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Alex Honnold on Free Soloing El Capitan
No ropes, no net, no partners — Alex Honnold is one of the top free solo climbers in the world. Honnold scaled the 3,000-foot vertical face of Yosemite's El Capitan totally alone and spent decades preparing for the climb of his life. From worrying about getting lost to carefully measuring each movement, Honnold talks about what it was like performing one of the most dangerous climbs ever.
The Last Baseball-Glove Maker in America
Baseball is the American pastime, but there's only one ball glove maker left in the US. Nokona makes one of the best gloves you can get in their factory in Nokona, Texas. Nokona Executive Vice President Rob Storey takes you inside their factory, detailing the materials, handcrafted quality, and love of the game that goes into every glove.
Why It's Almost Impossible to Jump Higher Than 50 Inches
The vertical jump is one of the most prized measurements in athletics. While the NBA is the literal poster sport for jumping, it's NFL players that have best hops. Evan Ungar holds the world record for a standing jump, leaping 63.5 inches, and has a vertical of nearly three feet. But jumping higher than 50 inches is nearly impossible to do — and WIRED takes a deep dive into sports science to find out why.
Mountain Biking at the North Pole
Darren Berrecloth has spent his life seeking out the most remote places on earth to mountain bike. The professional rider has been around the globe, biking some of the harshest terrain he can find — and now he's found his favorite spot. The uninhabited island of Axel Heiberg in Canada is just 40 miles south of the North Pole, and Darren and his team made the difficult journey for the ultimate payoff.
The Art of Pro Wrestling
Pro wrestling is fake. But the characters and stories are larger than life — literally and figuratively. From Gorgeous George in the 1950s to faces like Hulk Hogan and heels like the Undertaker, wrestling has a cast that rivals anything in film or television. Vox looks at the history of wrestling and the true art behind it — the art of storytelling.
The Evolution of the Tennis Racket
In 1961, French tennis legend Rene Lacoste revolutionized the game of tennis. He introduced a racket made not of wood, but steel. Shortly after Lacoste's invention, Wilson came out with the T2000 — a stainless steel racket with a small head and open throat that minimized air resistance, allowing for faster, more powerful swings. Soon aluminum, graphite, and graphene would come to be the dominant materials in tennis racket construction, along with the oversize we're familiar with today.
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Plum Wine Preserver
With the ability to identify, chill, pour, and preserve, the Plum wine preserver combines all wine gadgets into one sleek package. Select your bottle and insert it into the appliance. Inside, a camera scans the label to identify the wine and automatically begin cooling to the ideal temperature. Whether it's a cork or metal screw cap, a double-cored needle punctures the top. As wine is released, argon gas fills the bottle to help prevent oxidation. A single canister can preserve up to 150 bottles, keeping each one fresh for up to 90 days so when you're ready, a perfect glass of wine is always waiting to be poured — a valuable feature during the holidays.
Presented by Plum.
Leesa Mattress
This holiday season, give yourself the gift of a better nights rest. The much loved Leesa is now even better! A new top layer of premium foam delivers enhanced cooling, improved pressure relief, and contours to every curve of your body. Perfect for all sleepers, try Leesa in your home for 100 risk-free nights with free shipping and free returns, always.
Presented by Leesa.
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Wakeskating A Volcanic Valley
Towering volcanic rock, flowing mineral pools, and desert vegetation. Sounds like the perfect backdrop for an epic wakeboarding video. Brian Grubb thought the same thing when he headed to Jordan to navigate the narrow canyons of Wadi Al-Hidan. Grubb is no stranger to riding unique waters having shredded the waves of an ancient Cleopatra Pool, a Wisconsin cranberry field, and the rice terraces of Banaue.
The Logistics of Formula One
They call it the Circus for good reason. The Formula One schedule crisscrosses the globe, sometimes racing on consecutive weekends thousands of miles apart. Getting everything torn down and set back up requires an insane amount of planning, and each team has their own logistics expert. Wendover Productions details how getting a team across continents in the most technologically-advanced racing series on Earth works.
