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The Road to Sochi Comes Back Through Breck

January 7, 2014 by

The second stop on the Grand Prix Tour will be in Breckenridge, Colorado on January 8-12. This is one of five events used to qualify for the 2014 Olympic Team in skiing and snowboarding. We’ll be there covering the women’s events Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

road-to-sochi

NEWS RELEASE
The Road to Sochi Comes Back Through Breck: Champions Converge Jan. 8-12 for the 2014 Sprint U.S. Grand Prix

January 8-12 at Breckenridge Ski Resort Second stop of the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix Series
Spectator Schedule and Access Announced

Breckenridge, Colorado – January 4, 2014 – On the heels of the holiday hustle and bustle, Breckenridge Ski Resortwill soon be feeling the Olympic spirit once again when the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix lands in Breck, Jan. 8-12, 2014. The second stop on the Grand Prix tour is among five events being used to qualify the 2014 Olympic Team for freeskiing and snowboarding.

Having recently played host to the opening qualifier at the Dew Tour Mountain Championships, Breck is perfectly prepared and landscaped for an unprecedented, second Olympic selection event this season in the resort’s famed Freeway Terrain Park.

“We are thrilled to have the road to Sochi come back through Breckenridge and support this important event in the US Olympic qualifying process,” said Breckenridge Ski Resort Marketing Director, Kieran Cain. “This is a huge testament to our staff who have built the best pipe and slopestyle venue in the world and we are incredibly honored.”

The Sprint U.S. Grand Prix will feature most of the top international slopestyle and halfpipe athletes, including local Breckenridge and Vail Resorts Epic Team athletes Brett Esser, Zack Black, Bobby Brown, Keri Herman from the US, British freeskier James Woods and Australian Anna Segal. The event will be broadcast on NBC and NBCSN. Please check local listings for TV broadcast times

Only a handful of Olympic spots have been clinched so far, with more anticipated at Breckenridge in the third of five Olympic selection events. The final Olympic team nomination announcements will be just one week later.

This public event schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, January 8
Slopestyle Skiing Qualifiers 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Halfpipe Snowboarding Qualifiers 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 9
Slopestyle Snowboarding Qualifiers 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Halfpipe Skiing Qualifiers 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Friday, January 10
Slopestyle Skiing Finals 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Slopestyle Snowboarding Finals 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 11
Halfpipe Snowboarding Finals 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Sunday, January 12
Halfpipe Skiing Finals 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Spectator Access:
To access THE BASE OF SLOPESTYLE spectators can walk up to the finish cor­ral from the Peak 8 base area. Adhere to all directional signage and stay out of closed snowmobile lanes.

To access HALFPIPE OR UPPER SLOPESTYLE viewing, take Rip’s Ride and follow footpath while adhering to directional signage and staying out of closed snowmobile lanes.

Free foot passenger tickets are available from the ticket windows and from guest services staff. A foot passenger ticket is required. Visit www.breckenridge.com for updated information or any schedule changes.

Lodging
Some lodging is still available at www.breckenridge.com or by calling a Breckenridge reservation expert at (800) 536-1890.

Stay Connected
Visit Breckenridge.comfor terrain updates, snow reports, lodging deals, event details and the lowest priced lift tickets guaranteed. Stay connected all season long and learn more about Breckenridge Ski Resort at www.facebook.com/Breckenridge watch official resort videos at www.YouTube.com/Breckenridge, and follow @Breckenridgemtn on Instagram and Twitter.

Photo by Isaac Hinds – Athlete Gretchen Bleiler 

Filed Under: News & Features, Olympics

Olympic Gold Medalist Lindsey Vonn Out of Sochi

January 7, 2014 by

In a statement issued on Tuesday morning, Olympic Gold Medalist Lindsey Vonn announced she would not be competing in the Winter Olympics next month. She shared that she was “devastated” to make the announcement after trying to overcome a nagging knee injury.

vonn-out

Vonn shared, “I did everything I possibly could to somehow get strong enough to overcome having no ACL but the reality has sunk in that my knee is just too unstable to compete at this level.”

Lindsey ended her statement with, “On a positive note, this means there will be an additional spot so that one of my teammates can go for gold. Thank you all so much for all of the love and support. I will be cheering for all of the Olympians and especially team USA!”

Announcement via Facebook Fan Page.
Photo via FB

Filed Under: News & Features, Olympics

Journey To The Olympics: Jen Hudak

January 6, 2014 by

Two years ago, Jen Hudak was faced with devastation both emotionally and physically. She lost her best friend, Sarah Burke and injured her knee. Jen struggled to continue skiing and focus on returning to the sport she loved since a child. The injury and death of her friend forced her to shift her focus on how she approached life.

Jen Hudak Rise

This video is part of a series by Liberty Mutual. It’s well done and as they say, “we believe with every setback, there’s a chance to come back.” Check out Jen’s story and keep up with her on twitter @JenHudak where she shares a variety of inspiring nuggets. If you’re interested in chatting with Jen you can join her in her Google Hangout this week. #askJEN on #RoadtoSochi

RISE. JOURNEY TO THE OLYMPICS

Jen also has some of THE COOLEST images on instagram. You won’t find her taking any “selfies” of her booty but rather some of the most awe inspiring scenic photos and the occasional workout.

Jen ended 2013 with the cover of Backcountry magazine. She shared, “This was shot on New Years Eve Day on 2009 and was the start of my best competition season to date. I’m pumped to finally see this image in print and to start the new year with some of that energy.”

Jen’s Social
INSTAGRAM: jenhudak
TWITTER: jenHudak
FACEBOOK:facebook.com/jenhudakski
WEBSITE: jenhudak.com

Filed Under: News & Features, Olympics, Videos

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova Renew Rivalry

January 2, 2014 by

WILLIAMS, SHARAPOVA TO MEET IN BRISBANE SEMIFINALS
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova are set to renew their long and not-so-friendly rivalry in the semifinals at the Brisbane International, a key warm-up tournament for the Australian Open.

The pair played back-to-back quarterfinals on center court Thursday, with the third-seeded Sharapova beating 2012 Brisbane champion Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. She dropped three service games in the first set and another to open the second before finding her range and staging her comeback against the No. 30-ranked Kanepi.

The top-ranked Williams, the defending champion, was next on court and didn’t lose a point on serve in the first set en route to a 6-3, 6-3 win over ninth-seeded Diminika Cibulkova of Slovakia.

Williams has a 14-2 record and 13-match winning streak against Sharapova dating back to the 2005 Australian Open semifinals, beating the Russian most recently in last year’s French Open final.

Any friendship the pair had at that stage soured when they traded personal barbs relating to their romantic relationships ahead of Wimbledon, where Sharapova made an early exit. Sharapova only played one match after that in 2013 and spent the latter months of the season recovering from a right shoulder problem.

Williams, meanwhile, had a spectacular year, winning 78 of her 82 matches and capturing 11 titles, including two majors.

As far as any grudges go, Williams said Thursday: “It’s very difficult I think for anyone to be best buddies when you’re so competitive.”

Sharapova didn’t back away from the comments she made about Williams at Wimbledon in a New York Times profile last month, giving the impression that the relationship between the pair was still cold. On Thursday, she said she’d used the newspaper interview to “clear the air.”

Asked how she’d describe their rivalry now, Sharapova replied: “Well, I think I got to win a few times in order to call it rivalry.”

“I haven’t had a lot of success against her,” she added. “It’s the first tournament of the year. I came here wanting to play as many matches as I could and obviously wanting to play the best.”

Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka had difficulty closing out her quarterfinal match before beating Stefanie Voegele 6-4, 6-7 (7), 6-1.

The second-seeded Azarenka failed to convert eight match points in the second set — three serving at 5-4 and another five in the tiebreaker — before Voegele rallied to force a third. Azarenka raced to a 4-0 lead in the deciding set, dropped serve and then finally finished it off on her 10th match point.

“Yeah, I made it … about 20 times harder than it should have been,” Azarenka said. “I definitely should have closed it out a little earlier.”

Azarenka will next face fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic, who beat fifth-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-7 (8), 6-3, 6-1.

In men’s second-round matches, Romanian qualifier Marius Copil beat third-seeded Gilles Simon 7-5, 6-3 and will next meet former No. 1-ranked Lleyton Hewitt, who ousted No. 6-seeded Feliciano Lopez 7-5, 6-3.

No. 8-seeded Jeremy Chardy beat Nicolas Mahut 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-3 and fourth-seeded Kevin Anderson withdrew due to a stomach ailment before his scheduled second-round match against Australian wildcard entry Sam Groth.

In other Australasian tournaments, Milos Raonic and Eugenie Bouchard combined to give Canada a 3-0 win over Italy at the Hopman Cup in Perth, and Venus Williams and Ana Ivanovic progressed to the semifinals at the WTA Tour’s ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.

Canada (2-1) maintained a chance of qualifying for Saturday’s Hopman Cup final from Group A when Raonic beat Andreas Seppi 6-2, 6-4 and Bouchard clinched it when Flavia Pennetta retired with a right wrist injury while trailing 4-0 in the first set.

In Auckland, Venus Williams beat Garbine Muguruza of Spain 6-3, 6-3 and the second-seeded Ivanovic beat Kurumi Nara of Japan 6-2, 6-3.

Ivanovic will play her doubles partner, third-seeded Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium, in Friday’s semifinals while Williams will play Jamie Hampton.

