NowVIZ / Shelby Rogers

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Cover photo by Andrea Mead Cross in South Florida with top p ro t e n n is p la y e r, S h e l b y Ro g e r s .

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THIRD STORY duane

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wHITNEY DOSTY

Member of the USA Women’s Sitting National Team currently ranked No. 1 in the world captured gold at the 2021 Paralympics in Tokyo.

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T h i s c o o l n e w d u o f o r Wa r n e r R e c o r d s , Los Angeles-based songwriters, vocalists, and multi-instrumentalists Kane Ritchotte and Malcolm McRae are resolved to set a bold new standard for modern rock and roll by offering a fresh take on a familiar vibe and sound.

LISTEN TO YOUR WORLD

Find out what our feature athletes and rockers are listening to!

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BEHIND

You just have to check behind the scenes!

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DUANE LAWRENCE

Design Director for ANTA Sports and one of the top footwear designers in the industry talks about his latest release, The ANTA GH3, designed for NBA star Charolette Hornets’ power forward, Gordan Hayward.

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SHELBY ROGERS

She has beaten some of the top pro tennis players in the world including Serena Williams, Simona Halep, and World No. 1, Ashleigh Barty.

An injury sidelined her for all of 2018. Since her return, the tennis world is taking notice.

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It’s probable that over the course of any athletic career an injury could sideline an athlete.

And no matter the severity the first question predominantly will be, “when will I be ready to play?” And the same was true in Whitney Dosty’s case. While playing professional volleyball overseas an ankle injury took her out of the game. And with no successful response, her stellar career ended just like that.

This is an athlete who started playing sports as a young girl beginning with ballet for over 13 years. Her background is packed with athletic accomplishments and accolades and her passion is real. She was one of the top high-school volleyball recruits in the nation and validated her performance as one of the top players at the University of Arizona. Her family is tight knit and has been 100% supportive in her determination and drive for success, whether in her sports or business endeavors.

Off the court her love is in the fashion industry and she’s created a swimsuit label fittingly for long torso women called, Wavelength.

But as life continued and it became inevitable that her pro volleyball career was over, it also became apparent she wasn’t finished competing. So she began to search to fill that void. It wasn’t easy.

Then, one day while visiting her mom she came across a sitting volleyball game on TV. That week she contacted the US Paralympic office to inquire and the following week she was off to a training camp! As they say when one door closes another opens, Whitney found that open door and made it gold.

NowVIZ Q+A

NowVIZ: Before we dive into your volleyball career, let’s talk about your dance background. You have studied ballet for sometime, like 13 years, in New York City at such prestigious schools as the American Ballet Theater (2001), Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (2002) and then, Dance Theater of Harlem (2003 & 2004). Can you tell us about this amazing experience?

“He’s ready to fight; he’s been off for a couple of years, so he’sWhitney: ready fight, period,” Sure, Ito began dancing when I was about five or six years-old.

When I was 14, I auditioned and was accepted to the American Ballet Fortune about Pacquiao.

Theater’s said summer program.

That was my first experience going to New

York and training at such a prestigious school. The next summer I knew I wanted to go back to New York but was interested in trying a new program and broadening my dance experience. I auditioned for Alvin Ailey and was accepted there as well. That was the first time that modern dance became a focus for me. The energy and the environment of the program was really exciting. It was there where I had the opportunity to meet Judith Jamison, who was also a very tall dancer like me. It was inspiring to learn from her.

The last two summers in New York I attended The Dance Theater of Harlem which was focused more on ballet.

NowVIZ: You had quite an indoor volleyball career playing on scholarship at the University of Arizona. Highlights include the PAC-10 All-Freshman team, being selected to represent Team USA at the FIVB U-20 World Championships and more recently your induction into the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame (Arizona). Congratulations!

Whitney: Thank you. I began playing volleyball my junior year of high-school because I wanted to try something new. Although I did hope for some of the outcomes I had from playing volleyball, I certainly didn’t expect it when I first stepped on the court in high-school.