Travis Pastrana Honors Evel Knievel
American legend Evel Knievel passed away in 2007, and the void he left has yet to be filled — until now. Travis Pastrana has raced everything from NASCAR's Bush series to the American Rally Championship, but his love has always been motorcycles. Now, he's recreated three of Evel's most popular jumps — the fountain at Caesar's Palace, 52 crushed cars, and 16 Greyhound buses, all while riding a custom Indian motorcycle.
The Undertaker vs. Mankind
The WWE has had its share of insane moments, most of them involving Mick Foley. But 20 years ago today, he topped them all with one of the greatest matches in sports entertainment. His alter ego Mankind faced off against the Undertaker in the infamous Hell in a Cell match. From being tossed off the top of the cage to the chokeslam through the chainlink fencing, Foley's brutal beating has become one of the most iconic events in wrestling history.
Skating Blind
Dan Mancina was diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease at 13 that would eventually leave him totally blind. But before that, he was a skateboarder. Even though he was losing his eyesight, Dan didn't stop — and isn't stopping now. Dan explains his technique that keeps on the board and doing tricks with a disability that others think would make it impossible.
The Origins of the Classic Soccer Ball
When you imagine a soccer ball, chances are you picture a sphere covered in black and white patches. It's called the Telstar. Although it's now synonymous with the game of soccer, it wasn't the original design. Vox details how the rise of broadcast television led to the iconic design you know today.
A Bad Lip Reading of The NBA
The Finals are over and that means it's time to recap the season with a Bad Lip Reading. Not even The King was safe when BLR crew remixed the 2017-2018 season, finally letting us in on what all the players think about snow, tea, and Fergie's national anthem.
Nigel Sylvester Bikes From London to Paris
Pro BMX rider Nigel Sylvester is back with another installment in his globe-trotting GO series. This time, he's going from London to Paris, pulling tricks and getting a bit of the culture — and falling in love — in the process.
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Casper Mattress
When Casper entered the mattress market a few years ago, they changed the mattress industry. And now, after 30 engineering improvements and nearly half a million happy customers, the Casper mattress is more breathable and comfortable than ever. Each mattress is made of multiple layers of foam, including one for support and pressure relief, and one to make sure you sleep cool and comfortable. It's all wrapped up in a durable woven cover, and shipped right to your door in a box that's easy to maneuver into even the smallest homes or apartments. You get 100 nights to try it out and can return it for free if you're not satisfied.
Presented by Casper.
Vinebox 12 Nights of Wine
Advent calendars just got a lot more interesting. Instead of counting down to the holidays with a bunch of boring chocolates, the Vinebox 12 Nights of Wine lets you pop the cork on a dozen different bottles. Whether you've been naughty or nice, each vial holds a glass of red or white from the best regions around the world. The wines come housed in a limited edition box and just 10 will feature a golden bottle that unlocks the key to a free subscription for all of 2019.
Presented by Vinebox.
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Inside The Golden State Warriors' Sneaker Closet
With sponsors like Nike, Under Armour, and Adidas, you know the Golden State sneaker closet is full of gems. Each season, players are sent their signature shoe in dozens of colorways and no one knows each pair better than equipment manager Eric Housen. During a tour of their Oakland practice facility, Housen shows off the lineup of shoes from players like Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Nick Young while ranking a few of his favorites in the process.
Tony Hawk Does 50 Tricks At 50
Even our heroes get old sometimes. Tony Hawk is 50 and has spent almost his entire life on a skateboard. But Father Time is catching up with the Birdman and Hawk is finding it a little harder to do some of the tricks he came up with. The RIDE Channel got together with Tony for 50 tricks on his 50th birthday — some of which will be the last time he ever does them.
