The Sports Archives – Top Ten List Of World’s Best Surf Spots!

Posted on February 21, 2013 by thesportsarchives

Here is a List of the Top 10 Surfing Spots in the World:

1. 7 Mile Miracle, Oahu, Hawaii

Stretching along the North Shore of Oahu, this surf spot is often cited as the best in the world, particularly renown for containing the legendary Banzai Pipeline. Banzai Pipeline is famous for its huge waves breaking just above the beach’s cavernous reef, forming large, thick water curls.

2. Super Banks, Gold Coast, Australia

Formed from the connections of three banks–Snapper Rocks, Rainbow Bay, and Green Mount–on good days a surfer can hit a wave connecting the three, on a wave often lasting several hundred feet and allowing for a multitude of maneuvers. This connection makes it one of the longest, hollowest, and best waves in the world.

3. Uluwatu and Kuta, Bali, Indonesia

Bali has both some of the biggest waves with perfect glassy faces and sandy shores beloved as areas devoid of rocks and coral. Out of the water, Bali is a paradise island perfect for the nature-seeking traveler.

4. The Bubble, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

Considered a world-class surf spot, this right-hand wave offers epic, 5-6 ft hollow, power-packed waves crashing over Fuerteventura’s rocky reef. In addition to its famous surfing waves, Fuerteventura has become a popular windsurfing and kitesurfing destination, having hosted the annual International Windsurfing and Kiteboarding Championship since 1985.

5. Lima, Peru

In contrast to the sandy shores of many top spots, Lima’s beaches are pebbled with uninviting gray water. However, surfers giving this spot a chance are rewarded with consistently clean, long rides with waves breaking in small, medium, and large sections.

6. Black’s Beach, San Diego, California, United States

This beach is also often cited as a top three, having one of the country’s most powerful breaks. With particularly big swells mixed with strong currents, this spot is best suited for more seasoned surfers.

7. Tamarindo Beach, Tamarindo, Costa Rica

Located within some of the country’s most scenic areas, this stretch offers something for everyone. Beginners and experts flock to this surf mecca in order to enjoy Tamarindo Beach’s variety of warm-water breaks including beach, river mouth, and reef breaks.

8. Sao Francisco do Sul, Brazil

While Brazil’s beaches are often complained about as being overcrowded, the area’s quality sandbar attracts annual surfing competitions making it a great location for a mix of quality waves and surfing professionals.

9. Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

Considered Sydney’s most famous beach, the area’s stunning beaches combined with great breaks have resulted in a thriving professional and amateur surfing culture. Bondi Beach is an exposed beach break offering a dependable and rideable wave throughout the year.

Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

10. Sunzal, and La Libertad, El Savador

Sunzal is the most popular El Savadorian spot, with a long and slow right and shorter, hollow inside section. In La Libertad, surfers can expect a world-class break with three main sections. The top is fast and hollow wave called ‘the point’. The two other sections are mellower, making it great for beginner surfers and long boarding.

Will writes for Fellow, purveyors of the finest quality boardshorts and surfing accessories. At Fellow we believe in making the highest quality products which last. Learn more about our products by visiting our website or connecting with us on Twitter.

Image Credit:   http://www.worldalldetails.com/article_image/sydney_australia_973274.jpg

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The Sports Archives – Los Angeles Dodgers: The New Team To Hate In Baseball!

Posted on February 20, 2013 by thesportsarchives
Stan Kasten

Stan Kasten

When a team’s owners spend vast amounts of money improving and remodeling the team’s home stadium, you would assume it was because the team had plans of sticking around for a while. Unfortunately, recent developments shed light on the unsettling fact that no promises have been made as to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ staying power at the stadium. According to the article, team owners put up the funds for a new scoreboard and sound system, among other frivolities, but the team president Stan Kasten gave an indecisive answer when questioned about how long the team would play in the stadium. Obviously many feel that this belies a commitment problem on the part of the team and its owners.

