Tantric Sexuality: The Secret to Awakening your Sexual Goddess

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FarParker Interview with Darcy Rota!

Hey FarParker Fans!

Feeling a little nostalgic? Want to rehash some old memories of the Vancouver Canucks, back when their uni's would remind us all of a bad re-run of "V"? If so...our dear friend Aubrey Parker has provided us with another great old-timer interview, this time with Canucks Ex DARCY ROTA! From the days sharing a line with Thomas Gradin and Stan Smyl to now acting as the President of the BCHL's Coquitlam Express, Darcy's name has remained a strong part of the Canucks Legacy. Check out some of the fun & interesting things Aubrey was able to uncover!

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A PRO HOCKEY PLAYER?

IT WAS A LIFE LONG DREAM TO PLAY SO TO ACTUALLY ACHIEVE THAT GOAL WAS AMAZING…I REMEMBER THE NATIONAL ATHEM PLAYING AT MY FIRST GAME AND PINCHING MYSELF THINKING “DID THIS ACTUALLY HAPPEN???”

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT?

IN 1982 THE STANLEY CUP FINAL TEAM WITH THE CANUCKS, THE REACTION FROM THE FANS WAS PHENOMENAL, ESPECIALLY BEING A BC BOY - IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

To check out the rest of this interview, please visit us FREE at http://www.farparker.com/article.php?article_id=71

Thanks!

How NOT To Annoy The Doctor's Office Receptionist!

How NOT To Annoy The Doctor's Office Receptionist!

"UH...HI - I"M A BUDDY OF (insert your doc's name here!) FROM BEER LEAGUE HOCKEY, AND I NEED TO SEE HIM RIGHT NOW FOR THIS HERNIA THINGY...?"

Can we ask how many people out there have tried to snafu their way in to see their doctor, bypassing the 100+ poor souls sitting in the wait area, by pulling the old "oh it's cool...doc knows me from hockey/neighbour/fishing/etc?"  Ever pulled your yang (groin) / chipped a tooth / split something open and rushed to your GP for that emergency visit in hopes of getting around the local hospital ER?  Yeah, we  know...that never happens.

But when it does (insert chuckle here), there are several tips you should bear in mind so as not to annoy the receptionist, who is pretty much responsible for every patient entering the office, and pissing off the gatekeeper just once could result in years of added turmoil because of it.  (Editors Note - we're not stating by any means that gatekeepers are rude, arrogant or out to get everybody - far from it, but to use an analogy, if you tick off the ref at the start of a game, do you really think that's going to help you later in the 3rd when you take that dive and cry foul???)

To NOT Annoy the Receptionist, AVOID THE FOLLOWING:

1) The repeated "How much longer?" question.  Remember how this used to drive your parents legally insane on the way to the PNE as a kid?  Guess what - it drives receptionists nuts too.  99.99% of the time, they really have little control over the speed of the office.  That's your doc's fault for taking too long with everyone else ahead of you that showed up with valid appointments.  Suck it up, read an outdated magazine or take a hike and find another GP.

To read the remaining 4 TIPS, visit us FREE at FarParker - NO CATCH, we promise!

FarParker Partners with CBC's Hockey Night in Canada PlayOn! Street Hockey Tournaments!

Check out the latest news update on Canada's largest sporting festival, coming to BC (Burnaby & Kelowna!)

Please pass the link along to anyone you know who might enjoy stopping by!  Thanks

http://farparker.com/article.php?article_id=67

Fancy Feet? Not Under These Ankles!

The Date: a dreary Saturday in January.

The Location: a beautiful new KINTEC store in Surrey.

The Reason: my warped walking mechanics.

Okay…I’ve heard about as many walking jokes & comments as I care to remember, but after years and years of “tippy…happy toes…goalie…” I started to think maybe there was some truth to the hundreds of my dearest friends making sure I knew my physical walking style was funny to them. And here I thought they were all just a-holes…

I’ve struggled with knee pain for over 15 years, thanks to a few skiing mishaps, sports injuries and tequila, to which I found an incredible amount of relief from prolotherapy (see my previous article at http://www.farparker.com/article.php?article_id=25), but my tippy-toe walking style has, bless its heart, never left my side. I’ve also noticed a mild pain rearing its head in my lower extremities after vigorous treadmill dates or hockey games. Having always thought it may have been related to my inability to part cash for performance running shoes, I decided to visit KINTEC with my good buddy FarParker to find out if anything could be done.

First up - an informal meeting with Dan, Andrew and John to exchange pleasantries and admire the new store with its endless cool stuff to make me a better human. Then, it was right down to business.

Certified Pedorthist John took us through some initial exercises (don’t worry – these were easy…you know, like squatting, walking, cement laying) to help get an idea of our body dynamics. From there, several stretching tests and questions about the nature of my preferred sports and daily routine started to paint a picture of just why I was so screwed up. And yes…he noticed my tippy-toe walk.

To read the rest of this article and see if custom orthotics might be for you, CLICK HERE to visit us at FarParker.com!  Thanks...

Vancouver Canucks Team Dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Norden Interviews with FarParker.com

Canucks Dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Norden takes a few moments out of his typically hectic schedule to answer some of our questions regarding his affiliation with the Canucks, his dental practice…and what makes him tick!

So Dr. Norden, tell us about why you originally chose dentistry as your profession of choice?




In a nutshell, dentistry is a fantastic profession that allows you to give back to your community, and I truly enjoy the satisfaction of having my clients happy about their oral health and image. Dentistry has further opened a lot of doors and opportunities for me, but overall I’ve always believed people should do what they love…and I just love being a dentist…






You now practice in upscale Kitsilano (right across from Ron Zalko)…are you enjoying this?




