IN OUR BAG | PREPPING FOR THE HOLIDAY

Read more from the Nov Issue of Athleisure Mag and see In Our Bag | Prepping for the Holiday in mag.

WHEN FANTASY IS REALITY WITH FIELD YATES

This month's cover is graced by Field Yates, an NFL Insider for ESPN who contributes analysis, breaking NFL news and fantasy football for the network. We enjoyed catching up with him to know more about how he got into the industry, shows he's on and more about Fantasy Football.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the moment when you realized you wanted to work in sports?

FIELD YATES: For as long as I can remember, I wished to work in sports. I often joke that I had an early realization that my future in sports was not going to be on the field forever - my college career at Wesleyan University on the football and lacrosse teams - was inglorious. But, without hesitation, I always knew that I wanted sports to be a foundational part of my life. So much of my life has revolved and will continue to circle around sports, which I'm grateful for everyday. So while pinpointing a specific moment is difficult, I'm hard pressed to remember a time when I didn't envision a career in sports.

AM: We know prior to coming to ESPN, you worked in the front office on the staff for scouting and coaching. Tell us about your background and how you transitioned your career into joining the ESPN family.

FY: My career at ESPN was, well, not by design. My desire growing up was to enter into the world of football coaching, and after spending several training camps working with the Patriots during my high school and college years, I was hired by the Chiefs in 2009 following my graduation from Wesleyan University. My summers with the Patriots were a combination of scouting and coaching duties, learning the ins and outs of each while contributing in any way that was asked of me. I draw the parallel to learning a new language: for me, training camps were my football Rosetta Stone. Learning from an organization with incredible success was my foundation and my time in Kansas City (2009-2011) provided me with a chance to put my football education into action. Both were truly remarkable opportunities.

AM: What shows on air as well as on the podcast are you a part of and tell us about these as well?

FY: My role at ESPN has some elements of a utility player, as my assignments span across almost anything tied to football. During the season, I serve as the co-host of the Fantasy Focus Football podcast with the amazing Matthew Berry and Stephania Bell. Our show is live-streamed daily on Twitter, making it a bit different than a traditional podcast -- it's TV-lite. On Sundays, I appear on our popular Fantasy Football Now show, with in-season work on NFL LIVE, SportsCenter and any other football-related segments on other shows. My work also includes extensive ESPN Radio opportunities and some writing for ESPN.com.

AM: What is an average week like for you as we know you are at ESPN HQ as well as work out of Boston?

FY: During the season, my week lays out as such: I depart Boston first thing Sunday morning, arriving to Bristol by about 7:30 AM in advance of our meeting for Fantasy Football Now. From then until Friday afternoon, I remain in Bristol (I'm familiar with all of the local hotels near Bristol by now!), as our podcast airs every Monday-Friday. It's a blitz from Sunday-to-Friday, but one that seemingly goes by at the speed of light. Between TV obligations, the podcast, developing our weekly rankings for those who play Fantasy Football and so much more, there is rarely a dull moment.

AM: How do you take time for yourself with such a busy schedule?

FY: My goal is to carve some time each day for myself to unwind from the ever-moving football news cycle. I'm a morning person - always have been - so my days begin with a workout every day. It's a chance to decompress and set the tone for the day ahead. As a creature of habit, I know that bypassing on a workout in the morning will inevitably result in it falling by the wayside later in the day. Get up and get going is my mindset.

AM: What is it about reporting about football, focusing on fantasy sports and giving fans analysis that resonates with you?

FY: I truly believe the advent of fantasy football has led to make the sport relatable in a way that is incomparable. Hardly a day goes by when I don't hear from someone who has a question about his or her fantasy lineup or favorite team. That connectivity to fans, readers, followers, listeners, viewers, etc. is something I am truly inspired by. The appetite for football is insatiable; from the 17 weeks of the regular season to the playoffs, the draft, free agency and so much more, everyone seemingly loves football!

AM: What is your personal style when you're on the air, when you're podcasting and when you’re at home with friends and family?

FY: I aim to be myself above all else. That's the starting point for how I approach my work, as it's easy to see others in the world of reporting or podcasting and try hard to emulate their style. But that is what works for them; it's important to be authentically yourself in any walk of life. Style-wise, specific to apparel, my goal is to always look sharp: an outfit that you aren't trying to draw attention to, but an outfit that when people see it, they understand there was thought put into pulling it together.

AM: How do you stay in shape? What are 3 of your go to workouts?

FY: My workouts do tend to go into phases: sometimes they involve more weightlifting, while other times I place more of an emphasis on cardiovascular activity. But three workouts that you can never go wrong with: a run around the Charles River in Boston, any sort of core workout and a full-body exercise.

“My desire growing up was to enter into the world of football coaching, and after spending several training camps working with the Patriots during my high school and college years, I was hired by the Chiefs in 2009 following my graduation from Wesleyan University.”

— Field Yates

AM: What's on your playlist when you're working out and what do you listen to when you're hanging out?

FY: The world of podcasting is not one I live in simply as a host; I'm a huge consumer of podcasts as well. Be it the other fantastic podcasts we have on our ESPN feed (Adam Schefter or Mina Kimes football-themed shows) or anything related to the NBA - I'm a hoops junkie - podcasts are a perfect workout soundtrack for me.

AM: In Boston, where would we find you grabbing a drink/getting a meal, working out and shopping?

FY: Boston has such a great mixture of culinary options and I'm fully convinced its on the rise. Our local seafood is as good as and deserves to be advertised and the next time I ever grow tired of eating lobster will be the first time. During the summer, the Seaport area has seen tremendous growth, becoming one of the best areas to spend time in its mixture of top restaurant options, activities and shopping make it a can't miss Boston spot. For my favorite sandwich in the city, 3 Little Figs in Somerville is hard to beat.

AM: Let's talk Fantasy Football. How important is the draft and what are some tips if you are with a group you know well versus venturing out into new waters?

FY: The draft is supremely important in fantasy football, but it is unquestionably just the first step in the process. I always remind people, the team you draft is not the team you finish your season with! It's essential to be active on the waiver wire and fielding/offering up trades. Along those lines, the most important thing to remem ber in the draft is to find value; even if you start your draft with a surplus of wide receivers, it won't be long before someone with a dearth of pass catchers comes calling with a compelling trade offer. While NFL teams often draft for need in the NFL draft, draft is based for value in fantasy football!

AM: What are some surprises you've seen for this season?

FY: While I had an extremely optimistic outlook for Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen, his emergence into the best fantasy football wide receiver so far in the league has been tremendous to see. He does everything well, is consistent and represents one of the best values in this year's draft. On a non-fantasy side, the robust number of trades has been fun to see as well. NFL teams have often been hesitant to make trades when compared to what we see in other major sports league (i.e. NBA, MLB, NHL), but the spike in trades has been neat in the NFL. Teams are far more wheeling and dealing than we're typically accustomed to, as was evidenced leading up to the recent trade deadline (October 30th).

TWITTER @FieldYates

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see When Fantasy is Reality with FIeld Yates in mag.

