ROCKSTAR ENERGY OPEN 2025

We’re looking forward to the Rockstar Energy Open at the Breckenridge Ski Resort that takes place from Dec 19-21st in Breckenridge, Colorado. This 3 day festival is free and open to the public and showcases world-class snowboarding competitions, live music, art, installations and an interactive fan village with Breck’s 5 iconic peaks in the background. You’ll enjoy elite pros as well as rising stars!

The inaugural snowboarding edition of the Rockstar Energy Open will include both men’s and women’s divisions and spotlight a star-studded roster of Rockstar Energy athletes, including Olympic gold medalist Red Gerard, Colorado native Nik Baden, and fan-favorite Iris Pham.

The Rockstar Energy Open will also debut a new world-class rider-designed course created in partnership with Snow Park Technologies and the Breck Terrain Park Crew. The competition venue will feature a unique muli-terrain setup unlike traditional slopestyle, halfpipe or big air formats. 

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

THE SUPER AGENT | LEIGH STEINBERG

We spoke with legendary sports agent, author and philanthropist, Leigh Steinberg. It was intriguing to hear how he became a sports agent before it was a core field and what research and strategy he puts into win-win dealmaking. Agents, managers/owners and entrepreneurs alike surely benefit from listening to and following his tried and true methods. He is all about making relationship bonds and helping athletes on and off the field. We discuss some of his major sports deals; working with top sports players and teams; as well as landing endorsements that align with player values. His new book, The Comeback: Resilience, Empathy and What Matters, comes out this Super Bowl, and includes his story of alcohol addiction and rebounding to be over a decade of continuous sobriety, as well as continuing to help athletes on the field; their health; as well as being a role model and supporting their respective communities, nurturing young sports talent, and during local tragedies.

ATHLEISURE MAG: So what led you to become a sports agent?

LEIGH STEINBERG: Well there really wasn’t a field of organized sports agentry when I began.I was a dorm counselor in an undergrad dorm working my way through law school and they moved the freshman football team into the dorm, and one of the students was the quarterback, Steve Bartowski, and in 1975 he became the very first player picked overall in the draft, the first player in the first round, and he asked me to represent him. I was out of law school a year choosing between different offers, and all of a sudden here I had the first pick in the NFL Draft and we ended up with the largest rookie contract in NFL history.

So that got it started, but my dad had two core values. One was treasure relationships, especially family and the other was make a meaningful difference in the world. In that very first experience, I saw that athletes were venerated in idol worships and that if I used their experience to try to trigger positives in the world that we could send them back to the high school community, and they could set up scholarship funds, or work with Boys and Girls Club, or a Church at the Collegiate level, they could endow scholarship or retrofit equipment and bond with the alums, and at the pro level that we could set up a charitable foundation that would attack some problem that bothered them in the world and use the leading business figures political figures and community leaders to assist in executing the program.

So that’s work done and running back who just put the 220th single mother and her family into the first home they’ll ever own, or Patrick Mahomes II his 15 and the Mahomies it helps at-risk kids, kids in hospitals, kids without enough to eat, and so that’s how I began, and that’s been the spirit of our firm.

AM: So how is it that you built the relationships with the team owners, the managers, and the GMs to get to some of those biggest deals ever?

LS: I think the whole key in life is listening skills. It’s being able to draw out another human being cut below the surface; understand their deepest anxieties and fears and greatest hopes and dreams; and see the world the way the other person sees it.

Now put your heart and mind into the heart and mind of a general manager, of an owner, of a potential client, and really people don’t tend to share their deepest emotional feelings very easily - so you have to create an atmosphere of trust around another human being so they’ll peel back the layers of the onion and show you who they are, and then you can craft win-win scenarios.

AM: That’s great. So what is it about win-win negotiating that has such big results? We’d love to hear more about your formula.

LS: So it’s first of all, doing an internal inventory so you understand how important is short-term economic gain and how important is long-term economic security. What about family or geographical location, or profile or autonomy and for an athlete? How important is being on a winning team, the quality of coaching, the system that they run the facilities.. and it’s to have an understanding if you’re representing a client of really what is critical to them in this transaction. It’s understanding what’s critical to a management type in the same situation. So it’s doing research ahead of time, it’s understanding the business, the profitability, the revenue streams and in contemporary sports salary caps, and understanding how they work and how to work around them. So it’s really a commitment to a win-win scenario where both parties walk away happy, and it takes creativity so there are times where you need to think outside the square and be more creative in how to problem solve.

AM: There’s so many lessons that you could give us just in an entrepreneurship in general, so what were some of the tools you used or even a war story about when you saw an owner a manager and or GM on the other side, but they weren’t really meshing where they agreed on what to do?

LS: So that’s where it can be important to go to the ultimate decision maker, and hopefully if I can negotiate with an owner.. can I create a concept of whose reality will govern in the situation. So one of the things I do is to create exhibits that show exactly how valuable a player is in a series of statistical categories or honors and that just how that relates to the market, so if we’ve done that correctly it should be a blueprint for a logical conclusion. So instead of saying I want the money or the most money, or whatever you’re trying - motivate the other side through logic, statistics and give them a framework to view compensation through.

AM: What has been part of your recipe for building strong relationships and bonds on and off the field?

LS: Part of it is not embarrass people publicly. That it’s understanding that there are, especially in sports having public exposure, putting the team in an awkward position creating a conflict publicly doesn’t near to the benefit of a client. In other words, you should try to do these things seamlessly behind the scenes quietly so that the first time anyone even knows negotiations are happening is when you have a happy player sitting signing his contract. So it’s being careful to safeguard relationships. if you’re in a situation where someone from the other side has his neck exposed and you’re tempted to step on it, the only thing I can tell you for sure is your neck will be exposed at some point in the future, and I think it’s critical to honor those relationships.

We live in primarily an oral world, so your word is your bond. So I think it’s really important to be trustworthy and to not try to build your own stature through diminishing others.

AM: Very true. So I know you’ve been asked a lot about Jerry Maguire in the past. It really hit me hard when I got to see it, so I wanted your impression by being an advisor, by being the inspiration and also the memo and the infamous tagline - I’d love to hear your thoughts about it.

LS: Well for the memo as you know, our concept is role modeling making a difference in the world. So it’s a boxer Lennox Lewis cutting a public service announcement that says real men don’t hit women and that could trigger behavioral attitude in rebellious adolescents more than a thousand authority figures ever could. So Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous, Vanilla Sky, Fast Times at Ridgemont High) called me up, the writer/director in ‘93 and asked if he could follow me around for a film that would be based on a sports agent. So he went to the NFL draft with me in New York. He went to league meetings in Palm Desert. He went to Super Bowl. He came to a series of games with me and went to pro scouting day at USC. He was like a fly on the wall and I told him stories.. lots and lots of stories and what part of those stories went into it, I’ll leave to Cameron, but then I was technical advisor so I had to vet the script to make sure [there was] the willing suspension of disbelief that holds you in the picture, and that the dialogue seems real, that the look is authentic and didn’t get tampered with, and then I worked with the actors.

I took Cuba Gooding, Jr. (Men of Honor, Boyz N The Hood, Selma), who played the wide receiver down to Phoenix for the Super Bowl and made him pretend he was a wide receiver client of mine all week and he hung out with Desmond Howard and Amani Toomer. I actually had to show the quarterback in the film played by Jerry O’Connell (Stand By Me, Las Vegas, Scream 2) how to throw a spiral because he had gone to NYU and they didn’t have a football program. So anyway it’s been 27 years and still every time I go to an airport or go out to dinner someone runs up to the table and either asks me to say those four words or says them to me that start with ‘Show Me The..’

AM: And is it taken well by you for the most part?

LS: Sure I think that I believe the film humanized sports agents and showed some of the true caring that goes into the relationships and you know it was the highest grossing sports film of all time until The Blind Side came along.

AM: Hmm, well we love that movie and thank you for being part of it and being an inspiration. It’s also inspiration for business people on passion, ethics, discipline and holding on; it’s an inspiration for people in romance - I mean the movie does go beyond sports too.

LS: So it’s really cool one of the reasons it was popular was the relationship, yeah romantic relationship. I have a new book coming out at the Super Bowl and it’s about resilience. It’s called The Comeback and it comes from the realization that life will frustrate us all at some level, hopefully minor and not catastrophic, but in many cases because of divorce and relationship problems and financial problems and substance abuse, people hit a situation where they lost their way and and they seem to be destructive. So the question is not whether that’ll happen in some form, it happens to us all. It’s how do you come back from that? How do you find resilience seeing the light at the end of the tunnel? So, it’s stories of resilience, including my own story.

AM: That’s really cool, looking forward to reading it. A lot of people need comebacks and you know as you’re speaking I think there is also a big epidemic right now of people functioning in their jobs or tasks or relationships but silently maybe not liking it or fitting where where they’re they might be just accomplishing the status quo but they need that pivot or growth that we kind of all need a comeback.

LS: Right, so sometimes not the most devastating moments, but it could be assessing yourself every now and again and making sure that you’re on the right path that’s where that internal assessment tool where you know short-term economics, long-term economic, profile making a difference in the world autonomy - you know vacation, whatever it is it’s having the most pristine clarity as what really will bring fulfillment to a person.

You know it’s fair to say, I battled with alcohol and crashed back in 2010, and so you know people are out there still suffering. The first key is breaking denial. OK, alcohol and addiction is a disease that tells you that you don’t have a disease, so it’s having some clarity about the fact that you’ve hit bottom. You don’t want to live this way for the rest of your life and you’ll take action. My action was a 12-step program, with a unique fellowship and the point is there is light at the end of the tunnel. I mean I just turned 15 and a half years continuously sober, so the point is for people out there despairing, who are confused and despondent - reach out! There’s help available and you can turn your life back into the fulfilling journey that you hope for that’s great.

AM: Let’s discuss the groundbreaking Mahomes deal, so how is it going through all that when you land that deal in 2020 with the Chiefs? What were you feeling when you closed the deal? What did it take to get there? How did Patrick feel and I guess you guys were on top of the world then!!

LS: Again, I think it’s understanding every client and to Patrick what was important was winning and wanted to go to the super bowl. In other words, it wasn’t enough to be the highest paid player on a team that was losing or under, so it’s part of what’s different about representing athletes, is that you’re not representing a corporation or a pig iron manufacturer or some commercial, and they’re a human being, so that you start to grow and care for the person you become bonded with. So being able to guarantee lifetime security felt really good.

AM: You have been a such a pioneer involved with endorsement deals. You know it’s great, that in the endorsement deals that you advocate and close for like-minded values between the players and hopefully the brand at the time and continuing. How is it finding those relationships between athlete and brand and showing athletes that they don’t just have to do things for money, that they could do things with money and values attached.

LS: Well one of the things I’ve tried to be careful of is advising clients not to do all that many endorsements [until] they’ve established a sports career. So to sort of take it easy so Mahomes didn’t do endorsements his first year, he wasn’t a starter and the second he was at the end of that year it was fine, but you want to prove to the fans of the city, to the ownership, to the other players that you’re serious about football or baseball or basketball, and you’re committed. Also hopefully set up a charitable foundation that shows you’re serious about being involved in that community, so a lot is about values, it’s about understanding that high profile is a role model and that your associations with products and and companies in the world ought to do what you suggested, which is to share the same values about what’s important. If you believe in helping people, then there’s a component there and each of the deals can actually have a structure where they go back to help the charity.

AM: Then sometimes you’re involved with helping athletes give back just to a disaster and being involved with the situation. How do you help facilitate those positive impact scenarios?

LS: I remember Ben Roethlisberger donated when they had the big tidal waves in Thailand. He donated a game check to relief, so it’s having an awareness of the time and place. One of the things we’ve been able to do at our Super Bowl party which I hold every year, is to address problems. So for example, back in Miami around 2008 or 2009, we shipped the water machine to Haiti. They had just had an earthquake and cholera problems with impure drinking water, we were able to ship a water machine that purified the water for 140,000 people. So it’s when we had troops in the field, we did a live hookup with troops between the Super Bowl party and Afghanistan and Iraq, so it’s having an awareness of what’s going on societally.

Years ago I created something called the Sporting Green Alliance and it took sustainable technology and wind, solar, recycling, resurfacing and water to state the arena and practice fields to drop carbon emissions and energy costs and it transformed them into teaching platforms. So the millions of fans that go could see a waterless urinal or solar panel and think about how to integrate those concepts into their homes and businesses.

AM: Then there’s also the Leigh Steinberg Foundation, so that’s where you’re helping educate about head trauma and CTE.

LS: I had a crisis conference back in the 1980s because I’m representing half the starting quarterbacks and they keep getting hit in the head and we would go to doctors and ask how many is too many? What’s the number that should contemplate retirement and they had no answers. So we started holding brain health summits back in 1994, and the first one here in Newport Beach had Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Warren Moon, and Drew Bledsoe, all came and listened to neurologists. By the time we got to about 2006, doctors like Bennett Amalu told us that three or more seemed to be the magic number, and after that you had an exponentially higher chance of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, premature senility, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and depression. So I call this a ticking time bomb. We’ve continued to have those brain health summits. We did two hours in New Orleans at our Super Bowl party, and I thought why not establish a foundation to raise money for research into brain health. There are two new modalities, one’s called RTMS and the other is neurofeedback. They can actually through neuroplasticity rehire a concuss rewire a concussed brain, so we’re making some progress and I have a series of neurologists on the board of the foundation and some iconic athletes.

AM: You’ve done so much, including golf tournaments and youth support for talented youth to get sponsorships. What is it that drives you to do so much good in the world beyond being an agent?

LS: So my my dad used to say if you see a problem in the world as tiny as picking up a piece of trash or as big as racism or climate change, and your tendency is to wait for they or them to solve the problems, older people, political figures, you know someone else, he would say, you could wait forever son, ‘the they is you,’ ‘you are the they.’ So it’s just a sense of responsibility, that’s part of why I’m in this world, is to heal pain to help people who can’t help themselves, to try, and be as active as I can in bringing hope and healing into the world.

AM: What is one lesser known story in either closing a deal, or in working with a top client - our community would certainly love it.