OH YES! My last practice was in Richmond, which was nice and I had great clients, but the draw of working near downtown was intense. It affords my staff and I several advantages that we didn’t have previously (access to downtown, etc), and we really love our new location. It’s handy, and the design elements we incorporated really make the practice a great environment for our clients (many of whom followed us out from our last location!)






Do you have any advice you could pass along to any readers thinking of a career in Sports Dentistry?




Hmmm…I’d have to say first off, do what you love if possible. Personally, I’m a sports nut – enjoy watching it, love participating, so extending my sports experience into helping patients and athletes with their dental concerns has been a great fit, As for the opportunity, dentistry is a great profession and there a LOT of teams still out there needing a team dental specialist, where our roles can be extended to provide increased awareness and education regarding oral protection and hygiene (for example, see my article on FarParker helping hockey players manage their MOUTHGUARDS)






Was this part of the plan to become the Canucks Team Dentist, or did this happen more by accident?




Ha! Aside from the great luck, I’ve been playing hockey since I was really young, at a variety of levels right up until entering dental school. My first experience as a “team” dentist was through the 80’s, when I took on the role for a junior level hockey team in Vancouver. Interestingly, the Canucks position became available a little over five years ago, to which I successfully interviewed for, and have been with their organization as the Canucks Team Dentist since!






What are your areas of responsibility or involvement with the Vancouver Canucks?


 
 
To read the rest of this interview, please click HERE!  (Thanks for visiting us at http://www.farparker.com/!)

FarParker Interview with NHL Alumni Chuck Arnason

FarParker Interview with Chuck Arnason

For all of you die hard Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota North Stars & Colorado Rockies Fans, we're pleased to offer our own Aubrey Parker's interview with 'close personal contact' CHUCK ARNASON. From the best and worst arenas / fans to play in, to whether Peter Puck should be brought back to life, Chuck provides some great, to-the-point details about his former NHL career, spanning 1968 to 1980...

Enjoy!



AUBREY: SO CHUCK, WHAT WAS THE BEST THING ABOUT PLAYING IN THE NHL?

CHUCK: THE LIFESTYLE AND MONEY YOU MAKE NOW


AND THE WORST THING?

BEING AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY.


WHAT’S YOUR MOST MEMORABLE NHL MOMENT?

WHEN I WAS DRAFTED, AND A HAT TRICK AGAINST THE ISLANDERS



WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE ARENA TO PLAY IN?

EASY - CHICAGO


WHICH ARENA HAD THE WORST FANS?

HA...PHILADELPHIA IF YOU ARE VISITING, THE BEST IF YOU ARE THE HOME TEAM!


SO WHO WAS THE BEST GOALIE TO SCORE ON BACK THEN?

BERNIE PARENT


FACE OFFS…LOVE ‘EM OR HATE ‘EM?

NEUTRAL ZONE LOVE ‘EM…DEFENSIVE ZONE HATE ‘EM


WHAT IS THE GREATEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?

AL MCNEIL SAID, “AS YOU GO THROUGH THE GAME YOU WILL MEET MANY ACQUAINTANCES AND FEW FRIENDS”



HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU THING YOU TOSS OUT CURSE WORDS DURING A GAME?

CONSERVATIVELY? 7 TO 15...


ANY PRE GAME RITUALS OR SUPERSTITIONS YOU CARE TO SHARE WITH US?

YES, A FAIRLY SIMPLE ONE, BUT LEFT SKATE ALWAYS GOES ON FIRST


DID YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE OR "RITUAL" PRE GAME MEAL?

STEAK AND FRIES OR BAKED POTATO


HOW OFTEN WOULD YOU GET YOUR SKATES SHARPENED?

EVERY SECOND GAME DEPENDING ON CONSISTENCY OF ICE, IF SOFT NO SHARPENING.


DO YOU THINK THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH WOODEN STICKS NOWADAYS?

NOTHING, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE BETTER FEEL, ALTHOUGH COMPOSITE YOU CAN SHOOT HARDER.


WHAT NEW NHL RULE DO YOU NOT LIKE?

ICING, WHERE THE PLAYERS CAN’T CHANGE,


PETER PUCK: GONE FOR GOOD OR BRING HIM BACK?

GONE


DO YOU THINK THE GOALIE PAD RESTRICTIONS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE?

NO, I THINK THEY SHOULD PUT REALLY FAT GUYS IN NET AND JUST STUFF THEM ON THERE...THEN NOBODY COULD SCORE…HA!!!


SHOOT OR PASS?

SHOOT!!


CAN YOU SING ALL THE WORDS IN BOTH ANTHEMS?

NO - I DON'T KNOW THE FRENCH IN THE CANADIAN ONE…HA, HA


WHAT ARE YOU THINKING DURING THE ANTHEMS; WHY DON’T PLAYERS SING?

YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT THE GAME, ABOUT GETTING READY TO GO TO WORK.


WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOCKEY NOISE?

THE SOUND OF THE PUCK HITTING THE CROSSBAR AND GOING IN, MEANING THE SHOT WAS PERFECT!


OF ANYTIME IN HISTORY WHOM WOULD YOU PICK FOR THE ULTIMATE LINE MATES?

HOWIE MORENZ AND AURIEL JOLIET


For more interviews like this, check out the LEARN STUFF Section at www.FarParker.com!

Floorball Offers Great Spring and Summer Training Options

By Greg Beaudin

With the popularity of Floorball soaring, it’s time for young hockey players to get in on the action. Growing up, NHL legends like Gretzky and Hull were always big fans of taking the off-season to experiment with other sports. Baseball in particular was a great mental and physical departure from the high demands of the hockey rink for them. Hanging up the blades each spring gave these athletes a chance to decompress and focus on having fun doing other activities, that in some way, shape or form, helped them return to hockey with more skill sets than one can learn from just playing hockey all day, everyday, all year long...we can only imagine what skills they would have enhanced if Floorball was around back then.

