Sports ATX

Ezine Spring 2022

6 Meet the Editors 10 Driving the

Crowd Crazy

14 F1 Around the World

16 Jumping into the

Austin Experience

20

Pick-up Game Necessities

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Table 22

Just Row With It

26 28

Every Stroke into the World of Rowing The Lake Austin Experience

32 Amazing Animals You Can See in Lake Austin

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Meet Th Tariya Written by Nitya

Tom

Written by Anish Tom Lepard, also known as the most handsome man alive, stands at a whopping 6 foot 4. He dreams of becoming a famous lawyer. For his Ezine story he wants to write about pickup sports and how they connect local communities throughout Austin. In his free time he sleeps on his bed and plays videogames with his nonexistent friends.

When he is feeling lazy he goes outside and bounces a ball. Sadly when weekends come around he sits in a corner and cries at the sight of Jidion getting banned on Twitch.

Nitya

Written by Tariya Nitya Shah is someone who is always down to chow on some good food and be around her friends. An amazing swimmer and student, Nitya wants to research and showcase what it takes to be a professional athlete, and why these sports are so important to her hometown, Austin, Texas.

Along with swimming and having all of her time taken up by school, Nitya hopes to pursue either architecture or something along the lines of genetics. She does not really have any clue. Along with this she is a big traveler and enjoys seeing places she hasn’t before, Nitya loves cold weather because for some reason she is just always feeling like she is burning up.

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Tariya Singh is way too good for this group. Her name gets mispronounced quite a bit but she still really likes it. In this magazine, she plans to write about the sport of rowing in Austin and the importance of it in this communities. She likes to read because she finds it relaxing but she also loves to row which is not relaxing. Rowing is the primary cause for her lack of free time. Her immensely long (but gorgeous) hair takes up a lot of her time too. Along with spending time with her friends, being an astounding rower, and being passionate about sports, for some reason Tariya always seems to be cold.

Anish Written by Tom

Anish Vivek is a very funny and bright young man, who is smart enough to have skipped a grade. When he’s older he wants to become an entrepreneur who can invest into multiple businesses and make a ton of money. For Anish’s Ezine article he wants to write about free water sports in Austin. He mainly wants to go into detail on fun activities to do in Barton Springs and Lady Bird Lake. When he has free time, Anish’s favorite things to do are to play video games, such as Valorant with his friends and watch football.

He claims to play Valorant “professionally” on a potato computer. He says that he is 6 foot but in reality has the height of a leprechaun.

he Editors

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Photographed by Ivy Sernovitz

Enjoy!

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Driving the crowd crazy

Leaning forward on the seat while gripping the edge as tightly as possible.

Cars race around the track and the soccer ball shoots across the field. Crowds jump up and down, cheering while athletes strive to reach heights they’ve never achieved before.

People work behind the scenes for days, months, even years to pull off these spectacular events.

Austin FC and Formula 1 are major components of professional sports in Austin. Formula 1 is a prestigious motorsport racing event where international athletes compete in several races across the world in hopes of achieving their lifelong dreams. The US Grand Prix, one of the many Formula 1 races each year, takes place at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Austin FC’s soccer team is another defining feature of Austin’s culture. They play at the Q2 Stadium where soccer teams from across the country compete to showcase their team’s talent. In addition, Austin FC has a non-profit arm called the 4ATX Foundation that works to improve the overall community.

Anne Braseby works at the

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A Deep Dive Into Some of the Biggest Sports in Austin

By Nitya Shah

Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of Texas, and her husband is a passionate F1 fan. She speaks about how even though she’s not as big of a fan, she still enjoys many other aspects of the event. “[My husband] is really into cars. We went to the very first one here in Austin. And we’ve been virtually every year since until COVID started”, Braseby says. “A lot of people go with people that are fanatics, and I think that’s why they have the music, because it appeals to people like me.” Braseby shares some of the entertainment aside from the race that draws many people like her to the Circuit of the Americas.

“There’s a little area that you can go into and watch them working on the mechanics. There’s so much to do if

you don’t want to sit and watch the race”, Braseby says.

“There’s always a really good concert afterwards.

I’ve seen Elton John, Taylor Swift. Lot’s of real famous people that I probably wouldn’t get to see.”

