MF0513_WL_OUTGD

The Great Outdoors Guide

The impulse to test limits is built into the male DNA. Asking for directions? Not so much. So consider this your handbook to adrenaline on the rocks, in the sea, and through the air. It’s your compass to the best outdoor gear, sports, and activities spanning from one corner of the globe to the other. Whether you want to climb sheer gran-ite, kayak across cerulean waters, or plunge down backcountry single-tracks on a mud-splattered mountain bike, this is outdoor overdrive for the guy with true guts and grit.

By Cat Perry

Crack the Surface: Rivers, Coasts, and Caves

66 m e N S f I T N e S S . c o m m Ay 2 0 1 3

Looking for something a little wet and wild? Kayaking and whitewater rafting are easy-entry adventures that quickly scale up with experience (from Class I to Class IV rivers and rapids). Outfitters across America offer all the basics to get you going—gear rental, course guidance, and more. Or slap on a wetsuit and plunge into the great unknown: Scuba diving pushes the limits of adventure deep below, with a steep learning curve that’s rewarded in heart-racing close encounters with sharks and stingrays. Knock out your first PADI course and a few open-water dives and you’ll be ready to start exploring the waters that cover 70% of the earth’s surface.

Kayaking ● Whitewater Rafting ● Scuba Diving

1

1Body Glove 2013 Exo Diving Wetsuit (7mm) (left)

The 2013 exo is made from ultra-durable yet flexible mate-rial with a thermofiber interior and a 100% fluid seal, to keep you warm and keep water out. $400, bodyglove.com

2Stohlquist FreeRyde Drytop A waterproof, breathable four-layer drytop, with latex-coated wrist gaskets for splash-free performance out on the water. $329, stolquist.com

3Werner Paddles Power-house Whitewater Paddle This lightweight paddle boasts amazing power and response. $250, wernerpaddles.com

essential Gear

Where to Go see page 78

Train for it

Kayaking and rafting are deceptively full-body sports. To perform them at your best for hours, work every angle of your core with rotational moves, add push/pull exercises for your lats and shoulders, and keep your hips agile. With this regimen your body will be ready to fire on all fronts, for strong, controlled propulsion. Divers, on the other hand should focus on leg and core strength. Plus, your heart will be working overtime in the oxygen-depleted waters, so make cardio integral to your training.

Kayaking/RaftingHIPS/THIGHS: Lateral Lunge: 3 sets, 12 reps

CORE: Cable Woodchop 3 sets, 12 reps

BACK: One-arm Row 3 sets, 12 reps

CHEST: Incline Press 3 sets, 12 reps

ROTATOR CUFF: Cable External Rotation 3 sets, 12 reps

SHOULDER: Dumbbell Press 3 sets, 12 reps

TRICEPS: Triceps Pushdown 3 sets, 12 reps

DivingLEGS: Lunge 3 sets, 12 reps

BACK: Lat Pulldown 3 sets, 12 reps

CORE: Ab-wheel Walk 3 sets 12 reps

true adrenaline junkies hit this wet bar first.

pr

evIo

uS

pAg

e: S

co

TT m

Arke

WIT

z; T

hIS

pAg

e fr

om

To

p: T

Im k

emp

le; m

ArTI

N S

Trm

ISky

/AlA

my

Outdoors Guide

Train for It

Paul Norris—CEO and co-founder of the sports-performance training center Extreme Athletics in Orange County, CA—trains title-winning pro surfers. He emphasizes a mix of stability and core training for success on the water. (Bonus: All that hard work training for kitesurfing translates to newfangled winter sports like snowkiting.)

