whomporama

Bodysurfing Guru Don McCredie | DMC Fins HGP#30

10/12/2018 hourglass pod Episodes 1:34:55 Comments Off on Bodysurfing Guru Don McCredie | DMC Fins HGP#30

Bodysurfing is one of the oldest water sports where surfers ride waves with just their body. Bodysurfers ride with the wave, on their belly, versus on top of it. Nowadays the sport is quickly gaining popularity with plenty of competitions popping up all across the globe. The most beautiful part is you don’t need any special training – anyone can do it! Be warned however, it may make you feel like a kid again.

After a bodysurfing injury left Don with multiple surgeries he soon began to focus his energies elsewhere. Don was a professional fire-fighter and an active member of his local Surf Life Saving Club at Coogee Beach, NSW, Australia; the beach was where he spent his youth. He was also a strong swimmer who competed in many different sporting events. In 1983 he won the title of the World Surf Life Saving Body-surfing Champion. Through these endeavors and after several trips to Hawaii in the mid 80’s, while competing regularly in bodysurfing contests, he became interested in water flow and fluid dynamics, thus allowing the DMC Fins idea to take root.

Don’s idea was to design and create a type of swim propulsion fin (or flipper) that would revolutionize his chosen sport. The Hydro Finz were born. The design of the fin was unique, as it’s “V Rail” design gave it the edge on the competition and proved functional in wave riding, particularly deep hollow tubes. The V Rail acted like small surfboard fins, only with 8 edges to add traction, instead of 2 to 3 fins found on surfboards.

Don travelled extensively to secure distributors for his one and only product and due to its unique patented qualities and performance, DMC gained sales and recognition worldwide. Since then over a million pairs of Hydro fin products have been sold in over 20 countries. DMC now has several different models of fins and offers fins for swimmers of the pool and ocean.

Don’s bodysurfing and swimming knowledge combined, plus product innovation, have created a line of products that suit the beginner to the serious aquatic athlete. In recent years Don won another World Championship for Bodysurfing in his ‘Masters’ age group and qualified as a swim coach.

“I don’t think you have to be someone who can swim like an olympic swimmer,” she said. “You just have to be able to see when the waves are coming, when is the right time to take off, what’s the right time to make that commitment and the right time to get out and that’s something you can learn with experience and there’s lots of people willing to help you learn that.” –Meredith Rose, Three time World Bodysurfing Champion

FB: @DMCFins | I:#DMCFins | Twitter @DMCFins | YouTube: DMCVids | https://dmcfins.com

Running + The Wired Athlete | Peyton Chitty HGP#28

09/28/2018 hourglass pod Episodes 1:36:17 1 Comment

Running wasn’t always something Peyton was passionate about. In fact, he never ran a day in his life until 2012. Remnants of a former car accident left him with degenerated discs in his neck and required him to have a discectomy of his cervical spine. During his recovery, one single wrong move could leave him paralyzed. Peyton refused to let the victim stance mentality win. He resorted to walking for exercise. Walking soon led to running and running soon led to racing. 5k races led to half marathons. Half marathons led to marathons.

During his second marathon, Peyton started feeling nauseous around mile 20 and did a walk/run for the last 6 miles. He chalked off his disappointment to dehydration and rookie mistakes. Weeks later Peyton was running a 10k in Oak Island where he fell to the ground just 200 meters from the finish. Peyton was rushed to the hospital and after many tests and doctor visits he was diagnosed with Bradycardia and type II Atrioventricular Block, which required him to get a pacemaker.

Inspired by other adaptive athletes like Buddy 1 Leg (skateboarder/snowboarder), Misty Diaz (Spartan athlete), and Mikey Da Temple (surfer), Peyton refused to be defined by his circumstance. He hired a running coach, started training for marathons, and 11 months post pacemaker surgery he PR’d his first marathon. 2 years to the day of getting his pacemaker he qualified for Boston. Peyton is still running wild and free today, even during the eye of a hurricane.

Peyton talks about his set backs, injuries, and life as a “wired athlete”. He now aims to inspire and motivate others to work to the best of their ability with what they have. He is a high school counselor and expects the same of his students. Accountability is a huge factor for him. He quotes, “there are plenty of days I don’t want to run but there’s never a day I wish I hadn’t.”

Insta/FB: @thewiredathlete | @PeytonChitty

Show notes:

Favorite Books:

  • Cardiac Athletes: Real Superheroes Beating Heart Disease by Lars Andrews | https://amzn.to/2N8y3mo
  • Be on the lookout for Cardiac Athletes II: Gloves Off, by Lars Andrews, coming out this year.

 

Whomporama Bodysurf Competition | Alex Torres HGP#012

06/07/2018 hourglass pod Episodes 43:05 Comments Off on Whomporama Bodysurf Competition | Alex Torres HGP#012

“The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun.” -Phil Edwards

Joining us this week is Alex Torres to talk about the Intergalactic Body Surf Championships, also known as, Whomporama. This event has been dubbed the silliest event of the year, where men, women, and youth sign up to bodysurf against each other is some of the most fun waves. Whomporama supports the local Surfrider Foundation Cape Fear Chapter and ends with a beach cleanup.

Curious what Whomporama looks like? Check out this video posted by Kewk Handplanes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkNNBZXHhm8 and this video posted by Adam Clayton: https://vimeo.com/137299610

The 8th Annual Whomporama takes place on Saturday, August 17, 2019 in Carolina Beach, NC. FB: @Whomporama.