Floorball is an ideal spring and summer departure for young players, and here is a list of Ten Reasons why:


* To see the rest of this article, please CLICK HERE to visit FARPARKER

Yesterday's Nutrition Studies are Todays Myths

FarParker Contributor Nanci Guest (2010 Team Canada dietitian and strength and conditioning specialist), says when it comes to nutrition and exercise, yesterday's studies can be today's myths.

Got chocolate milk? If you're training for the Sun Run, maybe you ought to "get."

"Recent studies show it's one of the best repair foods after training," says Nanci Guest, who was the sport dietitian for Vanoc leading to and during the 2010 Olympics.

"There's high-quality protein [for repair] and chocolate replaces glycogen after a run or workout. Chocolate milk is really convenient, but if you want even better nutrition to repair, refuel your body in a timely fashion, have 500 ml of skim milk and a banana. The banana has potassium and vitamins."

Guest, who operates Power Play, is a strength and conditioning specialist with offices in Vancouver and Toronto and is currently working with Team Canada's field hockey team in Vancouver. She emphasizes the "timely fashion" bit. It was an important topic at a recent meeting of the world's top sports performance researchers assembled by the International Olympic Committee to review the last decade of research.

Guest, who was invited to attend the high-level meeting, said nutrient timing (when and what you eat during training) is particularly important when it comes to muscle recovery.

To see the rest of this article, please CLICK HERE: http://www.farparker.com/article.php?article_id=61

Floorball is Fast and Fun!

Want to Skate Anywhere and Stay off your Butt?

PuckGobbler Interviews Dean Sprung of www.skateanywhere.ca!

There's a wonderful little secret a lot of us beer league goalies share...we can't skate. Well, at least not well and for some of us (no names mentioned) the ability to wear big thick pads and fancy masks sure helps the brain BELIEVE we can. Now obviously I'm generalising to make forwards feel better about themselves, but one thing I have noticed quite often is the locker-room discussions regarding skate sharpening. How often...where to do it...how much it costs...is there a better way... So I went-a-searching and found a great product I felt should be shared with our readers, and asked the owner if we could discuss it in more depth. And thus the EDGE AGAIN interview was born!!!

Hello Dean - thanks for the opportunity to chat with us about your business! First, let’s get our readers and you acquainted Can you tell us a bit about your background, and how it lead you into this business?

When my family moved to Newmarket, Ontario 14 years ago, I wanted to get involved with the community through minor hockey. I started to coach two years prior to our eldest son being eligible to even join a hockey team. I’ve now coached minor hockey for 11 years here.

Skill development has always been important to me. As a coach, I had to separate my emotions from the scoreboard and constantly re-evaluate the skill set of the team. The first fifteen minutes of a practice was devoted to edge control. 25% of our team budget would be used for out-sourced skill development. I had many high profile instructors run several practices and we used a local skill development centre to help the kids with their skating, passing and shooting. Seeing the players improve their skills and confidence over the season was a better measure than any scoreboard would tell.

About 5 years ago, I thought about running my own skill centre. I bought some used synthetic ice for the basement to give the business a trial run (with my wife’s permission). I have two boys that play rep hockey and a daughter that loves to skate. They were thrilled when they saw it. When I coached my younger son’s team, the parents would come over on Sunday mornings (parents with their newspaper and coffee, the players with their hockey gear). We would work on passing, shooting, scoring techniques and face offs.

The more I thought about it, the more I got interested in selling synthetic ice. Three years ago, I started selling Super-Glide synthetic ice from the basement under the SkateAnywhere.ca name. A few months later, I built a 16’ x 32’ demo rink in a commercial unit in Newmarket. Shortly after that, Georges Laraque picked up the rights to sell the product exclusively and I became his Regional Sales Manager.

For anyone that hasn’t heard of you yet or checked out your site (www.skateanywhere.ca) can you describe what the Edge-Again Sharpening System is all about?

When selling Super-Glide synthetic ice, customers would inquire about nets, pucks, pylons and rink boards. SkateAnywhere.ca quickly started to build its rink accessories category.

The Edge Again was developed by former NHLer Chris Kontos. Georges invited Chris and his son Kristoff (OHL, Sudbury Wolves) to come test the Edge Again skate-sharpening device on my Super-Glide synthetic ice demo rink in May 2010. I had just finished The Hockey Expo show in Mississauga and did not have a chance to get my skates sharpened at my local Maximum Edge retailer. I was able to move around the rink but clearly knew that the hours of skating at the show dulled my edges.

Kristoff ran the Edge Again up and down my blades and I went back to the rink to skate. Right away I could feel the bite. I was sold and it quickly became available through the online store.

Over the past two years, I’ve learned so much about proper skate maintenance through my local pro shop and now through Chris. Since my minor hockey days, through adult hockey and coaching, I took it for granted that a sharpening anywhere was good enough for top game performance. Wow, was I wrong!

What are some of the features and benefits, or major advantages of the system you want to touch upon?

The Edge Again is ideal for any skating surface: refrigerated ice rinks, backyard rinks synthetic ice rinks and skating treadmills. There are two sides to each edge of a skate blade. The Edge Again uses a diamond-coated tusk to sharpen each edge by touching both sides of the edge. You simply slide the device back and forth along the blade. There are rechargeable models and hand-held models for player, goalie and figure skates.

The device was engineered and is assembled by MAGNA here in Newmarket.

Are you suggesting this system become a replacement to taking your skates to a professional sharpening centre (or local hockey retailer)?

The Edge Again is ideal to use between sharpenings. If you want optimal ice time and top game performance, you need this in the hockey bag or on the bench. I’ve personally used it with both of my sons’ teams. Game one of a tournament, a player arrived at the arena with dull skates and there was no pro shop nearby. I used the Edge Again and after playing a solid game, the player said his skates felt great. I’ve also walked around the change room prior to game six of a tournament series to feel each blade. More than half of the team got the Edge Again treatment and won that game to win the tournament.