NowVIZ: After graduating college in 2010 you went on to play professionally in Puerto Rico, Switzerland, Korea, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, where you suffered an ankle injury. Can you talk about that time?

Whitney: Having a professional career overseas was one of the most fun, and life changing experiences I have ever had. I’m fortunate to have been exposed to so many different cultures and blessed to have met so many people along my journey in other countries.

I didn’t play in Turkey long. It was no more than a day or two. I arrived in Turkey halfway through the season and during my first team practice I dislocated my ankle. During practice I was attacking from the back row and came down wrong on my ankle. I ended up getting picked up by an ambulance, taken to the hospital and had reconstructive surgery to fix it, or so I thought. I ended up having two more surgeries. It turned out I didn’t have much cartilage left in my ankle.

NowVIZ: What eventually led you to play for the USA Women’s Sitting National Volleyball team?

Whitney: I returned home after my injury in 2014 and was doing all of the physical therapy that I could. I even had a few cortisone shots in my ankle. I was always training and working out to return to (indoor) volleyball.

It never occurred to me that there would come a time when I couldn’t play indoor volleyball.

One day I happened to walk past the TV while my mom was watching the Invictus Games. It sparked my interest to see if there were any opportunities to play volleyball. My ankle was doing great but I felt like I was still so much of an athlete that there was surely something else I could get into. I did a lot of research online and soon found that USA Volleyball had a sitting volleyball program. I reached out and a month later attended my first training camp.

N ow V I Z : Yo u we r e n a m e d t o t h e 2 0 2 1 USA Paralympic Team that went to Tokyo and the USA Women’s Sitting Volleyball team won Olympic gold! What was that experience like?

Whitney: It was incredible, even now hard to still put into words. It has been such a rollercoaster for me getting to this point in my career, I am just grateful. I think about when I was a young girl and knew I wanted to be an Olympian and win a gold medal. The younger me would never have imagined I would be a Paralympian playing sitting volleyball and winning a gold medal at this point in my life.

Though the experience was far different from a typical Paralympic experience because of the pandemic, I am grateful for the memories. I will never forget it.

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“Manny Pacquiao is the greatest fighter in history.”

--Justin Fortune

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“The younger a Paralympian medal at this Photographer Andrea Mead Cross working with Whitney Dosty on location Tucson, Arizona.

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r me would never have imagined I would be n playing sitting volleyball and winning a gold point in my life.”

NowVIZ: How do you fuel your body to perform throughout the season?

Whitney: I am a vegetarian. I look for foods that keep my energy up and just try to keep the health and wellbeing of my body as a focus.

NowVIZ: What does your training look like throughout the season both physically and mentally?

Whitney: Our season is year round. We typically don’t have an in-season/ off-season and we travel a lot because the majority of our games are international unless we are having a scrimmage or unless we get to host. As residents, we practice 5 days a week (usually) and lift two times a week. Once a month we have team camps where our teammates, who are not residents, fly in for an intense weekend of training.

I take care of my mental wellbeing by reminding myself to do things that I love outside of volleyball as much as I can. I love sewing and coloring and designing swimsuits, and going to coffee shops and walks. I try to make space for things like that daily. I also believe in taking a break and resting when you can.

NowVIZ: You are also immersed in fashion, going to the School of Style for fashion stylists in New York and starting your own swimsuit line focussed on long torso women called, Wavelength! What motivates and inspires you?

Whitney: I was motivated to start Wavelength Swimwear because I am 6’3 and have struggled to find clothes my whole life. Finding a swimsuit that fit my torso felt impossible. I knew that if I was having this problem so were many of the tall women around the world and in my circle. No one’s body is cookie cutter and far too often women blame their bodies for not fitting into certain clothes. I want to be a part of the solution to create clothes and swimsuits that cater to different body types.

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Heading down to Mark Allen’s surf spot in Santa

A wise man once said, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Aristotle didn’t know just how true this is - especially when it comes to the alt pop group By the time Kane Ritchotte and Malcolm McRae, the multi-talented vocalists, instrumentalists and songwriters met, the timing couldn’t have been better. Both in their upper twenties, the duo have written songs influenced by the music they grew up on, and have combined the genres of pop, rock, art, literature, and film as influences for the basis of their music and lyrics.