LS: So Ben Roethlisberger, Super Bowl winning quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, was very superstitious, and so he had a routine he did before every game. So it came time to see the AFC championship, which was Pittsburgh versus Denver in Denver, and usually players will reserve tickets for you as an agent and everything. So I called Ben before that game about tickets and there was silence on the other end of the line, and I said is there a problem? He said, ‘yeah well, last year you came in Pittsburgh to the AFC championship game, and we lost.’ I said, well Ben there were 70,000 other people there too. He says, ‘I don’t know,’ but I said you mean I can’t come to the game? He said, well you could go to willcall, but you’ll be waiting for hours. So at any rate, they played, they won. So go back to the Super Bowl, which was played in Detroit, and I’m on the bus on the way back with him, and I said, ‘Ben guess what? You just won the Super Bowl, and I’m here, so I guess I get to go to more Super Bowls?” And he says, “Yes, but never an AFC championship game.”

IG @leighsteinberg

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Leigh Steinberg

Read the OCT ISSUE #118 of Athleisure Mag and see THE SUPER AGENT | Leigh Steinberg in mag.

ESPRESSO TIME | LAVAZZA DANIELE FOTI

The end of the Summer means that there are functions that take place that wraps the city up in the festivities - the US Open is one of them as everyone shares their love of their favorite athletes who play tennis. In addition to a number of activities that we attended during this time, we were guests of Lavazza at their US Open Suite at Arthur Ashe Stadium where we were not only able to catch Mixed Doubles with tennis’ biggest stars, but we got to know more about the brand, previewed a launch of their latest machine, and even got to see amazing partnerships that they are involved in! We got to hear about this and more from Daniele Foti, VP of Marketing at Lavazza North America. We sat down with Daniele to talk about many of the things we saw that we’re now able to share with our community.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Before we delve into all things Lavazza, can you tell us a bit about your background and how you came to the brand?

DANIELE FOTI: My career began in finance after earning a degree from Bocconi University in Milan and a Master’s in Accounting from Sweden. Those early experiences at General Electric Capital and Coca-Cola HBC gave me a strong grounding in business fundamentals. Over time, I found myself increasingly drawn to roles where I could have a direct impact on the business and help drive growth — understanding consumers, shaping brands, and supporting organizations in their evolution. That led me to roles at Reckitt Benckiser and L’Oréal Italy, where I honed my expertise in sales, trade marketing, and overall brand strategy.

AM: For those that are not familiar with Lavazza, what can you tell us about it?

DF: Lavazza is, at its heart, a family story built on more than 130 years of dedication to coffee and to quality. From the very beginning, the brand has represented Italian craftsmanship and innovation, from the first espresso blends to today’s sustainable coffee solutions. We are not just about coffee as a product; we are about coffee as a moment of joy, connection, and pause. Whether at home, in the office, or out in the world, Lavazza exists to elevate the everyday ritual of coffee into something memorable and meaningful.

AM: You’re the VP of Marketing at Lavazza. What does this role entail?

DF: My mission is to shape how consumers experience Lavazza across North America. That includes building campaigns that bring our heritage and innovation to life, creating partnerships that amplify our presence, and ensuring every interaction, from packaging to experience, reflects our premium Italian DNA. At its core, my role is about storytelling and helping people see coffee not only as part of their day but as part of their lifestyle.

AM: We had the pleasure of attending your US Open Suite to watch Mixed Doubles matches as well as to learn more about the brand. You presented Flavia at the suite. What should we know about it?

DF: Flavia reflects Lavazza’s commitment to bringing premium beverage experiences anywhere, especially in workplaces and home offices. It delivers café-quality coffee, lattes, hot chocolate, and a full variety of drinks at the touch of a button. At the US Open, guests experienced the new Flavia Aroma Brewer firsthand, discovering how it transforms an everyday break into a moment of indulgence — not just for coffee, but for any beverage the platform can provide. Flavia embodies the concept of “Expect More” — it’s about elevating every pause; offering multi beverage versatility, and creating a premium, indulgent experience every time.

AM: You have partnered with Jannik Sinner (Winner: Australian Open - 2, Wimbledon - 1, US Open - 1) for a while now. What can you tell us about how the brand and this athlete connected and why is this partnership important to you?

DF: Our partnership with Jannik is a natural and long-standing one, spanning over 10 years. Coffee and tennis both require dedication, rhythm, and energy, and Jannik embodies those qualities beautifully. Over the years, we’ve celebrated this connection through activations like the US Open, where Lavazza brings fans closer to the sport and the rituals that fuel performance. His authenticity, drive, and joy in what he does perfectly mirror Lavazza’s values. Together, we highlight excellence, consistency, and the everyday rituals—on and off the court—that make great achievements possible, and we serve as ambassadors of Italian excellence in the world.

AM: While we were at the suite, we got to see about some upcoming partnerships that are taking place with Apple TV’s The Morning Show. What can you tell us about this?

DF: Lavazza is proud to be part of the upcoming fourth season of The Morning Show, now streaming on Apple TV+. This partnership highlights our commitment to bringing moments of calm, warmth, and connection to people’s mornings. Amid the chaos of daily life, Lavazza offers a ritual to reflect, reset, and reconnect—reminding viewers that mornings are an opportunity to “Make Your Morning a Show.”

AM: With the holiday season coming up, what can we expect to see from the brand that our community can be excited about?

DF: The holidays are about conection, and coffee often plays a role in those moments. This season, we want to inspire people to slow down, savor, and share joy over a great cup of coffee. Whether it is gifting, entertaining, or simply taking a quiet moment for yourself, Lavazza will be there to make it special.We’re also excited to bring a unique experience to Art Basel this year, where fans can engage with our brand in an immersive, creative way—celebrating both art and the pleasure of coffee.

AM: Are there any upcoming projects that we should know about that are taking place this year or even early next year?

DF: Yes, there is a lot of momentum. We have recently partnered with American Airlines to bring Lavazza coffee into their premium cabins, giving us the opportunity to share our blends with travellers around the world. We are also expanding our footprint in the U.S. hospitality and entertainment sectors and continuing to bring Luigi, our beloved Lavazza coffee-robot, to new cities for more immersive brand experiences. Consumers should also look forward to our annual calendar and a special experience at Art Basel this year — we’ll have more to share soon! Looking ahead, Lavazza will continue to invest in exciting new initiatives in the market throughout 2026, making next year another thrilling chapter for the brand.

IG @lavazzausa

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Lavazza

Read the OCT ISSUE #118 of Athleisure Mag and see ESPRESSO TIME | Lavazza - Daniel Foti in mag.

WORLD SERIES 2025

We’re in the thick of the World Series with Game 5 taking place tonight at 8pm in LA with the Toronto Blue Jays vs the LA Dodgers. Both teams are 2-2 in the series. See the highlights from Game 4!

PAIN RECOVERY FOR ATHLETES & FANS

We caught Women’s Soccer Club Gotham FC X Washington Spirit at Sports Illustrated Stadium, NJ, to watch pre-game warm-ups and take in the game in the TYLENOL VIP Suite. It was a fun match to see, ending in a tie-score after some good scoring attempts and excellent defensive efforts.

We asked Jen Gow, US Head of Pain at Kenvue, and Dr. Chang, NWSL Chief Medical Officer, about TYLENOL’s multi-year collaboration with Gotham FC; supporting the team’s health, aid recovery and helping keep elite athletes at the top of their games.

We spoke about TYLENOL’s “Relief Zone,” where NWSL fans can receive branded

recovery kit giveaways, misting fans, and cool towels through the season. Also we explored activations they will have to support athletic trainers, celebrate recovery, and spotlight resilience of NWSL players and women’s sports.

ATHLEISURE MAG: TYLENOL has announced a multi-year collaboration with Women’s Soccer Club Gotham FC, how will it support the team’s elite athlete’s health, aid recovery and help keep them at the top of their game?

JEN GOW: As the Official Pain Reliever of the NWSL, TYLENOL® is so excited to support players throughout the season by equipping league trainers with the tools they need to aid recovery and help keep athletes in the game. We are stocking each trainer’s bag with TYLENOL® products for use with athletes on and off the field, pending their pain relief needs.

AM: Tell us more about the slogan “#TylenolPartner I can love the game without the pain,” and how it promotes pain relief goals for athletes and fans.

JG: We know a tackle can hurt, but also know those stadium seats can cause many aches. As a brand, we’re here for all types of minor aches and pains so that everyone can focus on cheering, supporting and playing the game.

Athletes are constantly undergoing stress on their body during training and performance, often resulting in minor aches and pains. TYLENOL® offers a portfolio of products that can meet each athletes’ individual pain needs, so the result is a personalized recovery routine to help them feel their best on and off the field.

AM: From the TYLENOL PRECISE™ Pain Relieving Patches and Nighttime Cream, to TYLENOL 8HR Muscle Aches and Pain Caplets, Extra Strength TYLENOL Rapid Release Gels, and more, how does TYLENOL provide fast, effective pain relief to athletes to ensure they can stay active and competitive?

JG: The brand is continuously innovating to meet consumer needs when it comes to pain relief. Most recently, we launched TYLENOL® PRECISE™ Pain Relieving Patches. This innovation has 12-hour flexible adhesion technology to stick with you—and they are transparent so you can place them wherever pain hits!

AM: What is TYLENOL Proactive Support for Muscles and Joints and how does it help overall health and well-being? How does this move into reactive and proactive supplements help athletes, fans and consumers with health and pain management support?

JG: Proactive Support from the Makers of TYLENOL® is a new drug-free supplement powered by a blend of turmeric and tamarind to deliver improvement in joint flexibility and comfort. We made this step into the supplement space in partnership with medical professionals to offer an effective supplement for consumers to take a proactive approach in improving their joint comfort.

AM: The TYLENOL® FAN PAIN POINTS Survey with Wakefield Research indicated some very interesting results, including the majority of sports fans (52%) believe they are more active when attending a live sporting event than on a typical day; 43% of fans regularly pack an OTC pain reliever when attending live sporting events; and 70% say going to live sporting events is physically taxing, with nearly 7 in 10 (69%) stating they would go to more games if the experience were less demanding. What are some products, tools and tips to help reduce painful activities for fans attending and cheering on teams in live events?

JG: It’s always a good idea to come prepared to a game – who knows how many stairs you may need to climb to get to your seat or if you’ll be standing longer during overtime cheering on your team. Keep TYLENOL® PRECISE™ in your car for post-game muscle aches or add a travel-sized pack of TYLENOL® Extra Strength to your gameday bag, so you can be prepared should a minor ache or pain occur.

AM: What activations will TYLENOL have at Sports Illustrated Stadium to support athletic trainers, celebrate recovery, and spotlight resilience of NWSL players? What is TYLENOL’s “Relief Zone,” and how have NWSL fans reacted to branded recovery kit giveaways, misting fans, cool towels through the season?

JG: Our multi-faceted collaboration with Gotham FC features comprehensive on-site activations, including equipping the trainers with products they need to aid player recovery and season-long representation at Gotham FC’s pregame Fan Fest. Our branded giveaways have been a huge hit with fans, and the continued growth of the NWSL alongside the amazing fandom at Sports Illustrated Stadium is incredible to see! I took my kiddos a few weeks ago...my 5 year old loved the ball pit and my 3 year old held the “Tylenol #1 Doc Recommended” foam finger the entire game!

AM: Beginning in 2026, what will Gotham FC match theme nights and community programs presented by TYLENOL entail?

JG: We’re actively collaborating with the Gotham FC team to determine how we can continue to meaningfully engage with the fans and support the team in even more ways next season!

AM: How does TYLENOL elevate opportunities in women’s sports and go beyond the medicine cabinet?

JG: Through our sponsorships with the NWSL and Gotham FC, alongside our commitment to the Women’s Sports Foundation with our Athlete Recovery and Care Commitment Grant, TYLENOL® is going beyond our product to meet women athletes with direct support and critical funding so they can continue the game they love.

AM: What are some products and tips for executives and business travelers to stay productive and at the top of their work on long days, commutes and big travel itineraries?

JG: It’s incredibly important to me to get outside and be active after work. I have recently embraced the Pickleball trend and wow, it can cause some pain! My wife and I both take a Proactive Support from the Makers of TYLENOL® supplement every day and it truly has helped our joint comfort after exercise.

AM: TYLENOL recognizes that pursuing greatness hurts. What is The Care Commitment by TYLENOL? How does this fund and $1M pledge with the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) help injured athletes and their painful physical and financial setbacks on the road to recovery?

JG: This grant was established by TYLENOL® in partnership with the Women’s Sports Foundation® (WSF®) to provide a much-needed recovery fund for injured women athletes who are on their road to recovery post-injury. To date, we’ve awarded grants to 20 deserving athletes, providing financial support as they rehab to get back into the game and continue their pursuit of greatness.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What does it mean for TYLENOL to have a strategic collaboration with Gotham FC, after being named Official Pain Relief multi-year sponsor of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) earlier this year?

DR. CHANG: After being named the Official Pain Reliver of the National Women’s Soccer League this year, TYLENOL® wanted to expand their support of the league and engage more directly with a local team and its fan base. This collaboration also includes on-site activations at Gotham FC’s pregame Fan Fest, where the brand will provide TYLENOL® product giveaways, merchandise and more to prepare fans as they head into the game. The fans have loved it!

AM: How is this collaboration meaningful for supporting player health and women’s sports?

DR. C: As a League, our top priority is protecting the health and well-being of our athletes. The growth of women’s professional soccer has brought greater demands on our Players’ bodies, making recovery resources and medical support more important than ever. Collaborations like this one with Tylenol provide additional support for our medical teams and athletes, and we value partners who share our commitment to Player care.

AM: How can equipping league trainers with TYLENOL products and tools help aid performance, recovery and keep athletes in the game?

DR. C: Athletic trainers are on the front lines of Player health, and having access to reliable tools that support their recovery including safe pain management helps them do their jobs more effectively. While no one product can replace the core fundamentals of injury prevention, training, and rehabilitation, we appreciate having a resource like Tylenol available as part of a broader toolkit for Player care.

AM: How does the partnership with TYLENOL help women athletes and fans embrace the love of the game?

DR. C: Our fan base is the heart of our league, and TYLENOL® recognizes that they deserve care just as much as the players do. By hosting product giveaways for fans during pre-game events and offering product discounts, TYLENOL® is helping ensure that our tremendous fans can be on the sidelines to cheer on the team, without any minor aches and pains slowing them down.

AM: What are the types and how often are there injuries in women’s soccer matches? Are there specific injuries that occur more frequently for female soccer players?