I’ve seen where the Edge Again could have been used but was not available. A shift early in the third period, a player lost their edge, couldn’t back check and his team got scored on. With no pro shop around, the player had to sit the remainder of the third period. In another scenario, the starting goalie was about to step on the ice but his blade slid across the concrete floor. The trainer tried to repair it with a stone but was unsuccessful. The back-up goalie had to start and play the entire game.

Equipment maintenance is equally important as skill development. Coaches will track shots on net, +/-, turn-overs, goals and assists but rarely track lost edges. It’s a game maker or game breaker. I put together a stat sheet to help teams keep track of this. PDF download:

http://www.skateanywhere.ca/assets/images/LostAnEdgeStat.pdf

Other Reasons to have your own skate sharpening device:

1.Open on Sundays

2.Open on Holidays

3.You did not fall on that breakaway

4.You lent it to the player who scored the winning goal

There is a video on your site featuring former NHL’er Chris Kontos describing the product. In the video, he mentions this will save you money, but the pro-systems can at first seem fairly pricey to a lot of beer leaguers. Can you touch upon this a bit?

Traditionally, parents or adult players would head to their local skate shop to have blade trauma fixed even after one hour of use. You hear it in the stands or on the bench all the time “He/she lost an edge. Better get ‘em sharpened”. You should be able to get about six hours of ice time on one sharpening. Sharpenings can range from $5 to $6. The Edge Again can fix that damage for less. The $29.99 tusk is good for 30 sharpenings. That’s $1 per sharpening.

Every skate sharpening at your local skate shop reduces the height of your blade ever so slightly. Compare your three year-old skate blades to the new skates that one of your teammates just purchased. See the height difference? Over time, there’s no more blade to sharpen. You can either buy new skates or just have the blade replaced. Prolonging the life of your blade will save you money. The Edge Again can help you do this.

The rechargeable Edge Again is ideal and affordable for team use on the bench. The oscillating tusk allows a trainer to do a whole line, if they have to, before their next shift. The hand-held devices are ideal for parents or adults that want them for personal use.

On another note, a lot of hockey retailers are selling the “magic stick” sharpening tool (plastic grip connecting to a ceramic ‘Y-Shaped’ thingy at the end you slide over your skate blades) for about $20…your basic system is double this in price, so can you touch on the differences between the two products?

There are many ways to get to your destination. Horse, car, limo, plane, train. Getting there on time is based on what you know about your method of transportation and the terrain you have to cover. I won’t trash another product but it’s important for a user to understand the properties, technology, application and result of equipment maintenance tools and services.

In terms of beer league hockey, how easy is this system to use – that is, as easy as the magic stick / can be done in the change room while yapping about last week’s loss / etc? (A lot of guys I play with use retailers so they always get a ‘good sharpening’ – if the system is applied on our own, can we screw this up somehow?)

I’m a beer leaguer too. Years of playing 3 on 3 with the guys, I have many times asked someone for a stone. The design of the tusk properly touches each side of the edge. The blade fits through the channel on the device. Just grip the device, hold it to the blade and run it any direction along the blade. Depending on the amount of trauma to the blade, you may have to run it anywhere from 10 to 45 seconds.

About skate edges - some players like a different angle than others, some goalies like ½” edges vs. 5/8”, etc. Is there an ability to change the sharpening angle with this system, or do you feel that is or isn’t important?

The Edge Again does not touch the hollow of the blade or does not affect the profile of the blade. It will work with any type of cut.

Who is the ultimate target market for these? Are you focusing on pro level players or more recreational / beer leaguers? Or…anybody with an ice skate?

Edge Again owner Chris Kontos has many stories about pro, semi-pro and junior players using the Edge Again. I have my own personal stories of minor and adult hockey players. The devices are ideal for hockey skill centres, team use and personal use of any age.

In terms of helping improve someone’s game, what are some of the main things us beer leaguers could expect to see by having this in the equipment bag?

Hockey requires many skating maneuvers in all directions. Not having control results in making bad plays or possible injury from falling or colliding. Toss it the bag. If you don’t use it for a particular game, maybe one of your teammates needs it. Overall team performance just went up.

For regular skate maintenance, are there any tips you feel beer leaguers should know about their skates? (As a goalie, I often see players just toss their skates into the bag…no wiping the blades, removing the insoles, etc.)

I have to give credit to Randy, my pro sharpener, and Bob Allen, the pioneer of the Maximum Edge maintenance system for these tips. Brand new skates might have slight defects in them. Kids will complain about not being able to stop in one direction. Have your skate pro look for blades that are seated off of the 90 degree angle. A 1.5 degree variance or more needs to be fixed. A shim in the holder can fix this. A torqued blade will affect skating performance as well. Resetting the holder usually fixes this problem.

Beer leaguers often complain about back pains when playing. Have the height of each blade measured. A variance between the two causes your body to compensate and puts a strain on your back. The highest blade will need to be grinded down.

Players need optimal contact with the blade and ice through the whole stride. A proper profiling (contouring and rockering are old school terms), should be done with new skates or if your skates have been done over time by the same person who does your lawn mower blade.

Most of the trauma caused to your blades is not on the ice. Walking around the change room, through the hallways or tossing your skates into the hockey bag without skate guards will affect your edges. Drying your blades and airing out your gear, at a minimum, is a good habit as well.

You now have a “Sharp Sk8s” app for the iPhone. Can you discuss the how’s and why’s about bringing that to market, and what the feedback has been like so far? (My iPhone4 is on order, so I’ll be sure to download this one it arrives!)

