Elizabeth Mendoza said:Yeah. It's probably cheaper for them if Kimi just doesn't win 🙄, because let's face it, the prize money for a win or—heaven forbid—a championship title at the end of the season is peanuts. Kimi is just too expensive 🙄
The logic 🙏 🙏 🙏
Neither Kimi nor Lotus have a shot at the title this year, and honestly, the folks over at Lotus know that better than we do—though we're starting to realize it too. I really hope I'm wrong about that. If I am, I'll strip down naked on the beach in November, dance around, take some photos, and post them right here on the forum.
I, honestly, no matter how hard I try, I just can't wrap my head around how Kimi managed to hold off Mark Webber, Fernando Alonso, and Lewis Hamilton in those final laps... Especially on this year's Pirelli tires. They were already 20 or more laps old...
I've been following you guys and it's clear you really know your stuff when it comes to Formula 1. Personally, I've just been watching for about 30 years without ever trying to get too deep into analyzing the races, the drivers, or—heaven forbid—the rules. It took me a while to realize this whole circus is a much bigger business than us mere mortals could ever imagine, so I don't bother stressing over it. But hey, tell me, can anyone actually figure out why they didn't call Kimi into the pits during that last SC? Are they still paying him based on how many points he scores? If that's the case, there's your answer right there. And look at those savings for Lotus.
Roger Wright94 said:Sergio Perez is just an idiot who doesn't have a shred of respect for anyone else. It’s honestly pathetic seeing someone like him driving for McLaren, especially since they actually encourage his dirty moves during the race. And I bet the Alonso and Ferrari haters are already asking why it's considered "dirty."
Well, it's pretty simple. I'd say overtaking Jenson Button was borderline, but at most. What he did to Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen, though? That was straight-up reckless, high-level savagery.
First off, you just charge in like a complete maniac and brake incredibly late. We're talking so late that you leave zero room for the driver you're passing, basically forcing them off the track by sheer force. That isn't skill, bravery, or even being gutsy—it's just pure chaos. Any amateur can drive like a lunatic.
Second, both Alonso and Kimi are right in the middle of a title fight, and driving like that—basically inviting a collision or a massive accident—is a total slap in the face to them. He's just exploiting the fact that they have to be careful and can't afford to risk a wreck because of their championship standings. Since when does he get to decide how the title fight plays out? By some weird stroke of luck, Alonso actually ended up benefiting from it. But seriously, how many points did he strip away from Kimi Räikkönen? And what does that even matter?
Like I said, the guy's an idiot.
Spot on! I couldn't agree more, word for word. On another note, does Perez actually think he can build a real career in Formula 1? Does anyone remember a driver from back in the day who could actually make it further than three or four seasons with that kind of reckless style? Elio de Cesaris might be in a league of his own, but let's be real, he never even had a seat in a top-tier team anyway.
Wetsuits with back zips are really meant for surfers since they aren't out in the water constantly. I'm no pro or anything, but I'm sure there are decent ones out there—they just tend to be pricey. Those zipperless suits? Those are strictly for spearfishing. They aren't built for swimming because we don't actually swim, we just kick our legs while holding a gun in our hands, you know? But honestly, a size five feels super comfortable; I could probably head out to the English Channel in one without a second thought. You’re missing the mark on the water temperature. In the winter, it hits about 54 degrees down at 25 or 30 feet, and the surface layer is totally at the mercy of the weather. And that’s exactly where you’ll be hanging out. I’ve got a Direction D4 that tracks the water temp for me. I usually just toss it in the water when I head out in December—it'll read somewhere around 40 to 45. Then in January or February, if the Santa Ana winds are blowing, it drops to maybe 48 or 45... Don't cheap out, man. You'll seriously regret it once you freeze your butt off and realize you wasted your cash.
