Friday 31 January 2020
Indian Cooking Tips: Use Your Leftover Keema To Cook This Delicious Cutlet At Home
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The 10 Best Valentine’s Day Gear Gifts for the Adventurous Gal
It is that time of year again: Valentine’s Day is only two weeks away. The countdown turns on the social pressure to find a timely, well-thought gift for your main squeeze. Consider though, if your main squeeze happens to be an adventurous gal; your best bet is not to give some disposable gesture.
Somewhere between practical and indulgent lies the perfect gift for those of us more oriented to the outdoors. We dread the thought of those millions of canned-line greeting cards and spent chocolate boxes ending up in the recycling bin—or worse yet, the trash. Rather, we prefer the idea of getting something special that we’ll end up using together and keeping forever—not unlike the love that the holiday is meant to celebrate.
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Ski Resort Sibling Rivalry: Park City Versus Canyons
Vail Resorts acquired Canyons first. The convoluted circumstances in which POWDR Corp sold PCMR to Vail culminated in the creation of the largest resort in the United States. Vail immediately spent $50 million in connecting the two and building a new lodge.
The gondola is quick and convenient. Free Park City buses go almost nonstop from one base area to the other, so why not use the whole hill?
Whether it stems as far back as the ParkWest days or is a more recent phenomenon, when asked “Are you a Canyons or a PCMR skier?” almost everybody picks a side. There does, however, remain some commonality. On the northern sides, both have pine and fir trees. Both south sides have what I call “the little scrubby trees.” These are the most durable shrubberies one could ever get tangled in. They’re not natural and I doubt they even burn.
But the terrain is wildly different. Canyons has the 9990 and 5 chairs as well as the Super Condor. Sticks and Stones, Yard Sale, Funnel Cloud, and Aftershock are frightening to look over with little to no snow—much less to drop in. PCMR sports more groomers of varying pitch, but also is justifiably proud of the Jupiter Bowl which is, at points, a cliff with trees on it. Having a preference for one resort makes sense. It depends what kind of skier you are.
These skiers and their respective spaces are as disparate as the resorts’ snow-capped peaks and the desert to the west of Salt Lake. The fervor seems a little silly, as neither resort lies in the Cottonwoods.
Don’t make me pull over and separate you two. We’ve got more sibling rivalries to come.
This article originally appeared on Powder.com and was republished with permission.
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5 of the Most Epic Motorbike/Surf Adventures Across the Globe
You might be asking yourself: “What on earth do motorbikes and surfing have to do with each another?” Fair question, but surprisingly more than you’d imagine.
Oddly enough, where you see the two cultures — bike and surf — colliding gracefully is in Canggu, Bali where surf-moto brand, Deus Ex Machina, has its flagship base there called the “Temple of Enthusiasm.”
An idea born from the vintage motorcycle and surf movements happening in Sydney, Australia, you can buy custom surfboards at Deus, custom motorbikes, coffee, art, clothing… even get a haircut.
But back to the initial query: What’s the connection between a café racer and sliding piece of foam and fiberglass? Some say it’s in the line you choose, whether on a wave or on the open road. Some say it’s in the craftsmanship, riding vessels made by human hands and hearts.
Ultimately, the pairing is in the travel. Motorbikes get us from “Point A” to “Wave B,” and if you’re lucky, happily lost along the way. Because some of the best discoveries happen by accident. The following are five routes across the globe that blend the two loves seamlessly.
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Watch the First Action-Packed ‘Fast and Furious 9’ Trailer
The first Fast & Furious 9 trailer has arrived ahead of Super Bowl Sunday, giving fans a look at Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, and the rest of the Furious crew in the final chapters of the Fast Saga.
A tenth sequel is scheduled for release in 2021, making Fast & Furious 9 the “beginning of the end” for the (very) long-running action franchise. What started out as a small movie about street racers and an undercover cop has become one of the biggest action movie series of all time. Spinoffs and other related projects are likely imminent—including a possible sequel to Hobbs & Shaw with Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham—but these two movies might be the final times to see Diesel and co. in action.
Here’s a look at the Fast and Furious 9 trailer:
Join us live at The Road To #F9 Concert & Trailer Drop now! https://t.co/T5oIuVry6G
— #F9 (@TheFastSaga) January 31, 2020
Along with Diesel, Rodriguez, and Gibson, the returning cast includes Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Helen Mirren, and Charlize Theron, as well as new additions like John Cena and Guardians of the Galaxy star Michael Rooker. Brewster is returning to the franchise for the first time since Furious 7 in 2015, something she previously told Men’s Journal she’s very excited about.