Alessandro Mancini is a premium sales executive for Circuit

of the Americas and Elevate Sports Ventures. He works with clients in premium sales for the major motorsport events including Formula 1. Mancini emphasizes that the racing isn’t the only attraction. “Even if you’re not a fan of the racing, and you still want live music, Austin is the live music capital of the world.

Really take it in because it’s only happening once a year.”

For Braseby, going to F1 races in Austin has a lot of other benefits.

The races have been a unique experience for her and her husband and have allowed her to further understand his passion for cars. “I think it’s been a bonding experience. It has given us something common that we both enjoy, although we might enjoy it for different reasons.

I think it’s helped me understand his love of cars and mechanics”, Braseby said.

Mancini appreciates F1 just as much. For Mancini, working with clients is one of the best parts of the job. “Seeing [my clients] happy makes me so happy. It’s one of the reasons why I want to be in the job that I’m in”, he says.

Helping to put together the Formula 1 race in Austin has been a great opportunity for Mancini. He shares the significance and admiration for Formula 1 throughout the community. Mancini goes on to describe the prevalence of F1 in Austin, the US, and the world. “I think everybody knows that it’s the premier

motorsport in the world”, Mancini said. “I mean, there’s a reason this race sells out every single year as fast as it does.

To be part of the

biggest event on the earth last year, 400,000 people. I think it is just such an awesome experience.”

Along with the race, the community and people involved add to the thrill and genuine feeling of F1. For Braseby, the mood is an important factor in her enjoyment of the event. “It’s like going to a music concert. People get excited and everybody jumps up and waves their German flags or whatever. It’s just excitement there that’s contagious that you wouldn’t see.”

Mancini agrees that it’s because of the fans that the experience is as lively and entertaining as it is. “It’s passionate motorsport fans all the way down to your casual people that just want to have a great experience”, he says.

“It’s got such a diverse range of

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here.”However, with the amount of fame this sport has accumulated, the amount of fans that travel into this city has increased drastically.

Braseby notes how Formula 1 has been a vital element in shaping Austin because it has brought a lot of attention into the city. “I think it’s added to the internationalism of Austin, because a lot of people that come from Europe, from the Arabian Peninsula, and from South America.

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Fans intensely watch an F1 race in 2019 at the Circuit of the Americas. Courtesy of COTA.

I think a lot of the people really got to know Austin as this music capital of the world”, Braseby says. Austin really made it into entertainment.

So it really helped put Austin on the map along with SXSW and ACL, but everything else is music, and this was the whole COTA experience. It’s changed Austin.”

With the influx of fans every year, Mancini, who is the premium sales executive, speaks about the economic impact of F1 on the city of Austin. “I think the economic impact of having an F1 event, it’s just so massive. I think all 50 states were represented last year, multiple countries around the world, even with travel restrictions”, Mancini says. Aside from the economic impact, Mancini talks about how powerful and influential sports are on the community. “Especially as we come out of this pandemic, I think we’ve seen the effect of sport on our society, and how powerful it can be.

I think it’s the power that we can use to unite people.”

Overtime, these sports have been a key part of the city of Austin, and Mancini doesn’t think that will stop anytime soon. “It’s so cool to see how much not only F1 and COTA have grown, but how much Austin has grown alongside with the race

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itself. I think COTA and Formula One will continue to be a huge part of Austin, going forward.”

arm, which is 4ATX Foundation, and then under that, there’s the future program, which is called Verde Leaders. That is a positive youth development program for kids in low income communities here in Austin, where we have a free soccer program for these kids”, Rangel says. “We help them improve on the soccer field, and also improve the holistic growth to prepare these kids who are going to be the future leaders of the community”. This program has already been able to help many kids and continues to make a positive impact. “We were able to serve over 400 kids in the last year and we’re currently at four schools. It’s open for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.

Giant crowds watch Turn 1 from the 2022 F1 season.

Courtesy of AP Photo. Photo By Darron Cummings.

Another major sporting component in Austin’s culture is Austin FC. Although this soccer club is relatively new, it has caught the attention of many Austinites and people across the country.

