October 18, 2013
An advertising special edition of The Daily Texan
NATIV R E T E AL
The Tower does not shine orange when we win a Saturday game. Our names are not as famed as Case McCoy’s, David Ash’s and Johnny Manziel’s. Athletic scholarships have not covered our academic bills. We may not enter our sport’s professional league after graduation, if there even is one. We are the small-stage athletes. We make our shoestring budgets even tighter by paying for dues, travel fees and equipment. We risk added stress by
playing a student-organized sport on top of full-time class schedules, and, in many cases, working or interning. Our lives are not chronicled by the media like well-known NCAA stars’ are. All of this, and yet we still play. Why? Because we love the game. This is an edition for the alternative athlete: the rockclimbing, Frisbee-throwing, yoga-practicing, marathonrunning, longboarding college athlete that does not get much recognition. We know there are tons of
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4Style 5Impact 6Explore 8Features 12Good Eats 13Making Cents 14Our Campus
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sports that are out of the mainstream, and this is our effort to shine them some light. On page 5, get to the bottom (or top) of Texas Rock Climbing’s national title — the only one that warrants an orange Towerlighting for club sports — and how they earned it two years in a row. If you like transporting yourself without cables, head to page 10 for some info on Texas Parkour, and how the sport became such a sensation. You’ll need a sturdy pair of sneakers for that, so head to page 4 after to find out just how the shoes
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October 18, 2013
Longhorn Life
Editor’s Note
EVENT CALENDAR
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have evolved from the most rudimentary to those toeshoes that everyone seems to love. If you’re like me, and you’re in desperate need of a new pair of sneaks because you’re traversing across campus on a daily basis, check out page 8 for an alternative mode of transportation; maybe all of those longboarders are on to something. But if you prefer using your legs, page 10 is the place for you to get the inside scoop on what it’s like to be an ultramarathon runner. Page 13 will help you figure out how you’ll be able to
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afford all this, and page 12 will help you refuel. Admittedly, my sport isn’t necessarily “alternative,” though some southerners do still react with surprise when I tell them that I play lacrosse. But, it is one of the more marginalized, so I can relate, at least a little bit. So listen up, alternative sports fans and athletes — this one’s for you. Grow the game,
Ali Killian
Special editions editor
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CAMPUS EVENTS 10/19
Tour Blanton’s “Imperial Augsburg” Exhibit 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Blanton Museum of Art
10/2310/24
Division of Student Affairs Student Job & Volunteer Fair 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Gregory Gym
10/29
Hearts of Texas Bake Sale, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sid Richardson Hall
11/06
Research + Pizza features Robert Young, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., PCL 2.500
OFF-CAMPUS EVENTS 10/19
Dia de Los Muertos Festival, 12 p.m.to 11 p.m., Fiesta Gardens
10/24
Austin Film Festival Opening Night, 12 p.m., The Paramount Theater
10/26
The Thong Jog, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Scoot Inn
11/02
17th Annual Austin Celtic Festival, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Fiesta Gardens
STUDENT ORG EVENTS 10/19
UT Sailing Club announces Saturday Sail, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Lake Travis (meet at 27th and Wichita to carpool)
Special Editions Editor Ali Killian Web Editor/Associate Editor Andrew Huygen Designers Daniel Hublein, Karina Munguia, Rachel Ngun, Bailey Sullivan Writers Shantanu Banerjee, Priyanka Deshpande, Katie Dickerson, Kendall Ivie, Mira Milla, Katey Psencik, Jelisa Robinson, Sarah Strohl Photographers Joe Capraro, Leanne Chia, Mika Locklear, Sneha Joshi, Alejandro Silveyra, Taylor Womack
TSM ADVERTISING & CREATIVE SERVICES Director Jalah Goette Advertising Adviser CJ Salgado Campus & National Sales Rep Joan Bowerman Broadcast & Events Manager Carter Goss Student Manager Trevor Nelson Student Assistant Manager Zach Congdon Student Account Executives Chelsea Barrie, Aaron Blanco, Christian Dufner, Rohan Needel, Ted Sniderman Student Classifieds Clerk Hannah Davis Account Executive & Events Coordinator Lindsey Hollingsworth Special Editions & Production Coordinator Michael Gammon Senior Graphic Designer Daniel Hublein Student Graphic Designers Karina Munguia, Rachel Ngun, Bailey Sullivan
Longhorn Life is an advertising special edition of The Daily Texan produced by students in Texas Student Media’s special editions office. Reach us at specialeditions@texasstudentmedia.com. Copyright 2011 Texas Student Media. All articles, photographs and graphics are the property of Texas Student Media and may not be reproduced or republished in part or in whole without written permission. CONTACT TSM: We are located in the Hearst Student Media building (HSM). For advertising, call 512-471-1865.
October 18, 2013
Spotlight
Chatter
Giovanni Nunez freshman economics major “My favorite X Games sport is skateboarding. I’d watch the games with my brother, and he’s really into it.”
Longhorn Life compiled by Mira Milla photos by Nneoma Ajiwe
Love That!
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What’s in your bag?
Samantha Ketterer sophomore journalism major Both Ketterer’s shirt and jeans were picked up at Fossil, and her shoes are Sperry’s. She likes to keep her style simple and classic. Fashion inspiration: Kate Middleton
Erma Halilovic junior civil engineering major
Halilovic carries around Smith’s Strawberry lip balm, a mini stapler, sunglasses (to keep the Texas sun in her eyes to a bare minimum), a USB drive, iPhone, calculator, umbrella, keys, a few journals, a water bottle and a mini Aquaphor.