You’re asking for way too much. I don't mean "too much" as in overkill, just that you're trying to cover too big a range. Personally, I still dive in a 5mm suit even when the water is hitting 65 or 70 degrees, and I'm perfectly fine. And mind you, I get cold incredibly easily once I'm in the water. Once things dip below 65, I just throw on a 3mm wetsuit underneath. Plus, when I'm spearfishing, everything is basically slow motion—just easy swimming and relaxing before the descent—so I don't really feel the chill. Your heart rate stays up while you're swimming, which keeps your body temp higher than mine... You're looking for one suit to cover a massive temperature gap. If you were talking about waters in the 60s, I'd say go with a 3mm. But 50 degrees? That's freezing. You'll be shivering in anything thinner than 5mm. There's another issue here. When the water is cold, the air usually is too. You've got those heavy winds like the Mistral or the Santa Ana winds blowing around. The real trouble starts when you climb out of the water. You have to strip off and dry up fast. If it's 50 degrees outside, trust me, if you're exposed to that air and those Santa Ana winds for even three minutes, you're going to get sick. Just stick to a 5mm, skip the fancy features, and look specifically for a spearfishing suit—they're built to keep you warm. Make sure your gloves and boots are just as thick, because your hands and feet are far from your core and lose heat fast, leaving you prone to freezing up. If you're using fins, definitely keep an eye on how thick your booties are.
Looking for a wetsuit or something for scuba diving? This one comes with a built-in hood, making it a full-on dive suit. As for one that covers your hands and feet too... well, I guess that hasn't been invented yet.
I’d love to help you out, but I’m just a humble underwater fisherman and freediver, so I probably shouldn't be the expert here—just Google it. Seriously, do you really think it's possible to *not* find what you're looking for on the internet? Unlikely. It's been a minute since I've checked in on this specific forum, so maybe try checking out some of the big US diving boards; there are some useful links over at .
Nicholas, since nobody else is jumping in to help you out, I figured I’d throw my two cents in. I'm definitely no pro, but I actually cut my teeth on a Samick Polaris myself. Honestly, it feels like everyone starts there—it's that classic beginner bow that's been the go-to for everyone from weekend hobbyists to actual state champions. For someone just starting out, it's a solid enough setup if you can snag it at a decent price. As you start getting the hang of things and your technique really sharpens up through training, you'll eventually find yourself wanting to step up to something more high-end, but we can cross that bridge when we get to it...
hiddensurfer17, look, I'm just a recreational archer who hasn't even touched a national championship, let alone seen a tournament. Just wanted to clear that up so nobody thinks I'm acting like an expert or anything. But since you clearly don't know much about the archery scene here, check out . There are 49 clubs listed across the US. My club basically only exists on paper because we aren't quite skilled enough yet—and honestly, we're broke—to actually hit a tournament. There are probably another 25 or 30 clubs just like ours. That leaves maybe 20 clubs total that actually have people who know how to handle a bow. As for the competition, you're totally right; it’s non-existent. You'll find way more heat in football, basketball, volleyball, track, or swimming... The competition there is seriously intense. I won't even count water polo or handball, since those sports are played in like ten countries worldwide. Seriously, maybe five or six. So, saying that the folks from "Katarina Zrinska" are champions just because they beat their own small group is pretty foolish if you ask me. Google is my friend, so maybe do a little digging before you go dropping comments like that. P.S. I actually was a multiple-time national champion myself, both in team and individual events. In a different Olympic sport. Competition-wise, there were only about five or six clubs in the whole US.
Casey Rogers47 said:What I mean is, don't just wander into any random massage parlor. You want to find a legitimate medical clinic specializing in physical medicine and therapeutic massage where the staff actually has proper training. Or, honestly, just stick to a highly recommended physical therapist.
Nah, nah, definitely not a PT—you gotta hit those massage parlors, there's plenty of them all over Washington, D.C.🙂 They’re all run by girls with magic hands who'll do whatever you need.😁
Just kidding, please don't come for me... Let's get a little more serious though. Listen to Timothy Brown5; I caught some of his stuff on another thread and honestly, the guy knows his stuff, clearly a pro. Now, I'm no expert. I don't have any medical training other than liking to nerd out on medical journals, but I'm certainly not trying to play doctor here. I just wanted to share what I'm dealing with regarding my Sciatica; it was diagnosed via X-ray, though I haven't gone for an MRI or CT scan. Honestly, I'm kind of terrified of what they might find. So, I'm 44 years old with pretty beat-up back, thanks to spending 27 of those years in sports. And yeah, heavy lifting. Is that enough context for you? I wouldn't call myself a bodybuilder, more of a lifter—mostly recreational now, probably only training if I were aiming for the Paralympics. Lifting is brutal on your body, your joints, your tendons, and especially your spine. It gets to the point where Voltaren is basically my breakfast. Just kidding, but I've reached the stage where I have to pop it every couple of months. To be clear, I only reach for it when I can't even get up from the couch without my wife having to help me up off the floor.🙂 And yeah, I take Voltaren via injection, forget about pills, that's useless... Since I've got quite a bit of athletic experience under my belt, I've completely flipped my training on its head. I still lift, but I do it super smart and nothing too heavy, paired with a ton of bodyweight exercises that look easy but are actually tough as nails. My last Voltaren shot was back in May 2009. For now, anyway. My spine isn't "cured"—it won't be—but I'm doing my best to manage it, and so far, it's working out pretty well. Don't take my word for it, Casey Rogers47; I'm not a doctor, I'm just sharing my own story. My L3-S1 might be in way worse shape than yours. In fact, I'm pretty sure it is. I'm a fan of slightly "harder" workouts; I feel like those purely therapeutic movements aren't enough to strengthen the muscles that have to support our spines every single day.