DR. C: In women’s professional soccer, we most often see lower extremity injuries such as ankle sprains, muscle strains, and knee joint injuries. Female soccer players, in particular, face a higher risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears compared with their male counterparts, and that remains an important area of ongoing research and prevention eborts. We also recognize that overuse injuries such as stress fractures, tendinopathies, and muscle strains can occur during our season especially with the competitive balance across our League. Our focus is always on prevention, early recognition and optimal management, and safe return to play.

AM: What are some tips for soccer players and fans for injury prevention in training and playing soccer; promoting resilience; and optimizing recovery?

DR. C: For elite soccer players, injury prevention starts with evidence-based programs that emphasize neuromuscular control and strength training, especially of the core/hips and lower extremities. Monitoring training loads can also help to prevent overuse injuries. Good sleep, adequate hydration, and proper nutrition are essential cornerstones to promote resilience and optimize recovery. Resilience also involves building strong support networks, such as a positive team environment and dedicated medical teams. Recovery also means listening to your body and recognizing early warning signs in order to seek timely professional medical care.

For recreational players or even fans inspired to learn how to play soccer (it’s never too late!), many of the same principles apply: warm up before activity, gradually progress the duration and intensity of play at the beginning of the season, and maintain a fitness routine during the week (especially if you only play one game a week). Injury prevention and recovery strategies are not limited to professional athletes—they can help anyone stay active and enjoy the game for years to come.

AM: We’ve now learned fans can exert themselves too by walking, sitting and intensely cheering on their favorite team and players at the game! Go Gotham FC! How can fans aim to reduce pain themselves before, during and after the big game?

DR. C: Attending an NWSL soccer match can be demanding—standing in lines, climbing stairs, and sitting and standing for long periods cheering. Fans can reduce discomfort by starting adequate hydration and food intake 24 hours before the game and getting a good night’s rest, and then staying hydrated and well fed, and wearing supportive footwear and appropriate clothing and headwear for the weather conditions. Even standing up and stretching and taking breaks to walk around the stadium is beneficial. If minor aches or soreness do occur, over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol’s topical relief or its traditional oral options can also help.

IG @tylenol

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 42 - 45, 49, 51 Gotham FC/Megan Santaniello | PG 46 Getty Images/Tylenol |

Read the SEP ISSUE #117 of Athleisure Mag and see PAIN RECOVERY FOR ATHLETES & FANS in mag.

GUMMIES & ZZZ | TYSON APOSTOL

We connected with Tyson Apostol, winner of Survivor Blood vs. Water; 4X Survivor competitor. He related to us that a main reason for winning was maintaining strength and endurance in life skills and needs. From endurance swimming in college, then professionally cycling, and later finding love in Pickleball, Tyson likes unbounded sports and activities.

For some sleep and ache and pain issues, he discovered cannabis gummies, and partnered with Trulieve as an ambassador. We ask him about when and how he integrates gummies into his routines; if he uses cannabis with training or playing Pickleballl; touring the Trulieve grow rooms and facility, and also ask about what he’s looking forward to seeing, with the upcoming season of Survivor 49.

ATHLEISURE MAG: So, so what led you to go to become a pro cyclist?

TYSON APOSTOL: Honestly, you know, I just was having a conversation recently about this, because everybody’s like oh that was your passion - I was like, no, it wasn’t, my passion was avoiding a cubicle. After college, I was good at cycling and enjoyed it but I don’t think it was a love of my life, but I found a way to avoid [the office]. I just was never like a work guy, just the feel and I know that people are going to read this and be lik, oh he’s so spoiled. No, I found a way to avoid that thing I didn’t like, which was going to college, getting a career afterwards. And so cycling for me was a way to continue playing, maybe longer than other adults were able to.

AM: Sure, but then with all the weather and the endurance I mean it sounds like it was brutal each leg of the race is tough right?

TA: Yeah, and it was brutal because I’m sitting out there pedaling in the rain convincing myself that the motivation for continuing to train in the rain and the snow and the sleet, the hail, whatever it is. It’s better than being in a cubicle, but now that I’m 46 I’m looking back, I’m like those guys in the cubicle we’re looking out the window at me riding my bike in the rain thinking I’m an idiot. So, we probably all found our thing.

AM: Yeah it’s a mixed bag now the cubicle people are riding too!

TA: That’s right even writing in the office these days right they are writing in the office with their pedal desk.

AM: And you swam in college?

TA: I swam in college. I swam through high school into college. And as soon as I decided that, I didn’t want to be there. I spent one year at college, so distance freestyle endurance was my thing, like that was the thing I was good at, so that didn’t really matter the sport as much as endurance, like I can run forever, I could ride forever, I could swim forever, you give me something long slog, and I’ll be able to do that.

AM: And then at some point you found and fell in love with pickleball?

TA: Yes, I’m the same way I saw it. And then when I went there and got to enjoy and experience it with just taking it all in, I was just like, this is, this is magic. This is a magical combination of excitement, skill and intensity.

AM: So how was your story with how you found it?

TA: I moved to Arizona to get away from the snow from Utah. And I was just like I’ve been grinding my whole life for physical activity, like riding a bike for hours on end, jogging for a few hours, going and swimming laps - like all of those are grinds, none of those are really that exciting.

And I just was like, I only want to do exercise now that I enjoy, because I’ve done so much unenjoyable exercise to me. And when I moved to Arizona in 2017, the neighborhood I moved into had some pickleball courts, and I was like I don’t know what those are, we googled it and did a little research. I took my 70 year-old neighbor who wasn’t working, and we would go over and figure out the game just by googling the rules in the middle of the day so we figured out how to play pickleball. And we both were immediately hooked.

So, we started, we joined the little neighborhood meetup on the mornings, and just kind of went from there. And, and then when COVID happened, I had to kind of readjust my business format of what I’d been doing, because I wasn’t able to go out and make appearances and this and that, and I was like I love pickleball. And now we’re kind of like in this little slow moment of time, let’s see if we can parlay my love for pickleball into being present in the community and in the sport and just the right timing, like it took off. Like if I could have had this timing with Bitcoin, I’d be like a trillionaire right now, maybe, maybe..

AM: Yeah, maybe.. because people go up, but they never say what they’d cash out, or that they lost their USB or keys, maybe that they sold at a low because they were desperate or whatever.. there’s lots of examples. People don’t factor if they’d sell on the upswings and cashed some out.

How is it working with the Pickleball leagues?

TA: I like it. The Carvana PPA Tour has had me do some interviews to get to know their players as people. Like that’s kind of been a little bit of a disconnect for them is getting the fan base to really know the players, rather than just see people playing pickleball on screen. So I’ve been fortunate to run some interviews with some of their players delving deeper into what makes them tick, who they are as people, and where they came from before pickleball. And so yeah, that has been fun and interesting.

AM: That’s super important. And so there’s so many stars and rising stars in the leagues. You know, what teams are you looking for? Who are some of your favorite players?

TA: I mean, I like the fiery ones. I don’t know if they’re my favorite people, but I like to watch them on the court the most because they get people amped and going and create a little controversy and stuff. But other than that, you know, I love, honestly, I’ve been working with Franklin pickleball now for six months, and they have a couple of my favorite players. Paris Todd. She’s comes from a tennis background. And and then Hayden Patrick Quinn, who’s like, yeah, he’s this young fire kid who’s like kind of getting under the skin of some of the older guys, which I love.

AM: Yeah, we just had a recent cover interview with Tyson McGuffin, who’s great on and off the court.

TA: Oh, yeah. Yeah, fiery.

AM: Right. But you have to you have to bring the receipts, at least -

TA: That’s right. You know, I mean, you don’t have to bring the receipts, but people respect you more if you do. Well, I mean, why I say that is like, if you stay fiery, I mean, you have to earn being fiery. Yes, I would hope. I think so. Unless it’s like, all right, we’ll leave it there. Yeah, no, I like Tyson, too. I told my daughters I was named after him, even though I’m probably 15 years older than. That’s good.

AM: Did they believe you?

TA: Just for half a second. Yeah, they were like, what? No.

AM: How many kids do you have?

TA: Two daughters. Ten and seven.

AM: So when did you first start using cannabis? Was it was it recreationally, medicinal, some combination or other?

TA: It was medicinal. I was having a lot of back pain. This is maybe 2000. Yeah, then in 2017/2018, kind of when I started playing pickleball. But it was mostly from picking up my kids so much, lifting them out of the crib. Like cribs are designed for you too, like, to hurt your back. It’s not like you can bend your legs and lift a kid out of a crib. You have to, like, hunch over the bar and then lift up. And so for some reason, I had this debilitating back pain, like bedridden. There were days I couldn’t walk. And I had, you know, taken handfuls of aspirin or whatever. And also I found some expired opioids from when my wife was pregnant going through her stuff after pregnancy, and tried those and was like, there’s a better way. I’ve only heard so many negatives about these medicines as bad for your liver bad and stomach lining, all of that stuff. And opioids are super addictive and terrible for you as well. And I said, I grew up raised Mormon.

And so it was like, you don’t do anything that is questionable in any capacity. But at 36/37, I was like, I have to try something better than what is available to me. And that’s the first time that I have tried cannabis. And it, for me, it worked so much better. It helped me sleep better, which is like the number one thing I needed was to be able to sleep well enough to recover and to heal. And so, yeah, big believer from there. It worked for me perfectly. And that’s what I mostly use it for still is sleep and recovery.

AM: And you’re working with Trulieve now as an ambassador?

TA: Yes, as an ambassador. They’re in the Pickleball game too. You know, I actually, Ethan Zahn, I don’t know if you know who he is. He won Survivor Africa, and he used cannabis products for during his fights with cancer. And so I knew that he had been working with Trulieve. So I heard of the name a lot, and they got into the Pickleball space, and reached out to me and were like, hey, we’d love to have you as a VIP, our guest at one of the Pickleball events. And I was like, oh, I already am in the pickleball space, but I would love to get to know you better because I already use your products to help me stay on top of my game in my life. That’s always the best scenario. Perfect. It was so cool.

AM: So what products were you using?

TA: I use their Sweet Talk gummies, and I’m mostly an edibles guy. And so I use those mostly for sleep. But once in a while, if I get invited to a real early game of Pickleball, a lot of these guys in Arizona, these old guys, they like to play like five in the morning before the heat kicks in.

And then I use some of their other stuff.

AM: So now for sleep, how long do you allow for when you take it before your target time to go to bed or do you look at it that way?

TA: Yeah, I do. I usually do half an hour to an hour, is when I like to be in bed after I take it and I’ll usually get home from Pickleball. I don’t take it every day. I don’t need it every day. But when I do, it’s definitely a much better option for me than anything else. And so when I do take it, it’s usually from late Pickleball and I’m too amped to fall asleep. So I take it as soon as I walk in the door, I take it, then I get my hydration, take a shower, go lay down and have a good night’s rest. When you take it, do you take it with the little fatty foods or substance or do you take it just by itself? I just take it plain by itself.

A lot of their products already have the CBD in it and stuff. So that’s terrific. Yeah. The CBD and seems to be a really nice effect with some products I’ve had.

AM: Yeah, I use cannabis actually in work and play and medicinal. So as a Celebrity Photographer, before every shoot, I smoke a little, get loose and to be creative. Yeah. I also have Gout and RA. So I use the products as I have some pain and imflamation and have to be very quick, flexible and steady.

What would you recommend for people who might not be so open minded towards cannabis use to think about? Are there some benefits or ways to think about it that might make some people reconsider it?

TA: I think you look at the side effects and the possible side effects of taking something else. That’s how I came to terms with it was when look[ing] at aspirin, all these over-the-counter medicines taken every day or multiple times a week, that’s going to take its toll on me, as well as opioids, which we know are highly addictive and very, very dangerous. And so for me, I was like, I don’t want to even have to deal with this, whether it’s months down the road, years down the road. All of that stuff adds up. And for me, I was like, a cannabis product that’s all natural for me is a much better solution.

And I went in and was like, if this works, this is what my path will be, because I already know that for me, this is better for my body.

AM: That’s terrific. And it seems like at least with edibles or gummies, there’s a way to take baby steps to see if you might like it comfortably at home. You could gradually increase your dose or the different things you use to maybe decide it without being overbearing, right?

TA: Yeah, exactly. And it tastes like candy. So it’s essentially, you know, you get like a little sweet treat, sweet top gummies, you get a little bit right before bed. It’s kind of a nice little taste and flavor. And yeah, like you said, like my wife uses them when she needs to fall asleep. She cuts them in half or in quarters. I take a whole 10mg gummy. And then if I go out early to play Pickleball, like I said, like in the mornings, my hamstrings or lower back will be really tight sometimes. And I take the Chilax. They’re only one milligram of THC and 20mg of CBD.

AM: Yeah, that’s a low dose. Yeah.

TA: So I’ll take two of those before I go play pickleball in the morning. And that kind of helps me loosen up so that I feel like I can move around normally.

AM: See, that’s great. Because we talked with some athletes that do incorporate cannabis use in their training, while they’re playing or competing, and then in their recovery. So it’s interesting to see the different persona types. You know, I think there’s some athletes that would not think to do that and have it just for recovery. And then other athletes would train with it and maybe participate with it. So have you found the game super enjoyable to or the competition a little more exciting? Or it’s just it’s such a low dose. It’s more just for aches and pains?

TA: It’s a low dose. It’s for aches and pains. I do notice that I play better Pickleball when I’m focused on playing Pickleball. And so I know when I take some cannabis, I kind of focus more on what I’m doing rather than let my mind wander off into like, did I get these bills paid? Do I have this meeting coming? And so I do naturally probably play a little bit better when I have done that, especially in the morning, for sure in the morning. Because I would be too tight and tired to get going at five or six in the morning when all these old guys like to play.

AM: Do you have any favorite strains, do you lean Indica or Sativa?

TA: I mean indica for sure if I’m sleeping or need to chill at night, and sativa in the day and just in low doses. So to sleep, I take 10mg of Indica and I use mostly I use this slumber. Okay. You can see that. And then the Chillax one, which is Sativa, but it’s only, you know, 1mg. So, and I have others. They have a whole line of them, you know, Hybrids, everything else. I’m not a sensitive person though, like it doesn’t matter what it is. You give me racing bikes as a pro cyclist, people be like, oh, this frame is so stiff. I can’t hardly. And I was like, I can’t tell the difference. So if there’s big differences, I can tell. But if there’s smaller differences..

