Stateboarding’s Olympic & What It Means

Skateboarding debuted at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, played in 2021 due to the pandemic. Those who participated in this sport competed for 12 medals that asked competitors to street skate and skate through a park that is similar to a skate park. Competitors from Japan, Australia, and Brazil took gold and silver while the American team walked away with two bronze medals. The introduction of skateboarding into the Olympic Games has a larger impact on the sport in terms of exposure, inclusion, and reputation in the future.

Entrance into the Olympics means that not only has the international community embraced the sport, but its debut has long-lasting effects on skating and skating culture. One of the most immediate impacts of skateboarding being received in the Olympics is that it can expose more people to the sport. These are people who might have never become interested in the sport if they had not seen it on this particular platform.

The world-class competition exposes more people to skating culture as a whole. In the United States, the activity is a culture-based sport with many associating it with counterculture, which places the athlete in the position of dealing with law enforcement because skating in public spaces (rails, parks, and walkways) is not allowed.

This introduction to the Olympics is an inclusion opportunity for traditionally marginalized groups. Women, in particular, will get more exposure by participating on the world stage, where women’s sports gain as much attention as men’s. With big sponsorships and magazine cover interviews on the table, women who make it to the Olympics can benefit from this platform. Before the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, men overwhelmingly gained from this type of exposure through other types of competition.

The Olympics has also made it possible for people in the LGBTQ community to compete and get exposure in the same space. For example, the American team at the 2020 Olympic Games comprised at least two team members who identified outside traditional gender roles, one identifies as queer and the other as non-binary.

Entrance into the Olympics can also improve some of the sport’s reputation issues. The United States is not the only place where the sport is seen in a negative light. In other countries, such as Japan, the sport is seen as dangerous. However, the sport’s reception is different in other parts of the world, and with the Olympics establishing a competition for the sport, there is the possibility that skateboarding will become legitimate worldwide.

However, skateboarding’s entrance to the 2020 Olympic Games did not come without criticism. The sport is commonly associated with an outlaw culture, and for many in the community, the jump into the Olympic arena is viewed as selling out.

Even so, being included in the Olympics provides the sport the chance to expand beyond its traditional boundaries. A sport that allows its participants to express themselves creatively, skateboarding is a platform to push boundaries to see where the sport and the community can go.

About the O’Day 28

The O’Day 28 sailboat was designed by C. Raymond Hunt Associates and produced in 1978. The O’Day Corp constructed the boat in the United States from 1978 to 1986, building 507. A small recreational boat, the O’Day 28 was made primarily of fiberglass and accented with wood trim. Its features included an internally mounted spade-type rudder controlled with a wheel, a masthead rig (a rig with more headsails and a smaller mainsail), and a centerboard.

The boat weighed 7,300 pounds (3,311kg) and could hold 2,550 pounds (1,157 kilograms) of water. It started to have a displacement of 7,450 pounds (3,379 kilograms), beginning with the serial number 323, which was constructed in 1980 with a slight difference in the length of the vessel-part submerged in water ( also known as the waterline length), which consequently affects hull speed. Hull speed is calculated by multiplying 1.34 by the square root, in feet, of the waterline length. The previous designs gave the boats a hull speed of 6.42 knots (11.89 km/h), while the hull speed of designs with serial numbers beginning with 323 was 6.39 knots (11.83 km/h).

The version of the boat with a centerboard had a draft (the distance the hull contains when submerged) of 6.83 feet (2.08 m) when the centerboard was extended and 3.25 feet (0.99 m) when the centerboard was retracted, allowing for ground transportation on a trailer or hauling up the boat to the beach. The version of the ship with a keel had a draft of 4.50 feet (1.37 m). A shorter draft keel type with a 3.67-foot (1.12 m) draft eventually replaced the centerboard variant. Later on, the manufacturer constructed a longer keel version with 4.67 feet (1.42 m) draft.

