The Bayliner 285 Cruiser

Author: Jack C. Davis
Source: ezinearticles.com

The 285 is one of two Bayliner Cruisers that has a base price under $100,000. Like all Bayliner products this one has lots of extras that increase the price and the fun and comfort of the boat.

The 28 foot 285 gives people a lot of boat for just $83,304. The standard package has a 102 gallon fuel tank and a 33 gallon water tank. It also buys a lot of great standard features for the big boat including a transom shower, a transom platform with a retractable ladder and handrail, and a transferable five year warranty.

The roomy cockpit comes standard with dual loungers that convert to a sun lounger, foldaway aft bench, helm bucket seating, a removable table and two weatherproof speakers for the stereo. The helm comes with a great package of standard electronics including a digital depth indicator, electric and hydraulic trim tab controls, and a full package of instrumentation. A twelve volt outlet makes it possible to hook up extra gadgets in the helm. If that wasn’t enough the 285 Cruiser is real easy to pilot because it comes standard with rack and pinion steering, and tilt steering.

One of the best features is the galley which comes standard with an alcohol/electric dual burner stove, a dual voltage refrigerator and a stainless steel sink with a faucet. A neat added feature in the galley is an AM/FM stereo and CD Player that’s satellite ready and MP3 compatible.

The head is also pretty nice for a boat of this price. It comes standard with a port light, a sink and a shower. A six gallon water heater ensures that there will be plenty of hot water for the two showers. The marine head has a holding tank and manual flush.

Like most Bayliners the 285 Cruiser comes standard with a Mercury MerCruiser engine. In this case the 350 MAG MPI MerCruiser Bravo III with 300 horsepower. Only other engine option is offered with the 285 Cruiser the same engine with 300 horsepower and SeaCore Fresh Water Cooling. Sadly, Bayliner doesn’t offer additional horse power or engine options with this model.

Despite the lack of engine options some other great options are available with this boat including:

A $1,529 Northstar electronics package that includes a Char Plotter/GPS and 710 VHF Marine radio.
A 110V/60Hz air conditioning and heating system for $4.779.
Sirius Satellite Radio for $286
A fire suppression system for $636.
A 3 KW generator for $9,300
Preferred equipment package that includes some nicer furnishings, a stereo, a black or blue hull gel stripe and extra pillows for $4.271.

The 28 foot long 285 Cruiser is probably the best for its price. The bayliner 285 Cruiser is an excellent choice for Florida boat owners.

Enjoy Your Stay at Alaska Better Fishing

Author: Dan Skordahl
Source: ezinearticles.com

When it comes to fishing for the perfect salmon or halibut, there is no better place than Alaska. There are so many great places where you could go and try your hand at getting that perfect fish. Alaska has very rich waters that are teeming with many different varieties of fish. If you really want to enjoy your fishing vacation in Alaska, you should make it a point to check in into an Alaska fishing resort.

Whether you will be fishing for a few days or for over a week, you would definitely have a good time when you stay at an Alaska fishing resort. Many of the resorts are comparable to the first class hotels around the world. There are also fishing resorts that are quite affordable and friendly to the budget. You could definitely find the right resorts that fit the bill for you.

Some of the fishing resorts in Alaska can offer their guests with private cabins. This is definitely great for weary travelers because they can relax without being disturbed by the other guests. Guests who appreciate their privacy will really like the peace and quiet that the private cabins offer.

The fishing resorts in Alaska can also offer you with clean and well appointed rooms. The fishing resorts usually have all the amenities that are usually found on the world class hotels. You would definitely be able to rest well after your tiring fishing expeditions. You could expect cable television, air conditioning, and even an internet connection to stay in touch with your loved ones.

If you are taking your family with you when you go fishing in Alaska, you should definitely consider getting the services of the Alaska fishing resort. They have many great services that really fit your family’s needs. Their rooms are clean and really well-appointed. Most of the resorts can even get you guides to take you to the many tourist spots around Alaska.

Exploring the many beautiful views in Alaska is definitely a great experience. You could definitely enjoy the breathtaking sights around the place. You could definitely feast your eyes on the snow-clad mountains and amazing coastlines. And if you are feeling adventurous, there are so many exciting things that you could do here.

