Invariably, the name “Shaun White” rings with public adoration and iconic stature in the world of snowboarding; not to mention his gracious accomplishment in winning the gold medal in the men’s halfpipe competition at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.  The high-flying American defended his halfpipe title with a jaw-dropping sequence of flips and somersaults when he punctuated his night with his signature trick, the “Double McTwist 1260.”

But amidst all the glory and flashing cameras in the news conference following his winning run, Shaun White passionately impressed his desire to meet President Obama.  “I don’t think we’ve had the honor to meet the President of the United States,” White said.

Shaun White On Oprah Winfrey

Shaun White subsequently appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show on February 19, 2010 and reaffirmed his passionate desire to meet with President Obama. “It seems like you win the gold for the U.S., you should meet the president,” he says. “That would be cool.”

But despite his numerous public acclimation’s to the President, there has yet to be any word as to whether President Obama has an interest in honoring this young Olympic hero’s request.

Mr. Obama, Shaun White Will See You Now!

Granted, both the President Obama and Shaun White have very busy schedules, but one would certainly think that under the circumstances a personal visit could be reasonably easy to schedule?   And as for his request to sit down for a formal dinner, well, why not? Now of course the issue of security falls into play, but I believe that Shaun White certainly poses no security risk to anyone, let alone the President of the United States…  But Shaun White certainly has raised a very relevant issue in his statement to Oprah, “It seems like you win the gold for the U.S., you should meet the president.”

It only begs the question as to why there currently isn’t a  White House/Presidential policy in place to honor our U.S Olympic athletes?  We know that it cannot be for the reason that they don’t deserve a Presidential visit or tour of the White House followed by a one-on-one meeting, right?

Nevertheless, I believe that Shaun White earned his visit with President Obama and that necessary steps need to be taken to honor this simple, yet complicating endeavor.

Get Shaun His Presidential Dinner!

I would sincerely appreciate everyone’s support in this cause, so please get the word out by sharing this post and forwarding it to all your friends.  Let’s get Shaun his Presidential Dinner!

Get your 2010 Olympic Hoody!

Nike 2010 Winter Olympics Team USA White Basic 5 Rings Hoody Sweatshirt

Snowboarding has its own language, its own dress code, its own swagger and attitude…  Boarders, shredders, whatever you want to call them, they have a tendency to invent their own tricks and the names to go with them.  At the men’s half-pipe competition at the Vancouver Winter Olympic games, Shaun White nailed one of his signature moves, the Double McTwist 1260.

What is the Double McTwist 1260?

The Double McTwist 1260 consists of:

• two board-over-head flips
• within 3 1/2 turns.

So reading just what this trick consists of, one has to wonder just how anyone could ever come up with such a stunt?  On a secluded half pipe in the Colorado Rockies that cost a reported $500,000 to build, Shaun White created the move himself .  Sponsor Red Bull and Oakley are said to have foot the bill for the special project.

Shaun White Crash

The slopes of Buttermilk Mountain were not very forgiving to this years competitors of the 2010 Winter X Games.
In this stunning and graphic video you will see Shaun White’s face meet the ice in a practice run while attempting a double Mctwist 1260 in the superpipe.

View The Video HERE

But despite this skull-jarring mishap, Shaun White received what a Winter X Games doctor called a thorough medical evaluation before he was cleared to head back down the superpipe; not only to complete his practice runs, but to ultimately capture his third X Games Title!  Until Shaun stomped his final run in the Men’s SuperPipe, nobody had ever won back-to-back-to-back golds!
Showing no signs of concussion, White was cleared to compete, and he went out and did the Double McTwist 1260 to win his third straight championship in the biggest halfpipe event this side of the Olympics — with the torch lighting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, just two weeks away…
It only leaves us guessing:

What will Shaun White bring to the Olympics?

OTHER MISHAPS:

On Thursday, the X Games medical staff did shut things down for Aussie snowboarder Torah Bright after she suffered her second concussion in three days. Bright is also expected to be a medal contender in Vancouver.
Bright is hardly alone. The tight-knit snowboard community has been rocked by injuries during the march to next month’s Games.  Up until Thursday morning’s qualifying round in Aspen, Bright was the only woman practicing the famed “double cork.” The new move, a dizzying blend of off-axis flips and spins, is the buzz of the snowboarding world leading into the Olympics.
While Bright’s concussion Thursday was not the result of a failed double cork, she has taken a few licks trying them. And whether or not she’ll have the nerve to keep it into her Olympic routine is, at least for now, in doubt.

