Sunplay Top 10 Posts of 2014
With the year winding down and the rapid approach of the New Year, most people take the time to sit down and write their New Year’s resolutions. While it’s great to look forward and make new goals, at Sunplay, we’re taking the time to reflect on the past year and all of the most popular articles on the blog. So here are the Sunplay top 10 posts of 2014.
1. Dave Kalama Speaks: 2014 Carolina Cup
One of the highlights of the year for me personally was getting to attend the Carolina Cup at Wrightsville Beach to witness one of the best paddleboarding events of the year. Even though the race itself was exciting, some of the best things happened off the water.
The highlight of the weekend, and our most read article, was an inspirational speech given by Dave Kalama, a true pioneer in the world of stand up paddleboarding. He tells the story of one of the most difficult races of his life—the highly regarded Molokai to Oahu downwinder. Listen to him tell a tale of a girl who gave him strength when he didn’t think he could finish and you’ll see why it was such a popular story this year.
2. Hot Tub Troubleshoot: My Hot Tub Water Smells Bad
It hasn’t always been fun and games this year. A lot of issues with pools and spas lead people to the internet to troubleshoot the issue. One very common hot tub problem most owners encounter is water (or SOMETHING) that smells foul. Rather than avoid it altogether, we thought we’d put together a comprehensive list to help users eradicate their water stench woes.
This article has been popular because it breaks down the possible culprits with their associating fixes. You should be able to solve the problem in no time.
3. WATCH: 2014 Carolina Cup SUP
The Carolina Cup is known for being one of the most well-run events on the SUP circuit and attendees ate up the great footage we got. The highlight reel has great stuff, from a paddleboarding bulldog to the leader of the pack, Danny Ching, paddling in victorious at the end of the brutal 13 mile race.
Our top posts from 2014 prove that people really are visual. Thanks for watching!
4. Snorkeling Destinations: The Homestead Crater
Who knew that some of the best snorkeling locations can be found in your backyard? The Homestead Crater is located in the small town of Midway, Utah and was originally a respite for miners working in the area. A resort has since been built around the crater and the 10,000 year old hot spring is a major draw for tourists and locals alike.
While there’s not much to see in the water while snorkeling, the experience is definitely worthwhile. Our video of the crater gives you a good sense of what the crater is like and will have you itching to make a trip.
5. My Hot Tub is Leaking
Another troubleshooting article rounds out the top five of our most popular posts of this past year. Hot tub leaks are a miserable problem to have and can seem impossible to locate. But never fear! If you’re equipped with all the information you need, you should be able to find and fix the leak in no time.
This article helps you figure out where the leak could possibly originate in addition to giving some helpful hints on stopping the water loss at its source. It’s always important to be a vigilant hot tub owner and make sure you aren’t wasting water because you’ve missed a leak.
6. Get Rid of Hot Tub Scum
Scum? No thank you. It’s no surprise that this article detailing the unpleasant realities of hot tub scum is not surprising. Did you know that the color of scum will affect how you treat it? There’s so much to learn about this pesky problem!
Maintaining hot tub cleanliness is one of those tasks that can sometimes be forgotten about and will manifest itself in all manner of disagreeable ways. If scum has crept into your hot tub water, we’ll help you eradicate it with this educational write-up.
7. Speedo Nemesis Fin & SMAO Paddle
The 2014 Summer Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City is the premier event to attend for anyone interested in the active/outdoor community. Vendors large and small set up shop (by the dizzying hundreds) to get you interested in their product.
The product that everyone was gaga over at this year’s summers show was the Nemesis Fin by Speedo. The VP of Design & Merchandising for the swimming juggernaut talked with us about its unique design that mimics one of nature’s best swimmers in a short explanatory video.
8. How is a Diving Board Made?
One of our most sought after posts was a commentary on a video done by “How It’s Made” on the manufacturing process of diving boards. Go figure! This clip (and the show in general) does a great job of making even the most mundane processes become must-watch television. And the fact that this page is so often frequented just confirms what information seekers our readers are—we love that!
9. Why Do I Have a Rough Hot Tub Surface?
Have you ever sat down in your hot tub and instead of finding the smooth, soothing acrylic on your back you’re greeted with something that feels more akin to sand paper? Not a good feeling.
What you have is most likely calcium deposits along the acrylic, typically caused by off balance water. Whether it’s your pH, the calcium hardness, or the alkalinity levels that are out of whack, it can really disrupt you relaxation in the water. Lucky for you, this is usually an easy fix, especially if it’s found early enough. And in 6 painless steps, you can get your hot tub back to original condition.
10. Utah’s $2 Million Dollar Pool
Finishing up this year’s top 10 posts is a look at one of the US’s most impressive backyard pools. Resembling a resort more than your run-of-the-mill residential pool, this family’s own private paradise really is something.
A grotto, lazy river, climbing wall referred to as “The Mountain,” and a complete kitchen hidden inside its winding interior make it a setup you have to see to believe. Have you watched the video? Just trust us and click PLAY.
We hope you keep watching for our new content and come to us with your pool and spa problems. We might even have some fun along the way!
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