Like many creatives, McRae came to LA looking to see how far he could take his musical talents as a singer/songwriter. With a few acting experiences under his belt, first in 2008 in the role of Young Paul in the short film “Brotherly” and more recently in 2020 as Gene Grady, a country singer, in the television series ‘How’dy!’ What came with the acting, was a soulful and charismatic voice to compliment a profound knowledge of music. His IDMB bio cites him as playing “guitar and piano” and singing “pop, folk, rockabilly, rock and musical theater.”

When Ritchotte met McRae, he was a seasoned musician and gifted songwriter/vocalist, and had been playing with the band Portugal. The Man. Like McRae, Ritchotte was no stranger to a youth exposed to music.

His father, the famed Rocket Richotte, was the guitarist for John Kay & Steppenwolf for close to a decade as well as other bands like Ricky Lee Jones.

According to family lore, Kane got his first drum set as a Christmas present when he was three years-old. His father recalls, “I set it up in the garage and when I opened the door on Christmas morning, Kane went crazy. We couldn’t get him off it. We got gun mufflers a day later. By that time, people were already noticing that he had talent. Gregg Bissonette (David Lee Roth Band drummer and other bands) would come over and show him beats and technical stuff, and he’s been playing ever since.”

When the duo met in LA, they recognized an immediate kinship—in influences and approach; philosophically as well. The magic ingredient for their music is their openness to each other’s musical styles, songwriting tendencies and cultural interpretations.

Pulling inspiration from legendary musicians such as John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, and Jeff Lynne, and creative geniuses as disparate as Bowie, The Kinks and Kendrick Lamar to name a few, more* is taking it all in.

“In some ways we’re trying to regurgitate all the things we’ve learned from different artists, both contemporary and old, and make something that impacts us the way they’ve impacted us,” McRae says.

This past July they released their debut EP ‘½’ produced by Tony Berg and signed by Warner. The five tracks on the new EP are lush and soulful, with a melodic guitar sound mixed with a hint of a psychedelic flair and a wry intelligence.

“We set out to make a record that we hoped would sound like no other—as it turned out, Kane and Malcolm are capable of nothing else,” says Berg. “They both have singular points of view and a strong aversion to following trends.”

There’s no singular recipe for creating the perfect pop song, but what McRae and Ritchotte have found together is a fusing of passions of multiple artistic genres. The resulting sounds are fresh and unusual, unique and timeless. These are melodic realms that linger in your mind.

“Our motivation at the end of the day,” Ritchotte continues, “is to reach out to people and extend a hand in hopes that they connect to that feeling along with us.”

a Cruz, California.

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NowVIZ Q+A

NowVIZ: What’s the story of how the two of you became more*?

Kane Richotte: We met through a mutual friend who was trying to link us up to collaborate for a while. I think both Malcolm and I were skeptical to meet at first, but ultimately we connected artistically almost immediately, and started writing together soon after.

NowVIZ: How did you begin your musical relationship with legendary producer/musician Tony Berg (Phoebe Bridgers, Lorde, Paul McCartney, etc.) at his famed Sound City Studios in Los Angeles?

Kane: We cold-called him actually. We are big fans of his work and hunted him down. Left him a voicemail that I’m sure would embarrass us both now, but luckily he responded to the courage (or naivety) and invited us to his house that week.

NowVIZ: You both have a strong aversion to following any type of trend. As artists, and as a duo, what leads your creative process?

Kane: We’re definitely averse to following any artistic trends, but we try to stay up to date on what’s going on in contemporary music. Whether it ends up being something we identify with or not, it’s all inspiring and interesting to us. We’re careful not to become novelists.

On location in LA with rock band DEAD SARA.

NowVIZ Q+A

NowVIZ: What types of music did you both listen to growing up?

