Meet ESPY nominee Jen Hudak

A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of  attending an Under Armour women’s fitness retreat in Beverly Hills.   Held at a beautiful hillside private residence, the afternoon of fitness fun featured NFL star trainer Todd Durkin and UA athletes Monica Hargrove (track and field), Kim Glass (volleyball) and Jen Hudak (ski racing) leading us through a series of exercises.

With the help of Bosu balls, heavy ropes, and some awesome new Under Armour gear, we worked up a quite a sweat on the outdoor deck before sitting down and talking one-on-one with the athletes.

All three of the pros were an inspiration – their dedication and work ethic during the training class were apparent and their eagerness to mentor participants was a real benefit to those of us who needed a helping hand.

A few days after the event, the ESPY nominations were announced and Hudak found out she was up for Best Female Action Sports Athlete. The annual ESPY Awards take place in LA every summer to honor the coolest & best star athletes and memorable moments from the past year.

Hudak, born September 7, 1986 in Hamden, Connecticut, is a freestyle skier, specializing in the halfpipe and slopestyle events. She currently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she skis and trains regularly. A gold medalist in this year’s X-Games (both in the U.S. and Europe), she’s also a current AFP WorldTour Champion and US National Halfpipe Champion. According to her website, Hudak “sleeps, eats, and breathes here sport” and wants to win at everything she does. She’s always willing to get up when she falls and try again (as evidenced by her five surgeries).

Just in time for the ESPYs (Wed. July 14th) here’s a chance to get to know Hudak better:

Related Posts:
Best female athlete ESPY nominees

Break out the BBQ for a picnic perfect day

With summer in full swing, we can almost smell the bbq (maybe that’s because one of our neighbors is literally grilling a burger right now). This is the perfect month to get the summer party started so whether you’re going for a casual, fancy or diet-friendly vibe at your get-together, we’ve got some suggestions.

PT Alert! The average person attending a summer BBQ consumes at least one soda, a hot dog, a burger, chips, coleslaw, potato salad, and dessert. That can easily exceed 1,500 calories. So beware.

With some planning you can still enjoy all the festivities (and the food) without regretting it later. So, without further ado, here’s your need-to-know BBQ info:

Stock up on essentials:

Grill Meats – Typical BBQ meat options include hot dogs, burgers, and chicken. Keep steaks and sausage on hand and you’re always ready to be the queen of the grill. Of all the choices, grilled chicken is definitely your healthiest bet. Try it bunless on a plate loaded with veggies like tomatoes, onions, and lettuce. Or, if you’re carb-loading, pile your chicken and veggies onto half of a bun, and enjoy an open-faced sandwich.

Hot Dogs – There’s only one name in dogs: Nathan’s – 100 % ground beef in a natural casing. If you’ re watching calories, try Hebrew National 97% Fat Free Beef Franks – These 50-calorie pups taste like the real thing but have a fraction of the calories and just 1.5 grams of fat each. (Make sure you get the 97% Fat Free ones and not the Reduced Fat dogs — those have way more calories and fat)

Veggie Burgers – A lot of people think veggie dogs and burgers are for wimps. Amys Burgers are super healthy and both meat-eaters and vegetarians flip for these barbeque-flavored patties packed with protein, veggies, oats, and walnuts.  All that and just 120 calories and 2.5 fat grams each. We also like Gardenburgers (especially the Black Bean Chipotle one), and Boca burgers, too. Or, make a Grilled Portobello Burger (see below).

Side Dish Dos and Don’ts – Run screaming from (or just politely decline) mayo-soaked sides like slaws, potato salad, and macaroni salad. Each tiny serving is crammed with fat and calories. Instead opt for sweet corn on the cob (trade the butter for a squirt of lemon or lime and some salt & pepper), baked potato with salsa (grilled sweet spuds taste amazingly good plain), or grilled veggies. See recipes below for some side dish options.

