Introducing SportsDirect.com’s Fitness and Exercise Equipment

January is known as the get fit month after many people have over indulged during Christmas and have the mentality of ‘a new year, a new me’. Therefore many people opt to join the gym with most not withstanding more than the three months trial.

In recent years, Which.co.uk has  reported that on average the British public waste £37m on gym membership, with the average gym costing £442 a year. However, there are plenty of ways to keep fit and work out at home for less. Often,  this tends to be much more convenient and motivational too, because people don’t have to leave the house and can exercise at any time of the day.

SportsDirect.com have an entire range of fitness and exercise equipment to suit people who want to lose weight, gain muscle and tone. Their cardio range includes exercise bikes, cross-trainers, treadmills and rowers starting from just £74.99 and are perfect for users who want to burn calories and lose weight.

For people who want to tone and improve core fitness then their range of pilates and yoga equipment including mats, swiss balls and multi-gyms that will increase toning in the abs as well as increase stability. These types of exercises are perfect in conjunction with cardio fitness to give an all round workout.

They also have a range of strength training equipment that can be used to tone and promote muscle gain in the legs, arms and chest. Starting from just £2.99 the range includes hand weights, dumbbells, kettle bells and  medicine balls all at various weights to suit the individual.

Visit SportsDirect.com for their full range of exercise equipment. Keep up to date with their competitions and news at www.facebook.com/sportsdirectuk and www.twitter.com/sportsdirectuk

SportsDirect.com Take a Look at the Boxing Day Sale

Boxing Day always promises big sales across a range of retail stores with sports equipment, electrical items and clothing all receiving the big red, or blue, slash marking heavy discounts, and resulting in a lot of eager shoppers attempting to make great savings.

SportsDirect.com, along with many other online retailers and stores, have already started their main Christmas sale and will simply add to it come Boxing Day. People do usually wait until Boxing Day itself,  after they have received their Christmas money, to start gazing at the deals and savings they could make, however in the coming years many British consumers have started looking for bargains much earlier.

This year it is estimated that many consumers will begin to scour through the internet looking for deals  on Christmas Eve, with some looking on Christmas Day. Experian have said that UK consumers spend 45million hours shopping online across Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, with expectations that visit to retail websites on Boxing Day will reach 118million.  Some stores are set to open from as early as six in the morning  the day after Christmas Day and will offer deals of up to 75% off.

SportsDirect.com are no exception and have some great savings lined up across a whole range of their products. Organised by gender, then size it is set out just as the sale rails would be in store, making it easy for consumers to see what’s on offer and available for them. There are a wide range of products on sale, from clothing and footwear to accessories and sports equipment with deals of up to 80% off, including brands such as Helly Hansen, Craghoppers, Nike and Firetrap.

Visit sportsdirect.com for their full range this Boxing Day. Keep up to date with their latest competitions and offers on Facebook and Twitter too.

Boxing Legends

Just like every sport there have been athletes in the past that have paved the way for change and standards within the sport, they have set standards in terms of skill that future athletes would inspire to. The same thing applies with boxing, there have been boxers that have changed the way you look at the sport and have influenced you to try it.
But before the athletes in boxing are revealed, you may be interested in a little bit if history. Boxing has been around for thousands of years, it started from two people fist fighting each other.  The Ancient Greeks believed that fighting was a sport played by the Gods on Olympus. The Romans also employed the sport, but they usually fought until death in order to satisfy the spectators. A circle was marked on the floor whether two opponents would fight, this is where the name boxing ring comes from.
There are boxing greats that have helped shape the way boxing is today, they brought skill, speed and power to the sport. These legends have inspired current boxers to continue to push themselves in achieving their best while still maintaining the skill, excitement and power within the sport. The all time best boxers have earned their reputation to be called the best in their own unique way. Some of these best boxers are Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Willie Pep and Henry Armstrong

Sugar Ray Robinson
Sugar Ray Robinson began his career as an amateur boxer which he held an impressive record 89 wins 69 knockouts. At the age of 19 in 1940, he turned professional and won the world welterweight title which he defended four times. He also became the middleweight champion and defended his title twice. He retired twice, first was in 1952 but with financial difficulties he returned back to the ring. In 1955 he regained his old middleweight title  after winning against Gene Fullmer and Carmen Basillo but then lost it again in 1960 to Paul Pender. He finally hung up his boxing gloves for the last time in 1965 with a record of 175 wins, 19 losses and 6 draws with 109 knockout. He is among the greats of boxing, the Ring magazine named him as best of all time pound for pound, he will always be remembered for the music he made in the ring. He got his name “Sugar” from his manager’s description of his style as “Sweet as Sugar”.

Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali’s career in boxing started at the age of 12 in 1954 when he discovered his talent in the sport through training at a local gym. He began to work on his boxing with his trainer Joe Martin which led to him winning the National Golden Gloves tournament in 1959. A Year later he became the Olympic gold medallist in Rome.  He then turned professional were he enforced his dormancy in the sport during the 1960s by not losing a single bout. In 1964 he became the world heavyweight champion after winning against the British heavyweight champion Henry Cooper and Sonny Liston. He became the first boxer to win the world heavy weight title three times. For 3 years he got banned from competing when his licence to fight was denied because he refused an induction into the armed forces during the Vietnam war. After the ban he lost to Joe Frazier, a fight that was called the fight of the century in 1971 and his first professional lose. Four years later they met again for a 15 round bout which resulted in Ali winning after Frazier’s eyes were swollen shut. Can you imagine two amazing boxers coming face to face wanting to each prove they are the best than the other. Frazier would have kept going if it wasn’t for his trainer who refused to allow him to answer the bail for the 15th and final round.  After 1976 his performance began to decline, he didn’t win as many fights and his health was taking a toe. His last ever fight was against Trevor Berbick in 1981 which he lost, then he completely retired from the sport with a record of 56wins 5 losses with 37 knockouts. He was always full of praise for himself before a fight, describing his fighting skills in the ring as “float like a butterfly, stings like a bee”. He reinvented the way heavy weight were supposed to fight developing speed and athleticism that was previously unheard of.

Henry Armstrong
 Henry Armstrong had his first amateur bout in 1929 and went on to win a few more amateur tournaments before turning professional.  He lost his first two professional bouts before beginning to constantly win every bout. He was known  for his rapid combination of movements and knockout punches which earned him the nickname Hurricane Henry. In order to gain popularity Armstrong set a target of wining world titles in three different weight division, something that no boxers had ever achieved at the time. He succeed in reaching this goal by becoming the featherweight in 1937, lightweight and welterweight champion in 1938. Back then there were only 8 weight divisions, so Armstrong’s achievement was a very big achievement. He tried to add a forth title against Ceferina Garcia for the middleweight title but lost. Armstrong retired at the age of 32 with a professional record of 151 wins, 21 loses and 9 draws with 101 knockouts. Throughout his career he faced 17 world champions and defeated 15 of them.

Joe Louis
Joe Louis nicknamed as “Brown Bomber” started his professional career in 1934 after wining the golden gloves as a light heavyweight. Louis became the world heavyweight champion after knocking out James Braddock, he held this title for more than 11 years and defended the title 25 times. An impressive record. In 1949 he retired still the undefeated heavyweight champion, but he returned back to the ring a year later to try and win his title back against Ezzard Charles which he lost. His last fight in the ring was in 1951 against Rocky Marciano where he was knocked out in the 8th round. Rocky had mixed feelings about winning the bout since Louis was his hero. Joe Louis fully retired with a record of 68 wins, 3 loses with 57 knockouts. He still remains a powerful part of boxing, he holds the record for the most defences for his title and knocked out 5 world champions.

Willie Pep
Willie Pep is known as on of the greatest featherweight of all time. He learned to fight when he was protecting his shoe-shine patch. He turned into a professional boxer at the age of 18, he won 63 of his professional fights and became the youngest world champion at the age of 20 in 1942. After this win, he went on to win a further 72 more wins before a loss. He fought in the army during the second world war until he was discharged. He went on to win a further 43 fights in three years. He retired for good in 1966 with a record of 229 wins, 11 losses and 1 draw with 65 knockouts. Pep will always be remembered for his dancing, floating style and speed that he brought to the ring.
I hope you are inspired about the stories behind some of boxing’s great, they worked hard to become world champions through training with the right boxing equipment and trainers who would be able to get them the a world class level. But the most important element of been a great is believing in yourself, these champions believed they were the greatest Muhammad Ali once said “ I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was”. Only you can make yourself a champion!

This article is about some of boxing’s greatest boxers that have inspired current and future generation into boxing. This article is interesting because it is always good to look back at where boxing has come from as a sport.