I think fast, so I talk fast, which means cause-and-effect usually leads to me forgetting something... Do a little YouTube deep dive into these "bodyweight exercises." Work your abs just as much as your back. A weak core is responsible for a huge percentage of spinal issues. A suggestion...
Man, it feels like I’m watching a debate in US Congress or something. You guys are still going at it while this guy might have been scuba diving for a whole year already. Or hey, maybe he was actually talking about a freediving course... If that's the case, for him and anyone else who might be interested, check this out: http://podvodni.com/
Man, Formula 1 racing is such a massive sport. I won't get into the whole "is it actually a sport" debate right here though—that definitely deserves its own separate thread. Let's just call it what it is: yeah, it's a sport, and yeah, Ayrton Senna was a legendary athlete. Do you guys actually base how much you respect Senna's greatness on how much John Doe praises and worships him? Maybe he goes a little overboard sometimes, but come on... It’s been so many years since he passed, and honestly, I feel like most of you are way too young to be talking so loudly about something you didn't actually witness firsthand... Have any of you even watched the great Ayrton drive? If someone's only seen his run at Monaco back in '84, then I know exactly what I'm dealing with. Look, to be totally real with you, when he first started hitting superstar status, I wasn't a fan; I think it was because of that arrogant attitude he had, or at least that's how I perceived him back then. But as the years went by, I grew to love him more and more. And then, he was gone. To be honest, I never really warmed up to John Doe, if we're comparing them. John Doe might be the most successful driver in Formula 1 history, and we probably won't see anyone more successful in our lifetime. But let's be real: if Senna hadn't died, John Doe would likely be a bit less successful—he would've had fewer wins and fewer titles under his belt. I've been watching races and following drivers since all the way back in 1979, so I think I can offer a humble opinion or two.
P.S. Even the commentators on international networks talk about Senna in those same massive superlatives—maybe even more than John Doe does.
Honestly, I wouldn't say Joka Vlašić is justified in going after the USOPC. I don't hold that organization in high regard myself—not by a long shot—and there's plenty of room to criticize them from pretty much any angle within American sports. I'm talking about those "niche" sports they oversee, which I care about about as much as I care about the snow conditions up in Aspen. Coming from those smaller circles—not just one, but three, two of which are Olympic level—believe me, I know how this works. Joka Vlašić really shouldn't be attacking the USOPC, especially since he's so deeply embedded within their structure, which he totally deserves, let's be clear about that. He shouldn't just "jump" at a chance to bite the hand that feeds him, because look where we are now. So, if you want my humble opinion, both sides are being ridiculous. I'm not taking sides here, but this isn't even the first, second, or maybe even third time Vlašić has had an outburst like this. It’s pretty obvious he's a bit salty that Blanka was named Athlete of the Year and all that. Whatever, she earned it. It seems he's just feeling the sting of not having any major titles himself. There's such a thing as healthy jealousy, but then there's the toxic kind, along with pure egoism. In the first case, a little envy can actually drive you, but the latter usually just ends up hurting everyone involved. Don't go thinking this happened by accident or that the USOPC just missed the signs...
P.S. Maybe it's actually a good thing the press is covering this; it means I have to read a little less about Sevka and her boyfriend and whatever drama they're stirring up lately.
It’s all about the ego trips, honestly. And let’s not forget HOO—that massive organization without which American sports wouldn't have snagged a single medal in the last ten years, or likely the next ten either. (Pure cynicism there.) Even now, HOO keeps dropping these vague decisions, basically tossing a bone into a ring just to watch two ego-driven bull terriers tear each other apart. Man, when you listen to them, they both sound like they're right. So, who's actually at fault? Joka Vlašić has always been a bit of an ego tripper; I've known him a long time, and plenty of people who know him would say the exact same thing. Blanka is a fellow citizen of mine, and I genuinely celebrate every win she has (even a silver medal, even if most people call that a failure), but I'm terrified her dad will take the fall if people eventually stop caring and turn their backs on her successes. I mean, imagine a track meet in Miami and only 1,000 people show up to the arena. It’s totally possible here. I seem to remember someone once compared, say, Maradona to Air Jordan... They're both athletes, aren't they?