TALKING HARVEST AT SONOMA CUTRER WITH WINEMAKER ZIDANELIA ARCIDIACONO

Last month, we ran a feature that focused on World Sake Day, which really is a celebration of kicking off the harvest season of sake in Japan. This month we're focused on the harvest of Pinot Noir and took some time to chat with Zidanelia Arcidiacono who is the Assistant Winemaker at Sonoma-Cutrer. You may also know of her from her previous position at Little Black Dress Wines. We wanted to know about her start in the industry, what takes place during harvest season, why it's such a hectic time of year and how she takes time for herself.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about when you knew you wanted to be a winemaker?

ZIDANELIA ARCIDIACONO: I was born in Texas, but when I was 3, my family moved to Mendoza, Argentina, a known wine region. I loved hearing from winemakers about their stories and how passionate they were. As a teen, I knew I wanted to be in a career that allowed me to be creative as well as to be scientific! In Mendoza, I got to meet people in the wine industry and saw that they enjoyed their work. It was like a lifestyle and not a job.

AM: Can you share your journey into the wine business?

ZA: I began my career by working in the lab at Bodega Cruz de Piedra while attending university in Mendoza. I earned my bachelor’s in Enology and traveled to the south of France to the Cave cooperative Les Vignerons du Pays d’Enserune, working in their cellar for harvest. I decided that I wanted to travel and work in California and after some time applying, came to Sonoma-Cutrer, where I was hired as an Enologist for that season’s harvest. I love this region and although after a time, I moved on to the same position at Fetzer winery. In time, I became the Winemaker for Fetzer Reserve Wines and Little Black Dress within a few years. Coming back to where it started, my knowledge of making reserve wines allows me to create Sonoma-Cutrer’s Pinot Noirs.

AM: Can you take our readers through a quick process of how Pinot Noir at Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards is created?

ZA: The harvest is the craziest time of year that has a lot of intensive work. For Pinot Noir, we begin in late Aug and are completed by the end of September/early October. We analyze and taste the grapes and when we feel the flavor is right and it has reached it’s peak, we bring in our crew to pick which is at 2am and continues until the early morning so that it can still be obtained while cool. The process involves handpicking the grapes so that we can get the juice. They are placed in tanks and we have about 50 that I taste, professionally of course. After production, the rewarding part of the critical harvest season is that within these weeks, we have been able to create great varietals in this process and ultimately, being able to see how others enjoy this work.

Once the fruit is brought to the winery, we chill it further in our cooling tunnels. These tunnels are the only ones of their kind and are essentially a blast chiller that has the ability to bring the temperature of the grapes down to 50˚in 45 minutes. Having our fruit cool helps it retain its flavor, avoid harsh extractiveness and reduces the potential for oxidation during processing.

Still touched only once, the cool fruit travels to the sorting tables where the clusters are hand – not machine – sorted. This is a highly, labor-intensive step in the process but it ensures that only the grapes of the highest quality make it to the press. Once the grapes fill the press, it slowly and gen- tly crushes them helping us avoid extracting bitter tannins. The cool, golden-free run juice from the press is sent to tanks where it is allowed to settle for 24 hours. After racking, yeast is then added to the tanks before the juice is sent to French oak barrels to complete the fermentation and maturation of the wine.

AM: Do you have any suggestions on what types of wines people should be drinking this fall/winter?

ZA: I never like to tell people what they should or shouldn’t drink. I can say what I like to drink! I always feel bad when people come to me and they are nervous to tell me that they like to drink a Chardonnay with a steak! I love having pizza and wine which is a great combination. If that’s what you like to do, you should do it without question! There are so many great varietals and it is all about what you enjoy! Enjoying wine is about a memorable moment and who you share it with.

AM: When is the best time of year to visit?

ZA: I don't want to be selfish, but the the best time of year is the harvest! People are able to come and enjoy the vineyard as well as to find out why and how we do what we do. I love when we talk to children letting them know how we make these juices and that it’s science and chemistry that makes this all happen. They are always amazed at that!

AM: With such an attention to detail and varied facets of your work? How do you take time for yourself to stay balanced?

ZA: I’m pleased that I love what I do. I didn’t want to work a job where I felt happy that I could take a break. I love wine and even when I’m not working, if you ask me about it, I love being able to tell others about. I enjoy drinking it. Of course, I love spending time with my friends and family as well as they are important.

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Talking Harvest at Sonoma Cutrer with Winemaker Zidanelia Arcidiacono.

RIGHT DOG FOR THE JOB WITH JEFF FRANKLIN

We had the pleasure and honor to catch up with Jeff Franklin, who is regarded as one of the world's leading dog trainers, not only for pet dogs (he's trained over 10,000 pet dogs), but who is also responsible for overseeing the selection and instruction of elite canines assigned to the U.S. Military. As a canine expert, Jeff has trained thousands of dogs of nearly all breeds, including pets for civilian life and is responsible for training, certifying, and ensuring that police and military dogs are ready to deploy in today's operations.

Jeff Franklin's unbelievable career is profiled in the new book Franklin: The Man Behind the United States Commando Dogs, which chronicles his story of building the first-of-its-kind dog program for a "top tier" Task Force within the preeminent branch of the United States Military. Jeff's dog-training skills are repeatedly put to the test as he single-handedly turns men and dogs into the world's most formidable K-9 combat teams. With no template to guide him, Jeff creates the canine selection criteria and the necessary training protocol to meet the high-octane demands of the covert Task Force. Through Jeff's story you will follow "operators" and their canine warriors on fiercely dangerous, secretive missions deep inside Middle Eastern battlegrounds. With his larger-than-life ambition, Jeff also finds himself in the hostile jungles of South America furnishing trained dogs to a national police force in the war against a powerful South American terrorist organization.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We love your book, please share your background with our audience and friends!

JEFF FRANKLIN: My background shows I have a different way to go about things. So I started out as a teenager with a crazy passion for working dogs after I met a couple of dogs that a school teacher had, who was a retired canine officer. He brought the dogs to school and I thought they were the coolest things ever and harassed my parents forever before I finally got my first dog, named Lady. I attempted to try to train her to do everything a dog can do. Then I started training other family and friends’ dogs in the neighborhood and started making a little money from it and didn’t have to mow lawns and rake leaves. Eventually I went off to be a Marine and after that I needed a job, and started training dogs again. To be really good at dog training, I felt I had to be able to handle a police dog. Before I was basically training them for a pet dog or sports dog, or explosives and narcotics. I got to be a SWAT cop in Louisville, Kentucky, and harassed my Lieutenant long enough to let me have a dog on our SWAT team, because typically police departments have SWAT or canine, but they typically don’t work together. Moving forward a few years, unfortunately the 911 event changed all of our lives, and the Military Special Ops groups were looking for a dog to help on missions, and a friend in the Secret Service recommended me as one of few people that could do SWAT as an operator and work a dog. I ended up moving as temporary and have been doing ever since 2003 as the government liked what I was doing. The funny part is – I didn’t formally learn to train for this, I did tanks not dogs in the Military, but after 28 or so years, most of it is going out there and doing it.

AM: How did you become responsible for leading the way to train elite dogs for the US Special Forces?

