Surfing continues to be a popular sport and hobby for people all over the world. Those who do go surfing will enjoy the excitement and solidarity that can come with being out on the open water and catching a great wave. A great place for anyone in the country to go to enjoy surfing is North Carolina, which has a busy surfing season throughout the year. One individual that has continued to love surfing is Brook B. Taube. There are various great spots throughout North Carolina that all surfers should try. 

Hatteras on Outer Banks

When it comes to surfing in North Carolina, Brook Taube and other enthusiasts will immediately start thinking about the Outer Banks. This part of the state, and its beaches, get some great waves, and the city of Hatteras offers various convenient beaches for visitors and local residents. The strong surf makes it a great option for more experienced surfers and strong swimmers. When you are done, there are many great places to grab a meal or go shopping in the immediate area. 

Nags Head

One of the most popular spots to go surfing in North Carolina is Nags Head, which is located on the Outer Banks. Nags Head is located near Kitty Hawk, which continues to be among the most popular vacation destinations in the state. Brook Taube and other surfers continue to love coming here for the great waves and convenient location to all of the restaurants, fishing, and other activities in the area.

Ocracoke Island

One of the popular vacation destinations in North Carolina is Ocracoke Island. This is a standalone island located just off the Outer Banks. While there are some consistent tourists here, the beaches and surf waters tend to be quieter than the areas near Kitty Hawk. Further, it can have some of the strongest surf and waves along the Atlantic Coast. The open space and strong waves continue to make it a top destination for Brook Taube and other surfers.

Wrightsville Beach

Brook Taube lives in the Wilmington, NC, area, and a top surfing option for anyone in this area is Wrightsville Beach. This beach is located a short drive away from downtown Wilmington and is known for offering great waves throughout the year. When the surf is rough, it is best left to more experienced surfers and swimmers. When you are done, you can relax on the beach or head to one of the local restaurants near the oceanfront. 

The state of North Carolina has continued to be a great place to enjoy some surfing. One of the reasons for this is that there are plenty of great places to go and try and catch waves. Surfing enthusiasts have continued to find great surfing spots throughout the state. These include a great mix of acclaimed and popular surfing destinations as well as lesser-known options for all to enjoy. 

Donald Mihalik has been an accomplished professional in the real estate industry for a long time. Over the course of his career, he has worked in real estate sales, real estate management, and the mortgage industry. While his real estate career has kept him busy, he does continue to have many interests. During the winter months of the year, he enjoys skiing due to the excitement and natural beauty that comes along with it. For those that are looking to start skiing, various tips should be followed.

 Get Some Lessons

For experienced skiers, such as Donald Mihalik, one of the most common tips that will be provided would be to ensure you get some lessons before hitting the ski runs for the first time. While skiing can be fun for everyone, it does take some skill and technique to maximize your experience. Even spending a few hours in a ski school can go a long way. Not only will you learn more about how to use your equipment and proper techniques, but you can also learn more about etiquette and mountain rules that help keep everyone safe.

 Start Slow

Another tip that Donald Mihalik and others will provide is to start slow. When you are going to a larger mountain range for the first time, you may be excited when you see the high slopes at the top. While you may want to try a blue or black run to start, it is often better to spend some time on the green runs. These will help you get warmed up and will help you build up your skills so you can tackle the more challenging ski runs later on.

 Get the Right Equipment

You must be adequately equipped when heading to the local ski resort. Some items that you will always need, no matter what, will include skis and ski boots, ski poles, goggles, and a helmet. In most cases, renting this equipment is a good idea. When you do rent this equipment, the sales professionals can help you select a set of skis that are right for your experience.

 Donald Mihalik and others also believe that it is essential that you wear the correct type of clothing. You will always want to have water-resistant outer layers that are designed to keep you warm and dry. You should also try and have a quality set of ski socks and gloves on at all times. This can help to keep you safe and avoid frostbite and windburn that otherwise can come with skiing at high altitudes in the winter.

 Be Alert and Aware

The most important thing that you need to be when skiing is alert and aware. As a lot of people can be moving at high speeds on the mountain, there is always a risk of collisions. Due to this, you should be alert and focused on the hill in front of you. Donald Mihalik and others would suggest you be cautious and avoid listening to music when going downhill.

 Skiing continues to be a very popular activity for many people and a passion for Mihalik. If you are new to skiing, following these tips can help you become better and have a more enjoyable time.