AM: I’m a super Indica guy. OK, even when I’m using it when out and socializing, or being creative and productive, I still would be Indica. And in the last couple of years, I’m experimenting with Sativa and kind of pushing myself, because I feel a little hazy tension cerebrally at first with Sativa, but then I get through it and I really like the energy and the bright buzz aspect of some strains and Hybrids.

TA: And I was invited and went to their grow operation here in Phoenix. And they had you see all of the rooms with all the different strains lined up.

AM: Yeah, it’s a science. Yeah. Yeah.

TA: It’s always fun to be in those big rooms.

AM: It’s just ridiculous. And, you know, it just feels like a Mecca. Right.

So every time everyone talks to you, I guess Survivor always comes up. So, you know, our community definitely knows you from there. And we’d love to hear any key takeaways you have, or thoughts you had on the different seasons, or what your biggest takeaway was overall.

TA: My biggest takeaway overall from Survivor? I mean, honestly, I think the thing that is I hear a lot from people, from fans is, oh, I could never do that. You know, people are like, oh, I love Survivor. I love seeing you on there. I love the show, but I could never do that. And that’s not true. Anybody, almost anybody could do it.

Like you get out there, you rely on a group, you’re put in this stressful situation that you have to figure out, you’ll figure it out. And it’s like I didn’t do any special training to be out there. A lot of these people didn’t. You see a lot of people that are kind of incompetent out there. Like if you truly want to be on Survivor and are thinking you can’t do it because it’s too difficult, that’s absolutely not true. You can get out there and do it. But is there something, training or skills you could build up before getting on there? Yeah, there is. I mean, the part that’s hardest to train for is the lack of sleep, the lack of food, the discomfort. Like you can’t train for that.

Otherwise, the game is primarily a social game. And if you can operate civilly while under the stresses of no sleep, no food, no cleanliness, extreme conditions, then you’ve got it. That’s the name of the game is keeping your wits when you have nothing else around you. But it’s also why the show’s been on so long because so many people can’t do that.

Like you get out there, you rely on a group, you’re put in this stressful situation that you have to figure out, you’ll figure it out. And it’s like, I didn’t do any special training to be out there. A lot of these people didn’t. You see a lot of people that are kind of incompetent out there. Like if you truly want to be on Survivor and are thinking you can’t do it because it’s too difficult, that’s absolutely not true. You can get out there and do it. But is there something, training or skills you could build up before getting on there? Yeah, there is. I mean, the part that’s hardest to train for is the lack of sleep, the lack of food, the discomfort. Like you can’t train for that.

Otherwise, the game is primarily a social game. And if you can operate civilly, while under the stresses of no sleep, no food, no cleanliness, extreme conditions, then you’ve got it. That’s the name of the game - keeping your wits when you have nothing else around you. But it’s also why the

show’s been on so long because so many people can’t do that. So they lose their minds. Like you watch the show and you’re like, that wasn’t very smart gameplay. And you’re like, yeah, that person’s not thinking clearly. They haven’t eaten in two weeks. So, yeah, preparation-wise, I think the best thing you can do is steer away from anything like real people, and quitting coffee because it’s like they want their coffee every single morning. You don’t get coffee every morning on Survivor. So something like that. And then building up your endurance and grip strength, work on puzzles, that type of thing. But in the end, it’s social and political. So whatever you can do to get in the right headspace to be chill, even when everything around you is maybe not, that’s where you got to be.

AM: What should we look for in the upcoming season? Are there things you’re looking out for?

TA: The things I’m looking out for most are there’s two players on season 49 that will be on season 50, the major all-star season after 2020. And so I’m watching those two players. Why did they get selected for 50? Why are they playing two times in a row? What did they do on season 49 that’s so impressive that they’re back again for another season without any of the fans’ reaction to them? The production just figured that those two would be good enough to come back for another season.

AM: So this time we’ll both be watching and maybe having a gummy and enjoying how it unfolds, huh?

TA: That’s right. I love it. Every season, it’s always different. That’s the beauty of it. I like to watch it for the strategy. Everyone has their own thing. My kids like to watch the challenges. They love the little games and stuff like that. I like how the strategy unfolds, thinking what I would do in that situation. If there’s something out of the box you could do that might be even stronger, that type of thing.

IG @tysonapostol

PHOTOGRAHY COURTESY | Tyson Apostol

Read the SEP ISSUE #117 of Athleisure Mag and see GUMMIES & ZZZ | Tyson Apostol in mag.

HITTING THE WAVES | NATE FLUELLEN

We’ve covered a number of top surfers as well as competitions. In this month’s issue, we wanted to find out more about A Great Day in the Stoke which focuses on championing Black surfers to ensure that they are recognized at an elite level. For the last 5 years this competition has done exactly that with partnerships by Lexus and Complex. Because of this event and those partnerships, it assisted Julian Williams the wild card at US Open of Surfing!

We wanted to take some time ahead of this year’s event to talk with AGDITS founder, Nate Fluellen who is also a surfer and traveler. We wanted to know more about his passion for surfing, why he loves it, and creating this event!

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in love with Surfing?

NATE FLUELLEN: While I was preparing for my award-winning adventure travel TV show, World Wide Nate: African Adventures, is when I fell in love with surfing. That show was all about demystifying travel to Africa to the average American millennial. I started taking lessons at Venice Beach Pier on a wave storm and loved being in the water, finally learning how to surf. I always wanted to learn since I was a pre-teen.

But the moment I truly fell in love with surfing happened in Durban, South Africa, when I surfed with the Zulu boys & girls from the youth organization called Surfers Not Street Children while filming my TV show. That experience added so much depth because the joy those kids had was contagious; it was euphoric, like I was in utopia. I marveled at their surf vibes mixed with African culture, and hearing them speak Zulu or Xhosa while being free of any worry in the world is the spirit I live to be in daily.

AM: What is it that you love about this sport?

NF: When I’m in the ocean, I feel I’m closest to God. It is my saltwater therapy, and the days I see a pod of dolphins, which is often, the day is always magical. I love how each wave is different, and in a split second, you have to make a decision on how to catch the wave, put yourself in position, battle the next surfer for position, and pop up. It keeps the mind sharp and the body active.

AM: Why did you want to launch AGDITS and why is it held in Surf City USA?

NF: During the pandemic, the surf community came together in solidarity in response to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Tayler, and Ahmaud Aubrey. After the 3rd paddle out, I was exhausted from reacting to a tragedy and believed it shouldn’t be the continuous reason we come together. I’m an HBCU graduate of Tennessee State University, and we come together during homecoming to celebrate our love for higher education and each other. I wanted to take inspiration from that joy and just celebrate our lives, love for the ocean, and surfing. And to meet each other, we discovered each other through social media, but didn’t have the chance to connect in real life.

AM: Now that you are in the 4th year of this event, what can we keep our eyes out for?

NF: During the 4th year, you can keep your eyes out for great competitors with Julian Williams defending his title, Cherif Fall and Brandon Benjamin are back, and a lot of new talented faces. The ladies are showing up strong! We have Monik Santos back to defend her title from Brazil, and ladies from Senegal.

AM: Tell us about the kinds of events that will take place during AGDITS?

NF: We’re excited and proud to have Lexus as our presenting sponsor, and they will have their Surf LX on display. Lululemon is powering a 5k fun run/walk, which starts at their store at Pacific City Mall to the beach. They’re also hosting our beach yoga sessions and wellness zone. The Nickelodeon Kids Zone will be packed with kid activities, and Bones Loves Milk will have an arts & craft surfboard station. Yeti will have water stations to keep everyone hydrated, and Red Bull will keep everyone’s energy high. Melanated Jump Squad will lead our Double-Dutch competition, Organic Gorilla will showcase their products, Eco by Ry will glass two surfboards and donate them to our drawing and Black Surfers Association, founded by Tony Corely, will celebrate their 50th anniversary.

AM: You have great partners involved in this year’s event from Lexus to Lululemon - what does that mean to you to have them involved?

NF: Having them on board makes me proud of the event that has been built and honored how they’re showing up to support diversity in the line-up. We say it takes a village to raise a child, and we are a human community, and when we focus on a common goal, nothing is impossible. I’m thankful for all the partners involved.

AM: Will you have AGDITS in other cities?

NF: Of course, the Chocolate Tide is Rising around the world, and pretty soon I will make an announcement, but for now I will keep that information classified.

AM: Are there any other events that we can keep our eye out for?

NF: You can keep a lookout for the 5th annual AGDITS. However, if some announcements pop up before next September you will be the first to know!

IG @agreatdayinthestoke

@worldwidenate

In addition, we connected with another surfer who not only participates in AGDITS, but also runs events for this organization here in NYC! Farmy Dia enjoys surfing in Far Rockaway and getting her perspective on this event and why she loves this sport allows us to see it from the competing athletes perspective as well.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in love with surfing?

FARMY DIA: I first fell in love with surfing from the moment that I tried it. But, I really started to fall in love with it when I was able to share that passion and love for the water with the community around me. And for me, surfing expanded my life in so many ways that I could never imagine. I continued to grow as a person and my capacity to love also grew.

AM: What made you realize that you wanted this sport into your life and what do you love about it?

FD: Honestly, I knew that I wanted to keep surfing that very first summer. Just because it was so much fun. I was a junior in high school and it’s the first thing that really excited me and was so different from what I’m used to. So I knew I wanted to keep doing it. Then I think when I realized I could actually make a career out of this and build off of this and do more than just enjoy surfing, it was kind of a wrap from there.

AM: You were born and raised in Rockaway NY which is a surf town! What do you love about being able to surf in this community?

FD: My surf community in Rockaway is in my opinion one of the most special in the world. It is super diverse, it’s a reflection of what the city is. But in the water, you get to meet people from all different walks of life, you get to learn so many different personal stories and it’s cool because you also get so many opportunities from it. In New York, they always say “this is where you come to chase your dreams” and the last thing you expect us to do is surfing also, but it just makes anything possible really. The world is your oyster when you’re out here. I’ve met so many Black people in the water, people that are from different parts of Asia, people that you just wouldn’t expect or even think about meeting in the water. So that for me is the coolest part of this community.

AM: Why are you excited to be participating in AGDITS?

FD: I love AGDITS. I think that what Nate is doing with this is so amazing and honestly really inspiring for me personally. He’s created a space for us in the surfing world that is just that next step. We have Black surfers on tour, but we didn’t have our own competition, our own platform and that’s what Nate created for us. It’s so exciting to meet different surfers and Black surfers from all over the world, hear their stories, see how they surf, because all the styles are different depending on where you come from also depending on the waves you ride and so, yeah I’m just really excited to be a part of this. Even if I win or I don’t win, it’s always just like a blessing to take part in AGDITS.

AM: You were the Champion and runner up in the last 2 years of AGDITS, what does that mean to you?

FD: The year that I won the competition was insane for me. I couldn’t believe it and then, it was kind of a happy and a sad thing. It made me really happy because I couldn’t believe I won, but it made me a little sad because I had so little like --- I just didn’t believe in myself to even imagine myself winning. The fact that I was able to do it anyways even though I didn’t think I could was awesome, but it was like a wakeup call for me. And so it is just is really empowering. I come to our office and I’ll look at the trophy and I’m reminded of what I was able to do and how I was able to achieve something even though I didn’t think I could. And, for me, I’m just a stepping stone in the journey of Black surfing and so if this is one stone that I can step on, this means there will be so many more steps for future generations and future surfers to climb.

AM: Do you run events from this event here in NY and if so, tell us about them!

FD: I do run some events out here in New York. I do Salty Sisters with my best friend Autumn and I also am an organizer at Laru Beya Collective. Salty Sisters is pretty much our monthly surf and wellness meetups that we open to POC women all over the state. We actually have people coming from Connecticut and people coming from Jersey and so, it’s been really cool to just be able to build this community. The collective is based on our friendship and our sisterhood that we developed over the last few years, and seeing it happen in real time for other people is a dream come true. And then we have Laru Beya Collective which is a 501 (c)(3) non profit and our mission is to empower the youth of New York through surfing. So, I always like to say sometimes I’m just a result of what’s important to me, and I’m seeing more and more results as we continue to take in more and more generations of kids.

AM: When you’re not surfing, what can we fInd you doing?

FD: When I’m not surfing, I’m usually working, spending time with friends, going on an adventure. Recently I really got into dancing a lot more, and so that’s been really fun. Also, a lot of community organizing and partnerships. I’m all about bonding with other people even if I’m not in the water.

AM: Are there any upcoming projects that we can keep our eye out for?

FD: I do have a few fun projects coming up actually. We did our Africa project where we sent a container with two barrels and 20 surfboards and so our recap will be coming out soon - keep an eye out for that. And then, I’ll be heading to Portugal a few days after AGDITS to take part in the Gliding Barnacles, which is a surf festival taking place out there. I’m really excited. It’s surfing, art, photography and shaping. It kind of again redefines what surfing is, because it’s not a competition, it’s a place for many professionals to gather.

IG @farmydia_

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | A Good Day in the Stoke

Read the SEP ISSUE #117 of Athleisure Mag and see HITTING THE WAVES | Nate Fluellen in mag.

WELCOME TO US OPEN 2025

US OPEN LAVAZZA SUITES - MIXED DOUBLES

This time of year is one of our favorites as the US Open brings tennis’ best and brightes to play at Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadium for 3 weeks. In addition to the action that is on the court, there are a number of adjacent events that take place throughout the city! Although the month of Sept. will continue these festivities, we’re recapping what we participated this month.

We kicked off our US Open experience with the team at Lavazza who invited us to go to their suite to watch a series of mixed double matches with our favorites!

We kicked off the morning hitting the grounds to see where fans can get their coffee fix as they arrive and in between matches. In addition to having a large free standing booth that serves hot and cold coffees, you can also get cocktails there as well such as an Espresso martini. Throughout the complex, there are smaller areas to get a coffee as well as to engage with the brands whether it’s playing interactive games to win prizes, photo opportunities with a “stadium” as well as their mascot Luigi!

After taking the tour, we made our way to the suite where we were able to watch phenomenal matches as well as to meet members from the executive team of hear about where Lavazza is focusing its efforts in terms of where it sits in the marketplace, partnerships that are very interesting that will be announced soon, and their partnership with Jannik Sinner (20X ATP Tour Singles Titles, 2X Australian Champion, 2025 Wimbledon Champion, 2025 US Open Champion).