JF: I was the first special forces dog trainer for the US Military. When they found me, I was teaching a course, and they showed up. I was a Marine and didn’t know much about it. It was intriguing to me and was invited for a six month contract to help start a program – and found out I was starting from scratch, including showing how to pick a dog, housing, vet care, PT conditioning, getting on helicopters, explosives and finding bad guys. And doing overseas was a whole new step. It took us a couple years to figure the best way to develop the commando dog program.

One story, not a success, there was a particular dog and he was one of the best dogs I’d think you can find on the planet with his training and he had a great handler. They deployed and did some good work, then on a mission the dog failed at a pretty simple task, no one died, but some people were injured and took rounds because the dog failed at his job. For me, I can’t stand failure, I’m extremely competitive, it was like losing the World Series, but with peoples' lives on the line. I flew there, the dog was going to get fired anyway. We did some re-training, the dog just didn’t care if someone was playing dead, the dog just looked at it from a different perspective as not a threat. So the life-changing part with me, was figuring out a way picking out dogs that won’t fail. I don’t have to be a great dog trainer anymore, I will pick the best dogs for the job against anyone. So it has benefited us immensely moving forward, even though not glorified, it taught me a lot, which has helped a lot of people along the way.

I’ve been training professionally for 28 years, since 18-19 years old beginning to make money at it and the military side since 2003, with my time with the special forces, and small groups other than the working dogs. Our US Military has thousands of dogs in each branch, Special Forces have their groups as well.

AM: Tell us about your company Cobra Canine, what is it and what kinds of services do you provide?

JF: It is a training business for pretty much everything, typically the house pet thing, which is how I started in dogs. We also run several explosive programs for the government, sometimes with TSA, Homeland Security and other groups. For about 20 years, we’ve provided police dogs and police dog training for agencies all over the country. In the last ten years, I’ve done a lot of speaking engagements. Two weekends ago, I was doing a seminar in Costa Rica for protection and narcotics. Sometimes, it’s police, military and other avid people. I have trained trained some for handicapped groups and donate some dogs to help. We’ve worked with the Warrior Dog Foundation and Spikes Canine Fund.

AM: A lot of our readers love dogs of all shapes and sizes. What are some tips you can share to pick out a dog? Are different dogs generally good for different types of people and environments?

JF: I like to be active and stay in shape and my dog is a Belgian Malinois and has been active all my life like me. She’ll be 10 years old in November, and we just ran 8 miles together on Saturday morning. She looks and acts like a 5 year old dog - if I’m hiking and camping, she’s doing it with me.

One of my biggest teaching topics - it can be for a family, police department or special forces unit - you have to pick the right dog for the job. If you don’t, it isn’t going to turn out the way you want. If you’re an avid hiker, it will be hot or cold and not always comfortable, so picking a Whippet is choosing a dog who isn’t going to not do the job. There is a purpose for it, put it in a house or condo with less activity. Out in the woods or mountains, pick a heartier breed which will do that naturally. German Shepherds can do the elements as good or better than humans, but also look at its personality. If by 8 weeks it has a lot of energy, it probably will for rest of its life. For me that’s fine, I generally like dogs that will do wild and crazy, I use them for training and like dogs that do things on their own. Other bashful dogs hanging back in the corner, probably will be unhappy in those situations. You look at the size of the dog, the hair, the personality of the dog, and since normally people are going out picking dogs for a particular lifestyle, we have the choice to at least get close to the right size and personality of what it’s going to do for the rest of its life.

In Costa Rica or Guatemala, everyone is using or wants to use Belgium Malinois because that’s what’s used in the US Special Forces, but that’s not what’s needed in a family. I’m not saying they are vicious, they are active and strong, so don’t get one because it’s a fad or cool. Do your homework and if getting a puppy, know who and how the breeding is done. I don’t recommend pet stores to anyone, they don’t have mom and dad, so they’re likely from puppy mills and don’t know where they came from. Also I look at what their genetics and personalities are, pretty much all puppies at 8 weeks are playing, but when they’re mature, that’s when they can act like mom and dad. It is very important to know about mom and dad, looking at a breeders website can be fluffed and they can say various things, so it is best to go meet them in person and see they actually like breeding and that breed of dogs and doing it well and for the right reason. The internet cycle hasn’t been great for people, you can start there and talk on the phone, but you want to see the operation in person.

The Whippet is a medium sized dog, healthy and loving and with high trainability and good for a city living. I like Beagles a lot, smaller dogs are not for everyone. It is hard to beat a Labrador Retriever, it is up at the top as most registered each year. They are very versatile and go with the flow being adventurous as well as with beautiful hair heritage. Goldens will have a lot of hair. The German Short Hair Pointer is a favorite for outside, they are very sweet and loving dogs that love hikes and can hang out in the house as not active all of the time. German Shepherds are one of the best all around breeds ever and most versatile to date, but there are just as many poorly bred as bred the right way.

AM: OK, so we see this a lot. You have a dog and the family is bringing home a baby from the hospital, what do you do? Also what about having an infant and wanting to get a puppy?

JF: I have a very highly trained protection dog who is social and nice, that also does her work. I also have a two year old and brought home a baby, and the lesson isn’t about if the dog is tough in the work. The dogs that don’t do well with kids are not whether they are or not bite-trained, it is about the ones that aren’t stable, the ones that are nervous or skittish. Babies and toddlers step and pull dogs, drop things and make strange noises, so if you have a nervous dog, you just shouldn’t leave them alone together. You may pay attention to something else, so don’t take the risk with nervous dogs or even bad-ass dogs. If have a loving dog, with the best personality, you know they will be cool and you can generally walk off without thinking about it.

If you have a baby and want to bring home a dog – think about it. If you have a newborn, you probably don’t need puppies to add to the mix. What they do in the first six months is basically how they are, so if already taking care of a child, that is a lot of work. I know a couple that had twins and went and got two puppies and don’t know how they did it. If you have to, then pick a breed that is size appropriate then and long-term and one that is the most stable. Dogs that are biting kids most of the time are reacting because they are scared rather than aggressive, there are rare stories otherwise. So the reactive, nervous dogs are off the general list, but especially around kids.

AM: There are so many different food choices out there for owners to consider? What’s the real deal on what to get and what to stay away from as just an expensive marketing trap?

JF: Today, dogs have been humanized to a fault. There is every type of food on the market, a lot is marketing. Do we really need organic dog food that costs $200 a bag, probably won’t get them to live longer and healthier. We don’t need to pay $10 with horrible ingredients either. First, the dog has to like it. Also, look to see if they look good and if they are fit, have a shinny coat and good weight and muscle tone. Different dogs require different foods, find a quality food and stay away from cheaper food. Peas and carrots sound unrealistic for a dog, they wouldn’t look for that. What is grain-free? I have a great relationship with Royal Canin, they have different foods for different needs and think they do the best job. At one time, we were doing several hundred police dogs a year. You don’t want to see ground yellow corn, that’s often a first ingredient of cheap food. Seeing a quality protein first, like chicken, turkey, salmon, or beef is good and you also want to see the least amount of ingredients as better off. If three ingredients is all it takes, that’s doing good. Another factor to consider, is the dog a 1 year or 5 or 12 year old, as needs and sensitivities change. It is good to take a quality dog food that the dog likes and can see them doing well with it, then look at if a lot is going in and going out with the bathroom, either it isn’t a good food or not working with the dog.