Aside from the usual fishing experience, you could also get to enjoy Alaska in a different number of ways. You could get to view the many different forms of wildlife in the forests and in the waters. You could get to see bears, eagles, whales, and many more interesting animals. You could also go kayaking in the various fjords and lakes around the place. If you go deeper inland, you can even get to go trekking in the mountains and valleys.

There are definitely many ways that you could enjoy your stay in Alaska. You might have lots of fun fishing, but you might find yourself enjoying exploring the breathtaking sights of the place more. And the best place where you could get some rest and enjoy the rest of your stay is in the Alaska fishing resort.

Dan Skordahl is an expert in Alaska Fishing Resort. He turned his passion for fishing into career, he is willing to guide you create memories out of his good experience and knowledge. For more information, check out http://www.sitkapointcharters.com/.

Ghillie Suits and Summerime

Author: James Mizzell
Source: ezinearticles.com

Yes! It’s summer. It’s hot and promises to get hotter. Imagine yourself sitting in the woods without a breath of air moving. You’re in your full body jute ghillie suit and are trying hard not to move. As you sit a lot of things go through your mind. You follow with your mind that little bead of sweat that just formed on your back and like all it’s predecessors, trickled right into your butt-crack. You wonder why you just had to have a jute suit instead of the lightweight synthetics. You wish you had sprung for the hydration pack. Will they ever build a ghillie suit with built-in air-conditioning? Now that they are abandoning the space program, maybe you can get one of NASA’s air-conditioned space suits (in a camo pattern) on sale at your local army surplus store.

Take heart! While you are out enjoying yourself, your loving wife and adorable children are enjoying air-conditioned comfort at the mall. Maybe they will think to get you some salt tablets to combat your dehydration.

Maybe the heat and gnats will be easier to endure if you remember little sayings like “this is character-building” or “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”. It doesn’t take a lot of time in a ghillie suit this time of year before you understand why most hunting seasons start in the fall.

Paintballers have the option of wearing a ghillie jacket without the ghillie pants or even a head and shoulders ghillie poncho. A lot of ghillie suits are built on a base of mesh that allows for a little air movement. All the ghillie ponchos I know of are built this way.

I recommend a suit for every season. A head and shoulders poncho for the hot hot summertime. One of the ultralight 4 piece synthetic suits for fall. A BDU ghillie suit for the winter along with a white ghillie poncho when it snows. The autumnal suit can also be used again in the spring. Then you may also want 1 or 2 suits in different color patterns for different terrain.

If you have the money to buy that many ghillie suits, you probably just pay somebody to go out and have fun for you.

I am James, owner of http://www.Ghilliesandstuff.com and http://www.camp-in-tents.com “

Summertime Suffering in a Ghillie Suit

Author: James E Mizzell
Source: articlesbase.com

Yes! It’s summer. It’s hot and promises to get hotter. Imagine yourself sitting in the woods without a breath of air moving. You’re in your full body jute ghillie suit and are trying hard not to move. As you sit a lot of things go through your mind. You follow with your mind that little bead of sweat that just formed on your back and like all it’s predecessors, trickled right into your butt-crack. You wonder why you just had to have a jute suit instead of the lightweight synthetics. You wish you had sprung for the hydration pack. Will they ever build a ghillie suit with built-in air-conditioning? Now that they are abandoning the space program, maybe you can get one of NASA’s air-conditioned space suits (in a camo pattern) on sale at your local army surplus store. Take heart! While you are out enjoying yourself, your loving wife and adorable chidren are enjoying air-conditioned comfort at the mall. Maybe they will think to get you some salt tablets to combat your dehydration. Maybe the heat and gnats will be easier to endure if you remember little sayings like “this is character-building” or “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”. It doesn’t take a lot of time in a ghillie suit this time of year before you understand why most hunting seasons start in the fall. Paintballers have the option of wearing a ghillie jacket without the ghillie pants or even a head and shoulders ghillie poncho. A lot of ghillie suits are built on a base of mesh that allows for a little air movement. All the ghillie ponchos I know of are built this way. I recommend a suit for every season. A head and shoulders poncho for the hot hot summertime. One of the ultralight 4 piece synthetic suits for fall. A BDU ghillie suit for the winter along with a white ghillie poncho when it snows. The autumnal suit can also be used again in the spring. Then you may also want 1 or 2 suits in different color patterns for different terrain. If you have the money to buy that many ghillie suits, you probably just pay somebody to go out and have fun for you.