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Style
Longhorn Life
October 18, 2013
Sneakers evolve with the changing athletic landscape by Shantanu Banerjee graphics by Daniel Hublein They make the journey across campus a little more bearable. They allow us to traverse trails in our pursuit of losing those extra five pounds. A pair might show off our everchanging or, for some of us, ever-stagnant, fashion sense. While sneakers may seem like a commonsensical component of our everyday wardrobes, surprisingly they have only been in our closets for less than two centuries.
Sneakers first appeared in the form of plimsolls in the United Kingdom during the early 18th century. Plimsolls were simply
shoes with rubber soles. The area of the shoes joining the upper canvas to the lower rubber soles resembled the plimsoll line on the hull of a ship, which may be an explanation for the name. In fact, the making was so crude that there was no particular right- or leftfooted shoe. Originally used in gym classes and as beachwear, many in the U.K. referred to them as sand shoes. It wasn’t until 1892 that the shoe design we know today came about; Charles Goodyear, a division of the U.S. Rubber Company, began producing Keds that year after vulcanization, a process allowing for the effective joining of rubber and cloth, had been invented. It was advertised that the shoes were so quiet, that it would allow one to sneak up on people. Hence, the term ‘sneaker’ was born. Keds were the first sneakers to be mass-pro-
duced, but in 1917, Marquis Coverse developed the first sneakers made specifically for basketball , the
Converse A l l Stars. Over the next decades, other wellknown brands began to release rubber-soled shoes that were made for specific sports; Adidas released the first tennis shoe in 1931, and Puma produced the first model of football shoes in 1948. One of the latest brands to come onto the sneaker scene was Nike, which did not release any footwear until 1972. Nike’s late entry did not prevent the brand from succeeding, though. Sneaker sales took off in 1984 when Michael Jordan
signed a contract with Nike to exclusively play in the sneakers that would become one of the most successful basketball
s h o e s ever produced, Air Jordans. Consumers today face a multitude of choices when it comes to sneakers, as certain brands reflect more than just what your athletic interests might be. Sneakers can even connote where you stand on major political issues, as made evident through Wendy Davis’ filibuster in her signature pink Mizuno Wave Rider sneakers this past summer. This
has also resulted in controversy over designs, as some might associate a particular line of sneakers with an issue they may or may not support. Other sneaker manufacturers have pursued an approach to return to a more natural form o f
walking or running, closer to the barefoot shoe experience. The brand Vibram produces toe shoes that fit directly
to the shape of your foot to naturally improve your mechanics. Your sneaker search may not be all fun and games, though; a major problem consumers confront today is the niche market. One line might be exclusively for certain athletic activities, while others may be simply for casual wear. “Some people might say it’s a marketing tactic, albeit a successful one, to make the consumer think they need a particular brand or line of sneakers in order to reach their full potential in their pursuits,” said business junior David Yu. “As a result, people feel compelled to buy more shoes.” Whether you use the same pair for everything you do or keep different ones for all your activities, sneakers are likely to remain a key part of everyday American life.
October 18, 2013
Impact
Longhorn Life
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Started from the bottom, and now they’re here by Shantanu Banerjee photos by Taylor Womack Texas Rock Climbing earned their second national title in a row this April in Melbourne, Fla. at USA Climbing’s Collegiate Climbing Series. Having successfully defended their title from the 2012 CCS, 2013 marked
represented UT in Melbourne. Part of the competition followed a redpoint format, in which each route has different point values based on difficulty. If a climber successfully completes the route, the team wins the points. “The CCS has a teamscoring system so that climbers compete indi-
Kendra Kwoka carefully plans her path as spectators watch from the ground. the fourth year of Texas Rock Climbing competing in the series. Thirteen members of the rock climbing team
vidually, and team scores are made up of the scores of the top male and female competitors from each team,” said plan II
senior and President Will Butcher. There are three disciplines in competitive rock climbing, all of which are present at the CCS. Sport climbing involves climbing on a rope, in which the goal is either to climb higher than anyone else on a certain route or to climb the hardest routes from those available. Another discipline is bouldering, in which one climbs without a rope, but is closer to the ground. And the third is speed climbing, which consists of a uniform route where one has to climb as fast as possible. To succeed in these competitions, TRC maintains a tough weekly routine, hosting practice four nights a week and another on Sunday mornings. “An average week for a team member might include two or three twohour practices during the week at the Austin Rock Gym, a four-hour Sunday morning practice at Gregory Gym climbing, running, lifting weights and doing other training exercises, and running and working out on our own the other days of the week,” Butcher said. Texas climbers have faced challenges on their way to the top. Along with the difficult training routine, members have to make time to balance academics with coordinating the administrative and logistical aspects of
Britta Jaschke and Cedric Ginestra traverse a sloped wall at Austin Rock Gym. The rock climbing team practices two to three times per week at the Austin Rock Gym and once per week at Gregory Gym on campus. managing the team. And Texas Rock Climbing accepts students who may not have prior experience, so if you’re new to the sport, the challenge is that much greater. “Every year we accept people who have little or no climbing experience, and it’s really impressive to see how much they can progress in just one year,” said psychology senior and Event Coordinator Fabio Grant. “It takes a long time to become a strong climber, but our coach, John Myrick, keeps us working hard.” The team has been an officially sponsored UT sport club since 2010, though Myrick founded the club in 2007. As coach, Myrick has been a key componenti n push-
ing the team to succeed. He has had high aspirations for the team since its founding, and his drive has not diminished in the last six years. “I love teaching climbing,” Myrick said. “Seeing the athletes improve and reach their goals inspires me. The sport of climbing has given me a lot in my life, and I love giving back.” With around 50 team members, Texas Rock Climbing will likely remain unchanged in size in the upcoming years. Doing so prevents logistical issues in finding a training venue that can host the entire team, while also keeping the team small enough to provide members with a close-knit community.
