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Cover photo by Andrea Mead Cross on location at Ganassi Racing HQ with five-time NTT IndyCar Series champion, Scott Dixon.
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FRESH reads 28
MARK ALLEN
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RBAR ENERGY
Six-time Ironman World champion and three-time triathlete Hall of Famer, Mark Allen might be retired from racing, but he’s still rockin’ the triathlon world.
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BOOK REVIEW
Top photographer Andrea Mead Cross showcases her talent along side an amazing group of world-class athletes and all for a cause.
RBar Energy founder, Brian Cornelius might have the stock answer for why he started a new energy bar, but he’s leading the pack with their brand values: Trust, Simplicity, and Pursuit.
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precious hannah
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LISTEN TO YOUR WORLD
Nike / Jordan Kids footwear designer, Precious Hannah takes Generation Z to the next level in kicks.
What’s pumpin’ through your headphones? Find out what the athletes are listening to!
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SCOTT DIXON
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BEHIND THE SCENES
He’s a five-time IndyCar Series champion, he’s got 46 career wins, he’s won the Indy 500, and he’s third on the all-time list. And Scott Dixon is still hungier then ever!
You just have to check it out!
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PERSEVERANCE. PERFECTION. PROFICIENT. Recognized in 2012 by ESPN as “The Greatest Endurance Athlete of All Time,” the phenomenal athletic endeavors of Mark Allen have attained legendary status. Affirming such status is the fascinating fact that the gracious, yet humble, Allen, is also a former All-American swimmer from UC San Diego, who holds the rare and esteemed membership in three Halls of Fame— the Ironman Triathlon, the USA Triathlon, and the International Triathlon Union (ITU) Halls. Renowned for his heroics in the Ironman Triathlon World Championships, Allen, who calls Santa Cruz, California, home, is also an ITU Olympic Distance World Champion. In 1989, Allen won the inaugural competition, held in Avignon, France, the same year in which he captured his first-ever Ironman Triathlon title. As one of the greatest competitors in the annals of the Ironman Triathlon, held annually in Kona, Hawaii, Allen established a treasured place in the event’s lore. While he captured six gold medals (1989-93, 1995), along with two silver medals (1986-87) plus one bronze (1983), the most compelling aspect of his body of work may be his determination. While he debuted at the Ironman Triathlon in 1982, it would take Allen seven years before he won the championship. Considering the commendable amount of self-discipline, motivation, and patience required to endure after so many attempts, Allen’s character and perseverance may be more impressive than the achievements themselves. The path towards the summit of Allen’s first Triathlon triumph was one also built on rivalry. During the 1980s, Allen’s rivalry with fellow Californian Dave Scott, who was the first to capture six Ironman World Championships. Their rivalry was akin to other legendary sports rivalries from that magical decade, including basketball’s Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, or Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux from ice hockey. Having finished as the runner-up to Scott in consecutive years (1986-87), Allen would finally surpass his distinguished rival on October 14, 1989. Considered “The Greatest Race Ever Run” in the history of the Ironman Triathlon, Allen recorded a time of 8:09:14, while Scott’s time was 8:10:13, a margin of only 59 seconds separating the competitors. Marking the first of five consecutive Ironman World Championships, a record that still stands, Allen would actually top his championship time from 1989, twice. In 1992, Allen’s run to the gold was six seconds faster, while the following year, he reached a personal best of 8:07:46. Notably, the epic rivalry between Allen and Scott also included another Californian. Winning two gold medals, three consecutive silver medals, plus bronze twice, Scott Tinley also helped define the first decade of the Ironman. Of note, this triptych of Ironman pre-eminence swept the podium in 1983 and 1986. Although Allen would retire from competition in 1996, his love of the sport and competition never wavered. It remained his raison d’etre. Burnishing his athletic legacy has included a highly successful transition into a myriad of ventures.
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Heading down to Mark Allen’s surf spot in Santa Cruz, California.