FB @CobraCanine

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Right Dog for the Job with Jeff Franklin.

BINGELY BOOKS

THE VEGAN 8
Brandi Doming
Oxmoor House

Veganism is definitely on the rise with a number of people changing their diets to this lifestyle for all of their meals or incorporating it into a few meals each week. It's also good to be mindful of those that eat this way when you're selecting restaurants or meals that you make at home for those that adhere to this diet.

Brandi Doming, a popular blogger, became a vegan after her husband had health issues. Her focus on overhauling her family to this food method led to this book which focuses on recipes and ingredients that are simple, family friendly, plant based and dairy free (most are oil-free, Dairy-free, gluten-free and nut-free - when they're not, Brandi provides alternatives).

In addition, the 100 recipes in this book have 8 or fewer ingredients (not including items such as salt, pepper and water)! Meals span from breakfast to dessert.

BREAKFAST
The Editors of Extra Crispy
Oxmoor House

We've all heard that Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Now in Breafast: The Most Important Book About the Best Meal of the Day, the editors of Extra Crispy drive this point home in their new book about this meal. Throughtout the book, they focus on breakfast as well as brunch.

In addition to having recipes (obviously), there are a number of stories, how-tos as well as hearing new ingredients and secrets to some of your favorite breakfast items for some of your faves such as Entenmann’s Cake Doughnuts and Taco Bell Crunchwraps - to make at home!

In addition, they go into the origins of a number of breakfast stories, such as scrapple and share how you can brew barista quality drinks from the comfort of your studio or loft! This breakfast educational tool includes 100 photos, illustrations and craveable items.

ELEVATION
Stephen King

Scribner

Stephen King takes us to his beloved town of Castle Rock, Maine with a tale about a man with mysterious issues who ultimately brings a small town together even though there are differences within those that live there.

This riveting, eerie and moving story centers around Scott Carey who has been losing weight over time, but he doesn't look different. Whether he is in his clothes or out, he weighs the same. He doesn't know what to do, but reaches out to his trusted doctor, Bob Ellis.

In addition to his issues, he lives next door to a lesbian couple who wish to open a restaurant. Although he has an issue with their dog leaving his business on his lawn, he finds the town's reaction to them and their business upsetting and wants to help this couple. His interest and unlikely alliance with the couple as well as his strange condition begin to create a scenario where despite the town's issues, they begin to come together and get past the worst parts of themselves to create social progress.

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Books in mag,

I'LL TAKE VERMONT

Before the weather seriously dips into unspeakable temperatures, we took it upon ourselves to take a little weekend away to Stowe, Vermont to take in the peak time where the leaves change for fall. Now earlier this year, avid readers of Athleisure Mag know that we spent a weekend in Woodstock Vermont in March right after a snowstorm and we took in snow sports as well as learning about the area.

With this previous knowledge, we knew we wanted to enjoy hikes, the cuisine of the area and a number of the luxurious amenities offered at our host, Stowe Mountain Lodge a part of Destination Hotels. In addition, we partnered with GMC 2019 Canyon Denali and took it to make the journey for a classic fall weekend. When you’re taking a road trip, being able to have access to OnStar, access to GPS (perfect when you realize you need to re-route due to traffic) and of course being able to listen to SiriusXM radio or connecting your phone to not only charge in the vehicle but to play your own music - hands free - this is the luxury truck you want to be in.

We talked with a few people to find out more about this property. From a culinary perspective, we enjoyed a curated 4 course meal via Stowe Mountain's Chefs Table at Solstice with a wine pairing. In addition, we enjoyed a number of meals that focused on a handcrafted cocktail menu as well as beer flights from breweries that are local to the region.

Our Solstice Chefs Table menu incorporated aspects of what we had yet to eat at the restaurant (to highlight new ingredients), ingredients that we were interested in trying or staying away from as well as our chef's creativity. The dinner along with its pairing was perfection and we circled back to Executive Chef Sean Blomgren to find out about our meal as well as the ability to book a Chefs Table experience as a guest.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We enjoyed our Chefs Table dinner which had a phenomenal wine pairing along with 4 courses. Is it typical that guests get to have an impact on items that could appear on their personalized menu?

EXECUTIVE CHEF SEAN BLOMGREN: That's the whole point. We want to know about the guest’s preferences as best we can. It is that information that helps us create a truly customized experience. If you tell us that you really like steak, that helps me to create an awesome steak course. Even during the meal we are able to adapt to feedback and collaborate on where the meal is headed. I still make sure that there are a few surprises mixed in!

AM: Where did you train, where did you work previously to this restaurant and how long have you been here?

EC SB: I have been here just over a year now. Previously, I was in Telluride, Colorado, Washington DC, Charleston, Aspen, and Boston working at some of the top hotels and resorts in the country. Culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu in Boston.

AM: What is your culinary style and what do you enjoy about making great meals at Stowe Mountain Lodge?

EC SB: I try and use the amazing bounty that Vermont has to offer. I also like taking something familiar to most people and adding something new or changing it a bit. The flavors of Asia play a big part in a lot of my cooking, but the French training is always at the core.

AM: Seasonality and sustainability are so important in the culinary world, how is this achieved and created at the restaurants at the resort?

EC SB: We have 4 very distinct seasons here in Stowe and that allows us to be able to change the menu often to highlight what is at its peak. Some of the classics remain year-round, but there are so many great producers around here that we try to focus on by always evolving.

People come to Stowe for a number of reasons and the fact that there are 4 distinct seasons and the backdrop is Stowe Mountain, guests can really enjoy a number of activities. Earlier this year when we were in Vermont, we went Snowshoe Walking - so this time, we knew we wanted to go hiking and take in a classic fall day in Vermont. Our walk was conducted by Tyler Royer, Director of Recreation at Stowe Mountain Lodge.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Can you tell us about the outdoor/recreational program? We enjoyed hiking with Tyler and learning about the area - what is his background and how did he come to the resort?

SPRUCE PEAK OUTFITTERS: Spruce Peak Outfitters is the focused point for Stowe Mountain Lodge guests and club members who are looking to explore all the activities and adventures the Stowe area has to offer. Our experienced guides organize and lead various seasonal activities to enhance and personalize every guest experience. We offer outings that range from hiking, snowshoeing, horseback riding to ice-climbing, kayaking, brewery tours, art classes, and more. For guests looking to find their own adventures in Stowe, we act as an informational resource and are more than welcome to provide our local guidance, knowledge, or advice.

Tyler Royer is the Destination & Conference Services Manager here at Stowe Mountain Lodge and manages our team here at Spruce Peak Outfitters. He has been an integral part of the Stowe Mountain Lodge family for more than 6 years. He is a born and bred Vermonter, although he obtained his Corporate Communications degree at the College of Charleston in South Carolina in 2007. Tyler has spent a portion of his career in New York City where he worked organizing corporate team-building, training, and group development events and activities. He has since returned to the Stowe Mountain Lodge to pursue his passion for group and recreational services within the close-knit and caring community of Stowe, VT.