The future may also hold a third-consecutive national title for the team. “Our goal for this year is to send at least 10 competitors to the national championship, and to have more competitors in finals than any other school,” Butcher said. “Ultimately, we are aiming to three-peat this year!” While Texas Football might not be giving the results UT students expect so far this season, one can always turn to Texas Rock Climbing for a reminder that the Longhorns can still hold consecutive national titles.
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Longhorn Life
Explore
October 18, 2013
Zip-lining across Austin
by Priyanka Deshpande
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You don’t have to plan a trip to a tropical rainforest in South America to have your first zip-lining experience. In fact, you can enjoy the thrill and rush of this venture just west of Austin.
feet to the longest zip line in Texas — over 2,800 feet.� Customers have a chance to ride each zipline and are aided by specially trained staff during their tour. Zip-lining can provide not only a thrilling ride for students, but can also help
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
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As zip-lining gains poularity, several companies in Central Texas are starting to offer tours that give customers a feel for this exciting activity, while featuring pristine views of the Texas Hill Country. Both Lake Travis Zipline Adventures and Cypress Valley Canopy Tours provide unique zip-lining experiences. Lake Travis Zipline Adventures in Volente, Texas offers customers the chance to zip-line over the lake. With either the basic Zipline Tour or the Night Flight, students can experience the excitement of zip-lining over water and land while enjoying views of the surrounding greenery. According to its website, Lake Travis Zipline Adventures “has five zip lines ranging from 250
them gain confidence. “I love zip-lining,� said biomedical engineering sophomore Sharmista Maity. “It got rid of my fear of heights, and it was an amazing experience!� Tours at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures last roughly three hours and include the approximately two-and-a-half hour zipline tour, as well as time to enjoy a private beach with a picnic space and swimming area. Reservations can be made by phone or online, with most packages starting at $95. This fee covers the cost of equipment and boat transportation, and includes refreshments. The company also rents out secluded luxury cabins to customers who need to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Cypress Valley Canopy
Tours, too, provides a unique zip-line experience. This tour takes customers on an “eco-adventure.� The company’s website states that attendees are able to “glide on steel zip-lines from platform to platform high in the treetops� of an oldgrowth cypress-tree forest situated in the nearby town of Spicewood. For $75, customers not only get the chance to venture over two sky bridges and zip down five zip-lines, but they also get an educational tour of local ecology from trained guides. Tours last for approximately two hours and require prior reservations. Cypress Valley Canopy Tours also hosts night tours and special events. Night tours offer a view of the moon and surrounding lake during the evenings. The company also helps organize special teambuilding tours for groups, including student organizations. “I really hope that I can go zip-lining one day; it’s on my bucket list of things to do,� said biomedical engineering sophomore Smridhi Mahajan. “It’s cool that we can go do it at Lake Travis. I bet that would be beautiful.� Autumn can be the perfect time to zip-line across the serene Hill Country for veteran zip-liners and first-timers alike, and can help students build lasting memories.
October 18, 2013
Longhorn Life
Page 7
Aikido teaches gentle but powerful self-defense story and photos by Elizabeth de Regt
The ideology behind Aikido is unlike any other martial art. James Goeman, a local Aikido instructor, described the unifying theory behind all forms of Aikido as an ideology that fosters “a sense of loving protection for all living things.” While some students in the advanced class certainly can toss each other around to get out of messy situations, they learn the basics of staying both physically and mentally safe, as well.
had studied, he developed an ideology that has been passed down for generations, uniting all forms of Aikido. Unlike some of the more active, bolder martial arts often highlighted in the movies for their flashy flair, Aikido uses small, gentle movements to redirect an attacker’s energy and disable them without doing much harm. This allows individuals of all strengths and sizes to succeed in learning Aikido. Aikido of Austin focuses on the essentials of the style, not limiting their teachers to any one flavor.
Chief instructor Steve McAdam disarms and pins an Aikido student. Morihei Ueshiba, or O’Sensei to followers of Aikido, developed the art form throughout the first half of the 20th century. Rather than simply combining the existing physical characteristics of the various martial arts he
Located only a couple of miles north of campus, some students choose to take advantage of the classes offered there. With both daytime and evening hours and at least one class taught each day, the studio offers the flexibility required by
many students. They even teach weapons-work, both using the short staff and wooden sword, which is unusual for many Aikido studios. Most new students here join either to learn self-defense or because they hope to follow the art’s philosophy, the physical as well as the mental and spiritual components, Goeman explained. A typical class at Aikido of Austin follows a schedule used by many studios. After an initial bowing in, where the students and instructor show respect to both O’Sensei and one another, they begin warming up — one of the essentials of Aikido is to avoid hurting yourself and those you fight. This tenet leads to the next portion of the class, Ukemi, where the students practice rolling and falling properly. Goeman describes this portion as the “most important piece” of practice. The rest of the time is used to learn specific moves or techniques, with the instructor giving an example of the proper form and pairs of students following by practicing the pattern. The class closes with a bowing out much like the opening. UT Aikido Club follows a similar structure, but they focus on the Seidokan Aikido style, one known for emphasizing being “earnest, sincere and realistic,” as Adam Preble, one of the club’s coaches, summarized. “Compact, small and efficient movements unite the organization [of Seidokan],” Preble said. Sophomore Krystal
Chang joined the club because of the limited physical strength necessary to master the movements of
Aikido, especially the Seidokan style. The UT Aikido club meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Belmont
904. The beginner class starts at 6:30 p.m., and the intermediate and advance class starts at 8 p.m.
Aikido students perform movement exercises.
