Archive for the ‘Sport’ Category

Online Sports Trading – A Viable Investment?

What if there was some way to tap into the ever-growing popularity of world-wide sport that could turn the gambling factor of sports betting into an investment vehicle producing sustainable results over the long-term such as equity trading?

Sports Trading was conceptualized and bridge between conventional sports betting and real-world stock trading was built.

Please note: generalizations are used in this article because sport trading exchanges can differ in nature and offerings.

What is Sports Trading?

You may immediately associate sports trading with that of card trading but until fairly recently, sports trading has taken on another exciting meaning.

Although the actual definition of sports trading may differ exactly depending on the type of exchange in question, it is essentially the act of investing in virtual sports issues or contracts (i.e. sports teams, players or markets).

Sports trading is not to be confused with sports betting (betting against a bookmaker) or some other form of fancy gambling, sports trading runs along the same investment lines as trading on a conventional stock market exchange (e.g. Wall Street).

Participants of: Fantasy sports games Stock trading simulation games Sports betting exchanges will identify a commonalty with a typical sports trading exchange.

Although sport trading is still somewhat dwarfed by the sports betting and real-world trading industries, there is no question of the future popularity for this concept as people from all backgrounds are coming together to trade be it virtual stocks or issues or real contracts for real money on any sports related market, offered by the online sport trading exchange.

Sports trading exchanges are developing sophisticated technology, commonly employing a proprietary trading platform and in most cases, with a Level II type trading interface.

It is typical of a global sports trading exchange to offer around-the-clock (i.e. 24/7) trading as exchange members are not inhibited with limited or set trading hours so are free trade anytime, from anyplace around the world.

Advantages over Sports Betting

Sports trading has the thrill of sports betting but without the inherit risk of gambling that sports betting produces.

Some notable advantages sport trading has over conventional sports betting are (trading exchange dependant):

Far less risk; eliminates the ‘all or nothing’ situation

Can still profit even from an event loss

Capital appreciation

Dividend income

Not solely competing against professionals

Greater chance of success (not limited to above reason)

Can be invested with minimal effort

Sport trading eliminates the gambling factor associated with sports betting; traders seldom lose their total investment in a stock holding (i.e. they have the ability to trade out to prevent further loss), the sports bettor loses their entire wager with an incorrect guess.

The sports trader is not competing solely against professional bookmakers whose job is to get the better of you – more often. Sport trading exchanges are about people-to-people interaction so you are pitting your skill, judgement and knowledge against fairer competition. Learn to be savvy and you end up with the edge.

Once invested, the sports trader can theoretically sit-back and monitor their investments passively; the sports bettor must normally wager every time to potentially make money and therefore, incur greater risk on each and every bet.

Advantages over conventional stock trading

Participants of stock trading already will find other useful benefits from a typical sport trading exchange such as:

Lower trading fees due to being solely online trading

Greater participation from a wider audience

Not being exclusive to professionals

Around the clock trading (no set trading sessions)

Wider-economy independence

Readily accessible sport information for all

Global trading stock exchanges

The global online sport trader is conveniently afforded time-zone irrelevant trading from an online trading environment that typically does not shut for trading.

With the world-wide following sport increasingly enjoys (activity is seldom subject to prevailing economic factors that affect conventional trading exchanges) and the substantial amount of publicly available information not subject to a privileged few, sport traders can finally compete on fairer terms with other traders.

Online sports trading on virtual trading exchanges provide a wonderfully unique cross over between conventional sports betting and real-world stock trading in essence; they combine many of the advantages of the two, in a single investment product.

The opportunities that exist on these virtual exchanges and the resulting advantages are too long to detail here but it is the hope of this article to spread further awareness and the investment advantages of sport trading because this is a viable form of investment worthy of promotion.

The History of Steeplechase Horse Racing

The sport of Steeplechase racing dates back to 1752 in Ireland when two, half-crocked, friends settled the argument over who owned the best horse by racing to the nearest Church steeple after returning from Fox hunting. The winner actually rode right through the church where the vicar was holding a solemn funeral. Soon it spread to England, where in 1792, the first recorded race was held. This sport then crossed over from the Atlantic to the US, where it has became very popular.

In the early 19th century nine prominent men from New York – August Belmont, H. DeCourcy Forbes, Samuel S.Howland, James O. Green, Frederick Gebhard, A.J. Cassatt, Foxhall P. Keene, John G. Follansbee and Frederick H. Prince founded the National Association for Steeplechase. When it was first founded, its mission was to make the sport popular in the US and help it grow across the Atlantic. For membership details and other small tidbits about the Association, you can visit their website at http://www.nsfdn.org/membership.html.

