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Showing posts with the label Sports

Special Olympics Texas Stays Connected Online

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Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), both the 2020 Summer Olympics and Special Olympics events have been postponed until further notice. To keep spirits high, Special Olympians, coaches and families in Texas are staying connected online. Recently, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that the 2020 Summer Olympics will be postponed . This devastating news is also impacting Special Olympians who were eagerly anticipating their own Olympic events. With social distancing in full effect, everyone is being impacted by a lack of human interaction. This has been especially difficult for Special Olympians who’ve grown to view their coaches and fellow athletes as family. In Texas, Special Olympics athletes and coaches, like Tank Shottle, are spreading positive vibes by keeping connected via social media. Together, athletes, coaches and their families are posting fun videos, daily puzzles and maintaining contact -- all online. Special Olympics Texas chapter president, Tim Co...

Volunteering for the Special Olympics

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Geannette Wittendorf is a proud supporter of the Special Olympics, among many other sports centered charities and non profits.  Between her love for charitable giving, hockey and the Olympics , the special olympics take up a special place in her heart. The Special Olympics is an even centered around fostering team camaraderie and sports offerings to those who are mentally disabled. The charity offers each individual an opportunity to compete in several different sports among other teammates dealing with similar issues. The even fosters those facing mental disabilities, reassuring each competitor that they perfect just the way they are and can compete just like everyone else. Visit the Special Olympics home site if you and your family, friends or loved ones would like to volunteer wit other charity supports like Geannette Wittendorf.

How to Become an Athlete Later in Life

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Being an athlete is not just reserved for the tween to young adult crowd. Becoming an athlete later in life is easy when you have the right kind of support and participate in the right activities. It's not only doable, it can even be a fantastic way to improve your overall health , both mind and body.  Geannette Wittendorf is a supporter of all things sports and athletics. Though her interests are heavily influenced by the Olympics, Geannette Wittendorf is passionate about supporting anyone who is trying to live a healthier lifestyle and or get into fitness at any point in life, regardless of age, gender, ability or goals. How to become an athlete later in life:  1.) Is it too late to become an athlete?  No, it's never too late! The first step to becoming an athlete later in life is believing in yourself. No matter what your age, your level of fitness, your gender or your ability, there is a sport out there waiting for you to practice it and have fun ...

The New Year: 10 Motivational Quotes for Athletes

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May you crush personal records, leave race times in the dust, and reach for new goals in the year 2020! Here are 10 inspirational quotes to get you jump-started on your best year yet!  Geannette Wittendorf fully appreciates the camaraderie that often comes with sports . The true meaning behind any sport, are the people who play . Each player has their own passion and spirit that they bring to the game, and it's important to fuel that flame with inspiration. A new year brings an endless amount of new opportunity to athletes old and new. Whether you just started on a new team or you're a seasoned all-star, athletes from all walks of their athletic career could use an inspirational boost , especially rounding the end of a decade. 1.) "Never forget why you started." 2.) "The body achieves what the mind believes." 3.) "If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you." 4.) "Some people want it to happen. Some people wish i...

Support Special Olympics Athletes with the Polar Plunge

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Geannette Wittendorf is a strong supporter of the Special Olympics , along with many other sports charities and nonprofit organizations. Among her favorite ways to support the Special Olympics is the through the Polar Plunge.  The Polar Plunge is a spirited winter event involving participants to "plunge" into a body of water despite freezing temperatures - hence "polar" - in order to raise money for a charitable organization. This year there are several Polar Plunges to choose from in Massachusetts  to help raise money for the Special Olympics. Money raised goes towards helping 13,000 athletes with an opportunity to participate in sports training. The Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization that provides opportunities for disabled athletes to participate in sports. Not only does the cause provide training and competition, it helps the athletes live happier and healthier lives. Every dollar raised goes toward aiding an ath...

4 Simple and Foolproof Ways to Find Training Motivation this Winter

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Winter can sometimes be a difficult time to stay on track with sports training for even the most experienced athletes. Here are 4 simple ways to stay on track  during those months where motivation is lacking. Geannette Wittendorf can appreciate the time and dedication it takes for her favorite athletes and sports teams to prepare and maintain game-ready physiques throughout every season. However, even elite athletes are susceptible to lack of motivation. During the cold, dark months of winter, some athletes need a little extra motivation to push through their bulking or off seasons, but it doesn't need to be as difficult as we sometimes make it seem.  Here are 4 simple ways to stay active and game ready this winter:  First thing's first, set your goal Setting a concrete goal can help keep yourself accountable and keep your motivation high by visualizing what you're really aiming for. It can also help keep things in perspective of how often and how har...