One of which is a series of books on fitness, including Workouts for Working People, from 2000, co-written with Bob Babbitt and Julie Moss, and The Art of Competition, published in 2014. His most popular literary work may be the 2007 release, Fit Body, Fit Soul. Written In collaboration with Brant Secunda, it incorporates elements of Shamanism, which Allen has practiced. Both Secunda and Allen hold seminars on the website: https://www.fitsoul-fitbody.com/. While Allen has graced numerous magazine covers, including Outside magazine, and worked as a motivational speaker and consultant and has launched a national fitness campaign in Chile, the core of his focus is on empowering others to reach their peak performance. Those who have experienced “Mark Allen Coaching” first hand know he leavens his coaching with candor and empathy. Reflecting back on his triathlon odyssey, Allen was able to see that his approach was based on trial and error. Occasionally, a strategy of his might be to emulate another triathlete, especially if that competitor emerged victorious. But the key for Allen was understanding that not every approach was an ideal fit. This realization redefined his career while setting the foundation for his future in coaching. What Allen refers to as an art form, in terms of coaxing out the upper limits of one’s performance, involves employing training wisdom and basic workout necessities. Allen’s “art form” has become a labor of love called Mark Allen Coaching, and Mark Allen Online, which trains athletes all over the world. Allen’s experience, producing a series of peerless results, including a 21 race winning streak from ’88 to ’90, and a run split of 2:40:04 at the 1989 Ironman Triathlon -still standing as the fastest time- is the cornerstone of this athlete’s amazing accomplishments. His coaching methodology involves three core principles: perspective, the matrix, and evolution. Perspective represents the value of a second opinion, including assessment, that necessary voice of reason, and the acumen to know when it is best to decrease and recognize the need to push through. Realizing the work-life balance, matrix works on successfully internalizing and treating triathlon and life as one entity. Establishing a training program that is realistic, while including the guidance of an experienced competitor, offers the right encouragement to maximize their efforts. The third and final pillar is incorporating an effective coach, one with vast experience because reducing the guesswork for an athlete is of such great importance. Instilling the mental toughness required to excel and to meet one’s goals may be the most crucial element. Through it all, Allen has always had a sincere enjoyment of the sport and a genuine appreciation for the sweat and sacrifice exerted by athletes. While learning about performance through a new generation of athletes, and in sharing his vast knowledge, a sense of satisfaction emanates from a man who helps provide others with the building blocks to prepare -both mentally and physically- for peak performance.
RICH CRUSE / CRUSEPHOTO.COM
Photo credit: MAMMUT
Great things come from humility rather than being in control. Yes, we all want to control our destiny, but life is so much bigger than our capacity to be bigger than it. When I was humble enough to say okay, I may not like this situation or how this race is unfolding, but still gave it everything I had, it always turned out incredibly well.
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NowVIZ Q+A
NowVIZ: What motivated you to get into triathlons? Mark: There’s the obvious answer and then there’s the one that I rarely give. The clear driving inspiration came by seeing the IRONMAN triathlon on Wide World of Sports in February 1982. It looked crazy and insane, but it scratched my curiosity. Could I do that!? Underlying that intrigue was a sense that the Island of Hawaii was calling me to do it, like it was singing this magnetic melody to my soul that I couldn’t resist. So I went. NowVIZ: What kind of training worked best for you as a top athlete and did your training change throughout your career? Mark: The one overriding key to my training was balance. That meant balance between going easy and going hard, between racing enough but not too much, to being consistent but then backing off if that was the call on any given day. And this balance evolved every single year of my 15-year career. No two years were the same in training. My body, life and my mindset were always changing, and with that my training adapted to optimize how I blended those three things together. NowVIZ: Reflecting on your race life, what were some of the components that you continued to work on throughout your career that were necessary to win? Mark: The thread that ran through everything I did was to try to continually grow as a person through what I did in sport. That meant getting better at managing doubts and fears, to become more confident by surrendering to the difficulty and challenge of racing and working with it rather than fighting it, and to become more and more grateful for the chance to wake up each day and give it everything I had. NowVIZ: What races specifically became milestones in your career and why? Mark: There were several, and they were not necessarily one race. The Nice International Triathlon in France was a cornerstone in that I raced it ten times and won it ten times. That’s ten years of perfection on one single day each year. Another was the first ever ITU Olympic Distance World Championship in 1989. I won that and beat the best in the world at short distance racing in the race that put triathlon in motion to become an Olympic sport. And then the final cornerstones were my 12 races at the IRONMAN in Kona. The first six I lost. The second six I won. It’s very difficult to describe how challenging it was to keep coming back during all those devastating setbacks early on, or to explain how demanding it was to show up six more years and be one step better than everyone else in the world. NowVIZ: What attributes did you take from your triathlon life to your current life? Mark: One is that great things come from humility rather than being in control. Yes, we all want to control our destiny, but life is so much bigger than our capacity to be bigger than it. When I was humble enough to say okay, I may not like this situation or how this race is unfolding, but still gave it everything I had, it always turned out incredibly well.