In addition to the 2010 Winter X Games beginning on the 28th in Aspen, Boulder Colorado is the hot spot to be on January 27th, 2010!

You might want to be at the Volcom Store at 5pm for a chance in the contest to win this Volcom Snowboard:

If you are the first fan at the 2nd Annual BLIZZARD BIZARRE Tour to successfully snap a picture with Gigi Ruf on their phone and Twitter the photo to Volcom (@Volcom), will win the custom Volcom Snowboard!  You must make sure that you are following Volcom on Twitter and you include @Volcom in your tweet.

The event is free and people of all ages are invited to have their shot at this quick-finger contest.

The address is:

Volcom Store

1223 Pearl Street

Boulder, Colorado 80302

GOOD LUCK!

When I try a new snowboard I will ultimately find myself adjusting the snowboard stance. There really is no right or wrong snowboard stance because it really depends upon what settings work the best for each individual.  Just as no one person is created alike, the same principles apply to stance settings on a snowboard.  More importantly, the settings that may feel and work the best for me may not feel and work the best for you. Remember that despite the fact that a specific setting may feel most comfortable to you, by simply adjusting the stance setback, width, and/or angle you can ultimately open new doors to various snowboarding tricks and improve your overall snowboarding experience.   As such, that is why it is important to understand how to adjust your snowboard stance.

This article will demonstrate how you can determine the best snowboard stance settings for your particular boarding style.   By simply adjusting the setback, width, and angle of your snowboard stance you will be able to adapt and ride many various styles and in different snowboarding conditions.

Snowboard Stance Components

Essentially there are three components to your snowboard stance, and any adjustments should be made in the following order:

• Stance Setback

• Stance Width

• Stance Angle

Snowboard Stance Setback

The stance setback is the distance between the center of the two snowboard bindings in relation to the center of the snowboard.  For example, a Zero stance setback means the center of your bindings align with the center of your snowboard.

Generally most snowboards come with metal or composite inserts that have several holes and are used for mounting your bindings onto the snowboard. This usually means that they are not centered in the middle of the snowboard, but set a little towards the tail of the snowboard.  Therefore, even if you put your bindings in the center holes they will still be offset towards the snowboard’s tail.  No matter what boarding style you prefer you’ll always need some setback, and since there’s setback designed into the board, in most cases you simply mount the bindings in the center holes and you can be on your way down the slopes.  So what if you feel you need to change them, and when is it essential to have more or less stance setback?

Essentially, the more stance setback there is, the more a snowboarder’s weight shifts toward the back of the snowboard.  The longer nose provides better stability at higher speeds in addition to more control in powder.  For example, a “Free Ride” snowboard will usually have stance setback, while a “Free Style” snowboard will not.  In no case should you have a stance setback such that your bindings are closer to the nose than to the tail.

Some of the general stance setback options are:

1. “0” stance setback or centered stance – your snowboard turns much easier and you will have more board control.
2. “1 inch” (2.5 cm) stance setback – your snowboard will have a shorter tail; allowing more aggressive turns, higher Ollies, and better float in the powder.
3. “2 inch” (5 cm) stance setback – your snowboard will have an even shorter tail; allowing for deep powder riding but limiting your turning and overall board control.

Snowboard Stance Width

The stance width is the distance between the two bindings. Because the stance width affects your ease of turning and board control, riding too narrow or to wide will just make you uncomfortable and you’ll likely feel pain in the side of your legs when it is not set properly.  Although stance width is usually determined by your height, generally it should be set approximately “1 inch” (2.5 cm) wider than your shoulders.

To initially set your stance width, leave the bindings off of your board and center yourself on the board.  Put your feet where they feel the most comfortable and squat and stand up; just as you would if you were turning down the mountain.  This will give you a good idea of what is a good width (and angle) for you.

Stance Parameters:

• “Wider stance” – more stability, harder turn transitions, better for freestyle riding.