Pepe Rangel is program coordinator under the 4ATX Foundation. The 4ATX foundation is the nonprofit arm of Austin which works to better the lives and community of Austin. “It’s Austin FC, and then you have the nonprofit

Rangel speaks about the program’s goal to welcome the youth population and support them however needed. “We want to be able to provide that free and safe space for them. Students are going to be out in the world, and they’re going to be the leaders of this community. So, being able to prepare not just on the field, but also those soft skills that everyone needs to work on developing. So once they are in the real world, they’re ready”. That’s also Rangel’s favorite

part of the job: Helping the younger generation learn and experience something new.

“Being able to welcome them with open arms to a safe, fun soccer space is my favorite part of the job. It’s the best feeling once you teach them a skill or you teach them a specific move or they score their first goal and just to see that initial reaction.

The smile on their face is something that will always stay with me.”

Rangel has been playing soccer since he was a kid, and the sport has played a tremendous role in his life.

He realized the strength and potential stored within the so we’ll invite our kids sport and how it can help A young boy showcases his skills from the 4ATX Foundation. The or just invite kids from bring people together. “I grew 4ATX Foundation works with youth and to improve different aspects the community. We just up playing soccer. I also grew of our community. Courtesy of Austin FC. literally play soccer.” up in a low income household it’s physically, emotionally, it’s just Austin FC and the and always used soccer as helpful to be able to use the power of 4ATX Foundation have also helped an outlet. I just absolutely believe in soccer”, Rangel says. With the help connect and define the city and its the power of soccer, and at the end of Austin FC’s team and their games, culture. Rangel believes that the of day, playing soccer unites people. the 4ATX Foundation has been able significance of this program will You could just roll a ball out wherever to provide some unique and life be a key part of Austin for years you are in the world, and people will changing opportunities to kids. to come. “I think that it just brings just play soccer”, Rangel says.

“Austin FC has helped us be on Austinites closer to each other.

Rangel feels that the a bigger platform and be able to And it gives us an opportunity to 4ATX Foundation and Austin FC serve more kids and serve different celebrate something bigger. I think can help harness the power of communities around Austin”, Rangel the country as a whole is becoming the sport and use it to better our says. “We get the chance to have more of a soccer country. For us to some of the players come out to do our part here in Central Texas has some of our sessions, and we’ve had a great impact and hopefully gotten the opportunity to take some we can continue to do better”, of our kids and families to Austin FC Rangel says. “And just the culture, games. To be able to give them free what’s being built here is just, I think tickets to come to watch Austin FC, a something special. I think it’s going professional major league team here to be something that’s going to be in Austin down the street from your forever”. house, it’s a great feeling”.

Austin FC and Formula 1 They’ve also been able will continue to be a crucial part of to build mini soccer pitches from Austin for years to come. In 2022, abandoned areas where people can the United States Grand Prix, one gather, have fun, and play soccer. of the many Formula 1 races for Rangel says, “of our initiatives under the year, will take place on October the foundation is we have been 23 in Austin. Athletes from all over communities.“Whether it’s 4ATX building these mini pitches all over the world in both these sports will Foundation, we know the power Austin.

We’ve been working with the continue training to put on the best of soccer can build healthier US Soccer Foundation, and other performance they can. communities, it can build whether organizations to build these. And

“I just absolutely believe in the power of soccer, and at the end of day, playing soccer unites people”

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F1

Around

Formula 1 is known around the world as one of the most competitve motorsport racing competitions. Here you can learn about the 15 longest Formula 1 race circuits from around the world for the 2022 season.

1

By Nitya Shah

2

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: 6.174km

Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium: 7.004km Baku, Azerbaijan: 6.003km

3

The Spa Francorchamps circuit is the longest active track

4

5 Sochi, Russia: 5.848km ATX Sports | 14

Le Castellet, France: 5.842km

6

Sources: formula1.com, Wikipedia

Silverstone, UK: 5.891km

The World Monza, Italy: 5.793km

Suzuka, Japan: 5.807km

8

7 Austin, USA #9: 5.513km

9

Sakhir, Bahrain: 5.412km

10

Miami, USA: 5.41km

1

Melbourne, Austrailia: 5.303km

Monza, Italy has hosted the most grands prix with 67 races

13

12 Abu Dhabi, UAE: 5.281km

14 Marina Bay, Singapore: 5.063km

Imola, Italy: 4.909km

15 ATX Sports | 15

Basket Ball Hoop Seen From Below ATX Sports | 16

Jumping Into The Austin Pick-up Experience The positive impact of sports on individuals and neighborhoods By: Tom Lepard

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Two years of required isolation has reinforced the need for human interaction and connection.

