Posts made in December 2018

Man With The Halo: Iron Again

The emotional journey back to the Ironman World Championship by the legendary three-time Olympian, former triathlon World Champion and Ironman World Record holder, Tim Don, is now unveiled in a mini-sequel to the infamous “Man with the Halo” documentary by Don’s Swiss sportswear sponsor, On, today, Thursday, December 20.

On October 13th, Tim Don adorned his competitor number for what was to be the most emotional race of his career. Reacting to the sound of the starting gun at the Ironman World Championship in Kona this year marked a triumphant achievement for the 40 year-old, whose 10-month torturous rehabilitation has reverberated throughout the athletics world as one of this year’s most remarkable stories in sports. Don’s road to recovery, since surviving a near-fatal road accident that was feared to bring a sudden end to his esteemed career just days before the Ironman World Championships in October last year, has been portrayed in a powerful 5-minute mini sequel to the infamous Man with the Halo documentary. The sequel is entitled “Man with the Halo: Iron Again” and is now available to watch on www.manwiththehalo.com.

“This is the final chapter of the compelling guts and glory story that demonstrates how pure willpower can overcome any obstacle in sport,” says Olivier Bernhard, co-founder of On, the Swiss sportswear company. “After receiving such an overwhelming response from around the world to the Man with the Halo documentary following its release in May this year, we felt obligated to complete the tale of Tim’s heroism and accomplishment in reaching his goal across the finish line at Kona this year. It was quite an emotional day for all of us and a most memorable one for Tim, his team and entire family who have lived through the unimaginable pain and suffering that Tim endured during his fight to regain pole position at the top of his sport. This sequel brings the story full circle and shows how one man can conquer all.”

On, together with Emmy award-winning director, Andrew Hinton, revealed Tim’s remarkable story in a compelling short form documentary that chronicled his courageous comeback journey prior to competing at the Ironman World Championships in Kona this year – the pinnacle race he was robbed of as a result of his road accident that broke his neck. The popular “Man with the Halo,” documentary was released in May to commemorate the 1-year Anniversary of Tim’s world record-breaking performance during the 2017 Ironman South American Championships in Florianopolis, Brazil.

The Man with the Halo: Iron Again sequel begins with Don returning to the spot where the road accident took place in Hawaii, featuring roadside commentary from Don himself, complete with flashback footage and photography of him being taken to hospital moments after it occurred. This progresses to show his rehabilitation and training in the gym while wearing the medical halo device screwed to his head. Don gives a heartfelt and unfiltered account of his pain and anguish, as he sets his sights on his comeback race at the Boston Marathon, at which he finished in just over 2:49. The story jumps to Kona in Hawaii, with excerpts of his altitude training with commentary from his coaches and footage of his friends, family and fellow athletes embracing Tim days before the competition. The sequel finishes with video of Don competing at the World Championship and his own moving commentary on the experience and personal achievement after completing the race.

“It’s been a grueling journey for the last eight months, and one I will never forget,” says Don. ”I have learned a great deal about myself this year and particularly how the mind is the most essential element in the recovery process. Knowing you have the strength and believing in yourself, above all else, is my lifelong mantra that I would love to instill in others who may have experienced similar episodes. I would like to thank my team, sponsors, friends, family and everyone who has supported me towards making my life livable again. I have my sights set firmly on Kona 2019 and it’s business as usual.”

Following his accident in October 2017, Tim suffered nearly four agonizing months at his home in Boulder, Colorado – not being able to shave, shower or dress himself. He became entirely dependent on his wife Kelly, who would often have to clean around the metal of the halo to prevent infection and reduce the swelling where the pins were screwed into his forehead. Tim was on a heavy dose of prescription painkillers that would often add to the problem with frequent vomiting. For three weeks he was upright in a chair in a corner of his living room, unable to sleep for more than 90 minutes at a time. The entire right side of his body became black from bruising and swelling with his ankles becoming swollen despite his compression socks.

Following his excruciating period of mental and physical recovery, doctors ordered the removal of Tim’s medical halo the circular metallic support structure fixed directly into his skull. This marked the start of an intense chapter of rehabilitation, fueled by a fierce determination to rebuild himself as the world’s preeminent Ironman. Tim set his sights on his first comeback race – competing at this year’s Boston Marathon in April. Almost six months to the day after the accident, Tim remarkably finished in 2 hours and 49 minutes, just five minutes more than the marathon leg of his record-setting race at the 2017 Ironman South American Championships in Brazil.