Steeplechase races are held at 12 states across the country and the cumulative purses for these events are $5 million annually. The horse races are a place to see and be seen at. It’s seen across the country by millions of fans and admirers and is a major sponsored event where corporate sponsors vie with each other for sponsorship of the events. It attracts the best talent for horses, horse owners, and riders and also raises millions of dollars in charities. Thus it also attracts the most powerful and the influential men and women. If you have seen Pretty Woman, you pretty much have got the idea.

Some of the oldest and the most prestigious steeplechase horse racing events are Montpelier Hunt Races, which was started on the estates of Former President James Madison since 1929. For more information you can visit their site http://www.montpelier.org/races.htm. Others are The American Grand National that began in 1899 and the The National Hunt Cup in Radnor, Pa., which was started in 1909. For more information on steeplechase racing across the country, you can visit http://www.steeplestakes.com/links.html, which lists all the races, their schedules and the prize monies.

In Virginia, you can visit the Virginia Steeplechase association at http://www.vasteeplechase.com/. The big races in Virginia are Virginia Gold Cup, FoxField races at Charlottesville, Virginia, Fairfax Hunt races at Great Falls, Middleburg Spring races at Middleburg, Montpelier Hunt Races at Montpelier Station, Morven park Steeplechase races at Leesburg, Mountaineer chest track in Chester etc.

You can also visit these websites for further information on racing in Virginia.http://www.ctownraces.com/ http://www.colonialdowns.com/ http://www.fairfaxhuntraces.org/ http://www.montpelier.org/ http://www.foxfieldraces.com/ http://www.vagoldcup.com/ http://www.middleburgspringraces.com/

The Thrill of Indoor Climbing

Indoor climbing is a sport that deals with both the body and mind. It takes a lot of will power to be able to withstand the challenges it gives and the mere determination to reach the goal of reaching the top. Yet, there is a lot to learn with regards to the art of indoor climbing.Indoor climbing is an increasingly famous type of rock climbing that is done by the use of artificial structures that imitate the feeling of climbing a rocky mountain. Yet, this is in a controlled surrounding as compared to the dangerous but adventurous sport of outdoor rock climbing.

The idea of the artificial indoor climbing wall originated in United Kingdom, where Don Robinson, a professor of Physical Education of The Leeds University created DR Climbing Walls in 1964. He made this possible by inserting rocks into a wall on a corridor. It was commercially introduced and constructed in Sheffield which is now considered as the heart of Indoor Climbing.

The first indoor walls were made of bricks, giving a smaller choice of routes. This is since the steepness of the wall and variety of the hand holds was limited. It was later on changed to wooden walls. It was constructed by screwing the resin hand holds which acts as the artificial rocks. The boards vary in steepness and in height where the different sizes of resin holds are attached, making it more like the sport that it was derived from.

The climbing walls are made out of wood or bricks. This is although recently, multiplex boards became the material used. It is thick and safe to climb. Aside from this, it is where resin rocks are attached. Nowadays; aluminum and steel are also used.

These climbing walls have various types and this would include the following: Plywood is one type, which is said to be the simplest type used in the structure of climbing walls. The other forms of climbing walls aside from the ones mentioned above are made of concrete sprayed into a wire mesh, slabs of granite, pre-made fiberglass panels and fiberglass walls. The rocks attached to the climbing walls also vary and may be made out of limestone, granite or artificial rocks. Hence, whatever type of climbing wall or rocks is used, belay ropes should be attached to the climber for protection. Aside from this, it is also used for bouldering and lead climbing.

Indoor climbing has also become popular in areas with rainy climates, where in, it is much safer as compared to outdoor rock climbing. This is due to the fact that this kind of weather makes it very difficult to climb a rocky mountain. It will just make it slippery and dangerous, unlike indoor climbing where anyone could go to the gym despite their busy schedules. This can also be for any season and anytime of the day, giving the climbers the chance to enjoy their sport, even at night.

Moreover, indoor wall climbing is less dangerous for it is within controlled vicinity and it is manmade and created to be environmentally safe. In fact, people can celebrate parties inside a wall climbing area. Aside from being evidently fun, it is also definitely hassle free. It is also easier than outdoor rock climbing. Even so, it is almost the same in such a way that gears and skills that should be combined with analytical thinking are still necessary in this kind of sport. This makes it as difficult as outdoor rock climbing. Plus, it is the reason why indoor climbing is considered as a type of sport, just like outdoor rock climbing.