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Page 8
Features
by Mariana Munoz photo by Leanne Chia graphic by Rachel Ngun You’re power-walking to class, hoping the Tower bell doesn’t strike the hour, indicating that you are late to class. Suddenly, someone speeds past you on something that resembles a skateboard, but you notice it’s physically different. It’s much longer and faster — a longboard. You find yourself secretly wishing you had one, as the longboarder rides away and dodges a plethora of
sweaty students who are, too, power-walking to class. It’s more than just recreation — longboarding has become one of the preferred modes of transportation among UT students. Longboarding became popular during the ‘90s and has since been the alternative to its distant relative, skateboarding. Most early versions of the longboard were homemade
Longhorn Life
fixes by skateboarders who felt the already-established skateboard was too short in length in proportion to their heights. Roller-skate wheels were used as an improvisation in these early versions, and it wasn’t until the ‘70s, when urethane wheels were invented, that the modern longboard embarked on its road to popularity. So what exactly makes longboarding “better” in the eyes of many riders? “You can carve so much better, and you can take hills with ease,” said
Cade Chapman, a junior economics major. Carving is the act of making sharp turns. Because the modern-day longboard is built with softer bushings, which are the rings located at the heart of the longboard axle, making sharp turns is generally easier than with a skateboard. “It’s really nice to just cruise around,” Chapman said. “Skateboarding is more trick-oriented, while longboarding is more relaxed, you could say.”
October 18, 2013
Longboards are wider and longer than skateboards, so they are more stable and adhesive. This also makes the boards suitable to travel longer distances. Because of the convenience, it’s no surprise that more and more people are switching over to the longboard as their favorite mode of ecofriendly transportation. Some start out with skateboarding and become anxious to try a different feel of a board, while others are simply curious and jump right into it. “I’ve been longboarding for about two and a half years,” Chapman said. “I never really got into skateboarding, but I found it interesting. Then, my senior year of high school, I saw some people on longboards, but I didn’t know what they were. I researched them a little bit, bought one and fell in love. I like how freeing it is.” Many of us have different ways of getting to and from places, but what makes longboarding special, as opposed to riding a bicycle or walking? “I like it because it’s a fun and convenient way to get to class, and I feel kind-of like a badass,” said Hagen Fritz, a sophomore aerospace engineering major. “Walking just takes so long now that I’ve gotten used to getting around on my board.” Though, bigger isn’t necessarily better. The small size of the longboard when compared to bicycles or scooters is a definite plus. “With biking, it gets cumbersome having to find
a place to lock it up and then getting the lock out,” Fritz said. “But with my longboard, I can just take it right into class with me and prop it up against a wall. I don’t have to register it, lock it up or wonder if someone is stealing it because I can see it.” If you want to hop on the longboard bandwagon, here are a few tips to get started: 1) Research and try it out Read more about the terminology of
Adrenalin by Nick Delisi photo by Joe Capraro Our capital — home of hippies and keeper of burnt orange — will host the X Games for the next four years, as part of a contract with ESPN executives, and planning for the event has already begun. For the past 11 years, the X games have been in Los Angeles, built up in stadiums and major lots across the city. But, after a decade of success in L.A., the X Games entered a bid process to find a new home, and this past July, Austin was selected. “It has all of the infrastructure that we need,’’ said Chris Stiepock, vice president of X Games events. Stiepock is referring to Circuit of the Americas, that 120,000-fan megatrack perched just east of Austin. Three main
October 18, 2013
Longhorn Life
longboarding and the different maneuvers. You could read online articles, forums or even watch videos to get inspired. If you have a friend who engages in the activity, ask to borrow their longboard and try it out. See if you like the way it feels; you don’t want to spend money on something you won’t end up liking. 2) Make wise purchases It’s important to know your stuff. You want to buy good, durable equipment that won’t easily break down on you. When
purchasing a longboard, consider the quality of wheels, trucks, bushings, decks and bearings. 3) Practice safe longboarding It’s important to protect yourself when learning a new physical activity, because, like anything else, it involves trial and error. You may fall a few times, and if you are not protected with proper equipment, you may get seriously hurt. Be sure to stock up on a helmet and pads to ensure this learning experience is smooth sailing.
4) Keep your cool The most important thing to keep in mind is patience. It takes time to get used to the board and how you balance on it. If you fall and get back up every time, your perseverance will pay off and you’ll be speeding past sweaty students in no time. If you are looking for a new and exciting activity to partake in, then perhaps you should consider diving into the world of longboarding; it may be the answer for you.