The new mini-sequel entitled “Man with the Halo: Iron Again,” chronicling Tim Don’s road to recovery and return to the ironman World Championship in Kona, is produced by On, together with Emmy award-winning director, Andrew Hinton, is now available to watch at www.ManwiththeHalo.com.

Abandoned New Zealand Town Needs to be on Your 2019 Bucket List

Everyone already knows New Zealand is The Place to go for walking in the wilderness, spectacular scenery and some really good grub. But there’s more to the Land of the Long White Cloud than just lakes and mountains. Jamestown, an eerie and abandoned South Island settlement off Martin’s Bay on the Hollyford Track, is proof-positive that New Zealand is a wealth of history with plenty of stories left to share.

Thanks to its position on the Tasman Sea, Jamestown has played host to both Māori people and gold rush prospectors – the latter of whom held high hopes for it to become the capital of South Island in the 1800s due to its considerably short distance from Australia. Māori communities thrived in the region for centuries, and evidence of their presence can be dated as far back as the 1600s, but in the late 19th century, colony settlers also moved their families to the isolated outpost with dreams of building a grand port city. Jamestown was not to be tamed, however, and the settlers fled just a decade later, overwhelmed by punishing coastal climate and extreme isolation from the rest of New Zealand’s still-developing civilization.

Today, travelers can see this failed settlement for themselves as part of New Zealand Walking Tours’ Elegant South trip, which takes visitors into the abandoned site on foot through the dense undergrowth of Podacarp Forest. Overgrown and barely distinguishable as a once-promising outpost, all that remains of Jamestown today are three apple trees, a plaque and a crumbling fireplace left by its former residents, but New Zealand Walking Tours’ guides have a trove of tales to tell on the trials and errors of fated Jamestown and its starry-eyed settlers. Now part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Fiordland National Park, Jamestown is a stark reminder of the harsh realities of early colonization in New Zealand’s untamed wilderness – and how quickly Mother Nature can reclaim what’s rightfully hers.

To find out more about incredible adventures throughout New Zealand, visit newzealandwalkingtours.com.

Cadillac CTS-V

By Vaughn Lowery x Reid Urban x Anthony Sovinsky

Cadillac is widely known for being America’s premier luxury vehicle. As for most luxury vehicles, it is focused on a classy, curb-appealing design with a comfort-oriented ride and top of the line technology. As a result, then appeared the 2004 debut of the Cadillac CTS-V, continuing to meet all the previous high-end expectations with some Olympic level athleticism.

The upgraded 2004 CTS-V inherited the Corvette’s 400-hp 5.7 liter V-8 engine and offered it only in a 6-speed manual, which is a unique addition to a unique consumer: the sports car enthusiast. This was a historical step for Cadillac as they now entered the luxury sport sedan realm with the likes of the BMW M5 and the Mercedes E63 AMG. What better way to make a statement than to be featured in one of the best adrenaline pumping car chase scenes of that time as seen in the 2004 movie The Matrix Reloaded.

Fast forward to its second best debut in 2009, which engraved Cadillac in the record books by setting a lap time of 7:59.32 at the Nurburgring for fastest production sedan. This was achieved with a 556hp supercharged 6.2 liter V8, enhanced handling due to the introduction of magnetic ride control, and brembo brakes on all four corners. This catapulted the CTS-V to the top of the ranks of the sport sedan class in performance,  beating the M5 and E63 AMG respectively from zero to 60 mph. 

PRESENT TIME 

The CTS-V will continue its reign in the high performance sport sedan category with the introduction of the astounding new and approved 2019 Cadillac CTS-V.

The front-end greets you with very sharp fighter-jet like lines matched with mesh grills and vents. It is clear the intent of the vehicle is to be as aerodynamic and performance-centric as possible. It features a carbon fiber splitter to redirect wind-drag to down force and keep the vehicle firmly planted for increased traction at higher speeds. The hood is also finished in carbon fiber with functional vents strategically placed to perform a variety of roles including: cooling of the high revving power plant, increased aerodynamics, and a slight weight reduction compared to its stock counterpart.