Sweets - Desserts don’t have to be calorie-loaded catastrophes. Grilled fruit kabobs are insanely good. Mango, banana, pineapple on the grill are an awesome alternative to plain fruit salad. Also, icy treats (like sorbet and ice pops) instead of creamy ones (ice creams) – will save you oodles of fat and calories.

Weight Watchers Sherbet and Ice Cream Bars – If you can’t pass up the ice cream, these portion-controlled pops combine creamy vanilla ice cream and fruity sherbet. Each bar has just 60 calories and a half-gram of fat (available in Strawberry, Key Lime, and Passion Fruit).

Fave Recipes
Potato salad, the ultimate comfort food at summer gatherings, is usually loaded with calories and fat (see Side Dish Dos and Don’ts above). Fortunately, our Pretty Tough Testers have come up with a version that tastes great and is great for you.

Red Potato Salad
Ingredients:
3 qts. water
2 lbs. small red potatoes
1/4 cup low fat mayonnaise
1/4 cup non-fat sour cream
1 Tbs. coarse ground mustard
2 Tbs. parsley (minced)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. fresh ground black pepper

Directions:
Place water in a large pot and bring the water to a boil over medium heat. Boil the potatoes until tender (15-20 minutes). Remove potatoes and let cool for about 10 minutes. Chill thoroughly in the refrigerator.
Cut potatoes into one-half to one inch pieces.
Place potatoes in mixing bowl and add mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, parsley, salt and pepper.
Mix together gently and chill well before serving.

Product Picks for Your BBQ!

d’Oni Specialty Sauces – These low-cal, fat-free marinades are packed with flavor. Use ‘em on chicken, seafood, veggies and more! Our fave? Bold as Love Honey-Habanero-Mustard.

Mustards – Buy a range. New Brunfel’s has some good hot and sweet mustard. Jack Daniel’s varieties are inexpensive. Coleman’s English packs a real punch.

Ketchup – Generally, ketchup is loaded with sugar and artificial stuff, but people will want it. Have Heinz on hand, but also Tabasco’s kicked-up variety.

Buns – Try a crusty french loaf for both hot dogs and sausage. It is also hard to beat the potato roll for a burger.

Anything else?

Wash down with a glass of ice-cold, home-made lemonade.
1. Stir together ½ cup lemon juice and 1/3 cup sugar in a pitcher until the sugar dissolves. Stir in 3 cups water; chill.. don’t use sugar, use simple syrup. Make simple syrup (one part boiling water to one part sugar, stir and let cool)
2. Add some salt. Not a lot but it brings out the sweetness of the syrup and the tartness of the lemons.

Come & Get It

Roast Corn on the Grill
Cooking corn with the husks on adds a sweet, smoky flavor. You can grill fresh corn without the husks, but be careful not to burn them (although a golden charring greatly enhances the flavor). Or, wrap husked corn with seasonings in heavy duty foil.

Pull husks away from corn, leaving husks attached. Remove silks, push husks back in place, tying with string to hold husks firmly around corn. Soak corn in cold water for about 15 minutes.

Remove the corn from the water and brush the kernels with olive oil. Place on preheated grill about 3 inches from coals on medium setting;. Cook, with cover down, 25-30 minutes or until done, turning frequently. The sweeter the corn, the less time required for cooking. You’ll know it is done when you press a kernel and it shoots out it’s sweet liquid. Serve with salt, pepper and butter.

Pretty Tough Tip:
For Mexican style corn, squeeze lime juice on each ear and sprinkle with salt and chile powder or paprika.

Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burgers
Ingredients:
4 large portobello mushroom caps
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 whole-wheat buns
4 slices vine ripened tomatoes
4 slices red onion
2 bibb lettuce leaves, halved

Directions:
Clean mushrooms and remove their stems. Place in a glass dish, stem side up.
To prepare the marinade, in a small bowl whisk together the vinegar, water, sugar, garlic, and olive oil. Season with salt & pepper. Drizzle marinade over mushrooms and let stand for one hour.
Prepare a hot fire and lightly coat the grill rack with cooking spray. Position the cooking rack 4 to 6 inches from the heat source.
Grill or broil the mushrooms on medium heat, turning often, until cooked through, about 5 minutes on each side. Baste with marinade to keep from drying out.
Place each mushroom on a bun and top with 1 tomato slice, 1 onion slice and 1/2 lettuce leaf. Serve immediately.