“It makes me really happy to come back,” Brewster said. “I was kind of bummed out not to have been a part of the last one. I felt like I was missing out because they’re family. I adore Vin [Diesel] and Michelle [Rodriguez]. We’ve been a part of each other’s lives for so long, so I’m so happy to be back in the fold. I really can’t wait for the next chapter. We have the best fans in the world and it’s very cool that the series has been introduced to new generations—and we have die-hard fans that have been with us since the beginning.”
Fast & Furious 9 is set for a May 22, 2020 release.
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The 2020 NBA All-Star Game Has a New Format and a Kobe Bryant Tribute
The best NBA players in the world converge in Chicago for the 2020 All-Star Game on February 16, but this year’s event is unlike what you’re used to. The league has announced a slew of changes to the format, along with a tribute to the late NBA icon Kobe Bryant.
This isn’t the first time in recent years the league has made tweaks to the All-Star showcase: In the past, the teams were split by Eastern and Western Conference players; but in 2018, the NBA changed the format to captains. Instead of the conference split, the captains selected from the pool of starters and reserves for each team. That roster set up remains the same for 2020.
Here’s a rundown of the new format and rules for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game:
- Instead of a total score format, the teams will start each quarter with the score 0-0 for the first three quarters of the game. The 12-minute periods will have a winner for each one, with the winning team donating $100,000 to the charity of their choice.
- The teams will be supporting Chicago-based charity and community organizations, as the game is taking place in Chicago this year. The team captains—Lakers star LeBron James and Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo—will select the organizations for their respective teams.
- The fourth quarter will have a different format and a tribute to late NBA star Kobe Bryant: When the fourth quarter opens, there will be no game clock limit, and the teams will play to a “Final Target Score.” That score will be set by taking the leading team’s total score through three quarters and adding 24 points—to honor Bryant’s number. Once either of the teams reach that score, that team will win the NBA All-Star Game.
- The NBA gave an example of how the target scoring works: “…if the cumulative score of the first three quarters is 100-95, the Final Target Score would be set at 124 points. To win the NBA All-star Game, the team with 100 points would need to score 24 points in the fourth quarter before the team with 95 points scores 29 points, and vice versa.”
The 2020 NBA All-Star Game airs on TNT on Sunday, February 16 at 8 p.m. ET.
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Fig At Museo: Relish Keto And Gluten-Free Delicacies Sans Guilt
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Agra Street Food: Ultimate Guide To The 'Khao-Galis' Of The City
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Interview: Big-Wave Surfer Billy Kemper Breaks Down His Unfathomable Tube at Jaws
Billy Kemper is, as you likely know, a four-time Jaws event winner. The only time he didn’t win, he finished runner-up to Maui hellman Ian Walsh. That’s some crazy, 1990’s Slater-esque domination–and he’s doing it on the biggest, meanest days at the world’s most psychotic wave.
So it was no real surprise when, a few days ago at Jaws, Kemper scratched into the wave of the swell–an impossibly long, impossibly large, barreling behemoth. Mid-wave he somehow managed to do a full-blown air over the foam ball while riding a 9’8” surfboard. The ride was truly incredible and lauded by chargers far and wide.
Now that he’s had a few days to digest everything, we gave Kemper a call to get his perspective on the memorable wave.
You’ve talked about “manifesting” things in previous interviews, and in your Instagram post mentioned that you’ve been “visualizing” that wave at Jaws for a while. Can you elaborate?
My whole life I’ve been inspired by people other than surfers. It’s just crazy that the person who inspired me the most growing up was Kobe Bryant, and then he tragically passed last weekend. But that’s the mentality [I looked up to]. Not just dreaming—but actually making those dreams your reality. I had Kobe on my wall as a kid. I knew if I wanted to be great I needed to work harder than everyone, the same way that he did. And I needed to visualize my success. I’ve been doing that consistently for a long time and that wave at Jaws is just another example of why [I visualize]. When you can train your mind to visualize a destiny, it’s something really unique, and I honestly feel like I’ve overcome obstacles in my life that people don’t know about through visualization. I’ve used it as a positive drive and it’s been a big part of my success.
That wave at Jaws. Talk us through how it felt, and what it means to you today.
First, let’s rewind back to 2017, the year Ian [Walsh] won the Jaws event. I had a wave in the first heat of that event that was the biggest barrel I had ever pulled into in my life. I was one pump from making it, but I got inhaled by the spit. But that wave has been embedded in my head ever since. I had to get that wave again.