For many people, during quarantine, being able to play outside sports without anybody became a rarity. No longer could you walk down to a local basketball court and play a few games with your friends or join your pals for a sand volleyball game at a nearby park. With hoops locked up, soccer goals moved, and parks no longer hosting football or ultimate frisbee games, communities halted all pickup games. As the number of multiplayer games decreased, simple pick-up games’ impact on building community became apparent. Now with parks and courts opening back up, the benefits of the games have become even more obvious.

A pickup game is a game that is made up of only players, with no official referees

or teams. They are usually played at open parks or gyms and usually have a greater number of people playing or waiting to play, than formal games and leagues.

Speaking and playing with others teaches you sportsmanship, values, and character. James Yancey is a former Austin firefighter and current educator. For over 30 years, he has participated in pick-up games, coaching, and provided clinics at his local YMCA. He supports the idea that playing pickup sports helps build character, and all-around can just make you a better person. “You gain values you can use in everyday life,” Yancey said when asked what benefits pickup games can give you. In addition, due to having no referees, players must learn to respect one another and the calls made.

Joining one of these games can also help improve your communication skills. Going up to random players and asking to play with them can

A Night time Soccer Match ATX Sports | 18

help prove speaking skills in everyday life, such as in job interviews or making new friends.

Besides gaining skills in communication, pickup sports provide benefits for real games and participation in team sports. Unlike actual games, in pickup making mistakes isn’t as frowned upon and allows you to use them to learn more about the game. Entrepreneur Payton Brown-Simon runs a successful AAU team and participates in multiple pick-up games. He states that pickups let you “learn from people older than you,” who can teach you new moves, playstyles and improve your sports IQ. Payton additionally claims that playing pickup can be better than regular training for the sport. Learning from people around you while practicing your skills provides a more significant benefit than working out by yourself. As a result, you can have fun playing the game and learning more advanced skills simultaneously.

Patricia Chapa, a local art teacher, played high school basketball and continues to join informal matchups on her street. She claims that with pickup, “You can learn more about yourself and how you want to play through playing with other people.” However, being a female playing in a male-dominated field made pick-up games more intimidating, “You always feel like you’re not good enough to join somebody’s pickup game. But if you want to get better at your game, I think pickup games are really good for that. Because from what I’ve experienced, no one’s going to turn you down.

They may not pass the ball to you as much. But you’re still learning and getting better.” She also firmly believes in the importance of pickup games in building community and friendship, “Where you live and how you live in your area may not be the same as other players, who live two blocks away, or even a block away. In this person’s house, they may be going through some stuff with family or something. But when you play a pickup game, it’s like an escape. You lose all your worries and can just play ball.”

The physicality and competitiveness of pick-up games may appear to be the main focus of participation, but the additional benefits of friendship and building a community are strong undercurrents. As Brown-Smith expressed, “You get to build chemistry with complete strangers.

Everyone is there for one common goal, which is the love of the game and to play ball.”

“Everyone is there for one common goal, which is the love of the game and to play ball.”

Football Seen on a Field

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Pick-up Game Necessities

By Tom Lepard

Are you about to go play a pickup game? Are you struggling on deciding what you need to bring? Well I got you, here are the three most essential items you need to bring to a pick up game.

Sport Equipment

Almost every sport has a few equipment needed to play. Most sports just need a ball such as basketball, soccer, and football, but other may need more than just a ball. If you are about to go play a game of golf with your mates, a golf club is necessary. Same with Baseball with a bat and a glove.

Whatever sport your about to play, make sure you have the right equimpent needed.

Gotta Have Water Argurabley the most important item on the list is a water bottle. Most likely you are going to being playing for a while and you are going to get sweaty. Now imagine you try to go for a sip of water and you relize you forgot to pack a water bottle. You are going to be furious at yourself. Make sure you don’t get dehydrated and bring some water.