Pretty Tough Tip:
The meaty-textured portobello mushroom is the perfect substitute for a hamburger. One portobello mushroom has about 30 calories and no fat or cholesterol. By comparison, a 3-ounce hamburger patty has 235 calories, 16 grams of fat and 76 milligrams of cholesterol.

Happy 4th of July Weekend

Have a great 4th of July Weekend from Pretty Tough!

Venus, Clijsters suffer shock Wimbledon exits

If you think you can’t do something, think again. We’ve all heard advice about believing in yourself and never giving up. Well, case in point.

Today at the Wimbledon Championships, Tsvetana Pironkova and Vera Zvonareva caused huge upsets to set up an unlikely last-four clash. Each was playing a top-seeded player and not expected to advance.

First Bulgaria’s 82nd-ranked Pironkova inflicted a heaviest ever Wimbledon defeat on five-time champion Venus Williams, winning 6-2 6-3 in front of a stunned Court One crowd.The second-seeded Williams, who had reached the Wimbledon final in eight of the past 10 years, was undone by a slew of unforced errors and double faults.

In another surprise, 21st-seeded Zvonareva of Russia rallied to beat two-time U.S. Open winner Kim Clijsters 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to reach her first Wimbledon semifinal, trashing Clijsters’ hopes of a dream return

After an unpredictable French Open ended with Italian veteran Francesca Schiavone beating Australia’s Samantha Stosur in an unlikely final between two grand slam final debutants, it’s clear that on any given day, anyone can win a championship.

Having never been beyond the second round of a grand slam tournament before this year’s Wimbledon, Pironkova said she had arrived hoping just to win a couple of matches but now stands one match away from a dream final. She becomes the first woman representing Bulgaria to reach a Grand Slam semifinal in the Open era.

Tennis great Billie Jean King once said, “champions keep playing ’til they get it right,” and that’s exactly what these two ladies did in their matches today. Remember that the next time someone tells you can’t do something.

Pretty Awesome: Puma’s new line of city bikes

We’ve been eagerly anticipating the release of PUMA’s new line of city bikes and they’re finally available online and at select dealers.

PUMA Bikes pull together the best, most practical parts of city and folding bikes, BMXs, American cruisers, and fixies to create a whole new urban typology.

The bikes were designed by the Copenhagen based company Biomega and Jens Martin Skibsted. There are and five different models but when  you factor in all the colors and sizes available, there’s at least 120 configurations. Flashy against the gritty city. PUMA Bikes boast bold color combinations. From lemon yellows to funky fuchsias to ocean-glass turquoises, the colors are inspired by vibrant island color and defy the expected.

The new  PUMA Bikes are named after islands in the Atlantic Ocean. This method is grounded in the Trans-Atlantic inspiration behind the bikes’ design, where smart and practical European design meets laidback, urban American style.

The Pico, named after an island in the Central Group of the Portuguese Azores,  looks a lot cooler than most folding bikes, thanks to a compact, BMX-style frame, $695:

Nevis Lady is a city cruiser with an easy, upright posture, $725. (Nevis Man also available). Nevis Island is an island in the Caribbean Sea, located southeast of Puerto Rico.

Funk, named after a small island northeast of Wesleyville, Newfoundland, Canada,  is modeled after the fixed-gear bikes favored by two-wheeled hipsters, $860:

And Disco, Biomega’s first breakout hit for Puma, $970.  is named after  a large island in Baffin Bay, off the west coast of Greenland. This bike  features an integrated cable lock in the frame. It’s structural rigidity depends on the cable; if a thief cuts it, the bike can’t be ridden.

Wonder if they’re looking for test drivers for these sweet, colorful  rides?