A player within

On 19th July 2013 I came across the Hockey Nation section at the Go Local event.  It was fascinating to see young children get involved with short games of hockey from 1pm till 7pm. There was a fun game as well to allow the player to score maximum points ranging from 5 to 20 competition called ‘beat the goalkeeper’.  The event was capitalising on the role of the Games Maker last year and encouraging people to volunteer within sport.
Hockey Nation gained positive exposure within the event as many children picked up a stick and had a go at a hockey game where basic rules were given.  The event gave the children a chance to experience hockey for them themselves as a player.  Being part of hockey does have health benefits  as it keeps you physically active and can improve your fitness levels.
There are positive skills and personality traits that can be gained when playing hockey as it is a team orientated game.  You can build positive team building skills, loyalty for your team or club, passion for the interest in hockey, leadership skills if you are captain for your team.
Hockey Nation’s involvement may not have been able to capture the child’s like of hockey instantly despite the exposure but it poses question for their parents to ask their child later do you want to play hockey within club level.  It would be fair to say that Hockey Nation capitalised on the opportunity to inspire the young generation to get involved and play hockey whether it was for fun or leisure.  The children who got involved with the game may get involved in the future and appear at a hockey club near you wanting to be part of your team.

Progression of women’s boxing

 I am sure you will all agree that the 2012 London Olympics was an amazing event that showcased a variety of talented athletes including  British boxers like Natasha Jonas and Nicola Adams. But did you know it was the first time that women’s boxing made its debut at an Olympic event since the games began? Yes, it took that long for women boxers to be to be accepted by the Olympic committee.
Boxing is a very popular  sport which has been primary dominated by men, however this  is slowly beginning to change as more women are introduced to the sport with 40% of gyms offering boxing classes for women. Female boxing has come a long way from centuries ago when the sport used to be seen as a man’s sport and in some areas its still is. Boxing used to carry a cultural stereotype that it was a testosterone sport that only men fought, trained and cheered while women were not supposed to.
In the 1720s London staged the first women fights, where they punched, used their feet and knees to kick all parts of their opponents body. This led  to serious injuries for the fighters.  But an increasing amount of restrictions were being placed against female boxers which led to various women boxers protesting and lawsuits filed against boxing associations. This included Marian “Lady Tiger” Trimar who staged a month long hunger strike backing for better recognition, pay and conditions of women boxing in 1987.
It wasn’t until 1993 when Boxing  in the USA fully recognized and accepted female boxers in their regulations. In 1996 the UK followed suit when the Amateur Boxing Association of England lifted its 116 year ban. Some of the greatest female boxers that have helped increase the profile of female boxing are Regina Halmich, Lucia Rijker, Ann Wolfe, Laila Ali and Giselle Salandy.
In 2009 the International Olympic committee finally voted to lift the ban on women’s boxing since the Olympic Games started 2,700 years ago. There are certain rules that women have to follow before a fight tournament, women are not allowed to wear cosmetic make up during a fight, a negative pregnancy test has to be provided before a fight and hair should be tired up. Also, they have to wear the right boxing shorts and tops. Women’s fights are limited to a maximum of 10 rounds with each fight only lasting 3 minutes long with one minute rest. The weight classes are still the same for men and women.
So the next time you are heading for a boxing workout class or even considering to try out the sport, be proud. Be confident and have fun  as you do it because some special women won the battle for your right to be in that ring wearing those gloves.

Learning to Dive

Diving is an amazing experience and for many people a once in a life time chance to see the underwater world in all its glory! There is so much to explore that every time you dive you will experience and see brand new species of fish and coral reef.
When you dive for the first time you will be taken through the relevant safety instructions and taught how to dive and communicate under the water. You will start by getting used to the correct breathing techniques and learning the hand signals to communicate with the instructors under the water. There are a few exercises they will get you to carry out to check you know how to handle situations such as getting water in to your mask.
Diving gives you a huge adrenaline rush and can be a lot of fun! You can take underwater cameras and snap away at all the wonderful sea creatures.
Your first dive will take you 4-6 meters deep, rarely will you be taken to further depths. Once you have taken part in your first dive everyone has the opportunity to continue diving and work towards a PADI approved award, which will eventually mean you can teach others to dive or dive professionally, should you wish to pursue such an extravagant hobby!
Many people will experience their first dive abroad, on holiday. This is fantastic because the waters are much warmer and clearer and you will see some truly amazing creatures! However, if you are keen to take up diving on a more regular basis, there are plenty of places in the UK that teach people to dive and offer courses to gain the relevant qualifications. This is a much more affordable way of learning to dive as you don’t have to pay for flights and accommodation in a tropical country!
Once you are more confident with your diving and have some experience behind you, you can then plan trips around the world to different diving hot spots and explore what other sea’s have to offer.
Becoming a diver either professionally or by hobby will give you a fantastic set of skills and a great talking point. It is a less common hobby, but if you have the time and money to invest in such activity, the experience will be breath taking!

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO SKI IN THE WORLD

From hidden treasures to well known resorts, its fair to say that certain countries boast the most beautiful and enticing settings for ski and snowboard lovers. Here are a few that will transport you, if only for a short while into a whimsical world filled with powdery snow and magical scenery. So grab your winter snow boots, wrap up warm and lets have a wonder out into the cold and see what amazing places there are to explore.

Whistler Blackcomb is a major ski resort just north of Vancouver and is by far the largest ski resort in North America. With its stunning backdrops and a peak to peak gondola that transports you between the two dominating mountains named Whistler and Blackcomb, it really has earned its place as one of the most appreciated resorts in the world. The breath taking views and sheer beauty of the surroundings go hand in hand with the quaint little village that sees thousands of visitors pass through its atmospheric streets each month during the ski season.

Kitzbuhel, situated in the alps of the same name, is a small medieval town just east of Innsbruck in Austria and is home to some striking landmarks such as the St Catherine’s Gothic style church which elegantly dominates the skyline. The beautiful town offers traditional and awe inspiring scenes that look like they belong on a Christmas card and with an array of enticing ski runs and pistes to choose from in the area, this picture perfect resort is an ideal candidate for the most beautiful ski resorts list.

Mont Tremblant is a very popular resort situated  in the Laurentian mountains of Quebec in Canada. Its Crystal lakes and rolling mountain range not only make an ideal canvas for some picturesque skiing, but other activities such as hiking, cycling and canoeing are also past times which take place in this magical city. Known as the trembling mountain from its literal translation, this resort will live up to its name and certainly make an impact on anyone who wishes to experience a truly spiritual and calming aura.

Zermatt not only boasts some breath taking views and intriguing imagery, but also offers a fantastic skiing opportunity along with endless mountaineering experiences available on the rugged and craggy mountain sides. The resort is home to Switzerland’s highest peaks which lies close to the Theodul pass that boarders Italy. The ever changing weather also creates a mysterious and intriguing atmosphere which provides some of the most memorable scenes at altitude.

What to Wear to a Festival.

When packing for a festival, the first thing that springs to any girls mind is:
“What am I going to wear?”
Here are a few festival outfit ideas to help you decide.
Firstly, the type of festival you are going to can have a big influence on what you should wear! If you are going to a family festival then outfit option 4 may be best for you. If it's a rock festival you are going to, check out number 3. If it is a weekender then you will most likely need more than one outfit so options 1, 2 and 3 are all fitting for you! Seeing as you can never trust the weather to be nice for your plans, it is always a good idea to pack something to throw on when the night draws in. There are a large selection of Ladies Sweatshirts and Ladies Hoodies available that are perfect choices, and all of the items featured here can be bought online at www.sportsdirect.com!

First up we have a casual outfit idea fitting for those festivals where you will be doing either a lot of walking, or a lot of dancing! These Lee Cooper Lightweight hoodies are a good festival item, as they are not too thick for dancing in and do not have the bulky look that most typical hoodies do.  Also, these Miss Fiori Leopard pumps are ideal for ensuring your feet are comfy, and they go brilliantly with this Miss Fiori Burntout Sleeveless t-shirt and these Golddigga Star Denim Shorts.

Next on the list is outfit number 2 – ideal for those weekender festivals where you might need some warmer layers! These Golddigga Shorts are perfect to pair up with this colourful SoulCal Tiger Boxy Crop Top! As having comfortable feet is a HUGE deal, why not check out some pumps like these Miss Fiori Lace Ups so that you can bounce around in peace without getting any pesky blisters! For the evening, why not turn a few heads with a bright hoody! This would bring out the colours of the top nicely, and keep you snug at the same time.

Third on the list of possibilities is most fitting if you are off to a rock festival. This blackberry Voodoo Dolls hoody is ideal for head banging in and has a snug so you can look the element of coolness with your hands tucked secretively away.
Why not match this with a black denim pair of Miss Fiori Jeggings to show off your shape and feel comfortable, and if you are not averse to wearing any colour, then stick on one of these Obscene Print T Shirts!  Again, the Miss Fiori pumps are ideal if you intend on jumping around a lot. Go on, release your inner metal head.