AM: How are hikes created for individuals or groups that are interested in participating?

SPO: Each season Spruce Peak Outfitters publishes a schedule of hikes and other activities (including fly-fishing, rock climbing, boat tours, etc.) that goes out to guests and groups here at the Lodge. Guests interested in these excursions then reach out to our team to book their spot on the outing. We offer hikes ranging from easy to difficult with a variety of features along the way. Each hike is unique and has a different focus based entirely on the interests of our guests. We may focus on historical aspects of the area, foliage or seasonal changes, waterfalls, or scenic views and overlooks. Outside of the set schedule we also offer entirely customizable hikes based on guest requests or specific interests.

AM: Tyler shared a story about how skiing has a birthplace of sports in a way - can you expound on this?

SPO: Stowe is widely considered the birthplace and Capital of skiing on the East Coast. In the 1930’s the Civilian Conservation Corps cut the first purposefully-created ski trail in Vermont known as the Bruce Trail in the Ranch Camp Valley at the base of Mt. Mansfield. Remnants from this camp can still be found today in the Stowe Cross-Country Center. Local lore tells a story of two men; Craig Burt, the owner of the Ranch Camp Valley land and a prominent Nordic skier in the area, and Austrian-native Sepp Ruschp, a famous Alpine skier and instructor who saw the potential that Mt. Mansfield and Stowe had for the sport. Both men argued for their style of skiing and a competition from the peak of Mansfield to downtown Stowe ensued. Each man competed in his preferred style of skiing, and Sepp Ruschp won the race – fueling the development of alpine skiing we see in Stowe today. Stowe remains a mecca for both Nordic and Alpine skiing to this day.

AM: What are key things that one must keep in mind when taking a hike in Vermont - in terms of a checklist of sorts of things to have on hand, what to wear, pack and to stay mindful of!

SPO: We recommend always planning ahead and being prepared for every outdoor activity found here in Vermont. Bring a buddy or tell someone your plans ahead of time. Bring a map, water, food, extra layers, sturdy footwear, rain/snow gear, and a first aid kit. More difficult trails may require a headlamp or trekking poles to help you along the trail. The weather in the Green Mountains is not entirely predictable so always bring extra layers to add or shed along the trail!

With a number of activities available on site and nearby - as well as a number of places to eat, we wanted to find out additional information about this resort which really caters to any guest that is taking time here.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about Stowe Mountain Lodge - who is drawn to this resort during the year?

STOWE MOUNTAIN LODGE: Stowe Mountain Lodge at Spruce Peak is for everyone – Families, friends, couples someone looking for a solo adventure.

AM: What is the busiest time of year at Stowe?

SML: Stowe Mountain Lodge is thepremier slopeside resort in the East, so as you can imagine winter is definitely the busiest time of year. Having said that, we are a four season resort with two golf courses and the Spruce Peak Outfitters that creates daily adventures year round.

AM: What kinds of services are offered at Stowe's spa?

SML: The Spa at Spruce Peak offers a wide variety of treatments from our one-of-a-kind “Live Like a Local” series to the typical massage or facial.

AM: We enjoyed staying in our room which was a 1 bedroom suite - what are the offerings in the rooms and what are special amenities that are offered to guests?

SML: Our suites (1,2 &3 bedrooms) of fer guests a full kitchen, fireplace and balcony where guests can look out at the mountain views.

Our Studios offer a kitchenette, fireplace and balcony.

Our Classic rooms are more of a typical hotel guestroom.

Our Front Four units offer a private lobby with check in and departure as well as a private concierge. There’s a meeting room as well as a continental breakfast.

The rooms have a full living room, kitchen, fireplace and balcony.

You can see all of our accommodations at Stowe Mountain Lodge here.

AM: Can you share the different rooms available in terms of being a guest, being able to own one of the rooms (and how this also allows owners to rent them out etc)?

SML: All of the rooms at SML are available for purchase. Owners have the option of joining our rental pool where we maintain the room and they enjoy special benefits of being in our rental program.

PHOTO CREDITS | Stowe Mountain Lodge courtesy of Stowe Mountain Lodge and GMC Denali shot by Athleisure Mag

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see I’ll Take Vermont in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | STRETCH*D

We find that throughout the week we are always selecting fitness methods based on what we are looking to target or to ease ourselves into the day. Sometimes, you're focused on legs, your abs and on others - you need a really good stretch! We all know that you are supposed to stretch before and after a workout and many of us own foam rollers where we can continue the practice at home.

Stretch*d provides a Stretch*r which is certified to be able to maneuver your body. Whether you have an appointment or not, you can opt for a Quick*e (25 mins), Flex*d (55 mins) and E*longated (75 mins) for a full body stretch out. Even if you only have 15 minutes to spare, they can work within this timeslot as well.

In addition to these packages, there are additional add ons. There are services such as the Anti*aging Stretch which which incorporates a Light Slim LED that focuses on your face, feet and lower leg. You can opt for Get Buzz*d which adds a Hyper Volt to your treatment, Get Relax*d that adds CBD Cream neck massage, Lengthen*r which adds 10 minutes to your base package, Get Puls*d which is a 20 minute leg compression with Normatec Recovery Bootie, Get Stimulat*d is a 20 minute massage with a smart muscle stimulator the PowerDot, and if you happen to not have the appropriate clothing, you can also rent an outfit so that you can be in comfort.

Pre or post your treatments, there is also an area that has foam rollers, stall bar and additional stretching aids that can assist you in further treatment.

The Stretch*d Method was developed due to work with pro-athletes, weekend warriors and those who experience the wear and tear of daily life (extensive sitting, driving, picking up children, etc). The team believes that this dynamic assisted stretching is the most effective form of stretching for all bodies, no matter the activities that you do.

Ultimately, this method will allow you to perform at your peak, improve your
range of motion and posture, reduce pain, increase longevity and keep you stretched out.

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STRETCH*D
27 W 20th St
NY, NY 10011

www.stretchdspace.com

IG @stretchdspace

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | STRETCH*D in mag.

THE ART OF THE SNACK | GAME TIME EATS

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see The Art of the Snack | Game Time Eats in issue.

BINGELY SPOTLIGHT

Earlier this month, WWE's John Cena appeared on SiriusXM for Today Show Radio on channel 108 for his interview on "The Hoda Show" hosted by Hoda Kotb to read his #1 New York Times Bestseller, "Elbow Grease," to a group of children.

John's book, focuses on a monster truck named Elbow Grease who is smaller than his four brothers but is determined to show that he is just like his brothers. To prove this, he enters the Demolition Derby to show that he has grit and guts - even though he may not have the same amount of power as his brothers.

This picture book (which is a part of a new picture-book series) is based on John's own experiences with his four brothers growing up and is based in his foundational beliefs of his ethos: hustle, loyalty and respect.

PHOTO COURTESY | SIRIUSXM

Read more from the Oct issue of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Spotlight in mag.

BECOME CYBER SMART TODAY!