It was great to sit outside of the suite to catch our first match Gaël Monfils (13 ATP Tour Singles Titles)/Naomi Osaka (2X Australian Open Champion, 2X US Open Champion) - L vs Lorenzo Musetti (2 ATP Tour Singles Titles, Team Italy Tennis 2024 Paris Olympics Bronze Medalist)/Caty McNally (8X WTA Tour Doubles Titles Champion) - W and Iga Świątek (WTA No 2 in Women’s Singles, 24 WTA Tour Singles Titles, 4X French Open Champion, 2025 Wimbledon Champion, 2022 US Open Champion)/Casper Ruud (13 ATP Tour Singles Titles) - W vs Madison Keys (2025 Australian Open Champion)/Frances Tiafoe - L played during Round of 16 which led to the Quarter Final between Iga Świątek/Casper Ruud - W vs Caty McNally/Lorenzo Musetti - L. Ultimately, Iga Swiatek/Casper Ruud won this round and advanced in their mixed doubles.

In the other matches for Round of 16, we saw Jack Draper (3X ATP Tour Title Champion)/Jessica Pegula - W vs Emma Raducanu (2021 US Open Champion)/Carlos Alcaraz (22 ATP Tour Singles Titles, 2X French Open Champion, 2X Wimbeldon Champion, 2022 US Open Champion) - L and then the other match in that round was Novak Djokovic (100X Singles Title Winner, 10X Australian Open Champion, 3X French Open Champion, 7X Wimbledon Champion, 4X US Open Champion, Team Serbia Olympic Tennis 2024 Gold Medalist)/Olga Danilović (2X WTA Singles Titles + 2X WTA Doubles Titles) - L vs Mirra Andreeva (3X WTA Tour Singles TItles)/Daniil Medvedev (20X ATP Tour Singles Titles + 2021 US Open Champion) - W. The winners from this portion of Round of 16 played one another for the Wyarter Final Jack Draper/Jessica Pegula - W vs Daniil Medvedev/Mirra Andreeva - L.

It was a great day of matches and feeling all the magic that comes with seeing the US Open and being part of the action.

IG @lavazzausa

@usopen

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 43 - 44 Kimmie Smith

WTA CLUBHOUSE X GILLETTE VENUS

Later that week, we made our way to the WTA Clubhouse where we got to enjoy a number of activities while celebrating women in tennis. Whether you took in a workout with Tunde Oyeneyin (Peleton instructor, Nike athlete, and NY Times Best Selling Author), enjoyed an array of treats at their cafe, shopped the marketplace or listened to the panel that included Taylor Townsend (WTA world No. 1 in doubles, 8X WTA Tour Titles, 2024 Wimbledon Doubles Champion, 2025 Australian Open Doubles Champion), Tunde, and Nana Agyemang (CEO of Every Stylish Girl) as they talked about the importance of confidence and navigating their careers that was moderated by The Cut’s Tefi Pessoa.

The WTA is the principal organizing body and global leader for women’s professionall tennis which was founded in 1973 by Billie Jean King (39 Grand Slam Titles - 12X Singles, 16X Women’s Doubles, 11X Mixed Doubles - 4X Australian Open Champion in Singles/Doubles/Miced Doubles, 3X French Open Champion Singles/Doubles/Mixed Doubles, 20X Wimbledon Champion Singles/Doubles/Mixed Doubles, 13X US Open Champion Singles/Doubles/Mixed Doubles) to govern the WTA Tour and rank female players.

It was great to hear from these women and to also continue to celebrate their achievements as well as continuing to get excited about US Open.

IG @wta

@gillettevenus

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 46 - 49 Gillette Venus

TASTE OF TENNIS NEW YORK

As we mentioned in last month’s issue, Taste of Tennis is a yearly event that is known for bringing the world of tennis and culinary together. Guests who attend this event enjoy being able to eat a number of dishes throughout the night and this year’s hosting partner for this event was Aqua New York. In addition, they get to meet tennis greats past and present who continue to bring the good vibes. This year Sloane Stephens (8X WTA Tour level singles titles, 2017 US Open Champion), Chris Eubanks, and Genie Bouchard to name a few were in attendance.

IG @tasteoftennis

EVIAN BIG FOE X DANIEL DINNER

We were excited to make our way to evian’s dinner which was held at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt. This sit down dinner brought Frances Tiafoe (along with his family and friends) and Chef Daniel Boulud together with the official water sponsor of the US Open, evian.

While taking in the stunning views, we enjoyed an array of appetizers, cocktails, chatting with Chef Daniel’s and taking a moment from all of the matches that we had watched during the week.

This sit down dinner was inspired by Frances’ favorite dishes that he grew up with. We were able to be among the first people to experience the evian Club’s limited edition menu. Each place setting had a glass evian bottle that had our names etched on it.

You can enjoy this meal exclusively at Chef Daniel’s flagship Michelin-starred Restaurant DANIEL from Sep 3-7th and can be booked now. For those that can’t make it here to NY, you can enjoy Chef Daniel’s Big Foe Treat Box at Goldbelly to enjoy from your home while watching the matches.

IG @evianwater

@bigfoe

@danielboulud

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 50 - 57 evian PG 58 + 59

Read the AUG ISSUE #116 of Athleisure Mag and see WELCOME TO US OPEN 2025 in mag.

MAJOR LEAGUE PICKLEBALL FINALS 2025, CITYPICKLE CENTRAL PARK NYC

This month, we had the pleasure of watching Major League Pickleball Finals here in NY at CityPickle at Wollman Rink in Central Park. After catching this action last month for their last NY tournament at Randall’s Island, we knew we would be in for a day of great matches! This 3 day event kicked off on the Fri. the 22nd where we watched the Premier teams battle it out. This included Columbus Sliders, Los Angeles Mad Drops, New Jersey 5s, and St Louis Shock. There were great moments as we watched Mixed Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Men’s Doubles. For those who came on the 2nd day, they were able to see the Premier teams play their final matched and the first day of the Challengers Las Vegas Night Owls and Nashville Chefs.

On Sun. the 24th, attendees were able to watch the finalists from the Premier team - Columbus Sliders vs New Jersey 5s and the last matchs of the Challengers with Las Vegas Night Owls vs Nashville Chefs. Ultimately, the Premier finalists were the Columbus Sliders and the Challengers finalists were the Las Vegas Night Owls!

It was an incredible weekend of matches, love of pickleball and we enjoyed that our team was able to catch it all thanks to Dulce Vida Tequila who provided us with VIP tickets so that we could see it all in the VIP/Owners tents as they are the official and exclusive tequila partner of MLP.

The next 3 day event to watch for the MLP season of 2025 will be the Edward Jones MLP Cup Oct 31 - Nov 2nd at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, TX. As this is the final match of the MLP season, we’re already excited for what’s to come next year!

IG @majorleaguepb

PHOTOGRAPHY | Major League Pickleball | PG 72 Sye Williams |

Read the AUG ISSUE #116 of Athleisure Mag and see MAJOR LEAGUE PICKLEBALL FINALS 2025, CITYPICKLE CENTRAL PARK, NYC in mag.

9LIST STORI3S | TYSON MCGUFFIN

Read the AUG ISSUE #116 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST STORI3S | Tyson McGuffin in mag.

THE COURT IS HIS | TYSON MCGUFFIN

Last year, we had enjoyed seeing our cover star, Tyson McGuffin play pickleball at Lifetime Fitness alongside Andre Agassi, Collin Johns, Ben Johns, and Anna Bright. It was the first time that we had seen the game in person as we were introduced to it like many during the pandemic on TV. Once we got to know more about the game, we realized that 5X Grand Slam Champion and 4X National Champion!

No wonder he loves the game and is passionate about it. Not only does he play it, but he infuses the passion of the game to others through teaching others to play it. Since we had just spent 4th of July Weekend watching Major League Pickleball Tournament on Randall's Island at John McEnroe's Sportime, we knew that we wanted to know more about him and the game. We took some time to talk about how he got into the sport, giving us background on it, why he loves it, and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: I know that Pickleball was invented in 1965, but for us, it was the pandemic that introduced me to it and it seems like it has been gaining awareness exponentially! How did you come to the sport?

TYSON MCGUFFIN: In 2016 I was a Tennis Pro at a club in Yakima, WA and one of my members kept bugging me to try this silly named sport. I told him no several times. He started waiting to ask me after each of my lessons at the club. I finally gave in. I showed up at a beat up YMCA gym floors. I thought as a 5.5 Tennis player I could easily hang with the 4.5 top court. Long story short I couldn't, I got my butt kicked by a few 55+ guys. I went home that night consumed as much Pickleball content I could find on YouTube came back to that next week and found success. That same member with a group of others encouraged me to play tournaments. I learned quickly I could hang with some of the top players in the country. My 1st year I was offered a paddle contract and the rest is history.

AM: Our first Pickleball match was when we attended the one at Lifetime here in NYC where you are on a panel with the Johns brothers as well as Anna Bright and Andre Agassi. It was also the first time that we watched you play. When did you realize that you wanted to play it professionally?

TM: After just one tournament at 4.5, I realized I could compete with the 5.0/Pro players. So my next tournament I gave it a shot and landed a sponsorship. There was so much competitive spirit left in me after years of Wrestling and Tennis, I couldn't pass up a chance to reignite that fire.

AM: We enjoyed watching the MLP NY Tournament over the Fourth of July Weekend as we saw a number of the franchises playing. For those that are not familiar with the sport what are the similarities and differences to tennis.

TM: To start, the court size is much different. You can fit 4 Pickle courts on a Tennis court. You can essentially have 16 people playing in the same amount of space. It's loud, has more of a backyard feel and the overall barrier to entry is lower. It takes 6 or more months to be decent at Tennis, in Pickle someone can play their 1st and find success. They say Pickle is making Tennis courts fun again. Pickle wouldn't be where it is today without the Tennis community. There are plenty of similarities, court positioning, techniques, and tactics. Most all of the pros on tour have some sort of Tennis background.

AM: You play in the PPA as well as the MLP for the Phoenix Flames. For our community who is newer to the sport can you tell us a bit about each of these organizations - the PPA and the MLP?

TM: MLP is newer to the sport. A team based (originally rally scoring) format. It's rowdy, loud and has other similarities to team-based franchised sports. PPA is the original tried and true, similar to ATP format. A tour with rankings and points individually based. This format shows who the best of the world are.

AM: You compete in Men's Singles, Men's Doubles, and Mixed Doubles - how do you approach playing Singles versus Doubles?

TM: Singles has had my heart from day one. I don't know if it's the inner wrestling me, but that never say never isn't over until it's over mentality does well in Singles. I would say Singles is more physical and Doubles has a different strategy in many situations. I've come a long ways in the Doubles side and now see the art in Doubles as well.

AM: Does Pickleball have a season what are the months that it is played in terms of a tour perspective?

TM: Professional Pickleball is pretty much year-round. The tour is starting to change this slightly. MLP will essentially become a summer league with PPA taking the majority of the summer months off. There will also be a break at the end of the year.

AM: What is an average week like for you in terms of training for your next match and during the off season, what is that like.

TM: I am a reps guy. My preferred week would be at home. On a daily basis, I'm up training by 6am then I head to hot Yoga. After dying for an hour or more there, I typically head to strength & conditioning training with my man Craig. After training there I'll either get another practice in or a round of golf. Whatever I can fit before picking up my kids from school. From there I'm in 100% husband/dad mode until 8pm where I'm in bed prepping to do it all again the next day.

AM: Pickleball is obviously a total body sport, but what are 3 workouts that you do to optimize yourself in the sport?

TM: Hot Yoga, strength training, & fast twitch functional training.

AM: In addition to being a player, you are also a major advocate for the sport and pushing its awareness! You are an IPTPA and PPR certified coach. You also created the McGuffin Signature PB Camps and TM PB Coaching. Can you tell us about both of these companies that you have built?

TM: I taught mostly Tennis & Pickle for almost 8 years before starting my own camp business. For me teaching and growing the sport helps me give back to the sport that's given me plenty. TM Signature PB Camps is one of the best in the business. We believe the game is evolving and our teaching has to evolve with it. Personally I enjoy the learning curve at an amateur level. It'd take me months maybe even years to swe a player's level change in Tennis, in Pickle I can witness a camper go up a full half level in two 5 hour days.

AM: In addition to all of the work that you do, you have your own podcast, The McGuffin Show what can you tell us about this?

TM: I started The McGuffin Show out of a desire to make sure we were doing things others were not. It was a place for me and my co-hosts to be ourselves and talk about the wild ride we're on with the sport. Amateur and professional side are both growing at such a rapid pace we need media to help everyone keep up.

AM: We have been watching a few of your episodes of Making McGuffins - why did you want to create this series?

TM: My wife and I started Making McGuffins again out of a desire to stay ahead and do something nobody else was doing. We thought at worst case we'd be documenting the craziest time of our lives. It's also a way to showcase my wife and kiddos. My wife is my true hero and helps in every department of my life and business.

AM: As someone who travels a lot for the sport, what are 3 things that you like to have with you to make your hotel feel a bit like home?

TM: We typically stay in Airbnbs, laundry is must with how much I sweat. We also bring our whole team typically 2+ kids, Nanny, and sometimes trainer & videographer. A house is a must with our crew.

I travel with my cold plunge and all of my Hyperice recovery devices. This is a must to try to stay in routine.

Last, but not least my family. Keeping them on the road for me reminds me what's really important at the end of the day. It lowers my ego. Kids don't care what your results were, you're still expected to be Dad whether you win or loose.

AM: When you're not focused on Pickleball tournaments, training, educating etc, how do you take time for yourself?

TM: My wife & I love to travel. We also enjoy good food. Music is big for me, I like attending festivals a few times a year. Mostly though, our family loves spending time outside. We live in beautiful North Idaho with so much to do outside. I love to golf and spend time by the lake.

AM: You are a 5X Grand Slam Champion and a 4X National Champion - what do you want your legacy to be in the sport?

TM: I want to leave a legacy in the sport giving back as much if not more than it's given me. I want to help insure its continued growth all around the world. I've witnessed Pickleball transform lives, including mine.

AM: For those that are starting out and want to play, what are 3 pieces of advice you have to get them into the sport?

