Skateboard and Outdoor Sports

Rugby that one outdoor sport I randomly think about every so often

2009-06-20T01:19:15-07:00

I don't know why, but whenever I think about rugby I always think of a scene from the movie Necessary Roughness. Probably because I've never seen a rugby match or actually know anyone that plays. From what I've heard though, Rugby is like football, the two outdoor sports are very similar, only main difference is in rugby, the players don't wear pads, the refs and people on the side lines do.

It's a crazy outdoor sport though, basically you're playing full contact football with no pads. I'm all for sacrificing my body for the team, but I think rugby is the one outdoor sport where I'd draw the line. I just can't imagine paying a game that crazy. A quick google reveals the US has a national rugby team, something I did not know. You can also watch matches of this outdoor sport locally, as well as go to college games. If you're looking to do something different with friends and/or family, you might want to check out a rugby match, the video I watched on youtube looked more exciting than soccer.

Outdoor Sport Fishing Tips: Reeling Them in On the Fly

2009-05-20T15:34:25-07:00

<--Pick Up Some Waders

The weather is heating up and that means fisherman are getting their tackle boxes ready for another summer in the sun. One of the most common ways to reel in some fresh food is fly-fishing. It can be difficult at the start but with some practice it will be no harder then casting your line into a lake. Research the stop-drop-drop method. You will get a better understanding for what I am talking about with a quick search online. After you understand how that cast works, you will have the foundation for outdoor sport fly fishing.

Once you get a bite in the river, reel it in as quickly as possible. If the fish starts to swim towards you then raise the rod above your head and yank up to keep the line tight. When outdoor sport casting, try to keep the rod at 11 o’clock, this is a proven position to keep the fly on top of the water. With practice, you will perfect the cast and be bringing in supper for the whole family. If you are looking for trout stick to fast moving cold mountain rivers. Nothing better then this outdoor sport.

Soccer, can't forget this outdoor sport

2009-05-20T10:19:15-07:00

I have a cousin a few years younger than me, who played soccer for years. Once we asked how far she was going to go with it and she said she was going to play for the US Olympics Team. That would have been so cool to go to the Olympics and cheer on my cousin. However, that dream ended when she injured her knee during a game of this outdoor sport, and had to have surgery. I never got a chance to see her play this outdoor sport, but was invited to one day after church. The problem was it was cold and rainy day, not to mention, last minute invitation. So I passed, not wanting to sit outside, even with borrowing something from her oldest brother to wear.

Soccer is a great outdoor sport for all, but is something you really have to be in shape for. It's high energy, exciting to watch and when you watch on the Spanish stations, the announcers need to be just as in shape because of the gusto and excitement in the way they yell goal, and hold the word for nearly a minute long. We used to tune into the Spanish stations when we lived in the city, just to watch the goals, and laughed at how long the announcer held the word goal. I think we even timed it once. Thinking about this outdoor sport though, I can't help but think of an extremely funny movie, Bend it Like Beckham, about an Indian girl in Britain who's family is very traditional and doesn't want her to play soccer on a team. Truly as funny and similar to My Big Fat Greek Wedding. You can still play this outdoor sport on a more casual level at family gatherings and picnics, just keep things low key.

The Outdoor Sport of Fishing

2009-05-19T10:55:51-07:00

Fishing can be a really fun outdoor sport for the family. It is also a very popular outdoor sport among the men.
We recently bought new bikes for our family. The kids and I have all been enjoying going for the occassional bike ride around the neighborhood in the cool of the evening.

Instead of buying a bike, my dear husband bought himself a fishing pole. Being in Alabama for a season, he is enjoying the outdoor sport of fishing in different waters than the fresh water of Upstate New York. The fishing here ranges from fresh water to salt water, depending on how far South one decides to go to do their fishing. He seems to enjoy going out on a boat with his buddies and spending the day on the river. He really wants to get out on a charter and do some deep sea fishing.

As a family, we have enjoyed the outdoor sport of fishing together. I myself have never cast a line, but the boys love fishing with their dad. We went out this past weekend, and although uneventful (we didn't even get a bite), we enjoyed being outdoors with one another. It was quite a relaxing time.

So, if you're looking for something fun and relaxing to do with your family (especially if you have boys), try the outdoor sport of fishing.

A Favorite Outdoor Sport: Horseback Riding

2009-05-19T10:53:14-07:00

Horseback riding is one of my all-time favorite outdoor sports. I don't get to do it frequently (because I don't have my own horse), and I am far from a pro at it, but I love it tremendously.