What are the benefits of Indoor climbing? Aside from the fact that it is safer than outdoor rock climbing, it is also like a training ground for outdoor rock climbing. You can also lose a lot of weight with this sport, without even noticing it. It is simply a fun environment and an amazing outlet to burn fats in the process. This is since it involves intense muscular activity just by climbing up and down the walls, especially if you are carrying the gears as well. Thus, some indoor climbers who have recently tried the sport later found themselves loving it.

Although indoor climbing gears are expensive, beginners of this kind of sport can always rent one in the gym itself. Then, you can save and buy the gears when you get hooked up on the sport. This is better than buying all the pricey equipment and realizing it’s not for you. Yet, even if these gears cost a lot, it will keep you protected; prevent you from falling or getting injured.

Here are the gears needed in this kind of sport:

? Rock Climbing shoes – This is an essential climbing gear for a climber. It is chosen depending on the kind of rocks that are being used in climbing walls, as well as the type of climbing walls and climbing typ. This is if you are climbing: for a competition, in a gym, for bouldering, as a sport or for mountaineering practice. Thus, the types of rubber, lacing material and curvature, shape and heel construction should also be considered.

? Belay Devices – These equipments are used for the safety of climbers. Nowadays, manufacturers have been continuously doing everything to improve repelling and belaying equipments.

? Climbing Ropes – Ropes are important to the climbers for it is used to protect them from falling and are tested to meet the standards of the UIAA. The quality of these ropes should be the best so as not to comprise the climber’s safety.

? Climbing Harness – A harness is used as a diaper sling attached to the climbing ropes. It is also called a diaper sling because it is worn just like a diaper.

? Climbing Holds -These climbing holds are made of fiberglass, silica sand and epoxy. Climbing holds have various types and this would include handles, slopes, side pulls, edges, jugs, jibs, crimpers and many more.

? Quickdraws – This gear is a newly added gear for climbing. Quickdraws consist of two carabiners that adjoin a runner. It also has a webbing sling attached to a carabiner. It has a measurement of 4 ½ to 10 inches when it comes to the distance. The other carabiner is in a bending position while the other carabiner is straight.

? Crash Pads – This is similar to the gymnastics mats that are used in outdoor bouldering. Aside from this, it is used as a protection from falling. Crash pads have certain features such as: hiking shoulder straps, pockets, like straps, launch pads and many more.

? Fingerboard – This training device can be placed where there is limited space and can be mounted on top of a doorway. It is a training device for finger strength training.

? Child’s Harness – An adult’s harness is very much different from a child’s harness. This is due to the fact that it is smaller as compared to the adults. It also has smaller leg sizes and waists. They are also divided into 2 distinct types which would be the child’s waist harness and the full body harness.

? Chalk Bags – A chalk bag is needed and is definitely considered as one of the needed climbing gears a climber must have handy. It serves as a type of protection or prevention against dangerously falling while climbing. This is worn by strapping it around a climber’s waist and attaching it to the middle part of the back, particularly the butt part. It is used by both outdoor and indoor climbers, as well as mountaineers and big wall climbers.

? Climbing Helmets – This gear is the most essential part of a climbing gear. It is used in rappelling, mountaineering, caving and outdoor climbing. It protects your head from falling rocks that has a tendency to fall really fast. Due to gravity even the smallest rocks can cause a tremendous blow if you don’t wear a helmet. This should go with wearing something for your eyes as well.

? Rope Bags – Ropes are noted to lose it strength when it is mixed with dirt and water. Plus, if it gets exposed to UV light. Thus, this gear can protect your rope gear.

? Extreme Sports Clothes – Climbing clothing is durable and functional at the same time. This extreme sports clothing are flexible and strong unlike other sport clothing that are not as flexible as it is

.

An example of a gym that offers Indoor Climbing is: The Banffe Centre, Sally Borden Gym. Their Climbing Gym Equipment Rental is as follows:

? Harness-$5.00

? Carabiner/Belay Device-$2.00

? Shoes-$5.00

? Complete package is $10.00

? Chalk Bag-$2.00

? Climbing Gym Rates for Adults: $10

? Belay Test: $5

? Youth (4 years old up to 15 years old)-$4.00

This Climbing Gym’s hours of operation are from Mondays up to Fridays from 4:00 PM up to 11 PM. On weekends, their hours of operation are from Saturdays up to Sundays from 2:00 PM up to 10:00 PM.

Indoor Climbing is fun and it is a good form of exercise, many were reluctant to try this sport but once they have, it de a real difference in their lives.