areas of the track will be utilized for skate, BMX and motocross competitions over the three-day event. ESPN executives have also mentioned how critical the Circuit’s 14,000-person amphitheater will be. Plan on some solid performances after a day’s worth of adrenaline. “That’s going to be something we’re going to utilize quite a bit,” Scott Guglielmino, senior vice president of ESPN programming and X Games, said. “We want to create a festival feel.” And why not? Austin has more culture-filled festivals than bats; it’s hard to condemn another blend of outdoor athleticism and interactive performance. The X Games first launched in 1995 as the “Extreme Games.” It was the first major broadcasting of action
sports such as skateboarding, bungee jumping, rollerblading and mountain biking, an experiment that wasn’t initially received well by ESPN fans. But the cynics soon hushed. In its first year, X Games drew almost 200,000 spectators, and two years later the franchise spawned a winter broadcast, Winter X Games, for the colderboarding daredevils. Each year, the competition has showcased more skill, diversity and spectacular stunts than before, enhancing X-athletes’ national recognition. How exactly the X Games will modify the 151 acres of the venue for their needs has only been speculated upon thus far. “They brought in a huge design team [that’s] spending well into the eight figures on construction,” said Circuit Chairman Bobby Epstein. Apart from the circuit, the X Games organizers
plan to utilize regions of downtown, too. You won’t want to miss Austin being partially stormed with neon skate logos and unparalleled tricks — did South By and Nickelodeon’s Rocket Power have a baby? “I’m pretty stoked about it,” senior studio art major Raul De Lara said. “There’s been a lot of bikers coming to town.” De Lara is just one of many students amped about visiting the games and seeing their favorite athletes compete. The combination of talent and age difference will undoubtedly be impressive. “Nyjah Houston, I want to see him,” said senior biology major Travis Nuckols. “He’s been [a] skateboard fiend since he was real young.” Nuckols also mentioned an excitement to see Bucky Lasek, the skate classic who’s been winning in the X Games since its inception. Interested in attending the
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Cade Chapman says he longboards because he likes how freeing it is.
ne junkies head to Circuit of the Americas this May games yourself? Get ready for three days of talented shredding, freestyle flipping and music performances, because guess what? This is an event that you can actually afford. The X Games won’t likely cost two horns and a leg like other festivals. While ticket pricing is still far from being released, admission prices
from last year’s X Games in L.A. look promising for students. Based on those prices, you’ll be able to check out some of the most exciting competitions, like the Moto X Freestyle and the Skateboard Big Air Finals for around $15 to $40 per day. The X Games will take off on May 15 to 18, the same
week as UT commencement ceremonies and the end to finals stresses. It’s an exciting time for most Longhorns, and a big year for our city, so consider ending the semester around some spectacular action sports and music. One day you might like to say that you were there for Austin’s first.
In addition to racing, Circuit of the Americas hosts music and comedy shows and will host the X Games in May 2014.
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Longhorn Life
October 18, 2013
Parkour has rich history, requires dedication and discipline by Natalie Bograd photo by Mikhaela Locklear
The first episode of season six of NBC’s “The Office” features Michael, Dwight and Andy running through the office, jumping over desks and tables and yelling “PARKOUR!” The brief scene ends (after a few sarcastic comments and eyerolls from the other office staff) with Andy jumping from the top of a truck into an empty refrigerator box. While comedic, this scene demonstrates parkour’s increasingly trendy status in American popular culture. In Austin, Texas Parkour is an organization that has a great deal of influence on the local parkour scene. Texas Parkour is a multifaceted group that includes aspects of education, service, athletic training and
community involvement. They also run the Bridging All Movement Gym located on North Lamar. “Texas Parkour was started with the idea that people were getting together on a normal basis, and we wanted to train with people outside of a small group,”
message of parkour.” Like any sport, parkour has a rich and complex history. It originated in 1902, when French Naval Officer George Herbert developed what he called the “natural method,” a training discipline that was a mix of running, climbing and obstacle
A member of Texas Parkour chooses his next move. said Founder and President Matthew Willis. “We wanted to start getting as many people as possible into the community, and to share the
courses. He based the method on his observations of the movements of various indigenous peoples he encountered in his military
for centuries, but the ultramarathon’s emergence as an officially recognized sport by the International Amateur Athletics Foundation wasn’t until 1991. The rules allow the runners to take breaks to eat, drink and even sleep if they need to, and there are aid stations set up along the way to provide rest and refreshments. But who would have the time to train for and run in such a grueling event while in college? Senior David Mis does — he has completed four ultramarathons to date. He ran the Bandera 100k, his first ultra, in the winter of his freshman year. “It was certainly painful, but it was also one of the most fun things I have ever done,” Mis said. “The course is in a beautiful state park in Bandera, and there are lots of really tall hills to climb.
Once you are at the top, you can see for miles.” Ultramarathons can end up lasting an entire day, with participants seeing both dawn and dusk. “We started around 7 a.m., so I watched the sun rise on the top of one hill, then watched it set on another, and I could barely make out the lights of San Antonio late in the evening on a third hill,” Mis said. “Around midnight, it was pitch-black and freezing cold; I think the wind chill was something like 19 degrees. My hands were so cold that they hurt as bad as my feet, but that made the warm hotel room so much sweeter when I got back around 2 a.m. the next morning.” Although completing a race like this is a great accomplishment, it is also dangerous if you are not
travel. The second “father” of the sport was David Belle, the son of a French soldier who combined what he learned from his father and his own passion for gymnastics and martial arts. Belle and his friends established the first parkour group, which they named The Yamakasi. Later, a distinction was made between parkour and freerunning; freerunning focused on creativity of movement while parkour’s goal was to find the fastest way to get from point A to point B. Several films and documentaries featured Belle and his friends, including Sebastian Foucan. Foucan began the freerunning movement and gained widespread fame when he appeared in the establishing scene of the 2006 James Bond
movie “Casino Royale.” Parkour was also featured in Madonna’s music video for “Jump,” and soon became a YouTube phenomenon. Though Austin isn’t the only Texas city with a parkour scene, Willis said it’s unique because “it’s not just a bunch of teenagers who jump off of buildings; we have a strong adult community here that really understands the discipline.” Willis addresses an important point: many practitioners of parkour caution newcomers that it’s not just about jumping off roofs and trying to recreate spectacular YouTube stunts. As Willis points out, “Learning parkour has never been about just watching videos and imitating what they do; it takes a lot more dedication and concentration than imitation.”