Other Changes on the Horizon

A new and impressive stadium is not the only change the Dodgers are dealing with. According to Mercury News, pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin, who was signed just inside of the deadline, received a six-year contract for $36,000,000. Another pitcher, Zack Greinke, reportedly received his own nice little package, also for six years but for an incredible $147,000,000. This means that the Dodgers are going to be spending big this season and in the seasons to come; their payroll is estimated to be well over the $230,000,000 mark. This figure doesn’t even take into account the fee paid to negotiate for Hyun-jin, which comes in at $25.7 million. Though it appears that the team can afford the big bucks right now, many are speculating about overspending and worrying that the Dodgers could eventually find themselves in financial trouble. Even if they don’t, many feel the gross display of wealth is lacking in good taste.

A Tainted Past

Mike PiazzaWhile many are displeased with the current state of the Dodgers and their spending spree, trouble is lurking in history as well. According to the Los Angeles Times, Mike Piazza’s rumored past drug usage might keep him out of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Piazza, who served as a catcher for the Dodgers, has an impressive amount of home runs and a batting average that’s close to toppling .300. Despite those stats, things aren’t looking good for Piazza, who must win enough votes to make it into the Hall of Fame. Many believe that he used steroids during his stint with the Dodgers, though he was never officially tested. Though rumors circulated, the most hurtful appeared in a Roger Clemens biography written by Jeff Pearlman, who claimed that Piazza not only used steroids but confessed doing so to reporters. Furthermore, he claimed that other players, including Reggie Jefferson, were aware of the drug usage. Piazza, of course, maintains that the allegations are false, though he does admit to initially using drugs that had not yet been banned at the time.

What Will the Future Hold?

In the end, only time will tell how the Dodgers will be received by fans, which stadium they will eventually call home, and even whether or not Mike Piazza will go down in history positively as an honored Dodgers player. While many fans still have great faith in the team and excuse or even condone its recent actions, others are not quite so forgiving. All things considered, the next season should be an interesting one.

Heather Rothman is a freelance sports and lifestyle blogger currently residing in Denver, CO. When she’s not watching her Colorado Rockies take on the other teams in the NL West, she spends her days hunting, fishing, and using a variety of meats in her Professional Meat Grinder.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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The Sports Archives – Weather The Storm – 5 Things You Need As A Beginner Surfer!

Posted on February 19, 2013 by thesportsarchives

Surfing - 2010 Mavericks CompetitionBeing a beginner surfer is fun, but sometimes it can be downright difficult. You’re constantly falling headfirst into the waves, you have to learn how to stand up on the board in the first place, your friends are all laughing at you from the shore- whether they’re seasoned surfers or not.

These hardships get easier to face so long as you have the right tools. Remember these five things to get you through your beginning phase and above all, enjoy yourself – after all, you’re out there learning a new skill, having fun in the sun, and being active!

A Wetsuit

You want to look the part, don’t you? A wetsuit is the first thing you need, especially if you plan to continue surfing during the colder months. Bonus: it’ll protect you from the sun, although you should use some sunscreen on your face anyway. When you’re in a wetsuit in the waves though, beware. To sharks, you look uncannily like a seal. Stay safe out there.

A Good Teacher

You want someone who understands the water – a real pro. Someone who can tell you what you’re doing wrong and correct it. Sure, you might need to spend the first few hours of the lesson practising technique on the sand, but it’ll be worth it in the end when you’re riding the waves with the best of them.

A Surfboard

Pretty basic stuff, right? You need a board. You need a real surfboard…not just a boogie board or a pair of floaters. If you don’t buy yourself (or rent) a nice surfboard, you’ll be stuck out there swimming, which is no fun at all. Plus, you can paint that surfboard however you see fit. It’s a bit heavy though, so make sure to get one that’s long enough and wide enough for you, but no bigger.

A Beach

You can’t go surfing without a beach – it’s pretty obvious. Whether you live far away and need to drive out to the coast, or you’re just around the corner, having a place with surf, sand and beach babes is really the first step to a successful surfing career. Make sure you have an exit strategy as well, whether that be getting your car all sandy or taking a shower and hopping on the bus. You’ll be grateful.

A Towel

Dry yourself off after your dip. Hang out on the sand under an umbrella and watch the girls play volleyball. It’s up to you what you do with it, but it really is a staple for the beach-loving boho man. If you’re heading in with your girlfriend, you might also like to bring a beach umbrella, a camera, thongs, so on and so on and so on… There are too many other beach essentials to list.