TM: Put yourself out there it's hard to find a more inviting sport. Find a local find a more inviting sport. Find a local park or look up your local ambassador they'll show you how to play. When you get comfortable playing identify who you are as a player. The beauty of Pickleball is there isn't just one way to play. Figure out your strengths and build your game around them. Lastly go to Tyson McGuffin YouTube page and take advantage of all of our free instruction. Once you're at a 3.0 level or above take one of our camps listed on TysonMcGuffin.com.

IG @tysonmcguffin

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | FRONT + BACK COVER, PG 16, 22, 25 Sye Williams | PG 19 - 20 Jay Valeriano | PG 26 Mad Rabit |

As we mentioned in our cover interview of Tyson McGuffin, we had the pleasure of attending MLP's New York City Pickleball Tournament at John McEnroe's Sport Time that took place July 3-6 as guests of Dulce Vida Tequila. On the day that we watched the matches, we enjoyed being able to watch teams that played in the Premier (Carolina Hogs, New York Hustlers, Miami Pickleball Club, Columbus Sliders, Orlando Squeeze, Brooklyn Pickleball Team) and Challenger (California Black Bears, Bay Area Breakers, Las Vegas Night Owls, Nashville Chefs, Florida Smash, D.C. Pickleball Team) Leagues.

As we sat in the sponsor tent we were able to enjoy watching the matches on both sides of the tent while also being able to meet various teams' ownership/management. We also enjoyed sipping cocktails and being able to see the athletes up close, as well as to get to know more about them through their play as well as being able to see the fans enjoying their favorite pickleball player!

We enjoyed seeing the match between the Nashville Chefs and California Black Bears which kicked off our morning. D.C. Pickleball Team and Bay Area Breakers was another great match - both of those were on the Grandstand Court for the Challengers League.

On the Championship court, the Premier League teams played. Our favorite match from that game was the last one of the night where we watched the Orlando Squeeze and Brooklyn Pickleball Team play. Brooklyn Pickleball Team was the host for this weekend's event and the energy was next level as the fans cheered on the Brooklyn team and we loved seeing the flags and signs - the fact that they won was definitely a great end to seeing the matches throughout the day!

We'll be back for the MLP Finals that will take place here at CityPickle at Wollman Rink in Central Park August 22 - 24th as guests of Dulce Vida Tequila and tickets are still available!

We can't wait for next month and you can see some great moments from this great weekend earlier this month.

IG @majorleaguepb

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT | PG 29 Dulce Vida

Read the JUL ISSUE #115 of Athleisure Mag and see THE COURT IS HIS | Tyson McGuffin in mag.

TASTE OF TENNIS 25 PRE-COVERAGE

Our favorite time of the year is about to make its way to NYC! The US Open is a Grand Slam that brings the best athletes to Arthur Ashe Stadium. Leading up to this event is a number of activities and one that we enjoy going to every year is the Taste of Tennis, which merges our favorite tennis stars as well as the culinary elite! We sat down to talk with Penny Lerner, CEO of AYS Sports Marketing who puts on this event to talk about what we can expect this year, what is part of the program, and more!

ATHLEISURE MAG: Taste of Tennis is always an event that we enjoy as it combines the best in culinary with the best of tennis! We have had the pleasure of chatting with you last year about this event and it's great to connect again for this year. As this event has a number of moving parts, when do you begin working on this?

PENNY LERNER: The Taste of Tennis has become a year-round program. Once the event in New York concludes, we immediately begin updating our materials and engage in renewal conversations with sponsors. With our first few events of the year in March, planning kicks in almost immediately.

We are also continuously keeping our social throughout the year to keep our supporters up to date on where we’ll be next. We have also begun licensing the Taste of Tennis, so we are constantly speaking with tournaments and exhibitions about ways they can use our brand and its assets to enhance their experience.

AM: This year, Taste of Tennis is celebrating its 25th year! What are you looking forward to the most?

PL: As a company, I think we are most excited to take a moment to really appreciate the legacy we have created. What started out as a 200 person, 3-hour event has evolved into one of most popular and respected brands in tennis.

Over a quarter century, the event has hosted so many incredibly talented individuals, from local chefs to Michelin Starred Chefs, Grand Slam Champions, hundreds of top tennis players, and A-list celebrities including John Legend, Mike Tyson, Eva Longoria and many others.

After 25 years, it is extremely rewarding to see how far we have come and all the exciting future possibilities that lie ahead!

AM: This year, the event is being held at Aqua! What do you look for when it comes to partnering with a venue to host this event?

PL: We couldn’t be more excited to host the Taste of Tennis at Aqua New York this year. From an event perspective, it has everything you can ask for. Located at 902 Broadway, Aqua is easily accessible to our sponsors, attendees, and tennis players who will be attending.

Aqua is 17,000 square feet of event space, beautifully designed space amazingly spread across 2 floors, making for a spectacular guest experience. Perhaps most importantly, the Aqua team has been amazing to work with. They have worked incredibly hard and provided personalized service every step of the way to ensure our 25th Anniversary event is our best yet.

AM: In previous years, the event from a culinary perspective has had a number of noted chefs and restaurants that have participated. Can you tell us about this component of the event? Will it include chefs/restaurants as well as dishes that showcase Aqua's menu?

PL: Aqua is preparing the majority of the cuisine and they plan to put on quite the culinary exhibition. They are planning to provide 25+ options from their menu, along with a few special offerings, for guests to enjoy.

Aqua is two unique restaurants under one roof. Aqua Kyoto features a wide array of contemporary Japanese cuisine while Aqua Roma delivers bold Italian offerings including handmade pastas, artisan pizzette, and other signature dishes that deliver a modern take on traditional recipes.

In addition to the cuisine prepared by Aqua, guest will also enjoy authentic Caribbean cuisine prepared by our sponsor, Antigua and Barbuda.

AM: In addition to great chefs, you also have the best athletes in tennis as well! Who can we expect this year?

PL: As with all our events, we expect over 25 players and legends in attendance, including World No. 3 Alexander Zverev, 2017 US Open Champion Sloane Stephens, 2023 Australian Open Champion Elena Rybakina, acclaimed coach and author Patrick Mouratoglou, and more.

AM: We always enjoy seeing chefs and tennis stars compete in making a dish. Will this still be part of the program?

PL: Something we do at all of our events is have tennis players appear at the various food stations throughout the evening. They assist the chefs with plating the food and distributing it to guests. This gives our attendees a fun opportunity to get an up-close look at the players while getting “Served”.

AM: Who will be the host this year?

PL: We are excited to have Andrew Krasny hosting this year’s event. Andrew is a fixture in the tennis industry and is extremely popular among the players, media and tennis fans alike.

AM: There are 2 ticket packages to choose from. Tell us about them!

PL: Yes, we are offering our standard package, which includes entry at 7pm, food and cocktails throughout the evening and access to all non-private sections at the event.

We are also offering the Champion Mindset package, where guests enter at 6pm and enjoy an exclusive private audience with Coach Patrick Mouratoglou. Patrick will be discussing his latest book Champion Mindset, and all guests will receive an autographed copy. This experience is limited to 50 guests. To buy tickets and for latest event update visit www.tasteoftennis.com and follow us on Instagram @tasteoftennis.

AM: Why do you think that Taste of Tennis here in NY as well as the other cities that you bring this event to is one that people look forward to year after year?

PL: Each Taste of Tennis experience has its own unique personality and vibe. From the food and entertainment to the decor and production, we do our best to make each Taste of Tennis event feel authentic to the city we are in.

With the growth of tennis and culture we’ve seen in the past year, the demand for Taste of Tennis has grown and we look forward to showing up each time

AM: What do you want attendees to know about Taste of Tennis and for those that attend, what is the takeaway that you want them to have?

PL: Come ready to party! The Taste of Tennis is the premier event where tennis fans can rub elbows with the world’s top tennis players while enjoying amazing cuisine and a great atmosphere - all set in the city ready to kick off a Grand Slam!

IG @tasteoftennis

@ayssports

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Max Molina

After speaking with Penny Lerner, we wanted to know more about Aqua Group, its location here in NY, and why they wanted to be involved in this year's Taste of Tennis.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Before we delve into Taste of Tennis, we'd love to know more about Aqua Restaurant Group as it has an impressive portfolio of restaurants in cities around the world. Tell us a bit about this group.

AQUA RESTAURANT GROUP: Aqua Restaurant Group was founded 25 years ago in Hong Kong and has grown into a globally recognized hospitality brand with award-winning restaurants across Hong Kong, London, Dubai, Miami and New York. Our ethos is rooted in delivering exceptional culinary experiences through a striking design, innovative cuisine, and immersive ambiance. Whether it's Japanese, Italian, or modern Chinese, every Aqua venue reflects the group's signature blend of elegance and creativity.

AM: In looking at Aqua New York specifically, when did it open and can you tell us about Chef David Yeo who is also the founder?

ARG: Aqua New York opened its doors late 2024, marking the group's third opening in the U.S. market. David Yeo, the visionary behind Aqua Restaurant Group, is both a trained chef and former lawyer. His approach is hands-on, detail-obsessed, and globally inspired—he often travels the world sourcing rare ingredients and refining culinary techniques. David has an innate ability to merge traditional flavors with bold, contemporary execution, which comes through in every dish across the group’s portfolio.

AM: The restaurant is divided between Aqua Roma as well as Aqua Kyoto - what was the thought between offering 2 cuisines at this restaurant?

ARG: The concept of Aqua New York was to showcase dual culinary mastery under one roof—an homage to the dynamic culinary scenes of both Kyoto and Rome. In a city like New York, where guests crave variety and world-class quality, offering both Italian and Japanese cuisine allows us to bring two distinct culinary experiences together while upholding the highest standards for each. It's not a fusion—it's two kitchens, two teams, and two art forms in perfect harmony.

AM: We have passed this location many times in Flatiron. What can you tell us about the aesthetic of Aqua as it is visually stunning while having a welcoming vibe at the same time.

ARG: Located in the heart of Flatiron, Aqua is designed to be dramatic yet inviting. The space features high ceilings, textured stone walls, sculptural lighting, and a show-stopping bar at its center. The interiors are a reflection of our culinary philosophy—bold, luxurious, and considered. But despite its grandeur, the energy remains warm, vibrant, and unpretentious—designed to make every guest feel like they belong.

AM: If we are coming in for Lunch, what should we enjoy?

ARG: Aqua Roma Set Lunch menu offers two courses for $27, with a choice of appetizers like Burrata or Calamari, and mains including Handmade Gnocchi, Rigatoni, or Pizza. Desserts such as Lemon Curd Mousse or Gelato are available for an $8 supplement.

Aqua Kyoto Bento-style menu Aqua Kyoto’s Set Lunch starts at $27 and includes a variety of Japanese options—bento boxes like Pork Belly or Wagyu Ribeye, Sushi and Sashimi selections, and Tan Tan Ramen—each served with Miso Soup, Pickles, and Okazu of the day.

AM: For dinner, what are 3 appetizers that we should consider?

ARG: SPINACH SALAD Spinach salad & toasted goma dressing, CARPACCIO GAMBERO ROSSO Mazara del Vallo red prawn carpaccio, basil, compressed apple & caviar, and SIGNATURE CRYSTAL SUSHI Scallop, caviar & kimchi jelly.

AM: What are 3 main dishes that we should have in mind when we're coming in with friends and family?

ARG: ASTICE DAVIDE Lobster bisque, lobster medallions, dill & lemon zest, MISO BLACK COD black cod, yuzu mayonnaise & yamagobo, and MAFALDE Slow-cooked oxtail ragú, Nero d’avola & summer black truffle.

AM: What are 3 desserts that would be perfect to end the night with?

ARG: FOREST FLOOR Tonka bean panna cotta, chocolate brownie matcha crumble & raspberry sorbet, SWEET CAVIAR Espresso ‘caviar’ pearls, Valrhona chocolate crémeux & madeleines, and CHOCOLATE & BLACK SESAME MOLTEN CAKE Green tea ice cream.

AM: We always enjoy a great cocktail. What are 3 that we should consider as we navigate the Summer weeks ahead?

ARG: RAICHI MARTINI Haku Vodka, Lychees, Coconut, TORII 400 Conejos Mezcal, Amante Aperitivo, Red Peppers, Pineapple, and MAI TAI ME UP Barbancourt Rum, Guava Orgeat Almond, Lime.

AM: Tell us about your Brunch menu as that is our favorite meal of the week and is always an experience.

ARG: Our brunch, called Brunch on Broadway, is the ultimate weekend experience—a $58 three-course celebration of bold flavors and vibrant energy. Guests can elevate their brunch with $48 free-flow cocktails and an additional $25 unlimited sushi add-on—an offering rarely seen at a restaurant of our caliber. With live DJ sets setting the tone, it’s not just brunch—it’s a moment.

AM: With NY Restaurant Week taking place during this time of the year, what can you tell us about what you will offer?

ARG: For Restaurant Week, we're offering a curated 3-course menu that allows guests to experience both Aqua Roma and Aqua Kyoto signatures. Offered everyday of the week, our lunch is priced at $30 and our dinner is priced at $60.

AM: This year, you will be hosting the Taste of Tennis, which is always an event that we enjoy attending so that we can kick off the US Open! Why did you want to participate this year?

ARG: We’ve had the honor of hosting some incredible events within our first few months of opening, including the movie premiere of Sinners, and we’re thrilled to continue that momentum with Taste of Tennis. Our team has a real love for the sport, so collaborating with an event that celebrates both tennis and culinary culture felt like a perfect fit. With the US Open approaching, we’re excited to welcome some of the biggest names on the tour and bring the energy of the game into our space.

AM: What can guests expect this year from Taste of Tennis at Aqua?

ARG: This year, we’re bringing together the best of Aqua’s dual-kitchen concept and welcoming our sister restaurant, Hutong, to join the celebration. Guests can expect a dynamic culinary experience that highlights the range and refinement of our team’s talent—from bold, signature dishes to interactive chef moments and visually striking presentations. Taste of Tennis offers the perfect platform to showcase the depth of our culinary craft in a way that’s both exciting and elevated.

AM: What are you looking forward to as we get closer to this event?

ARG: We’re most excited to welcome guests who may be discovering Aqua for the first time; there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing their reactions as they engage with our space, our team, and the food. It’s also a joy to collaborate with the Taste of Tennis and AYS teams, whose passion and precision make the lead-up to the US Open feel even more special. Bringing together lovers of sport and culinary craft in one unforgettable night, that’s what we look forward to most.