• “Narrow stance” – less stability, easier turn transitions, better for free riding.

Snowboard Stance Angle

Stance angle is the angle at which the binding is mounted on to the snowboard.  However, before you can establish the proper angle you must first determine whether your snowboarding stance is “Regular” or “Goofy”?
Snowboarding stance is determined by the leg that you have forward on the snowboard. “Regular” stance is when your left foot is forward on the board, while “Goofy” stance is when your right foot is forward. One method that probably works best to make an accurate determination of your snowboarding stance is to simply run across a smooth floor with socks on; sliding across the floor then trying to stop yourself.  The foot that naturally creeps its way in front will be the foot that you will want to place at the tip of your snowboard.  Having the correct foot forward is very important and should not be determined by what others say or recommend.  Once you have made this determination you are ready to determine your proper stance angles.

Stance Angle Options:
There are three general stance angles to which you can base your stance angle adjustments:

• Alpine stance

• Forward stance

• Duck stance

Alpine stance is a setup used for race/carve snowboards, that are so narrow that small angles will cause overhang. Large angles combined with hard boots allow you to carve aggressively. For better control in short turns, there should be some angle difference between the two bindings.

Forward stance is the stance used by most of the free ride snowboarders. Both snowboard bindings have positive stance angles but they are much smaller than with alpine stance. Since these snowboards are much wider than alpine boards, overhang isn’t an issue.

Duck stance is a stance where the front binding angle is positive and the back binding angle is negative, thus each foot faces a different direction – kind of like duck feet. Duck stance gives you more stability as your body is aligned with the snowboard and is useful for park and freestyle riding. With duck stance, the front angle is anywhere between 30° and 0° degrees while the rear angle is negative, between -1° and -20°. Keep the angles apart by at least 8-10 degrees. Personally, I use this and my stance angles are +12° and -12°.

Stance Angle Adjustment Variations:

• Zero Stance Angle: When the snowboard binding is completely perpendicular to the snowboard.

• Positive Stance Angle: When the front of the binding (your toes) is angled towards the nose of the snowboard.

• Negative Stance Angle: When the front of the binding (your toes) is angled towards the tail of the snowboard.

Snowboard bindings usually have different stance angles. The angles are normally written like +15°/+6°, meaning the front binding is set at 15 degrees (positive stance angle) and the back binding is set at 6 degrees (positive stance angle).
One important rule to keep in mind is that the rear binding angle should never be larger than the front binding angle as this will put strain on your knees!

The Winter X Games, the premier action sports event in the world, will be held January 28 through January 31, 2010 in Aspen, Colorado, USA.  More than 200 of the best action extreme sports athletes, including past Olympians, will compete in Skiing, Snowboarding and Snowmobiling.

In the snowboard venue names like Chas Guldemond, Scotty Lago, and Travis Rice will represent the USA in the Snowboard Big Air category.  In the Slopestyle category you’ll see Danny Davis, Chas Guldemond, Scotty Lago, and Travis Rice.  And in Snowboard Superpipe category Mason Aguirre, Danny Davis, Danny Kass, Scotty Lago, Luke Mitrani, Kevin Pearce, Elijah Teter, Louie Vito, and Shaun White will be shredding the near-vertical halfpipe walls — showing off their stuff as they represent the USA with wild styles and tricks!

The 2010 Winter X Games 14 will be covered live on ESPN’s family of networks, including ABC, as well as across ESPN’s many digital media assets.  Last Seasons Winter X Games were ESPN’s highest-rated and most-viewed Winter X Games in history! The eight telecasts averaged 942,000 homes, up nine percent from 2008.

World snowboard competitions will never be the same after this years event competitions.  The best of the best snowboard professionals will be lining up and shredding the slopes in their quest for the gold.  Last year it was Shaun White — who will it be this year?

We are excited to announce that its only moments away and 2010 will be upon us; and with it comes great savings of up to 40% on the New Years Snowboard Sale!  Enjoy free gifts with snowboard purchases, which include sunglasses, headphones, goggles and MP3 players!

That’s right!  There’s no better way to start the new year off than with great savings on the latest snowboard gear, including hot brand names like Burton, Morrow, Rossignol, and K2.