Malcolm McRae: Like a lot of kids do before developing a more personal musical taste, I initially listened to what my parents and older sibling were playing. Specifically artists like Ray Charles, The Beatles, Chet Baker, etc. Funny enough, my dad had a dramatic flare, so the music of Madame Butterfly and Phantom of the Opera were also prevalent. I remember finding OutKast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below album and showing it to my family. This might have been the first instance where a reversal of introduction to something took place in our family dynamic. I also have a distinct memory of seeing a Gorillaz music video on MTV or maybe VH1. It felt much cooler than I was and I didn’t exactly understand the entirety of the project, with its blend of musical inspirations and the aesthetic, but it definitely felt good.

Eventually got into Neil Young, Bowie, The Strokes.

NowVIZ: The crisp vibe more* brings to the music scene is heard throughout each song starting with “Settled In” and “God Is in the Details,” and then you both continue to blend and weave your talents with “Green,” “Like Me,” and “Ride Along.” Can you talk about what ingredients make the cut for each song? And what’s next?

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Malcolm: We put a lot of effort into crafting the lyrics and chord changes so that, hopefully, regardless of the production, the song ‘works.’ Whether we’re successful at it is subjective, but it certainly seems to be the most important aspect. In terms of production, we were in a vortex of learning from Tony Berg, wanting to express ourselves in a grand way. This meant tapping into many melodic ideas to create a wide sonic landscape for each song. We’re now interested in pairing down production to the necessary elements.

We’re focusing on interesting and heavy tones to carry the emotional weight of the song.

Photo credit Bryan Ling

NowVIZ: Who are your greatest musical influences and current favorite musicians?

Malcolm: John Lennon for songwriting. He was capable of balancing very personal lyrics with a general relatability. His chord changes are also superb- think ‘Strawberry Fields.’ We listen to a lot of Blue Nile for the visceral elements and production as well as an artist called Mariah from the 80’s. Other than that, we’re always listening to a plethora of music, both contemporary and not. It’s all inspiring. There are very few, maybe none at all, artists where one can’t point to at least one element of inspiration.

Justin Fortune vs Lennox Lewis, 1995, The Point, Dublin, Ireland.

(L TO R) SIOUXSIE MEDLEY, EMILY ARMSTRONG, SEAN FRIDAY

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On location in the desert Tucson, Arizona

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NowVIZ: As a musician is there a person or mentor in your life that has helped you through the difficult times as well as the successful times?

Malcolm: Our producer and friend Tony Berg has been a polestar for us.

He’s very generous with his time and knowledge.

NowVIZ: Aside from your musical career(s) what inspires you on a daily basis?

Malcolm: Being more of an insular person, I read a lot. Both fiction and non-fiction. If you consider how many books you have the chance to read in your lifetime, there aren’t many opportunities to devour the amount of writing that’s out there. So trying to make productive reading choices is inspiring. Besides that, always movies, architecture, interesting people, and recently, motorsports.

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Duane: In April 2019, I moved to Xiamen, China where ANTA Basketball is headquartered. It’s a sunny island city off the Southeast coast of China.

Our building sits along the coast with an ocean view. This area of FuJian Province is home to many factory cities for the footwear industry, like Quanzhou, Fuzhou and Putian.

I’m a Design Director and recently switched to the Innovation Department where I’m responsible for some of our top end shoes, like signature shoes for Gordon Hayward and team shoes for our local street ball circuit. Right now, I’m putting the finishing touches on Klay Thompson’s next shoe, the KT8. Having lived in Oakland for three years of the Warriors’ historic run, I’m proud to be making a product that connects back to the Bay Area.

NowVIZ: Let’s talk about your latest release, the ANTA Gordon Hayward GH3. It has a sexy look with a fast paced vibe. How did you come up with this design?

Duane: Going through the GH2 process gave me a chance to learn what ANTA was all about—what they excel in; what their product offering was missing; and what they’re capable of delivering to the consumer. The GH3 is a shoe at the highest level that is attractive to quicker guards and shiftier wing players. It’s sleeker than other models and is packed with intuitive performance features and design details.

NowVIZ: Before arriving at the final design, you discussed the initial GH3 concept with legendary footwear designer, E. Scott Morris. How did this affect your design approach?