My passion for hockey and Apple products were brought together in January 2009 when I introduced the HockeyGPS app under my other hockey company Hockey Science & Technology. The app allows adults to find and navigate to hockey rinks around the world. The company is quickly growing into an innovative, quality and reliable content and services provider for those who make hockey a part of their lifestyle. We recently launched the Arena PA app that makes playing music at hockey games easier, manageable and fun.

Many parents don’t know when to get their childs’ skates sharpened or they lose track of when they last had the skates sharpened. The Sharp Sk8s app has an ice time tracker to help with this. The virtual punch card helps you keep track of your pre-paid sharpenings and also resets the ice time indicator for your blades. Many of us drop off the skates at our local skate shop and sometimes forget to pick them up. The built in alarm provides a reminder to get there before closing. We have all shown up to the rink without gear. The Hockey Bag feature can be used to make sure everything is packed.

Edge Again is sponsoring the app. We’ve included an ad that is revealed when the punch card is used several times or reset. Conveniently, the ad links to the Edge Again devices available on SkateAnywhere.ca. The app is free and is being downloaded everyday. I’m hoping it will bring awareness to proper skate maintenance so that skaters can reach top performance and build their confidence.

Readers can discover more hockey apps and content at www.TheHockeySeason.com

Tell us more about Super-Glide synthetic ice. (We’re out in Vancouver where a frozen pond is now about as common as a “blue puck” on Fox Sports – could be interesting?)

I’ve sold the product to homeowners, skill centres, OHL players, government and technology company IT Weapons, in Brampton, who has a rink in their office.

Canada is going to see many private and municipal full sized synthetic ice rinks over the next few years. Demand for affordable and accessible ice time is driving this. As well, operators would be able to run the facility at a profit instead of at a loss. Synthetic ice is widely accepted for home use, skill centres and entertainment in Canada. 3 on 3 hockey on 50’ x 100’ Super-Glide rinks is emerging from Europe. So, “Is Hockey Ready for Super-Glide Synthetic Ice?” Have a look at this PDF to help you decide: http://tinyurl.com/4efmu5m

Well Dean, from all of us at Team FarParker, cheers for taking the time to speak with us, and we wish you a successful 2011, both on and off the ice!

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to speak with you. It’s great to interact with hockey fans all over the world. Your hometown of Vancouver certainly has its share of people who contribute to this great game.

For more great interviews & topics to help improve your recreational sports and active lifestyle, visit the DID YOU KNOW or LEARN STUFF sections of www.FarParker.com today!

The Natural World - Inefficient for Humans, or Vice Versa?

The natural world functions very well on its own. Left to their own devices, members of the tens of millions of species on our planet thrive and prosper without relying on outside agencies.

In order to grow abundantly, plants consume carbon dioxide, water, and nutrients from the soil. Likewise, herbivorous animals consume plants whereas carnivorous animals consume other animals. Insects eat a wide variety of foods, including plants, fruit, other insects, detritus (dead leaves, stems, and twigs), and even blood. Many types of bacteria and fungi recycle decomposing matter. Whales, the top predator in the oceans, may consume more than a ton of plankton per day in addition to fish, squid, and other crustaceans.

Every member of every species except humans (Homo sapiens sapiens) obtains everything it needs from the environment. Modern humanity is the only species for which the abundance provided by the global ecosystem is insufficient.

For instance, mountain lions, raccoons, and coyotes don't need sleeping pills. But humans spend more than $1.5 billion per year on the sleep aid Ambien. Dolphins, antelope, and bluebirds don't have problems with blood glucose levels. In stark contrast, the annual cost of diabetes medications in the United States was $12.5 billion in 2007. In the wild, oak trees, tuna, and elephants don't need nutritional supplementation. Humans, however, spend more than $23 billion annually in the United States alone. What is wrong with this picture?

As a species, humans have the unprecedented ability to manipulate and drastically alter the world in which we live. Also aside from epidemic infectious disease, there exists no natural check on human population growth. As populations expand, resources become scarce. Populations flocking to urban enclaves not only leave behind the countryside but also local sources of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and poultry. Canning, packaging, and transportation of food over long distances become necessary to supply the energy needs of cities. But only calories and not much else are obtained by these methods. Energy is provided but food quality is substantially reduced.

Chronic disease becomes widespread. Diabetes, cardiovascular disorders including high blood pressure, heart attacks, and stroke, and obesity are all the direct result of a severely compromised food supply.1,2,3

Our disconnect from the natural world poses many additional challenges. Our bodies were designed to meet the demanding physical requirements of a hostile environment. But for the most part we don't do physical work anymore. If we don't find satisfactory substitutes for strenuous physical activity our musculoskeletal, metabolic, and endocrine systems easily deteriorate. The consequences include osteoporosis, chronic aches and pains, gastrointestinal problems, and anxiety and depression.

It takes a lot of effort to maintain good health when we're so far removed from the natural world. We need to make sure our diets are healthy and we need to get sufficient and regular strenuous exercise. The short- and long-term benefits include happiness, self-esteem, and ongoing well-being.

1. Kesse-Guyot E, et al: Adherence to nutritional recommendations and subsequent cognitive performance: findings from the prospective Supplementation with Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals 2. Am J Clin Nutr Nov 24 2010 (Epub ahead of print)

2. Wolfe AR, et al: Dietary protein and protein-rich food in relation to severely depressed mood: A 10 year follow-up of a national cohort. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry Nov 22 2010 (Epub ahead of print)

3. Pekmezi DW, Demark-Wahnefried W: Updated evidence in support of diet and exercise interventions in cancer survivors. Acta Oncol Nov 24 2010 (Epub ahead of print)

For more great articles to improve your recreational sports performance (on and off the ice!), please check out the "Learn Stuff" section at http://www.farparker.com/ now!  Thanks...

Dirty Talk - the two greatest tips on how to start

Well...