Lace Up One of the most overlooked items you got to bring to a pickup game are the right shoes. Sports such as basketball, soccer, football, and baseball are almost impoosible to play well in without the correct shoes. You need to bring cleats for any field sports (soccer and football) and basketball shoes are needed if you want to have any grip while playing on an outdoor court.

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Just Row With It

By: Tariya Singh

Taking you down a deeper exploration of how being a rower can change your life.

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It’s amazing to be on the water. It’s peaceful. Oars in your hand, everybody working as one for the same goal. You hear the click of the oars in the oarlock. You know it hurts, it’s a hard sport, but train hard and go for gold. That is what it is to be a rower, hand-blisters and all.

Austin and touched many lives.

Being a part of a crew/rowing team may seem like hours of exercise and building strength, but to many people, it has helped save their life or simply taken it in a different direction.

Many people view sports as someThrough the years, rowing has thing they can do to just be active become increasingly popular, esand stay healthy. However, to pecially in Austin where there are people across the world, a sport can two rowing centers, Texas Rowing mean so much more. Tracy FalkenCenter and Austin Rowing Club. As thal is a rower, coach, and director the University of Texas rowing team of diversity at the Texas Rowing rose through the ranks to #1 in the Center in Austin, Texas. She talks nation, the sport has picked up in about how, without rowing, her life

would have taken an entirely different course.

“It saved my life. And I think it could save other people’s lives. If you’re thinking about one thing about a human’s existence, I think that rowing is a good way to save a life,” Falkenthal said. “What it brings to a community is just that the community is growing. We have to work together to build each other up.”

Even Laura Griffith, someone who has rowed all throughout college and coached the varsity team with ATX Sports | 23

Griffith also helped to explain how when you are on a rowing team, the people you are with are not just your teammates. They become your family because you are all putting in the hard work together. “Because the sport of rowing is unique in the way that if you’re not all working together as one, you’re not going to make a boat move. So you kind of really have to be able to get along with a lot of people, solve a lot of conflicts within your group,” Griffith said.

Austin Rowing Club, agrees with how the sport can change a person’s life monumentally. “I always tell people that I feel like I

wouldn’t really be the person that I am today if it wasn’t for rowing.

I think that I would have hung out with a different crowd that maybe would have taken me down a different path,” Griffith said. “And because I had such great coaches and teammates in high school, they were a really big influence on me. And I think that it helped me become a really strong person, but also a really strong team player.”

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In addition, Griffith showed how the whole of rowing is not just putting in hard work and then going to practices and races, but also having fun while doing it.

“My favorite memories are always the bus rides to races,” Griffith said. “We traveled a lot.

Being from Michigan, we were able

to go to Canada a lot and then we were able to go to the Carolinas and things like that. So bus rides and then hotel stays with my closest friends were always fun. And then in high school, I won some pretty big races. So those are always great memories.”

Chelsea Moore, now a coach who has rowed since 2005, also agreed that rowing is a place to not only win medals and get fit, but also

make life-long friendships. Moore was a two-time Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association coach and was on the second team and Conference USA Rowing All-Conference Team.

She now coaches an Austin rowing program called Ro Fitness. “My sister actually introduced it to me, but I’ve made all of my lifelong friendships, like a ton of them, from the rowing team,” Moore said. “So I still communicate with many of them. And when I travel these days, I will make sure if I’m in a town where I know one of my teammates has landed and I reach out to them and maybe we go get dinner while I’m in town.”

As director of diversity, Falkenthal talks about how it is very vital to the sport to be working together.

“The boat’s not going to move if you’re fighting with somebody or if you’re thinking about something that happened to you with this person. You want to address it because you’re relying on these other people. So it’s a community that is constantly developing,” Falkenthal said.

human race that are above and beyond the majority of the people on this planet. So an elite rower takes dedication. Drive takes discipline.”

and it’s how you handle those situations.”