NowVIZ: As you were exiting your incredibly successful triathlon career, what was the motivating factor? Mark: This was simple. My overarching goal during my career was to retire healthy, uninjured and not burned out. Training for triathlons at a world-class level is demanding as you can imagine, and it can be so easy to go for the glory one too many times and then you end up paying a price for it the rest of your life. I retired from IRONMAN competition after my sixth win in 1995. Yes, I was healthy and still at the top of the sport and likely could have raced well for a few more years. But I also felt like I might pay a price for it later. Thankfully I am still healthy and have no overuse injuries or problems even today at age 62. NowVIZ: What inspiration do you use that helps to continue success in whatever you do? Mark: It’s the same as when I raced. I am trying to grow personally from what I do both professionally and within the way I do sports now. I coach athletes, teach workshops on health and wellness and do inspirational speaking. Within all of those I continually try to evolve and perfect how I help others, and that helps me to grow. I also surf almost every day. And for anyone who does that sport you know every day is a learning opportunity to perfect how your body works with the waves. NowVIZ: As a coach what do you concentrate on most with your athletes, the physical training or mental training? Mark: I always start with the physical training. That’s the easy entry point for me to connect with athletes. But then as my understanding of them grows, and as their trust in me strengthens, it evolves into helping them with the human side of racing and training. And that part that is like the secret sauce that turns sport from just being about numbers to becoming something that is a journey through life that is rich and rewarding every single day.
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NowVIZ: What do you do these days to stay so incredibly fit? Mark: I mostly surf. I live in Santa Cruz, CA and reside two blocks from one of the main breaks there, a point break called Pleasure Point. There are no two days that are the same. It requires learning the language of the ocean every time I paddle out. It’s cardio, stretching, stress relief, time in nature and just being in community. It’s the complete package. And it pushes me to be in tune with my body and the ocean. I also do some functional strength work and continue to do some running and indoor cycling for conditioning. NowVIZ: You were famous for having the calm demeanor when you raced. Where did that come from? Mark: I’m basically a calm person, but I’ll admit, when things got tough in a race, I could freak out with the best of them! And that mental meltdown happened every year in Kona in my first six losses at the IRONMAN. The race would get tough, I’d start to fade, someone would begin to pull away and my race was done. Fortunately, I started studying Huichol shamanism with Brant Secunda. This tradition has so many practices that helped me get my mind quiet and to lock into that place I call a champion’s mindset, which is the perfect blend of feeling peace and power. A peaceful mindset doesn’t get rattled. Sensing my power or strength gives me confidence to be patient and attack at just the right time and to also give it everything I have even if success looks completely impossible. NowVIZ: A lot of athletes struggle with their performance as they age. How do you deal with that? Mark: I tell people it’s simple…I just keep downgrading my expectations! Actually, this is a very good question. I just keep evolving what I am trying to gain by doing sports. If it’s a fast time compared to my 30-year old self, then for sure it’s going to be devastatingly disappointing. But if I measure a great day based on just getting the best out of what I had on the day, then it’s rewarding. I have also placed a much higher value on just being able to go out and do something every day rather than waiting for the carrot of a specific day to have sport be worth pursuing. As always, I am trying to end a session better than it started. And with that as a goal, even though I can have some pretty epically lousy surf sessions, most have at least one element of doing something I never did before, even as one of the older guys in the water. And that is super rewarding. NowVIZ: What’s the secret to longevity in sports? Mark: One is consistency. If you are able to be consistent day in and day out, that means you are training at a level where you are recovering and your body is not paying a huge toll that gets you injured or burned out. Another is to balance your activity. That means do some cardio, do some strength, do some work on flexibility, do some different sports. And the third is to use sport to perfect yourself. Learn something from it each and every time you train. Even if you only do one thing, like running, try to move just a little more efficiently today than you did yesterday. And if this is your goal, it will always be fresh and you will never get in a rut because it’s always exciting knowing you will come home from a session a richer person because of it.
