. It also gained its fame because of the eight different golf courses found within it, thus allowing flexibility and variations among golf players. It is pretty easy to be immersed in playing golf here because it spans 2,000 acres and with eight different courses to choose from. It can easily become a haven for golf enthusiasts who wanted to hone their golfing skills even further.
A golf course found in North Las Vegas has gained its fame because it was popularly incepted by architect Tom Brizio. This golf course is Shadow Creek. It is often included as a package among MGM Properties. Once a person makes reservation at the golf course while in Vegas, a limousine will be picking you up on the stated schedule of playing. The limousine will be your service to and from your hotel. Shadow Creek has also gained its popularity from the lush and beautiful environment which golfers get to face on their way to the golf course. While there, it is highly recommended that golf players check out the eighteenth hole. This particular hole is actually the entire golf course’s highlight because of its intricate craftsmanship.
Scuba diving is a thrilling adventure. Once people experience scuba diving, it is not unusual for them to be hooked for life. They usually look for every chance they can get to explore the mysterious world that lies beneath the sea.
Scuba divers typically plan their vacation around the sport and can spend much time getting to and from their diving spots. A liveaboard is a great alternative to a land-based scuba diving vacation. You will cut out the travel time and be able to spend it where you want to, under the sea.
Be Free to Explore Uncharted Waters
On a land-based scuba diving vacation, you will need to spend time traveling to your boat and from there, to the dive spot of the day. On a liveaboard, you merely board your boat upon your arrival and jump off the side when the seas promise untold treasures just waiting to be discovered by you.
Typically the best dive spots are far out to sea, so with a land-based scuba vacation, you may not be able to access the better diving spots available. A liveaboard scuba diving vacation allows you to explore new waters each day, and you can even enjoy the almost mystical experience of diving at night.
Your Friends will be Many
Another advantage of a scuba diving liveaboard vacation is the people who will be traveling with you. They too are avid enthusiasts of scuba diving, and joining together in the evenings to discuss the day’s findings will be the highlight of your day.
What to Expect
Typically your schedule might look something like this; wake in the morning and join your fellow passengers for breakfast. You then will go to the area where you will be briefed about the day’s events. You will go to your gear, suit up and just fall off the boat. When you get back from your morning dive, a hot shower will await you. Have a snack before you return to the water for the second dive of the day. Lunchtime will have the crew taking you to your next dive site. This will be repeated several times throughout the day, allowing you to take one dive after another.
Generally a liveaboard scuba vacation will last for seven days. You will be able to dive for at least five or six of those days.
Where You might Go
Some of the best diving spots in the world can be found in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean. You are not limited to just those places; you can dive the waters of the Mediterranean, the Pacific Ocean as well as a host of other waters just waiting for you to explore.
Popular liveaboard dive destinations are Belize, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands and the Bay Islands.
Is It Expensive?
It is easier than ever to find the right price for a vacation such as this. The internet is a powerful tool that enables the user to visit all kinds of travel sites looking for a great deal.
A scuba diving liveaboard vacation will include your meals, snacks and beverages while you are on board, though the final dinner before you depart may not be included. This type of vacation is no more expensive than any other, and you can rest assured you will get your money’s worth.
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A normal sports fan can just watch and enjoy the game of their favorite team. But a serious sports enthusiast knows even something more: they know a lot about the game, the team, the best and the not so good players, as well as all the stats and trivia related to the sports. Remembering them, watching the game intently, and following to the details is time consuming but it’s nothing to the sports enthusiast. They could go on all day talking about the sport.
During the 80s, there was a game, called fantasy sports, invented for sports fanatics who know more that just the team standings in the league. In the fantasy sports, followers of the league or the game can select their favorite players in every team. Using the stats their favorite players put out in every game, they compare game stats and determine the winner in that round. By the end of the season, the stats accumulated by the players are calculated to determine the winner. As the formal creation of this type of game started during the 80’s, internet was way far from their minds but the mechanics are already there. From the set of rosters, participants draft their players to avoid duplication. It’s like creating your own team but it’s not about winning, but it’s all about numbers and stats. Even though the growth was slower compared to today, there were at least half a million players in fantasy sports by the near end of the decade. When the game was invented, it was all about baseball. As the 90s came, it has been applied to other sports as well.