I started enjoying the outdoor sport of horseback riding when I was a teenager in high school. A friend of mine that lived nearby had horses, and she and I would take the occassional ride through the surrounding apple orchards between our homes.

The last two times that I have enjoyed this outdoor sport have been within the last few years. My husband and I discovered a cozy little inn called the Barkeater, set in the heart of the Adirondacks, near Lake Placid. They own horses, and they are more than willing to take people on an enjoyable trail ride. We make certain to take these rides every time that we can steal away for a weekend alone.

I'll never forget my first ride in the mountains. I fell back in love with the outdoor sport of horseback riding. I call it an outdoor sport, because you are definitely going to get a workout. It takes a lot of leg strength, arm strength, and back strength to ride successfully. Balance is also involved. I remember walking the horse, and then we were able to pick up the pace a bit to a trot. What really got me enjoying the ride was breaking out into a full gallop. My horse took off, and it was like I was twelve again. I was so giddy I even giggled as the wind blew past my face from the speed of the horse. I will remember that for a long, long time!

Outdoor sports, is archery a lost art?

2009-05-12T22:31:48-07:00

For many people, when they hear the word archery they probably have images of Robin Hood, running around shooting arrows as he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. For others they think of the Green Arrow and Arsenal. Whatever the case may be, you might be surprised to learn archery is one outdoor sport that is still going strong today. This outdoor sport first appeared at the Olympics back in 1900 and though it’s out shadowed by the more popular sports, it’s still a good outdoor sport.

Archery is about poise, stamina and skill. Even though modern bows make it easier on the archer at full draw, you still use a variety of muscles in this outdoor sport. In proper form, the archer stands erect, forming a 'T'. The archer's lower trapezius muscles are used to pull the arrow to the anchor point. Some bows will be equipped with a mechanical device, called a clicker, which produces a clicking sound when the archer reaches the correct draw length.

The outdoor sport of archery may fall into the category of watching golf or bowling matches, as far as a spectator sport, but this outdoor sport is really fun to participate in. I learned archery as a teenager in camp, several years ago. They taught us the proper stance, proper way to load, aim and shoot. It’s a skill I have maintained to this day. Though I don’t participate in this outdoor sport regularly, I make it a point to stop by the archery stalls at the renaissance fair whenever I go. I know archery at the fair isn’t the same as the competition archery, but it’s still fun practice. Plus, that practice is what helped me come within an inch from winning $50 off my gym teacher senior year of high school. It was his own fault for betting us $50 that we couldn’t hit the bull’s-eye. I still remember his all around panic when he saw my target but didn’t see who had shot that arrow. He nearly had a heat attack as he asked who shot that arrow. I had been bent over reaching for my second arrow when he asked, so I didn’t know what he was talking about. It wasn’t until I straightened up and looked at the other targets, that I realized what happened.

He saw it was me and told me not to do that again. I would have done better on me second or even third arrow were it not for the boy behind me, knocking my right arm. Of course he didn’t learn his lesson. Later on that week he once again bet us money that we couldn’t hit the bulls-eye, only this time it was $10. Sadly, I didn’t win, but it was a dead on competition between myself and one of the boys. We were the two best archers in that gym class; I’m betting this outdoor sport was not new to my old classmate, as it was no doubt, to the rest of the class.

The next time you go to the renaissance fair, I encourage you to stop by the archery stalls and give this outdoor sport a try. You just never know, you may find yourself wanting to take it on regularly.

Swimming is a great outdoor sport.

2009-05-12T22:11:49-07:00

Summer is upon us, and I'm ready to hit the pool. Swimming is my favorite outdoor sport. It's great exercise as well as outdoor sport. Whether you are doing laps or playing pool games, the outdoor sport of swimming is just great fun. I like to go in the pool with my kids and play some Marco Polo, which is a fun outdoor sport. Trying to keep away from the person who is "it" can be great exercise too, I get out of breath playing the outdoor sport of Marco Polo in the pool. We also enjoy pool volleyball as an outdoor sport. It's fun to get two teams together and play pool volleyball. It's similar to outdoor volleyball but you're in the pool. Kids enjoy that outdoor sport a lot, and so do I. We even got a pool basketball net so we can play the outdoor sport pool basketball. The one we got floats, so it moves making it even harder to hit the basket. Just swimming around is good exercise and a fun outdoor sport. Outdoor sports such as these pool games are really fun and keeps everyone moving during the summer.

