Hawai Sport November-December
As you might have noticed from our cover, then this issue have a few biking related items in it...We can keep writing that you should be biking instead of driving, so we will not do that, instead we have found some great photos that shows the joy of biking in Hawaii. From the elite racers, to the fun riders, to the fixed gear bike community (fixies) - there are always room for one more bicycle, and we are just waiting for the biking revolution to happen. Go check out what our local bikestores have - they can help you find what you need. We are hoping one day to see bikes like the ones pictured here as a natural part of traffic in Hawaii, will that be possible?, what do you think?
As you might have noticed from our cover, then this issue have a few biking
related items in it...We can keep writing that you should be biking instead of driving,
so we will not do that, instead we have found some great photos that shows
the joy of biking in Hawaii. From the elite racers, to the fun riders, to the fixed
gear bike community (fixies) - there are always room for one more bicycle, and
we are just waiting for the biking revolution to happen. Go check out what our
local bikestores have - they can help you find what you need. We are hoping one
day to see bikes like the ones pictured here as a natural part of traffic in Hawaii,
will that be possible?, what do you think?
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My Only Challenges Are Mental<br />
By Brad Yates with Bruce Eliashof, M.D.<br />
Evan Strong is a Paralympic athlete who uses an attitude of gratitude to<br />
transcend his disability and have the confidence to live each day to the<br />
fullest. In his words, “While I have a disability, it doesn’t prevent me<br />
from seeing myself as a whole and complete person.” Evan goes on to<br />
explain his intention to live and compete with a “light heart–easy mind.”<br />
THE FOCUS<br />
A few years after his accident, Evan was introduced to snowboarding.<br />
Soon after that he was introduced to competition and the rest, as the saying<br />
goes, is history. Evan used the same deep perspective to adjust his<br />
attention on learning to compete. In a few short years he has proven his<br />
capabilities and is not focused on winning a gold medal in snowboard<br />
cross at the 2014 Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia. His devotion to this<br />
quest is total. He follows a strict regimen of proper diet, rest, cross-training,<br />
snowboarding, meditation and visualization.<br />
The visualization process he utilizes involves putting his attention on seeing<br />
and feeling in complete detail the movement and related sensations<br />
that are associated with his best effort as it translates to competition on the<br />
world stage. “All of my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual preparation<br />
enables me to show up with the ‘light heart and easy mind.’ At that<br />
point I simply need to express all of my joy, happiness and passion for my<br />
sport. If I stay in the moment and maintain this focus, I’m capable of<br />
winning a gold medal for my country.”<br />
Judging by the success that Evan has had in snowboarding, downhill bike<br />
racing and skateboarding, his chances are very good. Throw in the success<br />
he has had in giving back to these sports by teaching and helping others<br />
define what is possible after recovering from a serious injury. Evan Strong<br />
has mastered the process for overcoming challenges and creating abundance.<br />
“My only challenges are mental,” he says. “I love what I do so much that<br />
I cannot let my attitude dip below my complete appreciation for the opportunity<br />
to compete in the sports that I love.”<br />
Asked if he has a message for others he replied, “Love what you do and<br />
do what you love. This simple philosophy will bring you to good place<br />
with a happy life.”<br />
THE STORY<br />
Evan was born in San Francisco in 1986. He lived in Paia, Maui, from<br />
1995 to 2006. He is a gifted extreme athlete who chose a skateboard to<br />
express his passion for movement and speed. In 2004, at the age of 18, he<br />
suffered a potentially fatal injury that claimed a portion of his left leg<br />
below the knee. In the emergency room, with the medical staff struggling<br />
to save his life, Evan declared that he would skate again.<br />
True to his word, Evan made good on his promise. After recovering from<br />
the trauma of his accident he began to teach himself to skateboard using a<br />
crutch to get used to the feel of his prosthesis, which he describes as feeling<br />
like he was “attempting to skate on a stilt.” The challenge of replacing<br />
the muscle memory required in performing basic skills on a skateboard<br />
required a year of nonstop practice.<br />
LIGHT HEART – EASY MIND<br />
Evan credits his parents for teaching him to meditate at an early age. This<br />
daily practice allowed him to develop “a single focus in the moment.”<br />
This focus helped him endure his recovery. In Evan’s words, “I know that<br />
what and where I place my attention will ‘turn on.’ Meaning, what I focus<br />
on will become my reality. If I focus on being disabled, I will be, and I’ll<br />
come up way short of my goals. If I focus on being whole and complete,<br />
however, I will be, and my future is unlimited. Having a ‘light heart–easy<br />
mind’ is a function of the acceptance for my situation and the confidence<br />
to accomplish what I want in my sport and life.”<br />
HILEVEL TOOL BOX:<br />
MEDITATION<br />
Evan Strong is a perfect example of how the daily practice of quieting<br />
the mind and relaxing the body can help restore and heal<br />
hard working and/or injured muscles. The deep relaxation that<br />
comes from such practice also helps with the mental focus and the<br />
discipline required at higher levels of competition. Furthermore,<br />
the practice of calming the mind and body has benefits that carry<br />
over into other aspects of life such as relationships, school work<br />
and professional work.<br />
Exercise: A simple exercise to try at home is to sit quietly where<br />
you can be free of interruption for 5 minutes. Simply focus on the<br />
sensation of breathing in and out. As you do this it may be helpful<br />
to remember that there is no need to alter the breath, this exercise<br />
is simply to notice it. When your mind begins to wander, simply<br />
and gently bring it back to focus on the breath. Be gentle with<br />
yourself. This process takes time and can be very uncomfortable<br />
at first. With practice you will find that your ability to stay focused<br />
on the breath will improve dramatically.<br />
PRESENT MOMENT AWARENESS<br />
Being aware of and focusing on the present moment is central to peak performance.<br />
Research in the field of performance psychology repeatedly<br />
shows how present moment awareness—“being in the moment”—is<br />
linked to optimal performance states. The practice of meditation helps to<br />
develop a habit of focusing on the present moment, making it a valuable<br />
practice for athletes.<br />
Reminder: The 2014 Paralympics begins March 7 in Sochi. It will be televised<br />
on NBC and NBCSN, beginning with the opening ceremony. For more,<br />
see www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics or www. p a r a l y m p i c . o r g / p a r a-<br />
lympic-games.