Happy Birthday, Venus Williams

Seventeen Grand Slam titles, two Olympic gold medals and a host of other championships  make Venus Williams one of the most recognizable figures in professional tennis.

The birthday girl’s resume off the court is nearly as impressive as her on court accomplishments. She’s launched her own line of clothing, founded an interior design company and has been named one of America’s most powerful women by Ladies Home Journal

Venus Williams was born June 17, 1980, in Lynwood, Calif., to Richard and Oracene Williams. Growing up in Compton, a suburb of Los Angeles, Venus and her younger sister Serena displayed talent as they “practiced with dead balls on cracked courts,” wrote Sports Illustrated.

By age 10, Venus was winning tournaments, and in 1991, the Williams clan relocated to Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., where the young phenoms began training full-time. The sisters’ careers were carefully managed by Richard and Venus turned pro at age 14.

Venus played her first full season on the WTA Tour in 1997 and won her first pro tournament a year later.  The following year won two grand slams. She and Serena became two of the tour’s top players, and also formed one of the best doubles teams. In 2002, Venus became the No. 1 ranked women’s player in the world, the first African-American to achieve that status.

Williams has thus far won seven grand slam tournaments: two U.S. Open titles and five Wimbledon titles. At 30, she remains one of the best players on the women’s tour.

Off the court, Venus Williams studied fashion design at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. In November 2007, she launched a line of sporty clothing and accessories, including footwear, called EleVen.

She and Serena founded the Venus and Serena Williams Tutorial/Tennis Academy in Los Angeles, providing tennis lessons to inner-city children. The academy provides not only on-court instruction, but also tutoring and assistance in applying to colleges.

Venus, who is one of the best paid athletes in the world,  has one the fastest serve in the women’s game – 129 mph. She  also stars in Virtua Tennis, a popular video game.

Happy Birthday Venus!! Hope the day is as special as you are!!

Profile

Name :	Venus Williams
Profession :	Tennis Player
Date of Birth :	June 17, 1980
Place of Birth :	Lynwood, California, USA
Plays :	Right-handed
Career Titles :	25

Get in the swing: June is Women’s Golf Month

Throughout the month of June, women call the shots on the links. American Express Women’s Golf Month celebrates its sixth anniversary with a nationwide initiative that provides women the opportunity to learn or re-learn the game of golf in a fun and friendly environment.

During June, participating facilities will offer complimentary golf instruction to people 14 years of age and older as well as activities such as networking receptions, golf rules and etiquette seminars, club fitting and equipment demonstrations, golf apparel fashion shows, luncheons, playing experiences, and contests. Each activity is designed to provide a fun and inviting atmosphere for all involved.

LPGA/PGA Professional Suzy Whaley, LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame member Nancy Lopez, and world-renowned fitness expert and philanthropist Donna Richardson Joyner are the American Express Women’s Golf Month Spokeswomen Team for 2010.

“Women’s Golf Month is an opportunity for all women to enjoy the game of golf,” Whaley said. “Join us for fun events that include lessons, clinics, on-course experiences, golf fitness, networking, sales and much more. It is a special event and I encourage all women to come out, improve your game, and participate in a sport of a lifetime!”

Without Golf for Women magazine, which Conde Nast shut down about a couple years ago, a lot of women who might have been interested won’t even know about the events so help spread the word.

Programs such as this have helped people discover that the game of golf is a great way to foster relationships and encourage personal health, while spending time with family, friends or colleagues.

More information about Women’s Golf Month, including a list of participating facilities, can be found at PlayGolfAmerica.com. Type in your zip code and see what courses in your area are taking part in Women’s Golf Month. You might get lucky and find a free clinic or special greens fee at your local course. If not, visit your local course and ask why they are not participating. June has 30 days – at least they can find a couple to do something special for the gals.

UCLA wins Women’s College World Series

Living in LA, I was naturally rooting for UCLA in the Women’s College World Series – just as I have for the last five years. But this year, they didn’t disappoint.