Being a beer league goalie I've heard my fair share of dirty talk all over the ice, the changeroom, the parking lot, the pub...damn, it's part of every game. However, when it comes to bringing a little 'dirty talk' into the bedroom with your partner, well...that's another matter. If you've ever considered or WANTED to try this out, check our new article provided by Duncan Roberts for EVE of ClubEden - you might just learn a few new moves! Enjoy...PuckGobbler.

Dirty Talk - the two greatest tips on how to start

Here's a tricky question for you:

You think or believe that you could spice up your love life if you introduce talking dirty into the bedroom.

But the one thing you are not sure about is what sort of reaction your boyfriend / girlfriend / lover is going to give when you suddenly start whispering sweet suggestive nothings into their ear.

Will they suddenly stiffen in anticipation, body quivering with unleashed desire? Maybe they'll lie back, eyes closed and a hint of a smile playing on their lips? Or will they turn red then maroon, look at you as though you have just confessed to killing and boiling Peter Rabbit and stalk off, never to be seen again?

Until you try - you just can't really tell for sure.

But you can do a couple of things to introduce them to the idea without offending in any great way. 'Softly, softly, catchee monkey' as the old saying goes.

So instead of launching yourself at them, obscenities flowing at a rate of knots, try one of these approaches instead.

When together relaxing, watching TV or reading, try reading them a saucy excerpt from something. Gauge their reaction and see how it affects them. If they sit up, straighten up or look around with interest - carry on. But if they seem indifferent or disgusted, stop with no further comment needed.

Now about this point in the advice you'll be thinking, "How the heck can I read them something saucy as an excerpt from the book I'm reading, it's all about flange differentials in a grommet engine block?" Fear not and don't panic.

Casually, swap your reading material for a magazine - either a man's magazine like GQ or Maxim (NOT Mayfair or Penthouse!!) and if a woman, for Cosmo or Elle or something. Secreted inside is a page on which you have written/copied/printed a saucy excerpt from a raunchy novel. This way it appears that you are reading from the magazine and are innocent of any intent! You're just reading them something from your magazine.

This works incredibly well, trust me. If your partner does not like dirty talk then they will not think less of you for the reading. You've got your answer and no harm done. If they DO like it - great, get stuck in!

Another trick to try is to send them a dirty text. This works well for two reasons - number one, they read the text and then have time to think it over and mull it around in their heads. They may well find that their initial reaction of shock and horror changes to one of interest and mild arousal. It also means that if they don't like it and are shocked, you can claim a moment of insanity and weirdness, never to be repeated. Being separated from each other at the point of delivery saves anyone getting a visual confirmation of your intent. If they can't see your eyes when they read it, they can't say for sure it's not just a moment of weird behavior.

You will have a hunch deep down as to whether your partner is up for hearing dirty talk. Think back to their reaction when nudity was shown in films or on TV. If they seem offended by that, steer well clear of talking dirty. But if they perk up and enjoy nudity - a form of expression - then 9/10 will move onto enjoying dirty talk fairly easily.

For more great articles on sexual and general health, and ways to improve your game on AND off the ice, visit www.FarParker.com!

The 2011 FarParker Girls Charity Calendar is Now Available!

Welcome to some of the hottest off-ice hockey memorabilia for 2011!

FarParker.com, in association with our Great Sponsors are proud to offer the 2011 FarParker Girls Charity Calendar. Our team came together to produce this high-quality calendar to help raise funds for our friends at Hockey Fights Cancer, so please provide your support and help us help their team battle this fricken disease!

To order your copy today, please visit us at FarParker's Calendar Page.

Thanks again to everyone who helped create this calendar, from our sponsors to models to staff to friends...and to all our readers, have a very Merry Christmas!

The Grind

Tagline: What is the true measure of a man? Is it size? Or strength? Is it a commodity, something bought, like a big flashy truck? Not a chance. A real man is dedicated to bettering himself and his family, devoted to improving those around him and in his community. In Vancouver, it took two “sisters” to show everyone what a man truly is.

The Grouse Grind is a well-known – particularly tortuous – outdoor activity that Vancouverites regularly indulge in. It’s a 2.9 km hike up the side of a local ski hill whose banks can be seen from the downtown core. Unwittingly, many tourists and local residents show up to tackle the Grind, only to find themselves sucking air by the time they reach its quarter pole -- well before the real grind has ever even begun. A regular summer sight in these parts is a clog of panting, ill-prepared Grind neophytes wheezing on the trailside, trying to catch their breath and contemplating whether or not to turn around and descend in puffing shame; sometimes they even have their high heels or flip flops dangling from their hands, a glaring badge of ignorance. What these hikers painfully learn is that the Grind is not a simple walk in the park -- it’s a grueling one. The hike can be so demanding that your mind and body will soon rebel against taking another step up the seemingly unrelenting ascent; so exhausting your lungs will feel like they’ve folded up and that your legs were secretly injected with cement. The Grind isn’t just a hike; it’s an obstacle course, a challenge, a litmus test.

There are parallels between Vancouver’s most famous hike and its favourite set of twins. At many times during their careers the Sedins have been confronted with seemingly endless obstacles – rock walls so sheer they seemed impassable. But they have always been obdurate in the face of adversity. They simply put their heads down and keep going, ignoring the pain, the taunts, and the easy way out. Case in point, after being drafted two and three in 1999, the Sedins entered the league in 2000 with high expectations; the year prior Brian Burke’s marquee picks had earned the Guldpucken award for the Swedish player of the year, an honour also won by such luminaries as Peter Forsberg, Hakan Loob and Mats Naslund. But soon after joining the Canucks it seemed the Sedins were subjected to an unrelenting barrage of ridicule. They weren’t the team’s saviours; they were gawky, skinny, awkward looking 20 year olds. Soon they were tabbed as the “sisters”, hounded by Coach Marc Crawford and continually pummelled by seasoned NHL defenders.