Skateboard Decks have Come a Long Way since I was a Kid

2009-05-12T22:04:18-07:00

If you're like me, and you grew up in the 70s and 80s, you remember when skateboards were more functional. We used them to get from point A to B, and the skateboard decks were on the boring side. I still remember my older brother's skateboard, it had a hard plastic, yellow skateboard deck. My how far they've come! I look at the skateboard decks now and they look more like surfboards. Not that I surf, or ever have surfed, but I've seen pictures of surfboards and even had a friend that bought a board. I was looking up skateboard wheels and even those look so different than the ones I remember. Today's skateboard wheels remind me of the roller blading wheels we had in the 90s.

Skateboarding as gone from a form of travel to an extreme sport. Even the hardware has changed. I don't remember what my sister-in-law called it exactly, but her teen-aged son brought his skateboard to my sister's house recently and was riding it around the backyard. We immediately noticed the sparks it was shooting off and she said he put a spark plate onto it, or something like that. I don't know if that spark plate is part of skateboard trucks or an additional piece. I just remembered thinking, that was different. It did remind me of my roller blading days though.

My son loves to collect skateboard decks.

2009-05-12T13:48:28-07:00

My sixteen year old son is really into skateboarding and has started collecting skateboard decks. He loves a lot of different brand name skateboard decks. Some of his favorites are Volcom, Hurley, Billabong, Element and Emerica. He even wears these brands for his clothing, actually they are all he wears. If it has nothing to do with skating, he doesn't wear it. According to him, you can't have too many skateboard decks. Some of them he uses every day, and some he never uses. When one gets worn out he usually replaces it with another skateboard deck that he owns. He just takes off the skateboard wheels, removes the skateboard trucks, and puts them on a different skateboard deck. And off he goes into his skateboard world on this new skateboard deck. The old skateboard decks don't have to be worn out for him to change them, his mood can change and he will change it out. Skateboard decks show the skater's style as well. They find the brand of skateboard decks they like, and a color or design that suits them. Skateboard decks are a skater's favorite thing to buy.

Ice Cream Maker Camping Cookware?

2009-05-12T13:41:29-07:00

I was idly watching Food Network last night and stopped to watch the show that was on. It was all about ice cream, in addition to talking about commercially made ice cream, they even talked about homemade ice cream. They showed this ice cream maker that is perfect for camping trips, and picnics, something you could take along and without any electricity, make your own ice cream.

When I saw this, it reminded me that it would be a great addition to camping cookware, especially families that have campers and go on road trips. It's called the Play and Freeze ice cream maker. It's a plastic ball that has a metal core in it. You put the ice cream ingredients in one end, and the ice and rock salt in the other. Watching them play with this, making ice cream, I was reminded of how cool it would be to have this new kind of camping cookware. Once you have it filled, and secured both ends, you simply shake it up. This might be the only time you could make a game out of camping cookware. Roll the ball between two people, or even play catch with it. When was the last time you did that with other camping cookware? In no time you have home made ice cream.

I haven't used this myself, but I have seen the coffee can method used and it really does work. After all, this is more of a streamlined version of those bigger, electrical units you have at home.

Cast Iron Camping Cookware

2009-05-12T13:33:30-07:00

My family loves to go camping, and when we do we always take along our cast iron camping cookware. Cast iron camping cookware, in my opinion, is the best type of camping cookware that there is.

Cast iron camping cookware heats evenly, allowing for your food to be cooked evenly throughout. This is important when you are trying to cook meats over an open fire. Your steak will not be raw on one side and well-done on the other.

Cast iron camping cookware, when properly treated, has a non-stick surface. Having cast iron camping cookware that is cured helps one when baking breads or cakes over a campfire. It is nice when they turn out evenly cooked and come out of the pan without crumbling.

Cast iron camping cookware is also very durable, and providing you care for it properly, it will last a lifetime. When you are finished cooking, be sure to immediately wash out your cast iron camping cookware. Do NOT use soap, but use hot water and a scrub brush or scrubbie. Do not use anything with chemicals, such as SOS. Rub your cast iron camping cookware gently with the brush or scrubbie under hot water. Dry thoroughly (I like to put mine back over the fire to dry, but be careful to immediately remove it, so you don't lose the curing). Spray lightly with oil spray or coat lightly with shortening again. Rub it in with a paper towel, and your camping cookware is good to go.

Maintaining your skateboard wheels and trucks.