Here at the Affordable Sports Equipment Store we strive to offer the best deals on all sporting goods gear, and with the winter snowboarding season upon us there’s no better time to consider a new board; especially considering the great savings during the new years sale.  All through January you can enjoy great savings, but don’t wait too long or before you know it they will have passed you by.

Please enjoy your new year and we look forward to providing you with quality, brand name snowboard gear at the most affordable prices!

The Packers-Bears rivalry began in 1921 and has grown to be the league’s longest rivalry with 178 regular season and post season matches.

The Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears have won a combined 21 NFL Championships (including 4 Super Bowls) and have 48 members in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In week 1 of the 2009 NFL season, the Packers defeated the Bears at Lambeau Field 21-15.  With its win in the season opener, Green Bay narrowed Chicago’s lead in the series to a 81-90-6 advantage.

For the Packers, the late-season trip to Chicago is getting to be routine. Sunday marks the sixth consecutive year the Packers will play in Chicago in December or later.  And though they’ve lost two consecutive games at Soldier Field, both in frigid conditions, the Packers have still won 12 of the last 16 meetings in the Windy City.

Sunday marks the final 2009 division game for the Packers; reeling off four consecutive victories, while Chicago has dropped six of its last eight games.  The roles are nearly reversed from last December’s match-up, when Green Bay entered the game with slim playoff chances and hoped to knock its rival a step back in the playoff picture.

At 8-4, Green Bay and Philadelphia currently hold the top positions for Wild Card berths, while the Dallas Cowboys (8-4) and New York Giants (7-5) both could be in that position as the NFC East picture clears up. Dallas will step out of the division to take on the San Diego Chargers, while the Eagles and Giants meet on Sunday night in New York.

Aaron Rodgers

As a projected first-round draft pick in 2005, quarterback Aaron Rodgers felt that his ability to scramble, get out of the pocket, and pick up yardage running if needed was an overlooked part of his game — which nobody is overlooking anymore…

Rodgers not only leads all NFL quarterbacks in 2009 with 277 rushing yards, but he showed last Monday night against Baltimore just how dangerous he can be when given room to run.  Rodgers’ 30 total rushing yards against the Ravens gave him four games this season with 30 or more, including a career-high 52 against Minnesota on Nov. 1. He has proven adept at running out of trouble as well as running the quarterback sneak, scoring a pivotal touchdown on a sneak against Dallas in Week 10 and gaining 5 yards on a third-and-1 sneak last Monday when he spun into an opening on the right side.

Just what week 14 holds in store for the Packers vs. Bears Rivalry may or may not be predictable, but I’m going with the Green Bay Packers!

GO PACK!

In the world of sports it can’t always be about winning.  It’s about team work, giving your best, and having fun.  Losing in any game certainly should never be a reason to feel ashamed or disappointed, and the Lewis Flyers  have every reason in the world of soccer to proudly hold their heads high — even in defeat.

Coming off of their unbeaten streak of 11 wins they certainly were no pushover.  It was a scoreless battle for the first 78 minutes of the game before both teams exploded for four goals before regulation time expired; leaving matters to be resolved in overtime.  Again, however, Lewis held off Lees-McRae to advance to a second overtime.  And when the second overtime did not prove to resolve matters, the game advanced to a sudden death overtime shootout, where ultimately Lees-McRae defeated the Flyers, 5-3, in penalty kicks to advance to the NCAA Championship.

Overall the Lewis Flyers had an excellent season at 16-3-3, and everyone should look forward to another explosive season in 2010.

CONGRATULATIONS Lewis for a job well done!

The Lewis men’s soccer team defeated the 14th-ranked University of Charleston in the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals on Saturday with a 4-1 victory!

Celebrating The Win

Although Charleston  jumped out on top early in the contest, Lewis knotted the score at 1-1 later in the half when Jose Ibarra scored the game-tying goal in the 29th minute on an assist by Kipp Cartwright.  The Flyers received the game-winning goal from senior Nestor Hernandez in the 72nd minute, and Cartwright added an insurance goal for the Flyers in the 80th minute.

With the win, Lewis improves their unbeaten streak to 11-games and their record to 16-3-2.  The Flyers will face  Lees-McRae in the NCAA Semifinal match-up on Thursday, December 3rd in Tampa at Pepin Stadium, the site of the Final Four.