Luckily, Texas Parkour offers a range of classes and open gyms that emphasize the communal aspects of training and learning the safest and most efficient ways to practice parkour. Texas Parkour also focuses on the youth by teaching parkour to students in the Austin Independent School District. Willis said he believes that parkour appeals to kids who aren’t interested in typical team sports. “It’s also relatively cheap,” he said. “You just have to have shoes and clothes.” Most importantly, Willis said, “There is a lot to fear as a kid, and if they can find a way to tackle fear in parkour, they are going to find ways in life to tackle things, as well.”
properly prepared. Mis made the decision to drop out of two ultramarathons late
CamelBak. I was walking at this point, so I picked up my pace to match stride. I don’t
amount of stress put on one’s body. It is important to nourish and train yourself properly for a race, no matter what the distance. When you get the chance to eat during a long run, you take it. Some of Mis’ favorite foods on the run are grilled cheese, chicken noodle soup and Coca-Cola. However, he warns runners to stay away from energy goos and gels. “They taste like how I imagine that slime from Nickelodeon would taste,” he said. There are so many wonderful trails around Austin that are packed with runners. If you’re interested in taking up running, the trails around Lady Bird Lake and the Greenbelt are good places to start. Invest in a good pair of trail shoes, and you’ll be off to the races!
Just keep running (literally—you’re in an ultramarathon) by Sarah Strohl photo by Joe Capraro
The University of Texas at Austin is home to some of the best athletes in the country, but few students recognize the niche of athletes on our campus that participate in one of the most awe-inspiring, leg thrashing, feet blistering, lung torturing sports known to man-kind: the ultramarathon. An ultramarathon is defined as any foot race that is longer than the standard 26.2-mile marathon, and is typically an off road, or trail-running, event. The Self-Transcendence Ultra in New York is the longest in the world today at 3,100 miles, but the most common distances are 50 and 100 kilometers or miles. Humankind has been running extreme distances
David Mis practices trail running at Lady Bird Lake. Mis has completed four ultramarathons so far.
in the races due to intense hallucinations. “I had been alone for about an hour, and it was very dark,” he said. “I thought for sure I saw another racer jog up alongside me. I remember he had a bright red jacket, blue running shorts and a
remember when or how I realized that there wasn’t really a person next to me; the whole episode is foggy, like a dream.” Hallucinations like this are common among racers, especially during long distance races because of the
Page 12
Good Eats
Longhorn Life
October 18, 2013
UT Student and CrossFit trainer offers dietary advice by Kendall Ivie photo by Kris Seavers
You wake up, drive to the gym, hop on an elliptical with an empty stomach and tread for an hour desperately hoping to reach your fitness goals. Shortly after, you find yourself feasting on a Starbucks frap and one of those new pumpkin cream cheese muffins. You sink your teeth into the first bite and think, “They cancel each other out! Right?” There is definitely a time to treat yourself to sweets, but for those who are striving to accomplish fitness goals, a good workout never really cancels out poor eating habits. A program that teaches you how to train and cook, such as CrossFit, can help enhance your performance and health.
Alex Muddiman prepares his meals for the entire week.
CrossFit is a growing trend in the fitness world that athletes can’t seem to stop raging about. It is a high-intensity strength and conditioning program that is designed to develop and help you achieve everyday fitness and health goals. “It does not matter if there is a client who looks obese or “fit”; one of the first questions we ask clients is how their diet is,” said senior biology major and CrossFit trainer Alex Muddiman. “If you cannot replenish nutrients your body needs, you will not see any improvement, no matter how many workouts a day you do.” Most CrossFit athletes stick to the paleolithic diet. According to thepaleodiet. com, this includes options
to it.” Cordero recommends this recipe for athletes, students on the go or anyone looking to start their day off the right way. “I would recommend it to pretty much anybody,” Cordero said. “I mean, its super simple to make. It’s a healthy, quick breakfast to do, versus skipping breakfast because you woke up late or just grabbing something.” Cordero’s blog has countless recipes, such as her Blackberry Orange Pancakes, which are reblogged, retweeted and, most importantly, eaten by her social media followers. Since starting her blog
Blackberry Orange Pancakes - 1/3 to 1/2 cup oat flour - 1/3 to 1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese - 3 egg whites - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - 1 teaspoon orange extract - 1 teaspoon coconut flour - 1 to 3 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk (depending on desired consistency) - 1 teaspoon ground flax seeds - Dash of cinnamon - Chopped and whole blackberries - Non-fat Greek yogurt - Sugar-free maple syrup or raw honey *Use the same amount of cottage cheese and oat flour
Pankcakes with a healthy purpose by Samantha Meyer photo submitted by Arlena Cordero
It’s hard to believe that the delectable dish pictured here would be a healthy start to your day, but Arlena Cordero, who runs the healthy-lifestyle blog proteincupcakes. net, combines great taste and nutrition in all of her recipes. “When I started to eat healthier, I started to experiment with different recipes, just because I have [a] mega sweet tooth,” Cordero said. “I could eat cake and cookies all the time, but I don’t because I found a healthier alternative
and embracing a healthy lifestyle she has drastically changed her routine to meet her goals, which prioritize overall fitness over weight loss. Cordero believes that working toward a fitness goal is a great way to boost self-esteem and live a fulfilled life. “For me, it’s a personal thing,” Cordero said. “People say, ‘If you eat healthy, you’re going to live longer.’ – not in most cases, but you’re just going to live a lot better. I believe you only have one body to live in, so why not have the best body you can, and love yourself?”
