A featured speaker at the recently concluded 21st annual West Michigan Coast Kayaking Association Symposium advised that even though it seems warm when kayaking at the waters of Big Blue Lake in Lake Michigan, the riders must be aware of the risks of hypothermia as temperature tends to change without warning.

On one day, Lake Michigan can be about 61 degrees but it would decrease to 40 degrees the next day. These sudden changes could only indicate that everyone should be aware of the risks.

Tooker, an avid kayaking enthusiast, said that a person’s body loses heat 25 times faster in water than in the air so if the boat capsizes in the middle of Lake Michigan, there’s a bigger risk for a person to suffer hypothermia.

The doctor said that Coast Guard considers that most of the Great Lakes – including Lake Michigan – to be “arctic waters.”

The Canadian police revealed that it is planning to close off four square blocks of Toronto’s downtown area for the Group of 20 Summit which will take place in the city next month. The headquarters of Royal Bank of Canada will be one of the structures that will be affected by this move.

The construction of the tall fences will start by June 7 and is expected to finish prior to the scheduled event on June 26. Toronto Police Services Superintendent Tom Russell said that they will require workers, visitors and residents within the blocked area to show identification and state the reason why they are entering the premises.

Several sporting events are affected too, according to the authorities, events such as parachuting, parasailing or hot-air balloon flying are prohibited during the two-day long summit. Violators are expected to be apprehended for any unauthorized aerial activity.

The male fans of beauty pageants would be very disappointed after finding out that the contestants of the upcoming Miss England pageant won’t be wearing ladies swimsuits for the swimwear round. It is for the very reason that the aforementioned round will no longer exist in the pageant.

Replacing the swimwear round is the sportswear category. The contestants will be wearing designer sportswear.

The idea of scrapping such round was based on the opinion of last year’s winner army lance corporal Katrina Hodge. She said that being Miss England is going beyond a “flawless pin-up.”

The 23-year old beauty queen said that it’s not a good image to portray to the world that it’s okay to be “stick thin.”

In August, Miss England will be celebrating its 60th anniversary and this will be the first time that the contestants won’t be wearing swimsuits in the competition.

People from all walks of life will certainly enjoy balancing their bodies and paddling at the same time on top of the waves in the beach. This activity is called paddle boarding.

Some enthusiasts even took this adventure to a new level through stand-up paddle boarding. It does look awkward to see a person trying to balance himself on the paddle board by according to Coastal Urge owner Jeoffrey Nathan, this is a very easy and exciting stunt.

Nathan said that anyone can do this because there’s no obstacle to entry like sailing, kiteboarding or surfing. He said that all a person needs is to have a “common sense and balance.” He said that people from all ages can try this sport and have fun.

Before embarking in this adventure, aspiring paddle boarders must prepare about $900 for a starter kit.

Retail chain giant Macy’s Inc announced this week that it has signed an exclusive distributorship agreement with fashion sportswear company Sean John.

This means that Macy’s will be the only US department store retailer to sell Sean John men’s and ladies sportswear products starting Spring next year.

The products will be available at the Macy’s 400 stores nationwide and on the website as well.

Aside from the men’s and ladies sportswear items, Macy’s will be selling Sean John sportshirts, sweaters, knits, collection pants and shorts, jackets and sports coats.

Sean John has come up with newer standards in its latest line and will soon be offering fragrances and products for kids.

The company is founded by rapper-businessman Sean “Diddy” Combs. In a statement, he said that he’s humbled with this new development. He added that he’s happy to have gotten the trust of one of the biggest stores in America.

Next month, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will be staged once more and cliff divers from all over are expected to converge in La Rochelle, France for this adventure-inducing event. Top cliff diving personalities such as Hassan Mouit, Cyrille Oumedjkane and Gary Hunt are expected to practice together at Fort Boyard.

There a little irony on this development. Both Mouit and Oumedjkane are French while Hunt is British. Fort Boyard was built way back in the 19th century by Napoleon in a bid to stop British invaders from entering their country.

The competition will take place on May 15, 2010. Hunt said that he’s confident that he’ll perform well in the competition because he’s been preparing himself physically and mentally. He is aware of his tough rivals in the competition but he will still do everything he can to top the race.

Three cave diving enthusiasts from New Zealand achieved a new milestone after reaching the bottom of the country’s deepest caving system located at a mountain at the west part of Nelson.

The three Kiwis made a connection between two big caves in the Ellis Basin. In the process, they descended to a depth of more than a kilometer.

One of the cavers, Kieran McKay said that the feat has been three years in the making. He was joined by Aaron Gillespie and Troy Watson.

McKay said that he’s been doing cave diving for years and this new feat would be the most memorable.

The group revealed that they went through tough times before they reached the end of the road. They said that they had to deal with very cold temperatures and had to take ten days to complete their feat because there were really small spaces they had to pass through.

The latest diving gear and apparel were seen at the recently concluded Dive Middle East Exhibition which was held in conjunction with the Dubai International Boat Show. The event was held at the Dubai International Marine Club in Mina Seyahi from March 9 to 13, 2010.

More than three hundred exhibitors were present at the marine-related event. The participants got the change to try on the latest diving gear, equipment, services, swimsuits and others. Live demonstrations are also made.

Manufacturers such as Al Masaood, Beuchat, Scuba Dubai, Cressi, Gulf Marine Sports, Al Boom Marine and Al Boom Dive Center are present in this prestigious event made possible by the Emirates Diving Association. Diving enthusiasts from all over the world took part in this rare event.

A number of super yachts were seen at the venue with about 26 boats measuring more than 21 meters. Organizers said that the transition of diving gears have been fast these past few years.

Twenty women experienced the thrill of parasailing after taking part in the demonstration organized in Thanjai, a community near the municipality of Thanjavur in India earlier this week.

The event was organized as part of the International Women’s Day and what better location to stage the parasailing expedition than at the Air Force Station.

The participants were flown to a height of two hundred feet. One of the participants, Manisha Kothari, said that the experience was electrifying and unforgettable.

Group captain Kothari revealed that this program was conducted to inspire women to venture in challenging adventures such as parasailing. He added that women are now being encouraged to join the Air Force.

Kothari revealed that aside from parasailing, a paragliding club will soon be introduced to the public.

Parasailing is a recreational activity that involves a person being towed behind a boat while wearing a specially designed parachute. Once the boat is in motion, the person is carried into the air.

The director of law enforcement of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was questioned at the three-hour long US subcommittee hearing held at Gloucester’s City Hall this week regarding the fishing enforcement practices in New England.

Director Dale Jones faced tough questions and challenges from the lawmakers regarding the findings of an investigative report initiated by US Commerce Department Inspector General Todd Zinser. According to the report, there have been incidences of targeted abuse and excessive fines in the Northeast region.

More than 150 fishing activists attended the hearing and listened as Jones attempted to defend his office. The committee hearing was headed by Chairman Dennis Kucinich together with Congressmen Barney Frank and John Tierney.

During the hearing, Jones did not challenge the findings of the report. He gave his word that he will be reviewing the procedures of his department.