Kaenon Polarized

Spring training is here, and the sport’s finest are fine tuning their skills with help from their Kaenon Polarized shades – follow your favorite players and if you happen to head out to Spring Training, don’t forget your Kaenons!

Florida Marlins All-Star Short Stop Hanley Ramirez wearing Hard Kore Tobacco G12

San Diego Padres Manager Bud Black wearing Basis Black Chrome G12

Philadelphia Phillies All-Star outfielder Raul Ibanez in Hard Kore Tobacco C28

San Francisco Giant’s Manager Bruce Bochy wearing Spindle S3 G12

GOLF – Northern Trust Open, Pacific Palisades, CA

The weather didn’t provide much sun last week, but Kaenon’s golfers braved the elements and thanks to the range of Kaenon performance lens tints, played through the tough weather at the famed Riviera Country Club in the Northern Trust Los Angeles Open. Robert Allenby lives in Hard Kore C50 lens, rain or shine, and battled conditions more similar to St. Andrews Scotland than to LA, as the area saw heavy rain throughout the tournament.

Kevin Stadler wearing the new Klay Matte Black G12 finished 10th. Allenby continued his streak of solid play collecting a top 30, as did Rod Pampling in Hard Kore G28 Rx.

Davis Love III wore Hard Kore G28, Nick O’Hern was in Hard Kore C28 (he frequently changes lens tints according to sun conditions), and Kevin Streelman played in Hard Kore Black G12.

The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am tees off on Thursday, February 11th in scenic Monterey, California, where Kaenon golfers will be vying for the $6,200,000 purse.

GOLF

Wearing Kaenon Polarized Sunglasses at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City, South Africa—as he does every round of golf — Robert Allenby (Hard Kore Black Copper 50) beat Henrik Stenson after three holes of sudden death to take to take the South African PGA Tour’s richest tournament. Allenby is the first Australian in 29 years to win this tournament.

He started the final round two back, paired in the last grouping, and came up 18 with a one-shot lead—par, he wins.  He bogeyed 18 which forced a playoff with Stenson.

Disappointed with himself not to finish it in regulation, Allenby was determined to take the win after several close calls in 2009, and the $1.2million winner’s check.  ”I thought we were going to be there all night,” Allenby said. “But I’m proud to be the first Australian to win this title, and I knew once Henrik pushed his approach out right (on the final playoff hole), I had a chance if I could hit the green in regulation.”

GOLF

Playing in Hard Kore Tobacco with G12 lenses PGA Tour player Kevin Streelman clinched the inaugural $1million Kodak Challenge – winner take all format – with a birdie on the 17th hole at the Children’s Miracle Network Classic in Orlando, Florida. A new, unique format that extends through most of the PGA Tour, Kevin claimed the Kodak Challenge million-dollars via a separate, PGA Tour KODAK-sponsored prize for the most birdies made during a certain stretch.

Steven Powell, director of the Kodak Challenge noted, “I don’t think we could ask for a better ambassador than Kevin Streelman as our very first champion.”

Kevin’s caddie Michael Collins also is an avid backer of the Kaenon Hard Kore in Black G12 on and off the course.

Check out the video to see what just transpired a few hours ago at the PGA event in Orlando.

FLY FISHING – MOZAMBIQUE
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water! Trapper Rudd shows that having the right equipment can make all the difference. Wearing Kaenon Sunglasses in Hard Kore C12, Rudd holds up a very large, angry tiger fish he caught fly fishing on the Zambezi River in Mozambique.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL – SWATCH FIVB WORLD TOUR SANYA, CHINA

Kaenon’s Tyra Turner, wearing Hard Kore Tobacco C12 and Angie Akers took the bronze medal yesterday on the Swatch FIVB World Tour. Undefeated in bracket play, Tyra and Angie lost to fellow American’s in an epic semi-final match to decide who goes into the Gold Medal match.

Akers and Turner won the bronze by defeating 15th-seeded qualifiers Greta Cicolari and Marta Menegatti of Italy, 21-15, 21-15 win in 36 minutes. The win earned Akers her first-ever SWATCH FIVB World Tour medal and a share of the $15,000 third-place prize. Turner also won the bronze medal at the 2008 Sanya Open, read the full article.

Tyra Turner going high for a block wearing Hard Kore Tobacco G12

Trapper Rudd, wearing Hard Kore Black C12 and owner of Cutthroat Anglers, experienced off the charts snook fishing deep in the mangroves jungles of the Yucatan. Armed with a fly-rod, specialized fishing Kayak, and plenty of Skoal Wintergreen – Trapper hooks up to a HUGE snook.

BASEBALL
While the boys in blue made great strides, Philadelphia went for win. Players on both teams gave Kaenon some great exposure.

Phillies catcher and surprise star of the series, Carlos Ruiz wearing Hard Kore Black G12 in game 2.

Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee wearing Jetty Seaweed.