Outfit number four is most suitable if you are going to a festival that doesn't require too much jumping around on your feet. If you feel like going a bit more girly, then here is an outfit option for you. A nice top is essential, so a good choice is this Kangol Crochet t shirt, made from 100% Cotton to leave you feeling light and airy.  Why not go for a pair of Golddigga Ladies Jelly Wedges if you are feeling really brave! They come in a selection of colours. Or how about these Golddigga Peep Toe Espadrilles if you are the comfortable flats kind. Also, these Lee Cooper Jeggings are a nice addition to any wardrobe and they are perfect for festival wear! For the evening, choose a nice ladies cardigan that matches, perhaps this Miss Fiori Essentials which comes in loads of different colours.

Do you like these outfit ideas? What would you match together to wear to a festival?
Why not see what outfits you can create, you might be surprised!

Tips to win a squash game

If you already know the basics of how to play squash, i.e. the rules, the basic techniques, and how to move then this article will show you how to win! What this article doesn't do is show you how to play squash.
Before your  Tournament, eat, so that your body will have peak energy levels at match time. You cannot play at 100%,if you don't eat properly. Maybe consider researching sports nutrition!
 Drink lots of water before the match. If you wait until match time, it will be too late.
The next step would be to check your gear. Make sure your racket and your strings are in good shape. Its a good idea to bring a back-up racket of the exact model and the same strings. This is because changing racket in the middle of a tournament will mess up your game.
Always bring extra shirts. As you probably know, Squash is a sweaty game, and you won’t be able to preform at your best if you feel sticky. You should bring a towel to wipe off your sweat. Also use a sweat resistant grip on your racket, so it does not slip out of your hand.
Don't be late! Being late will produce unnecessary stress, set off a bit earlier than you need to, to guarantee you’ll be on time.
When you know who you’re competing against, you should ask other people about their playing styles and weaknesses.
Before starting your tournament, you need to warm up. There is a strict five-minute time limit before the game. Hit 2-3 shots and then pass the ball. Don't keep the ball too long - it's considered rude. This is a good time, to observe your opponent, if you’ve never played them before. Every time you pass the ball, use a different shot, and see how they deal with it. You can spot weak spots before the match even starts!
When starting the match, you should start slow. Squash is all about energy. The player who runs out of energy first will lose. The goal is to wear your opponent down before your own energy runs out. If you find yourself in an uneven match in an early round, don't waste your energy. Chances are, you'll be in for a much more competitive game in the next round. If you're matched against a much weaker opponent, take it easy. Don't rush it. Use the easy game as a prolonged warm-up. On the other hand, don't waste your energy in a game you can't possibly win. In a closely-matched game, it gets down to preparation, battle plan, tactics, and nerves. Keep a cool mind and don't let the opponent force his game style upon you. You only need to win by two points.
Keep an eye on the score. This will help you conserve energy. If you are five points ahead, you don't need to run after a well-placed stop. Let it be and conserve your energy for the next point. You still lead by four points. If the opponent is ahead, you need to fight for every single point to get even. Don't let him escape. With the new rule, where each point counts, it is very hard to overcome a five-point deficit if the opponent is playing at your level, and playing a steady game without errors.
Never give up, even if the opponent leads by many points. Many games turn around, because a player with a big lead thinks he has won and stops paying attention. He starts to make errors and suddenly the game is even again. The same goes for important points. Remember: it's over when it's over, and never before. That's where the cool mind comes in. Concentrate on every single swing, on every single shot, even if you think it is an easy one. Because there are no easy shots! You can fail on the simplest of shots if you don't concentrate, and every unforced error is a free point to the opponent, and a potential point you missed. If you feel nervous, don't take risks. Play it safe, avoid loose shots, so your opponent can not attack you; play the shots you play best.
You must be patient and wait for an opportunity to attack a loose ball, rather than trying to score in every round. Return the ball into the corners close to the walls, to force your opponent away from the "T", and get yourself on the "T" in a comfortable pace.
If you’re running out of energy faster than your opponent, you are in trouble, but don't panic! You need to get your heart rate down. Do this by slowing down the pace. Play long lobs to the back corners. If your opponent starts to hit hard and low, take out the speed and lob every ball. However, don't let them volley it. These also have the effect of disturbing the pace of hard and fast hitting, aggressive players.
Stick to this simple guide and your sure to win every  match! Good luck!

SportsDirect.com Take A Look At Christmas Jumpers

Christmas Jumpers have grown with popularity over the years and with people donning them on to raise money for charity, adding a festive atmosphere at work and generally brightening up the dark and colder days, they have become a Christmas sensation. SportsDirect.com take a closer look at their prevalence.

Before now they have predominantly been the hand-made knitted gift that grandparents and great-aunts love to give,  with people around the world forcing a smile and trying to sound grateful. However, times have changed and now people everywhere are hoping to receive a novelty Christmas Jumper this season.

The 80s saw pop stars and television presenters wearing them throughout December, which started off the ‘cool’ trend, but they fell into a trough by the 90s, and were once again branded as the joke Christmas present. It is only in the past three years that they have become a sought after, ‘must-buy’ for the Christmas period with almost every online and store retailer selling them.

SportsDirect.com have an abundance of Christmas jumpers, some more subtle than others. They have a selection of prints, including jumpers with Santa’s, snowmen and reindeers on them, as well as knits with the classic wintery fair isle print and festive scenes so people can choose how brash they want to be.

Although named Christmas jumpers, the more subtle sweaters with simply a wintery theme can be worn before or after Christmas making them the perfect all-round winter knit. They definitely add to the cheery, festive ambiance at this time of year and with such a vast selection there is no doubting why they have grown to be so popular.

Visit SportsDirect.com for their full range of festive knitwear and take a look at www.facebook.com/sportsdirectuk and www.twitter.com/sportsdirectuk for their competitions and latest products.

How to keep Children Safe at the Beach

Taking the kids to the beach can be a fun day out, but it is important to think about the safety aspects before you arrive. Below are a few tips and ideas on what to look out for at the beach to make sure everyone stays safe!
Sea
When you arrive at the beach you should have a look at the sea and determine whether it is calm enough for your children to swim safely. If you have checked the weather forecast beforehand this will give you a good indication of the sea’s activity throughout the day. If you know it is going to be windy you should avoid playing in the sea as rip currents and strong waves may be present which can become very dangerous should a child get caught up in them.

Sun
Hopefully it will be a lovely sunny day, so in preparation, you should be armed with plenty of high factor sun cream as well as sunglasses and hats to protect the areas of skin on show most! Taking along a beach shelter is a great idea as it can come in handy for many different things! If the sun rays are particularly strong then children can sit and play inside the shelter to escape the sun throughout the day. It is also a great place to sit and eat your dinner as well as a private area to get changed at the end of the day!

Sand
You should check the sand for sharp objects such as litter or broken bits of plastic that may be buried under the sand as these may cause injuries if trodden on. Have a quick look and feel around before pitching up at the beach to eliminate any immediate dangers that could pose threat to your kids. Wearing beach shoes or flip flops is an easy way to protect feet should you step on any sharp or rough objects.

Sealife
At the beach kids love to explore and there are lots of new and exciting animals they can come across! Lots of sea creatures are harmless and won’t hurt children if they touch or pick them up. However, there are other animals such as crabs, jelly fish and weever fish that may sting or pinch if they are touched! As a general rule to avoid any accidents with sealife, you should teach children to “look but don’t touch”.

Safety
At the beach you will notice different flags situated at different points. These flags indicate how safe or unsafe that area of the beach is, so it is important that both adults and children have an understanding of what they mean, so everyone can stay safe.
• Red and yellow flags indicate it is a lifeguard area. This means children are safe to swim in the sea, as well as use inflatables and body boards.
• Black and white chequered flags is for surfers and kayaks along with other non powered craft. You should never swim in an area with this flag.
• Orange windsocks indicate offshore or strong winds, so you should never use inflatables when the sock is flying.
• Red flags mean danger! Never go swimming in the water when the red flag is up, regardless of the circumstances.

Beach Safety

Weather
On a day out at the beach we hope for sunny, calm weather. But as we all know this is often not the case! When the wind picks up it creates potential dangers to people on the beach, especially those in the sea. Rips are strong currents in the sea and can whisk swimmers from shallow waters to more dangerous depths. They are found mainly around piers and man made structures, so it is a sensible idea to discourage children from swimming there. It is also important to keep an eye on tides and waves, if you notice the waves getting bigger and faster it is advisable to keep children out of the sea as the waves may potentially become dangerous.
 When we are lucky enough to catch a sunny day it is the sun itself that becomes the danger. Children need to keep topped up with sun cream and wear sun hats and sun glasses to  protect them. Reapplying sun cream throughout the day can become a hassle, especially when the little ones are in and out of the sea and covered in sand! So an alternative is to bring along a beach shelter. I find this is a fantastic way to protect the kids from the sun while they’re playing. It also comes in handy for feeding time and getting dressed at the end of the day! Playing at the beach can become tiring so many adults like to sun bathe, and often fall asleep! If young children want to nap during the day, lying them down in a beach shelter means they are protected from the sun and won’t burn. The beach shelter also offers you some privacy as well as a checkpoint for children to look out for so they don’t wander off and get lost.