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NowVIZ Q+A
NowVIZ: Can you give us a rundown of how your job evolved over the past seven and a half years? Precious: Over the past few years, my job has evolved from being an Accessory + Equipment designer to a Kid’s Footwear designer. Although the product is very different in the way of design and execution, it’s also very refreshing to switch disciplines and take inspiration from the youth to inspire future designs. NowVIZ: Is there a particular project to date that has become an important addition to your portfolio? Why? Precious: Yes! The Air Jordan 1 Crib Bootie. This project was very personal for me because I was a new mom—who still loved sneakers. Onyx already had a crazy sneaker game before he took his first breath, but after putting on his first pair of Jay’s I became very frustrated. It took me about 5 minutes to put them on him and took him 30 seconds to kick them off. I instantly thought about the necessity vs the hype of this situation. It would cost the consumer $55 for these shoes, which is equivalent to a box of 192 diapers at Costco. So the logical thing would be to try and fix the issue that I knew other parents faced. NowVIZ: What do you feel has been the most important factor in keeping the Jordan brand a continued success? Precious: The Brand is great with staying hyper-connected with the consumer. Giving the consumer the ability to experience not only performance + sportswear but also womenswear and catering to that line. That’s very exciting from my point of view. NowVIZ: It’s difficult, at times, starting a new project. Has there been a particular way or method over the years that has become your go-to helping you jumpstart the process? Precious: I just try and keep a clear mind. Listening to people and things around me. I’ve learned that although it might seem difficult at first to start a project, taking some time to dig into the deeper meaning of it will eventually open up a sector to a bright idea.
“I think keeping anyone’s attention in this day and age is di ff icul t. Understanding how to move lines and create compelling stories is what keeps the consumer interested. As long as I can be authentic within the direction I’m taking when I’m designing, I’m pretty sure it will grab someone’s eye.”
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NowVIZ: What challenges do you encounter when you design for an audience that is constantly bombarded with choice? How hard is it keeping their attention? Precious: I think keeping anyone’s attention in this day and age is difficult. Understanding how to move lines and create compelling stories is what keeps the consumer interested. As long as I can be authentic within the direction I’m taking when I’m designing, I’m pretty sure it will grab someone’s eye. NowVIZ: All designers get inspiration from many different sources and areas, what keeps you fresh? Precious: Being hands-on and building things keeps me fresh. The more I can interact with objects from a tactile perspective, the more it sharpens the way I think and understand how things function properly. NowVIZ: You’ve got a three year old beautiful baby boy and we bet he’s always wearing some killer kicks! How did your life change when he came into the world and did that affect you as a designer? Precious: Onyx is quite the stylist, I must say. Even if this kid has on who knows what, he walks into any room with the confidence and security knowing he’s wearing what expresses himself to the fullest extent. Onyx has changed the way I approach things. What I wear or how I present myself to others has become very matter of fact. I make sure to show up correctly and to believe in what I’m designing. He taught me how to implement empathy—not only into my designs, but also into my everyday ritual. That is something I can’t thank him enough for. NowVIZ: As a designer are you able to stay active and If so what kind of training are you into? Precious: I’m really into boxing and lifting. There’s something about doing a proper hang clean that just lets me know that I can conquer whatever hiccup that might come my way. NowVIZ: If you had the option to be anything you wanted to be, would you still be a designer? Precious: Yes! I absolutely love design. I would probably venture out of product design and do more experimental space design. Lately, there has been something about human interaction with spaces and the emotions surrounding them.