Last year [the 2018 Jaws event], was basically 60-foot Backdoor that first morning. After winning two Jaws events and getting second to Ian, I started feeling this obsession towards that event, and I was livid about my loss from the year before. I wanted to make a statement. And again, I got a chance at the wave I’d been chasing my whole life in that first heat, but same thing happened: I was one pump away, and the spit caught me. I ended up winning the event last year, but I don’t think people know how much one wave can affect a surfer—it’s like what drugs do to people. I couldn’t get that wave out of mind. It’s a crazy addiction. And I’ve really felt like I’ve had this unfinished business out at Jaws for a couple of years now; I felt like I had something to prove, even just to myself. So, I flew over the other day with one intention: To look for that wave. To find that feeling that’s been leaving me kind of empty.
At first, when I saw the waves that day, I thought about riding an 8’6” or a 9’0” and hunting the inside west bowl. And then I realized no, that’s not where the wave of my life is going to come. The wave of my life is gonna be a big one from out the back, and I’m gonna ride it from the peak to the channel.
After a few fun warmup waves, I just went and posted up out the back. It was 2 p.m., and I figured I had 4 hours of light left to find that wave. As that set approached, Nathan Florence was actually up next. I could tell it was the biggest set of the day and the angle was perfect. It had that horseshoe effect where you can take off out the back and backdoor the entire wave. Nate spun on the first wave, and it ended up being an incredible ride. But spending years out there and watching the way Shane [Dorian] approaches it, I knew that on a day like that, if the second wave of the set holds the same size, it draws all the water off the reef, and really grooms it. And that’s what happened. My wave was like an untouched powder run, where Nate’s had moguls, because of the wind.
When I saw that wave I immediately knew it was the one. 100 percent. I got a really good entry into it, took the biggest pump I could on a 9’8” and tried to pull the board as high as I could on the wave, taking into consideration the similar waves I hadn’t made where I felt like I rode too low in the barrel. And yeah man, as soon as I got that line, it was an odd feeling. I’ve never been in a barrel that big for that long. I pulled in, went through a chandelier, hit a shock wave from the foam bouncing off the lip coming up the wave, and basically did an air over it—my whole board came out of the water. As I was in the air I was actually thinking about my ankle, I’m dealing with a little ankle injury and was hoping I wasn’t going to fold it in half [laughs]. I just braced myself, got my board to land on edge, and all I could see was Nate at the end of the tunnel with his arms in the air. It was like riding a bull, but it felt like slow motion. I can remember how many paddles I took, I can remember scooting my back foot up on my board to get a little extra drive, and I can remember every second of being in the biggest barrel I’ve ever seen.
Can you put into words how that felt?
Coming out of the barrel was one of the biggest reliefs of my life. I overcame so many obstacles and challenges to reach that point. There has never been a wave in my life that lifted so much off my shoulders. I don’t know what the fuck is next, honestly [laughs].
That wave is definitely Ride of the Year-worthy and it’s only January. It’s not a stretch to say that wave was one of the most amazing waves ever ridden. So, where do you go from here?
You know, I’ve been so inspired by Shane [Dorian] and what he’s done—and I have a family now as well—that if the wave I want isn’t out there, I don’t have that drive or need to to go surf. I’ve ridden so many heavy waves, and put my life on the line so many times, so when I paddle out for these sessions, I want to make sure I’m trying to get that feeling again; I’m trying to go into that state of mind and just do it for myself, because I’m not doing it for Instagram or for the awards.
I’ve always wanted to ride the biggest and the deepest barrels in surfing. That’s been my goal, that’s what I get off on, and what really motivates me. Getting texts from Shane, and Laird [Hamilton], and all these guys that I’ve always looked up to, I’m over the moon. I got the same feeling I got from winning the Jaws event for the first time. It feels like something that wasn’t possible, just became possible—like this wave opened up a new chapter in my life. It’s been a wild one. I feel like more people were tripping out on that wave than on any win in my life. Just to have that feeling from other people, alongside the feeling I got, it’s so special. I didn’t know one wave could do that for a human. I’m really thankful to everyone that reached out, and everyone that supported that wave. It truly meant the world to me. I could go the rest of my life chasing that wave. The goal is always to ride waves better than I did yesterday, but man, I know that’s gonna be tough. Even when I re-watch it today I’m in disbelief that I made a wave that big and that deep out at Jaws.
This article originally appeared on Surfer.com and was republished with permission.
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How to Stream the Super Bowl on Sunday
The biggest sporting event of the year is coming on Sunday: Super Bowl 54 between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers in Miami. The game puts one of the top defenses in the league, the second-ranked Niners unit, against the high-scoring Chiefs, powered by 2018 NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes at quarterback.
If you’re hosting or heading to a Super Bowl party this year, but don’t have a cable package, don’t fret: The game will be streaming on a number of different apps and services that will allow you to watch anyway. The matchup starts at 6:30 p.m. on February 2 with coverage from FOX, live from Miami at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins.