Sea
When kids are playing in the sea, the older they get the more they want to explore! They may have snorkels or inflatables to play with, which needless to say will make the sea a lot of fun, but as always safety must come first! If your children are off snorkelling they need to be aware of other people in the sea. It is important to look out for boats, mainly small ones and even inflatable boats that are coming into shore. This is because when you are under the water snorkelling, the people on the boats will not see you, and they may not spot your snorkel poking out the see if they are close to you! Colliding with a boat in the sea could be a very dangerous accident, to avoid this as well as children keeping an eye out themselves, they should take a friend or parent to supervise and warn incoming boats if they are too close to a snorkeler. On the other hand, if your children are playing with inflatables and have a boat of their own, they need to be on the look out for other swimmers and snorkelers. Going out to sea with your children  to pull the boat along is a sensible idea as they can keep a look out and steer or stop the boat to avoid colliding with other sea users. This is also beneficial if the winds pick up and the sea becomes choppy, an adult can pull the boat to shore and avoid leaving children stranded in the boat if they were on their own.


Sharp objects
At the beach there can be lots of hidden items under the sand, such as litter and other sharp objects! It is recommended that you check the area you are going to sit at before you set up wind breakers and blankets, to ensure there are no immediate dangers lurking under the surface of the sand. You may want to take along beach shoes for young children which will protect their feet if they do tread on anything sharp and they can also go in the sea with them, so they can be very practical! Rocks can be potential dangers at the beach and if children want to go climbing you should inspect the area first to ensure the rocks are not slippery or loose. Children need to be supervised at all times  as many aspects of the beach pose threats and dangers, as long as you are aware you will be able to react should anything happen to your child. It is a good idea to take along a first aid kit to the beach, this means you can treat any injuries immediately as help may be in the town or across the other side of the beach. You should also be stocked up on bottles of water. Not only to keep you and your family hydrated, but to clean wounds or rinse eyes should sand get in them. These are just a few handy items that could come in very useful throughout your day at the beach!

Sea creatures and animals
There is a lot of marine life to explore at the beach and this is  a great learning experience for young children, meeting new species of animals they have not heard of before! There are lots of harmless animals and creatures that kids can look at in rock pools and on the shore, but there are also some dangerous creatures that kids and adults need to be aware of! Crabs are fairly harmless to look at, but make sure children know not to touch, poke or pick up any crab like creatures! They may become irritated if they are disturbed, which may cause them to pinch or scratch. When going in the sea for a paddle or a swim, jellyfish and weever fish are the ones to be mindful of. Again, if you spot these creatures, keep yourself and children away and avoid touching them as they do sting. Not disturbing animals should keep you safe, but it is best to move away from the area in which they are just to be on the safe side! Off the beach, out of the sea and in the air, seagulls! Whenever you go to the beach you will see lots of seagulls flying around and landing on the beach on the hunt for food! They can be quite intimidating as they are often happy to fly right up and snatch food from you and your family. This is where the beach shelter comes in handy again, giving you some privacy and protection to eat in peace. They also may harbour germs as no one knows where they have been or what they have been picking up, so it is important children don’t try to touch them. Also, feathers lying on the beach from the birds are best left alone, again to avoid contaminating any germs.

Lifeguards
When choosing which beach to visit it is important to ensure the beach is patrolled by lifeguards. This way, you know should anything happen to a member of your party, there is a professional near by to assist. On the beach you may spot a few different flags, these are indicators to the conditions and the people who may be on the beach, so you may want to refresh your memory on the flag codes and teach your children what they mean so they can stay safe too.
Red and yellow flags indicate it is a lifeguard area. This means children are safe to swim in the sea, as well as use inflatables and body boards.
Black and white chequered flags is for surfers and kayaks along with other non powered craft. You should never swim in an area with this flag.
Orange windsocks indicate offshore or strong winds, so you should never use inflatables when the sock is flying.
A red flag means danger! Never go swimming in the water when the red flag is up, regardless of the circumstances.

Strangers
Especially when the weathers nice, beaches can be heaving with tourists. This can pose a big threat for your children and makes it very important for you to keep an eye on them at all times! The majority of people you meet at the beach will be friendly, young families similar to your own, however these people are all strangers and even if someone appears friendly and harmless, they may have other intensions. Make sure your children know exactly where you are situated and ensure there is a recognisable checkpoint for them to look out for, for example, tie a flag around the post of your windbreaker, or take along a brightly coloured beach shelter that is easily identified. If older children want to go off and explore make sure they go with someone else and set some rules for how far they can go and what time they should come back. It is wise to allow them to go as far as a point you can clearly see, so you can still watch them from a distance. Children get told a lot about not talking to strangers, and a day out at the beach is another chance to reinforce this important rule! The safety of our children is extremely important, so ensuring they know how to stay safe as well as you knowing how to keep them safe is essential before heading out for a day at the beach!

Health Benefits of Cycling

There are various health benefits that are associated with cycling. The following are few of the major ones:

Cycling is one of the simplest ways to exercise
You can ride a bicycle virtually anywhere at any time of the year, and without spending a fortune. Many people are put off from doing certain sports simply because of the high level of skills that appears to be required, or perhaps because they cannot be committed to a team sport due to time pressures. Most of us know how to cycle and once you have learned you do not forget easily. All you just need is a bike, a half an hour here or there when it suits, and with a bit of confidence.

Cycling builds strength and muscle tone
Contrary to standard perceptions, cycling is not a fitness activity that only involves the legs. Cycling builds strength in a complete manner since every single part of the body is involved in cycling.
Cycling progressively improves general muscle function, with slight risk of over exercise or strain. Regular cycling helps strengthens the leg muscles and it is great for the mobility of hip and knee joints. You will gradually start to see an improvement in the muscle tone of your thighs, legs, rear end and hips.

Cycling builds stamina
Riding your bike is a very good way to build stamina. It is very efficient in doing so because people really enjoy cycling and they wouldn’t notice that they’ve gone farther the last time they went cycling compare to other sports.

Cycling improves the cardio-vascular fitness
Researches have shown that riding bike to work will improve cardiovascular fitness by 3-7%. Cycling make use of the largest muscle groups, the legs, increasing heart rate to benefit stamina and fitness.

Cycling consumes calories
Cycling is also a good way to lose those unwanted pounds. Constant cycling burns about 300 calories per hour. Mathematically, if you bike for 30 minutes every day you would burn up to 11 pounds of fat in a year. Since it helps to build muscle, cycling will also help boost your metabolic rate long after you must have finished your ride.

Cycling improves heart health
According to the BMA (British Medical Association), cycling, just about 20 miles a week, can minimise the risk of coronary heart disease by 50%. A major study of 10,000 civil servants suggested that those who cycled 20 miles over the period of a week were half as likely to suffer heart disease opposed to their other colleagues who don’t cycle.
Cycling reduces stress
Any type of regular exercise can minimise stress and depression and improve wellbeing and self-esteem. Cycling is also a great way to get outdoors and get back to nature and helps to take your mind away from the stress of everyday life. When incorporating cycling into an overall fitness program, there are several aspects to consider. Some important things to remember are:
• Consult your doctor
Virtually everyone can do cycling. But, it is still best to consult your doctor when thinking about incorporating cycling activity into an overall fitness program. They will advise you regarding your limits and capacities and what you must avoid doing.
• Begin slowly and then increase your cycling
For beginners, devise a program wherein cycling is carried out three times a week. Doing it two times a week can also be fine, but this depends on the capabilities of whoever is undergoing the training.
• Increase speed gradually
Gradual increase in speeds is a very important aspect of fitness cycling. Cycling can be strenuous to the body and the strategic towards successful fitness cycling, be patient and don’t be in a hurry in increasing your limits.
• Better safe than sorry
Cycling is great fun but it is very important to get the right equipment for the activity. The helmet, kneepads, elbow pads should always be in place when cycling.

Top ten swanky sweaters

Currently in trend are Ladies Sweatshirts. This is the list of our top ten favourites from our ladies collection!

This first sweatshirt is modern and stylish, adding a splash of colour to dreary autumn days! With the variety of colours that are included within the text on the sweater, there are many different colours of trousers, jeans or leggings that can be worn!

This second sweater is ideal for wearing with jeggings or leggings for when you need that little bit of extra comfort! It is a little longer in length, and we love that. No longer will the bottom of your back be cold when you are sitting at your desk!

Third up is this Hot Tuna sweater, ideal for winter wear! In a close fit with a super bit of detail on the collar, this gorgeous teal colour sweatshirt is sophisticated and stylish.

Fourth sees a nice take on the standard plain black sweater, with a super fluffy cross, this sweatshirt is ideal for those who rock the alternative look.

The next sweater is a three-quarter sleeve, ideal for changeable weather and a perfect way to smarten up any plain outfit. This is ideal for both work and play! Also, this range now comes in a selection of pastel colours, perfect for choosing a sweater to suit your complexion.

This sweatshirt features a unique style, as the shoulder bits are missing! (Hence the catchy name..) It is a cool design (excuse the pun) ideal for autumnal blusters.