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There’s an eerie silence before the engine starts Adrenaline 240 miles per hour Curves,, cars inches apart Making corrections.. No time to think Calculated moves.. Crashes Leap-frogging to get to the front Choosing who to trust and not to trust Always remembering where you came from In car racing,, It defines who you are
Car racing sensation Scott Dixon has racing in his blood. “My childhood was at race tracks,” says Dixon, whose New Zealand parents were both dirt-track race car drivers. “My father owned a speedway that I went to all the time. I started go-karts at a young age.” Dixon has been competing for Chip Ganassi Racing since joining IndyCar in 2003. Since then he has won the championship five times: in 2003, when he was 23 years old, in 2008, 2013, 2015 and in 2018. “He’s arguably the IndyCar driver of our generation” says Ganassi. “All around, on the track, off the track, he’s the complete package.” And he is only the fifth driver to win at least four titles. “Winning is what it’s all about,” says DIxon. “That’s what I do.” With 46 wins, Dixon has the third highest winnings in American Championship Cars history, behind only AJ Foyt and Mario Andretti. “When he isn’t going fast, he doesn’t feel alive,” says wife Emma Davies, a former Welsh and British 800m champion. Together, they have two daughters, Poppy and Tilly, and a son named Kit, who was born in 2019. “Hours before the race, I have already switched off from family life and am focussed on racing,” says Dixon. While the quiet, disciplined competitor has been referred to as “The Iceman” because of his cool, unflappable demeanor on the track, what’s even more impressive is his demeanor off the race course.
“He is one of IndyCar’s greatest ambassadors” says Ganassi. Not to mention a true gentleman. Among many awards over the years, in 2019 Dixon was honored by Queen Elizabeth. Twice a year, on New Year’s Day and on her official birthday, the Queen’s Birthday Honours List acknowledges individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to society. Dixon received the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of his services to motorsports. Accolades aside, it is Dixon’s character that drives his excellence; a deep humility informs the backbone of this racer. No amount of physical and mental training can defeat chance. Racers know this more than almost anyone. The risks are great when trying to achieve perfection amidst such mortal variabilities. Sometimes having a great run isn’t enough. After fellow driver Dan Wheldon died in 2011, Dixon and his family moved to Florida for several months to support Wheldon’s family. When Justin Wilson died in 2015, Dixon remained with his family. The documentary, Born Racer/The Scott Dixon Story released in 2018 provides a glimpse into the steely mindset and training of the formula 1 racer. Dixon is splashing with his daughters in his swimming pool. Everyone is happy, playful. In a flash, almost imperceptible, a soberness shifts across Dixon’s face. It’s only a split second. He smiles again as he pulls his daughter through the water. Every moment has its time and place and Dixon knows it.
NowVIZ Q+A
NowVIZ: You grew up on a race track in New Zealand, your dad owned a speedway, and both your parents were race car drivers! What was that like growing up? Scott: It was a pretty cool experience actually. My dad and mom were both heavily involved in racing, and having two parents that raced was definitely unique. When I was old enough I got my first try and have been hooked ever since. I’m glad it worked out because I’m not sure what other skills I had to take me through life (haha). NowVIZ: You were selected in a worldwide poll among fans as one of the 33 greatest drivers in Indianapolis 500 history. Other notable awards you’ve won, the Jim Clark Trophy (1999, 2001, 2004 and 2019) and the Bruce McLaren Trophy (2003, 2008). In the 2009 New Year Honors, you were appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to motorsport, and in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honors, promoted to Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. And in 2008 and 2013 New Zealand’s Sportsman of the Year! What do these milestones mean to you? Scott: Well it’s very humbling I can tell you that. When I started out racing in New Zealand and then Australia and then even in the US, when I was in my late teens, I could have never imagined this level of success. I got some good breaks along the way and had a lot of people behind me that took a chance on a young kid. I still use that as motivation to keep going…I try to represent the people who supported my career and still do to this day. I don’t want to let them down. It’s something that drives me to perform.
At Ganassi Racing Team Headqu
uarters in Indianapolis.
NowVIZ: You are a five-time IndyCar Series Champion, an Indy 500 winner, and with 46 career wins, that puts you third on the all-time list! What else would you like to accomplish to define your career?