Linda Campbell is a surfer. She’s just recently purchased new surfing fins and can’t wait to test them out.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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The Sports Archives – Ghyll Scrambling: Taking The Plunge!

Posted on February 18, 2013 by thesportsarchives

Ghyll ScramblingGhyll scrambling, aka gully bashing or canyoning, is akin to white water rafting…without the benefit of a raft!

It’s the extreme sport of plunging off a rocky ledge into a thundering waterfall, hurtling through the void into the racing waters below.

Adrenaline junkies have turned this ‘leap of faith’ into one of the fastest-growing outdoor sporting activities in Britain, not to mention one of the most dangerous.

Ghyll scrambling, aptly named after the Lakeland word – of Viking origin – for a steep ravine or narrow mountain torrent, is popular in many parts of the country, and especially in the Lake District, where these water-filled gorges run with rainwater from the fells which cascade down the sides of the mountains on their way into the lakes of Cumbria.

It’s terrific fun, and can be enjoyed under supervision by anyone with a love of adventure – family-friendly groups are organised by many professional organisations who allow young beginners from the age of eight years.

But be warned – at its extreme, ghyll scrambling can be extremely hazardous, and is not recommended to be undertaken by anyone on their own.

Icy Waters Whipped by Howling Winds

During the summer, water temperatures can – to put it mildly – be bracing, and in winter, with icy waters often whipped up by howling winds, keeping warm in the raging torrents is a challenge in itself.

Wetsuits, waterproof salopettes and Wellington boots are pretty much a given at any time of year. The boots won’t do much to keep the water out of course, but will protect your feet, calves and ankles from the danger of serious injury on rocks and boulders on the way down.

Gully Bashing

Thermal baselayer T-shirts and leggings will go some way to keeping your body temperature under control, and waterproof socks and gloves will help direct heat to susceptible toes and fingers.

Sealskinz’ All Season Glove is a close-fitting, 100% waterproof leather glove ideal for this purpose, and their Midweight Mid Length Sock or Thick Mid Length Sock both feature waterproof membranes to keep out water.

Baselayer tops and bottoms by any of the leading brands like Smartwool, Icebreaker and Helly Hansen – especially their heavier-weight offerings – will all help to keep you warm in freezing conditions…and as an added bonus many are incredibly quick-drying if they do come in for a thorough soaking!

Safety helmets, like those designed by Petzl, Grivel and Wild Country for climbers, should always be worn as a safety precaution.

Featured images:

Nicki Williams is a copy writer for Gear-Zone, specialists in outdoor clothing and equipment from leading brands including Rab, The North Face, Berghaus, Petzl and Black Diamond

Click here for more details

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The Sports Archives – Klim’s Korner: Why Next Season Could Be Michael Vick’s Best!

Posted on February 16, 2013 by thesportsarchives

Michael VickHe is one of the most controversial football players in history. He is one of the top duel threat quarterbacks in the NFL. Michael Vick has a new lease on life in Philadelphia. New coach, new contract, and a new offensive system. But personally I think that Michael Vick could have one of his best seasons ever. I see it as a very simple math equation: Michael Vick + Chip Kelly’s Zone Read option offense + LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown =  one of Vick’s best seasons ever.

Now I know that is a bold prediction, but consider the facts. Chip Kelly’s offense has been one of the most efficient and highest scoring in college football.  In 4 seasons at Oregon, the Ducks averaged 44.6 points per game. The key to all this will be the use of  a mobile quarterback like Vick, who takes the snap from the shotgun, “reads’ the defensive end, and if the end goes at the quarterback, Vick hands it off to the halfback (McCoy or Brown).  If the defensive end bites on the hand-off , Vick keeps it and runs.

This tactic will scare defenses so much that they will start playing the run more by moving up a safety and blitzing less. That will allow Vick to be able to throw the ball down field to the fastest receiver in football, DeSean Jackson or his other speedy receiver, Jeremy Maclin. Also Kelly could use Jackson like he used De’anthony Thomas, by playing him for quick screens, hand-offs, and end-arounds.

Yes, Washington and San Francisco ran similar offenses last year but what makes Philadelphia’ offense a different animal is that it is hurry-up no-huddle offense which means they will wear-out the defense even faster. This offense will keep Vick healthier because of Kelly’s run-heavy play calling. In 2012, the Ducks ran the ball 685 times for 4098 yards and 48 touchdowns and only passed the ball 373 times for 2888 yards, 35 touchdowns and only 9 interceptions and with a completion percentage of 67%. So even though Kelly’s offense is run-heavy they are extremely effective when throwing the ball.

In all, the marriage of Michael Vick and Chip Kelly’s offense will be beneficial to Vick. Also Kelly never had weapons like Jackson, Maclin, and McCoy at Oregon. So Eagles fans and NFL fans should be excited for next season.

Author: Jared Klim

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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The Sports Archives – Great Sporting Days Out In The UK!

Posted on February 15, 2013 by thesportsarchives

Britain is a sport loving nation. Football, motor racing, tennis, rugby and horse racing are just a handful of the sports watched by millions around the country each and every day. We live and breathe sport, and we can’t get enough of it.

Britain plays host to some of the biggest sporting events in the world and here we look at five of the best.

Six Nations at Twickenham

The ‘Six Nations Championship’ is one of the biggest Rugby events of the year. Six European sides – England, Italy, France, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales – do battle during February and March.

Twickenham Stadium, located in the London borough of Twickenham, is the location where England’s home Six Nations games are played. With a capacity of 82,000, it is also the largest Rugby stadium in the world.

Attending a Six Nations match is a must for any fan of Rugby. The fans come out in droves to support their team and the atmosphere is electric. Songs are sung and plenty of pints get swilled. The atmosphere is perhaps matched by Wales’s Millennium Stadium but Twickenham’s history as the unofficial “headquarters” of rugby.

Cheltenham Festival

Horse racing is an exciting sport and Cheltenham is regarded as epicentre of jump racing, certainly in the British Isles, if not the world.

The Festival, a four-day event dedicated is one of the biggest horse racing meets of the year. Held annually at in March, the festival usually runs at the same time as St Patrick Day with tens of thousands of horse riding fans attending to enjoy the festivities.

Cheltenham Festival is famous for its atmosphere and knowledgeable punters. Hundreds of millions of pounds are bet on the races during the festival and the crowd follows each race with enthusiasm. The noise generated by the crowd is so impressive that it has been given its own name — ‘the Cheltenham Roar’.

The Gold Cup is the blue ribbon event of the meeting and past winners read as a who’s who of racing royalty namely: Arkle, Mill House, Desert Orchid and Kauto Star.

Queen’s Club

Tennis is one of the most popular sports in Britain. Few sports are able to create as much tension as a close game of tennis coming down to the last set.

The Queen’s Club Championships, held at the Queen’s Club court in West Kensington, London, is one of the biggest grass court tournaments on the circuit and is often used as a warm up for Wimbledon. With £640,000 worth of prize money up for grabs, it can certainly act as a useful pay-day for the winning players.

The atmosphere during the Queen’s Club is as rarefied as you’d expect of a top end old English tennis club. However, when the sun is out, the old buildings and well-groomed courts can make the place look amazing. It’s certainly worth a visit for any keen tennis fan.

Henley Royal Regatta

The Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held on the River Thames near the town of Henley-On-Thames. The 5-day event is staged annually over the first weekend of July and sees some of the best rowers in the world compete on the unique head-to-head river course.

The atmosphere at the Henley Royal Regatta is one of fun and excitement. Tens of thousands of rowing fans attend to watch the races and to soak up the classically English atmosphere. The ‘Grand Challenge Cup’ is a one mile race for men’s eights and arguably the most prestigious of the event – the world’s most famous rowing clubs have competed in the race in the past.

Goodwood Festival of Speed

Britain is the spiritual home of motor racing. Many rally and Formula 1 teams call Britain their home which has built a tradition of racing in the nation.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed, held annually on the grounds of Goodwood House in West Sussex, is a celebration of motor racing. Held in late June/early July, the Goodwood Festival of Speed is scheduled to fit around most major racing events giving professional racing drivers the chance to attend and greet their fans.

Over 150,000 fans attend the three-day festival to take in the festival’s atmosphere and watch the attractions. A number of races are held over the weekend, too, as well as meet and greets with famous racing drivers. A visit to the Goodwood Festival of Speed is a must for all fans of motor racing.