such as grass-produced meats, seafood, fresh fruits and veggies, eggs, nuts and healthy oils. Things to stay away from on the paleo diet are cereal grains, legumes, dairy products, refined sugar, potatoes, salt and all processed foods. Yes, this may mean spending more time in the kitchen cooking, as opposed to the quick-fix breakfast bagel, because making changes to your diet often requires extra planning and preparation time. Just because you want to work on your fitness goals and eat a clean diet doesn’t mean it can’t be fun, though. Make sure to provide yourself with enough variety in your meals that you don’t get burnt out; Muddiman said
his favorite meal right now is either bacon-wrapped chicken or a hamburger patty with bacon and avocado. The food choices we make when we are at the grocery store, in line at Starbucks or snuggled in bed at home can really change the way our bodies function and move us toward accomplishing our fitness goals. “The best tip I can give, because it worked for me, is to throw out bread and grains altogether,” Muddiman said. “It is a simple fix. Do not get that dinner roll at the restaurant; get a side salad instead. Little changes like these can add up exponentially over time.”
Directions: 1. Combine all ingredients using a whisk or fork, including a few chopped blackberries. 2. Cook over medium heat using non-stick spray or coconut oil. 3. Top with Greek yogurt, whole blackberries and sugar-free maple syrup or raw honey.
October 18, 2013
Making Cents
Longhorn Life
Putting a price on participation
w by Katie Dickerson d graphic by Karina Munguia r d Between paying for dues, merchandise, equipment eand trips, being a UT club eathlete can get very, very texpensive. Longhorn Life ntalked with a few to get the ylow-down on club expenses, sand asked, “Is it worth it?” s On average, each unirversity club is given about $2,000 to $7,500 in sponsor,ship from the Division of rRecreational Sports for use don UT-approved expenses. ”While the RecSports alalocations make a dent in tclub overhead, the overall ;expenses of a club team can .be upwards of $10,000. e “The club covers [tournayment and travel] costs up front,” said Matt Reese, the president of UT Men’s Ultimate Club. “Members have a sort-of running dues system that adds up … all things totaled, the average cost for an ultimate member in one year is about $600 to $700.” To make up the difference between allocated RecSports funds and actual costs, clubs rely on these member dues and a lot of fundraising. Along with the usual profitsharing with restaurants on The Drag that many UT
organizations utilize, club teams have found their own unique ways to fundraise in fashions relevant to their sports. Men’s ultimate hosts a tournament for other ultimate teams across the U.S. (with their bid fees being added to the team fund) and the Texas Women’s Rugby club sends out letters that highlight the team’s successes and solicits donations. “The newsletter features a president’s letter, a story or two recapping important tournaments, and any upcoming tournaments we are working towards, usually nationals,” said Kate Holloway, president of Texas Women’s Rugby. “There is also a story on a rookie’s first season or a player who was selected to attend a camp … we have lots of pictures throughout. On the last page, we have a list of previous donors and list of various ways people can donate.” Without another source of financial aid, many teams are trying to incorporate an alumni donor system, as well, to offset expenses. However, as many teams are still relatively new, there may not be many alumni to pull from.
“This year we are in the process of trying to start an alumni donor campaign,” said UT Club Tennis President Vinay Krishnan. “Club tennis is relatively new, only 10 years [old], so the alumni network isn’t large yet.” Players often work during their off-seasons to cover their own dues and equipment costs. “I use money that I get in summer internships to fund rugby expenses,” said Texas Men’s Rugby player John Philip Boudreaux. “I also have some backing from my parents, but playing club sports was my choice, so I try to cover it myself as much as possible.” Both the men’s and women’s rugby club presidents emphasize that a lack of funds shouldn’t keep a player from their sport. “We never want money to be a reason that people can’t play,” said Texas Men’s Rugby President Daniel Camara. This is a common theme across clubs, and many offer payment plans to those members that need it. Despite the cost, club players say the value in club sports is found in the competition and the life-long friendships that they make.
“We get to play an amazing sport at a very high level on a national platform … [we] are competing against future professionals and Olympians,” Camara said.
Page 13
“When you literally sweat and bleed for each other daily, its hard not to be close … the friends you make playing rugby are friends you’ll have your entire life.
It is a lot of hard work, time, money … but the guys who do stick around know that it’s worth it.”