Duane: E. Scott is one of the most influential designers in this industry.

Whether its shoes or other designers’ he has inspired, he’s a creative, prolific and genuine person. He has a real gift for helping take your ideas to the next level. I first met him in 2003 during my Nike internship and have leaned on him for mentorship and brotherhood since.

I would often pop into his office to catch up. It could be about anything— shoes, news, sports, politics, our families, etc. Most of the time, we would share our newest concepts.

With my idea for the GH3. I immediately started sketching on his dry erase board. We discussed the importance of taking Gordon’s product to the next level in terms of true performance and how it was an opportunity to elevate ANTA basketball in the minds of consumers. We also brainstormed phrases that could best describe the high-performance vehicle vibe. It was E. who helped me turn GORDON HAYWARD into GO HARD on the GH2 lacing system.

His reaction was all I needed to feel like I was on the right track. I left his office with much more clarity than when I came in. I felt confident I measured enough to make my cut and the rest of the process took off from there. This was just one of many sketch sessions we’ll bookmark in our careers. At least I will.

NowVIZ Q+A

NowVIZ: Can you tell us a bit about ANTA and what you do there?

On location in Indianapolis with Alex Palou.

NowVIZ: One of the more intriguing steps in the creative process is inspiration. What was yours for the GH3?

Duane: The GH3 is inspired by Gordon Hayward’s proximity to auto racing, in his hometown of Indianapolis and his current city, Charlotte.

When the product team and I had an initial discussion about GH3, we started by taking inventory on GH1 and GH2. We graded ourselves on everything from aesthetics to fit, traction, color execution, weight, breathability and so on. The areas that we felt needed drastic improvement were traction and fit. That led to an auto racing theme I wanted to explore, that I would later dub, Start Your Engine.

I zeroed in on Gordon’s own Mustang GT500 Shelby, a model for the type of flare I wanted to give him. Naturally, speed, power and control were at the forefront of what we wanted to communicate through the product.

Number one for me was achieving a better fit so Gordon can feel secure in the shoe and benefit from the technology and constructions we used. I came up with The Harness, a multi-strap system that derives from the racing harness in sports cars. Keeping a player like Hayward locked in and on the footbed allows him to confidently make his moves on the court, which involves a lot of cutting and side to side movements. It works by having two webbings attached to the tongue on both sides that emerge through the side of the quarter panel and angle towards the heel. Two more straps are anchored in the heel that grab the mid foot straps and adjust the tightness of the mid foot area/tongue. The top of the tongue also has two windows like the cutouts in the head rest of a racing seat. It’s certainly one of the most secure shoes on the market. There’s a patent pending on the harness.

Next I wanted to guarantee a great ride. Through our newest foam technology called NitroEdge, we achieved cushioning, traction and stability. This has a 82% energy return for more bounce. I then borrowed tread patterns from racing tires to create the ultimate grip.

Framing the tread pattern is another traction design intended to look like a race track and a checkered flag in the heel.

Lastly, there’s a TPU stabilization piece on the outside of the midsole that gives players more lateral control when they’re stopping and changing directions. This piece was stylized after the GT500 body panel.

Finally, we look for breathability. The front of the shoe is open mesh that exposes the sock-like construction underneath. These open materials don’t offer the greatest support so we reinforce them in key areas, like a car chassis. My approach was to build the “chassis” using details from the auto world. Two racing stripes offer the toe structure, while the number 20— styled to look like a racing number—provides support to either side.

NowVIZ Q+A

NowVIZ: Can you describe some of the many kick ass details of the GH3?!

Duane: My favorite part of a signature shoe is burying hidden details in the design. There are many on the GH3:

The TPU mid foot shank (for arch support and mid foot rigidity) is in the shape of Indiana. Gordon believes Indiana’s pedigree of basketball players can compete with any other state.

On the bottom of the right shoe is the date: 03/23/1990, Gordon Hayward’s birthday. The left shoe reads 09/23/2020, Gordon’s son’s birthday, whose initials are purposefully GT (Gordon Theo Hayward).

