Snowboarding Holiday

The origins of snowboarding are closely tied to one man: Jake Burton Carpenter, founder of Burton Snowboards.

Originally a skier, Jake owned one of the first types of snowboards, called the 'Snurfer'.

Jake took his Snurfer, removed the metal foot-bindings and replaced them with thick strips of rubber. The rubber allowed more freedom of movement which meant that the snowboard could twist and turn, the birth of the freestyle snowboarder.

Todays most well known snowboarder may be Olympic free-styler, Todd Richards. Richards took part in the first Olympic snowboarding event in Nagano, Japan in 1998.

The Sport developed in the United States during the 60s and 70s, it's all about being out in the wild with good friends having the time of their lives and is rapidly becoming an increasingly common winter sport throughout the world.

Most people who try freestyle snowboarding are either drawn to it by the excitement or are familiar with it due to skateboarding.

The major muscles used during snowboarding are your quads (thighs), and your lower leg muscles (calf and tibia).

Snowboarding is a free sport which means that as long as you are enjoying yourself then you are doing the right thing whether on the easy greens or steep in off piste powder snow.

But like any sport the right clothing and protection are all important.

Most falls in snowboarding are on the hands, buttocks and head and cause only bruises and soreness.

But it can be high-risk. Colliding with obstacles such as jumps, barriers, trees and other snowboarders has resulted in more and more snowboarders buying helmets..

Another item that has high risk for snowboarders is exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the correct eye gear is essential, as is the wearing of comfortable, warm boots that fit snugly and support your ankles.

A good pair of gloves or mittens (mittens are usually better for those susceptible to cold hands). Wear snug-fitting clothing because loose outerwear can tangle in lifts and rope tows. Always wear wrist guards made for snowboarders or in-line skaters.

Weather can change rapidly in the mountains so layering is your best option instead of wearing one big jacket. Know the area, wear a helmet, and ski with a partner.

If all of the foregoing has wetted your appetite for snowboarding then follow the link to get trained properly at the online Snowboard Academy CLICK HERE

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Bluetooth Basics - Bluetooth Technology Tutorial

Bluetooth Basics

Bluetooth technology is nothing new, but in many respects it still seems to be more of a buzz word rather than a well understood, commonly accepted technology. You see advertisements for Bluetooth enabled cell phones, PDAs, and laptops, and a search of the Geeks.com website shows all sorts of different devices taking advantage of this wireless standard. But, what is it?

History

Before getting into the technology, the word Bluetooth is intriguing all on its own, and deserves a look. The term is far less high tech than you might imagine, and finds its roots in European history. The King of Denmark from 940 to 981 was renowned for his ability to help people communicate, his name (in English)... Harald Bluetooth. Perhaps a bit obscure, but the reference is appropriate for a wireless communications standard.

Another item worth investigating is the Bluetooth logo. Based on characters from the runic alphabet (used in ancient Denmark), it was chosen as it appears to be the combination of the English letter B and an asterisk.

Capabilities

The FAQ on the Bluetooth.org (https://www.bluetooth.org/) website offers a basic definition: "Bluetooth wireless technology is a worldwide specification for a small-form factor, low-cost radio solution that provides links between mobile computers, mobile phones, other portable handheld devices, and connectivity to the Internet."

Just like 802.11 b/g wireless networking systems and many cordless telephones, Bluetooth devices operate on 2.4 GHz radio signals. That band seems to be getting a bit crowded, and interference between devices may be difficult to avoid. Telephones are now being offered on the 5.8 GHz band to help remedy this, and Bluetooth has taken its own steps to reduce interference and improve transmission quality. Version 1.1 of the Bluetooth standard greatly reduces interference issues, but requires completely different hardware from the original 1.0C standard, thus eliminating any chance of backwards compatibility.

The typical specifications of Bluetooth indicate a maximum transfer rate of 723 kbps and a range of 20-100 meters (65 to 328 feet - depending on the class of the device). This speed is a fraction of that offered by 802.11 b or g wireless standards, so it is obvious that Bluetooth doesnt pose a threat to replace your wireless network. Although it is very similar to 802.11 in many ways, Bluetooth was never intended to be a networking standard, but does have many practical applications.

Practical Applications

There are a variety of products that take advantage of Bluetooths capabilities, from laptops and PDAs, to headphones and input devices, and even wireless printer adapters.

Many Laptops include an onboard Bluetooth adaptor to allow the system to connect to any Bluetooth device right out of the box. For laptop or desktop systems that do not have an adaptor built in, there are many USB Bluetooth adaptors available.

Bluetooth enabled PDAs allow for convenient wireless synchronization and data transfer.

Headphones can take advantage of Bluetooth for two purposes audio playback and mobile phone communications. Using something a mobile headset with a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone allows anyone to go hands free, as well as wire free.

Logitech, and other manufacturers, also produce input devices that eliminate wires thanks to Bluetooth. You can add a Bluetooth mouse to your system, or both a mouse and keyboard. One advantage that Bluetooth wireless keyboard/mouse combinations have over the standard RF wireless keyboard/mouse combinations is range. Where most standard RF keyboard/mouse combinations have a range up to 6 feet; a Bluetooth keyboard/mouse combination will usually have a range of up to 30 feet.

Bluetooth printer adaptors make sharing a printer extremely convenient by eliminating the need for any wires or special configurations on a typical network. Printing to any compatible HP printer from a PC, PDA or mobile phone can now be done easily from anywhere in the office.

Final Words

At this point the popularity of Bluetooth might not be as large as some proponents would have hoped, but many devices are available for those interested. The cost and competition from other standards have hindered the widespread acceptance, but Bluetooth does offer a viable solution to many devices that might not have wireless connectivity without it.

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