There has been a huge growth of interest in paddle boards. Paddleboarding was already on the rise as an activity, but there was an even greater spike in popularity of the sport as Covid loomed over the world and people were unable to workout inside or do team sports such as football due to the need for social distancing. 

If you have thought about buying a paddleboard, you might be wondering what they are actually made of? 

There are a variety of materials used to construct paddleboards, whether they are inflatable or rigid boards. Each of these materials provide their boards different qualities. 

PVC Inflatable Paddle Boards

Polyvinyl chloride, most commonly known as PVC, is an affordable and malleable material which means it is a popular material for the construction of inflatable paddle boards which need to be inflated and deflated repeatedly. This is the material that is also used in other products like an air bed. A durable and flexible material, a PVC paddle board is a good option to choose when you are looking at which sort of board you want to buy. 

Foam Paddle Boards

These paddle boards are similar to epoxy resin paddleboards, but are covered in a soft ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) shell. This creates a spongy but resilient surface for you to stand on. Then on the bottom of the board there is a rigid ABS base which is resistant to any physical impact your paddleboard might take. If you are looking for a comfortable board but don’t want an inflatable board, this is an option that is available.

Wooden Paddle Boards

The original paddleboards from Polynesia were made from wood, and this style of board is making a comeback. These are now made with a complex fishbone framework that creates a hollow frame, which allows the wooden board to float above the waves whilst still holding your weight. On top of this fishbone frame, there is a plywood or other lightweight wood which is used to cover the board. To protect it from the water, the wood is then covered by a resin. 

This is most definitely a premium option. They are also generally unwieldy to transport due to their weight, and cost a pretty penny; but if you do invest in one they can last for many years and are especially brilliant at dealing with more extreme waves or currents.

Resin-Infused Paddle Boards

Finally there are paddle boards made of resin. These are created from a mould and a vacuum sealing process. The two main types of resin infused boards are fibreglass resin, which you will have often seen used in rigid kayaks and also used to repair boats, and epoxy resin.

The making of a paddle board is a complex process, no matter which material is used to create it. Each style of production has their benefits and drawbacks. The right material for you depends on what you are looking to get out of your paddle board, and which challenges you are willing to put up with. Hopefully this explanation of the materials used to make paddle boards has been interesting, and helped you decide which type of paddle board is right for you.

A growing number of people are upping sticks without giving up their career. Amy Molloy, who has roamed across South America, explains how it is done

Continue reading As a digital nomad I’m free to work here, there, anywhere →

Hyeonseo Lee defected from North Korea in 1997 and is now determined to tell the world about the brutality of the regime

The astonishing, not to say extremely disturbing, facts of Hyeonseo Lee?s past have somehow failed to leave their mark on her tiny, physical presence. Here she is now ? with a polite, opaque smile on her face ? standing sturdily in chunky shoes on the 17th floor of The Times building, staring down over London.

Continue reading I saw my first execution at seven years old ? and I still live in fear of my life →

As if becoming more eco friendly weren’t enough, why not just have a little fun while doing it? How about taking a week off and going on a week-long vacation in a place that is as environmentally friendly as possible. If you live in San Diego, you can go on a month long vacation right in the harbor. If you live in Palm Springs, you can take a cruise that goes into the Andes Mountains and through the grand Andean range. It’s really up to you.

A vacation away from home can do wonders for our souls and bodies. We are given the chance to rest, to relax, and to enjoy life without the daily intrusion of indoor pollution and noise. It’s a chance to enjoy the natural world and let it be part of the rest and pleasure of life. And we can all benefit from less harm being done to the planet.

Let’s start with the obvious. If you want to make your home a more eco-friendly place to live, there are many small things you can do at home to reduce the amount of energy you consume. You can potentially get your appliance like your air conditioning unit to be more eco-friendly by having them regularly cleaned and checked by companies such as DUCTZ of Rockingham County or a local specialist if you prefer.

You can get the other parts of your house checked and sorted as well to make sure there are no small, easily solvable issues that are taking away from your house’s efficiency. For instance, high energy use for a furnace during winters can cost you a lot, which you can reduce by opting for different fuels like heating oil. You can also take the assistance of an expert by consulting a company such as Romeo’s Fuel who may suggest you various methods to improve energy efficiency with the help of a device like an oil tank monitor. Consulting an expert to evaluate your home’s energy efficiency can help you save money and reduce your environmental impact.