IG @aquanewyork

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Aqua

If you're looking at enjoying one of our favorite pre US Open events, you can still purchase tickets at this year's Taste of Tennis taking place at Aqua. Next month, in our AUG ISSUE #116, we will recap what we experienced from this event from the red carpet, the phenomenal dishes and cocktails that were consumed throughought the night, and of course the tennis stars that will be enjoying the festive night.

Read the JUL ISSUE #115 of Athleisure Mag and see TASTE OF TENNIS 25 PRE-COVERAGE in mag.

9PLAYLIST | TYSON MCGUFFIN

Read the JUL ISSUE #115 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST | Tyson McGuffin in mag.

63MIX ROUTIN3S | TYSON MCGUFFIN

Read the JUL ISSUE #115 of Athleisure Mag and see 63MIX ROUTIN3S | Tyson McGuffin in mag.

LEXUS US OPEN OF SURFING

PHOTO CREDIT | Lexus US Open of Surfing

Over the next few days we can take in some amazing surf matches at the Lexus US Open of Surfing. If you missed previous days, you can catch up on everything at WSL.

Check the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

FANATICS FEST 2025

Fanatics Fest NYC was exhilarating in its second year, bringing top athletes and fans together like never before.

The festival presented a massive card and collectibles show, autograph meets, athlete and celeb photo opps, interactive experiences, panels, and shows, over three days, June 20 to 22, 2025, at the Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan.

We loved seeing the break area, as well as cards of of favorite players, 1of1s, signed logo patches, vintage HOF rookies, and so much more. Signed jerseys, sportswear, sneakers, hats, memorabilia sprawled throughout the room.

The Activations and Fanatics Fest debut “Fanatics Games,” were next level. The new skills-based sports competition this year for athletes and fans had $2 million in cash and prize for pros and fans to compete. A mix of pros and fans took the top 10, with the event won by Tom Brady. After winning the allaround, Brady went on to purchase the 3rd prize Lebron 2003-04 Topps Chrome LeBron James Rookie Gold Refractor card, that was such poetic justice making this year super special. He went on to drop knowledge on panels, throw balls to fans, coldplunge with Kevin Hart.

The highlight for us was the Panel and Special Surprise with Tom Brady, Travis Scott, & Michael Rubin, moderated by Oakley Global President, Caio Amato. Like hitting a major trifecta, it proved to be an insane microcosm of Fanatics Fest.

WHO RUNS NY PANEL: DEREK JETER, AROD & MORE DISH ON THE MAKING OF DYNASTIES

It was an honor to catch the end of the Only in New York: 27 Rings panel in the theater just before. Yankees legends, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, CC Sabathia, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and special guest Spike Lee dove into what makes dynasties; the legacy of the NY Yankees; BTS stories, and more. It was hosted by CC Sabathia & AJ Andrews.

It was cool to hear about being on winning teams; having the discipline and grit to go train and go through the ups and downs; and anecdotes like Reggie Jackson strikeouts; city rivalries and more.

There were thousands of people, but the vibe in this room was family - well until someone asked a corny question and you might get sprayed by a super-soaker courtesy of Spilke Lee's call. It was pointed out that one guy who asked an awkward question was wearing two hats, so sometimes it's too easy.

LEGENDARY PANEL: BRADY, RUBIN & TRAVIS SCOTT TALK ABOUT ATHENTICITY & PARTNERSHIP COLLABS

Michael Rubin talking about The Art of Partnership & Collaboration is always a masterclass. Proud and exuberant, he navigated some follow-ups of Oakley Global President, Caio Amato's questions, which peppered the audience with nuggets on business strategy and whimsical anecdotes on style splurges and even quick destination travel just to lock it in.

Beyond bling, Rubin fondly volunteered that Travis gets a blank-slate for his creative genius to flow and that they put together a quick collab just six days before the show, from the vision, to making it, to the many layers and partners quickly getting on board by phone executing with joyful precision.

Brady acknowledged his genuine love for cards; elaborated on CardVault and nodded about the vision and working with Fanatics and Topps that it's a great way to have serious collectors, fans, kids and hobbyists of all ages involved.

Congratulations to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg, who recorded a short video that played celebrating the Oakley Meta HSTN Performance AI Glasses before what ensued, and Scott took the stage.

OAKLEY META HSTN EXPERIENCE AMPED THE SURPRISE TRAVIS SCOTT PERFORMANCE

[Smoke] Bang! We went from Panel to Performance! His DJ walked on. The crowd rushed the stage. It was on!

I slid on the Limited Edition Oakley Meta HSTNs Performance AI Glasses that I had been fitted for before the panel/show (thanks Meta). The HSTN (pronounced "HOW-stuhn") fit well and I felt that they were stylish and sporty, great for adventures, around town, and upscale special events to capture moments you may come by surprise hands-free.

I felt more front row with a refreshing phone-free flow, who wants to be chained down behind a chunky mobile device. Instead, hands-free means instantly transported and I was right up in concert-mode and enabled to take in Travis' energy and capture it in a more intimate way.

Livvy Dunne was a couple seats down, taking in the panel and show. We noticed she did some cool haggling buying a Paul Skenes card in some of the fest recap.

Seeing the content later, the video was supersharp (3K UHD), and boasted superb audio quality where you can enjoy those memories. The super stabilization scored with well-grounded video, in spite and revelry of the loyal bouncing crowd and being mosh-pit adjacent. It was easy to use in a noisy, crowded environment with short and longer press button on the frame (otherwise, you can use voice command).

Amazing to later see how the show looked from Travis' POV! As he laced across the stage we see overjoyed fans raging and soaking in some of our favorite hits. His pop by beyond the smoke was fierce as always. It's been ages since I'd seen him by Z's Pent.

It was great to be guests of Oakley Meta! You can see more first hand from Paul Farkas about this epic concert from his POV by checking out the videos on Athleisure's YouTube Channel or go directly here, here, and here.

IG @oakleymeta

@meta

@fanatics

@fanaticsfest

ON THE GROUND COVERAGE | Paul Farkas

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 38 - 42 Getty Images Assignment | PG 45 - 49 Matt Monath MetaXOakley | PG 50 Oakley Meta HSTN | PG 52 - 65 Paul Farkas |

Read the JUN ISSUE #114 of Athleisure Mag and see FANATICS FEST 2025 in mag.

MAJOR LEAGUE PICKLEBALL

We’re looking forward to Major League Pickleball’s NY Tournament presented by Doordash that will take place at Sportime Randall’s Island home of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy from Jul 3rd-6th! This event is hosted by the Brooklyn Pickleball Team and will be the 7th match in a 10 regular season events. There will be a select group of MLP’s 22 pro teams (PREMIER - Brooklyn Pickleball Team, Carolina Hogs, Columbus Sliders, Miami Pickleball Club, New York Hustlers, and Orange Squeeze; CHALLENGER - Bay Area Breakers, California Black Bears, D.C. Pickleball Team, Florida Smash, Las Vegas Night Owls, Nashville Chefs) that will play head-to-head matchups to chase standard points in their journey to qualify for the MLP Playoffs. This event will set the stage for the biggest moment of the city for the MLP Finals which will return to Central Park in July.

Check out their site to see when you’re favorite team is playing as well as the tickets that are available from Ground Pass, Courtside Pass, and VIP Pass which various perks depending on which one you purchase.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

WIMBLEDON 2025

The tennis season for 2025 continues on and all eyes are turned to Wimbledon which began Jun 23rd and will continue through Jul 13th! We’re looking forward to seeing our favorites hit the court as well as those that will become new favorites as well.

For those of us here in NY, we can enjoy the action by attending The Hill in NY which is in Brooklyn from Jul 11th - Jul 13th. Located on the banks of the East River in Brooklyn Bridge Park, fans have the ability to watch matches for free in an English garden setting - this includes signature floral strawberries and cream as well as tennis! Presented by American Express for opening night, Rita Ora will headline the night. On Sat and Sun, you will catch all of the action on Centre Court via a large screen which will broadcast the ladies’ singles and gentlemen’s doubles finals on Sat and the following day will have the gentlemen’s singles and ladies’ doubles! If you are interested in signing up, make sure to visit The Hill in NY.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

STARCHAT WITH ZURI HALL

We've all enjoyed a number of our favorite shows that recently wrapped from their fall premiers and we're now in the Summer portion of the season with an array of shows to watch. One of those shows is NBC's America Ninja Warriors which will kick off S17 on Jun 2nd at 8pm ET. Hosted by Zuri Hall, we wanted to catch up with her to talk about her career as a journalist and host. You can see her on the network's daily celebrity show Access Hollywood, E! Live From the Red Carpet as well as Miss USA and Miss Universe competition shows. We wanted to talk with her about her work, Awards Season, and how she navigates the balance between a career and mental health.

ATHLEISURE MAG: It is so great to chat with you again as we spoke a few years ago.

ZURI HALL: Oh I remember you!

AM: Great – well I love that we’re fellow Midwest girls, attended Big Ten universities -

ZH: Big Ten all day baby – let’s go!

AM: Exactly! It’s so phenomenal to see how you continue to navigate through your career and I always love your IG feed as the outfits are always on point. What you wore recently to the Met Gala, Bishme is a genius and we had the pleasure of attending his NYFW show a few seasons back – your look was truly a moment.

ZH: He’s so good, right? He is always the sweetest soul too. He is so humble but his talent!

AM: It’s next level without question and of course, you killed it again which is never a question.

ZH: I mean, he did take it to the next level!

AM: Without a doubt, but then there is also the Zuri factor – you know how to wear a look!

ZH: Thank you!

AM: I’m glad we’re able to connect again and to talk about all the things that you have going on.

ZH: Thank you and I’m glad we get to chat again.

AM: When you look back at your career and all of the things that you have been able to do at this point, did you think that you would be in this space that you are in right now?

ZH: Honestly, yeah – it was always kind of the vision! I mean, I know that some people are always tempted to demure and say that they don’t know how they got where they are. But I kind of meticulously planned and worked towards getting here since I was a kid. Honestly, I always knew that I wanted to be in Hollywood and in entertainment and I knew that at the age of 6 or 7. In Junior High, that is when I aggressively pursued it. Every choice that I made outside of academics was to kind of lay down the foundation for the future career. All the activities I chose from theater workshops, trying to get a commercial agent from Toledo, Ohio – so this was always the plan. But I think that this is what leaves me also humbled and in awe of what God can do. Because for better or for worse and with all of the ups and downs, being this little girl from Toledo to make it to where I am and to live this life that I have always dreamed of against all odds, I am very very blessed.

AM: I enjoy Access Hollywood and watching it when I’m traveling or prepping for a project. What do you enjoy about being part of this show?

ZH: Ooo Access Hollywood what I can say that I love and appreciate most is that they are family now! I love my co-hosts, I love our team, our Executive Producer Mike is incredible, and there is a team of Supervising Producers. Everyone is just on board with the vision and we all work together not to just make the show work, but to support one another in each person’s personal endeavors and our personal ventures, as well as professionally. It feels like an environment where everyone wants to see everyone win. It feels good to wake up every day and to go to work and I know that everyone doesn’t always get that lucky and I haven’t always worked in places where I could say that. That’s a big blessing and I take a lot of pride in the fact that we center around celebrity news and entertainment news, but we very much so pride ourselves on being seen as friends to people that we speak to – so it’s very welcoming and warm – a safe space.

AM: That’s what I love about it!

ZH: That’s what I love about it too! I couldn’t do it otherwise.

AM: What is your process in terms of preparing for interviews like this? How do you make sure that you are getting out those conversations that you are looking to achieve?

ZH: You know when I am going in to do interviews like this, we have incredible producers that do research on the front end. I’m talking about that we have so many people on any given week and it’s a lot to keep up with. Our producers, they cover us. They give us the help that we need to have.

What I most pride myself on is really prioritizing thoughtful questions and thoughtful conversations. I want people to feel safe in talking with me. I said this on a podcast recently with a dear friend of mine who has a podcast called Why Not Me with Mike Jackson from Get Lifted Productions. I was saying that I have always prided myself on not being a gotcha journalist and after 10 years in Hollywood – 10 years at NBC Universal, I’ve started to feel the dividends. I have a rapport with all of these incredible actors and musicians. They know me and they see me. They come and they want to talk because they know it's a safe place where they will be able to say what they need to say and they can trust that it won’t be taken out of context. They are comfortable and funny enough, they may even share more because they are comfortable to share. Joining Live from E! as the Red Carpet host, from my first season ever, one of the biggest things has been the way that I have asked the question around fashion. Everyone has said, “oh, we notice that you ask how do you feel in this look or how are you feeling in this look,“ and I think that that just speaks to my approach. I think fashion can be feelings and it can be hard to get in touch with my feelings over the years, so I try to bring that to my interviews. That is what I try to bring in – the emotions, the heart, and I hope that whoever is speaking with me that they feel the connection with me and I trust that it will allow the viewer to connect with them so much more. I just look at myself as hopefully a safe platform or vessel as a way for them to be able to share their message or their story.

AM: I mean watching you there is always warmth and authenticity, and a genuine curiosity to your style as a journalist. Regardless of whether you’re on the red carpet doing an interview, or being on Access Hollywood, and then you have American Ninja Warrior which I love that show! It’s back for another season – how did you get attached to it and what was it about this show that you wanted to take this on within your portfolio?

ZH: I can’t believe – you know I’m getting up there when I have to say, what year is this for me on this show? We had the regular seasons and then we had the COVID years and so it throws it off because we batched 2 seasons. There was a lot going on then, okay?

AM: You made it work!