Next up we have this Golddigga sweater, a cute and comfy buy ideal for either office attire or a cosy weekend break away. This is also available in black for those of you who hate the colour pink!

Next on the list is this Golddigga knit, with a slight peplum design this draws the attention to just underneath what is most commonly described as one of a woman’s problem areas. In a comforting design with a slight intricate detail to the neck it has earned its place in our top ten!

At number 9 we have this very smart Voodoo Dolls sweater, with a plush knit and in the perfect colour for the coming wintery months! If you are after a thick cuddly jumper then this is your boy!

Last but by no means least, is this fitted Lee Cooper sweater. In a slightly unusual design, this sweater is definitely one that can be worn for all occasions. Differing to the other sweatshirts which are featured this sweater is not to be sniffed at! It could be teamed up very easily with the correct jewellery to create a very stylish ensemble.

So these were our top ten, we hope you like them! Are there any sweatshirts that you love that we missed off the list? Why not get in touch to let us know!

How Modern Technology Has Changed the Game of Golf

If you asked a golfer what equipment they used 25 years ago, you would probably get the answer of a wood (an actual wooden wood), irons, wooden golf tees and a resin cored golf ball. Switch to modern day however and you will find that the technology boom has hit golf in a drastic way, not only in terms of golfing hardware, but also in the methods of learning to golf.
Learning to golf was primarily undertaken by regular practice and the constructive criticism of other golfers, nowadays however, there is a myriad of technology used to achieve that perfect technique. Golf simulators are but one of these methods, where (using the wonders of modern technology) the golfer is immersed into a “digital” golf course in which they are able to perfect their swing. This process is achieved through the use of 3D cameras that gather information regarding ball and golf club movement and provide helpful information on how to improve your technique. A far cry away from what golf once was.
Modern technology has also seen a sharp rise in use on the golf course itself. With the advent of ‘smart phones’ (which are inclusive of internet, GPS and free app downloads) golfers can experience a personal caddy guiding them around the course, hole by hole. One such app that I have had the personal pleasure of using (and recommend) is called “Free Golf GPS & Scorecard” (imaginatively named) by creators ‘Swing by Swing’. Using a mixture of Google maps and club information, this app can effectively display an aerial view of the course with individual yardage and par scores for each hole. These GPS based golf aids have also been found in watches such as the Easy Green golf watch and other dedicated golf GPS devices.
Golfing hardware has also received a welcome revamp in recent years as a result of the demand from golfers for increased distance and ball precision. Woods for example, traditionally made from hardwood and steel, have since been constructed from composite metals and carbon fibre. Carbon fibre clubs often demand a premium, however they benefit from being lighter than the traditional steel construction of old ,and provide (arguably) better performance.
Golf balls have also benefitted from increased research into optimising distance. Although when looking at a golf ball they all tend to look rather similar in regards to both size and weight. Beneath the skin however, modern golf balls hold a hive of technology with single, dual and even tri core technology. Dimple design has also been enhanced to ensure optimum aerodynamic flight, thus improving ball distance. Combined, these properties ensure the finest performance on the golf course.
Although only a small insight into how recent technological advancements have effected the game of golf, it is still interesting to witness, even in this relatively small article, how fast technology is moving. Not only is this limited to golf, but with the application of goal line technology in the Premier League and Hawk eye technology in tennis it is clear that there are greater things to come. It will definitely be interesting to see what else the future holds in regards to how technology influences sports.

Football Kit Technology Explained

When it comes to football kits they often incorporate many different technologies to ensure that the player is comfortable and performs to their best. However, each brand has their own technologies, so SportsDirect.com are on hand to give a low down on the top brands and their unique insulating and cooling fabrics.
Football shirts and base layers need to have certain technologies in order to keep the player cool, warm, dry and comfortable – depending on the weather when they are training or competing in a match. As we have now hit the Autumn/Winter season base layers are an essential item to the training kit and it’s important that they keep the heat in, without causing the wearer to overheat.
Under Armour use ColdGear® technology in their base layers which aims to circulate heat through the inner layer, but simultaneously the outer layer battles with the elements to ensure that moisture is wicked away to leave the player comfortable and dry.
Similarly, Nike have Dri-Fit technology that also draws sweat away from the body when body temperature rises, and have recently introduced HyperCool technology that can been seen in the 2014 Brazil and France football shirts to ensure that players are kept cool under pressure.
adidas also have their own version of moisture wicking fabric in the form of ClimaCool. This can be found in the latest football shirts such as the Real Madrid Away Shirt 2013 2014 and, again, aims to keep the footballer dry, comfortable and focussed on the game.
However, when it is really cold outside a warmer base layer is essential and Sondico have incorporated Sondico Therm which aims to keep the warmth in and increase insulation when the weather and elements are particularly cold and bitter.
Although most of the technologies do have the same function it is important to know what they do and how they can benefit the footballer on the pitch.
Visit sportsdirect.com for a full range of football shirts with the latest technologies. Read more about fashion and sports at their blog.

Beach Day Essentials

Summer’s finally here and lots of us have been heading off to the beach for a spot of sunbathing. So, for those of you who haven’t made a trip to the sea side yet, but are planning to – here’s a couple of things you may want to remember to pack, to get the most out of your day!

Top of the list is a digital print bathing suit, all the rage this summer. There are lots of funky and unusual designs to choose from that will make you stand out from the crowd. However, you may want to consider your tan lines before hand, as there are some peculiar shapes that may leave your tan looking very uneven!

Don’t forget your glamorous cat eye sunglasses! Very diva and very now! You will find a wide range of designs and colours so why not choose a pair to match your bathing suit?

Enough fashion advice, now it’s time for skincare. Remember to take plenty of sun cream so that you can reapply throughout the day. If you’re hoping to catch a tan you should stick to a factor 8 as it will protect you from the sun but still allow you to tan. Higher factors such as 30 will block the sun from your skin and are suitable for very pale skin tones.

I always take lip balm with me to the beach as the sea air can often leave you feeling dry in areas such as your lips. I also make sure I have an spf factor lip balm to protect my lips from burning.

A fab accessory is the beach shelter! This comes in handy throughout the day and can be used for shelter from the sun during peak times of the day, a place to sit and eat your fish and chips, away from pesky seagulls as well as a private area to get changed at the end of the day.

When we’re off sunbathing the first thing we think to take is our beach towel! There are so many bright and funky designs to choose from, so why not be ultra cool and get a colour that compliments your bathing suit?!

For lunch, a picnic basket filled with goodies! Perhaps a cool box would be more appropriate however as I like to take fresh fruit and plenty of water with me. It is important to take a good supply of water so you can stay hydrated throughout the day. Also, if the beach is busy you may be a long distance from any shops or food outlets, so it’s a good idea to take a few snacks with you!

For those of you with highlighted or coloured hair, take hair protector spray. This will stop your hair drying out and being bleached by the sun!

To keep me entertained, my iPod! Updated with the latest summer tunes to listen to while I sunbathe, ahh perfect!

Finally, in great preparation, a first aid kit! There are lots of accidents waiting to happen at the beach, whether its sand in your eye or slipping on a sharp rock, so taking a little first aid kit may save you a jog across the sand for help! I typically take baby wipes, to clean any wounds, plasters and tissues. Along with my supply of water and some hand sanitizer for hygiene!

Has the European Championship given a clue to who will be victorious at the World Matchplay?

Has the European Championship given a clue to who will be victorious at the World Matchplay?

Highlights of the European Championships, 4th-7th July 2013

Simon Whitlock pulls off one of the great comebacks in recent darts memory.
Simon Whitlock, using his unique ‘Wizard of Oz’ darts, brought the crowd emphatically to life by coming from 9-3 down to win 10-9 in his quarter-final against the Englishman  Jamie Caven in one of the greatest comebacks in PDC darts memory.

Phil Taylor, James Wade and Raymond Van Barneveld exit in the second round.
The PDC ranked 1, 4 and 8 all went out in the second round at the 2013 European Championship, the most shocking of which was the 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor losing 10-5 to the European qualified Ronny Huybrechts of Belgium who, in the process, pulled off the greatest win of his career to date.

Adrian Lewis wins his first European Championship.
It was third time lucky for Adrian Lewis in the European Championship final; having previously lost in the final in 2008 (11-5) as well as the 2011 final (11-8) to Phil Taylor, Lewis turned the tables to beat the 2012 European champion Simon Whitlock 11-6 in Germany and claim the £50,000 jackpot.

...will such form continue to the BetVictor World Matchplay 2013?