When internet came, fantasy sports got bigger in an exponential level. Besides being recognized across the country, it’s now a hobby for all sports enthusiasts worldwide. Internet sports sites have their own fantasy sports in every league that you can sign up for before the start of every season. You can sign up for free, join a league and compare your results against other players who signed up for the league that you also joined in.
Fantasy sports gradually became a point of reference for some gamblers who just love to compare numbers and earn money at the same time. Because of gambling, fantasy sports may have taken a slight wrong turn as some of the participants in the game don’t enjoy the game anymore, but only gamble on the numbers. But there are still millions of passionate users who want to join a league solely because of the love of sport.
Winning in fantasy sports requires a good analysis of the league, the players and their opponents. Most of the time, participants have to study their opponents of their players carefully. If they can find any mismatch in their game, they can easily exploit and expect the stats to go up. Participants also have to change their roster if any of their players is placed in the injury list.
Now, fantasy sports are a completely different disciple compared to the sport itself. There are dedicated sites to fantasy sports and sports shows of every league. It has now become a million dollar industry that will not fade in anytime of the season. The numbers are there, so why not use them for fun?
For any surfer, nothing beats the idea of just hanging out in a beach riding the waves all day. The thrill of riding giant breaks and staying there a minute or two is enough to thrill any surfer. Some surfers save money just to go to certain locations around the world to experience the waves they will cherish their whole life. Read on and we’ll tell you where to go and what’s the best place in the world to surf ever.
Let’s start with the simplest. Cocoa Beach in Florida is one of the key surfing destinations in US. However, don’t go there during summer as the waves could be unpredictable, and most of the time you’ll just end up sitting there for nothing at all. The good thing about this beach is that you can still enjoy the waters and the party mood especially in summer time. The best time to go this beach for surfing is from November to March, that’s right: winter season. During these months the Atlantic winds becomes stronger and the water responds perfectly! Expect to have waves that will reach up to 10 feet. The beach is perfect for beginners in the sport.
Of course we don’t want to leave out the state that started it all: Hawaii. Specifically Oahu, Hawaii; which is the home to one of the biggest waves on earth. During winter months, the waves could reach up to 20 feet. During summer, the place is surprisingly calm. There are various beaches in Oahu that cover at least 20 miles of beautiful white sand shores. Among them perfect for surfing is Ehukai Beach and Waimea Beach which are paradise for most surfers as they try their skills to the dangerous waves of Hawaii. It’s just a humble tribute to the islands that started this great sport.
Next is the unofficial place for surfing in USA. Calling themselves, Surf City, USA, Huntington is the home for many known surfers around the country and the world. People from all parts of the country visit this place just to enjoy the perpetual sun and waves in any given month. If you’re still not sure about this place, just ask its 11 million annual visitors.
If Oahu is the surfers paradise, then this one should be the heaven. Tell any avid surfer about Jeffrey’s Bay in Southern Africa and they can tell many tales that go with the bay. 10-foot waves are a regular occurrence in this bay. Every July, all pros in the world congregate in this bay and enjoy the waves in the highly competitive Billabong Pro. Even though the waves are there all year long, it’s best that you go there from June till November. In these months the waves are consistent. During these months the waves are very predictable, making it the best place to surf. Watch out for the waves that you can ride for as long as three minutes.
These beaches are recommended for the fans of surfing. Depending on your skill level, go to the place that will develop your skills slowly but surely.
You’ve been going through the same trail every weekend; you practically know which pebble to go through. As an experienced mountain biker myself, this could get really boring. Yes, we all go to the trails to gain a better body through exercise, but we still want our exercises to be exciting. For a mountain biker, nothing beats the feeling of going through the beaten tracks in the middle of the mountain and not passing through them again. The thrill of going on those tricky rides just adds to the feeling of exhilaration. We all want to tell ourselves and our buddies “been there, done that” when we talk about trails and danger.
