Epic Sportsman - The Community of Extreme » Arp Smith

Skiing Basics

Arp Smith — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 11:20:03 +0000

Those who are new to skiing will want to make sure that they have the proper equipment before they even think of hitting the slopes.

A sporting goods store, or a skiing outfitter, will offer prospective skiers tips on the best, skis, poles, boots, bindings, gloves, helmets and eye protection to purchase. Warm clothing is a must, of course. Renting may be the way to go for beginners.

After getting outfitted, skiers will want to learn the proper posture and a few basic moves. A good stance is necessary to keep one balanced and moving efficiently on skis. Beginners should practice standing tall, feet hips’ width apart, with a bit of a forward lean. Knees should be slightly bent. Leaning back will cause the skier to lose his or her balance. The weight should be centered over both feet.

The Snow Plow is a basic move. Skis should be in a wedge position: The tips of the skis will be closer together than the backs. This move works to slow the skier down and help him come to a complete stop. Skiers should keep their weight distributed equally on both skis, with the skis flat on the snow.

More info: http://www.youcanski.com/en/instruction/beginners.htm

Downhill Mountain Biking Basics

Arp Smith — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 17:44:27 +0000

Can you feel it?

The rush of wind on your face.

The thumping in your chest as you slide down a trail that is a little steeper and trickier than you thought?

Mounting biking is a sport for all ages and skill levels. Mastering a few simple skills will aid in the enjoyment of cruising through forests and mountainsides.

One of the most critical skills is going downhill. Here are a few quick tips to make your next downhill adventure less terrifying:

Lower your seat. Before any epic downhill, take a minute to lower your seat about an inch to help lower your center of gravity.
Slide back in the saddle and grip the seat with your inner thighs. This provides more control and stability.
Pump your brakes. Sliding is your worst enemy, so alternating your back brake with your front break keeps your speed under control without going into a slide.

For an in-depth look at downhill mountain biking, check out our Complete Guide to downhill mountain biking. Now get off your butt and go for a ride!

The Complete Guide can be found at: http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/complete-guide-to-downhill-mountain-biking-part-1-25183/

Kite Surfing Basics

Arp Smith — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 17:44:27 +0000

For those who love water sports kite surfing is the newest craze. This exciting new sport takes practice and experience with flying a kite. For those without kite flying experience no problem. One should simply start by flying a kite on land to get the hang of it. Then simply take the kite into the water. The kite will drag the body around a bit giving whoever is holding onto the kite a real feel for the movement. The final step is for the kite surfer to get harnessed get onto his or her board while holding onto the kite. The drag will pull the surfer around the body of water. Plenty of practice is needed to navigate while standing up holding the kite but that is all part of the fun.

Source: http://www.kitesurfingschool.org/howto.htm

Ice Climbing Basics

Arp Smith — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 17:44:26 +0000

The adrenalin rush of climbing bare rock cliffs combined with the cold thunk of an ice ax going into ice. This is what ice climbing is all about. Take rock climbing one step farther by starting with some simple climbs, like small frozen waterfalls, then move onto some longer multi-pitch aide climbs. Throw in some mixed rock and ice for some experience in dry-tooling to get the game on. The skills used in ice climbing are very similar to those used in rock climbing, choose a path, use the ice tool, and go. It is just the climber, the ice, one or two ice tools, crampons, and a rope.

For more information on ice climbing go to http://www.rockclimbing.com/Articles/Introduction_to_Climbing/Ice_Climbing_101_755.html .

Snowboarding Basics

Arp Smith — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 17:44:26 +0000

Snowboarding is a great pastime for people in colder climates as well as a fun experiment for those who are just visiting. Snowboarding, as its name implies, has people boarding down snowy hills, veering left and right until the boarder reaches the bottom and comes to a halt. Conceived in 1965, it grew to popularity soon after, and even went all the way to becoming a Winter Olympic Sport in 1998!

The thrill of tearing down a winter hill never does get old, and it’s an amazing feeling with just how smooth it is. In spite of this, it can be very dangerous without the right precautions. When a person goes snowboarding, they must make sure that he or she wears appropriate protection from the cold to prevent frostbite, and to keep themselves well-padded to avoid any serious injuries. It’s not worth doing if there aren’t any guarantees that the boarder will be able to keep boarding, eh?

Snowboarding is not just a fun activity – it’s a serious, physical achievement, one that rewards strength and determination with success. If you’re looking for more information, check out this in depth article on the basics of snowboarding here: http://www.trails.com/how_140_basics-of-snowboarding.html

Mountaineering Basics

Arp Smith — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 17:44:25 +0000

Mountaineering is just one level up from backpacking and rock climbing with some winter camping thrown into the mix. Anyone can become a mountain climber if he/she has the drive to accomplish more than just packing into camp, scrambling up some rocks, or climbing a cliff face or frozen waterfall.

Put all of these skills together and you have a vertical endeavor that will push you to the limits of your capabilities. Watch the sun rise and see the amazing site of the mountains shadow cast onto the tops of the clouds, or the view of a thunderstorm from high above the clouds.

To really get into mountain climbing see http://matadornetwork.com/sports/how-to-get-started-mountaineering/ .

Sky Diving Basics

Arp Smith — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 17:44:24 +0000

To many, sky diving is one of the most breathtaking and exuberant experiences a person could ever experience. So long as he or she is not afraid of heights, the person is surely going to have a great time and an even greater story to tell friends.The best way to describe sky diving is to call it an “event.” It’s not really a test of skill so much as it is a test of mettle. The thrill of diving down from the sky to the Earth, many thousands of feet in the air, the wind blowing in your face, only to drift down to safety with your parachute, is something that you will never be able to emulate with any pedestrian earthbound activities. With a death rate of only 0.00007% in 2010, it’s one of the safest things you can do with yourself. Safer than getting into a car, that’s for sure.

For more information on how to get started with skydiving, please visit the link below.

http://www.uspa.org/AboutSkydiving/HowtoStartSkydiving/tabid/530/Default.aspx.

Rock Climbing Basics

Arp Smith — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 17:44:24 +0000

Rock climbing can be a very rewarding and physically demanding sport. It requires a certain level of concentration, physical fitness, and a strong enough will to push one’s self to the top. The sport can be a frightening one – the idea of dangling so high from a mountain – but with the right precautions, the risk is thoroughly diminished. Not only is rock climbing a good way to stay in shape, it offers people an exciting story with which to regale their friends and family.

For more information on learning how to get into rock climbing, please visit the link below.

http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/getting-started-rock-climbing.html

Parkour Basics

Arp Smith — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 17:44:23 +0000

Tired of jogging mindlessly around the block? Spending hours in a gym full of sweaty bodies not really your thing? Enter the world of Parkour and try something a little different.

Parkour is a discipline that has its origins in the training developed for military obstacle courses. The aim is to find the easiest way through any type of terrain. Obstacles can be as small as a two foot high wall or as high as an apartment building. Parkour teaches you to visualize your surroundings in a completely different way. A roof, a wall or balcony can provide a unique pathway to your destination.

Offering a unique combination of mind and body training, it can be practiced on your own or in a group, at any time and in any place. Never again will you be able to view your neighborhood or inner city in quite the same way. Every building, stairway and railing will provide endless possibilities. All that is required is your body, your mind and an urban space that offers some interesting physical challenges.

Source: http://www.apexmovement.com/blog/how-to-start-parkour-a-beginners-guide/