The Lateral TPU Stabilizer has two notches in the forefoot for flexibility. Last but not least, so as not to leave the Tiger inspiration from GH1 and 2 behind, the grooves are made to look like tiger teeth.

The lead colorway was taken from the paint job of his GT500.

Rather than put GH3 on the back, I put GH300 as a nod to the car model.

NowVIZ: What motivates and inspires you on a daily basis?

Duane: How far from my beginnings I’ve come. And how far I can still go. Continuing to learn. Knowing there’s always a new lesson waiting for you. When it comes to signature shoes, I love the hunt of finding details. Discovering interesting things about the player to inject into the product that resonates with consumers.

Duane: When it’s pencil down, I head to the gym. My number one priority outside of work is keeping healthy, whether training, basketball or recovery. You have to stay active. Then comes travel and making music. I’m also pretty adamant about learning Mandarin. I have class once or twice a week depending on my schedule. I actually just passed my level 3 exam this month.

Alex Palou pushing the #10.

Photo Shutterstock

NowVIZ: How do you spend your time away from the footwear design world?

NowVIZ: Anything cool coming in the future?

Duane: I’m excited to be working on Klay Thompson’s next shoe. As a fan, I’m happy to see him back in a uniform. This one also has a lot of cool details to share. And being on the innovation team, we’re beginning to pen ideas for the next Olympics.

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and when her sister began playing tennis, Shelby wanted to play tennis. It just so happened she was good at it, developing into one of the top players in the world and one of most charismatic competitors on the professional tennis circuit.

But it hasn’t always been an easy road as her career was temporarily sidelined in 2018. Suffering a chronic knee injury, one that saw numerous attempts at non-surgical treatments, she made the visceral decision to undergo surgery. Over the next year, along with the help of a good team surrounding her, Shelby worked diligently to come back and the time invested in her recovery was well worth the wait. It fuelled her determination to return to the game in the best shape of her career, while making all the necessary adjustments in her training to move to that next level. It would prove to be a defining moment. A bridge towards another chapter in her career, giving Rogers with the strength to reach greater heights.

With an enthusiasm that never waned, Rogers returned on tour in 2019, and quickly emerged as the emotional fan favorite in front of her hometown crowd at the Charleston Open. As a follow-up she won the Central Coast Pro Tennis Open to become one of the feel-good stories of the season.

As she continued the momentum, she advanced to the semi-finals of the 2020 Top Seed Open, a first in her WTA career, with a monumental victory against Serena Williams. And 2021 produced another huge win this time over World No. 1 Ash Barty at the 2021 US Open. Undeniably seminal moments for Rogers, both wins are testament to her standing as one of the rising stars of the game.

And as she begins this 2022 season with a career-best WTA single ranking at No. 36, the potential for greater summits and new heights remains unlimited. Having demonstrated an admirable character in her comeback and a perseverance to defeat some of the game’s finest, Rogers is focussed on a future tournament victory. This would be the crowning touch for a player who was uncertain of her future in tennis and whose fierce determination and dynamic personality generate a buzz wherever she plays.

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Shelby: I started playing tennis when I was around four years old. My older sister took lessons and I wanted to do everything she did and be just like her. I loved it. Eventually I played my first tournaments when I was seven. I was always very competitive and loved the individual aspect of the game. Everything was on my racquet. I then started working with some great coaches and had the same one from seven years old until I was 18.

NowVIZ Q+A

NowVIZ: When did you start to play tennis?

NowVIZ: You had knee surgery in 2018 along with an extended recovery period. How did you endure the time off from competition and what type of physical recovery plan made it a success?

Shelby: My knee surgery was the toughest decision I ever made.

I wondered if I would ever play again. The team around me was incredible and kept pushing me to lengths I didn’t think I could go, encouraging me to believe that I could come back better than before.

The most important thing was gaining a great perspective and realizing that this game and my career in tennis won’t last forever. After having it taken away for over a year, I’m grateful for every opportunity I get to step on court and compete, which gives me freedom to play fearlessly and at a high level. But it was extremely difficult. I didn’t watch tennis for a while and I was confused and jealous of others who were playing.

