the GearCaster

Vindicator Laser Wind Sensor

Catch the Wind, Inc., a high technology company in Virginia, recently released the Vindicator fiber optic laser wind sensing system. Built originally to improve the efficiency and performance of the wind power generation industry, the Vindicator is now being tested in sailing environments. 

The Vindicator is capable of measuring real-time horizontal and vertical wind speed and direction data at varying ranges ahead of the device, currently out to 300 meters. Using concepts of Doppler radar, with light as the medium of detection, the Vindicator system quickly senses air particle movement. The system analyzes the air particle movement and produces speed and direction data for the wind.  The sensor design is based on the fiber optic laser technology developed and patented by Optical Air Data Systems.

The idea for use in sailing is the Vindicator would be able to tell you the exact wind conditions ahead, information you normally would not have, and therefore help you decide where to steer the boat. The question is-would a technology such as this take away the art of sailing? Will sailing then turn into a sport without tactics and where the best technology wins?

For a video of the Vindicator being used in a marine environment, click here.

SportsMD Online Sports Health Community

SportsMD is on a mission to be the leading provider of sports health, fitness and performance information that entertains and educates the athletic and health minded consumer. The website's proprietary sport-specific content, including videos, blogs, articles and interviews, has been created by industry and sport-specific medical experts. This unique content, together with interactive and community tools strives to better educate athletes on improving health and fitness as well as their game and underlying skills. 

In addition to rich content, the website hosts a searchable, sports-related injury knowledgebase and a sports medicine doctor directory comprised of the top MD's who work with professional athletes and universities. At the SportsMD store, consumers can purchase therapeutic and fitness related products that have been tested or recommended by sports medical experts. SportsMD will donate 1% of all proceeds to programs that promote the health and education of children. 

SportsMD Media Inc, was founded by Tom Carter, a nationally ranked tennis player and avid athlete. Under the SportsMD umbrella, the Company has launched two additional sport-specific sites - GolfersMD and TennisMD. In the future they plan to launch even more verticals such as CyclingMD, RunnersMD, FootballMD and BaseballMD.

GreenSoul Shoes 100% Recycled Tires

With a similar business model to Toms Shoes, new company GreenSoul Shoes is trying to address the problem of 300 million shoeless children and empower Third World communities at the same time.

GreenSoul Shoes are made from scrap tires that are no longer suited for their original purpose. Founded by serial entrepreneur Alastair Onglingswan, the idea came after a trip to a shanty town in the Philippines where he witnessed children playing without shoes.  

For every sandal bought here, the Company will donate a similar pair to a shoeless child in a Third World country. In order to also help empower these local communities, GreenSoul will use local shoemakers to manufacture the shoes. The Company has already started working with communities in Cambodia, Vietnam and Peru. 

Once consumers are done with their shoes, the Company plans to recycle them yet again to be used as mulch in playgrounds and landscaping, therefore completing the cycle. 

GreenSoul hopes to crowdsource the design of their entire shoe line. After running an initial design contest, William Cherwin won the honor of the first shoe with his sandal design.  The design was fashioned after the tire tread shoes of the Tarahumara people who are well know for their ability to run long distances in these homemade shoes called huaraches. Supposedly Nike is looking to design a similar shoe.

You can pre-order your GreenSoul sandals for $45 from the company website. 

Eastern Mountain Sports Teams Up With NuRide

 

Eastern Mountain Sports has teamed up with online commuter rewards company NuRide to launch Commuter Consciousness. Free to join and free to use, NuRide is an online community where members are rewarded for using alternative forms of transportation such as carpooling, biking, telecommuting or public transport. The site is supported by sponsors, such as Bike Barn, who reward members for reducing global warming, traffic congestion and energy consumption. 

To participate in the program, commuters simply sign up on the NuRide website and record their commuting trips. Users earn points for every trip recorded, which can then be redeemed for a variety of rewards including discounts on purchases from Eastern Mountain Sports. NuRide is currently available only in Texas and various East Coast cities. 

"Eastern Mountain Sports has long been committed to preserving and protecting the places we love to play through our Future Consciousness campaign," said Scott Barrett, Eastern Mountain Sports CMO, "Commuter Consciousness enables us to take our conservation efforts a step further by encouraging commuters to change the way they get to work."

If you already bike commute or are even thinking about it, signing up for NuRide seems an easy, free way to earn discounts on all that new gear you want! 

GearPods Ready Made Adventure Kits

New Montana company GearPods, has come up with a modular, durable, lightweight adventure gear kit and organizational system. The GearPods Connect line represents a new approach to organizing and packing gear. Flexible, easy to stuff containers can be combined in various ways to help you build separate kits and organize gear on the fly. Made from durable polycarbonate, the watertight tubes easily screw together via varying connector options and are the same width as a water bottle. 

The GearPods Adventure Series pre-made gear kits cover everything from the backcountry essentials such as cooking and shelter to first aid and survival. "GearPods provide the best of both worlds-highly compact yet capable adventure gear but without the weight and bulk you would associate with traditional backcountry gear. With GearPods you can successfully balance the desire to go lightweight with the need to stay prepared and safe," says GearPods CEO James Davies. 

GearPods Adventure Series kits range from $17.95 for a single kit up to $169.95 for a complete set. All GearPods products are currently available via the online store at www.gearpods.com