A tall mast version was also available, 2.00 feet (0.61 m) increase in height. A Universal 12 10-hp (7 kW) diesel engine powers the boat. The fuel tank had a capacity of 18 US gallons (68 L; 15 imp gal), while the freshwater tank could hold 25 US gallons (95 L; 21 imp gal).

Many Universal engines have a common issue of frequently missing impeller vanes or rotating blades. Unfortunately, many owners replace them without even inquiring as to where they go. Naturally, they go downstream and obstruct parts of the cooling system. The trick is to apply fluid force in the opposite direction on a dozen of them whenever the engine is hot, and you may never have to replace them. The technique is known as backflushing.

The O’Day 28 is built like a custom boat with all main metal parts having a solid copper wire system, similar to a Hinkley. The O’Day 28 is acclaimed as one of the all-time racing sleepers – a highly stable boat. It has excellent wheel steering and does not require extravagant staffing to sail. The remarkably long rudder gives a superior steering response and rarely breaks.

The boat moves like a rocket in zero wind conditions and winds over 15 knots at an impressive pace. Unlike the Catalina 30, the O’Day 28 does not need you to steer the wheel constantly; all you need to do is point and go. The boat remains dry, floating on the water with minimal rocky movements. When compared to the Catalina 27, the motion is smoother, making seasickness unlikely. It has an excellent layout with generous space in the cabin area. You could easily relax and enjoy a book as comfortably as in your home.

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Dog on a Hike - Safety & Preparation

Dogs enjoy the outdoors, and taking a hike can be a great activity for dogs and owners alike. However, dog owners must take precautions to ensure their pet stays happy and healthy during the journey.

Before setting off on the trail, owners must make sure their dogs are physically able to complete the hike. Puppies, dogs over 10 years old, and some brachycephalic breeds like pugs are not able to safely complete long hikes.

However, most medium- and large-sized dogs in good health can walk alongside their owners on easy to moderate hikes. Some breeds, like Huskies and mountain dogs, are genetically more suitable for hilly trails.

Owners should assess their pets’ endurance by starting off with short, easy hikes. As the dogs become accustomed to long walks, owners can select more difficult trails. However, some dogs have a natural limit on how far they can walk. In these cases, owners can purchase harnesses or other carriers to transport their dogs part of the way.

In addition to checking if their dogs are healthy enough to walk a trail, owners must also train them with some basic commands. Trails can be full of distracting animals and other people, so dogs should be able to demonstrate a strong recall.

Owners can strengthen their dog’s recall by first practicing the “come” command in familiar areas. As the dog masters the command, the owner can practice in a gradually more distracting environment. When the dog responds to the command at nearly a 100 percent rate, it is ready to go on the trail.

When on the trail, owners should take note of any rules regarding dogs. Some areas require pets to be leashed at all times, while other parks allow dogs to roam freely alongside their owners. In either situation, owners should bring waste collection bags or research the best way to safely bury dog feces in the park.

Like humans, dogs require rest breaks, snacks, and water. Owners can meet their pets’ needs while on the trail by packing essentials such as water containers, food bowls, and treats. Dogs can get sick from untreated water sources, so owners should never let their dogs drink from rivers or streams.

Dogs can injure their paws on the trail, or come into contact with poisonous plants or stinging insects. For this reason, owners should pack a first aid kit with dog-specific antiseptics and bandages. Owners can also prepare for weather changes by taking a cooling vest to protect the dog against heat stroke, as well as rain gear for wet weather. If temperatures are expected to be very high or low, it may be best to reschedule the hike.

Owners can increase their dogs’ enjoyment by taking along toys and giving the dog some tasks. For example, many dogs can help carry some of the gear in a small, specially designed backpack. Dogs can safely tote a load that is under a third of their weight. Depending on the trail, owners and dogs can also play fetch or practice commands.

Even the best-trained dog can become distracted and bolt while in nature. Owners can add a GPS-enabled or satellite safety chip to the dog’s collar in order to locate them. Finally, after the hike, owners should check their dogs for any abrasions or tick bites.