Ice Hockey Helmet

Keep Fit The Fun Way In Spandex And Ice Skates

We all know that we should eat less and exercise more. But if you're not a fan of protein shakes and running on a treadmill like a hamster in a wheel, then what options are available to get a little fitter with some fun? Sports are a great way to exercise with purpose, and choosing a team based sport will be a boost to your social life and make it more difficult to back out if you're feeling a bit lazy. Another sure fire way of keeping to a new exercise plan is to invest in equipment. Once you've spent a week's wages on specialist equipment, you'll be motivated to get the most out of your money.

Another lifestyle cliche is that variety is the spice of life, with that in mind, what sporting activity could be fun, energetic, motivational and varied? Well folks, I hereby propose that by buying a pair of ice skates, you can kill many metaphorical birds with one stone! Sports on ice are numerous and varied, here we have a brief guide to three of the most popular skate based sports.

Figure Skating
You may be no Torville or Dean, but dressing up in sparkling spandex and pirouetting to some cheesy tunes is definitely an exciting way to get the blood flowing and tighten up the tush. Figure skating has been around for hundreds of years, but it's beginning s were a lot less flamboyant, more of a stiff skating gesture on ice. The modern incarnation was developed in the late 1800s, with emphasis on a free and expressive style. Be prepared to learn and master spins and jumps and lifts as well as perfecting a tightly sprayed hairdo and the successful application of theatrical make-up! The sport is just as popular for men as it is for women, and there are no rules to say that the make-up is compulsory.

Ice Hockey
This is sport is not for the light hearted. It's a no holds barred game that is just as famed for the ice rink fighting action as it is for a sport where a vulcanised rubber puck might get in a goal if it doesn't hit a face first. As the name states, it's basically hockey on ice, but with heaps of protective padding. Six players per team whack a puck with a curved stick and try to score goals, but it is the allowance of something called the bodycheck that means that kitting yourself out might cost a small fortune. Gum shields, jockey straps, helmets, and whole heap on body armour are highly recommended, and that lot is on top of purchasing the ice skates. Despite the aggressive reputation this sport is highly popular with women, so much so that there are professional level ice hockey leagues in both Canada and the United States.

Speed Skating
This high speed activity gives another chance to don some crazy sportswear, something that is cross between figure skating and ice hockey. As speed is the key, it is essential to be as streamline and aerodynamic as possible. This is achieved by wearing a full body suit that leaves nothing to the imagination, a helmet similar to a sports cycle helmet and special trainer-like ice skates that have a hinge for flexibility and speed. Talking of speed, you'll need to be a speed freak for this one, as these races have clocked skaters travelling as fast as 52 kilometres per hour!

There are many other ice based sports on skates such as Tour Skating, Bandy and Ringette, some of which are a little bit more pleasant on bodily impact and a sense of personal style. So, get your skates on, get out there and get fit the fun way!

About the Author

Shaun Parker is a leading sports expert with many years of experience in the sporting industry. Find out more about ice skates and other equipment for ice hockey and inline skating at Get Inline

The Importance Of Using Safety Helmets

When we think about motorcycles we think about the feel of the rushing wind in our faces and our hair blowing back behind us. We think about looking cool as we speed down the road. What we don't think about is what happens to the human body when it is involved in a motorcycle collision with a car or van. We don't think about the impact of the collision, the body being thrown clear and sliding along the road's surface until it stops on its own or until it encounters a fence or a telephone pole.

It was the death of a race car driver that sparked interest in helmet safety in this country. In 1956, William Snell was killed when his helmet failed to protect him in what was deemed a survivable race car accident. Since that time, the standards for helmets have been regulated by the American National Standards Institute, with the input of the Snell Memorial Foundation. While we can regulate helmet safety, it is not always possible to get people to wear them. Unless they are mandated by law, many people refuse to do so.

According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, just under half of all motorcycle deaths between 1990 and 1993 resulted because the rider was not wearing a safety helmet. Even if death is avoided when the helmetless rider was injured, there may still be drastic consequences. Head, neck and back injuries may leave riders paralyzed or handicapped for life.

Ironically, the very people who reject motorcycle helmets think nothing about wearing a helmet for sports activities. No one questions the use of helmets in, for example, football or ice hockey. Helmets protect the players from injury.

The Cleveland Clinic Health Information Center states that injury can be prevented through the use of properly fitted helmets. There are different kinds of safety helmet for sports. It is critical to wear the right size. A loose fitting helmet cannot protect the head because it will move when impacted. The helmet should always touch the head all the way around.

We don't often think about getting injured on a bicycle, but, according to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, nearly 540,000 bicyclists are injured seriously enough each year to require visiting an emergency room. Of this number, 67,000 have head injuries. The Snell Foundation has also developed standards for bicycle helmets.

As with motorcycle helmets, bicycle helmets should fit the head properly. Loose helmets do not protect the head. Straps should be adjusted to ensure the best fit. Many helmets are made from expanded polystyrene, but no other material is considered best for helmets. Bicycle helmets protect the head by absorbing energy and lessening the force of the impact. Their light weight make them ideal for the bicycle riders.

About the Author

You will find more from this author at: health-mag.com