swimming freestyle

Surfboards going 'old school'

Long before surfboards became mass produced and made of foam and fiberglass, they were made in Hawaii of scrap wood, heavy, and without fins.  Called "alaia", they were the pre-20th century standard and are now enjoying a resurgence among surfers looking for a bit more challenge.

Cyrus Sutton, a surfer and filmmaker in Encinitas, Calif., has shaped alaias in his backyard. “The alaia has a mind of its own,” he said. “It bends and snakes with the wave. It’s alive under your feet. And the speed is just ridiculous.”

Richard Kenvin, a former pro surfer from San Diego, credits the alaia with giving him “some of the most magical feelings I’ve ever had.”

Chad Marshall, a surfer in Malibu, Calif., known for his flamboyant longboard riding, said: “I like the friction-free vibe. I like that it slots you in that sweet spot on the wave. They put you in check. They show you how difficult and beautiful and pure it was for the ancient Hawaiians.”

It does seem rare that a sport consider old hardware and techniques.  Imagine professional cyclists or golfers wanting a new challenge and deciding they wanted to learn to use 40 pound, 3 speed bicycles or wooden clubs. 

Loop the loop with a Toyota Aygo

Remember the loop the loop that came with the Hot Wheels?  Fifth Gear tries it with a real car.

I could do this...

...if I really wanted to.  Cirque du Soleil acrobats practice on trampolines:

Gee, hard to believe he was a late round pick

Ellis Lanksdale of the Buffalo Bills (h/t Failblog)

Dog plays pool

Needs to work on his bank shot.

On the highwire

Heinz Zak isn't just a regular high-wire walker.  Oh no.  For the last eight years Heinz Zak has looked for the most scary ass spots possible to string his inch wide strip of fiber and flirt with death.  From a Guardian pictorial:

 

Eric Bruntlett's triple play

Eric Bruntlett, the Philadelphia Phillies second baseman, managed an unassisted triple play yesterday.  The ninth inning play ended the game between the Phillies and New York Mets.  This is only the second time an unassisted triple play ended a game.

It must take some serious presence of mind to pull off a play like this.

World's youngest wing walker

Eight year old Tiger Brewer is the world's youngest wing walker.  The Times has a profile:

He was born into a family of stuntmen and performers but today was the day (he) earned his stripes. A thousand feet above Rendcomb Airfield in Gloucestershire, the London schoolboy became the youngest person in the world to wing-walk.

Tiger’s dad, Colin, who has legally changed his name to Happy Birthday, said: “I wasn’t scared for him physically, just emotionally.

“He was nervous and although he acts like a big man he is only eight. But he just kept repeating his mantra ’go away fear’ and he did it. He wanted to do this for years but wasn’t tall enough.”

(Tiger said) “It felt amazing, like I was on top of the world. It was cold and windy but it can’t be beat.

His father legally changed his name to "Happy Birthday"?  Sounds like a fun bunch.

Swimsuit evolution

In light of last weeks ban by FINA of those controversial skinsuits that have resulted in a number of world records recently, The Guardian has a cool photo essay of swimsuit development over the last 100 years.

World record waterfall kayak plunge

On April 21st, Tyler Bradt kayaked over the 186 foot Palouse Falls in eastern Washington to break the waterfall world record that he had previously set.  Here's a video of Bradt being interviewed on Fox News: