All posts by Neil Wolkodoff

Active Standing for a Better Vacation

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Sitting is the enemy. People are meant to move, not quite to the point of sleepwalking, but definitely more movement that people have been getting due to modern life and computers.

 

The probability is when you travel; you will be doing a great deal of walking, and even more standing. Sitting for a protracted period of time is not good for you, and definitely does not prepare you for all the standing you will do on a trip. It is estimated that in a normal travel day, you will be standing almost four times as much as you do in your daily routine. Obviously, people that stand for a living, such as in a retail environment don’t have that difference between standing times at home and during travel.

The Active Office Board allows you to actually train for your vacation in your office!

No matter what the situation, preparing to stand effectively can make the difference between a pleasant and not-so pleasant vacation. So, how do you train your posture and muscles to handle all that standing in a way that is good for you? The answer has arrived in the Fitter Active Office Board.

 

The concept is simple, once per hour, stand on the adjustable board and shift right to left, front to back while trying to maintain balance. The first benefit is circulation, as your muscles need oxygen, so blood begins to pump. Another benefit is increasing both balance and balance awareness as you go through something akin to office surfing. And, finally, as you shift from left to right, you develop some movement patterns where subconsciously you will shift your balance to one side or the other. An incredible skill for those moments in foreign art museums where you are going to hear a 10-minute explanation of just one painting.

 

The Active Office Board comes with four different legs, which attach via Velcro on the bottom of the board. So, the patterns to challenge balance and circulation are endless. As the legs move differently from right to left, the possibility of placing them to challenge the weak side of the body is simply accomplished by moving the legs.

Moving the legs to various positions changes the benefit of the Active Office Board.

In physical training, specificity of training is paramount. And, if you are going to be standing, then practicing effective standing is effective. The Active Office Board can make your vacation better while improving your office health.

Reef Saving Sunscreen

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When you travel, you want to be able to see all the ocean sights. And, you want to look at them again on your next visit. Unfortunately, the modern lifestyle and beach sunscreens have taken its toll on the oceans and reefs. Until Now.

A broad spectrum sunscreen friendly to the reefs!

Enter Coral Isles sunscreen, the optimal blend of protection and water resistance without the chemicals detrimental to the reef. So, now you are a planet protector, the next step is to pick a sunscreen that does the job but leaves a minimal mark on the ocean or land environment.

 

Sunscreen Labs, the maker of Coral Isles, has 25 years experience making sunscreen. Coral Isles is a broad spectrum, 80-minute water resistant, fragrance-free sunscreen. They started by removing oxybenzone from their formulas a few years ago. Recently, they removed zinc or titanium dioxide nanoparticle blockers from their lotions. Thus the recipe now might be the best to protect the coral reefs. Their website carries a list of articles and research showing how these compounds endanger the reefs and sea life.

 

David Erickson, president of Sunscreen Labs, noted “The bleaching and dying of coral reefs is a global crisis. Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems on earth.” He further stated while they only occupy a small fraction of the ocean floor, they are home to a quarter of all marine species. Another benefit of sunscreens that don’t contain these harmful chemicals to the environment is they are more comfortable on the skin. So the skin stays more healthy.

 

Whether it’s a spray or a liquid, putting on something during sun exposure doesn’t work. 20 minutes beforehand is the pre-fry rule. And, in the case of sprays, trying to put it on in the open just ensures most of the sunscreen goes into the environment, not the body parts that will be exposed to the sun. So, if you are going to use a spray, apply indoors before sun exposure and where the spray can’t expand into the environment. For that reason, many people favor lotions for outside and potentially windy applications.

TPT Golf: Driver Shafts that are Round!

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The shaft is the engine of the golf swing. It simply transfers the energy and direction from your swing into the club head for the desired result.

 

And, no secret every company is trying to come up with technology to tweak the shaft for better and more consistent performance. One of the issues with shafts is that of a “spine.” In this case, a manufacturing point where layers or materials overlap making an area where the shaft does not flex and restore energy as in the rest of the shaft.

Enter TPT Golf, a Swiss company with the same penchant for craftsmanship as many fine watches from that country. And maybe a better idea and manufacturing approach. Until this point, most golf shafts have a discernable spine. In the case of TPT, their shafts have a perfectly concentric, seamless design. In other words, the shaft is basically a perfect circle with no discernable spine, and no discernable points where the shaft does not oscillate or move true to the golf swing.

 

How they did it was simple in theory, but difficult in engineering application. They created extremely thin layers, which they terms “thin-ply winding, which means any over laps have an effect of not producing a spine. And to make it more precise, they use robot winding to make sure their shafts are consistent. In fact, the process is so unique, it is not just better, but has a patent pending. So, you get a regular with a mid launch, and the next one you get is exactly the same. That also ensures something important to most golfers, what you try and tweak in a fitting session will be the exact shaft you get in the club.

 

Testing for shaft spine and effects is normally done on a bench, with cycles per minute (CPM) as the standard to shaft flex. In testing, the TPT shafts were consistent all the way around the circle with only a small deviation of 2.4 CPM. Other shafts with pronounced spines varied as much as almost 8 CPM. That is quite a bit when you are looking for a consistent launch with a driver or a 3 wood, and even more important to a consistent direction.

This is the direct result of TPT Golf’s fully automated manufacturing process called “Thin-Ply Winding,” which gives TPT Golf the ability to independently tweak each shaft design parameter. This revolutionary, robot-driven process ensures unrivaled consistency and unlocks superior performance for golfers of all abilities. Unlike other shaft manufacturing processes, the patent-pending Thin-Ply Winding Method enables TPT Golf to create shafts that are exactly the same time after time.

 

At present TPT Golf only works through club fitters and makes driver shafts. In 2018, and at the PGA show, expect the unveiling of the same technology for woods and hybrids. And, they make shafts to specific swing speed and torque specifications. Tour level precision for the rest of us? It appears so!

Big Island Chocolate Festival 2018

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When you think of Hawaii, images of clear blue water and flowing palm trees float in your mind. Well, move over blue Pacific and stunning white sand beaches, and be prepared to be impressed and immersed in agricultural gastronomy that will likely give the beaches pause, at least for two or three days.

Bougainvillea foliage at the Hapuna Prince Hotel

It’s the 2018 Big Island Chocolate Festival, April 27 & 28, and it is enormous and it is tasty. Really tasty. Set on the magical Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, this is two-plus days of education, cooking demonstrations, community building, and oh yes, massive amounts of tasting.

I will confess that I like all the food festivals in Hawaii. However, this one is definitely the most organized and has the most to offer if you attend. From education to agriculture to tasting, it is all in this one festival. You can choose how many components to go to, and then take a beach break here and there. Be warned, the program and treats are so enticing, you should save your beach time for after the festival. The only thing that is missing is Willie Wonka.

Chocolate Cooking Demonstration

“Chocolate is produced worldwide, and each country is proud of the heritage it has brought to the industry,” says Kona Cacao Association President Farsheed Bonakdar. This year’s “Around the World” theme adds to the tastes and perspectives at the festival. Farsheed has added more flavors and emphasis from around the world to give the attendees the global chocolate experience.

Cacao pods just harvested at the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory.

Hawaii is just on the edge of the climate zone to grow cacao, the bean that becomes chocolate. It’s only natural that the Big Island, with the proclivity to coffee and agriculture, would sprout up with cacao. And, given the unique nature of the volcanic soil, the resultant chocolate has a unique taste. A primary focus of the first day is visiting the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory to get a hands-on view of the process from bean to bar.

Understand the chocolate process in Hawaii.

The second day contains culinary classes and demonstrations where you can actually get up close and personal with world-renown chocolatiers. The festival presents a chance for local chefs, both professional and those burgeoning from the high school ranks to create unique dishes with chocolate.

A Maui college competitor prepares their creation for the judges.

In this case, many of the recipes are appetizers or main dishes, not just deserts. And the high school chefs sometimes outduel the pros! These plates are presented at the BICF Gala, which benefits the local culinary programs on the Big Island.

Chocolate Fountain at the BICF Gala

And the locale is spiffalicious – the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort (formerly the Hapuna Prince), right on one of the best beaches in Hawaii. Many people make this a weeklong trip and include time front & back for water activities, golf, and general recharging. Staying at the HBR, which is undergoing a massive renovation and will emerge this Spring as The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, allows you to walk to all the events except the cacao farm and plantation tours, so convenience rules.

View from the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort to Hapuna Beach

Unlike most of the other festivals, there are hotel and BICF event packages that let you dial up or down how you would like to see and attend. One doesn’t miss the Gala, big fun and some fantastic chocolate inspired dishes with funds going right back into local culinary programs. Best of all you get to taste all the creations.

View from the Hapuna Golf Course to Maui

 

If you needed just one more reason to get to the Big Island in 2018, the Big Island Chocolate Festival is the tastiest reason.

Estrella Del Mar: Mazatlans’ Best Golf Resort

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View from Condos to the beach.

Combine possibly the best beach in Mazatlan with arguably the best golf, and you have Estrella Del Mar. This is not a big resort, but a combination of resort and second homes that have a quiet, rejuvenating feel. A great place to relax, reconnect and recharge.

Number 11, Par 5, view to green.
Estrella Del Mar is Close to the Airport

Only 15 minutes from the Mazatlan airport, Estrella Del Mar is easy to get to compared to the resorts in the Golden Zone, some 35 minutes away. The only downside of this is that when you want to go into town, it’s a 25-35 minute shuttle ride one way. In a week’s stay, an ideal ratio is two nights into Mazatlan proper for dining that is different than the resort. The attraction here is this place has everything and you could be quite content staying here for a week and being just here.

The courtyard at the Villas, a touch of old Mexico.
Mulitple Lodging Options

Lodging options are the Villas, condo rentals and an occasional home for rent. The Villas are reminiscent of a Spanish hotel with a large courtyard and fountain and feature 47 luxury rooms, recently renovated. One of the two restaurants, Las Delphines, is here, as well as the spa and fitness center. The other restaurant, La Paloma, is located at the golf clubhouse or the Casa Club. While there are only two restaurants, there are ample selections, and the food is top-notch for all three meals.

Mexican ranch breakfast at Delphines.

No all-inclusive option here, yet the food and drinks are more than reasonably priced. If staying at the Villas, it’s a spirited walk or shuttle ride to the Casa Club, but well worth it with the Oceanside and beach view.

3rd Shot view to green, Par 5, 14th.
World Class Golf at Estrella Del Mar

This is arguably the best golf in Mazatlan, period. This course is routinely used for Mexican PGA and Greg Norman Events. A John Jacobs Golf School just opened on the driving range for those in need of de-rusting the swing. This is a competitive golf course with plenty of twists, turns, and stunning beach views. The greens were just re-done, giving this course tour greens from start to finish. At 7015 yards from the Gold Tees, this is all you can bite off at sea level into a light, salty breeze.

Typical of the private beach at Estrella Del Mar.
Rejuvinate at EDM

Re-connecting is an underlying theme at Estrella Del Mar, and that starts with four miles of private beach. From anywhere you stay, serenity begins right outside your door. Villas also have their own pool, tubs and coconut bar so you can get your libation on. Estrella Del Mar is also a national turtle sanctuary, and a couple of nights per week you can participate in helping to launch the baby turtles in their brave, new world.

The turtles run to their new home.
Top-notch Staff

For a smaller resort, service is pretty fantastic. Everyone values the visitor, so expect real interest in who you are and why you are visiting. That only adds to the relaxation experience.

A great hammock on the private beach.
More Flights to Mazatlan

Mazatlan is continually getting increased air routes from the U.S., with many cities served by direct service over the winter months. It used to be difficult to get to, but now with direct service by Sun Country and others out of Denver and other cold cities, warm golf is a short hop away.

Lounging at the Coconut Bar and Snack Shack.

If you don’t play golf, this may not be the place for you. However, if you do play golf, and want that combined with beach, relaxation and limited hustle with no hassles, then Estrella Del Mar is the resort for you in Mazatlan.