The players confirmed for the BetVictor World Matchplay 2013 are:

PDC Top 16
1.     Phil Taylor
2.     Michael van Gerwen
3.     Adrian Lewis
4.     James Wade
5.     Simon Whitlock
6.     Andy Hamilton
7.     Wes Newton
8.     Raymond van Barneveld
9.    Dave Chisnall
10.  Justin Pipe
11.  Kevin Painter
12.  Robert Thornton
13.  Mervyn King
14.  Kim Huybrechts
15.  Brendan Dolan
16.  Terry Jenkins

PDC ProTour qualifiers
•         Jamie Caven
•         Peter Wright
•          John Part
•          Stuart Kellett
•          Paul Nicholson
•          Gary Anderson
•          Ronnie Baxter
•          Colin Lloyd
•          Steve Beaton
•          Andy Smith
•          Ian White
•         Jelle Klaasen
•          Jamie Lewis
•          Ronny Huybrechts
•          Mensur Suljovic
•          Mark Webster

The Style Guide to Winter by SportsDirect.com

Winter is all about looking snug, cosy and warm and there are a few essential items that every man and woman should have when it comes to the Winter wardrobe. SportsDirect.com take a look at a few of these Winter must haves.

Women
One of the key pieces to any Winter wardrobe is of course a coat. Parkas, duffle coats and coats with faux fur detailing can be seen everywhere at the moment and brands such as Kangol, Firetrap and Lee Cooper all have stylish and on-trend ranges.
Chunky knitwear  and cardigans are also staple items, Golddigga have a selection of cable knit jumpers and fleece collared knitted cardigans that are perfect for slipping on and snuggling up in. Firetrap also have a great range of knitwear, including a Navajo knitted jumper with a woolly lining and a fair isle style design for a festive feel.
Cossack hats are all the rage at the moment, creating a Russian chic vibe, and are perfect for wearing in the evening. However, for a daytime look, bobble hats or trapper hats are ideal and are available in a range of fun and quirky designs, such as the cupcake one from Voodoo Dolls.
When it comes to footwear, boots is where it is at and there are a range of women’s boots that are in fashion this season. Chelsea boots, long boots and boots with metal detailing are among the most fashionable this year and brands such as Firetrap and Miss Fiori have a range that are perfect for both day and night wear.

Men 
This season quilted jackets are a must have for men and both Propeller and Karrimor have a  stylish range starting from just £16.00. Kangol also have a selection of fashion jackets in parka and bomber jacket styles that are great for casual wear.
Sweatshirts are a must for keeping warm, but they can look stylish too. Pierre Cardin have a new line of V-neck and crew neck sweaters that are great for both a casual and smart look if teamed with a shirt underneath.  SoulCal also have a  great choice of cable knit jumpers in festive and Wintery colours.
Hats make an outfit and this year it’s all about the patterns and bobbles. Airwalk and Lee Cooper have a great line of fair isle, starry and stripy hats that will add a touch of fun to any Winter wardrobe.
Men’s boots have got a lot more fashionable over the years. Kickers have a great range of boots that are suitable for daytime and evening wear throughout the festive season. British Knights also have a great selection of casual boots that are perfect for teaming with jeans in the daytime.

Visit SportsDirect's fashion-outlet for their full range of Winter fashion items. Keep up-to-date with their latest products and competitions on Facebook and Twitter.

Join In On Murraymania

Up to 17.3 million people in Britain watched Andy Murray make tennis history last Sunday. Last year he ended a 76 year wait for a British Grand Slam winner, and last week he ended an even longer wait at Wimbledon. Has Andy’s exploits inspired you  to pick up a tennis racket?
If you, your family and friends want to hit the courts this summer, here is the equipment of a true champion.
Head Tennis have created a superb balance with a higher weight allowing a player to play aggressively on court. Andy’s Youtek IG Radical Pro (http://www.sportsdirect.com/head-youtek-ig-radical-pro-tennis-racket-743221) has been his weapon of choice throughout all his major victories . Aggressive play  is the area that Murray has improved the most in order to become a true champion. Its 16x19 string pattern allows even further power to be added to play.
If you find this racket too heavy to swing for a whole game, lighter versions are available from Head Tennis  such as the YOuTek IG Radical MP Racket (http://www.sportsdirect.com/head-youtek-ig-radical-mp-tennis-racket-743125) , combining  power and control in an ultra light format OR even Head Radical Lite (http://www.sportsdirect.com/head-radical-lite-tennis-racket-743127) which provides an even lighter racket but keeps its power.
For those on a tight budget, replicas of Andy’s racket are sold  for as cheap as £18.99. (http://www.sportsdirect.com/head-radical-tennis-racket-741107) Made from aluminium instead of carbon, it is still strong and lightweight allowing beginners and experienced players to learn how to perform like the Wimbledon Champion.  With Head Tennis’ Radical range also catering for juniors, (http://www.sportsdirect.com/head-radical-junior-tennis-racket-741106)  there is no reason why you should not be hitting the courts with Murray’s rackets with all the family.
Of course, you cannot hit the courts with just a racket. How are you going to move as fast as a champion? In his tennis shoes last Sunday Andy Murray covered  ground faster than Djokovic and managed to make returns from shots that people thought were impossible to reach in time.
A great range of Tennis shoes similar to what Andy Murray wore can be found here at very affordable prices such as Bercuda Mens Tennis Shoes at only £37.99. (http://www.sportsdirect.com/adidas-bercuda-3-mens-tennis-shoes-145217?colcode=14521730)
With shoes like these you can move around the court like a professional and get your opponents to begin questioning how you are covering that ground so fast! Tennis Shoes for Women and Juniors also available so all the family can join in the fun.
To complete the set, Polo shirts and shorts like those worn by Murray are available at prices starting as low as £13.99 (http://www.sportsdirect.com/adidas-response-t-shirt-mens-631088)  meaning that you can be fully kitted out like Andy for as little as £77. If you’re feeling really inspired by Murray’s victory at Wimbledon, why not grab your friends or family, along with a Head Tennis Racket, and  some Tennis Shoes and then hit the grass courts in order to make yourself play and win like a SW19 champion!

My first off piste experience … and my last

It was my first ever skiing holiday and I couldn’t have been more excited. The thought of zipping down the ski  runs in the fresh air, winding down the mountain side whilst whizzing past everyone was really appealing to me (and of course in my head I was already a great skier!)
When I arrived and began my ski lessons, my initial confidence dwindled as I realised it was actually harder than I anticipated and my dream of whizzing past people was actually, in reality, a slow sluggish shuffle across a flat bit of land at the bottom of the hill.
After a few days I eventually got into the ski off things and sure enough I was catching the ski lifts and tackling the red runs that suited amateurs like me perfectly! My ski instructor however was a tad adventurous as he was like the action man of the slopes, showing off his tricks and skills as he taught us simple things such as stopping. This is where I should probably mention that I definitely blame him for my disastrous day that took me out of my comfort zone entirely and got me into a bit of a pickle ….
So my enthusiastic instructor decided on our last day to take us up to the top of the mountain on the chair lift to finish the holiday off with some fantastic views and an amazing ski down to the bottom. Being drawn in by his enthusiasm, a small group decided to head up and make the most of the opportunity (the others decided to head to the pub, something I now regret not doing!)
As we were enjoying the ride on the chair lift, my friend and I decided it would be a clever idea to pretend to have a sword fight mid air with our ski poles as you do! Needless to say one of us was bound to be the loser and I guess that was definitely me seeing as not only did I loose my ski beanie during the stupidity, but one of my ski poles also plummeted to the ground and ended up stuck in the deep snow that lay off piste.
After insisting endlessly that I would just pay to replace the ski pole, my ski instructor thought we could have a little adventure and go on a ‘ski pole’ rescue  mission, much to everyone’s disapproval. Apart from having to slide on my bum half way down the mountain as the slope was almost vertical, we also had to drag our tired bodies through thick deep snow on the flatter areas and needless to say I was very unpopular within our group by this point.
Eventually after petrifyingly making our way down to rescue the ‘sword in the snow’, we felt a massive sense of accomplishment and for a split second everyone had a big smile on their face! This didn’t last very long however as our instructor then turned and pointed to the only route that would get us back safe and sound at the bottom of the mountain.
Laid in front of us was a ravine that was over 12ft deep and literally was in the form of a letter U! Yes, the sides were really that steep! He then went on to tell us that if we picked up enough speed and judged the distance right we would theoretically just dip in and swoosh up the other side. After watching the action man take the lead and succeeding in proving his theory, I built up enough confidence and speed to tackle that ravine head on! And that is literally what I did …. Smack! Having missed the dip entirely I just flew through the air like a penguin mid panic attack and belted straight into the side of the crevasse with half my skis wedge into the snow and my head frozen into the big dint I had just made.
Having regained my consciousness, I eased my skis out of the big wall of snow and just dropped into the bottom of the ditch and decided that my adventure would end there. When I eventually got rescued and hauled out of the ravine, made it back to the resort in sort of one piece and finished dying with embarrassment, I then realised that after all that I never even rescued that ski pole and still had to pay the fine.
So the moral of the story is always part with your money, if not your dignity could be lost forever! But that’s up to you.