I am James Mizzell, owner of GhilliesandStuff.com, Camp in Tents.com, and Debt Free for Financial Freedom

NFL Super Bowl XLIV

Author: Rich Stephenson
Source: ezinearticles.com

Since 1997, the Landshark Stadium has hosted several football events and that includes two World Series and four Super Bowls. This will be the fifth time that Landshark Stadium will host the Super Bowl and the ninth for the entire Miami area.

Super Bowl XLIV will officially start on February 7, 2010. The show will also be aired live via CBS. And because of the event’s popularity, it has always been considered almost as a national holiday in the US. Fans fondly call the event the Super Bowl Sunday. It is also the day when most families are out enjoying the food and the activities in and around the area. The NFL championship is almost as popular as Thanksgiving Day.

More than the championship itself, the half time shows during the Super Bowl games are highly anticipated as well. Many big stars have graced the game through their intermissions numbers during half-time. Among them are Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Prince, The Rolling Stones, Paula Abdul, Madonna, and Tom Petty. For 2010, there are negotiations that Bon Jovi will do the half-time show. However, Bruce Springsteen and his band had initially aired their willingness to do the half-time show so it is most likely that they will end up as the next Super Bowl half-time performers.

Being one of the biggest events in 2010, Super Bowl XLIV will definitely make Florida a very busy state with all the tourists and the fans traveling to the place just to watch their favorite game live. As the designated hosts, the Tampa Bay area has signaled an ‘all systems go’ alert for the event. Even the highways and the transportations are ready to take both the locals and the tourists to the stadium. The hotels and inns are all geared up for the event as well. The restaurants have their menu all straightened out as early as now to feed the multitudes of hungry fans who are ready to join in the fun.

The Landshark Stadium has a seating capacity of more than 65,000 and it can hold as much as 75,000 people if needed. The stadium has the best amenities too, with the 195 luxury suites being the best seats in the house. Watch your favorite game in a private room complete with restroom, bar, television screens, retractable windows, and air conditioning systems.

If you intend to watch the NFL 2010 championships live, you better secure your tickets and parking this early. With the number of people all ready to enjoy the big event along with their families, it could be hard to get last chance tickets along the way. Right now, the tickets for Super Bowl XLIV can easily be ordered online and then delivered to your home or be scheduled for pick up. As the event nears, the prices and the availability of these tickets could change greatly.

Rich Stephenson is in the web development field for a ticket broker that sells tickets to all sports, concert and theater events. Ticket broker also sells Cheap Super Bowl Tickets as well as NFL Football Tickets for and all other football games.

Stress Reduction – 30 Easy Things That You Can Do

Author: Ron Goodwsen – Imagine Me Media
Source: articleage.com

Stress affects the whole person – body, mind, feelings, and
behavior, and just as symptoms can take many forms, so there are
many simple actions that you can take to relieve these symptoms.

Take Action on Stress. Ask yourself “Am I stressed, or am I in
denial?” Simply making a conscious decision to act upon your
situation will bring to you, such a sense of relief that this
unpleasant situation is going to change, that you will
immediately start to feel some benefit. Chunk Down. Chunking
down helps you to define what the problems actually are. It
helps you to divide the problems causing you stress into smaller
and therefore more manageable parts. You can then look for
solutions, options and ways forward. This is a good problem
solving technique.

Speak to Someone. A problem shared is a problem halved, it’s
good to talk. Talking it over with a friend or someone who is
willing to listen, who wont judge or offer advice, can often
help to de-clutter the mind and clarify your perspective and
help you to take appropriate action to relieve stress.

Write it down – Let it out. Write a letter to yourself or to
someone else, without posting it, but find a means of getting
your true thoughts and feelings down on paper. You can then
destroy it if you wish, it’s a form of release, which you can
then follow up with a plan to resolve your issues.

Ask for Professional Help. Seek out a hypnotherapy DVD or find a
hypnotherapist to help you refocus on relaxation and stress
relief.

Stop Procrastinating. Procrastination is itself a cause of
stress, Eliminate procrastination from your life. Don’t put
things off until tomorrow. Do them today. Create a “DO IT NOW”
mentality.

Don’t be afraid to say NO. Change the Dynamic of your situation.
If you can learn how to be more assertive, this will enable you
to say what you think and act how you want to. Imagine how much
less stressed this will make you feel.

Give yourself choices. Change the stress factors that you can
and strengthen your ability to cope with ones that you cannot
change. Be creative, find compromises, Reframe problems and look
for solutions that create win-win outcomes.