Flipkens beat Japanese qualifier Sachie Ishizu 6-4, 7-5 and the fifth-seeded Hampton beat Lauren Davis 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

via Associate Press

Filed Under: SPORTS

Lindsey Jacobellis Returns After Multiple Injuries

December 30, 2013 by

Lindsey Jacobellis is one to watch at the 2014 Winter Olympics. She made her long awaited return to the mountain just before Christmas and she showed no signs of slowing down. It was her first snowboardcross victory in close to two years. Lindsey said in post race interview that it was tough mentally to get back in the mix after two knee surgeries and a broken thumb. Understandably so and we’re stoked to see her back on track.

Lindsey Jacobellis Wins

Lindsey is a 2006 Olympic silver medalist and has won gold at the World Championships on three separate occasions. She’s a seven-time X Games Champion and is on the invited list once again this year.

Via Youtube:
LAKE LOUISE, AB.– Olympic silver medalist Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, VT) made her overdue return to the podium Saturday with her first snowboardcross World Cup victory in nearly two years in Lake Louise, AB. Jacobellis has been absent from the sport since Jan. 2012 because of a knee injury.

lindsey and cindy in california
Lindsey and Hardbody Contributor, Cindy aka “The Sports Stylist” Whitehead at the 2013 espnW Women + Sports Summit.
 

Keep up with Lindsey…
Instagram: Lindseyjacobellis
Twitter: LindsJacobellis
lindseyjacobellis.com

Filed Under: News & Features, Olympics, Snow, Videos

Ronda Rousey Takes More of A Beating After Win Than During

December 29, 2013 by

The UFC’s first female champion, Ronda Rousey successfully defended her title against Miesha Tate and moved to 8-0 in the process. Until last night, all of Rousey’s fights had ended in the first round by arm bar. The end result was the same (arm bar once again) but took place in the third round of UFC 168 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

ronda rousey ufc champ

Those who follow Women’s Mixed Martial Arts (WMMA) along with the Vegas odds-makers knew a snowball in hell had a better chance of surviving than Tate did in this fight. UFC president Dana White reminded the media and fans that Tate was a “fighting dog” and she did manage to do what no one else had done, taking Ronda into a round outside of the first, but Rousey’s simply a superior fighter. Ronda suffered very little damage in the fight, so little in fact that at the post-fight press conference her next fight was announced. Ronda will square off against fellow Olympic medalist Sara McMann, a fight many fans thought should have been the first one made in the octagon.

There seems to be more chatter online and in the post-fight interviews about Ronda not shaking Miesha’s hand than the fight itself. After Miesha tapped out and the referee called off the fight, she stuck her hand out but Ronda walked away. The MGM Grand erupted in boos and twitter lit up. It’s no secret to those who watched The Ultimate Fighter and followed the pre-fight hype that the two don’t care for one another. So why would this come as a shock?

Some fans were brutal with their comments and surprisingly most of them are women. Calling Rousey “classless”, an “asshat”, “poor sport”, “not a champ”, “disgusting” and more. One of the most dramatic female comments reads, “I used to like her and now wouldn’t bother to piss on her if she were burning.”

Really? Come on people.

I’m sorry but I don’t see it as a class-less move, instead I have MORE respect for Rousey by NOT shaking her hand. Sure… Ronda came across as a bit of a loose cannon at times when she was coaching on The Ultimate Fighter. Miesha was shown as the good girl in a positive light. It’s the classic good versus evil. Do I think it was a great move by the UFC to show the champion as a bit of nut? Not so much. The show helped facilitate and manufacture the “rivalry” when diehard WMMA fans knew when the octagon door shut it would be all Rousey.

How many times do we see this monster build up where two opponents are shown hating each other and talk more trash than imaginable? Often. Why? It gets people excited, it creates buzz and interest. Then when the fight is over more often than not we hear them say it was just hype and they hug it out. That’s great and all but it’s the UFC and not the WWE. I’d rather see two people keep it real at the end of a fight and not pretend like they are besties. I’ve seen it countless times in bodybuilding, figure, fitness and bikini competitions where the competitors hug, smile and shake hands only to talk shit as soon as the other person leaves. Oh but that’s being a good sport and showing class right? Not so much. It’s amusing and baffling all at once that a handshake, or lack there of, can cause such controversy.

Rest assured, Rousey knows what she is doing. You may not like the gesture after the fight but you’re talking about her and taking a side. She forces you to have an opinion… for, against or simply don’t care. The buzz keeps her relevant and as long as she continues to win people will tune in. How much will people be talking about Miesha after this fight? She’s lost twice, by the same move, to Ronda so likely not much.

The crazy thing is how no one is talking about her male counterpart being a poor sport or lacking class in an earlier fight. Chris Leben, a veteran of the UFC and fighting on the same card, was knocked silly at the end of his first round. He threw in the towel and left the octagon before the official announcement was made. Many on twitter were applauding him for “knowing it was the right move to hang it up.” How is it that he’s not the one people are blasting for being a poor sport? Oh ya, he lost and he’s on his way out. He’s not the champion and apparently people could care less.

Rousey explained herself and why she didn’t shake her hand in the post fight interviews and at the press conference. She gave Miesha her props as a fighter and said she respected what she had done but until she apologized for what she said to her coaching staff/family; she wouldn’t think about shaking her hand.

Love the move or not she’s speaking her mind and not blowing smoke up your ass. She’s being herself and if that makes her an “ass hat” then sign me up cause I’ll buy one. That’s my take. What’s yours? Join the conversation on Facebook or on twitter #noShakeGate and share your thoughts on the topic.

photo via mmaweekly.com

Filed Under: MMA, Polls

UFC 168 Preview & Poll: Tate vs Rousey in Co-Main Event

December 28, 2013 by

This weekend UFC champion Ronda Rousey (7-0) puts her belt and title on the line against her bitter rival, Miesha Tate (13-4). The fight is the co-main event one of the UFC’s biggest cards of the year. In the main event, Chris Weidman defends his title against legendary Anderson Silva. The attention has largely been on the Silva rematch but fans are also anxious for the rematch between Ronda and Miesha.

ronda-miesha

Ronda Rousey was virtually unknown 3 years ago and when I interviewed her at the LA FIT EXPO before her first fight with Miesha, many people believed she had talked her way into the fight. She shut those people up when she not only defeated Miesha but also submitted her to remain undefeated. She did so in convincing fashion and in the first round. That fight took place during the Arnold Classic weekend as part of the defunct Strikeforce promotion. The fight was impressive enough to get the attention of the UFC’s president Dana White and he changed his tune on Women’s Mixed Martial Arts.

Ronda was part of the UFC’s first women’s event and the event had more media attention from the “mainstream” than anyone since Brock Lesnar. The fight arguably had the most mainstream media attention of any UFC fight. The UFC hype machine went into overdrive to push the fight and while it did a good job of selling fans on Ronda, it left little desire to pay attention to the Women’s MMA after that. As evident in this weekend’s rematch, we see little to no attention outside of the usual MMA media. ESPN’s Sports Center is giving it about as much attention as a high school football game. When Ronda fought in the octagon the first time you saw TIME, LA Times, HBO and countless other outlets covering the event.

ronda dolce diet

Ronda at the UFC 168 Weigh-ins looking hardbody.

Does Ronda care? Hell no. She wisely put herself on the map heading into her first match with Miesha by giving the media sound clips they could run with for days and she continues to do so today. She took a bit of a hit from MMA fans by the way she was portrayed on The Ultimate Fighter but outside of that fan base it’s done little to cause he stock to drop. She appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and was a very happy, upbeat and likable champ.

Miesha’s fan base grew out of The Ultimate Fighter appearance. She was shown as a smiling, happy but tough athlete. The fans showed their support when the UFC put her against Ronda for the UFC’s video game cover. She was victorious over Ronda in that contest and will look to do it again tonight but can she?

Anything is possible in the octagon but if you’re a gambler don’t be against the champ. Ronda is an Olympic athlete who is used to intense pressure and media attention on her. She’s talked about how she has more energy than ever before by teaming up with Mike Dolce on her nutrition. When the two stepped on the scales yesterday, you could see Ronda looked the best she has heading into a fight and it could spell bad news for Miesha. Miesha is no slouch but she’ll need to put her emotions in check and fight much smarter than she did the first time against Ronda. Miesha’s stand up is her best bet against Ronda but she better hope it knocks “Rowdy” out because when it goes to the ground we know how it will end. In an arm bar, like every other one of Ronda’s fights, and in the first round.

{democracy:267}


Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate have developed one of the fiercest rivalries in the UFC, spawned from Rousey’s armbar submission of Tate for the Strikeforce title in 2011 and their stint as coaches on TUF 18. The pair battle again at UFC 168.