Scott: More wins, more championships and definitely a few more Indianapolis 500s! It’s hard to believe we won Indy way back in 2008, and haven’t been back to victory lane since then. I’ve been close and finished second several times, but I’m hungrier than ever to win more 500s. We’ve got the team and the partners to continue to be successful for a longtime. I’m up for the challenge.
NowVIZ: You’ve been competing for Chip Ganassi Racing since joining IndyCar in 2003. Can you give us some history racing for Chip? Scott: Chip is the type of owner that every race driver wants to drive for. He’s very involved with the team, but also gives you enough space to do your thing and doesn’t micromanage. He constantly asks if you have all the tools you need in order to be successful, and then goes out and gets those tools if you need something. Any driver would tell you that’s what they would dream of in terms of driving for someone. Chip knows the game. He was a strong driver growing up and was into Indy car racing in the 1980s. He understands the business more than anyone and is committed. What more could you ask for in a boss? NowVIZ: You’re known as the “Iceman” for your cool demeanor in high pressure situations. How did you get your nickname and have you always been this way? Scott: Man, I must be getting old…I don’t remember when that started but I think people started saying it because of my demeanor. I’ve always been this way. I’m kind of quiet and under the radar most of the time. I do credit my wife Emma for getting me out of my shell a bit over the years. I like to focus on the job at hand to get the most out of myself and the team to achieve the results I know we’re capable of. Maybe that’s why the name stuck after all those years… NowVIZ: What inspires you to keep getting behind the wheel? Scott: I still enjoy the training and the tough, physical aspect of driving, the business as well as the competition of the sport. It really is the best and most competitive form of motor sport. You really have to work to get to the top and then to stay there. Plus, on top of that we just had our third child and I have another mouth to feed! NowVIZ: Intense strength and endurance are necessary to drive at optimum levels. How do you fuel and train your body to perform throughout the season? Scott: We train constantly. Almost every day of the week we’re in the gym. It just has to be part of a driver’s routine if you want to compete at the highest levels in this series. Back in the day you didn’t have to focus on these things as much. But with how tight the series is now, you need every little advantage you can get. We do a lot of swimming, running and cycling. Almost like a triathlete. We have specific training programs at Pit Fit for reaction times and driver-specific activities. I have been training with the owner, Jim Leo, for years and several drivers attend as well.
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NowVIZ: Is there a question you haven’t been asked that you would like to answer? Scott: Probably one of the most common questions we get as drivers is ‘how fast have you gone in a car?’ I think in the seven or so generations of Indy cars I’ve driven in the last 20 years, we topped out around 243-245mph on the back stretch at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It’s funny how you get used to speeds like that after doing it for a while…
NowVIZ: Your wife Emma Davies is a former Welsh and British 800m champion. As a former top athlete, has she been able to add or enhance your training and racing regiment physically or mentally? Scott: The one thing I will say about my wife, who I love very much, is that I’m glad I’m a race car driver because she’s so fast that is the only way I would ever be able to get away from her! But really, Emma helps me on the mental side. She understands competition and sports and is a huge motivating factor. NowVIZ: You have a new baby boy and two beautiful daughters. We have heard you take the whole family, including the dog, to your races throughout the season. What are some of your favorite moments? Scott: Yes, it’s a blessing to be able to have everyone at the track. Just when Poppy and Tilly are getting old enough to enjoy the races and know what goes on, we bring our son Kit into the mix and start from square one again. It’s really a family affair and racing is in our blood.