BY PAUL FARKAS, TECH DIRECTOR

We live in a world where cyber threats are all around us in our business, personal and family lives. It is integral to gain knowledge and take action on how to have better habits and get with protection from safeguard third-party solutions. We found a recent industry panel session hosted by Chubb, "Becoming Cyber Smart at Home, Work and Wherever Life Takes You," to be super-informative and recommend looking at these topics, themes and steps to get your digital lives in top shape!

The panel comprised of cyber industry experts from Chubb, ADT, Carnegie Mellon University and CyberScout, and outlined a range of cyber threats facing individuals and small businesses in today's connected world. It describes real-life examples and anecdotes in bite-size answers, and offers some best practices for individuals and businesses for keeping their personal information safe against some of today's biggest cyber risks.

The session delivered an insightful discussion about cybersecurity and its impact on our personal and professional lives by demystifying cyberthreats as well as highlighting practical protections that can be implemented by anyone.

Patrick Thielen, Senior Vice President, Cyber and Technology Product Lead in North America for Chubb, led the panel discussion. “To frame the risk facing consumers, global economic costs of cybercrime are rising into the trillions of dollars annually, and a large portion of that falls squarely on the shoulders of consumers. Since 2005, there have been over 8000 reported data breaches of businesses, in which over ten billion consumer records have been stolen. As of today, 64% of American adults have been victimized by at least one of these
breaches and most multiple times.. The average email user today has over 130 online accounts and we have more and more internet connected devices in our homes. It is not surprising that according to the 2018 Chubb Cyber Survey focusing specifically on individuals, 86% report being concerned about a cyber breach, yet only a small percentage were taking basic precautions to guide against them.”

In fact, 8 in 10 people experience or know someone affected by cybercrime per the noted US Results, 2017 Norton Cyber Security Insights Report. Incredibly, cyber attacks were found to be happening every 39 seconds by a referenced study by The James A. Clark School of Engineering at University of Maryland.

Summer Craze Fowler, Technical Director of Cybersecurity Risk and Resilience at Carnegie Mellon, is responsible for a team and portfolio of work focused on improving the security and resilience of the nation's critical infrastructure and assets. “Businesses of all sizes are targets for these data breaches as they hold so much information and data, not only about consumers, but also about their employees,” she noted. “Typically when we think about these data breaches, we think about credit card fraud, but it has extended well beyond.. we’re looking at lately W-2 fraud and health insurance fraud,” raising that W-2 phishing is up 870%, where tax returns are being filed on behalf of employees and diverting those funds to the bad actors. “Your health insurance information can be used by others getting care and pretending
to be you.”

The session was well-supported by studies and figures. 27% of data breaches in 2017 were medical or healthcare related per the claims data from the Identity Theft Resource Center. A whopping 24% of all Chubb cyber claims are healthcare related.

Adam Levin, Chairman and Founder of CyberScout and author of the critically acclaimed book, Swiped: How to Protect Yourself in a World Full of Scammers, Phishers and Identity, made some excellent points for business and consumer to note and act upon. “The reality
with the ID theft problem.. is this data can use you as the credentialed person to get into your business network, where they can put malware on the computers of your business; they can steal information involving W-2s; create situations where they do wire transfer fraud; they can steal intellectual property and trade secrets. It isn’t you for you, but as a conduit of all of the other things. The biggest thing they do is phishing attacks, they do drive-by attacks, they find ways to get malware on your computer and do keystroke attacks, ransomware and then they also get into information about kids.” He shared some appalling scenarios, like child-related identity theft, where the scheme can be as long as a 15-17 year run, because kids’ credit isn’t often checked, and often times it is a person in the home as a relative to set up a separate life right under their nose across the table.

Michael Keen, Vice President, ADT Cybersecurity, chimed in, “[a]n additional threat vector is the home network, like a home router.. there are countless folks that have the same passwords or administrative access to those devices and the same firmware when the device
was issued. Compared to all of the threats out there, you have to look at what’s keeping against threats created yesterday to protect us today. And so the motivation of criminals that
attack the home has also extended to the Internet of Things (IOT) devices. In 2017, the average number of internet-connected devices connected to the home was around 13.. talking
about (connected) light bulb, a thermotstat, a lock, a baby camera, a refrigerator, television, and in terms of motivation, frankly it pays.” He added, “Cybercriminals will always take the
path of least resistance” and gave low cost IOT devices as an example, where the ability to put additional layers of security, firmware updates and testing is nowhere near physical security installed by professionals. The strength of your network is dependent on the
weakest devices in your network. It is either focused on things like denial of service attacks or can even be used to mine cryptocurrency using your network’s power to mine Bitcoin.”

Indeed, studies show costly ransomware is on the rise. Per the Symantec 2018 Internet Security Threat Report (ISTR), the average cost of ransomware per attack is $533.

Ms. Fowler continued by pointing to the fact that people need to be practicing good cyber hygiene. “Often times we are offering up the information, like internet quizzes where the data we put online is used by nefarious purposes. Phishing, vishing (voice), smishing (sms) are prevalent and even videos on online dating sites are also being used for ransomware.”

“Unfortunately we are not going to be able to prevent this anymore,” Mr. Levin regrettably noted. “We have hundreds of millions of social security numbers out there due to breaches for many years. Cyberwar has replaced the cold war that we face-off everyday against state-sponsored hackers, for-profit hackers, cause hackers and basement hackers. We have to adopt entirely new paradigm as to how we think about it.” Mr Levin has coined and developed the 3M’s for the industry where “we boil it down to three M's -- minimize, monitor and manage," said Mr. Levin. "It is about minimizing your risk of exposure through adopting best practices, monitoring your accounts effectively and comprehensively, and managing any damage, such as ID theft or stolen accounts that might occur." He elaborated that it was about “minimizing the risk of exposure or reducing your attackable surface; effectively monitoring, and planning for and monitoring the damage.” He said, “it’s not about the technology, it is about creating and following a culture and following it for businesses and
consumers.” Some solid advises Mr. Levin gave were: using strong passwords or getting a password manager; enabling 2-factor identification; creatively changing memorable answers
to security questions; staying away from public wi-fi and using VPN for better protection; updating and backing-up your data; shredding; freezing credit; changing default passwords of
IOT devices; checking and being mindful of credit scores and signing up for transactional monitoring alerts; thinking of more sophisticated monitoring programs; and looking at explanations of health insurer benefits where there are multiple charges due to fraud.

“The culture of security and acting on things today is very important,” Mr. Keen added. “A variety of different service partners can provide installations of hardened security equipment, like how a network is setup.” He gave examples of considering implementing guest wi-fi that can be configured on your behalf, and staying on top of security patches and firmware updates, as well as monitoring – all which are readily available services and solutions by providers.

Ms. Fowler highlighted that it is also a culture of resiliency, “where the internet is a part of our lives and we need to exercise resiliency.. and have a response plan.” Some questions to think
about are, “who would you call as a family as victims of a breach; whether you have an attorney ready with something more serious, like physical attempts and ransomware, and also
knowing how to access financial institutions with bigger problems and whether people have and test backups to make sure they work. She noted that when going away on travel, it is good practice to have other ways to access funds than a primary credit card as a backup plan. “Basic hygiene includes having a response plan,” she stated.