There is no secret to the rehab plan. It’s going to the gym every day and doing the work. Those boring exercises where you have to count to 30 for 5 sets…do them. The days you are sore and don’t want to go, get there. It’s the little details that add up. I also want to say that it’s okay to feel sad. Cry, be angry, and go through a whole variety of emotions. It’s totally normal. It was necessary for me to work through some of those days and end up on the other side with an improved, positive, and excited outlook.

NowVIZ: You returned from tour April 2019 after an injury and haven’t looked back. You’ve beaten some of the best players in the world including Serena Williams, Simona Halep, and Ashleigh Barty and pushed to the quarter finals at the 2021 Indian Wells. Give us the scoop!

Shelby: I really reevaluated my game in 2020 during this lockdown period. It was a confusing time. We didn’t know what was going to happen. So, I made it a point to get really fit and continue working out during this period of no tournaments. I made sure every aspect of my health was on point, no deficiencies or weaknesses and really tried to address things that I normally couldn’t do while traveling. I think having time off from the hectic world of travel really helped me enjoy it when I returned, even with Covid protocols and weird restrictions.

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Photo Peter Mundy/Speed Media/Shutterstock

Rogers on her way to a win over Maria Sakkari at this year’s 2022 Adelaide International 1, Australia

NowVIZ: As one of the top players on tour, how do keep your focus both mentally and physically?

Shelby: The training days are tough. This includes physical training, as well as mental and resting/recovering. The more years I am on tour the more I have learned to listen to my body and give it what it needs. That might not entail 6 hours of training, but maybe video work and a massage instead.

I’ve learned to seek balance and define hard work best suited to my body, not by being influenced by how other people train. The mindset is huge in this sport and holding yourself accountable even on the days we struggle is important. Not every day will be good but there is some good in every day if you commit and bring 100% to that moment.

NowVIZ: You have become incredibly fit. How do you fuel your body to perform throughout the season?

Shelby: I don’t have any specific diets but I try to eat as many whole and clean foods as I can. I make my choices based on whether or not it will help my body and its performance.

It’s so important to think about not only fueling yourself for energy but also supporting your brain function. This means limiting sugar, alcohol, bad fats, etc.

Photo courtesy of Cort Carpenter

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Photographer

r Andrea Mead Cross working with Shelby Rogers on location Delray Beach, Florida

NowVIZ: Is there a particular tournament or match in your career that has become an important milestone?

Shelby: Honestly, some of the most important matches for me are ones that I lose. Sometimes it’s by one or two points here and there, where you know you missed a huge opportunity.

These have the ability to light a fire under you. In 2016, the week before I made my first QF at the French Open I lost twice in the warm-up tournament.

I lost in the last round of qualies and then again in the main draw. I felt like I was playing well but just lost these matches by inches. Sure enough, the next week was one of the most memorable experiences on a tennis court. Always keep fighting.

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NowVIZ: Do you or have a mentor, friend, or someone in your corner to offer guidance through the challenging times in your career? If so, how have they helped?

Shelby: I have had so many people throughout my career that have helped me. From my coaches, to friends, other players, and family. It really does take a village. I like to talk with former players to learn from their incredible wisdom and experiences. There is so much to be learned from people like Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Pam Shriver, Laurie Fleming, Kim Clijsters, etc. I have the humbling privilege to be able to interact with them fairly often.

NowVIZ: What inspires you daily to get you on the court?

Shelby: I am so internally motivated by my goals, but also to inspire others. There is no better feeling than seeing the smiles on kids faces when they are at your match or when they come up to me and say I want to be like you when I grow up. I remember watching professional players as a junior and even the smallest actions or conversations can make such an impact. I try to be conscious of how I treat the fans, ball kids, and spectators because without them I wouldn’t have the opportunity to be where I am.

NowVIZ: Give us a peek at what your off-season looks like?