LEGS: Stability Squat using an Indo Board or Bosu board: 3 sets, 15 reps; intermediate: Stability Squat with medicine ball: 3 sets, 15 reps

CORE: Medicine Ball Rota-tional Throw: 4 sets, 5 reps; Swiss Ball Elbow Plank: 3 sets of 30-sec. holds, prog-ress to 1-min. holds, and then to Swiss Ball Elbow Plank circles: 10 reps each way

BACK: TRX Rear-delt Flye: 3 sets, 12 reps


1Body Glove Performance Rash Guardhigh-tech top with uv protec-tion and a waistband draw-cord. $38, bodyglove.com

2Surftech B-1 Standup Paddleboard (left)

A 10'6” ultra-bomber board designed to withstand bumpy rivers and ocean currents. $1,375, surftech.com

3Werner Grand Prix M1000 SUP PaddleA superlight midsize perfor-mance blade that slices in cleanly for optimized strokes. $389, wernerpaddles.com

essential Gear

Adventure means going where you want, when you want.

Ride a Wind-Powered Rush Not everyone can tame 78-footers like pro surfer Garrett McNamara (see page 30), so for us mere mortals, there are still plenty of exhila-rating alternatives to big-wave surfing. By jumping feet-first into these high-powered water sports, you’ll get your fix on almost any lake or coastal inlet. Kitesurfing and windsurfing will take everything you’ve got, but, master the mechanics of wielding wind speeds of 12–30 knots and you’ll be ready in no time (gear rental is $100–150 for a kite and harness, or sail, and board). Or get an intense upper-body workout with a powerhouse session of standup paddleboarding (SUP). All you need is your longboard and a performance paddle.

Windsurfing ● Kitesurfing ● Standup Paddleboarding

2

Sc

oTT

mAr

keW

ITz


Outdoors Guide

1BackpackWeighing in at only 3 lb 12 oz, the osprey volt 75 delivers a sick amount of storage for such a light pack, and a unique adjustable torso fits every guy. $199, ospreypacks.com

2UV-Tech Water Purifierclean water, anywhere. The re-chargeable Steripen ultra kills 99.9% of bacteria, protozoa, and viruses in 48 seconds—with the click of a button. $100, steripen.com

3Ultralight Sleeping BagThis tough, featherweight (1.6 lb) mountain hardwear phan-tom 32 is designed for alpine treks, with 800-fill down and water-repellant fabric. $380, mountainhardwear.com

4Propane-Free StoveA supermodern wood-burning stove by Biolite not only fires up your grub but powers up your uSB devices, as well—hasta mañana, dead battery. $130, shop.biolitestove.com

5Built-Tough TentThe Black Diamond Skylight Tent may be lightweight, but don’t be fooled, its tent poles’ strength-to-weight ratio is unmatched . $450, blackdiamondequipment.com

6Advanced MultitoolThe gerber Shift multitool doesn’t just look deisel—it is. With forged steel and spring-loaded jaws, it’s the only macgyver tool you’ll ever need. $115, gerber.com

8Headlamp & LanternThe Snow peak Snow-miner headlamp is a sleek dual threat—both an 80 lumen head-lamp and an ambient lantern. $56, snowpeak.com

7All-Weather Fire StrikerAdd a spark and let there be fire, with the uST Strikeforce fire Starter. $25, rei.com

It’s your world. Don’t just live in it—reach out and grab it.

Zero In on the Great UnknownThe chance for new extreme challenges has pulled you outdoors, but you know that only your mental gritrock will get you out the other side. That’s true for every outdoor endeavor, and backpacking is no exception. All you need is this essential gear, plus a few pimped-out extras, to keep you exploring everything under the sun, moon, and stars.

Backpacking

3

eTh

AN W

elTy

/Au

ro

rA

ph

oTo

S


Outdoors Guide

PARKOUR BASICSIn addition to rolling, jumping, and landing, you need to learn to leap over obstacles using your hands. here, two essential vaults to get you started:

SPeed VAUlt Run toward the obstacle in long strides. Use your hand as a momentum lever, press your hand down to help direct your feet down, and launch yourself over the obstacle.

MOnKey VAUltApproach the obstacle in a straight line at a moderate speed. Reach forward a little more than an arm’s length away and plant both hands wide. Pass feet through your arms, leaning forward, and then let go as your feet clear the rail. Keep your chest up and arms behind you.