Here’s a look at the ways you can stream Super Bowl 54 on Sunday:
Fox Sports Streaming: Fox is handling the television coverage for the Super Bowl this year and Fox Sports will be live-streaming the game on Sunday night. The stream of the game is free through Fox Sports on various platforms, including on the Fox Sports Live website online, as well as the Fox Sports app and Fox Deportes app on streaming devices, computers, tablets, and your smartphone. To watch for free, all you’ll need to do is create a FoxSports profile.
Streaming Devices: If you have an Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, or other streaming gear devices, you’ll be able to watch the Super Bowl through the Fox Sports apps on those services. Usually you would need a TV provider login to watch on the streaming devices, but for Super Bowl Sunday, Fox is allowing you to tune in without it.
Other Streaming Options: If you don’t have access to the services or online channels mentioned above, you’re still in luck: The game will be streamed on the NFL Mobile app, as well as Yahoo Sports app. Along with those services, the NFL.com website will also have a stream of the game.
Audio Streaming: Even if you don’t get the chance to watch the game, you can stay tuned to all the action through audio and radio streaming. The game will be broadcast on NFL Game Pass, Sirius XM, on the TuneIn internet radio service, and on Westwood One‘s channel. See how to access those services here.
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The Training Plan to Boost Your VO2 Max
Fit folks live for benchmark numbers—1RM, PRs, body fat percentage. Perhaps the most braggable stat available, though, is your VO2 max.
Technically speaking, this is the maximum amount of oxygen you can utilize during exercise, but for all intents and purposes, it’s a marker of just how fit you actually are. “You want the biggest VO2 max as humanly possible, since this number defines how intense a workout your body can handle. The higher the number, the harder and longer you can go in a workout,” says San Diego-based trainer Matt Pippin, CSCS, founder of Pippin Performance.
Generally, fit guys will be between 42.5 (good) and 52.5 (superior) in their 20s, 41 to 49.5 in their 30s, and 39 to 48.1 in their 40s.
Now, traditionally, your VO2 max is determined by a treadmill test where you’re hooked up to a ventilator, run at different paces, and a machine measures how much oxygen you consume with each breath, then how much of that oxygen your body uses to fuel your exercise.
But a recent study reports this coveted stat may be right at your fingertips: The Fitbit Charge 2 is able to measure your VO2 max on average within 10 percent of the accuracy of a full-blown treadmill test, says research in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
However, the reality is, bragging rights are just about all that number delivers. Because while your VO2 max rates your potential, it’s really the other numbers that come out of a treadmill test you want—namely, at what pace and heart rate you hit both your aerobic threshold (where you burn carbs for fuel) and your anaerobic threshold (where you start burning fat for fuel).
These numbers allow you to craft a hyper-personalized training plan for pretty much whatever goal you have—improving cycling endurance, mobilizing fat stores, but mostly, becoming the fittest and most efficient athlete you’re capable of being.
The Problem With Not Knowing Your Numbers
Most gymgoers train in the “dead zone” of their heart rate—the space above their aerobic threshold but below their anaerobic threshold, Pippin says. A lot of fit folks end up here because it’s moderately difficult, you get a great sweat, and feel like you accomplished something. But it’s kind of like going into the weight room and benching the same weight week after week—you still feel a “pump,” but you’re not really improving anything, he says.
What’s more, it actually creates new problems: “Training in the dead zone will make your aerobic threshold really low (around 100 bpm) and your anaerobic threshold reasonably high (like 155–170 bpm),” Pippin says. “Even if you feel like you’re working hard, getting a great sweat, you’re essentially spinning your wheels when it comes to progress.”
How to Craft a Training Plan Based Off Your VO2 Max Test
Head to a performance center or physical therapy office to get the treadmill test done. It’ll only set you back $100 to $250, but without the personalized numbers, you’re essentially running blind and simply guessing, Pippin says.
When you get a VO2 max test done, look at your aerobic and anaerobic threshold. If there’s more than 30 bpm between the two numbers, your first goal is to close that:
For six to eight weeks, your training regimen should be focused on slow cardiovascular exercise at just below your aerobic threshold, Pippin says. Train at this heart rate for 60 minutes, four to six times a week. Additionally, one day a week, crank your heart rate up to your anaerobic threshold for a HIIT routine or spin class for 30 to 45 minutes.
After six to eight weeks of the above, or if your numbers are already within 30 bpm of one another, you’re ready to start building a bigger engine with VO2 max–specific training.