Take a step back from the situation. Create some distance
between yourself and the stressor. Walk away and find a quiet
place even if that’s sitting in your car or a bathroom. Take a
couple of deeper breaths and imagine yourself far, far away from
it. See the stressor for what it really is. See it small and
manageable compared to the bigger picture and see how much
calmer you feel.

Manage your Time – Be Organized. Time management allows you to
plan and organize your life to give yourself more space and
opportunity. It involves planning, delegating, setting an agenda
and not wasting any time doing unnecessary things or worrying
about things over which you have no control.

Start the day with confidence. Prepare for the coming day, the
night before. Then you’re not rushed in the morning and off to a
bad start straight away.

Don’t rely on your memory (it’s the first thing to go when
you’re stressed). Write down appointments, to-do lists,
directions and shopping lists. Create order out of chaos. Don’t
be late. Give yourself more time to do things so that you are
not pressured. Get up a little earlier, leave a little earlier
for appointments.

Focus. Do one thing at a time and do it well, focus on the job
at hand and forget everything else you have to do.

Take a moment. Allow yourself some personal time, everyday, a
private moment for peace, quiet and contemplation.

Have an optimistic view of the world. Expect things to go right,
expect people to be nice. You may find that’s exactly what
happens!

Learn to be Tolerant. Remember that most people are doing the
best that they can. Find it within yourself to be tolerant and
understanding. People make mistakes. Accept the fact that we
live in an imperfect world.

Take Regular Exercise. Exercise combats many of the physical and
emotional symptoms of stress and can make you feel better about
yourself. Feeling healthy can bring about improvements in
self-esteem and self-image and increase confidence. When our
confidence and esteem are lifted our perception of ourselves
changes completely and becomes much more positive.

Make exercise Fun. Don’t ignore the mental and emotional aspect
of regular exercise. Giving yourself time out to do something
fun simply makes you feel good, so if you’re feeling stressed
and unsure about whether to exercise or not, simply remind
yourself of how you are going to feel afterwards.

Get Outside and Walk it off, – Breathe in some Fresh Air. If you
work in an office with air conditioning, get outside and clear
your head. Walk about and Fill your lungs with Air. Try some
Deep Breathing Techniques, which re-energizes and invigorates
your mind and body. This simple exercise also releases hormones
that affect your mood, creating a more relaxed and positive
frame of mind and releasing physical stress from the body.

Treat yourself – Have something to look forward to. Get away
from it all, even if it’s just for one day. Better still, have
regular weekend breaks and don’t ever take work with you. Make
sure that you book a proper holiday each year to recharge your
batteries, it doesn’t matter where, just do it.

Learn to use your body’s Relaxation Response. Imagine… having
relief on tap – something you could experience whenever you need
it, something that would remove all the stress from your body
and return the sparkle to your mind.

You can use hypnosis to trigger this wonderful natural effect,
which will release hormones and neurotransmitters that flood
your body and mind with pure, cleansing relaxation. You owe it
to yourself to feel the relief you can have instantly, so learn
this technique. Make Relaxation part of your daily routine. The
following practices will help you to relax and unwind.

- Guided relaxation and visualization techniques: obtain a CD or
DVD

- Meditation: Brings an abundance of calm into your life

- Progressive Muscle Relaxation: deeply, physically relaxing

- Massage/ Aromatherapy: Go on, pamper yourself

- Yoga; a mixture of meditation and gentle movement and
stretching

- Shiatsu; Energy balancing and deeply relaxing

Other methods and therapies include; Floatation tanks, Reiki,
Indian head massage, Thai Chi and Reflexology. Do your research
and try a few things and find the treatment most suitable for
you.

Eat Properly – Food is not just fuel. Make the time in your
schedule to eat properly and take time to enjoy your meals when
you do eat them. Don’t just shovel the food in and dash off for
the next meeting, give your digestive system a fighting chance
by eating slowly and resting after your meal.

(Remember, peptic ulcers aren’t fun).

Eat Healthy. Look after your health by eating a sensible
balanced diet. Eat breakfast to kick-start your day. If you need
to, create new good eating habits. Ensure that your lifestyle
changes to suit your real needs. Poor nutrition will further
weaken your resistance to illness and allow other symptoms of
stress to develop.