With so much on offer in the UK, there’s not much excuse not to get out there and take in one or two of the brilliant events listed above.

Featured images:

This article was produced by Keith Prowse a leading provider of sports and Corporate hospitality

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The Sports Archives – Heli Skiing – The New Extreme Sport!

Posted on February 14, 2013 by thesportsarchives

Heli Skiing If you haven’t already done this then you are in for one hell of an experience… Heli-skiing is when you ski downhill, off-piste, in a natural environment. This is the perfect answer if you’re bored of the regular slopes, want some virgin snow, some thrills and some serious space to yourself. In an era where even the best slopes in the most expensive ski resorts are always crowded you might do well to consider heli-skiing.

Heli-skiing is a great option for skiers who want specific skiing conditions. The terrain at ski resorts can often be heavily manipulated, so the chance of skiing long descents on steep slopes, covered in much-coveted powder snow and bordered by natural woods can be irresistible. Very occasionally operations have runs that can reach 10,000 feet in vertical relief, but the usual run is more likely to last about 2,000 feet.

A Growing Extreme Sport

This highly charged adrenalin-pumping challenge is rapidly becoming the world’s most popular extreme sport. Although practiced almost worldwide – from the States to the Indian Himalayas, from Nepal to Chile, from Russia to Switzerland – it is B.C Canada which has the most popular area for this sport. Apparently they have the vast majority of the global share.

Get a Good Guide

When you go heli-skiing the most important piece of kit you can get yourself is a good guide. They will know the areas able to be covered by the helicopter charter that provide the right kind of snow and slope. Your guide’s in-depth knowledge of the mountains, mountaineering and skiing, will ensure you can relax and have a great time in these challenging off-piste conditions, without having to worry about the trail. They often also have an assistant guide.

Getting Up

A heli-skiing helicopter charter can fly to the otherwise inaccessible places around the mountains that are suitable for skiing, such as steep chutes and high Alpine glaciers. However, for obvious reasons, the skiing access in many mountain ranges has to be regulated. It would be a shame if the slopes were abused by too many people getting a random helicopter charter to drop them wherever they please.

In America and Canada they tend to use their helicopter charter a bit like a ski lift in that the pilot will happily pick up and drop skiers onto the best sections of snow for up to a dozen runs a day. This is known as the ‘Canada Model’. The European version (we’re hardier over here!) is to use the helicopter charter like a taxi. One pick up from the valley base, one drop off at the mountain top, and then the skiers both ski and perhaps even mountaineer a bit in order to get back to base.

Once your helicopter arrives it will load passengers, guide, skis and poles onto the helicopter and then the helicopter charter will take them to the designated Landing Zone. Once there, the guide will of course assess the safety of skiing depending on the snow and potential avalanche conditions. Whether you ski together as a group, or individually, or within the guide’s tracks depends on how safe the guide has deemed that day’s snow to be.

If you are interested in the idea of heli-skiing then you can travel in style to the top heli-skiing locations in the world via private jet or helicopter charter. The locations are currently thought to be the Canadian Rockies, the Swiss Alps, the Dolomites, the San Juan mountain range in Colorado, Chugach Range in Alaska, Sun Valley in Idaho, the Pantheons in Canada, and the Diamond Peaks in Utah.

Have fun but be safe and make sure you use a licensed helicopter charter services for your heli-ski experience.

Featured images:

Written By: Ian Oh.

Ian particularly likes to write about technology, computers, recruitment and general topics including some niche topics like Helicopter Charter. More of his work can be found on www.gigawire.co.uk

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The Sports Archives – ESPN For Ultimate Sports Lovers!

Posted on February 13, 2013 by thesportsarchives

ESPN Logo

First we should start out defining exactly what the letters stand for then we can follow a true sports lover in his quest for divulging how this network has evolved into a pastime. Entertainment and Sports Programming Network provides sports programming and entertainment for individuals who enjoy the thrill of victory, and, alas, the agony of defeat. People can watch events for much less money than going to the actual game and in the comfort of their own homes, or friends’ homes. Now let’s turn to the interview with our sports enthusiast.