Warning: The below is incredibly uncomfortable. But after four to six weeks, Pippin reassures, you’ll be more capable of crushing both long runs and brutal WODs. Keep it up for 8 to 12 weeks and you should have a 10 percent higher VO2 max stat to brag about.
The VO2 Max Training Plan
Directions: Complete 60 minutes of slow endurance work at your aerobic threshold 3 to 4 times a week. Then, 1 to 2 times a week, do one of the following:
Workout 1:
Perform 3 rounds 20–40 seconds of maximal intensity effort, followed by 1–3 minutes of rest (or when your heart rate falls between 110 and 130 bpm). That’s 1 set. For the first two weeks, stick to 1 set, then progress to 2 sets with 8–10 minutes of rest between the two. Do this on an assault bike, versa climber, or on a track (sprints).
Workout 2:
Perform 3 rounds of 90–120 seconds of maximal intensity effort, followed by 1–2 minutes of rest. That’s 1 set. For the first two weeks, stick to 1 set, then progress to 2 sets with 4–6 minutes of rest between the two. Try this on an assault bike, versa climber, or on a track (sprints).
Workout 3:
Perform 5–6 rounds of 7–10 seconds of maximal intensity effort, followed by 2–5 minutes of rest (or when your heart rate hits below 120 bpm). That’s 1 set. For the first two weeks, stick to 1 set, then progress to 2 sets with 8–12 minutes of rest between the two. Do this on an assault bike, versa climber, or via explosive pushups or jump squats.
Workout 4:
Perform 10–12 rounds of 10–15 seconds of maximal intensity effort, followed by 20–60 seconds of rest. (Each 10–12 round equals 1 set.) For the first two weeks, stick to 1 set, then progress to 2 sets with 8–10 minutes of rest between the two. Try this on an assault bike, versa climber, or via explosive pushups or jump squats.
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The Coolest Pieces of Gear We Tested This Week
Here at Men’s Journal, we constantly test the latest gear to find the best new products you should know about to take your next adventure, workout, wardrobe, and every other part of your life to the next level. That includes everything from the best new adventure gear like a kayak that can double as a fishing boat to the absolute coolest gadgets and innovative tech you should own like a must-have soundbar to upgrade your home theater setup or a pair of bookshelf speakers. Here, check out our editors’ favorite picks for Gear of the Week.
[Editor’s Note: Check back each week to see an updated list of our favorite new products, along with all the previous weeks’ gear picks.]
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Lots of Love Challenge 2020
It's time for Lots of Love!
The post Lots of Love Challenge 2020 appeared first on Love Sweat Fitness.
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Vicky Kaushal's Breakfast Bowl Got A Bit Spooky - Find Out Why
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Try This 3-Ingredient Dahi Chura Gur Recipe To Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth (Recipe Inside)
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Sugary Diet May Increase Risk Of Gum Infections: Study
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Cooking Tips: How To Make Mozzarella Cheese For Pizza At Home (Recipe Video Inside)
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Fitso Seals Swimming Pools In Hyderabad Is a Motivation for Swim-Goals And Here Is Why!
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Letting Your Kids Pick Their Snacks May Help Make Healthier Food Choices
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Are You A Vegetarian? Your Diet May Reduce Urinary Tract Infection Risks - Study
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Cooking Tips: Easy Baked Potato Wedges Recipe For Mid-Day Hunger Pangs
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Kiara Advani Shares The Favourite Breakfast Meal That She 'Lives For'
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Shilpa Shetty Gives Mother-In Law's 'Sarson Ka Saag' A Healthy Twist With Broccoli
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Thursday 30 January 2020
Mira Kapoor's Desi Indulgence Featured This Gujarati Winter Delicacy
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Take Your Love For Dosa To Another Level By Making This Healthy Palak Dosa
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A Road Trip Through New Mexico’s Odd and Enchanting Landmarks
Sitting shotgun in my friend’s truck as we barreled down the highway, the first sign welcoming us to the Land of Enchantment crested the horizon. It’s a bold slogan for a state, but if one thing’s for sure, New Mexico is certainly aware of its own allure.
We road tripped from Denver to Salt Lake City by way of New Mexico. Without much of a plan, we set out to visit some of New Mexico’s most famed features (Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands) as well as its lesser known roadside oddities.
As we traversed the state through juniper-dotted deserts and mud-brick towns, we found a quiet, beautiful, unexpected adventure that could only be described one way: enchanting.
Here, our favorite stops discovered along the way.
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The Tragedy on Great Slave Lake
On August 5, 2019, as he paddled into the second month of a 2,300-mile solo journey by bicycle and kayak across northern Canada, 30-year-old Frenchman Thomas Destailleur admitted to his social media followers that he was scared. Paddling alone on the 31st day of his expedition, he tried to “attack the waves” of mercurial Great Slave Lake. But the planet’s 10th-largest lake struck back, soaking Destailleur and flooding his 13-foot kayak with ice water, forcing the paddler ashore.