Rowing is a sport that can touch Stroke by Stroke Furthermore, being a rower means lives in more ]«vPZv}(Z]}lUZ that you know how to stay orgaways than vZ]}G˙]vPZ}PZZ`X nized and in control of every aspect one. As it has TZ]}˙v]o]`}(vE]PZ of your life. Rowers have to know touched the ]Z}˘`]v]«vPZv}(Z how to accept what they are given, lives of many } X because this sport, at times, will be people in Ausanything but easy. “It’s not always tin, Texas, it has going to be easy and you have to become integrated work because it’s not going to be into the communihanded to you,” Griffith said. “You ty. From building have to work for it if you really, a stronger work really, truly enjoy it. The great thing ethic to building about rowing is you’re going to lifelong friendships, Now all of that being said, rowhave ups and downs, you’re going being a part of ing is still a very difficult sport. It to have really great moments and rowing can change takes hours of pushing your hardyou’re going to have really hard the way you est every week and rowers have to moments. And that’s kind of what approach many have the strongest mindset to get defines you and makes you the things in life. through their training. “[Rowers] person you are when you grow up are just mentally tough. It’s a tough sport, so to be at an elite level, I think you have to have the brain for it,” Moore said. “Obviously, your physical stature will definitely get you places in rowing, but it seems smaller rowers get a lot of places just from their hard work.”

However, not only mindset is required to succeed in this sport.

One also has to be willing to put in time and effort to reach their goals.

Training for crew can happen before the sun rises or as it is setting, but nonetheless practicing cannot be cheated out of. “A rower is someone who’s committed to fitness, top fitness, that is six or seven days a week. And how many hours a year?

It’s your decision,” Falkenthal said.

“But I think an elite rower is someone who’s going to be in impeccable health with everything, not just their fitness, but their health. I think that they are specimens of the ATX Sports | 25

Every

STROKE into the world of rowing

By Tariya Singh

Rowing is an activity that has been around since the Greeks and Romans.

Here you can learn about the different boats, two types of rowing, and basic steps.

Photo by Sela Kime

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The Boats

SINGLE PAIR QUAD

EIGHT

3

DOUBLE

1

FOUR

2

The Steps SCULLING BOATS

two oars per person

SWEEPING BOATS

one oar per person

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The Lake Austin

by Anish Vivek

Dive into Austin’s Lake Front Activities

Photo of a tranquil Ladybird Lake in Austin Texas on December 16 2021 showing the sunrise on the lake when no one is in sight.

Courtesy of Tracy Vu

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Expirence

A

hot summer day in Austin can feel like burning in hell. Sweat dripping down your neck and no water in sight. Many think about going to the lake, but without a plan, it might seem overwhelming.On the lake their are so many differents options. You can paddle board, kayak, canoe, or maybe use a peddle boat. With a guide, a day at Ladybird Lake might be an awesome experience with lots of fun.

Lady Bird Lake was first created as a reservoir of the Colorado River in 1960 to cool the newly built power plant in Austin. As its use faded through the years, it became a famous area for recreational activities, as well as flood control for the surrounding areas. Now the lake is home to many businesses that give wonderful recreational activities to

the public such as kayaking and rowing. Before you go you may want to learn some basics about kayaking, paddle boarding, and Canoeing.

A kayaking paddle consists of two sides, both with a bladed end. Long time employee Tristan Rodriguez of The Rowing Dock Austin TX suggests, “You want to hold it about shoulder-width or a little bit wider than shoulder-width apart with your hand answer typically gives you the most leverage and the most control over the paddle. And you always want to have a forehand grip on it. So that means your fists are facing down, and your knuckles should be facing up, that gives you the most control over the paddle.”

When it comes to paddling on a kayak Tristan Rodriguez says “ You want to stay pretty solid with your arms and incorporate a twist with your core as you’re paddling. Now when you’re doing that, you’re alternating sides. So most of the time to go straight, we’re just going to alternate sides, right, left, right, left, right, left, right”.

With this common knowledge, anything can be possible at Lake Austin. One of the best places to go is The Rowing Dock. Located in Central Austin, The Rowing Dock was started as a scull-rowing company in the year 1999 but as time has gone on the company has developed into a rental company that specializes in renting kayaks and canoes as well as organizing events for many.

If you ever want to go out and ATX Sports | 29

help clean up our lake, The Rowing dock offers opportunities during the summer when they go out in groups and clean up the lake. Once in the summer, they organize a massive group and Tristan Rodriguez says that “We have anywhere between 30 and 60 volunteers, paddle kayaks out on the lake and they collect trash, from the lake in the water and along the banks.”