Earlier in the week, Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda warming up in Kore G12

Jayson Werth in Baton Walnut G12 working out at Dodger Stadium prior to Game 1. Werth also wears Hard Kore Matte Black, Hard Kore in a custom Ivory frame, and Gauge.

Game 2 hero, Dodgers OF Andre Ethier, wearing Beacon Matte Black G12 in the field.

Phillies OF Raul Ibanez wearing Hard Kore Tobacco G12

In 2009 the Russian’s, Team SYNERGY” adopted the Quantum sail package. The results spoke for themselves. Skipper Cameron Dunn wearing Hard Kore shares his thoughts on another successful regatta following Cartagena victory.

SAILING
While the Swiss team, led by Brad Butterworth in Hard Kore packed up it’s Genoa, Italy training base and took their giant catamaran to the UAE race venue, BMW Oracle was back in court contesting not on the race venue but also the rules that will govern the event. The America’s Cup is slated to be raced in dusty Ras Al-Khaimah (50km from Dubai) February 8. This promises to be war of words and court challenges right up to the starting gun – where hopefully it will turn into spectacle on the water – we hope!

Above, Brad Butterworth in Hard Kore Matte Black G12, Alinghi during their last sea trials in Italy last week.

BMW Oracle training off San Diego and their skipper and CEO Rusell Coutts wearing Lewi Black Pearl G12 racing last week in Europe.

WATER
Kaenon Polarized Waterman Jamie Mitchell – takes on and conquers Mavericks, Todos, The Battle of the Paddle among many other big waves and big races this year. Nice work Jamie.

GOLF – VERONA, NY
Cold weather and rain early in the week ushered in the Fall Championship on the PGA Tour at the Turning Stone Resort Championships. Rod Pampling finished 7T in Hard Kore Rx G28.

BASEBALL
Last week of the regular season. Playoff’s begin next week.

Chicago Cubs infielder Jeff Baker hitting in Hard Kore Matte Black G12.

San Francisco Giants 1B Ryan Garko batting in Hard Kore Tobacco G28

PADDLE
Jamie Mitchell and fellow Aussies, Shakira Westdorp, Mick Di Betta, Danny Sheard, Sue Sheard, Joss Kempe and Billy Watson all competed in the Hennessy’s Paddleboard Race in San Francisco September 26th. Jamie Mitchell took first in the Unlimited Paddleboard 30 – 39 division with a time of 1:31:52.

In his words, Jamie shares highlights from the race…“The race started at 8:30am and we all started in waves. Sort of like a Triathlon. The Stock boards went 1st then us Unlimited paddleboards,then the Unlimited SUP and finally the SUP Stock which raced a shorted course. We all started 2 min apart. After nearly missing the start, Mick, Sean and I headed off for the 10 mile paddle(16km) and Joss, Shaq and Billy were close behind in the Stock SUP race. Danny and Sue Sheard from The Sunshine Coast, Australia also raced in the Stock SUP. The race was awesome and beautiful with a scenic paddle around Angel Island and then back around Alcatraz, back to Fisherman’s Wharf. Pretty cool to be paddling around these famous landmarks (not to mention the Golden Gate Bridge that we could see the whole time). As always us Aussies put in a 100% and all did very well. I was lucky to come away with a win and Sean finished 3rd and Mick 4th. Shakira and Joss finished 2nd and 6th and Billy Finished 3rd. Everyone pretty happy with how we went and how good the weather was. After the race it was pretty interesting to see all the different SUP Boards and different designs. I think we are just at the beginning of what we can and will be paddling in the future. I think there is a long way to go when it comes to design.”

PADDLE
Jamie Mitchell has the world buzzing again, but this time it’s due to his amazing run in with a pod of humpback whales. Eight time world paddleboarding champion Jamie Mitchell told news.com.au he was out filming a pilot for his coming documentary, Living in Liquid, when a pod of up to five humpbacks surfaced, and started following him off Tweed Heads at about 7.30am (AEST).

Get the story straight from Jamie….”How do I start… Well I pretty much had one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in the ocean yesterday… I was out doing some filming off the Gold Coast/Tweed Border paddling on my Stand Up when a pod of whales decided to come play with me… I won’t say too much but lets just say it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’ll remember it till the day I die.”

“We were just out on the water paddling around and all of a sudden, boom, a whale breached about 100m away from me,” Mitchell said. “I thought that was pretty cool and then all of a sudden another whale came up right in front of me. “At the start it was sort of scary, I got goosebumps and the adrenalin started flowing.

“But then I realized that they were just playing. They swam right underneath my board and I thought I’d be in strife if they came up but they had a good sense of where I was.” Read the full story and see more pictures here.

Check out this interview on ABC news, where Jamie retells the experience.

SAILING – BARCELONA, SPAIN – BREST, FRANCE

The Spanish boat led by Kaenon Polarized skipper Guillermo Altadill – who wears Hard Kore and Rhino – is sailing the third and final leg of the Istanbul Europa Race, from Barcelona to Brest (France) and aiming for a podium position in the overall classification.