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NowVIZ Q+A
NowVIZ: Can you tell us how RBar came to life? Brian: In 2010 I quit college, was racing Cat 1 and wanted a really simple snack that didn’t leave my stomach upset while training. I had a favorite energy bar back then that was my go to, but they stopped making it just as I discovered it. So I bought up all I could find and then when I ran out I started making my own. Our first flavor was Peanut Butter & Jelly and it’s remained our number one best seller ever since. Two years after 2010, I quit racing bikes and was pressing more than 50,000 bars a year by hand. My new favorite hobby! NowVIZ: You have a competitive sports background, has that experience helped you keep in touch with your market? Brian: Definitely. Before I left bike racing I was on every local ride in Tucson every week. It’s a tight knit community, so its super important to stay in touch. Eventually, work just completely took over and recently I’ve swapped the bike for a solid pair of HOKA trail running shoes. Can’t get enough. NowVIZ: You started RBar ten years ago from humble beginnings in Tucson, Arizona and have gone head to head with the giants of the bar industry. What have been some of the challenges you’ve faced on the way up? Brian: There isn’t enough room here to mention them all. But I think the most important thing to mention is the sheer size of the market. It is so significant that it’s nearly impossible to conceive the amount of ammo needed to break through the noise generated by the major brands. Essentially, every time you hit a wall at 100km/hr expect to pick yourself back up and do it again all raccoon-eyed the next day. NowVIZ: The food bar market has spread into many different areas other than sports and fitness. You can now pick up a RBar in the airport, proof the market has gone mainstream! What do you feel has been the attraction? Brian: I think the main attraction has been our consistent brand values: Trust, Simplicity and Pursuit. Every product of ours has an ingredient label you can trust, seven simple ingredients or less, and a never ending desire to feed not only our pursuits, but our customers’. I personally believe in the importance of
capital ‘P’ Pursuit in our every day life. It brings meaning to every failure and provides the fuel to fire well beyond every success. Brian: In 2010 I quit college, was racing Cat 1 and wanted a really
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the Alabama State University HoneyBeez are the embodiment of self-love and actualization. Their attitude and energy has been such a game-changer for the plus size community that Nike launched the Dream Crazier campaign. The video has since been viewed more than 3 million times. The HoneyBeez were created by ASU’s band director, Dr. James Oliver. Year after year he watched the more petite-size girls make the ASU Stingettes cheerleading team positions leaving the plus size girls on the sidelines. So, in 2004, he decided to assemble a group of plus size girls who wanted to audition for the dance team. What began with five girls doing a little club and street dancing during the ASU’s Marching Hornet Band’s halftime shows, became the first exclusively plus size dance team, ever. Since then, the HoneyBeez have become a national sensation; a movement. They have even appeared on America’s Got Talent. Oliver’s ultimate goal is get the HoneyBeez featured on Black Girls Rock!, an award show created to “celebrate black women who are dynamos.” And, for their coach, Anna Marshae Williams, their fame is particularly sweet. In the early 2000s, she attended ASU and tried out for the Stingettes three times. She blamed each rejection on her size. When she took the position of coach in 2014, she knew first hand what these girls had been up against. Now, every time the HoneyBeez come off the field they get a standing ovation. On the days when they aren’t performing, they make school visits to talk about their life-changing experience. “Don’t let anybody tell you you can’t do something because you’re plus size. Any size, really,” says one of the HoneyBeez. “You can be male, female, big, small, black, white. It doesn’t matter. You can do whatever you want to do as long as you put your mind to it.”
Trail running in the Tucson mountains is Brian’s new passion.
NowVIZ: A large population is now demanding clean eating, switching to vegan and vegetarian diets, and becoming more aware of what they’re putting into their bodies. What makes RBar so attractive to this clientele? Brian: RBar keeps making products that stay true to our customers’ needs. Beyond our original line of Energy Bars, our latest Protein Bars keep our ingredient count at or under seven, all natural, plant-based protein. This new line simplifies the ingredients of protein bars by eliminating foreign sources of protein - no whey, egg, soy, hemp or pea sources. Instead, we reduce the fat in almonds to increase the protein and keep in place the natural fibers and carbohydrates. NowVIZ: Where do you see RBar Energy in the future? Brian: I see RBar creating products beyond bars, branching off into other segments of CPG as well as patents. I’ve been in the business for 10 years and I’ve seen a lot. I’ve seen a lot that can and should be brought to our customers as awesome opportunities to enjoy and make new products in their own home kitchen! NowVIZ: What motivates and inspires you? Brian: I am so lucky to keep working on this project, but I also recognize that what matters most is the creation of products that make life better for our customers. I truly enjoy being able to bring new concepts to life from R&D to marketing and sales. It’s a unique addiction—and not so different from the day in and day out of the endorphins of endurance training. NowVIZ: How do you stay healthy and fit these days? Brian: I’ve traded my bikes in for a pair or HOKA trail running shoes—actually a few of them at this point. I’m completely hooked on trail running at night via headlamp and in the mornings before work. I’m blown away by the simplicity of the sport while maintaining the ability to traverse the same trails available to mountain bikes at just a slightly slower speed. I’m seven months in. I love it and I can’t get enough of it. Of course, before my runs I go for a solid couple cups of coffee, one of our latest RBar Protein Bars (Pomegranate & Acai are best in the a.m.), and meal prep for the work week. Sometimes I’ll take the time to make a nice chopped salad; sometimes it’s pizza with a few drinks. Either way, the next day is another full on Pursuit of everything RBar embodies.