Train for It

● Before you tackle wall runs and tic-tac techniques, use these basic training tips from American Parkour (AMP) to help you prep for both parkour and skateboarding.

GLUTES/HAMSTRINGS/LATS/DELTS: Do three rounds of the following circuit:

• 200–400m run

• 10–15 squats

• 10-15 pullups

• 10-15 pushups

• 2 x 30-second hip flexor stretches

AGILITY: Mark a 10-rung ladder on the floor, each rung 12–18 inches apart. Perform the following agility drills as a circuit, and then repeat 2–3 times: High Knees (one step per block); High Knees (two steps per block); Butt Kicks (one step per block). Rest as needed between each exercise. Stretch at the end of the workout.

● The gravity-defying discipline of parkour is unlike any form of movement on the planet. Based on military ob-stacle courses, parkour’s gritty origins hail from the ’burbs of Paris. Is it sport, is it art? Whatever you call it, this organic movement across the urban landscape is a one-way ticket to new heights. MF asked Exo, editorial director of NY Parkour, about this “no-man’s land” that spans from Paris to London to New York and even downtown Denver.

MF: Parkour sort of reminds us of the martial-arts flicks we all watched in the ’70s and ’80s. What was the sport inspired by? Exo: It must’ve been lodged in the subcon-scious for inspiration—that and comic books that we read as kids, especially in America. But more than that, I also like to think parkour is born out of our innate desire to move.How do guys who want to get into parkour start out? you have to train to train. We emphasize agility and pliability for beginners. yes, we won’t deny that you’ll need upper-body strength and explosive

power, but the beauty is that parkour adapts to the user. The videos you see of us are equivalent to watching olympic gymnas-tics; but if you walk into a gymnastics school, everyone’s not doing that. Just like that and martial arts, parkour is scalable.

And what about for people who can’t come to NY Parkour for instruction and “jams”? find someone who knows what they’re doing. There are classes and gyms across the country. Sorry guys, jumping over fire hydrants while drunk isn’t parkour. practice safely, for real results. for more on the sport, go to nyparkour.com.

1Fluescent Parkour GlovesTough, breathable, nonslip grippers for this ultimate urban sport. $35 fluescent.com

2Vans Half Cab ProSleek classics designed take a beating even from vans pro skate team. $75, vans.com

3Blunt RTS Lite UmbrellaWhen you’re just commuting, the extra-taut, aerodynamic canopy on the Blunt withstands 52 mph winds and keeps you dry. $69, bluntusa.com

essential Gear

Master the Urban JungleThe concrete jungle serves up the best backdrop for breaking a serious sweat. Cities boast elevation shifts, constant movement, and crackling energy—all of which you can channel into every workout. If the rebel in you is trying to break out of your treadmill-and-weights slump, pick up a board or a BMX bike. Cruise the city, ride the rails, and acquire a few well-earned bruises for faster metabolism, better coordination, and quicker reflexes. Then there’s parkour, which turns your city into an obstacle course. The metropolis is a virtual play-ground of athletic opportunity, so choose your escape route and get going. BeN RADDiNG

Parkour ● Skateboarding ● BMX

4

Own your city streets, above and below.

AND

y D

Ay/k

Iell

.co

m


Outdoors Guide

MF Interviews... NY Parkour’s Exo


1Scarpa Instinct VSA high-performance shoe that’s surprisingly comfortable, its Bi-tension rand system and all-lorica construction allows it to dynamically adjust to all kinds of climbing, and the vibram XS edge rubber sole provides added grip and durability. $169, scarpa.com

2Wild Country Petit Chalk BagThe chalk will help keep your fingers dry and improve their contact with the rock. $19, backcountry.com

3Petzl GriGri 2 Belay Device Safely anchor with your climb-ing partner. “The grigri2 is by far the safest because it has an auto-locking feature,” Bechtel says. $100, petzl.com