2009-05-12T13:24:41-07:00

Skateboarders know that skateboard wheels and trucks must be maintained for the board to function properly. Skateboard wheels are the most important part of a skateboard. The skateboard wheels must be able to move and spin in order for the skater to use the board. When the skateboard wheels start to bind up, you should perform maintenance on them. Every other time you skate, you should use a household oil to lubricate the bearings. Be careful not to over-oil as that can cause dirt to be attracted to the skateboard wheels. Sometimes you must take apart the skateboard wheels and grease them. In this case, you'll need to take the wheel nut off the axle with a small wrench then unscrew the cone over the bearings and remove it. Using a rag, clean the bearings and apply a fresh coating of bicycle grease. Then lubricate the race on the sides of the wheel and put the wheel back on the axle. Put the cone back on and replace the skateboard wheels nuts. Adjust all of these so they are tight but not too tight, you want the skateboard wheels to spin well but not wobble. Greasing and oiling your skateboard wheels is an easy-to-do task that will keep your skateboard running smoothly.

Camping cookware makes camping more enjoyable.

2009-05-12T04:58:05-07:00

If you like camping or go often, you probably like to have camping cookware. When I go camping with my family, I always bring my camping cookware. That way, when we want to eat, we have the special camping cookware needed to truly enjoy a meal. Pots and pans are an essential camping cookware that I bring, because we can use them on the grill or open fire. A grill is a necessity when it comes to camping cookware, sometimes it's your only source for cooking. Another camping cookware essential is a skillet so you can fry fish if you catch some or buy them. Camping cookware can be used in your RV or cabin, or even outside on an open flame. I love to use bear resistant containers when we camp in the woods, so I can store my food without worrying about bears or other animals getting into them. Even things like hand towels, dishes, flatware and bowls are great camping cookware items. All camping cookware items really do make my camping trips more enjoyable.

Outdoor Sport Adventures

2009-05-11T16:38:25-07:00

Summer is quickly approaching, and you'll need to use your vacation time up over the next few months. Looking for adventure? Try these outdoor sports!

Bicycling is one outdoor sport that many enjoy. Want to add some adventure and go beyond your everyday ride? Try taking this outdoor sport across country! Think about the amazing views you'd have along the way! Have you ever wanted to see a particular state? Plan your route through it!

Do you love to hike? This outdoor sport is extremely good for your health, and it takes you to new heights when you plan a trip up a mountain that you've always wanted to explore.

Are you an avid fisherman? Why not take this outdoor sport to a new level and plan a fishing trip to some far-away land like Africa or Australia? While you're at it, join in the hunt! Some excursion planning companies have room for both outdoor sports on the same trip!

Whatever your level of adventure is, there is always something to do outdoors. Search outdoor sport adventures for more fun along the way!0.

Skateboarding as an outdoor sport.

2009-05-11T15:14:09-07:00

When you think of outdoor sports, you might not immediately think Skateboarding. But, skateboarding is very much an outdoor sport. Everywhere you go you'll see skaters using their boards on sidewalks, in parks and in parking lots. Skateboards are for more than just riding on though, there is actual sport in it. Skaters learn to do tricks and they compete in competitions that can earn them a lot of money. Skateboarding is not only an outdoor sport, but can be done indoors in a special skate park with half-pipes and ramps. The skater must find the perfect skateboard decks, wheels and trucks to do their tricks. Many times you see two or more skaters doing their outdoor sport of skateboarding. They compete with each other yet help each other to learn the tricks. A main trick is called an Ollie, which was named after Allan "Ollie" Gelfand in the 1970's. Once a skater learns this maneuver, they are truly a skater in the outdoor sport of skateboarding. Skating is great exercise and a wonderful outdoor sport to learn.

You'd Probably Be Surprised At The Number Of Outdoor Sports There Are

2009-05-11T10:36:22-07:00

I'm sure when the average person hears the words outdoor sport, they immediately think of one of the more common/famous ones. Either soccer, football, baseball, or volleyball, but did you know there are a slew of lesser known outdoor sports that require little to no special equipment that are also fun to play?

I spent many Sunday afternoons in my early 20s, outside, hanging out with friends, often times playing some kind of outdoor sport, or another. There were a few I'd never heard of before those days. Frisbee golf, or disc golf, is one outdoor sport I had heard about before. But it's one of those I rarely played and had forgotten about.

I've decided to give it a little attention now. Frisbee golf, or disc golf, is basically, golf with a frisbee, it's as simple as that. There are a couple ways to play. You can either go to a park that has disc golf holes, or just play in an area where you can designate targets as the holes. The rules are similar to golf, but do vary, you can find a complete set of the differences on here. Also, tournament disc golf uses a different frisbee, or disc, than a more traditional one. I've never played in a league or anything like that, just with friends once or twice. We used regular frisbees, which worked fine for us.

