Over 100 people from around the world gathered to Paddle the Venice lagoon.

Unless you have a complete aversion to everything water, you’ve probably noticed that Stand Up Paddling is taking the watersports world by storm.   SUPers have expanded from oceans and bays to rivers, lakes, canals and ponds.  Not even the canals of Venice, Italy have been spared.  Perhaps soon, Stand Up Paddling will even be considered a viable form of transportation?

Another unlikely place for a paddle, H2O Audio’s Slater Trout will be making a 28 mile paddle around the island of Manhattan in New York City.  The event, taking place August 13th, is a joint benefit for the Surfer’s Environmental Alliance (S.E.A.) and Autism research.  The event is a race, but it’s also a fundraiser for both causes.  You can contribute to the event and help Slater reach his fund-raising goal here.  In the words of Slater, “Thanks in advance for your support….either financial or spiritual, it’s all appreciated!”

Did you know that music improves the quality of your workout? Known for his studies on the effect that music has on athletes and their training, Dr. Costas Karageorghis, an associate professor of sport psychology at Brunel University in England has studied these effects for 20 years.  Here is some of what we’ve learned from his studies:

- Exercising with music can distract from signs of fatigue, keeping athletes calm and happy, leading to longer, harder workouts that are more fun.

- Music is a large factor in achieving the “Flow State” which is the altered-state of awareness when the body and mind seem to function on auto-pilot, often referred to as being “in the zone.”

- Training with music has also been linked to more efficient acquisition of skills.  Music can facilitate movements of the body and help the brain to remember how to replicate those movements in the future.

Dr. Karageorghis’ studies have also shown that the best song’s to exercise to should have a tempo between 120 and 140 beats-per-minute (B.P.M.), which roughly corresponds to the average person’s heart rate during a routine exercise.  Until recently athletes have been, excluded from these benefits while training in the water, but no more thanks to H2O Audio’s Waterproof Sport Headphones.  Athletes can take their music into the water, the rain and though the most sweat of marathons, keeping motivation up, staving off boredom and more effective learning new skills.

As far as the best song to workout to, one that has been forever ingrained in our minds is “Gonna Fly Now,” the theme from Rocky. Dr. Karageorghis writes the song “evokes a state of optimism and excitement in the listener,” and there are plenty of New York City Marathon participants who agree; thanks to the band from Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn who have been encouraging runners by performing the famed theme song on race day for the past 30 years.

More workouts and playlists that will put you in the zone

Check out the full NYTimes.com article here

While H2O Audio products are sold around the world, we’re a company based in the United States, so that means today, we’re getting ready for a few days off work in celebration of the 4th of July!  You can hardly call hanging out at our beach-side office designing and testing waterproof headphones and ipod accessories work, but still a little down time with family and friends is always welcome.  Hopefully, you too are able to get a bit of a break from your daily grind and celebrate Independence Day.

It just wouldn’t be the 4th without fireworks!  A quick internet search will turn up locations where you can see a fireworks display near you, but does your town turn up in the list of America’s Best Fireworks Displays?

Also, for those who live near a coastal region, the beach is a classic location for 4th of July celebrations.  Sadly, too much partying often leaves beaches and shorelines with a hangover of trash and debris.  Find out how you can help restore your favorite beach to pristine condition by checking in with your local Surfrider Foundation.  Many local chapters organize clean-ups post 4th of July.

Most of all, have fun, be safe and use your time off to listen to some patriotic tunes in your favorite body of water… and yes, your bathtub counts…

Happy 4th of July from H2O Audio!

Find more pictures from Michael Phelps trip to Paris on his Facebook page.

H2O Audio’s own Michael Phelps competed in Paris over the weekend.  Although he won two out of the four events he entered, he as quoted as saying he was “furious” over his poor performance in the 200m and 100m freestyle.  About coming in 6th in the 100m freestyle Phelps said, “I’m disappointed but I know as well that it’s my fault.  I didn’t train exactly when I should have. We see the result this weekend. I hoped to be faster this weekend. There are a lot of things which could have been better.”  Michael is not discouraged however, and said he will use his anger over this performance as a motivator.

Also, recently posted to waterman Laird Hamilton’s site, more video footage from his trip to the gulf coast.  He and Gabby saw first hand the damage the oil spill has caused, and discusses the impact it’s had on marine life.

Well, the title is a bit mis-leading, it’s your last chance to grab the Interval 2G, our all-in-one swim solution for the 2nd generation iPod shuffle.  Of course, we still have our small armband for the 2nd gen shuffle, but the Interval 2G is the best way to take your 2nd gen shuffle swimming.  With clips that easily slide onto goggle straps and integrated Surge Headphones with shorter cables, the Interval 2G contains all your music needs right on the back of your head.

This shipment of Interval 2G’s is the last of it’s kind!  Once these are gone, the Interval 2G will go the way of The Dinosaur and The Dodo.  They won’t be available anywhere in stores or on-line (except maybe used versions on e-bay or craigslist)….so don’t miss out, get shoppin!