Filed Under: MMA, Polls

Sarka Pancochova Wins U.S. Grand Prix Women’s Snowboarding Slopestyle

December 24, 2013 by

Team USA was poised for another podium sweep at the U.S. Grand Prix Women’s Snowboarding Slopestyle but ended up falling short. Jamie Anderson, who was the leading lady heading into the finals, fell on both of her final runs and ended up out of the top spots. Instead it was Czech’s Sarka Pancochova who was victorious and the only woman to score in the 90s. Switzerland’s Isabel Derungs edged out Elena Koenz by .25 for second. Ty Walker was the highest U.S. finisher in fourth.

sarka snowboarding

Results U.S. Grand Prix Women’s Snowboarding Slopestyle:
1. Sarka Pancochova (bib #29) CZE – 92.25
2. Isabel Deurngs (bib #3) SUI – 81.50
3. Lena Koenz (bib #56) SUI – 81.25
4. Ty Walker (bib #31) USA – 78.00
5. Enni Rukajarvi (bib #1) FIN – 76.00
6. Cheryl Maas (bib #48) NED – 46.25
7. Jamie Anderson (bib #2) USA – 45.00
8. Jessika Jenson (bib #37) USA – 21.50
9. Merika Enne (bib #38) FIN – 84.33
10. Karly Shorr (bib #54) USA – 80.66

The U.S. Grand Prix Tour returns to Breckenridge on January 8-11, 2014 where the competitors will be looking to secure a spot on the first-ever Olympic slopestyle snowboarding team.

Filed Under: News & Features, Olympics, Snow

Video: Gretchen Bleiler’s Remarkable Recovery

December 23, 2013 by

Gretchen Bleiler is one of the top female snowboarders in the world. Over the weekend she finished in third at the U.S. Grand Prix in Copper Mtn., Colorado. Impressive by any standard but what makes her podium appearance an even bigger deal is the challenges she’s overcome.

gretch-bleiler


Xgames.com recently published a video in conjunction with Muscle Milk (one of Gretchen’s sponsors) that tells Gretchen’s remarkable story. While warming up she suffered a broken eye-socket, broken nose and a concussion. A number of people thought this would be a career ending injury for her but she wouldn’t hear any of that. As a pro athlete, Gretchen felt there was a way to get better.

When traditional eye exercises didn’t work, Gretchen and her team created their own program. The experimental technique combines ocular rehabilitation with high-intensity strength training and conditioning. Gretchen combined physical activity while focusing on a single point. Check out how Gretchen pushed herself and got back on a snowboard. She’s got her sights set on the Sochi Winter Olympics, which she says could be her last Games.


When doctors said she wouldn’t make a full recovery from a devastating eye injury, Gretchen Bleiler created an eye-strengthening training program that had never been done before and beat the odds.

Gretchen says, “I see the Olympics as this opportunity to get better, push harder and do things you never thought you could do.” We’re not all Olympic athletes but Gretchen’s story reminds us to never give up and keep pushing through adversity.

Follow Gretchen on twitter @GretchenBleiler and use #giveMestrength in your tweets to show your support. Props to Gretchen, Xgames.com and Muscle Milk for sharing this story.

Lead image compiled from Xgames.com video.

Filed Under: News & Features, Olympics, Snow, Videos

Kelly Clark Near Perfect in Win at Copper

December 22, 2013 by

Kelly Clark was back on the podium for the second weekend in a row only this time it was on top. Kelly crushed her first run at the U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Finals with a 95.5 score but it was her second run that reminded everyone why she’s an Olympic gold medalist. She didn’t sit back despite already being the winner. She improved her score to a 98.0 with a monster run full of tricks and was nearly perfect.

kelly clark wins

It was an American sweep in the Women’s Snowboarding Halfpipe with Ariell Gold second and Gretchen Bleiler third. The event served as a U.S. Olympic qualification. Ariell Gold was aggressive in the pipe and it earned her the runner-up position. Gretchen moved into the top three with a clean run that showed she’s deserved of another trip to the Olympics. Gretchen’s runs are flashy but they are technically sound and she gets solid air out of the pipe.

Kelly seemed much more confident in her approach on Saturday night than she had the week prior at the Dew Tour. Maybe it was performing under the lights which gives the event a much cooler atmosphere than during the day. When you see Kelly nail a 1080 you can’t help but be in awe of how amazingly talented these women are.

top three copper

U.S. Grand Prix Women’s Snowboarding Halfpipe Results:
1. Kelly Clark USA 98.00 (bib #1)
2. Arielle Gold USA 91.25 (bib #22)
3. Gretchen Bleiler USA 86.00 (bib #5)
4. Sophie Rodriguez FRA 85.00 (bib #25)
5. Kaitlyn Farrington USA 84.75 (bib #3)
6. Rana Okada JPN 82.00 (bib #35)
7. Xuetong Cai CHN 79.25 (bib #10)
8. Elena Hight USA 63.75 (bib #2)
9. Queralt Castellet SPA 78.25 (bib #4)
10. Ellery Hollingsworth USA 78.00 (bib #26)

Filed Under: News & Features, Snow

Brita Sigourney Soars to Victory at Copper Grand Prix

December 21, 2013 by

Brita Sigourney stood on the podium for the second week in a row but this time as the winner. Last weekend in Breckenridge, Colorado Brita finished third at the Dew Tour. The Dew Tour was her first contest back after having knee and shoulder surgeries.

brita copper

On her second run under, Copper Mountain’s Friday Night Lights, Brita nailed a 86.60 score. The score put her in the winner’s circle once again. Second place went to Maddie Bowman with a scow of 83.20. The two are in the hunt to make the U.S. Olympic Team. Rounding out the top three was Marie Martinod from France.

winners-copperOn the Podium in Copper. 

FIS FREESTYLE SKI WORLD CUP 2014 RESULTS
Ladies’ Ski Halfpipe – Copper Mountain, CO (USA)

1. Brita Sigourney (Bib #6 – USA)
Run 1 – 85.00
Run 2 – 86.60

2. Maddie Bowman (Bib #5 – USA)
Run 1 – 83.20
Run 2 – 83.20

3. Marie Martinod (Bib #2 – FRA)
Run 1 – 78.80
Run 2 – 49.80

4. Devin Logan (Bib #4 – USA)
Run 1 – 76.80
Run 2 – 20.00

5. Annalisa Drew USA (Bib #8 – USA)
Run 1 – 72.00
Run 2 – 65.40

6. Anais Caradeux FRA (Bib #9 – FRA)
Run 1 – 69.80
Run 2 – 69.80

7. Ayana Onozuka (Bib #1 – JPN)
Run 1 – 69.20
Run 2 – 69.20

8. Angeli Vanlaanen (Bib #3 – USA)
Run 1 – 67.40
Run 2 – 67.40

9. Mirjam Jaeger (Bib #7 – SUI)
Run 1 – 66.20
Run 2 – 66.20

10. Rowan Cheshire (Bib #10 – GBR)
Run 1 – 64.80
Run 2 – 43.60

11. Katrien Aerts (Bib #12 – BEL)
Run 1 – 60.60
Run 2 – 23.80

12. Megan Gunning (Bib #11 – CAN)
Run 1 – 52.60
Run 2 – 11.40

flying-skierBrita Sigourney soars during the Friday Night Finals.

 View complete results from the event, including the men, here.

 

Filed Under: Olympics, Snow

NIKE Unveils Team USA Winter Collection

December 20, 2013 by

The 2014 Winter Olympics are quickly approaching and today Nike unveiled the Team USA Winter Collection. Check out some of our favorite items in the gallery below and for the complete collection and information on all the items visit winter2014.nikeinc.com.  Stay updated on all the latest news related to the US Olympic Team on olympictalk.nbcsports.com.

team-usa-nike

What do you think of the winter apparel? Join the conversation on our Facebook page and share your thoughts.

Props to @heidiburgett / twitter.

Filed Under: News & Features, Olympics, PHOTOS & VIDEOS

Invicta Fighting Championships Names Julie Kedzie New Matchmaker

December 17, 2013 by

PRESS RELEASE

INVICTA FC NAMES WOMEN’S MMA PIONEER JULIE KEDZIE NEW MATCHMAKER
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Dec. 16, 2013) – Invicta Fighting Championships has appointed recently retired women’s Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) superstar Julie Kedzie as the new matchmaker for the women’s world championship MMA promotion, it was announced today on an all-new edition of “The MMA Hour” web TV program by award-winning host Ariel Helwani
.
Kedzie will simultaneously continue to serve as color commentator for Invicta FC television broadcasts, a role that she has played for the promotion since the inaugural Invicta FC live event in April 2012.

“I am excited about this incredible new opportunity that will allow me to remain as active and hands on as ever in contributing to the growth of women’s competition in our great sport,” said Kedzie, a protégé of MMA guru Greg Jackson who retired from competition earlier this month following her 29th professional career bout at UFC Fight Night 33.

“(Invicta FC President) Shannon Knapp has done an unbelievable job at pushing the envelope and helping transform women’s MMA into an aggressively expanding enterprise,” continued Kedzie, “a development that will undoubtedly lead to increased participation in the sport by young women athletes who want to challenge themselves in the world’s fastest growing sport.”

“We are thrilled to expand Julie’s role in the Invicta FC organization and have one of the pioneers of our sport assume the pivotal role of matchmaker under her wing,” said Knapp. “There is no one more qualified than someone like Julie, who has lived and breathed MMA for the last 10 years, to take on the responsibility of nurturing our athletes, building our roster and creating the most exciting matchups possible for our live event series.”

Invicta FC rolled out its final live event of the year on Dec. 7, an explosive, live Pay-Per-View televised world championship doubleheader that saw Barb “Lil’ Warrior” Honchak (9-2) successfully defend her strawweight (125 pounds) title against Leslie “The Peacemaker” Smith (6-4-1) in the main event that was also named “Fight of the Night.”

In the eight-bout card’s co-main event, Lauren Murphy (8-0) extended her perfect record and retained her bantamweight (135 pounds), defeating Miriam “The Queen of Mean” Nakamoto (2-1) by way of TKO (knee injury) in the fourth round (:23).