The tournament began with a series of upsets leaving everyone to wonder who would emerge as the dominant force.  A number of higher seeded teams were ousted by lower seeded teams in the first round. No. 16 Hawaii beat No. 9 Missouri, No. 5 UCLA beat No. 4 Florida, No. 6 Georgia upset the defending champions No. 3 Washington, and No. 15 Tennessee downed No. 10 Arizona.

But in the final game, UCLA hit four more home runs en route to a 15-9 victory over Arizona at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, a win that gave the Bruins their 11th national title and their first since 2004.

Pitcher Megan Langenfeld, Andrea Harrison, Julie Burney and Samantha Camuso hit homeruns  as UCLA completed its sweep through a series that included victories over Florida, Hawaii and Georgia and two against Pacific 10 Conference rival Arizona in the best-of-three final.

Langenfeld, a senior from Bakersfield, was selected as the series’ most outstanding player after hitting four home runs, driving in nine runs and going 3-0 as a pitcher.

Kelly Inouye-Perez, a former Bruins player and assistant, won the national title in her fourth season as UCLA’s head coach.

The 2010 Women’s College World Series also goes into the record books with the highest attendance record ever.

At the conclusion of the Championship, the final attendance number was 62,562, eclipsing the previous total of 62,463, which was set in 2007 with a three-game Championship Series.

Congrats to the Bruins and the Wildcats!

Our Game Magazine published by women soccer players

A new women’s soccer pub, Our Game Magazine, was launched with some fanfare this week. Founded by Khaled El-Ahmad, Our Game is a women’s soccer magazine created by current and past players for players and fans all around the world.

With the mission of providing a wealth of women’s soccer knowledge that “no magazine has done before,” Our Game is another avenue towards enhancing the popularity of women’s soccer worldwide.

The mag’s title comes from the fact that players are involved in producing the magazine – they love the game, they play it and they want to bring readers closer to it.

El-Ahmad.  the founder of sports agency Connect World Football, brought the magazine’s concept to Boston Breakers striker Tiffany Weimer, who studied journalism at at Penn State,  and the two decided to go for it with Weimer taking the editorial lead.

The rest of the writing staff is comprised of current and former players, a number of whom are Weimer’s teammates. Breakers midfielder Leslie Osborne is really into fashion so she edits the Fashionably Fit section. Breakers GK Alyssa Naeher was a kinesiology major and is really interested in the body so she heads up the health section.  We’re guessing there will also be some guest editors from the WNT and WPS commentating on issues close to their hearts.

If you get a chance to view this online-only magazine’s first issue, you will be completely impressed.  It’s a 40-page professionally produced pub that includes features on youth soccer, a Q-and-A piece with USA women’s national team coach Pia Sundhage, a profile on Canadian national team goalkeeper Erin McLeod and previews of World Cup fashion.  If the launch is any indication,  we’re really looking forward to what the mag will deliver in the future.

Visit @OurGameMagazine on Twitter,  follow the magazine’s fan page on Facebook and contact them with feedback or if you’re interested in contributing at ourgamemag@gmail.com

Exclusive Interview: Motocross champion Ashley Fiolek

One of the biggest stars in motocross, Ashley Fiolek has succeeded on and off the race track. At nineteen, she is already the top female competitor in a tough men’s sport. Since going pro in late 2007, Fiolek has taken gold at the X Games, won the American Women’s Motocross Championship twice, and become the first woman in American motocross history to be signed to a factory team—the highest echelon of industry backing.

But Fiolek’s rise has not come without obstacles. Fiolek was born profoundly deaf, a handicap that makes everyday life difficult—and competition on the track downright dangerous.

With the publication of her new book “Kicking Up Dirt”, we had the chance to ask Ashley some questions:

PT:  Congratulations on writing such an informative and inspirational book. Who is the intended audience?

AF: Thank you, well I think the audience is young people and anyone that wants to be motivated and wants to achieve something in their life, anything is possible!