Lay off the coffee and tea. (the caffeine doesn’t help you to
relax)

Take a hot bath. Have a good soak in the evening to relieve the
tension in your body before going to bed

Ensure that you get enough sleep. This is essential. You’ll wake
up feeling refreshed with more energy and able to function
better throughout the day.

Enjoy the moments. Find something that makes you smile or laugh
out loud. Laughter is the answer to stress, because it’s hard to
be stressed and anxious when you’re having fun!

Remember to Enjoy Life. Every day, take time to do something
that you enjoy.

Learn to live one day at a time and take each day as you find
it. Life only comes round once, it’s quite short and you have to
appreciate what’s good in it.

Softball Conditioning – How to Keep Hydrated During Summer

Author: Marc Dagenais
Source: ezinearticles.com

Let’s face it. Since summer has come, all we want to do is to keep ourselves cool like a cucumber during this season. Some of us go to the mall to enjoy the air-conditioned environment. Some of us jump into the pool or go to the beach to cool off. Whereas, there are some of us who just basically want to stay at home to avoid getting hot and sweaty due to a warm weather.

But for softball players, it is important for them to keep their heads in the game regardless of season. They need to continually improve themselves in all aspects in order to remain competitive through many softball practice sessions so that, come game season, they would be able to stay ahead of the opposing teams. And they do so through exercise, practice as well as softball conditioning drills.

Because of the effort they exert physically in pitching and hitting balls and running on the bases, they are more prone than ever of dehydration when summer comes. They lose so much fluids and electrolytes in their bodies that they become sluggish and become more prone to muscle cramps, headaches, dizziness, fainting and irritability.

So aside from exercise, drills and practice, softball players must also keep their bodies well-hydrated in order to normalize body temperature as well as help in the recuperation of the muscles. Usually, players drink water or sports drinks but did you know that there are fruits that contain fluids and electrolytes that can help you keep cool this summer?

Since during summer, a lot of fruits become available and these are what you can snack on that not only satisfies your hunger or provide you with much-needed nutrients but they are also high source of water and electrolytes. Read on to know more about them.

Peaches

Peach is a fruit that is, of course, commonly available during the hot season and what is good about it is that it is rich in Vitamin A, C and fiber. It is a perfect fruit for those who are calorie conscious and it can give you 87.09 g. of water per piece.

Berries

Strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, you name it. These berries have high water content and at the same time, they contain Vitamin C and fiber. In fact, if you consume a cup of strawberries, you get an equivalent of 138.24 g. of water. Also, they can even prevent some forms of cancer.

Apples

The saying, “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away”, is definitely true as it contains fiber and it can even prevent cancer and cardiovascular diseases. In fact, it has 118.07 g. of water. Its skin even contains pectin, a nutrient that keeps your cholesterol balanced.

Mangoes

The king of the fruits, mangoes, usually grow in tropical countries and these are very rich in Vitamin A and C. At the same time, it contains water content equivalent to 134.82 g. of water.

Melons

Melons are present everywhere during summer and they are even more yummy when they are eaten cold. These fruits contain Vitamin A and lycopene that helps fight certain cancers. Even better, it contains 140.83 g. of water per serving.

Of course, nothing still beats water but now that you know which fruits to eat to help you stay fresh and hydrated during summer, you can opt for these tasty snacks to keep your body cool and refreshed.

So, enjoy those softball conditioning tips on how to keep hydrated even during summer.

Marc Dagenais is a Softball Peak Performance Coach that helps softball players turn their athletic talent into extraordinary performances and help coaches get more out of their players, turn their struggling team around or get an edge over their opponents. Visit us to sign-up to get our FREE softball pitching tips!

Bicyclists – Beat Or Treat Potential Overheating Symptoms With Your Own Know-How and Supplies

Author: J Delms
Source: ezinearticles.com

Not all bicyclists do well during hot weather rides, particularly on routes where little shade exists to start with, or when the rider’s body wants to shut down for no apparent reason other than being slightly hot or tired. These heat-related symptoms generally occur when the body can no longer cool itself down to healthy temperatures during athletic exercise. Here are three basic ways to avoid or treat potential heat-related symptoms while riding in hot sunny weather.

1. The fast way: jump into a creek or lake, carefully!

Recently, a professional personal trainer wrote in a sports magazine that overheated bicyclists need to cool off fairly fast by immersing themselves in cool water. If necessary, this treatment could mean jumping into a nearby creek or lake if one exists. Such a move works well simply because it cools down all of the body rapidly. But, what if this water source is infested with harmful wildlife, algae, or bacteria?