About Invicta Fighting Championships:
Invicta Fighting Championships (www.invictafc.com) is a world championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp and sports aficionado Janet Martin, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible matchups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport.

Filed Under: MMA, News & Features

Torah Bright & Devin Logan Win Big at the 2013 Dew Tour

December 16, 2013 by

Australia’s Torah Bright threw down a monster first run at the 2013 Dew Tour Women’s Snowboard Superpipe Finals and it held up for the win. “The aim of the game today was to do everything nice and big and stylish,” said Bright. “I wanted to do a run that was memorable. And this pipe is awesome, it is perfect!”. Second Place went to Kelly Clark and third was thirteen year-old Chloe Kim. Following the Freeski Slopestyle Finals Devin Logan shared, “I can breathe a little easier for the next couple of events.”  Devin won with a 87.80 score and Kim Lamarre of Canada finished second with a 81.20. Rounding out the top three was Maggie Voisin with a 77.20.

torah bright dew tour

Press Release
Breckenridge, Colo. – December 14, 2013 In a thrilling finish at the Dew Tour iON Mountain Championships first final of the day Greg Bretz won the men’s Snowboard Superpipe Finals, and 1,000 points towards his USSA standings. The iON Mountain Championships serves as the first official U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) Olympic team selection event of the 2013-2014 season. Excitement levels were high and the suspense carried on through the very end of the competition with Shaun White’s final run, which placed him in second. Bretz claimed the coveted Dew Cup with a score of 91.40, and a run that featured a frontside double 1080, cab double 1080, frontside 900, backside 900, frontside 1080 and cab 1080. White took second with a score of 90.40; Taylor Gold finished third with 89.60.

“I’m excited to be at the Dew Tour and for my first big win,” said Bretz after the competition. “I’m so stoked it’s an Olympic selection event, and I was able to come out on top. I just try to ride for myself and stay away from what other people are doing. It ended up working out, and I am super stoked about it.”

White congratulated Bretz after the event, stating, “He’s a great rider!” His focus now turns to tomorrow’s event, of which he said, “I’m ready for slopestyle. Just keep going!”

After landing a backside air, frontside double cork 1080, cab double cork 1080, frontside 540, double mctwist 1260 to a backside rodeo, Shaun White took second on the podium. White’s performance on the superpipe, which at 600 feet in length is currently the longest in the world, earned him 800 points in the USSA standings.

Directly after the men’s competition, the women took a turn for the Snowboard Superpipe Final. Torah Bright set the bar high with her first run, landing a McTwist, air to fakie, cab 720, frontside 540, frontside alley-oop, and alley-oop backside rodeo. She posted a score of 95.40 that held first place through the remainder of the competition, topping second place finisher Kelly Clark.

“The aim of the game today was to do everything nice and big and stylish,” said Bright. “I wanted to do a run that was memorable. And this pipe is awesome, it is perfect!”

The afternoon’s action turned to the slopestyle course for the women’s Freeski Slopestyle Final. Devin Logan’s first run began with a lipslide to fakie on the first rail, a switch 270 on to 270 out of the flat down rail, followed by a right 540 safety to a switch left 540 safety, a Japan grab to straight slide, ending with a rodeo 540 safety on the final jump. Her technical moves were enough to put her in first place with a score of 87.80 that held throughout the rest of the competition, awarding Logan her first slopestyle Dew Cup.

“I’ve always wanted to win the Dew Tour,” said Logan, following the event. Now that it’s a USSA selection event, it makes it even better. I can breathe a little easier for the next couple of events.”

The night closed out with an exciting men’s Freeski Superpipe Final that saw David Wise draw on his amplitude and technical talent to rise above a strong field of American and international talent. Wise began his run with a switch right 900, switch left double cork 1080, right double cork 1260, left double cork 1260, alley-oop flat 540, finishing off with a left cork 900. His score of 92.60 led an American podium sweep.

“It’s an amazing thing to win the first contest of the season, especially since this is an Olympic selection event,” said Wise. “100 points for the qualification standings, you can’t start off more solid than that. I’ve always loved the Dew Tour. It’s got a really good feel to it. It’s exciting, and everyone put on a show tonight. It was fun to be a part of and pretty unreal to watch.”

The Dew Tour took over downtown Breckenridge last night, shutting down a block of Washington Ave. to create an urban snowboarding course for the Nike Snowboarding Streetstyle. Canadian Darcy Sharpe stood out during the half hour organized jam session, gaining both the overall win and Best Trick title for his frontside bluntslide 450 out on the dumpster.

“This is really cool,” said Sharpe, following the contest. “It’s sick to keep street competitions in Dew Tour and shows more style involved in snowboarding. Everybody killed it, so I’m stoked.”

Women’s Snowboard Superpipe Final Results
1.Torah Bright, Australia, 95.40
2. Kelly Clark, Mammoth Lakes, Calif., 90.60
3. Chloe Kim, Torrance, Calif., 89.40
4. Arielle Gold, Steamboat Springs, Colo 84.20
5. Kaitlyn Farrington, Sun Valley, Idaho, 83.80
6. Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, Colo., 80.00
7. Xuetong Cai, China, 44.80
8. Elena Hight, South Lake Tahoe, Calif., 25.80

Women’s Freeski Slopestyle Final Results
1.Devin Logan, Dover, Vt., 87.80
2. Kim Lamarre, Canada, 81.20
3. Maggie Voisin, Whitefish, Mont., 77.20
4. Keri Herman, Breckenridge, Colo., 71.20
5. Ashley Battersby, Park City, Utah, 67.40
6. Dara Howell, Canada, 61.80
7. Julia Krass, Hanover, NH, 57.60
8. Jamie Crane-Mauzy, Park City, Utah, 42.40

For additional Dew Tour event information, visit www.DewTour.com, www.facebook.com/dewtour, and www.twitter.com/DewTour.

photo by isaac hinds – hardbodynews.com

 

Filed Under: News & Features, Snow

Jamie Anderson Wins Dew Tour Snowboard Slopestyle Title

December 16, 2013 by

The stakes were high at the 2013 Dew Tour, the first U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) selection event of the 2013-2014 season, and the women ready for the challenge. Jamie Anderson took top honors in the Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Maddie Bowman won the Women’s Freeski Superpipe. It was a huge day for South Lake Tahoe, where both women reside. Jamie fell during her first run of the finals but came back to nail an incredible run the second time around for the win. Fans were treated to a preview of many of the athletes that will be competing in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

jamie anderson dew tour

Press Release:
Jamie Anderson Wins Snowboard Slopestyle and Maddie Bowman Tops the Freeski Superpipe Podium
Breckenridge, Colo. – December 13, 2013 The Dew Tour iON Mountain Championships closed out a first day of Final competitions in Breckenridge with Jamie Anderson and Maddie Bowman gaining valuable points toward making the US Olympic team. The event serves as the first official U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) Olympic team selection event of the 2013-2014 season, and the first ever USSA selection event for freeski and slopestyle disciplines. Jamie Anderson held the afternoon crowd in suspense, as the final rider to drop in and score a 96.00 on her second run to jump into first place and win the Dew Cup. Her run included a backside bluntslide to gap boardslide switch out, a cab 720 tailgrab, a backside 540, frontside 360 shifty and huge backside 540.

“I was just praying that all the good spirits were looking after me and hoping that I land that run,” said Anderson, knowing that her final run was her only chance to land in first place. “I want to just try to do well, give thanks, stay grateful, and enjoy the journey. Living the dream right here!”

The day began early with the women’s Freeski Superpipe Final, featuring a high level of skiing from a range of contenders. Maddie Bowman managed to stay on top of the competition with her first run score of 89.60, barely edging out second place finisher Angeli VanLaanen. Bowman’s run began with a straight air Japan, followed by a right 900, left 540 mute, straight air mute, corked 900 and right 720, ending with a switch 540.

“I’m excited,” exclaimed Bowman, realizing she had just topped the podium at the first USSA selection event of the season. “The Dew Tour pipe is sweet. It’s one of the best pipes we ride all year.”

Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle Final Results
1. Jamie Anderson, South Lake Tahoe, Calif., 96.00
2. Enni Rukajarvi, Finland, 89.40
3. Silje Norendal, Norway, 86.20
4. Isabel Derungs, Switzerland, 68.80
5. Jessika Jenson, Rigby, Idaho, 64.00
6. Jordie Karlinski, Snowmass Village, Colo., 59.20
7. Aimee Fuller, Great Britain, 53.80
8. Sarka Pancochova, Czech Republic, 34.80

Women’s Freeski Superpipe Final Results
1. Maddie Bowman, South Lake Tahoe, Calif., 89.60
2. Angeli VanLaanen, Bellingham, Wash., 89.00
3. Brita Sigourney, Carmel, Calif., 88.20
4. Ayana Onozuka, Japan, 86.60
5. Anais Caradeux, France, 80.00
6. Devin Logan, Dover, Vt., 75.00
7. Rowan Cheshire, Great Britain, 64.40
8. Annalisa Drew, Andover, Mass., 38.00

©photo isaac hinds – hardbodynews.com

Filed Under: News & Features, Snow

2013 Dew Tour – Women’s Qualifying Results

December 12, 2013 by

The top eight women from each discipline advanced to the finals. Kelly Clark lead the way in the Women’s Snowboard Superpipe, edging out the dazzling youngster Chloe Kim by 1.4 points. Seasoned veteran, Gretchen Bleiler made the cut with a 7the place finish in the qualifying round. Maggie Voisin had a monster second run to put her atop the women’s freeski slope style group. Angeli VanLaanen’s first run of 89.60 put her in first heading into the women’s freeski superpipe finals. Jamie Anderson leads the way in the snowboard slopestyle with 93.00.

dewtour-results

The Dew Tour is the first official US Ski and Snowboard Association Olympic team selection event of the 2013-2014 season. Today (Thursday, December 12th) the men will hit the mountain for their qualifying rounds. For more information visit dewtour.com.