Frisbee, A Dying Outdoor Sport?

2009-05-11T10:33:25-07:00

I was just thinking about outdoor sports and wondering if frisbee has become a dying breed. I remember back in the 70s and 80s frisbees were huge. You couldn't go to a park or beach without seeing people tossing firsbees around. Now, I honestly can't think of the last time I saw people tossing a frisbee around. I don't even know if either of my brothers even own one anymore. It's a shame really, frisbees are inexpensive, yet they are a fun, leisurely outdoor sport item that can be so versatile.

When was the last time you tossed a disc around with someone, or even a dog? With money being so tight for so many people, you don't have to spend a lot of money on outdoor sports, just pick up a frisbees and keep it in your car. It takes up very little room and can be used to play a number of outdoor sports. Just don't play with newspaper delivery people, they do that for a living, they'll be anyone at any frisbee game or sport. ;)

There are a whole slew of summer outdoor sports that people may not think about

2009-05-11T10:31:13-07:00

Yesterday I spent the afternoon at my sister’s house, and as has become a mainstay at her gatherings, she invited her neighbors over. While the adults were hanging out inside, I looked out to the back yard from time to time to see the kids playing something I can’t think of the last time I saw, lawn darts. Watching the kids walk together from one side of the yard to the next, gave me the idea to write about this outdoor sport.

I can’t think of the last time I played this outdoor sport, but for those of you wondering if it’s safe for kids to play, rest assured, the children playing were ages 11-14 and there were no problems. Lawn darts, or jarts as it’s also called, is similar to horseshoes and darts. This outdoor sport is played either two player, or teams. The darts are weighed at the tips which help them land once they’ve been tossed underhand. The target of this outdoor sport is typically a plastic ring, and landing anywhere within the ring scores a point.

This is one of those outdoor sports that is low impact, easy to pack up and carry with and easy to play.

Childhood Memories of Camping Cookware

2009-05-11T10:28:51-07:00

I remember our old camping cookware. The main piece was a green Coleman's stove. I can see it sitting there in our camping site, just like it was yesterday. Why would camping cookware hold such a nice memory for me? That Coleman stove went on every trip with us. It was the first thing to set up and the last thing to put away. Other than the stove, our camping cookware was very simple. Plastic plates and cups were all we had. After breakfast dad would throw it all into the lake to wash it. I remember him digging the forks in the sand to clean them off; I always laughed when he did that. Don't worry; mom would always wash them with soap later. I didn't like coffee then, but I remember the blue coffee pot sitting on that stove; I bet the coffee wasn't very good. Dad looked at camping cookware a few times thinking he might replace that old stove but he never did. I'm glad because that green stove holds a lot of memories for me. It's funny that something as simple as that makes me smile.

Outdoor Sport, Whatever Happened to a Good Old Fashioned Water Fight?

2009-05-11T10:21:05-07:00

OK, so maybe a water fight technically isn't an outdoor sport, but that's probably because no one's ever taken it to the extreme. Last night I ran across a guy on facebook that I haven't seen since second grade, I think. We spent about an hour chatting about the old neighborhood and some of the teachers. After I shut down my laptop and crawled into bed I remembered something, the last water fight I had been in. I was a teenager and remember my older brother and a friend of his pulling me into a water fight. Of course we didn't do things lightly, we went extreme with it. I managed to get the super soaker from him and in an part of my strategy was to run around the houses, through the alley and get him from both sides.

Or so that was the plan. At one point he took it to the next level, no he didn't use a hose, but he did fill a bucket with water and it was a full on war at that point. Now that was a good water fight. And something that easily could have been something added to the X Games. Why not? We ran around, like most outdoor sports, we were out to "win the war" by drowning our opponent until they caved. Trying to beat your opponent has been the heart of outdoor sports, any sports for that matter, since their inception. So why not add a good old fashioned water fight to the list? I'm sure there are others that would join me in wanting to make water fights an official outdoor sport, maybe even see it at the X games. Hey, if the Olympics have ping-pong and curling, why can't we get water fights added to the games? It's as much an outdoor sport, as any other, more traditional outdoor sport.

And why must water fights be limited to children and teenagers? What is wrong with a bunch of adults running around on a hot, summer day, having mindless fun while getting soaked? I say it's high time for the adults to have some fun!