Ways to stay safe when cycling

The initial stage of cycling is you first learn how to ride on a tricycle, then you learn how to ride a proper bike. For all the years that followed,  you rode your bicycle on a road that is usually less busy, and when you reached your teenage years you progressed to busier roads. How can you ride safely on a busy road?
You should be aware of cycling safety tips as cycling is great but it can be dangerous in some cases. Most cyclist out there love to drift, speed and wheel off, but if care is not taken it can lead to injuries. Even great cyclists have been involved in bad accidents due to faults of careless drivers.
When you learn how to ride a bicycle the first thing you were taught was how to balance on your bike. Balancing is not just the basic but it is the main part of learning to ride. If you are not good at balancing then you need to practice a bit more before riding on busy roads. When the era of balancing is over then the time is right to go out and ride on the road. Ensure you always ride central on narrow roads and away from the pavement or gutter, and  keeping appropriate space between you and the driver is one of the most important thing to keep in mind. Another good trick is to ride towards the middle of the lane if the road is too narrow, and of course ride in the same direction with the car. When approaching a parked car it is advisable, if possible to ride at a door width from the car and in the case of HGVs, stay behind them as they may not be able to see you usually.
There are still other few basic precaution you need to take when cycling;
You should check the brakes always. Bad brakes can cause injury or serious harm to you. Make sure the brakes are tight and depending on your bike you should know when to use the front wheel brake and back wheel brake. In some road conditions, using the front wheel brake might turn your bike over, whereas the back wheel brake will stabilize the stop.
You should wear bright clothing during the day or reflective clothing at night. If cycling to work, you should try to have a bright or reflective accessories on you, don’t forget the to always wear your helmet, it might be inconvenient for your hair style but it might save your life.
Don’t use mobile phone or earphones, and if you do need to listen to music make sure you can hear the traffic because riding your bike without the ability to hear the traffic can be really dangerous.
Other tips include;  use appropriate hand signals when turning, make eye contact with drivers to be sure they notice you, use light after dark and always apply common sense as safety is more important than been right on the right side of the law.

Murray mania, will it ever end?

Yes, I know it has been just over three weeks since Andy Murray won Wimbledon, but lets face it, a British man took 77 years to win it. So talking about it three weeks later is nothing!
I do not think that Murray mania will die down any time soon, and his sponsors, especially Head Tennis will be incredibly happy over this.
Andy Murray, the brand, will continue to grow rapidly for at least another five years. There are five main reasons for this.
1) Firstly, as said before it has been 77 years since a British man has gone all the way and won SW19, the most prestigious title in tennis. Arguably one of the most prestigious titles in the world of sport.

2) Secondly, Andy Murray is the clear favourite to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year. It will be a shock if he did not win this award in December. After winning his first grand slam and also Olympic Gold he came third in the public opinion poll. But when matched up against all the other British Olympians that was understandable. He will have major competition this year still, with the likes of Chris Froome and potentially the England Ashes Cricket Team to contend with. However it has been 16 years since a British Tennis player won this award, and Greg Rusedski had certainly not won what Andy has. On top of this, Chris Froome may have won the Tour De France but Bradley Wiggins became the first ever Brit to do so last year, and also won Olympic Gold, which deservedly won him last year's Sports Personality of the Year. Furthermore the England Cricket team are apparently against the 'worst Australian Ashes team' ever. So we are expected to win, so I do not believe that any famous exploits by Jimmy Anderson or Co would win one of them this award. The only threat I can see to the Murray brigade is if Lewis Hamilton makes the comeback of the century after his Hungarian Grand Prix win and wins the 2013 F1 Championships.

3) Andy Murray is clear favourite to win the US Open this year. Not only after his victory last year but also after winning Wimbledon in straight sets. On top of this, the likely opponent will be Novak Djokovic, who Murray seems to be able to get the better off lately. If he wins his third grand slam in a year then Murray fandom will hit the roof.

4) Murray may become the World Number one soon. This prestigious rank may be out of his reach at the current moment but with a possible US Open victory and the world tour finals soon after, he could become the greatest player on the planet. This would however, depend on what Djokovic does in the near future. He is not a man to underestimate. Murray being world number one would make him the first British man to get that high since, yes you guessed it, Fred Perry. The buzz a British number one would have on Britain would be incredible.

5) While Tennis is not the most political of sports (you don't see stories about Swizz V Spanish politics during Federer V Nadal matches whereas England V Germany in football always has a massive cultural buzz), Murray being Scottish is bound to have a huge impact in the next 12 months. In June 2014 the people of Scotland will decide whether to remain in the United Kingdom, and I feel a lot of talk will be about the Scot, who wins things for Britain. As an Olympic Gold medallist, and a resident of England, will he be happy to no longer be a part of Britain? You highly doubt it. More importantly, would the rest of Britain be happy to lose such a great Tennis player? Yet again, you highly doubt it.

For whatever the reasons then, the next year will certainly be 'Murray this, Murray that' and more than likely for a few years beyond that. When considering Tim Henman had a hill in Wimbledon named after him after reaching a few semi finals, you can fully expect this train to keep on travelling until he is Sir Andrew Murray, and has his statue outside SW19. Which by the end of his career, he will probably deserve.

Shopping for the Football Enthusiast, by SportsDirect.com

Christmas shopping for people who are football mad can be especially difficult, particularly if the shopper doesn’t share the same enthusiasm. They probably already have the latest football boots, or have pre-ordered them, and another football mug or themed glass isn’t as thoughtful three years in. SportsDirect.com take a look at the top football gifts that will be appreciated this year.
Now that Winter has set in, footballers will be wanting to stay warm on the pitch. Football base layers, although they may not seem like the most exciting gift, will be extremely practical and useful during the Winter matches. Available in long and short sleeves, and in a range of different colours, there are plenty to choose from. The Sondico and Nike Pro ranges are equally as popular and benefit from a compression fit and incorporates technology that aims to lock heat in but also wick away moisture for a dry and comfortable feel. As football and fashion continue to go hand in hand, looking colour co-ordinated on the pitch has never been more important. Football socks are always a well-received gift and now there is even more choice in various colours and designs, there are sure to be a pair to match any football boots. They are perfect as a Christmas stocking filler.
By the end the year football boot bags usually end up tatty and ripped, so they perfect for replacing at Christmastime. Some are available that are in the same design as the brand’s latest football boots, for example the adidas F50 Boot Bag. Why not fill the bag with extra little gifts for even more surprises?
Similarly, shin guards are also available in the same style as the football boot, for example the Nike Mercurial CR7 galaxy themed football boots have matching shin guards – the Nike Mercurial Lite CR7 shin guards, this is the same across many brands and style of boot. They are perfect for a more personal gift.
Other football accessories such as especially designed gloves and hats, or performance trackers such as the adidas miCoach Speedpod or the Nike Plus sensor are also great ideas for the serious footballer.

For more information and to keep up-to-date visit SportsDirect's Facebook and Twitter pages. 

Keeping active …… South American style!

If there was one thing I thoroughly enjoyed doing during my 4 month stay in Ecuador, it was keeping active. Ecuador is the only country in the world that has a coast, mountain range and jungle, and with amazing opportunities to explore these aspects, it is hard to not get out and about to see the stunning scenery and  experience the exciting adventures this wonderful country has to offer!

Cycling
One of my favourite things to do in Ecuador was hop on a bike and cycle for hours. Cycling was one of the best ways to explore the many beautiful and intriguing places and as you were that enthralled by the draw dropping scenery you never noticed that you were riding round for hours at a time whilst briefly stopping to capture the amazing views on camera and then excitedly jumping back on your bike to venture to the next spot!
The bike ride that I will never forget was a route that took you from the top of an active volcano all the way down to the bottom. It took most of the day but felt like it lasted only seconds due to the sheer beauty and aura of the desolate land that we were exploring. There were wild horses galloping around a landscape that could only be described as prehistoric and looked like no humans had ever stepped foot there. On the way down we rode through streams and valleys and encountered many wonderful species of strange and wonderful wild life I had never seen or heard of before. We even stumbled across the Ecuadorian football team training on the side of the volcano half way down for fitness at altitude. The whole experience was mind blowing and even fitness phobes  wouldn’t have turned this amazing workout down!
Horse riding
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this at first as I had  never rode a horse in my life and with all the restrictions in this country when u first take to the saddle, I thought my ride would be very controlled and held back. I couldn’t of been more wrong!
 As I mounted a horse, scarily named Lightning, I was apprehensive yet excited to start my trek around a cloud forest deep in the heart of the Ecuadorian mountain range. Sure enough a trot turned into a canter which soon transformed into a gallop! Even though at times I was fearing for my life, I couldn’t help but enjoy the freedom and excitement the horse ride had to offer. I cant simply put into words how breath taking the cloud forest was and it defiantly lived up to its name as  whilst we meandered our way through the trees on our horses, we were engulfed by bellows of cloud as we dipped into ravines. It felt like we were entering another world and the feeling was incredible! Our horses lead us through beautiful parts of the forest and it felt electrifying at the end of the trek when we galloped our way across a river. I felt like I was in a film. Something I will never forgot and it was a very active day.
Hiking
I don’t know where to start with this one as I had never hiked so much until I arrived in Ecuador. Each hike differentiated in so many ways even if it was the same route! The landscape and surroundings changed daily as did the views due to the diverse weather which transformed the skyline into different pieces of artwork each time. As I lived in the Andean mountain range, it was hard to turn a corner and not stop for a few seconds to take in the memorizing scenery, especially the higher up the mountain you got, the panoramic views were incomparable to any others I had ever experienced.
My favourite route was a 5 hour hike around the mouth of a dormant volcano that lay sleeping for thousands of years. Conveniently it neighboured the school where I taught so the children and I would regularly go exploring around the lake and in the secret caves that surrounded the land. On some of the colder days, the route would be thick with snow so we would put on our winter snow boots and go sledging down the many rolling hills  and winding paths which the children loved immensely! It was a hike no one could ever get bored of and certainly a worth while workout.