“The 3rd M is manage the damage,” Mr. Levin pointed out. “It really has to do with knowing who to call and knowing what to do. In a business you would create a breach response plan,
game this plan, and know you would have to respond urgently, transparently and empathetically. As a consumer, many institutions have programs available either to policy holders, account holders or employees, so (they can) check with insurance agents, financial
services organization, and HR departments and find out how to be part and the cost is one of the cheapest investments you can make versus the agony and financial loss you can have,” he
warned.

Mr. Keen agreed, “be partial to action, these suggestions are easy and free or inexpensive if implemented today. Think of the prevalent use of mobile phones and whether security has
changed to meet those demands.”

“Technology is moving at breathtaking pace and families should discuss with children and elderly and monitor use online. Often adversaries are coming with sense of urgency, if too good to be true, it likely is, either with big discounts and savings or fear of quick force like threats of governments coming to your home. Take a breath and think about things before doing things that could open you up and expose you,” Ms. Fowler noted.

In response to one of the audience questions, Mr. Levin creatively added, “when you say the word portfolio, the Pavlovian response of most people is investments - but the truth is we also have other portfolios in our lives – we have our credit and our identity, and have to be professional managers, because business, governments, and truthfully, consumers have not done enough, there needs to be a shared responsibility of cooperation, collaboration and communication… It is incumbent upon us to help one another. The AthleisureMag.com extra step is sometimes the harder step to understand the threats and extra things to do to protect yourself, and look to trusted institutions with relationships to get assistance. Be bold, ask and when there is some assistance take it.”

Answering another query to the panel, Ms. Fowler alluded, “from a business standpoint, they need to be cognizant of what they bring into their environment. It is really critical to understand what assets you have inside - people, technology, the facilities themselves – it is a prioritization process.”

Mr. Levin added another array of things to target optimizing for business: 2 factor identification; training; segmenting data as need to use and need to know; mapping data to be readied for incidents; aggressive vulnerability analysis and patch programs, and more. He
forewarned we “have to assume there is going to be an incident. A defining moment can be how a breach is handled. In the future, regulators, class action attorneys and the public will judge businesses on how well they protected the data and how well did they respond for customers, employees and business partners.”

Indeed, within the last few years, there are several products in the market that will offer cyber protection for individuals stated Mr. Thielen. “There are policies that cover financial fraud,
extortion and ransomware, privacy breaches, cyberbullying and other disruption victimization. Incident response coaches will have steps of what to do and facilitate,” noting they should be contacted in the first steps.

Adding layers of redundancy to make a security culture was also stressed by Mr. Keen. “Victimized business owners may face obligations from rules and regulations to notify customers or partners that could lead to loss of revenue, so it makes a lot of sense to mitigate risk through policies. Cyberthreats are evolving constantly, the latest stat is 250,000+ strands of malware are created daily, so if you are not evolving at an equal pace you are continuing to be left at risk. The reason why there is so much cybercrime is because it is easy and because it pays.”

Mr Levin underscored that “the truth is technology makes us powerful, but it also makes us vulnerable. When convenience trumps security, there are issues. And we know as technology
evolves, the protection tends to catch up and there are responses to the flaws and issues, the bad guys find a work-around, because there is more money on the dark side, and so we need to work together and find new ways to do this and find ways to better accurately authenticate people. Especially for businesses, we have to move toward privacy by design and security
by design, and can't be a bolt on - they have to be a core of things from day one. IOT devices should not be allowed to be connected to the internet until a new password is entered to work, so devices can be updated and upgraded automatically.”

“As businesses, the threat is evolving everyday,” concurred Ms. Fowler, “but we are really worried about the impact, be it from a cyberattack or a natural disaster, so it is very important for businesses to think about what is it that is most important for the operations of this business, and then make sure they have the right protections around those things most critical and more broadly than cyber - being resilient to accomplish its most important
objectives. For personal, we look at kids and monitoring what is online and think about what is most important and build protections around that.”

ATHLEISURE LIST | SWITCH PLAYGROUND

Switch Playground came to NYC in fall of 2016 by way of initially launching in South Africa in 2014! Steve Uria, a longtime fitness entrepreneur and personality launched this fitness method which is fueled by a DJ playing as you go through a number of circuits in 2 minute increments. One of our classes started with a quick yoga warmup and continues with a mixture of TRX workouts, treadmills, medicine balls, trampolines and of course, all done
within a blacklight setting! Although you workout individually, we found that we worked in groups of two and through a series of hand signals, we navigated the workout to figure out if
we would do it again or modify it within our 2 minute slot before moving into the next movement. With an array of instructors guiding you through this bootcamp style workout, you're able to see others who are in your class doing moves that you will do later in your
session, which consists of 20 stations. You have 20 seconds to get from one station to the next one before you start your 2 minute drills.

Those who do this workout find that it is truly a total body workout and it consists of plyometrics, strength training and cardio. It's a challenge that allows you to sync in with your instructors (which there tend to be around 10 that float throughout your session) and your partner as you continue with the workout.

Whether you take the class religiously or just from time to time, the workouts change from class to class so there is no way that you will be bored or be able to go on "autopilot". It's all about intensity, intervals and of course - variety.

This nightclub oriented workout complete with fog machines and dancing by the instructors while you complete your stations, are followed by access to bathrooms that have a number of
amenities including showers as well.

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SWITCH PLAYGROUND
Soho Playground
180 6th Ave
NY, NY 10012

12th St Playground
130 East 12th St
NY, NY 10003

www.switchplaygroundusa.com

www.switchplaygroundsa.com

IG @SwitchPlaygroundNYC

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | Switch Playground in Mag.

PARTY AT DAYBREAK WITH DJ ELOY + STATE MGMT'S COCO YU

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Party at Daybreak with DJ Eloy and State Mgmt’s Coco Yu in mag.

ATHLEISUE BEAUTY

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure Beauty in mag.

UNDERSTANDING THE POPULARITY OF ONLINE GAMING

The rapid growth of the internet has led to the innovation of various useful online platforms. One of such is the online games that are seemingly still growing. And with the tremendous growth being witnessed on various social media platforms, there is no doubt that people are continuously looking for new and better ways to have some online fun. Since we are all different, we also tend to find comfort in various activities. That explains why the world will keep witnessing various innovations, especially when it comes to games, at least until the end of times. But then what's the real power source of online games? What keeps them so prominent? This article seeks to unveil all that and so much more. Be our guest.

The Accessibility To Fast Internet

The availability of the internet and faster internet speed to be precise happens to be a vital requirement when it comes to online gaming. This factor became more prudent especially with the introduction of incredible video games. But why is this so important? Let's look at it this way, with fast connection comes quick transition, which makes the accomplishment of targets much easier. It also almost instantly eliminates all the unnecessary, time-consuming pauses, glitches and messes and gives you and other playing partners ample playing time. So if your internet connection is top notch, then you won't have to experience connection cut-out on your favorite game spinning endeavors.

Additionally, speedy internet connection easily translates to superfast downloading time. So you get to download your favorite game from LiveMobile99 and start playing within seconds. Therefore, there is no doubt that online games have really increased their popularity thanks to the present times steady internet connection in various parts of the world, including some remote areas. And the fact that you can easily access games 24/7 makes it even more exciting. It has also in some way been made possible with the presence of the cloud.