what’s pumpin’ thru your headphones?
Hall of Fame Triathlete, Mark ALLEN: Creep by Postmodern Jukebox featuring Haley Reinhart Dance With Waves by Anouar Brahem 25.22 by Allan Rayman The Story by Brandi Carlile Incident At Gate 7 by Thievery Corporation Nannuflay by Tinariwen
NIKE/Jordan footwear designer, Precious HANNAH: Lots of podcasts about being present in one’s se Also Nipsey, Nas + Andre 3K
RBar founder, Brian CORNELIUS: That’s just dangerous. I p no barriers in music and draw so much from it - partic when writing. I’ll take the most offensive to the most mu and turn it into the motivation I need to move forward. has always been a source of energy and while I’ll apply filters between the speakers and my brain, I’ll soak up bit of energy those artists intended and turn into my ow
elf.
put up cularly undane Music my own p every wn: work.
Photographer, Andrea Mead Cross: My current vibe includes, Justin Bieber, Bob Moses, Melody Gardot, Drake White, and Eric Clapton.
IndyCar driver, Scott DIXON: I like a little bit of everything from ColdPlay to U2 and several others. I would say we joke around in the trucks before the races a lot with Vanilla Ice on in our locker rooms.
On location in Santa Cruz with Mark Allen.
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Andrea Mead Cross at work with Hall of Fame triathlete, Mark Allen.
The No. 9 locked and loaded for the 2020 season.
Photographer Andrea Mead Cross work
king with IndyCar driver, Scott Dixon.
Live and rolling with Scott Dixon at Ganassi HQ.
On location in Tucson, Arizona with RBar founder, Brian Cornelius.
CREDITS+THANk YOU’S We are super stoked to bring you our 2020 spring issue! This month we feature five-time IndyCar Series Champion (and counting!) Scott Dixon and six-time Ironman World Champion, Mark Allen. Both men are extremely talented and successful in their respective sport and highly motivated individuals continuing to make an impact outside their sport. Writer and editor, Hilary Stunda brings a wealth of creativity and experience to our NowVIZ team having worked as producer for The Outdoor Life Network, Editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Aspen Magazine, writer for Lexus, Art in America, Interview, ARTnews, just to name a few. She works this NowVIZ issue writing the feature athlete intro for the legendary IndyCar driver, Scott Dixon. She is an incredible addition to each issue and we love her vision and originality! Genuine NowVIZ writer, Mark Staffieri has been with our team since its inception and continues to infuse his talent into each assignment. In this issue, he takes a look into the life of the iconic triathlete, Mark Allen. The list of accolades are extensive and yet Mark remaines humble still being involved in the sport today. As coach, speaker, and commentator, he continues to inspire, motivate, and generate success. We’d also like to thank the Chip Ganassi Racing Team PR pro, Kelby Krause and the Ganassi crew for opening their doors and for their gracious hospitality. We wish Scott Dixon and the rest of the Ganassi Racing Team the best of luck this 2020 season on and off the track! And to photographer Andrea Mead Cross who has been essential in the inception, development, and launch of NowVIZ sports + beyond mag! Her vision and creativity continues to exceed expectations. We’re fired up she is part of the NowVIZ Team! Thank you AMC! Rock on! Design and layout for this spring issue is by Kelley Kwiatkowski. Hope you enjoyed the ride! All inquires please email us at:
All inquiries, NowVIZmag@gmail.com
@NOWVIZMAG
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