Please visit FarParker.com to read the rest of this article, provided by our friends at PuckLife Magazine!

Markus Naslund Moments...

By Lisa Ovens, owner of Hockey And High Heels

This week the Vancouver Canucks will be retiring sweater number 19 and celebrating the hockey career of long time Canuck, Markus Naslund during a very special pre-game ceremony at Rogers Arena on Saturday Dec.11,2010. This week, I will offer up some of my personal Nazzy moments I’ve collected over the years, as I celebrate one of the Canucks most talented players and one of my all time favorites.

I've decided to begin with an excerpt from my first book, Hockey & High Heels. It's from the 2002/03 season, a time of pure excitement for hockey in Vancouver. A time when the legendary sell outs began. A time when the city was fascinated by a trio of "brothers from other mothers" who lit the lamp, over and over again. The following is a page from my game diary that was published in the book... I was so impressed with a goal that Markus Naslund scored (but mostly I was impressed with the way he scored it) that I wrote about it as an example of the importance of playing with patience. It became a highlight reel goal, and I was so pleased so see it happen right in front of me.

Author's note: My mom, Stella is in this excerpt, and I should offer a little of her back story so everyone who didn't read the book will understand: my mom was the youngest of 18 children and she was a child of the Depression - it'll all make sense as you read on...

Patience

Game Diary January 26, 2003
Phoenix Coyotes vs. Vancouver Canucks

I was thrilled to host my mom for tonight’s game. Although we went to countless football games starring my brothers, this was the first time we were going to a live professional hockey game together. This was special. Plus, I bought the single seat beside us for Stacey as a birthday present. Also, today was January 26th, Phoenix Coyotes’ managing partner, Wayne Gretzky’s, birthday. Hope your birthday was a great one, Wayne! But, would the Canucks spoil the Great One’s day, by defeating his Coyotes?

Mom, Stacey, and I dined in the Brew House Grill, high above the ice, before the game. This gave us an opportunity to catch some of the Super Bowl on TV. As I watched the football game, I couldn’t help but think of the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs just around the corner. The Canucks hope to prove themselves as a Playoff contending team, an elite team, and a team to be taken seriously. Could this be their year?

Game on…

Only one puck made it past either goaltender tonight. The sold out, Canucks crazy crowd had been quite anxious for a goal. Thanks to the statisticians, the people whose job requires them to record EVERY possible streak or slump any given team could find themselves in, the Canucks have been held in a ‘not scoring the first goal’ slump for the last 11 games.

Finally, this ‘not scoring the first goal’ slump came to an end, and this goal happened to be one of my favorite goals this season. It all happened where important work is done during a hockey game. Bertuzzi had passed the puck to Naslund, positioned in "the Office" behind the Coyotes’ net. Naslund stood there for a moment. Would he go to the left, or to the right? Oh, he’s going left, no right, NO, left, again. The Coyotes were doing their job defensively as Markus faked his moves, back and forth.

I turned to my mom on my left, and said…

Lisa: Mom, what do you think Markus will do?
Mom: He doesn’t have room to do anything right now.

I took a sip of my beer, turned to my right, and asked Stacey…

Lisa: What do you think Markus will do with that puck?

Markus is still there, faking left, then faking right.

Stacey: Hmmm, I’m not sure. He could try a pass and possibly assist on a goal, but Nazzy doesn’t have an open lane to make such a pass. Jimbo Jumbo Peanut, Lis?

Lisa: Thanks, Stace.

I ate my peanut and looked at Markus. He was still behind the net. He’s going right. NO, left again. I looked at my mom again. She’s sitting on the edge of her seat. But she’s a patient woman. She once told me that when she was a child, they only had one toy to play with, and she literally had to wait days for her turn to play with it. Mom was the wife to my impatient father. A mother to us children whose catch phrases included, ‘Are we there, yet. But, I want it now. I can’t wait…’ My mom is the most patient person I know. But Markus Naslund was quickly becoming a close second.

Oh, he’s going right, again.

The Coyotes’ goaltender must be growing tired of shaking his head from side to side. Markus Naslund made everybody wait. More importantly, he made himself wait. Finally, the time became right. He snuck around the right side of the net, and with a flick of his wrist, roofed the puck right into the corner. Yes!

These days, I don’t know which is faster: Hockey, or Life itself. But, I do know patience is a virtue, a skill required, yet often forgotten, in both arenas.

Great goal, Nazzy, and totally worth the wait.

If you enjoyed this excerpt, you just might enjoy the rest of the book! Visit the Shop at h&hh.com to get a copy at a very special price, or check out Lisa’s new book, For the Love of Empty Net Goals – My Adventures Living Hockey

Happy Hockey!

photo credits:

Naslund: Lisa Ovens

Hockey puck: Andrew Lavigne

Expert Goalie Training 101...Tales from a Beer League Hack

Greetings Goalie fans, and welcome to a random rambling by FarParker’s PuckGobbler. (Take that name as you will - I have buddies whose comments on that nickname would leave you in hysterics, but for the curious I eat a lot of rubber.)

Today’s musings will focus on training for the non-trained goalie. Quick bit of history here…I’ve always loved hockey – ever since watching Peter Puck skate circles around those big, fat bastards with the no-curve sticks, and the goalies always fascinated me. Who in their right mind would argue how sinister Mike Liut’s “skull-style” mask looked when he played for St. Louis? (Insert link to attached photo) Regrettably though, I never played organized hockey growing up. Unless you consider my stellar performance on the streets or lacrosse boxes of my neighbourhoods as “experience,” my hockey ‘career’ didn’t take off until my 25^th year on Earth.