WOMEN’S SNOWBOARD SUPERPIPE QUALIFYING

ION MOUNTAIN CHAMPIONSHIP : QUALIFYING

Rank Athlete Run 1 Run 2 Total
1 Kelly Clark 86.20 94.80 94.80
2 Chloe Kim 93.00 93.40 93.40
3 Arielle Gold 90.80 43.80 90.80
4 Kaitlyn Farrington 89.20 87.00 89.20
5 Elena Hight 82.60 85.80 85.80
6 Torah Bright 84.60 76.20 84.60
7 Gretchen Bleiler 75.40 76.80 76.80
8 Xuetong Cai 64.40 73.40 73.40

WOMEN’S FREESKI SLOPESTYLE QUALIFYING

ION MOUNTAIN CHAMPIONSHIP : QUALIFYING

Rank Athlete Run 1 Run 2 Total
1 Maggie Voisin 80.00 86.00 86.00
2 Devin Logan 67.80 84.00 84.00
3 Keri Herman 83.20 20.40 83.20
4 Dara Howell 61.60 80.00 80.00
5 Jamie Crane-Mauzy 71.60 78.20 78.20
6 Kim Lamarre 26.60 77.80 77.80
7 Ashley Battersby 77.60 40.40 77.60
8 Julia Krass 57.00 76.00 76.00

WOMEN’S FREESKI SUPERPIPE QUALIFYING

ION MOUNTAIN CHAMPIONSHIP : QUALIFYING

Rank Athlete Run 1 Run 2 Total
1 Angeli VanLaanen 89.60 17.40 89.60
2 Ayana Onozuka 85.20 84.60 85.20
3 Annalisa Drew 82.40 85.00 85.00
4 Maddie Bowman 84.00 84.00
5 Brita Sigourney 83.60 40.60 83.60
6 Anais Caradeux 81.60 38.00 81.60
7 Rowan Cheshire 80.60 28.60 80.60
8 Devin Logan 78.20 78.20

WOMEN’S SNOWBOARD SLOPESTYLE QUALIFYING

ION MOUNTAIN CHAMPIONSHIP : QUALIFYING

Rank Athlete Run 1 Run 2 Total
1 Jamie Anderson 93.00 DNS 93.00
2 Enni Rukajärvi 88.20 69.40 88.20
3 Silje Norendal 63.40 84.60 84.60
4 Isabel Derungs 81.00 19.00 81.00
5 Sarka Pancochova 59.60 76.80 76.80
6 Jordie Karlinski 72.60 26.00 72.60
7 Jessika Jenson 66.60 21.80 66.60
8 Aimee Fuller 64.60 61.80 64.60

 

Filed Under: News & Features, Snow

The 411 on the 2013 Dew Tour in Breckrendridge, Colorado

December 10, 2013 by

The 2013 Dew Tour kicks off this week in Breckenridge, Colorado. The free, 4-day action packed festival features ski and snowboarding competitions along with live music and other rad events. If you can’t make it to the event to see all the action live, don’t worry the event will be aired on NBC and on dewtour.com.

2013 dew tour

The Dew Tour’s iON Mountain Championships have been named the first of five official Olympic Selection events. This means fans will be treated to some of the best competition in the world as athletes look to secure their spot on the 2014 Winter Olympics team. We’ll be there covering the action and checking throughout the weekend.

NBC ION MOUNTAIN CHAMPIONSHIPS INFO
Dew Tour General Information
The Dew Tour is a free 4-day action sports and lifestyle festival coming to Breckenridge, Colorado December 12-15. The event features ski and snowboarding competitions with live music and the Dew Tour Experience where fans can enjoy athlete autograph signings, giveaways, games and more as they learn more about the Dew Tour partners.

Where is the Dew Tour?
The Dew Tour iON Mountain Championships will be held at Breckenridge Ski Resort’s Peak 8, just off of the BreckConnect gondola and the Colorado SuperChair.

Spectator Info:
All athlete events are taking place at Peak 8 of the Breckenridge Ski Resort. Spectators will be able to access the Slopestyle competitions directly from the Peak 8 Base Area; Look for directional signs for detailed access.
 
For all Superpipe events, spectators can access the venue in the Freeway Terrain park via Rip’s Ride (Chair 7) at the Peak 8 Base Area. Free foot passenger tickets are available at any Peak 8 ticket window, from guest service personnel or at the chairlift. Rip’s Ride is for uphill access only, so all foot passenger spectators will be required to walk down from the venue; proper footwear is encouraged.
 
Skier/Rider access is only available from Rip’s Ride, with a short traverse over to Freeway.
 
Busses and the BreckConnect Gondola will run late for the nighttime events from the Breckenridge Transportation Center.

The following events will be featured at the Dew Tour iON Mountain Championships:
Men’s Ski Superpipe

Women’s Ski Superpipe

Men’s Ski Slopestyle

Women’s Ski Slopestyle

Men’s Snowboard Superpipe

Women’s Snowboard Superpipe

Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle

Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle
Nike Snowboarding Streetstyle

What can someone expect in The Dew Tour experience?
The Dew Tour Experience reflects the culture of action sports and the lifestyle of our fans through live partner brand experiences. The Dew Tour Experience will be FREE for everyone. Our partners will have plenty for Dew Tour fans to enjoy including athlete autograph signings, giveaways, activities and more.

Where can someone watch coverage of the Dew Tour?
The iON Mountain Championships can be viewed on TV via NBC and NBC Sports Network. Fans can also live stream all the action at dewtour.com. Don’t miss every competition, athlete interviews, industry insiders and behind the scenes action from Breckenridge, all on Dew Tour Live and the NBC Sports Live Extra app for iOS and Android mobile and tablet devices.

2013 Schedule of Events TV and Online (Eastern Standard Time):
Thursday, December 12
11:30am – Men’s Freeski Slopestyle Semi-Final
3pm – Men’s Snowboard Superpipe Semi-Final

Friday, December 13
11:30am – Women’s Freeski Superpipe Final
1:30pm – Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle Semi-Final
5pm – Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle Final
7pm – Men’s Freeski Superpipe Semi-Final

Saturday, December 14
12pm – Men’s Snowboard Superpipe Final
2:15pm – Women’s Snowboard Superpipe Final
4pm – Women’s Freeski Slopestyle Final
7pm – Men’s Freeski Superpipe Final
1am – Men’s Freeski Superpipe Final (Taped)

Sunday, December 15
12pm – Men’s Freeski Slopestyle Final
3pm – Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle Final

More info visit dewtour.com and follow @dewtour on twitter.

Filed Under: News & Features, Olympics, Snow

UFC Champ Ronda Rousey on Jimmy Kimmel Live

December 3, 2013 by

UFC Bantamweight Champ, Ronda Rousey made an appearance last night on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Kimmel opens the segment saying there is no one he’d rather go Black Friday shopping with than Rousey. It sets the tone for the rest of interview, which was refreshingly fun. Ronda discusses how she was able to enjoy Thanksgiving and eat more than an ice cube, her words not mine. She goes onto chat with Jimmy about how her mom, AnnMaria Demars, got her into fighting. In 1984, AnnMaria was the first-ever American to win the Judo World Championships.

ronda rousey jimmy kimmel

Ronda said her mom’s motto was “always be ready”. She gives an example of how she’s always ready in part two of the interview, shown below. It was nice to see a much more light-hearted, upbeat side to the champ. Since the airing of The Ultimate Fighter, where Ronda was a coach, she’s received backlash from fight fans. This interview makes her a much more likable personality and more appealing to mainstream.

Ronda continues to take care of business in the octagon (she’s undefeated and won by arm bar in the first round of them) and will look to do so again at the end of this month. Ronda faces Meisha Tate at UFC 168 on December 28, 2013.

ronda headlocks Guillermo on jimmy kimmel live

Ronda puts Guillermo in a headlock. Pic via @JimmyKimmelLive.

Twitter
– @JimmyKimmelLive
– @RondaRousey
– @IAMGUILLERMO

Filed Under: MMA, Videos

Julianna Pena Wins First Women’s The Ultimate Fighter

December 1, 2013 by

Season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) brought female fighters on the show for the first time. On Saturday night, the finale featured Jessica Rakoczy and Julianna Pena competing for the first ever women’s TUF title. Pena had a target on her back from the beginning of the show based on her training partner and history with one of the coaches.

Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey served as the coaches on The Ultimate Fighter and Julianna had been a long-time training partner of Tates. Rousey knew this and attempted to sink Tate’s battleship by pitting her against her number one fighter in the first fight of the show. Ronda matched up her number one pick, Shayna Baslzer against Meisha’s girl, Julianna. The plan backfired. Julianna won the fight and set her destiny in motion. She gained confidence by beating the opposing team’s number one fighter, a fighter who many thought would win the entire season.

