Archives

Coolibar Athletes Kaitlyn Price

Pro Golf Dream is on Hold – For Now

Kaitlyn Price - Golf

What does a Coolibar 2014 Sponsored Athlete do when injury temporarily takes her out of the game? Switch sports, of course!

By Kaitlyn Price

Unfortunately, this summer hasn’t gone exactly as planned. As most of you know, injuries are a part of living an active lifestyle. While they never seem to come at a good time, they can, in the long run, make you stronger. This summer has been frustrating to say the least.

It started on a high: graduating college, playing well in my first events, and preparing for Q-school [the annual qualifying tournaments required for membership in pro golf tours such as the LPGA]. But sadly I have sustained a shoulder injury that will keep me from attending Q-school this year. While my dream of playing professionally is on hold for the moment, I am taking this time to rehab my shoulder and get back into fighting shape to give it a whirl again next year.

Since I have been taking a break from playing in tournaments and practicing I have had more time to do some other activities. One of the activities I have taken up is fishing. My brother is an avid fisherman and he takes me out on his boat to fish the Intracoastal Waterway.Kaitlyn Price - fish

Much like golf, fishing takes a lot of patience as well as long periods of time in the sun. The Marina Sun Hat and the Quarter Zip Long Sleeve Fitness Pullover have been great assets to a day on the water. The picture shows a black drum I caught while wearing my Quarter Zip Long Sleeve Fitness Pullover!

Although I was skeptical at first of wearing long sleeves in the summertime, I have been amazed at how well the Coolibar clothing keeps you cool and protects your skin from the sun. Coolibar clothing has definitely enhanced my wardrobe and keeps me looking good while staying cool and protected.

No Comments
Coolibar Athletes Valerie Stewart

The Athlete Within

Valerie Stewart - Kayak

By Valerie Stewart

In fourth grade I ruled on the four square court. NO one could knock me out of the server’s square. My family didn’t know and I didn’t receive any blue ribbons, but I knew and it made me feel great.

Thinking back, I realize that I took no specific pleasure in beating the other kids. The payoff was the sense of power that being the best gave me. In an era when parents and teachers didn’t constantly stroke and support children, it was up to us to find a sense of identity and pride. I see now that it was incredibly satisfying to beat all the boys at a time when girls weren’t encouraged to be athletes.

As an adult, what I don’t like about competition is making the other women feel badly when I beat them. What I do like is the sense of power and personal accomplishment that winning gives me. Many athletes say that they are really competing against themselves. Which is why timed competitions are so much more satisfying than judged ones; the former are not subjective, and athletes can accurately measure their own progress.Valerie Blog2 A

I define “athlete” as a person who has decided to commit to a physical activity, while working to improve their skills.  In other words, anyone who chooses to can be an athlete. You may be drawn to a sport, or you may want to try out various activities to find the right fit. Don’t worry about your age or past experience or what you “should” do;  if you don’t enjoy it, you won’t do it.

I joined several kayaking groups last summer as a newbie, and am thrilled to have found another sport that I love. I’ll compete in some casual Class 1-2 kayaking events, but kayaking is primarily my safe and peaceful sport. A chance to discover the rivers, lakes, and bays of Northern California, while meeting lots of men and women over 40 who like to do the same thing. We share the delight of seeing eagles, herons, egrets, osprey, pelicans, geese, seals, otters, sea lions, turtles, even sharks and whales in their natural habitat as we float by. A year ago I didn’t realize that these experiences existed.

When I started snowboarding, I was totally unaware of snowboarding competitions. I hadn’t competed in anything since I was a kid in Horse 4H. But my willingness to try a new sport at an “old” age opened up a whole world of unforeseen experiences. I found myself competing on a national level against other women my age who also loved the sport. I produced two award-winning snowboarding videos, and interviewed pro boarders from around the world as they competed to qualify for snowboarding’s historic entry into the Olympics. I competed alongside Shaun White as he evolved from a promising nine-year-old into a multiple Olympic gold medalist. And I found a sport that expresses exactly who I am.

So be open, and ignore your doubts. And the doubts of others. You never know what life may bring if you’re ready to let it in.


Valerie’s Product Pick:

Valerie Stewart - Coolibar Swim Tights

If you thought you could never swim in public again because of your “imperfect” legs, you were wrong. Coolibar has introduced a new age of swimwear – the Active Swim Tight.  It comes in two styles; with or without an attached skirt.  And it’s offered in three lengths; above the knee, below the knee, and above the ankle. The SUNTECT® fabric is UPF 50+ and resists chlorine and saltwater. I own three of these, and will buy more when they’re offered in more colors.

No Comments
Coolibar Athletes Kaitlyn Price

For Aspiring Pro Golfer, Long Days in the Sun are Par for the Course

Kaitlyn Price - Golf

Coolibar highlights another 2014 Sponsored Athlete.

By Kaitlyn Price

As a competitive golfer, there aren’t many days off. The summer months are the heart of the competitive season, and I am taking advantage of the plethora of events to prepare myself for LPGA Qualifying School in August. It is important to have all aspects of your golf game in shape because each tournament brings a new challenge.

While each day is a little different, my general routine consists of getting to the course in the morning and working for about three hours on chipping/pitching, putting, and full swing drills. I then go home, eat lunch, and cool off for a little before either going for a bike ride or heading to the gym. In the afternoon (if it’s not raining), I like to go back out to the course and play as many holes as I can.

During tournament rounds, I am usually in the sun for about seven hours straight. This consists of an hour of warm-up, five hours to play, and then another hour after the round to work on my game. On these days it is very important to be smart about the sun, because not only is it important to protect your skin, but the sun is also mentally draining.

Since I am in the sun anywhere from three to nine hours a day, sun protection is extremely important. Hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen are all imperative for long days in the sun.  Before the day gets started, I apply sunscreen to all exposed areas and I have to reapply a few times throughout the day. Coolibar clothing has been a great asset to my sun protection routine. The Swim Skort, although not created for golf, is my new favorite piece of clothing for the golf course!

No Comments
Coolibar Athletes

Discipline, Dedication…and Sun Protection

Jerry Leonard, Football Coach

Coolibar highlights another 2014 Sponsored Athlete.

By Jerry Leonard

I began playing sports as a child growing up in New Orleans to occupy my time and keep me out of trouble and off the streets. I realized I love competition and the discipline and dedication required to be successful.

Jerry Leonard - Coolibar 2014 Sponsored AthleteThat discipline and dedication began to carry over into many other aspects of my life. This helped me in the classroom as a student, in my own classroom as a teacher, and on the field as a coach. Being a multi-sport athlete I was and am still able to compete in a variety of ways, as a coach and as golfer and power lifter.

Sun protection is extremely important to me as a football coach to stay safe in the sun. We are outside conditioning all summer long in the Louisiana sun. It can be brutal. It is very humid in the south and sweat easily washes off the typical sunscreen. Wearing protective clothing provides the additional protection I need to feel comfortable in the sun without the worry of skin cancer.

No Comments
Show Buttons
Hide Buttons