GNU Riders Choice Review
The GNU Riders Choice is a freestyle snowboard. This year, I bought myself one with some money I received for Christmas. I went with the 157.5 Magne-Traction model after reviewing several snowboards on Snowboard Reviews.
The graphics and layout of the board have been redesigned for this years model. GNU is also now offering Magne-Traction on the Riders Choice. Magne-Traction is basically seven points of contact (kind of like little nubs) which are added along each side of the snowboard. I went with the Magne-Traction because I ride in a lot of icy conditions and will often wash out on my old GNU Cummings board.
Even though the weather was pretty crappy here until about mid-January, I have had the chance to take this board out about 10 times or so now. I'm definitely happy that I spent the extra cash to get a Magne-Traction model, because you can definitely tell a difference when it gets really icy out there. I'm also glad I waited until this year to buy the board because I really like the topsheet graphics much better than previous years models.
On the slopes, the Riders Choice delivers. It has a ton of pop and turns well. The Magne-Traction gives an excellent edge hold. I spent the first couple hours out with buddies just crusing the mountain. The board did really well for being a freestyle board. We then headed over to the park where the board was really able to shine. This thing will cling to icy features in the park like no other. I was able to save a couple near falls that my Cummings would have definitely gave out on.
My only real complaint, and this is partly my fault, is that the topsheet seems to scratch easily. I was waiting to get in the lift line and a skiier went right over my board. I was pretty pissed to see several long scratches on the topsheet. I guess that goes with the territory though. Overall, great freestyle board with a great look.
Justin Biggs is a snowboarder and student. You can find out more information on the GNU Riders Choice at Snowboard Reviews.
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PGA to Deflate Pumped up Players!!
Football? Sure. Baseball? Yep. Cycling? Definitely. Track & Field? No question. But golf? Thats the question now that the pga Tour will begin implementation of their own anti-doping plan in 2008 as part of an overall world Golf Foundation policy.
The world Golf Foundation not only includes the pga Tour but also the European Tour, LPGA, the USGA, augusta national and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club. With the Asian, canadian, Japanese and Australasian Tours all signing on to support the plan, weve essentially got an anti-doping plan that reaches every corner of the globe.
pga Commissioner Tim Finchem had long held fast to the belief that there was no need for anti-doping intervention but has changed his position during this past year. Said Finchem earlier this year theres no sport thats inherently immune to doping. Its a sad commentary, but its true.
Is it true? And is it really necessary? golf has always been looked on as a gentlemans game, one equated to honesty, integrity and good sportsmanship where players self-police and in many instances, call penalties on themselves for unseen infractions. But times apparently are a changing!!
Is this merely a sign of the times, a preemptive strike to keep up with the policies of other professional sports or is there some evidence of cheating that the pga is hiding from us? Is there a potential Barry Bonds-like abuser lurking on the PGAs leader board? The only player as beefy as a steroid popping ball player is Tiger woods yet hes also the most vocal proponent of this anti-doping plan and has publicly volunteered to be first in line for testing.
I cant think of another player out there who looks or golfs the part of a doping violator. The guys that hit it 300 yards seem to have reached this mark via advanced technology (i.e. Hotter club faces & balls) mixed in with a bit of exercise but even assuming there is substance abuse on tour, you still have to hit the ball straight! And once the driver is in the bag, players dont really need muscle, they need technique. They need to hit a wedge 100 yards to a tightly tucked pin location and Im not sure theres a drug out there that can help with this. And just how will any banned substance help a professional read and sink a 15 foot putt with a double break in it?
The illegal substances that generally get all the attention are the muscle pumping, strength inducing drugs so prevalent among the Popeye forearmed baseball players of recent years but what about some of the other prohibited substances on the list for testing? The list includes everything from anabolic steroids and hormones to beta-blockers. Now I can see how beta-blockers may be of help to a pga Tour professional as they basically block the affect adrenalin has on your body. In other words they make you relax! Additionally they facilitate smooth muscle control which explains their prevalence as being a treatment for various heart ailments including cardiac arrhythmias and heart attacks (prevention post-attack).
woods recently reminded reporters that Nick Price once admitted to using beta blockers but said they actually hurt his game rather than help but drugs have varying effects on people so whos to say it wont help the next guy? A few beers usually help calm me down but it certainly doesnt seem to help my game any! Its not farfetched to think that beta-blockers may help someone down the road.
Its better to be proactive rather than reactive so Finchems making the right call here but Im betting on betting on the players and believe golf will not be shamed and dragged into the mud like so many other sports these day.
About the author - Golf fanatic greg Shaw is the VP of Sales for Tattoo golf ( http://www.tattoogolf.com/ ) and has extensive experience in trend marketing. Greg also owns http://www.thegolfshirtfactory.com He can be reached at greg@tattoogolf.com
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