Several years ago, a group of teenagers in a southern state wanted to cool off quickly by swimming in the clear blue water of an abandoned strip mining pit. One boy, anxious to be the first one in, lept into the water in his underwear. When he surfaced, a dozen water moccasins were clinging to his body by their mouths. Apparently, he had landed in an underwater mass of them. Most of the snakes were young. Still, the boy did not make it to the hospital in time to be saved.

Be cautious when entering a creek, pond, or lake, especially if it could hold dangerous wildlife. Rather than jumping into the water, use a can, carton, or water bottle to draw it, and then pour it over yourself. Otherwise, wade into the shallows, and splash the water onto your head and torso with your hands.

2. Add safety precautions to a preplanned hot-weather ride.

Gradually acclimate yourself to riding in hot weather ahead of time.
Wear common but light-colored clothing that will also wick sweat away properly.
Avoid the midday heat. Ride only during the morning or evening hours, or when the weather is cloudy and fairly cool.
Avoid riding on surfaces that become super hot during sunny hot weather.
Take the back-roads or trails having adequate shade and natural water spots on or near them. If possible, scout the intended route ahead of time. Look for adequate shade from underpasses, tunnels, trees, buildings, or trailheads. Also, check for water spots to cool off with if it comes to that, e.g., creeks, ponds, lagoons, fountains, marshes, drainage ditches, lakes, and trailheads equipped with running water.
Stay close to civilization. Plan your ride to go through small towns or near convenience stores where running and bottled water are available, and where one can cool off under air-conditioning.
Ride with a safety-minded partner or group.
Carry a cell phone to contact help from your family, friends, or emergency numbers.
Take advantage of the sponsored rides. These rides have supplies-and-gear (SAG) rest stops every 10-20 miles. They provide shade, energy food, and cool drinking water. Volunteers also patrol these rides for health and safety reasons. They offer rides to bicyclists needing them. For a small fee, these rides are much safer than exposing oneself to the hot-weather elements precariously.

3. Carry these supplies.

Extra water. Carry extra bottles of water in a cooler bag attached to the handle bars or rear rack, or carry it in a large hydration-backpack. Portions of this supply can be poured over your head and torso when overheating appears to be happening.
Fortified drinking liquids. For drinking water, use the gels or liquids fortified with electrolytes, salts, and nutrients to aid sweating and body temperature control.
Food. Carry and eat high-liquid fruits and vegetables in addition to the common high-energy snacks.
Chemical ice packs (available from health and medical supply outlets). Take along several of these cooling packs. If you begin to overheat, activate one or more of these packs by squeeze-crushing them, and then place them on top of your head under your helmet or elsewhere as needed. These packs will give about 30-minutes of touch-transfer cooling.
Light-weight plastic tarp or tent. If natural shade is unavailable when needed, setup your own air-ventilated shade with this cover. A 15-to-30-minute rest under this cover can increase one’s heat endurance a lot. This setup works much better by pouring cool water over oneself first.
Collapsible container. Carry a folding cup or container to draw water with.

By knowing these precautions and treatments ahead of time, especially by knowing the availability of nearby water sources, a bicyclist can ride safely under most hot-weather conditions.

For more information on these heat-related symptoms, see the following website.

Bike Diva, Information for Cycling Enthusiasts Heat Exhaustion Symptoms http://bikediva.net/2008/08/25/heat-exhaustion-symptoms.

Indoor Ice Skating

Author: Drew Mers
Source: ezinearticles.com

Moving on ice using skates can be done either in indoor tracks that are specifically built for this activity, or in outdoor tracks, which can be both man-made and naturally occurring frozen bodies of water like ponds, lakes, and rivers. Ice skating is a popular sports and recreational activity, as well as a means for travel.

There are thousands of ice skating rinks throughout the world, but for now let us center on indoor ice skating. It is noteworthy that there are many temporary ice rinks that have surfaced, but these make use of wax instead of ice, making them very difficult to skate on.