Moving to the rear of the vehicle, the side profile is reminiscent of a base model CTS until you spot the 19-inch forged premium painted alloy wheels wrapped in sticky Michelin Pilot Super Sport Summer-only low profile tires. Peering through the light weight forged alloy wheels are gargantuan racing-inspired six-piston front, four-piston rear, fixed caliper Brembo performance brakes with vented rotors that remind you to not forget the V. Moreover. The rear features a carbon fiber spoiler and rear diffuser accompanied by sport badging and quad pipes that announce top of the line engineering. The aggressiveness of the body suits the power in perfect synergism.

The various performance aesthetics are functional for two reasons: compliment the driver and compliment the engine. Let’s start with the engine. The boisterous opulent sedan is blessed to be a part of an incredible gene pool that continues to be one of the fittest on the road. Well-endowed with a supercharged 6.2L V8 producing 640 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque, it plans to be catapulted by this ostentatious hotrod from 0-60 in 3.7 seconds. The horses are put down to the road with an 8-speed automatic transmission available in several drive modes: from the least powerful but still faster than your Eco Mode, to the keep-both-hands-on-the-wheel Track Option. Track mode will tighten the suspension and open all of the cylinders for more power while the transmission will hold gears and have quicker shifts for increased acceleration.

Suspension has been one of the major highlights of the CTS-V since 2009 with the introduction of magnetic ride control. It’s an important feature that reads the road up to one thousand times a second, allowing for incredibly sharp responses from driver input at the wheel. Supplementing “Mag Ride” are multilink MacPherson struts with independent front-and-rear suspension connected to a light-weight stiffened chassis. Such handling technology is especially important to expand the confidence the driver has on and off-track with a vehicle exhibiting as much power, size, and precision as this one embodies.

Interior finishing further address the performance capabilities, as it is fitted with Recaro racing seats up front that are tastefully badged with the V-series logo. Designed for a glove-tight fit for both driver and passenger, the racing-inspired seats keep you firmly situated to resist lateral G forces while hauling through twist and turns through your favorite canyons. However, also comfortable enough to endure a lengthy road trip or frequenting your executive meetings at the office. Rear seats comfortably sit three full-sized adults allowing for a total of four in tow. Don’t worry! It will take more weight than a cabin full of people to slow this bad boy down. The infotainment system is equally accessible to both passenger and driver for ease of use. Simple and straight forward, controls are all touch sensitive as to make the dash sleek and non-distracting. Additionally, the souped-up caddy is laced with some cool features including automatic window shades for more privacy, a digital rear view mirror that allows for more greater vision surrounding the vehicle, blind spot indicators, and Apple Carplay that is compatible with Siri for ease of use and hands-free connectivity with your super car.

Base models for the CTS-V are priced just at $86,995, which is a great value per dollar of horsepower you receive comparatively to other vehicles in its class. Not only that but you have the option to deck it out and become a real show-stopper with carbon fiber and Recaro seat package, which will put you over the 100k mark with a price tag of $106,000. All-in-all, the 2019 Cadillac CTS-V is one of the best performance sport sedans in the world and deserves a spot in your garage.

360, 360 Magazine, Vaughn Lowery,

360, 360 Magazine, Vaughn Lowery,

Marine Veteran Steven Diaz Named Recipient of Nexen Tire Purple Heart Dodge Challenger

Nexen Tire America, Inc., a worldwide leader in high-performance, passenger, SUV / light truck and winter tire technology, has announced Retired Marine Cpl. Steven Diaz is the recipient for the American Muscle for American Heroes Nexen Tire Dodge Challenger R/T. Nexen Tire partnered with the highly respected Purple Heart Foundation to help select a well-deserving Purple Heart recipient to receive a one-of-a-kind American muscle car, a custom-built 2018 Dodge Challenger R/T 392 Scat Pack.

Diaz was selected by representatives from Nexen and the Purple Heart Foundation from thousands of nominations from across the country. Many of these submissions, which included incredible stories of heroism, patriotism and courage were posted to social media. The campaign was designed to honor a well-deserving veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart Medal after being wounded in combat – and to show gratitude for the safety and security provided to Americans by members of the Armed Forces.