The Lewis University men’s soccer team seeks its first “Final Four” bid in 9 years!

The No. 20 Lewis Flyers will be hosting No. 14 University of Charleston (W. Va.) for an NCAA Division II Quarterfinal match-up at 12 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 21) afternoon after coming off an exciting 1-0 upset of No. 2 ranked Drury on the road in the Super Region 4 Finals on November 15th.

Junior Mardoche Beya scored the game-winning goal in the 2nd half on Sunday.

Lewis’ head men’s soccer coach, Evan Fiffles, knew it would take a perfect game for his Flyers to beat Drury, and by all accounts Fiffles received that and more as Lewis claimed the 1-0 win.

“We needed a great performance on the road to beat a team like that,” Fiffles said. “We put a game plan together and everyone had to execute it and we did that today. [Drury] is a great team and that doesn’t take anything away from their season… We just happened to pop one in at the right time,” Fiffles concluded.

A Catholic university sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis offers nearly 80 undergraduate majors and programs of study, accelerated degree completion options for working adults, various aviation programs and 22 graduate programs in nine fields. The 10th largest private, not-for-profit university in Illinois is being honored for the sixth consecutive year by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report.

With Christmas just around the corner you’re probably getting into the shopping mode and considering your options for gift giving this holiday season.  Perhaps your son, daughter, siblings, or grandchildren are active in the sport of snowboarding and need  snowboard gear.  Fortunately the Affordable Sports Equipment Store has many snowboarding apparel options available for your holiday gifting needs.

The snowboard was originally designed in 1965 by Sherman Poppen of Muskegon, Michigan.  Designing the devise for his children, Poppen’s snowboard was a skateboard without wheels, steered by a hand-held rope, and with no bindings.  However, with years of improvement and the help of pioneers such as Dimitrijie Milovich, Jake Burton, and Tom Sims, snowboarding is now a sport that continues to provide excitement and fun to everyone.  Inspired by surfing and skateboarding, the sport of snowboarding was developed in the United States in the 1960’s and 1970’s and became a Winter Olympic Sport in 1998.

But like any other sport, snowboarding has risks and dangers, and having the proper snowboarding gear and safety equipment is essential.  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that in 1997, 37,600 snowboarding injuries were treated in the United States.  Approximately 17,500 of those incidents were head injuries.  A study by the CPSC estimates that each year eleven snowboarding related deaths, and 7,700 head injuries, including 2,600 head injuries to children could have been prevented if helmets had been worn.  This is why the decision to invest in snowboarding gear is in the best interest of all who acquire a passion for the sport.

Our wishes at the affordable sports equipment store are for everyone to have a happy and safe snowboarding and holiday season in 2009!

Lambeau Field, November 01, 2009:

Perhaps the die-hard Brett Favre fans expected all Packers fans to share their same sentiment in cheering for their favorite quarterback as he stepped out onto Lambeau field for Sunday’s game?   But that was not the case as Boos from Packers fans widely outnumbered the cheers for the former quarterback…

Wisconsinites’ bond with the Green Bay Packers is unprecedented in the world of professional football, and Favre was once beloved by practically the entire state when he sported the green and gold.  After all, he earned credit for bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to Title-town after the team wallowed through two decades of mediocrity; not to mention ferociously battling many demons while simultaneously serving his team.  And even though that is a part of history now, the player inside Brett Favre is no different than that when he was a dedicated Green Bay Packer player.

Other than a change in uniform and teammates, Favre’s passion for the game is still driven by that vein of sportsmanship and drive which still runs deep through his heart.  This was clearly displayed, not only in his triumphant return to Lambeau Field as he took the Vikings to their 38 to 26 victory over the Packers, but in his post game statement to the press:

“I want to lead this Vikings team to a Super Bowl, believe me, I do. And I will do everything in my power.”

The rest of it was typical Brett Favre.  Just like in the first game against his old team last month at the Metrodome, Favre was barely touched.  When he needed time to look down-field, his protection was nearly perfect.  When he took short drops, he fired the ball out quickly.  The Packers failed to sack him again.