What started out as an idea to broadcast local Connecticut sports, turned from using new technology of satellite communication in 1979 and became a ground-breaking sports network rivaling ABC’s Wide World of Sports. The first program aired on September 7, 1979 at 7:00 P.M. EST with only 30,000 viewers.  The first ‘Sports Center’ words spoken by the host, Lee Leonard, were, “If you love sports…if you really love sports, you’ll think you’ve died and gone to sports heaven.”

USFL Official FootballESPN partnered with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to show college basketball games, while growing to show all college sports in addition to their championship games. Then in 1982 ESPN entered the world of professional sports starting with the National Basketball Association (NBA).  Even the United States Football League (USFL) enjoyed some of its short-term success due to games on ESPN in 1983 and 1984. Yet another ground breaking change began in 1985 when ESPN started the 28/58 sports score roundup at 28 and 58 minutes past each hour.  This was a condensed run-down of scores for various sporting events.

One of the biggest nights in football, the National Football League (NFL) debuted on Sunday night in 1987 and started an explosion of sport shows. ESPN in turn broadcast the NFL draft, pre-game shows, team news conferences, and highlight shows.  Now ESPN televises the baseball All Star game and related events, the Heisman Award for the best college player, NASCAR and Formula I racing, golf, horse racing, bowling, go-kart racing. You name the sport and it’s probably been on ESPN.

Then 1990 brought Major League Baseball (MLB) with a $400 million contract to air Sunday night baseball.  The NFL contract changed in 2006 bringing Monday Night Football from ABC to ESPN.  Jon Miller and Joe Morgan became the longtime voices for the games on ESPN.

Other professional sports such as hockey and soccer have made their mark on ESPN over the years.  In fact there was so much sports to broadcast, new ESPN channels have come into being, e.g. ESPNRadio (1992), ESPN2 (1993), ESPNews(1996), ESPN Classic (1997) and ESPNU (2005) which focus solely on college sports.

Nowadays ESPN will probably feature any sports event.  Even “extreme” sports events have become popular because of ESPN.  Have you ever watched a snowboarding event?  Those guys are some kind of athletes!

BCS Coaches TrophyThe most watched program to date on ESPN was the 2011 BCS National Championship game which aired on January 10, 2011 with an estimated audience of 27.3 million viewers.  And now ESPN broadcasts sports 24 hours a day, seven days a week in 16 languages in 200 countries. Not bad for a shabby little sports network in Bristol, Connecticut struggling for financing in 1979.

Short of using his name and the sources of facts he established after our conversation, these are his thoughts. But the one thing you are not privy to are the lights in his eyes as he recollects his personal stories in between the history. You see, he lived this history. Like so many others, ESPN provides a diversion in a scrambled world, while at the same time the values projected on the fields and in the lives of the players bring to mind the reality of human nature and its failings. But for now, let’s just enjoy the game!

Garrett Payne is a sports enthusiast and avid blogger.  He enjoys writing about anything related to sports including his favorite players & the rules of the different sports.

Photo Credits: Wikipedia
Video Credits: ESPN

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The Sports Archives – Do Male Or Female Golfers Make More Money?

Posted on February 12, 2013 by thesportsarchives

The divide between male and female athletics can be almost insurmountable in some sports. For example, it is doubtful that a woman will ever play even a minute in the National Basketball League even with the growth of female youth basketball leagues in recent years. The same could be said for Football, of course, as well as baseball. Golf, on the other hand, seems like a sport where the gender gap would be less of an issue. Golf is a sport where technical skill outweighs physical ability as the most significant factor in determining success.

Women in the PGA

Annika SorenstamBecause of this it would seem that a female golfer could have a good chance competing with male golfers. It has happened before. Back in 2003 the most dominating female golfer, Annika Sorenstam, was invited to play in the Bank of America Colonial tournament in Fort Worth, Texas.  Sorenstam played amid the controversy of being the first female to play on the PGA tour in fifty years. After the first round she led the field in driving accuracy and was ahead of twenty-seven other golfers in driving distance. Despite this, Sorenstam’s putting faltered and she missed the cut.

Even so the LPGA tour might be the most successful female sports league. It has the most storied history (founded in 1968) and manages to attract consistent advertising. Even with the relative amount of success the league has seen it still trails its male counterpart by a large margin.

The Money Factor

The most obvious indicator of this is the prize money awarded in each league. In 2012 the total prize money won by the top-ten male golfers far exceeds the top ten female money-winners.