While searching for and clearing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Iraq in 2005, Diaz was severely wounded by an IED explosion. The force of the explosion and flying shrapnel caused several life-threatening injuries throughout his body including the loss of sight in his left eye. Today, Diaz suffers from the effects of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) and a seizure disorder. Dedicated to helping other veterans suffering from similar injuries, Diaz co-founded Hidden Wounds, an organization that helps “heroes battle the invisible war at home.” He is currently serving as the organization’s chief operating officer and Project Josiah program manager.

“I am extremely honored to be selected by Nexen Tire and the Purple Heart Foundation as the recipient of the Nexen Tire Dodge Challenger R/T. This is an incredible vehicle and program that has helped bring important attention to the thousands of combat-wounded veterans across the country who are still suffering from the effects of their injuries,” said Diaz. “I would like to thank Nexen Tire, the Purple Heart organizations and everyone else who came together to make this possible, and I am looking forward to using the Challenger to continue helping my fellow wounded veterans.”

“The American Muscle for American Heroes program has been a tremendous platform to help raise awareness for combat wounded veterans and the Purple Heart Foundation,” said Kyle Roberts, senior director of marketing for Nexen Tire America. “I would like to congratulate Steven for being named the recipient of the Nexen Tire Dodge Challenger R/T and thank him for his incredible sacrifice while serving our nation. These partnerships help companies like Nexen Tire show their immense gratitude for our men and women in uniform.”

“Our thanks go out to Nexen Tire for this opportunity to serve a combat wounded veteran,” said Douglas Greenlaw, National Commander for The Military Order of the Purple Heart, USA. “This vehicle donation is what the Military Order of the Purple Heart is all about – helping our country’s veterans in any way we can. This will be a life changing event for Purple Heart recipient, Marine Cpl. Steven Diaz.”

Helping make this possible, Nexen Tire also partnered with several other leading automotive aftermarket companies to help transform the Dodge Challenger R/T into a muscle car fit for an American hero. The company enlisted the help of renowned car-builder Kenny Pfitzer of Zero to 60 Designs to lead the charge on the custom modifications, which include Nexen Roadian HP Street Sport all-season radial tires.

2019 Grammy Nominated Reggae Artist Etana Continues To Make History

To say 2018 was fruitful for Etana would be an understatement. The singer released her fifth album, Reggae Forever, toured relentlessly and capped the year with a Grammy Award nomination for Best Reggae Album.

According to Etana, “It’s been a year filled with hard work, determination  and triumph.”

Reggae Forever was released in March by Tad’s International Record. It went number one on the Billboard Reggae Album Chart and coincided with her extensive tour of the United States with J Boog and Jesse Royal.

Her show, which launched the album in South Florida in July, was particularly successful. It drew a strong crowd of faithful fans to Krave Restaurant and Lounge in Fort Lauderdale, who witnessed a powerful 90-minute performance.

What makes Reggae Forever’s appeal even more important for Etana is the fact that she was intimately involved in its production and marketing.

“The prestigious and powerful group of people on the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences acknowledged my work and thought it was worth being mentioned in the Best Reggae Album list. I’m excited because it’s my first independent project and in the Reggae category’ the doors are now open to females,” she said.

Reggae Forever is the first album by a female to be nominated for Best Reggae Album in 21 years. In the interim, pop music has seen women like Sheryl Crow, Beyonce, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse and Adele dominate the music industry.

With Reggae Forever released on International Women’s Day, Etana considers her nomination a significant breakthrough for ladies in the male-dominated Best Reggae Album category.

“All the other genres include so many women. I am happy to see the Reggae category inclusive of women in this time,” she said.

There will be no letup in the new year. Etana and her management will be intensifying her presence in the US and European market, especially now that she is a potential Grammy winner.

“I’ll be touring, recording, doing videos, releasing singles and doing spot dates. Tad’s Records, The Empire Agency and Freemind Music have so much already planned. I am grateful.”

YUNGBLUD Shares “California” Video

UK recording artist YUNGBLUD shares the video for “California” today.  Watch it HERE.

The video was filmed this fall during YUNGBLUD’s North American headline tour in support of his 2018 full length debut album, 21st Century Liability (Locomotion / Geffen Records).

More to come from YUNGBLUD in 2019.