Leading after the first two legs, Estralla Damm has encountered multiple problems on this final leg from Barcelona. First, damage to their mast shortly after the start last week forced Altadill to call for a “pit stop” in Gibralter to erect repairs. However, he reversed that decision after further thought hours later deciding to “nurse” the rig and boat to the finish up the West Coast of Europe – up the Spanish coast, then the French Atlantic coast to Brest.

Estrella Damm is holding on to 3rd overall with about 400 miles to go.

PADDLE – CATALINA ISLAND, CA

Team IMUA finished 4th overall out of 58 teams in the U.S. Championship Outrigger Race – staged as long distance paddle across the Catalina Channel = from Catalina Island to Newport Beach on the mainland of California for a total of 36 miles of Outrigger Canoe Racing. Teams from all over, and a few of Hawaii’s best teams showed up. 1st place was the Outrigger Canoe Club from Hawaii, 2nd Lanakila, 3rd Team Livestrong from Hawaii and 4th Imua/Kaenon from California. This year’s U.S. Championship Outrigger Race has had one of the highest levels of competition in years. The IMUA team wears an assortment of Kaenon’s men’s sunglasses, but mainly Hard Kore while on the water.

The pictures with the awards show Team IMUA with some of the remaining/living members of the first outrigger crossing of the channel 50 years ago.

SAILING
BMW ORACLE Racing Technology Montage – No introduction needed here, this video says it all.

MAST = 185 FEET / 55 METERS – taller than an 18 story building
GENNAKER SAIL = 8400 SQUARE FEET / 780 SQUARE METERS – larger than a baseball infield
LENGTH = 100 FEET / 30 METERS – longer than a blue whale
26,000 data points collected for every second of sailing

Kaenon Polarized Sunglasses featured in this clip: Hard Kore, Lewi, Kore

VIDEO REVIEW

Outside’s Justin Nyberg reviews the Kaenon Hard Kore Polarized Sunglasses, best for sailors and paddlers.

TRAVEL
Curtis Miyashiro, well known Hawaiian Sales Rep for DAKINE and friend of Kaenon Polarized shares his thoughts on the abundance of natural wildlife and the culture inhabiting the island of San Cristobal, the eastern most island in the Galapagos chain. Check out this short clip that will later be released on the Travel Channel. Curtis is wearing Hard Kore.

VOLLEYBALL

Tyra Turner recently competed with the other USA teams at the SWATCH FIVB World Championships in Stavanger, Norway. Followed by 4 Grand Slams which took them to Gstaad,Switzerland; Moscow, Russia; Marseilles, France; and finally Klagenfurt, Austria. Afterward, Tyra and her team partner Angie Akers extended their trip 3 days to visit the US troops in Kosovo.

“That was the best part of the trip. I now have my very own set of dog tags, got to shoot some M-16’s and ride in a Bradley tank. We also played volleyball with the troops and sang karaoke, which we hope boosted their morale,” said Turner.

Tyra and Angie had great results overseas and maintained their 5 seed, 5th in the world, not to shabby for their first year together. Blending beauty and performance with ease, Tyra Turner wears Leila from our line of women’s sunglasses and Hard Kore from our sport sunglasses line.

LA Dodgers hope for a three game sweep against the San Francisco Giants this week. Above, OF Andre Ethier who is currently wearing Beacon Matte Black G12 and LA Dodgers Pitcher Hiroki Kuroda wearing Kore G12 S

Meanwhile, Florida Marlins SS Hanley Ramirez 3B Emilio Bonafacio both choose to wear Hard Kore Tobacco G12 while playing.

Others seen this week in Kaenon Sunglasses
Philadelphia Phillies OF Jayson Werth wearing White Hard Kore G12
Philadelphia Phillies OF Raul Ibanez wearing Hard Kore Tobacco G12
San Francisco Giants 1B Ryan Garko hitting in Hard Kore Black C28

SAILING

America’s Cup defender from Switzerland, Alinghi, flies their 100’ catamaran OVER the Swiss Alps and into the port city of Genova, Italia (Genoa, Italy) to resume training for the Cup in February. A 100’ Russian-built Cargo helicopter performed the unprecedented maneuver – the only practical method to transport the 100’ long x 65’ wide boat to the Sea. The nearly 200’ tall mast is hauled under the helicopter that took these amazing shots.

…and through the Swiss Alps … Saint-Bernard’s Pass

…and into the city of Genoa, Italy

…and touch down in the port of Genoa – where training will resume – mild ocean conditions.

FLIGHT VIDEO –

In this YouTube clip, compiled by Alinghi’s Media Team, there’s insane footage of the boat lifted out of Lake Geneva then flown through Saint-Bernard’s Pass to Genova, Italia, for her first sea trials.

In other news, Alinghi also announced the location of the America’s Cup race, a remote city in the United Arab Emirates expected to take place February. Alinghi’s skipper and CEO Brad Butterworth wears Hard Kore Tobacco.