4Petzl Sama Climbing Harness“companies can’t put out harnesses these days without getting approved by a massive number of agencies, so almost all of them are safe,” Bechtel says. “look for an ‘all-around’ harness. They’re durable and comfortable, and don’t weigh that much more than the thinner harnesses.” $70, petzl.com

5Ropes“look for a single rope between 9 and 10mm in diameter,” Bechtel advises. “If you live in a rainy environment, like the pa-cific Northwest or Northeast, opt for ropes with dry coating.” $70–300, backcountry.com

6Mission Crash Pad A necessity for bouldering, this crash pad is made of upholstery-grade foam for a safer, longer-lasting landing area. $275, revolutionclimbing.com

essential Gear


If you think pullups are the best exercise for rock climbing, think again. “Climbing is great for developing upper-body strength, but if you rely on it, it’s going to destroy you,” Bechtel says. In-stead, your goal is to get your legs strong in the single-leg stance, while upper-body exercises will help you develop your core.

LOWER BODY: Step up onto a bench or plyo box (around 20–24 inches high): 3–4 sets, 5–8 reps on each side; Pistol Squat: 3–4 sets, 5 reps on each side (hold onto a TRX strap to lessen the load, or hold a 10- to 15-pound dumbbell in each hand for added resistance)

UPPER BODY: Knees-to-Elbow: 2–3 sets, 10 reps; inverted Row, either on a bar that’s attached to a power rack or with the TRX.

Reach the Top of the MountainEven if you’ve tried rock climbing indoors, nothing compares to the real deal: scaling crags and slabs outdoors, says world-class climber Steve Bechtel, C.S.C.S. “When you’re out on the trails and rocks, you start to lose the ‘work’ part of workout,” he says. For the most “pure” form of climbing, try bouldering. You don’t have to mess with ropes or safety gear—it’s all movement—and it’s a great prep for climbing. Or catch serious air while paragliding. You’ll need to take classes certified by the U.S. Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, but few thrills beat running off a mountain to catch a pocket of hot air with your fabric wing, soaring high for hours on end. NAte MillADO

Rock Climbing ● Bouldering ● Paragliding

5

TIm

kem

ple


Outdoors Guide

fro

m l

efT:

kev

IN W

INze

ler

; DAN

BAr

hAm


Jamis Xenith endura elite $3,200, jamisbikes.com

Bikes types: Touring, hybrid, utility, roadster, recumbent

Uses: Designed to go fast on open roads, ideal for fitness enthusiasts and competitive riders.

terrain: Best on paved roads to reach optimal speed and acceleration. unlike mTBs, they have no rear suspension.

tire Size: Narrow tires meant for riding on smooth surfaces; however moun-tain bikes might be better for city streets, where the pavement is often uneven.

frame size: lightweight and made of aluminum, carbon fiber, or titanium.

Handlebars: Typically dropped (or curled) to ac-commodate many speed settings, but there are flat-bar styles as well.

Road Bikes

Raleigh talus 29 Carbon elite ($3,000, raleighusa.com)

Bikes types: cross country, all-day endur-ance, free-ride biking, downhill biking

Uses: made to handle ter-rain obstacles; typically for unpaved environments.

terrain: Built for tough trails and roads that con-tain rocks, logs, branches, and even small boulders.

tire Size: They vary in size and are thicker and more durable than those used on road bikes.

frame size: frames often correlate with body proportions. A salesperson should be able to determine a rider’s proper size.

Handlebars: come with flat or riser bars. But what you choose has a lot to do with your bike and how you ride it.

Mountain Bikes (MTBs) Road Bikes

Mountain Bikes

The naked eye might catch only the superficial differences between a road bicycle and

a mountain bicycle. And while there are some crossovers, the two are essentially

designed to serve entirely different purposes. Here’s how they both stack up.

MAtt CAPUtO

vs.

6

Outdoors Guide

Where To Go see page 78

MF0513_WL_OUTGD

Documents

Transcript of MF0513_WL_OUTGD