Along with the above, there are windows, doors, and insulation that can reduce or eliminate the amount of heat loss from your house. Additionally, Window Treatments such as blinds, curtains, and shutters can be used to keep out cold air while allowing in sunlight. These window coverings can be chosen based on the climate and orientation of the house, as well as the desired level of insulation.

Also, don’t forget to use an efficient air conditioning system during the summer. Get your air-con system checked by hiring air conditioner repair companies before the sun-sational days take over, to avoid problems or breakdowns during the summer months. These are basic things but they really help.

When you are vacationing, try to find somewhere that allows you to use water conservation methods instead of having to drink. You might also consider using alternative methods of travel, such as using planes or trains instead of automobiles. Another option would be carpooling and taking public transportation. Both of these options will cut down on the carbon footprint we all have to worry about.

But vacation isn’t the only way to get away from it all. In fact, the more times you go away, the less harmful your vacation is for the environment. That’s because you’re not really outside, you’re just inside. So vacationing in cities is good because it means you’re out in nature, so you’ll be doing something good for the environment. Going on a cruise ship is even better because cruise ships aren’t really used that much, so you won’t be adding to the growing problem of plastics and other harmful substances in the air and water.

One final tip to become more eco friendly is to make sure that when you shop you’re buying products from companies that are green friendly. This is important for several reasons. For one thing, it shows you care and that you can do something to better the world. It’s not only great environmentally but also financially. Companies that don’t do this kind of thing tend to get passed over by big name companies that do, so giving you the opportunity to buy green products means more money in your pocket and a cleaner planet overall.

Swimming in the Ocean is a fun adventure that many people like to take. However, some people get caught up thinking about the safety aspect of it and don’t attempt swimming in the Ocean for one reason or another. This can be for many reasons, but the most common reason is simply a lack of experience. It’s also possible that you’ve done it all before and just don’t want to try again. Either way, here’s how to go swimming in the Ocean without ending up in trouble.

First and foremost, swimming in the ocean isn’t just swimming in a swimming pool. Even though you may have all the amenities including a swimming pool heat pump back at home, the ocean experience is completely different. You have to learn how to swim so you can enjoy swimming in the Ocean. Learning to swim can be as simple as taking a swimming class in a local community or by taking a course online. The key to being successful in any type of swimming lesson is having patience and following directions.

The easiest way to get into the water is simply wading out into the middle of the ocean and diving down under the surface with your hands at your sides until you’re in knee-deep water. If you’re doing it for the first time, however, then you might want to wear some safety gear. You could check a great selection of swim goggles, swim caps, and other equipment you think you might need to jump into the ocean. Once you’ve got yourself geared up and in the water, follow the below steps.

The first thing you need to do when you swim in the Ocean is to check for lifeguards. Lifeguards are stationed at beaches and inlets, watching for anyone who might fall off of a board or get too close to the beach. If you see a lifeguard working at a lifeguard station, swim over to their location and give them a wave. They will direct you to shore.

Another important thing you should know about swimming in the Ocean is that you should watch out for the large waves that frequently come in and hit the shoreline. These large waves can be dangerous because they cause rip tides, which can cause boats to take a turn and move quickly into the ocean, and wave runners, which can run erratically along the beach and usually don’t stay on the beach at all. Rip tides often happen at least twice a day in the summer and one of the best times to go swimming in the Ocean is about two hours before high tide. High tide is when the water begins to rise and the beach will be covered with sand. At this time, the waves will be more likely to break more easily and create waves, which can be dangerous.

In addition to watching out for rip tides, you should also be aware of the large currents that occasionally come in and go out with the waves. You may have heard people talk about the big swells that occur in the Ocean, but these are actually the large waves caused by the currents. These currents can sometimes get stronger than the waves, which can make swimming in the Ocean a bit dangerous. It’s best to swim when the currents aren’t too strong.

There are many things that make swimming in the Ocean a great idea. If you’re looking to take a swim in the Ocean because of the benefits, you need to make sure you stay safe while swimming, as there are many potential hazards to watch for while swimming. It’s best to check out the local beaches in your area and find out where they are located before you go. Always take along a cell phone and bring along a map so you can easily identify the best area to swim in. It’s also a good idea to watch out for the potential hazards of open water swimming. If you plan on swimming for any length of time, open water swimming should be carefully watched, as it has the possibility to be fatal if precautions aren’t taken.