And despite all the emotions and feelings that filled the air at Lambeau Field, in the end Brett Favre offered respect for the game…

BUY THIS MEMORIAL PLAQUE

Today is a day of reckoning for Brett Favre…
What will his reception be at Lambeau Field when disgruntled fans get to spew their thoughts and feelings of his status of being a Minnesota Vikings player — the rivalry team of the Green Bay Packers?
What will the continuing saga of The Packers vs Vikings Rivalry turn out to be when ole’ Favre hits the turf?

I’m sure that for some Brett Favre fans the welcome will be warm, while others who feel betrayed of his choice to retire from the Packers — only to ultimately join an adversarial team will echo through Wisconsin with a resounding BOO!  What a striking irony the day after Halloween…

I simply cannot wait to see the outcome of this controversial game at the Home of the Cheeseheads!  As such, I’m only left with one thing to say:

GO PACKERS!

When it comes to sports rivalry in Wisconsin, there is probably none greater in intensity than a football game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings — especially when its at Lambeau Field!  And what exacerbates this Packers vs. Viking rivalry is the fact that Brett Favre will be treading the turf of Lambeau Field as an adversary, rather than the icon that packers fans used to coo…  It’s the highly hyped rematch at Lambeau Field, where betrayed fans will be waiting with what could be a cold welcome as the Packers eagerly prepare to avenge their recent defeat at the Metrodome on October 5th.  This may be a unique experience for Favre, but he is likely more concerned about the NFC North race between the Vikings (6-1) and Packers (4-2).

Meanwhile, Wisconsinite’s are preparing for this weekends game in a number of ways akin to atypical former Packers seasons, and video streams such as the following are pouring into media pool.

Needless to say, the Packers’ fan base is famously dedicated; regardless of the team’s performance. And despite having by far the smallest local TV market, the Packers have developed one of the largest fan bases in the NFL. Each year the Packers consistently rank as one of the top teams in terms of popularity. The Packers have one of the longest waiting lists for season tickets, with about 74,000 people as of May 3, 2007.   In 2008 the list grew by more than 4,000 names;  making the waiting list number larger than there are seats at Lambeau Field.  It should be no surprise that with such a dedicated fan base ESPN.com ranked the Packers as having the second-best fans in the NFL in August 2008?

GO PACKERS!

Skateboarding was first started in the 1950’s, when all across California surfers got the idea of  surfing the streets.  No one is absolutely certain as to who made the first board…  Instead, it seems that several people came up with similar ideas at the same time and things have progressed on from there.

These first skateboarders started with wooden boxes or boards with roller skate wheels attached to the bottom.  With this undeveloped application many people were hurt in skateboarding’s early years! It was a sport just being born and discovered, so anything went. Eventually the boxes turned into planks, and soon companies were producing decks of pressed layers of wood — similar to the skateboard decks of today.

In 1963 skateboarding was at a peak of popularity, and companies like Jack’s, Hobie and Makaha started holding skateboarding competitions.

Skateboarding’s popularity crashed in 1965.  Most people assumed that skateboarding was a fad that had died out.  Skateboard companies folded, and people who wanted to skate had to resort to making their own skateboards again.

Things took a turn in the spring of 1975 when skateboarding took an evolutionary boost toward the sport just as we see today.  In Del Mar, California, a slalom and freestyle contest was held at the Ocean Festival.  That day, the Zephyr team showed the world what skateboarding could be. They rode skateboards like no one had in the public eye, low and smooth, and skateboarding was taken from being a hobby to something serious and very exciting.

Then in 1978, only a few years into the renewed popularity of  skateboarding, a skater named Alan Gelfand (nicknamed “Ollie”) invented a maneuver that gave skateboarding a huge revolutionary leap!  He would slam his back foot down on the tail of his board and jump, thereby popping himself and the board into the air.  Thus, the “Ollie” was spawned; becoming a trick that completely revolutionized the sport of skateboarding.

Today this unique trick still bears his name, and in 2002 Alan Gelfand was inducted into the skateboard hall of fame.

Since then the attention in the media, and products like skateboarding video games, children’s skateboards, and commercialization have all vaulted skateboarding into the mainstream of today’s society. Moreover, with more money being put into skateboarding, there are more quality skate parks in communities, better skateboards, and a host of skateboarding companies to keep innovating and inventing new things.