After repeated Monday nights of sweat-infested contact-cosom hockey with my buddies in a local school gym (it was kinda cool – big stereo system blasting out the best of Alice Cooper while we worked off the beer we just finished pounding…), one of my buddies asked me to play in the pipes on a real ice surface. (He obviously thought my floor hockey skills were easily transferable…) Okay, he really needed a goalie, and it was just saving pucks lobbed at me by a bunch of university friends, so I figured ‘what the hell?’

So, as with most starter-outers, I threw on my ball-hockey gear, tossed on some arena rental skates and hit the frozen pond for my first adventure into ‘real’ hockey. Took me all of two minutes to realize my skates didn’t have rubber grip like my steel-toed ball hockey boots. (Thanks Sean!!)

Training Tip #1 for Goalies: you actually DO need to know how to skate! Holy schnitzel, the rink’s rental skates were hopeless, and I took not one, not two, but THREE shots to the left toe. (This is now an asset in the summer, wearing thongs, when women comment on my huge toe, but we’ll that well-enough alone until a later date…)

Thing is though…I LOVED “REAL” HOCKEY! I couldn’t get enough of the way I could slide across the crease, instead of the stuck in peanut-butter maneuvers I used to try on the gym floor. The feel of cold ice was also such sweet heaven compared to the sweat-lodge sessions I was used to (can you believe I was actually PENALIZED one time for sweating too much during a roller-hockey league game…in AUGUST?!?). And as my quality of gear improved, I couldn’t help but feel just a bit closer to guys like Mike Liut (see image below). The new sport calling had come, and boy I was hooked. Until I took a buddy’s slap shot off the unpadded inside of my arm…

Training Tip #2: My Sharmin-filled chest protector wasn’t giving me quite the protection against a real puck that I had sufficed with saving whiffle balls and orange cosom pucks. Thus, proper padding is relatively important (it helps save your life, after all…)

Not having a clue how to really play the position in an actual arena, with an actual crease and real sized net, I learned the best way I could – I watched even more Hockey Night In Canada. You’d think I was a professor on gyno row the way I studied the positioning, moves & antics of the pros up close on my huge 27” TV (my, how far we’ve come in just a few years!), and after just one year, I grabbed a netminder position opening on a buddy’s Division 3 team at Burnaby 8-Rinks Arena (http://www.icesports.com/Burnaby_HomePage.ashx) After just one game, I realized Training Tip #2 meant ENTIRE body protection was important. This is right about when I realized my new passion would give me something I had never considered – the need to get a really good job.

Training Tip #3: Be “selective” when mentioning to potential employers you are a hockey goalie. Aside from the stigma that we’re all ax-wielding emotional psychotics, many bosses figure a hockey goalie is a walking liability against injury & sick days. When you meet a boss-type that doesn’t realize that, GRAB THE GIG.

Over the years, I began to notice that I was actually improving. Saves were more than goals-against suddenly, and I was learning skills like…skating (or, so I thought), pad-stacks and getting a good hook of some buggar’s crotch when he wouldn’t get out of my way. I started reading some goaltender training books and magazines (Maxim has always been my favourite) and continued to join more teams and leagues as my confidence soared!

Then…I came across a fellow by the name of Paul Fricker, who runs The Goalie Store (www.goaliestore.com) After a bit of chatting and reviewing the info from his site, I asked if he wouldn’t mind setting up a quick-and-dirty coaching session for myself and six other buddies who were in the exact same boat as mine. Paul agreed, provided I could find some ice time (now…that’s a whole other topic we’ll hit on later!!), and after weeks of searching for availability and coordinating with my goalie crew, we were set.

I can still remember the excitement we all shared in the cramped change room of Excellent Ice (www.excellentice.com) as we prepared for our first-ever training session by a former NHL goalie. When asked what we wanted to focus the 2 hours on, we blurted out at random things like “2-on-1’s, breakaways, pass-outs, positioning, stick handling, water bottle juggling…” Then we hit the ice.

Paul took a different approach than what we expected. He asked us all to calmly skate to center ice and back. What he saw must have made his lunch condense. I’ll tell you though, after just 30 minutes of intense (albeit quite simple) drills, we started understanding the fundamentals of skating and felt a new sense of accomplishment. We then learned how to position effectively, side-skate, power skate, track & reposition for rebounds, quell pass-out dangers and execute an almost-half decent butterfly save (I say 'almost half-decent' as from the photo below...I seemed to have this annoying "lazy susan" way of getting down fast. Now, my teammates throw quarters in front of the net, and boy I drop quick lately!)

This was the first paid training session I (and my other goalie buds) had ever attended, and will state without a doubt it was the best money I’ve spent on my game. Apart from my Eagle crotch-cup, cuz boy has THAT come in handy on a few occasions!! Paul was great – he expressed patience, kept control, but above all had us leaving the ice with an incredible amount of newfound competence and bravado that I doubt will ever be forgotten. Our goals were small, and primarily focused around being able to make just two or three extra saves per game, but when you’re used to seeing more rubber fly past you than at a frat party, this was a huge gain.

Training Tip #4: Always bring condoms to frat (and sorority) parties. I really have no idea why I just said that…but it must have had merit back in my UBC days…

Would I recommend paid-training to anyone considering this? Absolutely. And to all the guys on teams I’ve played for in the past, I can only apologise for not having done this sooner. Well…maybe a few of you defense guys could have bucked up for some training too…or a lot of training. Well, it’s actually always the D’s fault when a goal goes in…so maybe I don’t really need to apologise. Right goalies??? ;)

If anyone else has had experience with training programs, we’d love to hear about it – good programs…bad ones…great coaches or rink facilities? Please feel free to share your comments here in our forum, and enjoy your games!!

Disclaimer: FarParker does not necessarily share the opinions & statements expressed by a goalie. People seldom to listen to goalies anyway, unless you’re Luongo, so if you read this, the goalie who wrote it thanks you…