This is something you wouldn't enjoy with a slow connection. Imagine having to endure all those annoying pauses and having to start your game all over again? Very frustrating, right?

Social Media Platforms Changed The Way People Communicate

Currently, the world is full of extension service providers. And with the overwhelming competition rates, each one of them is trying the best they can to maintain and increase their audience reach. Gone are the days game lovers used to heavily depend on online messaging systems for daily interactions. Nowadays the increasing level of social interactions has taken center stage in the world of online gaming. Little by little, people are rapidly embracing the use of online screens and microphones to communicate.

Other social media platforms such as Facebook has jumped at the opportunity to allow its users to expand their online presence and have lots of fun, by allowing them to use their accounts for direct connections with various gaming sites. This has brought a little bit of realism into this sector as people get too warm towards each other through sharing their photos and seeing real faces.

Also, this means that online game lovers can easily interact and form long-term online-friendships with others across the globe. It's a totally new experience that almost everyone (of course in the gaming sector) could not waste an opportunity to try. So the more people wanting to be part of this fast-rising global movement, the higher the demand for various types of games and the greater the popularity of online gaming.

Variety Tones Down Boredom

Imagine having to play the same type of game every single day or even several times a week? How long will it take for you to sink into the boredom spot? Of course not that long, well, unless you're a rare kind of breed that enjoys repeating same concepts and routines. As already mentioned above, the increase in the demand for online games quickly leads to the innovation of various plays to cater to market demand. Of course, since the demand is huge and from all over the globe, there's no way one company can step-up and fill the gap. This has lead to the emerging of various online gaming service providers with various specialties.

Therefore, once you get acquitted with the concept of a particular game provider, you can easily move from one platform to the next in search of a more challenging game. The fact that you have the power to choose what you want to play and at what time, doesn't leave room for boredom. As it's, there is no way two extinct service providers can present an idea the same way. It's that uniqueness that keeps things more exciting, making people glued to their screens with an anticipation of what to expect next. Think of car games, shooting games, candy games all the way to farm games, it's evident that all the fun lies in the variety. And so long as this trend continues, you can be sure that you haven't seen the end of online gaming yet.

Gives An Opportunity To Skill Improvement

Like any area in life, joining the online gaming sector doesn't only revolve around getting a computer and fast internet connection. In facts, it calls for much more and that includes a commitment from the players. But you cannot simply promote your commitment when you don't even know your way through the playing concept. So this is the reason as to why many gaming platforms have introduced a specific section where interested parties get to sharpen their skills by first learning the basic concepts of the playing before joining actual competitions. In some way, this acts like a coaching section to help players gain confidence.

Here you get to involve yourself in various games without being competitive. The required skills for each game is normally provided in form of simple clear instructions and some rules. Remember rules differ from one game to the other, so the more games you want to learn, the more information you will have to grasp. It's like attending a school with essential guidelines and most individuals are taking advantage of this to be part of the online world.

Embraces The Power Of Sight

Almost everything that our brain processes begin with sight. It's what we see that creates the greatest impact. And maybe that's why it's often said that " first-impression matters." Many individuals will gladly confirm having clicked on various online games because of the graphics they present. When we see something we like, it's natural to have a given form of connection to it. So if you as a player likes cars, guns or magical stuff, then you're also likely to get lured into playing games with similar appeal. Besides, you have to be interested in something to want to try it out. You can't build your curiosity around boring stuff.

Online players seem to understand this very well and that's why they dedicate a lot of time in the creative aspects of the game. They deeply embrace the use of graphics and a blend of colors to achieve their goal. This with a combination of playability significantly contributes to the success of these platforms.

The Secret Of Regular Updates

The world is undoubtedly moving forward at a fast pace and that seems to apply in every aspect of our lives. Everyday, people work towards improving themselves and embracing new ways of making certain processes much easy and convenient. Online game providers seem to understand this very well and have always worked hard to ensure their sites stay up-to-standard. That's why they tend to invest a lot in regular game updates. Through this, players get to enjoy new features, additional characters, and game goals. So they typically evolve with the world.

Developers enjoy so much freedom, get to implement their latest discoveries and players appreciate the convenience. This is one of the most outstanding benefits of online games that have managed to see the sector strongly stand against console games. Who doesn't enjoy trying out new things in this creatively advancing world?

The Affordability Of Online Games

Ever walked into a store to purchase your favorite game? How much does it cost? Of course, it doesn't come cheap, right? It even gets out of limit when it comes to newly released games. In fact, some individuals would prefer letting the dust and hype cool down, before purchasing that a new set of their favorite game. Not convenient at all. But what to do in these hard economic times?

Most individuals find the answer to the above questions on the internet; online games. In fact, it costs a fraction of the store prices to play the games online or even use the download option. So it's normal to have many people playing online. Can you imagine using the money you could have spent on one game to gain access to a variety, that too at your convenient time? Wouldn't you too want to join the movement and get to save some bucks?

Another option is to combine your contributions with your friends and get to soak in the fun. If this isn't enough reason for many individuals to want to play online games and understand the logic behind its popularity, then we don't know what is! The combination of saving and satisfaction has always been a winner. Don't expect it to change any time soon.

Gives You Real Opponents

Nothing can be boring as playing and winning against yourself. Is that even a game to begin with? Well, you might find some comfort playing against the machine but the real fun sets in with knowing you're tackling a real opponent. Someone with blood running through their veins and with probably the same or more skills than you. Doesn't it feel good to know there is someone on the other side of the machine all tensed up and psyched up as you?

Some game providers have even embraced the aspect of teamwork and have an option for team competitions. This makes online games seem line real-time games. People gather to cheer on their favorite teams and even place bets on the same. It's an interesting turn of events that has largely contributed to the popularity of this sector.

Gives Opportunities To Upcoming Developers

It's true that opportunities can present themselves anywhere and without warning. Some well-known developers found the opportunities to exhibit their talents through the internet. And this is one area that the online gaming sector seems to maximize very well. Over the years, various platforms have managed to come up with game development segments that allow their players to demonstrate their specialties in development. This isn't surprising as most individuals who enjoy online games tend to possess various tech skills that they can use to improve the industry.

Some platforms such as Steam and The Happy Wheels are known to give upcoming developers the golden opportunity to develop their unique games and add them to the platform's library. In some platforms, recently developed games have to go through thorough scrutiny, which might include voting by the players before being allowed into the pool. So basically, the more followers/players you get to love your game, the more popular it becomes and of you in the process. It's enough motivation to witness the fruits of your hard work. Therefore, so long as platforms like these ones continue to exist, online games will also continue spreading like world fire. In fact, you can look at it as a way of adding variety to the industry.

In Conclusion

If we look at the online gaming industry in terms of expansion and improvement, then we can attribute most of its success to the evolution of speedy internet connection. But then that cannot stand on its own. People have to be interested in the games and increase their demand for popularity. That's why the availability of social media, games affordability and multi-player features play a huge role in this aspect. Besides, there is so much fun online and the industry is undeniably headed to a bigger and better expansion. Be part of it, enjoy the games!

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