During my time in Ecuador I lost well over a stone, toned up all my major muscle groups and massively  increased my breathing capacity, I came back feeling like a new person but at no point do I remember exercising and working out … all I recall is going on adventures, exploring and creating memories that will last a lifetime!

Trampolining: The sport that's grasping the nation's children

Back in the late 2000s trampolining really kicked off, trampolines sprung up in back gardens across the nation. The craze is still incredibly popular, with  indoor trampolining parks opening worldwide where you can literally bounce off the walls (already in some parts of the UK).
As children, we all loved the feeling of jumping as high as we could, whether it was on a bouncy castle or a trampoline but we all knew nine (change to numbers)  times out of ten you would land safely. The only time I got to use a trampoline was when the fair came to town, but now due to their relatively low costs children can use them everyday in the comfort of their own garden. Not only is it a great way of keeping children fit, but adults can burn around 150 calories by doing 30 minutes of moderate bouncing and having fun at the same time.
From my experience, the bigger the diameter of the trampoline the better the bounce is, plus you can get more people on. Dunlop sport have a selection of 8ft, 10ft and 12ft trampolines (don’t link too much) to choose from, all with a mesh safety guard to keep you or your children safe. The safety guard is now a common feature on most models of trampolines and is a necessity as most are injured by either falling off or being left unsupervised.
There is a wide variety of tricks and stunts that you can do on a trampoline, one of my favourites is the simple seat drop, where you land in a seated position pushing yourself back up with your hands. For somebody who was dreadful at gymnastics at school this skill is rather easy to pick up and does not require expertise. For the more adventurous jumper the somersault is the trick everybody wants to do, whether it be forwards or backwards. Although it may sound obvious, if you or your child is going to attempt to do a somersault ensure that nobody else is on the trampoline and (that you are) are positioned in the centre of the trampoline.
So if you’re thinking about buying a trampoline, my top tip would be to lay a hosepipe/wire in your garden with the diameter of the trampoline you wish to purchase in order to get a rough idea of where it could go and how it would fit.
But remember to enjoy this summer and most importantly have fun.

WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS AND HOW TO COMBAT THEM

Accidents happen at work all the time. Everyone in a work environment is responsible for the safety at work and this means employers and employees have a major role to play. Health and Safety bodies have put in place regulations and set standards for employers to meet but his is not enough because employees too have to follow rules set by their employers.
There are several types of accidents that can happen in a workplace and there are also measures that can be put in place to prevent them from happening. Below are examples of accidents at work and how to prevent them;
• Trips and Falls-  These accidents are very common in a workplace. They are caused by spillage of fluids on the floor, inappropriate flooring or unsuitable footwear in a particular work environment.
Ways of prevention
 Use the most appropriate footwear for the work environment such as work boots or safety boots.
 Effective management and carrying out risk assessments
 Appropriate flooring in the workplace
 Inform people of spillages using caution signs
A SPILL, A SLIP, A HOSPITAL TRIP. STAY SAFE AT WORK
• Heights – Falling from a great height  is also very common in a workplace. Working at heights needs to be done safely. These are caused by fragile surfaces, inappropriate work equipment, weather conditions and lack of concentration to name a few.
Ways of prevention
 Proper planning and supervision
 Use of appropriate equipment
 Plan for emergencies and rescue
 Effective risk assessment
 Control risks from fragile surfaces
DON’T STEP BACK TO ADMIRE YOUR WORK WHILE ON A LADDER
• Manual Handling – this can involve lowering, lifting, pushing, pulling and carrying. Each one of these tasks needs to be carried out with care to minimise risk of injury. These accidents can be caused by poor risk assessment, environmental conditions, individual capability, and nature of the load.
Ways of prevention
 Reduce carrying distances where possible
 Assess the weight before lifting and seek help when required
 Avoid lifting heavy loads from floor level or above shoulder height
 Maintain a good posture
USE YOUR HEAD AND YOUR BACK WILL THANK YOU

Skin and Hair Care for Swimmers

Introduction
This blog  talks about tips and tricks for protecting your skin and hair from chlorine damage when swimming. I talk through my own routine and how I prepare myself, what I do during my swim and how I get rid of any lingering chlorine when I’m done!  There are some fairly common products and tips and a couple of unusual ones that will help you protect your coloured hair from turning green!

Pre Swim Beauty Regime
To begin, my routine before I swim. I always take a quick shower before entering the pool to hydrate the top layer of my skin and wet my hair which prevents it from soaking up chemicals in the water and helps fight against chemical damage. A great tip for those of you with blonde or coloured hair, is to use coconut oil to prevent the chlorine turning your hair green! It hydrates the hair cuticle with a layer of moisturiser that seals and blocks the chlorine effecting your hair colour. If like me your skin is sensitive to chlorine, you can buy chlorine neutralising body lotion and use this in your pre dip shower! Some swimmers may find that areas of the body chafe throughout their workout, this may be the inner thighs due to the amount of work your legs do during your swim. A good tip is to apply petroleum jelly to these areas prior to your swim to ease the irritation and avoid damage to the skin.

Swimming Workout
Now, I’m ready to dive in! It is important to me to get the most out of my swim, as I have to take a lot of care protecting my hair and skin from the chlorine, my swim has to be worth it! I find doing lengths for 45 minutes gets rather boring, so I make sure I switch it up and use tools to make it harder and ultimately work myself harder! I enjoy using resistance gloves, you can feel the effect they have whilst you’re swimming, so you know they are working! I tend to do 6 lengths with the gloves and then change it up. I then use my kickboard which is a great tool because it helps me work certain areas of my body harder, depending  on the stroke. Again I will do about 6 lengths per stroke with the kickboard so in total I manage around 30! For my first set of lengths I stick to a traditional kick, so swimming with the kickboard in front of me, this works on strengthening my quadriceps and hamstrings. Next, I do a breast stroke, this move is quite tough and you can really feel the burn in your thighs after a length or two! To ease it up I then do the back kick, which is a lot more relaxing! Similar to the traditional kick, lying on my back with the kickboard above my head. Finally I do a side kick, only 3 lengths for this move and then 3 lengths on the other side, to make sure both sides work evenly!

During My Swim
During my swim I always take a bottle of water to leave at the edge of the pool. It is very important to stay hydrated, just as you would doing any other sport! If you are dehydrated your skin is more likely to be damaged by the chlorine, so keeping refreshed and having a sip of water every couple of lengths is an easy and effective way to protect your skin from drying up.

Post Swim Beauty Regime
Once I leave the pool the next step of my beauty regime commences! I make sure I have a thorough shower for several minutes to allow the fresh water to wash away as much chlorine as possible. I use aqueous cream to wash my body as it is neutralising and gentle on my skin. Other lotions that are lanolin based or contain aloe vera, I also find are good for the skin after swimming. I wash my hair with a clarifying shampoo that contains EDTA to make sure there is no chemical residue remaining in my hair. A handy tip is that apple cider vinegar is a natural remedy to remove residue in your hair, although I have never taken this to my local swimming baths! Finally, I always condition my hair after washing to leave it soft and shiny!

Drying Tips
Now, I’m out of the pool, out of the shower and it’s almost time to get dressed! For some reason whenever we go swimming it seems impossible to fully dry ourselves before trying to slip back into our clothes! So, I always take talcum powder with me and apply it to the areas that need it most, usually my feet and upper body! This seems to work wonders every time and makes it much easier to get dressed! My final step is to apply a moisturiser to rehydrate my skin and leave it feeling smooth!

Washing
Once I arrive home from my swim I like to get my costume washed straight away and get rid of any residing chlorine! Giving  your swimwear a thorough wash as soon as you can helps them last longer as well as removing the chlorine ready for next time you put it on!

Conclusion
So, there are lots of handy tips to help protect yourself from chlorine damage, however if you’re short for time you could always pop on a swimming cap! Looking after your skin is important and if you are a regular swimmer it is a good tip to follow a similar regime throughout the week, so your skin is always prepared. The more sensitive your skin is the more precautions you need to take, so as well as the tips in my blog you could also check out similar blogs or sensitive skin related blogs that may talk about more specific products that could really improve your skin!