Fast-forward to Saturday night in Las Vegsas where Julianna stopped Jessica Rakoczy with just one second left in the first round. The win made Julianna the first-ever female TUF champion. She’s a fighter who will make her presence known in and out of the octagon in the months ahead. She likes to speak her mind and like the current champion, Rousey, she creates headlines when she interacts with the media.

When talking about the women’s division in the UFC and the attention its getting Pena tells Thomas Gerbasi from UFC.com that women “take things a little bit more personal and we’re like psycho women trying to protect our baby cub. We’re not going to let anybody get in the way of our dreams and what we have worked so hard for. I think the women display a lot of heart and they make for more interesting fights.”


TUF FINALE – Press Conference

Filed Under: MMA

High School Standout Runner Mary Cain Skips College, Turns Pro

November 15, 2013 by

MARY CAIN TURNS PRO, SKIPPING COLLEGE TRACK
Teenager middle distance star Mary Cain is skipping college and turning pro.

The 17-year-old became the youngest runner to represent the United States at the world championships in Moscow last summer. She finished 10th in the 1,500 meters.

The high school senior said in a statement released by her management company Friday that she believes “in the long this is the best way for me to continue to develop as an athlete.”

Cain will graduate from Bronxville High School in New York this spring. Her father, Charles, stressed that she will be “pursuing her college education while competing.”

The charismatic Cain is coming off a season in which she set numerous high school and American junior records. She trains under the guidance of former marathon star Alberto Salazar.

Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press

Filed Under: Track & Field

USA To Host 2016 World Indoor Track & Field Championships

November 15, 2013 by

Press Release:
World Indoor Championships to return to U.S. in 2016

11/15/2013 – MONTE CARLO, Monaco – Portland, Oregon, will host the 2016 World Indoor Track & Field Championships after the IAAF Council on Friday voted to bring the meet back to the U.S. for the first time since 1987.

USATF President Stephanie Hightower, USATF CEO Max Siegel, and TrackTown USA President Vin Lananna presented the joint Portland bid to the IAAF Council on Friday morning in Monaco. Birmingham, England, also bid for the event.

The 2016 World Indoor Championships will mark the first time a senior World Athletics Series (WAS) event has been held in the United States since the World Cross Country Championships in 1992. Eugene will host the 2014 World Junior Championships.

“We thank the IAAF Council and President Diack for entrusting us with the 2016 World Indoor Championships,” Siegel said. “We are honored and proud to be given the opportunity to again host the world’s national track & field teams on U.S. soil. USATF and TrackTown have the vision and execution that will make the meet a truly world-class experience.”

“We plan to leave a lasting legacy of new facilities, a renewed passion, and a new model to present indoor track and field,” Lananna said. “We will work tirelessly to create the most awe-inspiring event ever held in the U.S. for the athletes, fans, officials, media, partners and the entire IAAF family. We want to demonstrate our commitment with action.”

The three-day meet will be held in March, 2016, at Portland’s Oregon Convention Center (OCC). As configured for World Indoors, the facility will easily accommodate more than 8,000 spectators. A new 200-meter IAAF-certified track will be built and then repurposed as a legacy of the event.

As a local organizing committee, TrackTown USA has a track record of robust fan-engagement spaces. The OCC configuration for the meet includes creating a fan festival inside the facility and will put thousands of passionate and knowledgeable fans on top of the action.

TrackTown USA has hosted the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Trials, which reach record attendance levels. The group also serves as local organizing committee for the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships, to be contested this July in Eugene, Ore., and the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.

via www.usatf.org

Filed Under: News & Features, Track & Field

Would You Do 30 Squats for A Free Subway Ticket?

November 13, 2013 by

Chalk this up to one of the more creative approaches to marketing the Olympics. A new vending machine has been set up in Moscow intended to get people excited for the 2014 Winter Olympics. The machine was installed outside of one of the busiest subway stations and gives people the chance to earn a free ride. Do 30 squats in front of the machine and boom – free ticket.

winter olympics promotion squats subway

This is just the first installment from Russia’s Olympic Committee. They aim to “add elements of sport into daily life.” The committee has future plans to expand on the campaign. They will turn hanging handles on buses into exercise bands and install exercise bikes that produce electricity to charge cellphones.

It’s a unique way to promote the 2014 Winter Olympics and include a fitness aspect to it. It’s great to see this type of creative marketing being used and encourage people to be active. It’ll be interesting to see how many people are willing to participate. The 30 squat task has to be completed within two minutes. While most of you could knock out 30 squats in a blink of an eye, it remains to be seen what the general public will think.

This video shows how intrigued people are by the concept.

A subway ticket is typically 30 rubles (93 cents) for a single ride. There’s more information on olympicchange.ru however I don’t read Russian so if anyone does and would like to share more on what the site says, please let us know.

{democracy:258}

Lead image via Youtube.
Info for story from AFP.

Filed Under: Ad Watch, News & Features, Olympics

Miesha Tate Upsets Ronda Rousey in UFC Cover Contest

November 11, 2013 by

It’s no secret that Ronda “Rowdy” Rousey is not a fan of Miesha “Cupcake” Tate. That’s of little concern to Miesha, at least in this event. Miesha’s fans cast more votes for her in the EA SPORTS UFC Cover Contest and she moves on to round two. The big story in this is that Miesha squared off against the UFC Women’s bantamweight champ who is also thought of as the face of women’s MMA.

tate-vs-rousey

In the eleventh hour, Miesha’s push on social media proved to be her best asset. Despite having nearly 223,000 fewer fans on twitter (Miesha currently has 147,142 to Ronda’s 369,983) she came out victorious.

Did Miesha even the score?

The two fought inside the cage before and Ronda prevailed by making Tate tap via her signature arm-bar. Lately, Ronda’s been getting a great deal of heat for the way she comes across on this season of the Ultimate Fighter. Boss man, Dana White doesn’t give a crap what fans think about how Ronda comes across on tv and noted that without Ronda he never would have brought women into the UFC.

Ronda and Miesha will fight again on December 28, 2013 at UFC 168. The winner of Rousey vs Tate leaves Vegas with the UFC championship belt. The winner of the EA Sports Cover Contest shares the cover with Jon Jones, the men’s 205-pound champion. Something tells me that while Rousey would have liked to be on the cover of the game, she’d much rather hold on to her belt in December.

Rest assure Ronda will be asked how she feels about losing this contest to Tate at the next UFC press conference / media event. We know how Miesha feels.

VOTING SCHEDULE
Round of 16: Prelims – Voting live from Mon, Nov. 4th – Sun, Nov. 10th
Round of 8: Main Card – Voting live from Mon, Nov. 11th – Sun, Nov. 17th
Final Four: Co-Main Event – Voting live from Mon, Nov. 18th – Sun, Nov. 24th
Finals: Title Fight – Voting live from Mon, Nov. 19th – Sun, Dec. 1st

Round Two Matchups

match-ups

EA SPORTS UFC will be released in spring 2014.

Filed Under: MMA, News & Features

US Women’s Soccer Team Beats Brazil 4-1

November 11, 2013 by

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Sydney Leroux scored twice in the first half and the U.S. women’s soccer team completed its sixth undefeated year with a 4-1 exhibition victory over Brazil on Sunday at the Citrus Bowl.

Abby Wambach also scored in the first half, Erika Tymrak added a goal, and goalkeeper Hope Solo made a series of diving saves in the second half.

The victory in front of the team’s biggest crowd of the year at 20,274, gave the U.S. a 13-0-3 mark this year. It also pushed the Americans’ unbeaten streak to 38 — and 76 at home.

The U.S. controlled the ball and the field for much of the first half, breaking through with goals in the 15th and 17th minute. The first came when midfielder Heather O’Reilly fielded Kristie Mewis’s cross and dropped it to Leroux for a shot to the lower-left corner.

A foul then set up Wambach for a penalty kick that America’s career goals leader drilled into the lower- right corner past diving goalkeeper Thais. It was the 163rd goal for the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year, and more importantly ensured the U.S. wouldn’t fall into the same trap as in the team’s last outing, a 1-1 tie against New Zealand in which the team failed to convert many potential winners.

Brazil, which didn’t get a shot until the 21st minute, got its lone goal in the 24th when Rosana took Rilany’s cross and slipped it inside the left post.

The Americans pushed back to a two-goal lead in the 38th minute when Leroux dribbled the ball from well outside the penalty era, cut to the right past a defender and fired it back to the left.

Solo ensured the lead would stand up in the second half for the Americans, making three spectacular saves in an 8-minute span as Brazil carved out a series of breakaway opportunities. Solo made diving saves on 1-on-1 opportunities, two by Raquel and another by Rosana.

Tymrak concluded the scoring off of Lindsey Horan’s assist in the 77th minute.

Filed Under: NEWS, Soccer

U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team Vs. Brazil

November 6, 2013 by

The United States Women’s National Soccer Team will face Brazil on Sunday, November 10, 2013.  15,000 tickets  have been sold for the event. If you’re unable to attend the match in person you can watch the stream live on NBCsports.com. Follow all the action on twitter with the hashtags #USAvBRA and #USWNT. Follow @ussoccer_wnt for up-to-the-minute updates from U.S. Women’s National Team.

usa-vs-brazil

PRESS RELEASE
CHICAGO (Nov. 5, 2013) – U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Tom Sermanni has named 18 players to the roster that will face Brazil on Nov. 10 at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., in a match that will be broadcast on NBC at 3:30 p.m. ET. Fans can also follow all the matches live online via ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and Twitter @ussoccer_wnt.