That night, Destailleur shivered himself to sleep. “I’m afraid of hypothermia,” he wrote on Instagram. “I change and wrap myself in my sleeping bag in the tent, hoping the wind will drop. It will not be for today, hopefully for tomorrow.”
Just before this photograph was taken kayaker Thomas Destailleur was forced ashore by rough water
Destailleur, a physiotherapist by training, referred to himself as “a bit of a nomad.” He relocated to Toronto, in September 2018, after backpacking in Tanzania, Jordan, Mongolia, Indonesia, and Iceland, among other destinations. “I like to move,” he said in an interview with a French language news outlet last April. But on account of his globetrotting lifestyle, Destailleur acknowledged, “I’ve been a hell of a polluter in recent years.”
Destailleur goes deep in northern Alberta’s boreal forest.
His 2019 project, coined ‘Open Your Wild,’ aimed to reconcile his past environmental wrongs. He would travel by rail to Jasper, Alberta, where he would then bicycle 600 miles to Fort McMurray, Canada’s oil sands capital. From there, Destailleur would kayak 1,700 miles downstream on the Athabasca, Slave and Mackenzie rivers, finishing in the community of Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean. In the April interview, Destailleur said he grew up admiring the works of French environmentalist Nicolas Hulot and legendary undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau; ultimately, the goal of his self-funded, multi-phase project was to reveal the impacts of humanity on our increasing fragile planet in a documentary film. “I want to be a messenger,” he said.
A journey by bicycle and kayak across northern Canada was to be the first phase of Destailleur’s “Open Your Wild” project.
Destailleur chronicled his preparations on Instagram, including concocting a natural insect repellent (which he later admitted was less than effective against northern Canada’s infamous mosquitoes) and describing his strategies to minimize waste in provisioning. He pledged to return south by hitchhiking, bus and rail at journey’s end. Simply hopping on an airplane would “destroy the essence of the project,” he commented. On June 30, three days before he boarded the Trans-Canadian passenger train to start his voyage, Destailleur outlined his safety gear, which included an Iridium satellite phone and a personal locator beacon. “I really want to travel safe and to do a priority of the security,” he wrote.
Destailleur poses with his kayak camping kit.
Besides a few broken spokes, the nine-day cycling leg of his journey went off without a hitch. He picked up his kayak in Fort McMurray, sold his bike, and chatted with locals and toured the town, capturing drone footage of the stunning footprint of big oil on the northern landscape. Then he continued alone, paddling downstream. Eventually, the riverside oil and gas operations disappeared and he floated into the wilderness. From here on, Destailleur’s only encounters with civilization would be at remote Indigenous and resource outposts—Fort Chipewyan, Fort Resolution and Fort Providence, among them—places with names that harken to the days of the Canadian frontier. He shared the highlights and revelations of his journey with regular posts, photos and videos on Facebook and Instagram. Destailleur traveled solo, but it’s clearly evident that meeting people along the way was becoming the greatest highlight of his journey.
Destailleur’s solo cycling journey ended in the oil sands boom town of Fort McMurray, Alberta.
On July 26, Destailleur posted a photo of his yellow kayak in the bed of a black pickup truck. “Leif is an American kayaker who lives with his family in Fort Smith for part of the year,” he wrote. Leif Anderson and his partner, Natalie, open their house to the whitewater paddlers who flock to the town of Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, to paddle the legendary whitewater of the Slave River, including a behemoth rapid known as ‘Molly’s Nipple.’ That weekend was particularly busy, Anderson recalls, with dozens of international paddlers arriving for an annual whitewater festival. Destailleur set up his tent in the yard and kept out of the way.
Destailleur hitched a ride into the town of Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, with whitewater boater Leif Anderson.
Anderson’s encounters with the French paddler were limited. But he distinctly remembers the initial meeting on the banks of the Slave. “He seemed really well prepared and very careful,” says Anderson. “At the same time, some of that carefulness seemed to be based on a lack of experience.”
When he met him at the landing at the boat landing in Fort Fitzgerald, upstream of the Slave’s notorious whitewater rapids, Anderson was surprised to see Destailleur was dressed in a full wetsuit. “Above Fitz the river is dead flat,” he explains. “There are no risks.” Anderson contrasts Destailleur with a group of expedition canoeists, all professional river guides, who arrived earlier in the summer. “The were wearing T-shirts and lounging,” Anderson recalls. “They had the experience to know this was a safe place to relax.