Hershey Bear Hockey Fans Break Teddy Bear Toss World Record

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Hershey Bears  Hockey fans of Hershey, Pennsylvania helped beat their own Teddy Bear Toss world record on December 1st. A total of 45,650 teddy bears and stuffed animals were tossed onto the ice, surpassing the club's previous world record of 34,798 collected in 2018. This world famous event is all for a good cause. All 45,650 of the teddy bears and stuffed animals were collected to be donated to roughly 40 local charities, just in time for the holiday season. Geannette Wittendorf is a proud supporter of the Teddy Bear Toss, along with several other sports charities .  The Teddy Bear Toss is not reserved solely for Hershey Bear Hockey fans. This popular Christmas season charitable donation is a spirited donation common at most ice hockey games around the globe. Ice hockey fans are encouraged to bring stuffed animals and teddy bears to the  ice hockey  game and celebrate their home team's first goal by throwing them onto the ice. The stuffed toys ar...

Indoor Rock Climbing: Escape the Cold with this Alternative Sport

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Getting enough physical activity during winter months can sometimes become very difficult when temperatures reach freezing! However, staying active can alleviate the unforgiving symptoms of seasonal depression that is also likely to effect many adults dealing with the hardships of winter.   Geannette Wittendorf is no amateur when it comes to winter sports , but one overlooked option to practice in winter is indoor rock climbing! Climate controlled, challenging and fun - this sport is a perfect adventurous activity that doesn't involve freezing. 1st time climbers can look forward to working with an indoor rock climbing professional to show them the ropes - literally!  Staff members will usually manage a climber's safety while taking them on an easy high wall while they have full control over the climber's ropes to ensure safety while they learn how to climb. Once the climber becomes more comfortable, they could also try their hand at "belay" climbing whic...

Remembering Jake Burton Carpenter, Founder of Burton Snowboards

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Geannette Wittendorf is no amateur when it comes to Olympic sports history. Snowboarding came to the Winter Olympics in 1998, pioneered by Jake Burton Carpenter, founder of Burton Snowboards .  Jake Burton Carpenter, 1954 - 2019 | Burton.com In 1977 Jake Burton Carpenter founded what is now a multimillion dollar company, out of a barn in Vermont. Burton Snowboard's humble beginning helped drive snowboarding to be one of the most popular games in the Winter Olympics to date. Geannette Wittendorf has always been a supporter of Burton - his passion and dedication for his love of sports is something that Geannette Wittendorf has in close common with the Olympic winter game king. Sadly, his legacy has come to an end at age 65 following his ongoing battle with cancer. Jake Burton Carpenter's legacy lives on through the Olympic games, and proud supporters like Geannette Wittendorf. 

What's the Difference Between the Special Olympics and the Paralympics?

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Geannette Wittendorf is a steadfast supporter of the Special Olympics , along with many other sports charities that empower their athletes.  Geannette Wittendorf is passionate about supporting sports charities , organizations, and nonprofits that help create a positive and encouraging environment for individuals who are faced with physical and mental challenges. As an Olympic sports enthusiast herself , Geannette Wittendorf understands the sense of community that sports can create for athletes and their supporters. To express her personal interest, Geannette Wittendorf regularly shows her support for both the Special Olympics and Paralympics . Both organization's main purpose is creating an outlet for those with physical and mental disabilities, giving them a place to enjoy their love for sports while participating in healthy competition on a global scale. Both the Special Olympics and Paralympics aim to provide their athletes with life changing tools - freedom, confidence an...

Ice Hockey vs. Figure Skating: How do They Compare?

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Growing up, Geannette Wittendorf developed a love for the Olympics at a young age, and has continued to support this worldwide sporting event throughout her entire life. Ice sports are among the some of the favorites that Geannette Wittendorf proudly cheers on as a bystander , though hockey reigns supreme in her eyes. Ice hockey and figure skating may appear to be two similar sports played on the ice, but in reality they lie on completely different ends of the spectrum, sharing more differences than commonalities. Through years of watching her favorite Olympians compete against the greatest on the world, Geannette Wittendorf considers herself well versed i n the commonalities and differentiators between the two. Though Wittendorf may be biased to hockey , she fully understands that an equal amount of blood, sweat and tears goes into each sport. How does figure skating and ice hockey compare out on the ice?    Footwear Figure skates and ice hockey skates vary due t...