Surfing the Night
Nearly any sport can be played at night — but surfing isn't usually one of them. Father and son Roy and Sean Johnson are changing that with Roy's latest surfboard design. Starting with busted boards Roy finds on the beach, he rebuilds them with LEDs that let him and Sean hit the waves after dark.
1962 Monaco Grand Prix
The Monaco Grand Prix is one-third of the Triple Crown of motorsport, along with the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Indianapolis 500. The glamour and pageantry of the race are unparalleled and the drivers who have won it are legendary. This footage from the 1962 Monaco GP is from one of the best eras of F1 when safety was an afterthought and the mid-engine layout had come into full supremacy. Taking from the German film Flying Clipper, it shows what the Golden Age of racing was like.
Sports Sound Better At Home
Everything you hear on a sports broadcast doesn't just happen — it's all the result of microphones and the A1 audio engineer. In a trailer outside the area, one person and a lot of equipment take strategically placed mics and literally chase the action, using faders on a mixing console. VOX talks to a few industry pros to see how the process works, and why you hear things at home you'd never hear at the stadium.
Dream Ride 3
He's biked across the pristine landscapes of Utah and Oregon and through the fire and ice of Hawaii and Canada. Now, Mike Hopkins concludes his epic trilogy with yet another dream ride. The final chapter follows the mountain biker as he rides among stone giants and coastal seals throughout New Zealand.
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Fabio Wibmer's Fabulous Escape 2
Mountain biking takes place in the mountains — but not the snow-covered kind in Saalbach, Austria. The pro biker's latest escapade finds him outrunning the police with huge jumps, rooftop gaps, and an impressive helicopter entrance.
Racing Lines Explained
The fastest way around a race track isn't the shortest. A proper racing line is all about momentum and carrying it into the straights for maximum speed. Chain Bear F1 has this great explainer on racing lines and why they have little to do with geometry.
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Game of Zones: A Golden Summer
It's the summer of 2017, and House Golden State is gathered to discuss the upcoming season and how to yet again dominate the NBA. The storylines are coming fast, with the Thunder, Rockets, and Vince Carter going to the Kings — but Sir Steve Kerr doesn't seem the least bit worried. With the first round of the playoffs underway, we'll see what Golden State has up their sleeve for the Finals.
Why You'll Never See A 110 MPH Fastball
The number of pitchers who can break the 100 MPH has gone up dramatically in the last decade, with one who can throw 105. But breaking 110 MPH is nearly impossible, due to the physical limitations of human bones, muscles, and ligaments. Unlike other sports where the performance bar is constantly being raised, pitching has most likely plateaued. WIRED talks with some baseball experts to find out why throwing a 110 MPH fastball won't be happening any time soon.
Welcome Back
It's been a rough few years for Tiger Woods. Injuries and personal troubles have dogged him, but at the 2018 Masters, we saw a glimpse of the player that lit the game of golf on fire. After a two-year layoff, Woods returned to Augusta and finished tied at 32nd on the leaderboard — and it's great to see him back to form.
A Love Letter to Winter
Freshly fallen powder. Crisp, cool air. Bundling up in a nice fleece jacket. No one loves winter more than The North Face. But as the temps rise and the snow begins to melt, the brand must bid farewell to their frigid friend. They do so in spectacular form with this love letter to the season featuring athletes from their Snow Team, embracing the elements one colossal mountain peak at a time.
How Nike Designs for an NBA Athlete
When designing new uniforms for the NBA, Nike didn't start with fabric or fit. They started with research. Lots and Lots of research. Beginning in their Sports Research Lab, they put athletes through their paces, tracking everything from their movement to their temperature. Using this data, they create the game-day apparel you see on the court today.
The Sound of Skating on Black Ice
Ever hear the sound of a rope banging against a flagpole in a strong wind? That laser-like sound is similar to the sound of skating on thin ice. Mårten Ajne seeks out fresh, thin ice — around two inches thick — for wild ice or Nordic skating. The black ice is incredibly smooth, making for effortless skating and a sound that's out of this world.