“Maybe I’m reading too much into this tiny detail,” adds Anderson. “He could have just as easily been super experienced and just a naturally careful person. My read could be way off.”
The curious observations of the solo French kayaker made little impact on Anderson at the time, but they would resurface with sudden force barely a week later.
On August 5, after resting, interviewing community leaders and playing baseball with the children in Fort Resolution, an indigenous Dené village on the southwest shore of Great Slave Lake, Destailleur set off on big water.
Big rivers merge in northern Alberta, eventually feeding into sprawling Great Slave Lake.
Canadian filmmaker Dianne Whelan paddled into Fort Resolution a few days before Destailleur. Whelan was in the midst of her fourth season traveling the Great Trail, a massive 15,000-mile route across Canada with hiking, cycling and paddling segments—including the Slave and Mackenzie rivers to the Arctic sea. Whelan met a Dené woman at Fort Resolution and commented on Great Slave Lake’s stark beauty. She’ll never forget the woman’s response. “She said, ‘Don’t call it beautiful,'” Whelan recalls. “‘It is not beautiful, and if you call it that, you will learn different.'”
In all of Whelan’s travels on the Great Trail, which included a 600-mile transit of the infamously fickle north shore of Lake Superior (the world’s largest freshwater lake), the southwestern corner of Great Slave Lake ranks among the most hostile. “It’s a hard lake,” she says. “The shores are sharp rock and it’s often hard to find a place to land and set up a tent.”
A series of promontories push the paddler offshore, luring them into exposed crossings to avoid the extra distance of navigating endless shallow bays. “You can get into trouble really quick,” says Whelan. On Instagram, Destailleur told of a distinctly different—and riskier—experience than going with the flow on some of Canada’s largest rivers. “Headwind, waves, I have to adapt, anticipate, adjust my course,” he wrote. “It may take longer than expected … I hope I’m not short of food.”
On August 6, Whelan decided it was too windy to paddle. As she recalls, it was a tough call—the urge to press on and escape the exposure of Great Slave Lake was strong as she approached the relatively friendlier waters of the Mackenzie River. She stayed on shore that day, and eventually paddled into Tuktoyaktuk in early October, just ahead of the winter’s first snowstorm.
“You’re always making these decisions—every day—when to move and when to stop,” says Whelan. “You’re constantly second-guessing, looking at the water, looking at the wind. Sometimes you miss a good window to travel, but that’s better than the other way around. You’re always hoping that you’re erring on the right side.”
Destailleur paddles in a moment of calm on Great Slave Lake.
The next day, responding to calls of a missing paddler, Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Coast Guard searchers spotted an overturned kayak. Nearby, they found a body. News reports were sketchy, the victim unnamed. Back in Fort Smith, Anderson was disturbed.
“It was surprising because [Destailleur] seemed more than ready for what was ahead, but we are pretty aware of all the paddlers that pass through, and he was the only one that fit,” says Anderson. “That evening a few of us sat around a campfire building up what the scenario must have been out there on the lake, and we eventually decided that it was pretty plausible that [it must be] Thomas.”
On August 9, the Northwest Territories coroner released the name of the deceased kayaker: Thomas Destailleur.
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This Brand Will Convince You to Customize Your Grooming Regimen
There’s an unfathomable number of skincare brands lining the shelves of department stores, and just as many online-only companies dominating the internet. But with all these products vying for your attention, we’ll bet you’re most apt to reach for the products you’ve used since college—no doubt introduced to you by a significant other. Probably a bar of Dove soap and CeraVe moisturizer. (Are we close?) There’s certainly nothing wrong with these; they’re gentle and cleansing, but your skincare can do more for your mug. Enter personalized grooming brand Hawthorne.
The direct-to-consumer company launched in 2016, initially with fragrances. Then, it infiltrated other bathroom staples like deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, lotion, and even candles. The most recent launch includes facial cleansers and lotions. To mitigate the risk of blindly shopping for a new signature scent sans smelling and/or knowing the needs of your skin, Hawthorne employs an online quiz, powered by an artificial intelligence algorithm.
You’ll answer questions addressing your skin type (if it’s dry, oily, or sensitive), main concerns/problems (whether you want to open clogged pores, ward off wrinkles, or get a deep clean), hygiene rituals (how often you shower), age, and personal considerations (your personality archetype, drink of choice, work environment).
According to Hawthorne, they’ve got a success rate of over 97 percent, with less than a one percent return rate. Not bad, huh?