Spend a little, work out a lot by Katey Psencik photo by Sneha Joshi
We know being a college student is hard. Between food, rent, gas and, let’s face it, alcohol, it’s hard to stay in shape when fitness classes break the bank. The solution? Several businesses in Austin offer free or donation-based workouts regularly. Black Swan Yoga is without a doubt the most famous and popular of these. Yelp reviewers deem it the best yoga in Austin, and the great news is that it’s purely donation-based. Yoga is a workout that can really add up when you’re attending classes three to four times a week, and Black Swan’s donation minimum of $5 is the perfect number – you don’t feel like you’re taking advantage of your yoga instructor, but you’ve still got enough cash to eat. “Black Swan’s donation policy allows me to get addicted to yoga,” sophomore nutrition major Katie Reierson said. “I like going somewhere where we are all pretty much in the same boat: poor and stressed. For a minimum of $5, Black Swan is a college student haven and the class dynamic is different because of that.” If $5 is still too pricey for you, Lululemon on Sixth and Lamar occasionally has free yoga inside their store
An Austin yoga practitioner sits in lotus pose. on the weekends – check the website for specific dates. The Art of Living organization at UT also offers free yoga on Monday nights at the Texas Union – but bring your own mat and get there early, because classes fill up fast! If you’re looking for a more upbeat workout, Synergy Fitness in Cedar Park has free Saturday boot camps from 9 to 10 a.m. The catch? Bring a canned food item or two to donate to the Capital Area Food Bank. Driving to Cedar Park may not be ideal, but you get to feel good about yourself – over 3,000 meals have been donated from Synergy’s boot camps alone. Stronghorn Fitness also offers a donationbased group workout on Saturdays. The hour-long session includes high- and low-energy workouts from circuits to yoga and breathing
exercises. We know that totally free workouts are better than donation-based – and what’s cheaper than running? And with Texas Running Company, you don’t have to do it alone. The company organizes group runs for all skill levels – beginners, advanced and even marathon runners. If you have a hard time motivating yourself to go for a run, it’s much easier and more fun when you have fellow runners to motivate you. Still not satisfied? Many businesses in Austin offer vastly discounted workouts on sites like Groupon and LivingSocial. A few of the highlights include a boxing fitness class, CorePower Yoga, group fitness classes, sessions with a personal trainer and even pole dancing. Groupon and LivingSocial users can also register for sporting lessons, including golf and tennis evaluations. Looking to have fun working out but want to stay on campus? Check out one of the many dance organizations that have free dance lessons. Learn the Argentine Tango, the Texas Two-Step, swing dancing and more! When the only workout price you pay is sweat, reaching your fitness goals will be that much more satisfying.
Page 14
Our Campus
Longhorn Life
Expert Q&A with Michael Cramer by Katey Psencik
Longhorn Life sat down with Michael Cramer, the director of the Texas Sports and Media Program at UT, to talk about the media’s coverage of alternative sports.
Michael Cramer: The media clearly spends a lot less time [on alternative sports]. TV, like most media, is driven by the number of dollars the coverage will generate, and alternative sports don’t generate a lot of dollars unless it’s one of the
Cramer, director of the Texas Sports and Media Program photo by Chelsea Jackson
Longhorn Life: How do you think the media treats alternative sports in comparison to traditional ones?
new, X Games-type events that have almost become manufactured for TV. So, you’re always going to see a small amount unless you can somehow tie that into dollars.
LL: Why do you think these alternative sports are only shown on smaller stations like ESPNU or other affiliates? MC: They’ve got a lot of time to fill. ESPN has six different channels — you do the math, times 24 hours a day — there’s only so many NFL games, MLB games and major sports. Plus, they don’t hold the rights to all those, so they’re always looking for filler. That’s why you’re seeing some of that on the stations that are totally dedicated to sports — they’re filling programming time. LL: How do you think the coverage of alternative sports has changed over time? MC: Ten years ago, there wouldn’t have been any [coverage]. Early TV only had what we would know as smaller sports. It wouldn’t have been unusual 40, 50
October 18, 2013
years ago to turn on the TV and what you got was hunting and fishing and some skiing, some water sports. TV was founded on some lesser-known sports with an occasional game of the week for baseball or football; then it became almost full-blown major sports. So, in a way, TV is sort-of returning to its roots, and the reason is because there are an expanded number of channels with time available. In the last 10 years, a lot of those alternative programs have been well-received, especially by young people, such as skateboarding and snowboarding. LL: In Austin specifically, how do you think the media coverage of alternative sports has changed or will change with the arrival of Formula 1 and the X Games? MC: If it weren’t for Formula 1 being here, nobody in Austin would care, because it’s not a big-
The Circuit of Americas observation tower photo by Joe Capraro time sport in the United States. Austin could care less until that track was built. Will they watch it on TV? Probably not. This is a
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5 October 18, 2013
Longhorn Life
Things I’ve Learned
Page 15
compiled by Priyanka Deshpande photo by Chelsea Jackson
Dr. Jonathan Volvano Electrical and Computer Engineering At UT for 32 years 1. I am continuously amazed at how hard students are willing to work if the class is made relevant and organized efficiently. 2. I am pleased that students over the 32 years I have been teaching here continue to be respectful of their teachers and their school.
Dr. John Colapret Chemistry At UT for 7 years 1. I waited five years for an ‘F’ parking sticker — I hope no one had to die to make room!
2. The buildings and offices are in the same places as they were 30 years ago, even the building where we get keys. 3. Students are much more involved in research than ever before; many are getting in the labs at the freshman level.
3. Once or twice per semester I need to walk across campus at noon to remind myself, “There are a lot of students here at the university.” It puts my small worries into perspective.
4. Student motivations, concerns and goals are pretty much the same they were 10, 20 and 30 years ago.
4. I am pleased that students are quite forgiving of my many, many flaws and appreciate my hard work and enthusiasm.
5. The top 10 percent of our students don’t seem to be that well-prepared after all.
5. I do trust our leadership here at the university (president, provost, deans, chairmen and faculty) because I think we all have a shared mission to educate students. However, I do not trust politicians, news media, lawyers and drug dealers because I think these groups of people act to serve themselves and not the greater good of society.
He’s more than your son. He’s everything. And that’s why, at Lincoln Financial, we do everything we do to help you take charge of your life, plan for the future and protect the ones you love. Let’s get started. To run your personalized retirement analysis or to have a one-on-one meeting with your local Retirement Consultant, contact Charles Davenport at 512-705-7023 or e-mail him at Charles.Davenport@lfg.com.
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