The most optimistic of Napoli fans won’thave dreamt about the status of their team as Italian Serie A leaders at this stage of the newseason by the end of last season. Ahead of the final day of the last season, Napoli had the final spot for Champions League qualification in the bag and needed to beat Hellas Verona at home on the last day of the season to secure it. In the end, Napoli lost that final Champions League spot to Juventus as they fluffed their lines with a 1-1 draw. On their part, Juventus thrashed hosts Bologna 4-1 to maintain their strong Champions League qualification record.

The aforementioned Verona clash turned out to be the last game for Gennaro Gattuso as Napoli manager as the fans have to contend with another Europa League campaign. Milan legend Gattuso left Napoli at the end of his contractthis summer and his exit ushered in the Luciano Spalletti era at the club. Ex-Zenit Saint Petersburg and AS Roma manager Spalletti has been able to turn Napoli into title contenders ahead of favourites like Inter Milan, Juventus and AC Milan.

Spalletti and Napoli have been dominant at the start of the new season with eight straight wins thus leading to a two-point lead over Milan at the summit. The current Napoli squad equalled the record of the eight-game winning start set by the 2017/18 squad at the club. During the 2017/18 season, Napoli made it eight successive league wins at the start with an impressive 1-0 away win over Roma and they will face the same fixture on Sunday in the quest to continue their perfect record this season. A goalless draw at home to Inter stopped the winning sequence from above three seasons ago. Napoli will face their second biggest test of the season till date when they take on Roma at the start of next week. In their biggest test this season, they came from behind to beat Juventus 2-1 at home in their second league game.

Napoli are the only team with a perfect record in the top five European leagues. It remains to be seen if they can maintain their strong form until the end of the season in the bid to win a first Serie A title in 32 years ahead of more established clubs like Inter and Juventus.

Kyle Vandermolen: Participation in adaptive scuba diving creates a more inclusive underwater world.

Efforts to spur inclusion across sports and recreational activities create dynamic opportunities for individuals to share their hobbies and athletic pursuits with interested individuals with physical or cognitive impairments. Through programs like the Mary Free Breed Adaptive scuba diving clinic, a more diverse underwater experience is emerging.

Kyle Vandermolen is an experienced chemical engineer with a passion for scuba diving. He is a technical scuba diver fully trained in the use of rebreathers and is a full cave diver. In his spare time, he pursues recreational cave diving, shipwreck diving, and open ocean water diving.

In recent years, this has also included participation in a unique, inclusive event.

Kyle Vandermolen on adaptive scuba diving

As a scuba diver, Vandermolen fully understands the joy and freedom a person can experience underwater and enjoys sharing it with others. Traditionally, scuba diving is not necessarily conducive to those with limited physical or cognitive abilities.

However, the Mary Free Bed Hospital found a way to let interested applicants and participants in existing rehabilitation programs experience the joy of diving with the help of qualified individuals like Kyle Vandermolen.

Through the use of a high school pool and helping hands, participants in the Mary Free Bed program could enjoy adaptive scuba diving in a controlled environment. For some, the training was an opportunity to pursue the activity one time, but it’s also a repeat option as an annual event.

Participants were suited up and dived with partners who helped them engage in underwater activities, such as a Frisbee toss and swimming through hula hoops. They also experienced the unique feeling of breathing with a tank and the weight of gear.

For Kyle Vandermolen and other volunteers, the event helped them learn new ways to help others interact with activities and connect with patients of the rehabilitation clinic.

Many found the event exciting and look forward to new and similar experiences. These events help patients reinforce previously acquired skills, such as swimming and swimming underwater, exercise, develop dexterity and flex social skills around new friends and instructors.

The exchanges are meaningful for all involved and can help create more inclusive opportunities in the future.

Sports injuries are so common that they often seem inevitable, says Darrin Eakins, a former orthopedic surgeon. Sooner or later, most athletes will sustain an injury. Whether from a soccer ball to the knee or a misstep on the treadmill, there is no such thing as complete immunity against sports injuries. 

Depending on the severity of the injury and how it is treated, it may take anywhere from weeks to months to heal properly. Luckily, some simple exercises can help treat sports injuries–or prevent them in the first place!

The Reverse Lunge with Back Extension

This exercise strengthens the glute muscles to create more stability for the pelvis and lumbar spine during physical activity. The exercise is also great for improving hip, ankle, and foot flexibility, says Dr. Darrin Eakins.