Their new lineup of cleansers includes five options, all made with natural (usually plant-based) ingredients:
- All-Natural Face Cleanser: bergamot, centella asiatica, and calendula clear the skin of dirt and excess oil
- Sensitive Face Cleanser: centella asiatica, aloe, and glycerin comprise this fragrance-free formula to gently hydrate
- Dry Skin Conditioning Cleanser: aloe and centella asiatica lightly foam to remove impurities without sucking away moisture
- Hydrating Face Cleaner: aloe and centella asiatica help cells drink in moisture for skin that looks and feels healthy
- Exfoliating Face Cleanser: aloe, charcoal, and soapbark deep-clean pores to extract dirt and buff skin
The face lotions work in tandem with the cleansers; each has a complement:
- All-Natural Face Lotion: jojoba, shea butter, avocado oil, and centella asiatica nurture normal to combination skin (subtly scented with geranium and chamomile)
- Sensitive Skin Face Lotion: ceramides, vitamin B3, and aloe calm easily aggravated skin (fragrance-free)
- Lightweight Face Lotion: sodium hyaluronate, aloe, and vitamin B3 make up this non-greasy moisturizer to balance out oily skin
- Moisturizing Face Lotion: aloe, calendula, and centella asiatica help normal to dry skin get the hydration it needs
- Ultra Rich Face Lotion: almond oil, centella asiatica, and shea butter keep this medium-weight lotion ultra-hydrating to help dry skin drink in moisture
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The 11 Best Ski Town Burgers You’ll Ever Eat
After a hard-fought day schussing the slopes, nothing replenishes the fuel tank like a good ol’ burger, with just the right blend of protein, carbs, and yes, grease. We combed the America’s ski towns and adjacent mountain resorts for the tastiest—and weirdest—beef between two buns, bringing you our unequivocal list of where to hang your helmet for the best hamburgers worth your fully salivated après-ski time and attention.
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Sport Rx Debuts Prescription Ski Goggle Inserts
Contact lenses are an essential part of my skiing experience. When I go on trips, I bring extra pairs because I know my vision is pretty poor and if I don’t have them I’m screwed. Skiing with my glasses is not an option for me (and I’m sure many others).
With my bad astigmatism, I’ve never been able to deal with wearing glasses under my goggles. That move never worked for me. Though for the skiers who can’t wear contacts, or don’t like them because their eyes dry out, Sport Rx is now debuting inserts that fit into most new goggles. The quintessential image of the basketball player on the court with “sporty glasses” is no more and the onerous double layer glasses with goggles doesn’t have to happen any longer.
Sport Rx isn’t a new brand, they’ve been making custom prescription sunglasses for various sunglass brands for years. Often times brands like Smith will sell you a prescription sunglass and Sport Rx is the one making that lens. However, this season they have embarked on goggle inserts. Trying to solve the conundrum of wearing glasses while wearing goggles.
Earlier this year I had the chance to test both the Dragon Alliance X2 Goggle with prescription insert and the Roka Vendee prescription sunglasses. As I took my contacts out in the Alta parking lot, after putting on my ski boots I began to get a little nervous. Was I going to be able to see and ski today?
It was a sunny day so I went to the shades first, and I was pleasantly surprised by the ability of the lens to restore my vision while at the same time provide all the benefits I would expect from a polarized shade—diminishing glare and providing sharpness while dimming the sun’s reflection on the snow. They took a bit to get used to, like any new pair of glasses, but after a few minutes my eyes adjusted, and I was good to go. My nerves eased.
This year Sport Rx has a new partnership with Oakley, allowing them to make their inserts for the Oakley Flight Deck—Oakley’s most popular goggle. The model wasn’t available yet earlier this winter, so I tested the Dragon. Customers can also choose prescription goggles from Smith, Anon, and Spy.
Initially, the goggle insert and I did not get along. However, I quickly realized why. When the goggle’s arrived the goggle insert was placed against the goggle lens, this is actually how Sport Rx wants you to use them. However, this brought the prescription insert into my field of view—making a muck of my field of vision. When I placed the insert near the foam lining part of the goggle (i.e. directly in front of my eyes) I was able to see with corrected vision through the entire field of view from the google.
After the quick fix, I was surprised on the vision quality. It gave the same vision as if I was wearing my contacts and most importantly the goggle insert was held in place by several plastic wands, so it didn’t move while skiing and was wedged in place.
Fogging fortunately was not an issue—a usual deal breaker if you have been skiing with glasses under your goggles ever. While I’ll keep wearing my contacts for skiing—it’s just what I’m used to—I can’t think of a better option for those who have to wear glasses while skiing.
The field of view is clear and crisp, doesn’t fog, and can be added to any new goggle, allowing skiers to get the benefits of new goggle technologies such as low light and lens enhancements.
This article originally appeared on Powder.com and was republished with permission.
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