Shelby: Off-season is a short vacation that is then replaced with pre-season training. I think tennis might be the one sport where the players take the least amount of time off. It really is year-round training, always planning for the next event. My favorite way to vacation is right at home on my couch (staycation if you will) since I am traveling most of the year. I cherish my time at home with friends and family and being able to have a consistent daily routine in one place…cooking in my kitchen, sleeping in my own bed, planning in advance, and scheduling fun activities that I enjoy like paddle boarding, golf, and beach time.

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KANE RITCHOTTE, more*

A newer artist called Dijon. And Naughty By Nature.

MALCOLM McRAE, more*

Dizzee Rascal’s debut, “Boy in da Corner.” Can’t stop listening

WHITNEY DOSTY, PARALYMPIAN

Ha sure! Well, I have a long drive coming up as I return to training Oklahoma. I’m starting to get my playlist/podcast lineup togethe favorite podcasts are usually women entrepreneurship podcasts. favorite is Girlboss Radio. I’ll definitely be listening to that on the d and whatever else pops up on my Spotify Daily Mix.

SHELBY ROGERS, PRO TENNIS PLAYER

I can be all over the place, but it all depends on my mood. My favorite music is country. Right now there is a lot of Thomas Rhett, Jason Aldean, NEEDTOBREATHE, Lee Brice, and Ed Sheeran “Shivers” is a jam.

DUANE LAWRENCE, ANTA DESIGN DIRECTOR

Ari Lennox, Jidenna, Nas, Kanye, the “I Am Athlete” Podcast there are some great conversations on there.

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behind the scenes

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On location with Paralympic gold medalist Whitney Dosty.

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behind the scenes

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Photographer Andrea Mead Cross and Whitney Dosty.

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behind the scenes

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In the desert with Kane Ritchotte and Malcolm McRae of more* Justin Fortune and Manny P

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Behind the scenes with more*

Photographer Andrea Mead Cross on the set with more*

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Working with top pro tennis player, Shelby Rogers.

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behind behind the the scenes scenes

On location in South Florida with Shelby Rogers.

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Working with Shelby Rogers in South Florida.

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Photographer Andrea Mead Cross and Shelby behind the scenes!

IMAGE

CREDITS+THANk YOU’S This issue kicks off the 2022 new year with a incredible group!

Features include, Paralympic gold medalist, Whitney Dosty, the fresh new sound and vibe of LA duo, Kane Ritchotte and Malcolm McRae of the band more*, top pro tennis player, Shelby Rogers, and ANTA Design Director, Duane Lawrence.

Believing that possibilities are possible and believing in yourself when the going gets tough is what has made this group a success. Thank you for sharing a piece of your world with us!

NowVIZ editor and writer, Hilary Stunda brings her wealth of creativity and experience to our team having worked as producer for, The Outdoor Life Network, Editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Aspen, writing for Lexus, Art in America, Interview, ARTnews, just to name a few. She works this issue writing the feature music intro for the band more* and is an incredible addition to each issue. We love her vision and originality!

Also joining us this issue is writer, Mark Staffieri by way of Toronto, Canada who has been with our team since its inception.

Having written for Bleacher Report, Hockey Canada and Legends Football League (Canada) he continues to infuse his talent into each assignment. For this issue he writes the feature intro for top pro tennis player Shelby Rogers.

And to photographer Andrea Mead Cross who has been essential in the continued growth and development of NowVIZ! Her vision and creativity exceed expectations and we’re excited she continues to be a part of NowVIZ! We also have to mention an awesome team of individuals that continue to energize each issue that include, the talented Beckett Knolls, Emma Stark, Raf Breuer, Finley Nelson and Marc Cohen. Thank you for your thankless job and positive vibes!

Hope you enjoyed the ride!

All inquiries, NowVIZmag@gmail.com

@NOWVIZMAG

2021 All Rights Reserved NowVIZ sports + beyond digital magazine and NowVIZ.com COPYRIGHT 2021 No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission. This magazine is viewed with the understanding that the information present is from varied sources for which there can be no warranty or respondsibility by NowVIZ.com as to the accuracy or completeness.

Malcolm McRae and Kane Ritchotte of more*