For a business planning that has a busy schedule, the days leading to the event can feel like a blur. It is not surprising that based on the survey, more than 42 per cent of businesses work up to 20 hours a day during the month of the event. Having a long to-do list can give you sleepless nights as you are thinking of what you need to do next. It can be stressful juggling a lot of things at the same time. Of course, this is why many businesses actually use event planners, like those at Smart Works, to help them organize their event.

But thanks to technology, you can easily get some of the things done in time, saving you time and effort. For instance, you can book security guards and crowd management services online by contacting Main Event Security or other companies that can manage the safety and security of events. Moreover, most event professionals now make use of innovative event planning tools for their corporate events, and with a good reason. According to a study, making use of technology in event planning can increase productivity by 27 percent, increase attendance by 20 percent, and lower cost by about 30 percent.

Meanwhile, for every part of an event in London, new technologies are emerging ? from registration to budgeting. With various event techs out there, it is difficult knowing the most important, and what will be available for the next couple of years.

How can you save time on Event Planning with these 5 Event Tech Trends?

1. Create an event website

It can be frustrating and exhausting trying to make an event website from scratch. If you have nothing to work with, make use of easy WordPress templates for your events. But even if you have the right templates, it can still take time and effort to design, add, and update all details of the event ? such as the list of speakers and their bios, the agenda, the list of sponsors and exhibitors, and so on. By making use of an event site builder, you can make lovely webpages in a short time. It is easy to make use of this technology; you don?t need to be a tech guru or sourced elsewhere for a website builder.

2. Get rid of repeated emailing with speakers

Trying to coordinate with invited speakers to get their personal information such as their bios, abstract, and pictures can be time-consuming. Sending back and forth emails can get tedious, and some information might get lost along the way. Instead, make use of recent event tech tools that can automate the entire process, so you can receive information quickly without having to track someone down for hours. Since the speakers upload their personal information themselves, you don?t have to be concerned about adding incorrect details accidentally. Also, the information can be made available to the website automatically for the audience to view.

3. Creating name badges

This is another tiring aspect of planning an event in London. An event agency doesn?t need to outsource and be worried about delays in shipping, delayed registration, and errors that would be difficult to fix when they make use of event technology. Nowadays, we have online tools available for event planners to design and print badges at any time. Some of these tools make it possible to create badges that look professional by using templates to customize your details.

4. Multiple branded apps

Mobile apps have become an important part of our daily activities, and the event industry is not left out. Making use of branded apps create an avenue for event organizers to interact with their audiences on their own mobile devices. Apps have been used in the industry for a while, but over the last few years, they have advanced. It is possible nowadays to customize an app to look as if it was specifically made for your event. Those apps at the same time enhance the experience of the attendees. Event organizers can make use of branded apps to communicate and connect with their audience before, during and after the event is over.

5. Event diagramming

If you are unsure how your event will look like, then you can make use of diagramming software to visually map everything out ? from the sitting arrangement, all the way to the placement of the microphone and any commercial led screens you may be intending to use on stage. It is easy to use most of these tools – with 3D walkthroughs, drag-and-drop diagramming, and the seating software. Such tools make it possible for event planners and the venue management team to save time, and at the same time provide clear communication for the entire team. These tools are also provided customizable, collaborative, and accurate project planning that can be accessible by all team members.

Long-haul travel with kids is madness. That, at least, is the verdict of most parents. Cornwall is popular for a reason: it is near. Singapore, at almost 7,000 miles from the UK, is perhaps one of the last places most young families would consider spending a week?s holiday. But with friends who live there insisting it was a perfect family holiday destination, I set off with my five-year-old and a spirit of defiance.

Continue reading Singapore ? hot, high-tech and perfect for kids →

As we head into winter?s gloom, it?s natural to dream of blue skies and warm seas ? and, happily, this is the perfect time of year for holidaying in the Caribbean. It avoids JJASON ? that?s a helpful mnemonic for remembering the months from June to November, when hurricanes are a feature of the area. There are none of those worries from December on, with mostly sunny days and temperatures that reach 25C in Florida and even higher in the Caribbean. There can still be heavy, thundery afternoon showers, though.

Continue reading Your holiday forecast: hot →