We all know how dangerous melanoma can be. We all know that if you spend a lot of time in the sun you are at a greater risk of contracting the dreaded skin disease. But how great is the risk? Should surfers really take greater precautions than the non-surfing population? New research provides surprising answers. Yeah. Sure. It’s obvious isn’t it. Of course surfers are in a … [Read more...]
Research shows whipping horses doesn’t make them run faster, straighter, or safer — let’s cut it out
Like many others I have always viewed horse racing with ambivalence. Previous and current generations of my extended family have had strong equestrian links but, on the matter of horse racing, opinions of family members have been split down the middle for decades. Attitudes were so powerful and entrenched that it was strictly forbidden, at family gatherings, to mention to Aunty … [Read more...]
The most important statistic in sport
What is the most important statistic in sport? Clearly, it’s the FU-TU ratio. Forget goals scored, assists, tackles, missed tackles, meters gained, passes completed, rebounds, efficiency rating and any one of a hundred other stats. None of them hold a candle to the FU-TU ratio. Every coach on the planet needs to seriously consider the FU-TU rating of every player on … [Read more...]
Extreme sports are for normal people!
BASE jumping, wingsuit flying, big wave surfing, extreme skiing and solo rope-free climbing, when we think of someone who takes part in these extreme activities, we think of a risk-taker. The type of person you might describe as a “deviant hedonist” or a “sensation-seeker”, who is looking for an “adrenaline rush”. And they are most likely to be young and male. The problem … [Read more...]
Running is not bad for your spine – latest research!
Victorian research published in Scientific Reports is the first human study to show that any kind of physical activity is good for the discs in the spine. Lead researcher Associate Professor Daniel Belavy from the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition at Deakin University, said the study "Running exercise strengthens the intervertebral disc" is an important change in … [Read more...]