Indoor ice skating rinks has an advantage over outdoor rinks in that it is more consistent in terms of its surface, as opposed to outdoor rinks, which can have varying ice quality. Indoor conditions can be set and controlled, like for example, keeping the skating surface at 24 to 26 degrees Fahrenheit, and the humidity at around 30 percent. It also permits adjustment in periods of warm outdoors, in order to adjust in turn the quality of the ice. Indoor ice skating rinks have dehumidifiers in the building to attain a low humidity and keep the air dry, as high humidity creates fogs over the ice.

As already mentioned, ice skating was used in order to get across frozen waterways in Europe thousands of years ago. In the early 1900s, however, modern ice rinks became very popular, thanks to brothers Lester and Joe Patrick, who started hockey leagues in Canada. The first ever indoor ice skating rink to be opened was in Victoria, Canada, an initiative of the two brothers, and this was then cost a little more than $100,000, with a capacity of 4,000 people. Vancouver, Canada saw another ice skating rink days after, doubling the cost of the previous rink, but was able to seat 10,000 people. The brothers then started building ice skating arenas also in the United States and western Canada, and to date, the U.S. has more than 1,700 ice skating rinks, and cost millions of dollars to built, in contrast to the hundred thousand dollar arena in Victoria.

Indoor ice skating rinks work pretty much like air conditioning units and refrigerators. Underneath these rinks are enormous refrigeration and ice-making systems that maintain the ice surface all year round. The refrigerant in this system cools brinewater which is actually a calcium chloride solution, and which is then pumped through pipes embedded underneath the rink. Because good ice is attained through controlling both indoor and outdoor temperatures, there can be great variations during temperature changes, even with just a one-degree change. In countries with warm weather, there is a possibility for the ice to soften, while in the low temperature countries, skating rinks need to be heated still to maintain good ice.

Drew Mers is a marketing consultant to the City Ice Pavilion ice skating rink in Long Island City, Queens, New York.

Miami Dolphins in the Bubble

Author: Rick Grantham
Source: ezinearticles.com

The Miami Dolphins are lucky enough to have their very own training facility. This is just right for a team who was able to get a perfect season in 1972. The training facility for the Dolphins is located in the main campus of the Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida. It is also the headquarter location for the Dolphins and is also used for a multitude of other events.

This state-of-the-art training facility features an exquisite architecture which reminds people of classic athletic facilities sporting the same design. The facility boasts of bowing trusses and has on of the largest weight rooms in the NFL. It also has training and locker rooms, whirlpools, therapy swimming pools, cold plunge pool, administrative offices, and of course, a practice field. Further, it has a bleacher building which accommodates 2000 visitors. The facility has an area of 5,200 square meters and is also used by other pro football teams.

An indoor training field known as “The Bubble” is also one venue of training for the Miami Dolphins. It is a 8,790 square meter indoor facility that covers the 2.2 acres on the west side of the main building. This indoor facility is an air-supported structure. The said structure was made and installed by the Air Structures American Technologies Incorporated but was constructed by the Stiles Construction. The football field inside the training facility is made out of synthetic turf composed of 75% rubber and 25% sand thereby providing a firm-playing surface. The markings found on the Dolphin Stadium game-day field is also replicated in this indoor facility. Loud crowd noise can also be simulated inside the bubble.

Before having this training facility, the Miami Dolphins trained at the St. Thomas University until 1993. Then in 2006, the indoor air-conditioned training field was added, which made the people of Miami, particularly the Dolphins proud of having such a useful and one-of-a-kind venue. The team admits that having such a training facility helps the team to feel as if they are playing in an actual field since the facility closely simulates actual games. Plus, an even better advantage is that the team can continue to practice even when the storms roll in.

The Bubble uses an extremely light yet sturdy fabric. It is inflated via the fans in the HVAC units and is controlled by an integrated control system. It was also designed to withstand the forces of hurricane winds up to category three. To achieve this, the internal air pressure is increased to stiffen the structure to withstand the external wind loads. The Dolphins do not really own the Bubble, it was just leased out to them by Jerome Harriot.

The Miami Dolphins training facility was the venue used by the 2006 AFC Champions, the Indianapolis Colts, to prepare for the Super Bowl XLI. For a team who has really excellent training grounds, the Miami Dolphins have a lot of pressure in their performance. People expect a lot from a team who is given the best of everything and so far, the Dolphins has been giving an average performance.

Rick Grantham is an avid NFL fan. Most of Rick’s articles focus on Miami Dolphins Merchandise. Many articles are related to NFL mini helmets and other sports related topics. Rick is a contributing author to BooYah Village