Sean Ruiz42 said:I've always had the right genetics for jumping, and I've been a solid athlete my whole life. A few years back, I worked on my vertical, but I didn't follow any fancy training programs—I just put together my own routine. Honestly, within about a month, I managed to add nearly 6 inches to my leap... These days, I don't really grind on my vertical anymore because whenever I hit the court and start dunking, I can feel myself getting a little more bounce after just a couple of days. There's really no need to kill yourself with extra drills if you don't have to...
It’s not really about whether you buy some overpriced vertical jump program; honestly, most of those programs aren't even worth it. Jumping is such an individual thing. You can't just have someone tell you to do three sets of ten reps of some random exercise if it isn't even pushing you. Like I said, it's all about what works for you specifically. I definitely recommend plyometrics, though. Just stay away from the heavy weightlifting stuff that trainers are trying to push more and more as the secret to jumping higher.
That’s what strength coaches are for, I guess.😉 Assuming they actually know what they're doing, of course. It's not enough to just walk out of a kinesiology program with a degree and think you suddenly possess all the wisdom in the world. I've seen plenty of people act like that. I've been reading through the posts in this thread, and honestly, most of them are total garbage. There are a few that actually make sense, but I really only agree with Lone Wolf—he's the only one who's 100% spot on. If you look at sports where verticality isn't the main focus, weightlifters absolutely have the highest leaps. Obviously, you aren't going to train like a competitive powerlifter, but you should definitely incorporate elements of weightlifting into your routine. I've been lucky enough in my life to meet Goran Ivanišević, Rađ, Tabak, and Blanka Kukoč—I've even watched them train since they used to run sessions in "my" gym. We've talked quite a bit, so I feel like I've picked up a decent amount of experience from them. Plyometrics are amazing, but you have to be extremely careful with them. Aside from the risk of injury, there's a huge chance you'll just overtrain yourself. By the way, I don't mean to brag, I promise, I'm just using this as an example. Last night, I cleared six hurdles (around 42 or 43 inches, I can't remember exactly) and strung them together, hitting six consecutive jumps without any breaks. If I knew how to transfer files from my phone to my computer, I'd post it, but...🤷 Plus, I'm not exactly a kid anymore; I'm pushing 43.
So, I picked up this mystery bow through a classified ad—no logo or anything—looks to be about 25 lbs, along with four carbon arrows. Just wanted to give you guys a quick rundown of my first real brush with archery. The bow showed up on Friday, so I headed out to my vineyard on Sunday to start some "rapid fire" practice. My target was just a big cardboard box, maybe 70x120. As for the distance... well, let's just say it was an adventure. Since nobody ever actually taught me how to aim (I just learned via YouTube), my first few shots sailed right over the target. I kept moving closer—first to 15 meters, then 20, and by the time I hit 30 meters, I was already getting frustrated. You probably want to know why? Trust me, you'd be annoyed too if you had to go hunting for arrows 30 yards past the target in the tall grass. Some ended up stuck in the brush, too. By 30 meters, though, things were looking pretty decent. I fired off about 14 rounds of four arrows each, and somehow 17 of them actually hit my "elephant" target. I didn't have an arm guard or finger tabs, so I definitely felt a little sting from the string, but nothing too crazy. Now I’m just itching for some more free time to get back out there... Man, if only I had a coach. It's all in the archer, but obviously, you need some technique too—just my casual observation, anyway. I spent my whole life in sports where raw power is everything, and if you don't have strength, you're nothing. I did Olympic weightlifting, and even though I always struggled with pure strength, I was (and still am) a better technician than Peshalov, according to him.
Joe, if you're still hanging around somewhere, what's the deal with that club in San Francisco? Question for everyone here: why don't I have anyone to give me some pointers on getting started in this sport? Would it actually be worth picking up "Bow and Arrow" by Hrvoje Šarić? I don't really have anyone to show me the ropes, and since I'm planning on grabbing a beginner bow soon, I've realized this isn't exactly a walk in the park.