ZH: Right? I will never forget my first season, my rookie year I was over at E! News. I think that I had just turned 30 and it was a new chapter in my life. This was the biggest show that I had ever gotten to this point. When I got the call that I got the position, I knew that my life was going to change and I don’t say that to be dramatic – I just felt it and it absolutely has. The reason that I was most excited to sign on to American Ninja Warrior, the show is just fun, it’s awesome, it’s big, and it’s buzzy. These athletes are incredible with what they do and I have always watched in awe. So to now realize that I was going to be part of it, it was just really humbling and exciting. Then, when I got into the show, I fell in love with the community of ninjas so quickly and I really prioritized building friendship with them on the sidelines even when the cameras were not rolling. Interacting with them on social and on IG all year around and not just when we are filming. We built that trust with one another so quickly. The biggest compliment that any one of the ninjas can give me is when they get to the sideline and they say, “Oh my gosh, I have been dreaming of getting to the sideline when I finally get to interview you,” because it just means that they finally got to run through the course. So for me to be part of the ninja experience and for them to be just a kid at one time and now they’re old enough to compete and finally they get to compete, and then they get what they say is their “Zuri interview” that really means something to me. I’m usually the first person that they talk to after they hit a buzzer and they’re excited or go down early or their run ends in a way that they hadn’t hoped for and they’re devastated. Sometimes, there are a lot of tears. I take a lot of pride and responsibility in being able to show up for them emotionally or in whatever way they need – whether it’s a hug or a, “I hope I see you next year” so they have that encouragement and don’t quit or give up. Sometimes it’s let bring the family in ASAP because you need your mama right now. I just take pride in being that emotional support on the sideline for the ninjas. That’s my favorite part.

AM: It’s crazy because we had Jessie Graff as a cover a few years back for our AUG ISSUE #20 in 2017 and to have her styled in couture gowns and doing stunts – it’s not something that I will forget for a very long time. I mean what is life and that’s why I love this show as she was doing things I could never do, but you can see the training, athleticism, art, creativity, and pride!

ZH: Yeah! That’s incredible! I love Jessie. She’s the OG for real – for real!

AM: Exactly!

ZH: What’s so cool about the show is how it is a springboard for people’s careers! People have Ninja Gyms across the country. Jessie is in Hollywood doing all of these incredible stunts and stunt work on Wonder Woman and other big blockbuster films! Ninja really does launch people into the next chapter of their careers.

AM: It truly is special!

What can we expect from this season?

ZH: This season is S17! It’s super special because it’s premiering on my birthday! So if you want to celebrate with me, you guys need to tune in on Mon Jun 2nd on 8pm Eastern on NBC of course and you can see it the next day streaming on Peacock. I think that the biggest thing that I am excited about for this year, it’s all taking place in Vegas. Normally, you would see us in different cities across the country which is really special. But for the first time ever, we’re doing qualifiers, semi-finals and national finals all in Vegas which I

think is really interesting too because it allowed for the Ninjas to have this adult summer camp! We all descended upon Las Vegas to create this magic in this chunk of time. For all of the Ninjas, the production team, us as the hosts – we were all there together for all of that. It was really fun and beautiful and allowed us to buid this sort of momentum and spirit. We didn’t have this starting/stopping and new city cycle as in previous seasons. So that was really cool and also, the finals are nuts! We’re doing the side-by-side races and the head-to-head races and there is a new bracket style tournament for this season as well. That’s what’s going to determine the Ninja Warrior Champion right? So I think that the bracket style is really kind of like raising the stakes. It’s feeling very – Ninja Warrior is a sport and as each season progresses, you can see it coming together in a way that you could see where this has come to head to the 2028 Summer Games [Editor’s Note: For LA28, a Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course will be part of the Summer Games making their debut in the Modern Pentathlon portion of the program]. It’s true athleticism and it’s going to be fun to watch. It’s going to be a different viewing experience then what fans have seen before. The stakes are crazy high and to think that some of our Ninjas could be winning gold medals someday because of the Olympics play, it’s bigger than ever!

AM: That is amazing and then once again, you have such a medley of things that you do. I have enjoyed seeing you at the pageants as a host. That is such an amazing world and I started to know more about it when I had the opportunity to style Miss America 2019 Nia Franklin as well as Miss Ecuador Universe 2018 Virginia Limongis for projects. Seeing you on that platform was yet another level. What do you like about being involved in those shows?

ZH: That is such a great question! What do I love about being part of those shows? I love the pageantry, the poise, I love glam of it all. I love a little glam moment. I am so night and day as the Gemini that I am. What’s great, is that I can only fully appreciate hosting a show like Miss Universe of Miss USA because I get to pull up in my sneakers and my jeans and host a show like America Ninja Warrior. I need both. Because I very much so live in sneakers and jeans, but in that 15%, I’m going to give you glam ok?

Miss USA and Miss Universe has been a great opportunity for me to be able to do that! The women are just so brilliant and just so beautiful – the least beautiful thing about them is how they look which is saying a lot because those women are stunning. They are so smart, they have incredible human interests, from philanthropy, to non-profit causes, to raising awareness on Mental Health or children living in poverty. I am just so inspired by them and that competition is not easy – those competitions are a grind! I have so much respect for the pageant world and that is something that I have come to after hosting this show. I didn’t grow up in pageants and now I have such an appreciation and respect for it. So it’s really fun and it’s really fun to play dress up on a superficial level too! It’s just wearing those gowns, those sequins, more, is more and nothing is too much in a space like that. It’s a lot of fun.

AM: When you’re doing the red carpets, we just came off of Awards Season, it’s a big run and this year it was compounded with the LA fires – I can’t even imagine the navigation around that. How do you approach that hectic time of the year?

ZH: Ooo Awards Season! I approach Awards Season with a lot of intention and a lot of calm before the storm. I intentionally carve out a lot of calm leading up to Awards Season because I know after the clock hits midnight, it’s a New Year and we’re hitting the ground running with the Golden Globes and it’s not going to stop running until after the Academy Awards. That is 3 months of grind for me.

This year as I mentioned, stepping into this new position – in the main position for Live from the Red Carpet on E! and the carpet specials, I took it all the more seriously! I have always taken it seriously. It’s really about the holidays for me being about rest, it’s research, I’m celebrating Christmas, I’m celebrating New Years Eve, but I have a research packet as thick as a Bible with all of the films, the nominees, the categories, the storylines we’re following throughout the season and doing that research ahead of time allows me to step into the New Year locked and loaded - I'm ready. I make time for meditation and prayer every show day, all week long, all Awards Season. It’s important for me to have those moments so that I can recharge and I can fill my cup because you give a lot on those show days. You’re live sometimes 3 hours – 3 and a half hours straight! It’s non-stop so just taking care of my mental, spiritual, and physical health before the in between time is how I get through a season like that!

AM: Oh wow! Well you always do it so well as you always look great on the carpet and the questions and engagement that you have makes those conversations enjoyable to watch.

ZH: Thank you – I’m trying!

AM: Going back to Met Gala, I loved your outfit, Bishme is always taking it to the next level and what he created for you was something to see. What was that process like in terms of getting dressed? Were you working weeks or months in advance?

ZH: No! You know what was so crazy? He is so talented that we met probably a couple of weeks out from Met Gala.

AM: Oh wow!

ZH: Yes for the first time. I’m so busy, he is so busy, everyone just has so many things going on. I couldn’t even mentally pivot to Met Gala until the last thing was done. If Grammys is coming up, I’m like, don’t ask me about the Oscars until after I get through Grammys. Don’t ask me about Grammys until after I get through Globes. I literally have to take it a step at a time or I would go crazy.

AM: Oh yeah!

ZH: So Met Gala, I couldn’t think about mentally from a fashion perspective until probably Aprilish because I had to get through Oscars and I had a few things going on in the office. So I meet with him and he shows me these sketches and pulls out these fabric swatches and I am immediately blown away. He is crazy talented. We landed on a sketch that felt right. For me, I just can’t think about the fashion statement which I absolutely want to make, but it also has to be practical because I’m working. I’m not just going in hanging around and partying. I have to stand on a red carpet in a really tight space for up to 4 hours. For the Met Gala, I was in that dress and in those heels standing for the most part for 6 hours. We have to get there so early before the gridlock so it has to be practical and it also has to be fashionable because I love a moment.

It was kind of funny because Bishme, we had our first fitting a week and a half out. Then it was probably 2 or 3 days ahead of the Met Gala that we had a fitting and he literally brought some fabric and I was like, “ok, let’s see how this goes.” He made a dress out of thin air with a piece of fabric – I think it is called muslin.

By the end of that 15-20 mins fitting, I was low key wearing a dress. Him and my stylist were laughing because he is used to that Project Runway life. He was not stressed and we were like, Met Gala is in 2 days” and he was like, “I got this. Say less.” We had that final fitting and he finished the gown within 3 or 4 days. It was a perfect fit. It was better than anything ever and people loved it.

It was a total hit. He works so well under pressure. It was a super fast process and extremely efficient and only someone as talented as him could pull something off like that. I was just grateful to wear his design because he had great vision.

AM: This year's theme was amazing. What were 3 looks that you enjoyed seeing on the carpet?

ZH: The theme was incredible Super Fine Tailoring Black Style and I loved that it was a celebration of Black Dandyism because I am really big on joy and I think that the Met Gala night really exemplified that. My 3 favorite looks – I loved Diana Ross’ (The Wiz, Mahogany, Lady Sings the Blues) entrance. To be there watching that happen and for her making us remember what it is like to have one of those divas in the best way possible entrance – it was like yesss – you are giving the people what they need right now!

Her look was incredible and I loved her daughter’s look – Tracee Ellis Ross (Girlfriends, Black-ish, American Fiction). She is such a style maven and she gets it from her momma.

AM: Yup.

ZH: I love that she raids her mom’s closet and she calls it shopping. Tracee’s look was fun.

Zendaya (Euphoria, Dune franchise, Challengers) always gets it right. I loved the tailored suit and sort of the minimalist silhouette with that beautiful gorgeous fedora – that hat that she wore.

The fellas brought it too – A$AP Rocky as a Co-Chair was incredible and he has always had such awesome style and of course with Rihanna to pull up and with the baby bump as the final arrival on the Met Gala Red Carpet! She said that A$AP brought the umbrellas and she brought the +1 – the baby to the party. She looked great!

I loved Ciara, her in LaQuan Smith looked gorgeous. Her and Russell Wilson being able to walk this Red Carpet for the first time ever because he’s usually occupied at that time. So to see them walk that for the first time together was special especially since he is playing for the Giants now. There were so many really fun looks that was enjoyable to see.

AM: With all the worlds that you’re involved in – how do you make sure that you don’t have burnout? We love what we do, we’re immersed in what we do, but I mean – you need a breath. How do you get that balance?

ZH: For me, it’s something that we have heard before, but I have only recently appreciated it in the last few years in what it means and taking it to heart. My no’s are just as important if not more important than my yeses. I used to say yes to everything. You kind of have to have that chapter of grinding it out and saying yes to everything as you never know what opportunity is going to open that next door. But then you get to a point in your life hopefully where you look up and say, there is a lot going on and I need to get more intentional with my yeses. If I can’t show up with a full cup at max capacity for the things that I have said yes to, do I want to show up? I want to show up fully and I deserve to experience this thing fully and also the people who have asked me to be part of it, they deserve the best of me if I say yes. So it is less yeses but they are hell yeses! So, the ones I am really excited about that I can show up for fully means that there were no’s that had to be said. I have to be ok with potentially disappointing some one who would have hoped that I could do a thing. But I can say next time – it’s not no forever it’s just I can’t right now and I am honoring where I am at my max capacity bucket.

I think carving out slow moments is really important on the day-to-day. I like counting down to a vacation. I have been counting down by the way to a non existent vacation in my head since Jan 1st! There is no trip booked, no flights, but I’m like, “I can’t wait to get to that beach,” and my dog is looking at me like what beach?

AM: You mean beach at home haha!

ZH: Haha – the living room, basement – what are we talking about?

But, having those slow moments to look forward to on any even given day – even if I have a 20mins coffee break that I carved out for myself with my favorite Lavender Latte at 3 o’clock. That is a slow moment. It’s a gift to myself. A massage that I booked for myself after a long day. That’s a moment and that’s a gift to myself. I think it is important to give ourselves small little gifts so that we have earned small wins. It doesn’t have to be a big thing or a long weekend away. It can be 10mins to yourself with the lights off and if you have kids, your spouse is like – I got them. I will take them upstairs and lock them away for 15mins. You just sit in the dark if that is what you need.

AM: What do you want your legacy to be? You have done so much and such a beacon for people. I think about when I was growing up, I didn’t have a lot of people I could think of except for Oprah – there weren’t other people like that out there. But we live in a time where those coming up have Zuri’s and others that they can look towards.

ZH: Wow, oh man. Well first of all, thank you for saying that. To hear, we have the Zuri’s is kind of a moment. I haven’t been able to wrap my mind around fully – you kind of left me speechless with that one. That means a lot just because, what do I want my legacy to be? I want for people to feel good and I want people to be unapologetic about prioritizing feeling good. I want people to feel good at work, I want people to feel good in their home and personal lives. I think why I bring that into the legacy conversation is because I work really hard and for a long time, all I did was work. My career was everything and to be quite frank, that wasn’t healthy. I realized I needed to build up the other pillars of my life because if 1 pillar shook and it was the career and that’s the only pillar – my world was shaking, my home was shaking – there was no foundation. A part of my legacy is that I want other people to say when I watched her I felt inspired and I felt entertained. I also felt that I was given permission or really encouragement to feel good in my life to take time and to prioritize myself. Even if it is just because they see me having the career that I have and then seeing me have the kinds of conversations that I have around mental health and spiritual wellness and how important it is to make rest, to avoid burnout it’s important. Seeing me crush it in my career maybe that is what someone came to see, but then realizing how I am doing it – I very much so want to make sure that that is part of my legacy.

If I can inspire even one little girl, little boy or one kid – who looks at me and sees a trajectory that they would like to follow, that is really special. I have a mom who DM’d me a couple of months ago and I have had moms reach out to me in the last few years. She let me know that she named her daughter after me. I thought it was incredible and it was so nice to hear. But then I was like, “how old is your daughter?” She’s like 6 and I’m like, “dang, I haven’t been around that long!” I’m old now! How do I have a 6 year old Zuri running around? It’s special and at the end of the day, I hope that my legacy and the biggest part of it is that people can look and see that I really enjoyed this life that I lived and that I rode it until the wheels fell off. She wasn’t just having a career that was incredible, but I get the sneaking suspicion that she really enjoyed it fully!

IG @zurihall

PHOTOS COURTESY | PG 76 - 79 Matt Sayles | PG 80 IG/Zuri Hall |

Read the MAY ISSUE #113 of Athleisure Mag and see STARCHAT WITH Zuri Hall in mag.

63MIX ROUTIN3S | SARA HUGHES

Read the MAY ISSUE #113 of Athleisure Mag and see 63MIX ROUTIN3S | Sara Hughes in mag.