Tickets are on sale through ussoccer.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 and at all Ticketmaster ticket centers throughout Central Florida (including many Walmart locations), as well as the Amway Center ticket office (open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) [Note: Tickets are not sold at the Florida Citrus Bowl except on the day of the event.] Groups of 20 or more can obtain an order form at ussoccer.com or call 312-528-1290.

Although the majority of the roster is made up of players who played in the USA’s recently completed October friendly matches, Sermanni did name uncapped goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher of the Boston Breakers as well as midfielders Amber Brooks and Erika Tymrak, who are both playing in Germany with Bayern Munich. Tymrak has one cap, earned on Sept. 3 of this year against Mexico. Brooks, a highly experienced player at the USA’s Youth National Team level, is looking for her first senior team game after training with the USA for the first time last April when the squad was in Germany and June when the USA was in Toronto.

In addition, 19-year-old forward Lindsey Horan gets her second call-up to the senior team after earning her first cap at the Algarve Cup last March. Horan made history by being the first American woman to skip college and sign a professional contract in Europe, and she is currently playing in France with Paris Saint-Germain. She has five goals in seven appearances so far this season and scored 17 goals in 20 games last year. Horan is still age-eligible for the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and is expected to be a key player on that squad when it attempts to qualify for that tournament.

TICKET INFO
U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team v. Brazil
Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL
Sun, Nov 10, 2013 03:30 PM
Please Note:  COME CHEER ON THE TOP-RANKED U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM AS THEY FACE THE FOURTH-RANKED INTERNATIONAL SOCCER POWER, BRAZIL! IT’S THE USA’S FIRST VISIT TO ORLANDO IN 14 YEARS! FOR MORE INFO VISIT USSOCCER.COM. 

Ticket Limit: There is a six (6) ticket limit for On-Field and Front Row seats. All fans age 2 and older must have a ticket to enter the stadium.

Sermanni also recalled defender Stephanie Cox, who was with the USA for the match against Australia in San Antonio on Oct. 20 but did not play. Cox, a veteran of two Women’s World Cup Teams (2007, 2011) and one Olympic Team (2008) had her first child on April 7 and returned to the field for the end of the inaugural NWSL season to play four games for Seattle Reign FC.

The match will be the USA’s first visit to Orlando and the Citrus Bowl since May 22, 1999, when the Americans also played Brazil. That 3-0 U.S. victory featured Mia Hamm scoring her 108th career goal to break what was at the time the international scoring record. More than 14,000 tickets have been sold for the Nov. 10 match, which will be the first meeting between the world’s top-ranked U.S. team and fourth-ranked Brazil since a 3-0 victory for the USA in Chiba, Japan, in April of 2012.

U.S. Women’s National Team Roster – Detailed Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): 18-Nicole Barnhart (FC Kansas City), 28-Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), 1-Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)
DEFENDERS (6): 16-Rachel Buehler (Portland Thorns FC), 14-Stephanie Cox (Seattle Reign FC), 8-Kristie Mewis (FC Kansas City), 3-Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), 26-Leigh Ann Robinson (FC Kansas City), 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City)
MIDFIELDERS (6): 7-Yael Averbuch (unattached), 22-Amber Brooks (Bayern Munich), 12-Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City), 10-Carli Lloyd (WNY Flash), 9-Heather O’Reilly (Boston Breakers), 23-Erika Tymrak (Bayern Munich)
FORWARDS (4): 25-Lindsey Horan (Paris Saint Germain), 2-Sydney Leroux (Boston Breakers), 13-Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC), 20-Abby Wambach (WNY Flash)

Additional Notes:
• A victory against Brazil would give the USA its second undefeated year in which it has played double-figures in matches. The first was 2006, when the team went 18-0-4.
The U.S. WNT is 12-0-3 in 2013.

• Fourteen of the players called up to face Brazil were on the roster for the USA’s two-game set against New Zealand at the end of October.

• The four players who were with the USA in October that are currently playing for Swedish club Tyresö – Ali Krieger, Meghan Klingenberg, Christen Press and Whitney Engen — are unavailable due to UEFA Champions League Round of 16 matches against Fortuna Hjørring of Denmark on Nov. 9 and 14.

• Midfielder Megan Rapinoe is also unavailable as her club Lyon of France will face German power Turbine Potsdam of Berlin on Nov. 10 and 14.

• Sixteen of the 19 players played in the NWSL last season.

• Stephanie Cox last played in a WNT match on April 3, 2012, a 3-0 victory against Brazil in Chiba, Japan.

• U.S. captain Christie Rampone is currently the second most-capped player in U.S. history and the most-capped active player in the world with 286 career games played.

• Abby Wambach is the world’s all-time leading international scorer and will come into the Brazil match with 162 career goals. She has scored six career goals against Brazil.

News Story and more information: http://www.ussoccer.com

Filed Under: News & Features, Soccer

Interview with Camille Leblanc-Bazinet – One of The Fittest Women In The World

June 20, 2013 by

Camille Leblanc-Bazinet is one of the top ranked Crossfit Athletes in the world. She splits her time between Canada and the United States as she juggles college and being one of the rising stars of Crossfit. We caught up with Camille one month out from the 2013 Crossfit Games to learn a bit more about her. Camille shares what she eats, what duct tape can’t fix, her favorite song to sing in the shower and more. She’s definitely one hardbody athlete you’ll want to follow because she not only looks the part but also lives it.

camille-crossfit


HARBODY INTERVIEW WITH CAMILLE LEBLANC-BAZINET

Age: 24

Height: 5’2″

Weight: 130 lb

Born in:
Canada

Currently live in:
Montreal 80% / San Diego, CA 20%

Best part about Canada:
My family the food and Montreal is amazing

Best part about California:
Surfing, my husband coach and friends

What’s the best part of being a twin?
You are raise with your best friend

Were the two of you competitive with each other growing up?
We were not competitive together but I was competitive with everyone lol… We are way different she was playing hockey and I was doing gymnastic. We support each other a lot.

What’s the best song to sing in the shower or in the car?
“I will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston. hahahahaha


Any chances we’ll hear you putting out your own album?
lol hahahahaha hell no… I love singing by myself it is so much fun but I am more than scared to sing in front of anyone.

Are you still going to school for chemical engineering?
Yes, I am still in school and I have 36 credits left can’t wait to be done.

Will you put that on hold for a career in CrossFit or what would you like to do as a chemical engineer in a “perfect world”?
In a perfect world I would love to keep doing things with CrossFit especially to help out women and girls with the way they view themselves… but I also have a big passion to try to make a difference in the world with my degree… I want to do recycling process for industry and air and water treatment to try to save our planet.

Do you feel being pushed in gymnastics at a young age helped you in CrossFit?
Yes, I would recommend anyone to put their kids in gymnastic simply to learn kin-aesthetic awareness… just to be better in general in anything they want to do.

What was the most challenging sport you’ve tried?
Crossfit hahahaha which is why I love it so much… once you think you get better at something there is something new to work on… It is just so much fun the variety of this sport.

What other sports do you participate in now?
Now I ski and surf for fun.

Do you do any other type of training besides CrossFit?
No I pretty much just cross fit for training… because it involves already pretty much everything… do weightlifting power-lifting, running, swimming, etc.

Who introduced you to CrossFit and do you remember what your first WOD was?
I was introduced while I was playing rugby some of my teammates were doing crossfit so they challenge me to come try and my first workout was 5 rounds for time of 400m run 25 burpees 🙂

camille-leblanc


What should someone look for in a CrossFit gym and trying it for the first time?
A lot of attention from coach and a warm welcome from the other clients… they’ll take care of you as if your in their family.

Do you eat before or after a WOD?
Both… if I do a long endurance workout I eat 2 hours before other ways 30 minutes before and I always eat after a shake and sweet potato.

Do you change your diet up in preparation for The Games?
Yes… I already eat clean most of the year but I just clean up more and I eat way more since I do more volume… pretty much meat veggies, almost no fruits, sweet potato and some nuts… with bsn synths-6, amino-x and I take religiously my extreme endurance.

What do you eat the day of The Games?
Anything that goes in… I struggle to eat when I am nervous so if I want to eat somethings I do so to have fuel. Mostly sweet potato pouch (baby food), protein shakes and tons of water and coconut water.

Do the type of shoes you wear in CrossFit help you an any you’d recommend to others?
Yes, I totally love Reebok weightlifting shoes when we squat so I stay back in my heels. I like the Reebok Nanos cause they are light and keep my feet near the ground for more stability.

Do you think women get the same exposure and attention in CrossFit as the men?
I think we might get a little more… It is great to see a sport where the women are put in front and where we seem to have as much attention… I think it might be because it is creating a new way for women to see themselves and it is inspiring for people.

What would you like to see more women do in the world of CrossFit?
Accept themselves and stop worrying about their weight. lol… gain muscle and be proud to be strong!

Do you feel like there’s pressure on women to look a certain way in CrossFit?
Yes, I think women still want to be small and ripped, but I think we shouldn’t care about the way we look as long as our fitness is going up.

Are the women friendly and hang out with each other at The Games or not so much?
Well for myself there is a group of athletes that I can’t wait to hang out with… I know that I always have tons of fun with the majority of those girls and the reason why is because I have a huge respect for them… everyone works so hard to qualify that it seems ridiculous to me not to be friend with them… and they are all so amazing.