Women’s Top 10 total = $13,951,352
Men’s Top 10 total = $49,613,996

The men made $36 million or almost four times the amount made by the most successful female golfers. The huge difference might be surprising to some, especially those that follow the LPGA tour, but the gap is undoubtedly bigger if the amount of money earned through endorsements was included.

The money-list discrepancy is not a recent development of course. Sorenstam, who retired in 2008 ending her long and highly successful career, set the LPGA tour record for career earnings with a little over $22 million. To understand how impressive that total is on the LPGA tour, consider that the next highest career total is more than $8 million less than that. Sorenstam also earned around $4 million per year through endorsements with Callaway, Cutter & Buck, Mercedes and a few others.

Tiger WoodsThe highest earning male golfer, Tiger Woods, in comparison has earned over $100 million in tournament earnings and many people think he could still be playing for years to come. If that isn’t enough Tiger has earned hundreds of millions of dollars in endorsements. In 2000, Woods signed a five-year $105 million endorsement deal with Nike. At the time that deal was unheard of but it was only the beginning of the many mega-endorsement deals that Woods has signed throughout his career.

Phil Oscarson is an avid golfer, and golf analyst. If you’re looking for a great place to golf, deals on golf courses, etc. try Golf Tee Times as a great source to find what you’re looking for.

Photo Credits:  Wikipedia

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The Sports Archives – Jump, Run, Ski: Six Sports To Try Before You Die!

Posted on February 11, 2013 by thesportsarchives

There are some things in life that you just have to try. You don’t have to like them. You don’t have to do them again. But you do have to give them a go, if only so you can bring them up at a dinner party and make everyone believe that you’re an action hero.

Skydiving 12 way

Skydiving

Jumping out of a plane from thousands of feet in the air? What’s so scary about that? Well, lots of things would be if the sport of skydiving didn’t have a few safety precautions. Skydiving – also known as parachuting – is a pretty safe practice thanks to measures such as double parachutes and buddy jumps (where an instructor is tied onto the jumper; a must for beginners.) Boring stuff aside, the best thing about skydiving is the little camera inside your helmet. The film that it records will be a memory to last a lifetime.

Skiing

Skiing began in Scandinavia in the year 5000 BC. They only used one pole which, if you’ve ever skied yourself, you would know is a little tricky, Luckily, today two poles, and two skis is the way of the sport, which makes balancing a lot easier. Skiing is good exercise, and also an excuse to ride a chairlift while wearing a fluorescent parka. Most ski resorts run beginners classes, so there’s no excuse to not try this great activity.

Surfing

It’s time to hit the waves, dude. Surfing is a solid workout for your core (all that balancing on the waves has to work somewhere) but also a great way to enjoy the beach. But it’s not easy. You’ll feel a little silly at first, clinging to your board after another dump as you watch the pros glide over massive waves with no trouble, but persistence is key.

Bungee JumpingBungy Jumping

The jury’s still out as to whether this is a sport or just a dumb decision, but, regardless, bungy jumping is something that you have to try before you kick the bucket. Destination is key, for this sport. All good bungies occur in a picturesque location; think mountainous Queenstown in New Zealand, or tropical Cairns in Australia.

Wakeboarding

Take water skiing, snowboarding and surfing. Mix them all together and put them in the ocean. What do you get? Wakeboarding. In this sport, you ride a wakeboard (a little bigger than a boogie board) across the waves, while being towed by a motorboat. As you’d expect, water skiing experience helps, although the technique used in more similar to snowboarding. It’s tricky to get the hang of, but once you do, you’ll be traveling at speeds of 50km/h.

White Water Rafting

If you love a quiet canoe trip along the river, this is not the sport for you. The high action sport of white water rafting is dangerous, but loads of fun if you can master the act of balancing your little vessel over those rapids. There are six skill levels for courses, though, so beginners needn’t fear that they’d be out of their depth.

Frances Ward is a media student who loves learning about (but not necessarily engaging in) crazy extreme sports. Surfing is next on her list, and she’s looking at http://surffcs.com to get herself started.

Photo Credits:  Wikipedia

Related Blogs:
Are Extreme Sports Really Dangerous?
A Brief Guide to the World’s Most Dangerous Sports!

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