If you are coming with a party or trying to do an activity with people at work they can also set up something fun. Tristan Rodriguez says, “we also do group reservations with things like team building games and activities. For the larger church, church organizations or corporate activities will play kayak dodgeball, or tug of war on the water, right.”

Many of the companies that rent on the lake may seem unsafe to many with there only being outdoor parking and lock-

ers for your personal belongings, but this is uncommon. If you feel uncomfortable with leaving your belongings a great place to go is Live Love Paddle.

According to the website they say, “We are your onestop shop on Lady Bird Lake for watercraft rentals. We offer kayaks in all shapes and sizes with a cludes single man and tandem a nice rentals plus a few bathroom with One kayaker on July 28 of 2020 paddles in tranquility along the kayaks you can running water.”

Gaspereau in Nova Scotia, Canada.Courtesy of Tim Foste try before says Casey Vick you buy.

Owner of Live We also Love Paddle. rent Along with amenicanoes ties they have quite and paddle more to offer. boards for SUP enthu- One of their specialties is a great siasts!” tour of the bats under the congress bridge. The niche of these For the tours makes them really popumany that lar for this reason. Unlike many need more places, they offer kayak tours to security, see the bats this is one of the best Lake Austin might be a bit overkayak rentals. whelming at first, and if you feel They have a scared to go alone on the lake shop which inthey also offer tours around lake

“whenever they come back after an hour or two hours or however long they paddle for how much they enjoyed it right. And the great time that they had it’s a very rewarding feeling.” - Tristan Rodriguiez of The Rowing Dock Austin Texas ATX Sports | 30

Austin and they provide an instructor that will help you on the Lake. This can help first-timers get acclimated with paddling or kayaking for future visits.

Another great choice to go to on this lake is the Austin Rowing Club. The Austin Rowing Club is a nonprofit organization that helps with teaching students about watersports and more. Being an educational organization they work with schools to teach them how to row and more. Garret Vaughn, an employee at ARC says that “we have some outreach programs that teach different groups of people how to row in a group that works with middle schoolers out of a couple of local schools.

Another thing that they offer is a membership which allows people to learn about many of these sports but you also get access to rowing.

Along with rowing, they do offer tours. Unlike the tours at many of the other places, they offer morning tours where you can see the bats come back from their nights out.

Now seize your day at Lady Bird Lake. Though many places might not have the ability to support the disabled or the elderly. It can still be a really fun place to visit.

For those with disabilities you always have options like the Boardwalk. When you’re done with your day out you can always spend time at Zilker and go to one of the many restaurants featured in downtown Austin.

A group of kayakers paddles along the side of the river while the sun sets along the skyline of Austin Texas. Courtesy of Allen Ramlow

Favorite Activities On The Lake

Survey of 26 students from LASA Highschool on their favorite Activities on Lady Bird Lake

4

Other Activities

9

Paddle Board Canoe Kayak

10

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Lake Austin Wildlife

by Anish Vivek

L

ake Austin is filled with so many animals, from a red slider to a common egret. Whether you’re walking on the trails that go along the lake or kayaking on the lake you can spot so many animals. The next time you go the lake make a scrapbook like this;

American Coot

American coots are best known for their white bill and frontal shield as well as the red spot in between their eyes. At a young age their whole diet consists of aquatic vegitation which gives them a colorfull look. info countresy of Kidadle

Blotched Water Snake

Known for its striped pattern it can sometimes be mistaken for the deadly watter moccasin’s when in reality it is qute harmless. When they do sense danger, their self defense mechanism is to flatten their bodies and release a nasty odor. info countresy of A-Z-Animals

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Red Slider

Did you know that is many areas of south texas and northern Mexico the red slider is considered a wonderful pet. But it is on the top 100 invasive species as its known to be traded. info countresy of Kidadle

Invasive Animals

Austin has three major invasive species which include Tilapia, apple Snail’s, and Zebra Mussels. Unlike Tilapia’s which are mostly harmless The Zebra Mussel infests the drinking water which causes it to color and makes it have a Foul Taste. In the past these mussel’s have caused there to be a water boiling notice in many parts of Austin. info countresy of Austin American Statesman

Common Egret

Egrets have flying speed of 25 miles for hour and has one of the dangerous killing styles as it wades over the water and pierces fish. info countresy of TheCornellLab

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