One event that you hope is not on this year’s schedule at The Games?
Just rowing for a certain distance or time.

How much of competing in CrossFit is mental?
Well all year you train and once your competing the work is already done and then its 90% mental.

Do you have any rituals or things you do to stay mentally strong during an event?
Yes, my husband ask right before event if I am hungry… and that always fired me up (hungry to win).


Who are your current sponsors?
bsn, cep compression, extreme endurance, wodshop, via prive and Reebok shoes.

What advice do you have for women trying to get sponsorships?
Work your ass off and they’ll come to you.

Favorite BSN product?
Syntha-6 peanut butter cup

Any recipes you’ve created using a BSN product that’s your go to meal?

Yes in a magic bullet…
• ice
• chocolate coconut water
• synth-6 peanut butter
• one frozen banana
• a spoon of peanut butter
Way too good!

What’s the best piece of advice anyone has given you?
Don’t let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do… you make the call.

Anything duck tape can’t fix?
hahahahaha when your sole hurt lol

Favorite line in Forrest Gump?
Life is like a box of chocolates. (obviously)

Was it more pressure to compete head to head and have it broadcast on the web or didn’t matter to ya?
It was more like an honor and a chance to prove myself… there was nothing really to win but it was a crazy experience and people gave me so much love it was one of the best experience i ever had… obviously it made me push way harder too.


Any aspirations to try out for the 2016 Olympics?
Yes, I really want to give a shot in weightlifting.

Where can people find more information on you?
They follow me on Facebook via my fan page or on instagram @camillelbaz and twitter on the same name.

Thanks Camille. All the best at The Games and thanks for your time.


Photos Courtesy of BSN.

 

Filed Under: Crossfit, Interviews, News & Features

Abby Head On – ESPN Feature

May 16, 2013 by

Abby Wambach is one of the most popular soccer players in the world. She’s help put women’s soccer back on the map and one of the leaders of TEAM USA. ESPN does a great job of featuring Abby and how she narrowed down her choice of college.

abby-wambach-espn

The best line comes at the very end when Abby talks about not being offered much by the best college soccer program (North Carolina) at the time. She says, “I can decide to go to this school or I can go to another school and beat them.” That gives you a bit of insight into her competitive spirit.

SEC Storied Abby Head On premiered Wednesday May 15th 8pm ET on ESPNU.

Filed Under: Soccer, Videos

Wrestling Dropped from the Olympic Games

February 12, 2013 by

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) opted to keep the pentathlon and remove wrestling from it’s list of Olympic events. It’s a surprising move, considering wrestling is one of the oldest Olympic sports. The board reviewed 26 sports currently on the Olympic program and by eliminating one it allows for a new sport to be added to the program.

Wrestling joins baseball, softball, karate, roller sports, sport climbing, squash, wakeboarding and wushu for a single spot in the 2020 Olympics. Considering the removal it’s highly unlikely that wrestling would be voted into the mix. In 2005, the IOC removed baseball and softball. Rugby and Golf will be part of the 2016 Olympics games.

AP Sports writer, Stephen Wilson writes…

The IOC program commission report analyzed more than three dozen criteria, including television ratings, ticket sales, anti-doping policy and global participation and popularity. With no official rankings or recommendations contained in the report, the final decision by the 15-member board was also subject to political, emotional and sentimental factors.

Previously considered under the closest scrutiny was modern pentathlon, which has been on the Olympic program since the 1912 Stockholm Games. It was created by French baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic movement.

Modern pentathlon combines fencing, horse riding, swimming, running and shooting—the five skills required of a 19th century cavalry officer. The sport’s governing body, the UIPM, has been lobbying hard to protect its Olympic status, and the efforts apparently paid off.

Women’s Wrestling was added to the Olympics at the 2004 Athens Games.

NEWS RELEASE
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) – IOC leaders have dropped wrestling for the 2020 Games in a surprise decision to scrap one of the oldest sports on the Olympic program.

The IOC executive board decided Tuesday to retain modern pentathlon – the event considered most at risk – and remove wrestling instead from its list of core sports.

The decision, announced by the IOC, was first reported by The Associated Press.

The IOC board acted after reviewing the 26 sports on the current Olympic program. Eliminating one sport allows the International Olympic Committee to add a new sport to the program later this year.

Wrestling, which combines freestyle and Greco-Roman events, goes back to the inaugural modern Olympics in Athens in 1896.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Read more on the story on Denverpost.com.

Filed Under: News & Features, Olympics

UFC 157 Primetime: Rousey vs. Carmouche Episode One Recap & Full Video

February 8, 2013 by

UFC’s cameras follow Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche as they head into UFC 157. UFC Primetime is a documentary style approach to give fans a raw and real look inside their headline fighters. They don’t produce a prime time show for every title fight but when they do it’s very professional and carefully edited.

ufc-primetime-rousey

UFC 157 is a historic event that will feature women’s MMA for the first time inside the octagon. President of the UFC, Dana White told the fans and reporters they’d never see women fight in the UFC. That changed when a trash talking Ronda Rousey did more than talk, she delivered and finished fights. All of them. She has yet to allow an opponent to make it to a second round.

The first first of the UFC’s three part series aired last night and focused largely on Rousey. Those who follow the UFC and Rousey’s meteoric rise would expect nothing less. She has the looks, she provides the sound bites worthy of headlines and she can fight. Some would argue that she’s only getting the attention she is because of her looks but those are the same people who don’t know her story and her struggles from day birth.

In episode one, we learn Ronda was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. It caused her to struggle with her speech and it was nearly three years before she could talk. Ronda shared, “My sisters would translate my gibberish.” Near the end of the show, we see a side of Ronda that often goes unseen with the MMA bad ass. She breaks down into tears. It one of the few times you’ll see a vulnerable Rousey, she shares the story of how her father committed suicide after a sledding accident. Ronda was a young girl when the tragedy happened but you get a sense the memory lives with her every day.

Ronda was the first American woman to win an Olympia medal in Judo. “After the Olympics they pretty much gave me gave me 10 grand & a handshake,” said Rousey. Ronda worked as a waitress and bartender while trying to get her MMA career on track. Those days are long gone and you get the feeling she’s doing whatever it takes to never go back to those jobs.

Rousey’s opponent, Liz Carmouche gets about a third of the airtime in the first episode. UFC Primetime chose to highlight Liz’s sexual orientation right out of the gate. She served five years in the US Marine Corp but we learn little about that instead we hear about her being a lesbian. Carmouche openly talks about it and her relationship with her girlfriend. She doesn’t live a glamorous life but you don’t hear her complain about it.

Liz is the underdog in the fight. Unlike Rousey she has yet to reach super-star status. Liz opens the doors to her gym, the San Diego Combat academy, and helps close them at the end of the night. She answers phones, teaches classes and often runs the front desk. In one of the few moments we hear from Liz in episode one she says, “I was brought in to be the underdog ’cause they think that she’s going to win and I’m okay with that. I like having people think that. I absolutely think I’m gonna spoil the UFC plans.”

Watch as UFC Primetime cameras follow women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and challenger Liz Carmouche in the weeks leading up to their historic bout at UFC 157.

Wondering what the song was that played during Ronda’s drive to the gym? It’s ZZ Ward’s “Move Like U Stole it”. Listen to it on Spotify.


Props UFC.

Filed Under: MMA, News & Features, Videos Tagged With: , , ,

UFC Primetime: Rousey vs. Carmouche

February 7, 2013 by

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Primetime returns on Thursday night and it features the first two women to fight in the octagon. Ronda Rousey (6-0) has quickly become the face of women’s MMA and dominated in every fight. Her opponent, Liz Carmouche (7-2) will try to do the unimaginable by defeating the highly favored Rousey.

ufc-primetime

UFC Primetime: Rousey vs. Carmouche, premiers at midnight ET on FUEL TV. The three part series takes you inside their training camps for the historic championship bout.

PRESS RELEASE:
Las Vegas – UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and challenger Liz Carmouche are set to make history on Saturday, Feb. 23 when they become the first women to compete in the UFC’s hallowed Octagon®. Tonight, fans get an all-access pass inside their training camps before the historic championship bout, as episode one of UFC PRIMETIME®: ROUSEY vs. CARMOUCHE premieres on FSN. To see when the show airs in your region, check your local listings or visit http://msn.foxsports.com/tv/schedule or http://www.ufc.com/news/157-primetime-listings-news

UFC PRIMETIME®: ROUSEY vs. CARMOUCHE will also be available on www.ufc.com beginning tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 8. Air dates and times for the remaining two episodes will be announced shortly.

UFC®157: ROUSEY vs. CARMOUCHE, which takes place Saturday, Feb. 23 from Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN and in Canada on BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for Standard Definition and $54.99 US/$59.99 CAN for High Definition.

For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto and Beijing, UFC produces more than 30 live events annually and is the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. In 2012, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group. The agreement includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, with additional fight cards and thousands of hours of programming broadcast on FOX properties FX and FUEL TV. This also includes the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter®, which airs on FX.

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 169 countries and territories, to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide, in 28 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and Australia via Main Event and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with nearly 2.4 million followers on Twitter. Ancillary UFC businesses include best-selling DVDs and video games, an internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, a new franchise in development with EA, UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo® festivals, branded apparel and trading cards.

Filed Under: MMA, News & Features Tagged With: , , , ,

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