To do the reverse lunge with back extension, start with feet hip-width apart in a standing position. Step back with one foot until there’s a feeling of tension in the front of the thigh. The other leg should stay straight or flexed (depending on how much support it needs). 

Slowly bend both knees until there’s tension in the front of the rear thigh. As the lunge deepens, breathe in deeply through the nose and exhale through the mouth. Hold this position for three seconds, then slowly come up to a standing position while breathing deeply. Repeat 10 times on each side three times a day.

The Standing Hip Flexor Stretch

The standing hip flexor stretch is a simple way to stretch the muscles in the front of the thighs. It will help maintain good hip flexibility, which can reduce future injuries, explains Dr. Darrin Eakins. Here’s how it’s done:

Stand with feet about hip-width apart and raise one leg behind the body. Turn the foot out so that the toes point away from the body and lean into the leg until a comfortable stretch is felt in the thigh muscle. 

Hold this for five seconds before switching legs and repeating the exercise on the other side.

Repeat three times on each side or until the muscles feel loose. 

The Seated Hamstring Stretch

This exercise is perfect for strengthening the hamstrings and glutes, says Dr. Darrin Eakins. Begin by sitting on the ground with legs stretched out in front of the torso and the arms at rest. 

Extend one leg backward and grab behind the knee or ankle with the hand (whichever feels natural). Keep the other leg bent and pull the extended leg toward the chest. 

Hold this position for 15-30 seconds before switching to the other side. Repeat if tightness continues.

Don’t Forget to Give the Body Time to Heal

Whatever sport they prefer–be it running, cycling, or badminton–people are bound to get some kind of injury. When stress is repeatedly put on the body, it’s almost inevitable, says Dr. Darrin Eakins.

And while it can be hard to forego a favorite sport because of pain, doing so can actually speed up recovery time. The body must be allowed to heal, or one risks damaging it further. Ice, rest, and anti-inflammatories are essential tools for athletes, and recreational sportsmen alike, says the doctor. 

Luckily, there are a variety of exercises that can be completed at home to help manage pain in-between visits to the doctor.

Martial arts, MMA, and wrestling are all known for being great combat sports that allow people to compete at the highest level. While this can be a great sport to participate in if you like to compete, it can also provide other benefits as well. Those who participate in these sports at any age will learn good self-defense strategies, get in a great workout, and build confidence. While you can participate in these activities, your progress and success will be highly determined by the quality of your coach. One individual who has continued to be a top coach in these sports for a long time is Henry Agallar, who continues to have a successful career and well-rounded interests.

 Various Forms of Martial Arts

For more than a decade, Henry Agallar has been a top coach for martial arts and other types of contact sports. He is well known for being an expert in both NoGi grappling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. As these are two very popular forms of fighting in mixed martial arts, he is also a great coach for someone that would like to get into MMA fighting. While he continues to coach both highly-competitive fighters and adults, he still likes to work with young adults and kids as well. Throughout the course of his career, he has also been a high school wrestling coach.

Benefits Extend Beyond Being a Better Fighter

Becoming a better fighter in competitions is one goal for people that come to Henry Agallar for coaching. However, that is not the only benefit that you can receive through his guidance. When meeting with new students, he focuses on helping them reach their own personal goals. This can include developing better coordination, losing weight and getting fit, and developing personal defense strategies. Many people that come to him for coaching will also develop improved self-confidence as a result of the progress they make.

Education and Credentials

Henry Agallar has had a long and successful career as a coach. Over the course of his coaching career, he has been named Coach of the Year in the Racine, WI, area two times. Outside of coaching, he also has a strong mind for finance and economics. He has a degree for the University of Wisconsin and earned his Master’s degree from Olivet Nazarene. Some of his interests in the business world include real estate, the stock market, and long-term financial planning.

Dedication to Philanthropy

While he is best known for his success as a martial arts and wrestling coach, Henry Agallar also always looks for ways to give back to the community. One area of his philanthropic focus is on being a participant with the United Way in his hometown of Racine. He also is an advocate for Ronald McDonald’s House of Charities of Southern California, which provides support to children and their families dealing with various medical challenges.

Agallar has been a leading wrestling and martial arts coach for over a decade. Beyond being a top coach, he also has various philanthropic interests, excellent credentials, and academic achievements.