PT:  Your parents and family are obviously hugely influential in your life. Who else do you credit with being a role model and why?

AF: Other than my family I have looked up to fellow motocrossers, Sarah Whitmore and James Stewart I like how they treat their fans and friends.

PT: It’s always complicated being coached by a parent. What’s the best part about having your father as your coach? The worst part?

AF: The best part is he can sign to me and he understands me better than a regular coach. The worst part is we are both too stubborn sometimes!

PT:  In your book, you make reference to how girls are portrayed marketing motocross e.g. hot models getting paid to model instead of real pro athletes. What needs to happen in order for that kind of media and marketing to change?

AF: I think mostly it needs to change from the inside, from within the industry and that the girls just need to be taken more seriously, it is already starting to happen!

PT:  Your rivalry with Jessica Patterson is well documented. Who else do you consider serious competition? Any girls we should keep an eye on this season?

AF: Oh wow…every time you get on the track everyone is competition! There is of course Jessica, and Tarah Geiger is back in the action this year, Sherri Cruse, Marianna Balbi and the younger girls are super fast too! Vicki Golden, Sarah Price…..watch for everyone!

PT:  How much of an advantage has it been to be a factory rider? What’s the coolest perk of riding for Honda?

AF: I think it is nice to know your bike will be there every week and not wondering how it is getting there! It is great to have a team like that behind you that you can trust and knowing you are getting the best of everything! It is just very positive and very reassuring! Plus you have a bunch of great riders to ask tips from or get help!

PT:  As a role model in both the action sports and deaf communities, which is more satisfying and why?

AF: That is hard, I am not sure which is more satisfying….action sports came first and I really couldn’t believe that people thought I was a role model so that was just very cool. Then deaf schools started wanting me to visit and that was really something that I had hoped for so they are both very rewarding in their own ways!

PT:   How long do you plan to compete professionally? Any short and/or long-term goals? Do you plan on attending college?

AF: Well I hope to compete professionally as long as I can; I love to ride and race! I am just going to try and keep doing my best. When I finish racing I hope to work in the industry because it is just a part of me. I don’t have any plans for college right now, but maybe in the future :-)

PT:   In the short time you’ve been pro, major changes have occurred in women’s mx from more parity in purses to promoters improving conditions. At the end of your book you say “we’ve only just begun.” What others signs of progress would you like to see?

AF: Well it would be nice if everything in the sport were equal but I know that takes a lot of time! By equal I mean tv time, moto lengths, equal billing…those kinds of things. I know a lot of women struggle with these same issues in other sports too, but hopefully one day things will be closer to being equal.

PT:   Do you consider yourself Pretty Tough?

Oh yeah…I am pretty tough! I don’t think many racers girls or boys have gotten up after a broken collar bone and finished a race…. :-) some, but not many!

Quick Ten

1. Nickname: af67
2. Greatest Fear: needles
3. Guilty Pleasure: chocolate
4. Pet Peeve: when peoples shoe laces are untied
5. Celeb Crush: MarioLopez
6. One article of clothing you can’t live without: skinny jeans
7. Best physical feature: my abs haha…
8. Super power you’d like to have? Invisibility
9. Two things always in your fridge? red bull and avocados
10. Interesting fact you wouldn’t mind fans knowing: I am really a goofy person!

WIN A COPY OF KICKING UP DIRT

Learn more about this extraordinary athlete by winning a copy of her new book “Kicking Up Dirt.” To get your copy, you must…

• Follow @prettytough on Twitter
• CLICK HERE to send the tweet that enters you in our contest.

Join our Facebook Page for extra chances

Winners will be randomly drawn from the pool of entrants at midnight PST Friday, May 28th and contacted via Twitter direct message. Only residents of the U.S. and Canada are eligible to win. Please no P.O. boxes.

Good Luck to all!

Related Posts:
Ashley Fiolek is Kicking Up Dirt
Ashley Fiolek set to race in Europe again
Ashley Fiolek wins women’s moto X

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