The popularity of mountain biking has never been better. There are thousands of mountain bike shops around the country and they all have expert bikers to sponsor weekend competitions, which tend to be really fierce. You name the mountain and they will bike through it. There are millions of enthusiasts in this country alone going through the irregular tracks , trying out every slope and pushing themselves to the limit.
If you want to get the best mountain biking experience, why not bring your mountain bike with you and arrange for a mountain bike vacation? Talk to your buddies regarding this idea and both of you can plot out the places where you want to go. For days you can just spend your trip on your mountain bikes and stop at hotels to rest for the night or two.
There are also travel companies that you can talk to where they offer these trips for enthusiasts. The most frequented places in the country are Alaska and California. The treks in these states range from the beginners to the very experts. You can experience drops from cliffs or just a ride in the forests. In Alaska, be sure to go there when it’s not too cold. The treks and the view are exhilarating, but they are better appreciated in a warmer condition.
Aside from this country, why not go really deep in the south and enjoy the country of mountain bike trails? Australia is a continent itself that offers endless trails. You can go from one city to another and between them are treks that can challenge your mountain biking skills. New Zealand is another country that you should consider for that perfect mountain biking experience. This country offers trips to their mountains and the view could never be better.
Planning for a mountain bike vacation package with tour companies takes time and experience. They will plan out where you should rest, and this will allow them to dictate the pace of your ride even before you start. You should already be aware of your speed at the moment. If you’re still an amateur at this, better ask for a guide, as these professionals will assist you from start to finish on your vacation.
So don’t be stuck in the regular track in your neighborhood. If you have the time, better plan and go on a mountain bike vacation. You can never be closer to nature with this type of trip.
One of the great advantages basketball has over some sports is that it doesn’t require a lot of equipments. And the equipment you do need is typically much cheaper than other sports. Grab the right kind of basketball and some sneakers and you’re ready to play. Here is some more information to find the right kind of baseketball for you.
If you have been to your local sporting goods store lately, you probably noticed there are many different types of basketballs. They come in all different sizes, materials and brands. The biggest factor is what kind of surface you are going to play on. That will determine which type of basketball is right for you.
Indoor Use - Indoor basketballs are typically made of leather and designated for use only on an indoor basketball court. These types of balls are typically orange with black ribs. The standard basketball size is 29.5 inches but you can find balls in smaller sizes for youth players or women players. The NBA and other basketball leagues typically use indoor basketballs. Spalding is the official basketball of the NBA. In 2006, the NBA switched to a composite surface basketball with a different rib pattern but due to many complaints by the players, they decided to switch back to the standard basketball. Other top indoor leather basketball manufacturers include Molten (Japanese sporting goods company who provides basketballs for the FIBA) and Wilson (official ball of the NCAA tournament and many high school leagues).
Indoor/Outdoor Use - These types of basketballs are very common because they have the versatility of being used in either indoor or outdoor environments. The biggest difference of an indoor/outdoor ball is the material. Indoor/outdoor basketballs are usually made out of durable composites and sometimes rubber. It is easier to find this type of ball in the smaller 27.5 inch or 28.5 inch size than an indoor ball. Spalding, Wilson and Molten all manufacture these types of balls as well. Indoor/Outdoor basketballs tend to be much cheaper than indoor balls because of the cheaper material used on the outside of the ball. Many city leagues and high school teams use this type of ball for game play and practice.
Outdoor Use - Basketballs that are produced strictly for outdoor play are typically made of rubber and come in all sizes. They produce them in the 27.5 inch, 28.5 inch and 29.5 inch but also in mini sizes for much younger players. Because of the tougher outdoor surfaces like asphalt and gravel, outdoor balls are a necessity for outdoor play because the softer leather surface would be easily damaged by the rough texture. Moisture is also an issue that outdoor basketballs handle much better than indoor basketballs. Outdoor basketballs tend to be the cheapest because of the materials involved and they are easily found in any sporting goods stores but also non-specialty department stores.
Now that you know which kind of ball you need to begin your game, find a basketball court and test that new basketball out.
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