SMOOTH P | PAUL GEORGE

With the NBA starting up again, we are looking forward to the 2026-2027 season, which starts on Oct 20th. This month’s cover star is 9X NBA All-Star, 6X member of the All-NBA Team, 4X member of the NBA All Defensive Team - Boston Celtics’ small forward/power forward Paul George. We talk about the love of the game, how he stays in shape, recovering from injuries, and the upcoming season.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with basketball?

PAUL GEORGE: Growing up in Palmdale, CA, basketball was always around me. My older sister, Teiosha, played, and competing with her helped spark my love for the game. I spent countless hours playing at the park, and like a lot of kids in Southern California, I grew up watching Kobe and trying to learn from the way he approached the game. That’s when basketball became more than a hobby and turned into a real passion.

AM: When did you realize you wanted to go pro?

PG: My path was a little different because I wasn’t always viewed as a top prospect growing up. I got into organized basketball later than a lot of players, and even in high school I wasn’t receiving a lot of national attention. As I continued to develop at Knight High School and Fresno State, I started to believe in what was possible. From there, it was about staying focused, putting in the work, and seeing how far the game could take me.

AM: What are 3 workouts that you like to do that allows you to optimize your game that we can include into our fitness routines?

PG: I focus on mobility, strength, and conditioning, because all those pieces work together to help support performance.

First is mobility and stability work. Basketball puts a lot of stress on your hips, knees, ankles, and core, so being able to move well and control your body is huge.

Second is full-body and single-leg strength. So much of the game happens off one leg—jumping, stopping, cutting, absorbing contact. You want strength that actually translates to those movements.

Third is explosive conditioning. I like combining conditioning with basketball movements - short sprints, change of direction, footwork, and explosive work. You want to train your body to perform when you’re tired, because that’s what you’re asking it to do late in games.

AM: Heading into the 2026-2027 season, what have you been doing during the offseason to continue off the momentum that gave such a strong support to the team last season?

PG: Heading into the 2026-2027 season, I’ve been focused on carrying forward the lessons I learned last year, especially the importance of consistency and preparation. The offseason has been about training and making sure I’m taking care of my body – including getting necessary hydration, nutrition, and sleep I need so I can be ready for whatever the team needs. And I’m looking at where I can impact this team the most. Whether its scoring, defending, making the right play, communicating, helping a younger guy, or bringing some stability when we need it.

AM: What is your continued recovery/rehabilitation and return-to-play process been and what does it look like?

PG: My postsurgical recovery and rehabilitation process has been about trusting the plan my medical team set for me, staying patient and taking things one step at a time. Early on, the focus was healing, mobility and rebuilding strength before gradually progressing to movement, conditioning, and basketball activity. Throughout the process, I worked closely with my doctors, trainers, and rehabilitation team. Having one through major injuries before, I’ve learned that you can’t cheat recovery. You have to listen to your body, trust the people around you and put in the work every day. Now, my focus remains on building strength, staying healthy, and preparing for the season ahead.

AM: In terms of pain management and navigating surgery, what has that been like?

PG: Pain management was an important part of the conversation before surgery and throughout my recovery. I worked closely with my healthcare team to understand the different pain management options available, including a non-opioid, one-time injection called EXPAREL® (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension), which is used during a procedure to help manage pain for the first few days after surgery. EXPAREL does not fit every kind of procedure, such as certain childbirth surgeries, so it’s important to talk to a doctor about what’s right for you. Side effects can occur with any medication and for EXPAREL, the most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, constipation, fever, and low red blood cell levels. Having those discussions ahead of time helped me feel prepared and informed so I knew what to expect during those first few days after surgery and could stay focused on each step of the recovery process. (Editor’s Note: See full Prescribing Information and Important Safety Information at EXPAREL.com. Always consult with your doctor before considering or taking prescription medication.)

AM: What does training in the offseason look like?

PG: I’m working on my game - shooting, ballhandling, footwork, conditioning - but I’m also making sure I’m taking care of my body. As I’ve gotten further into my career, I’ve become much more intentional about that second part. Off season training is about balancing quality practice time in the gym with intentional down time to let my body recover from that work so that I can come back and do it again consistently. Mobility, hydration, nutrition, sleep, and recovery are all parts of training to me now.

AM: What lessons have you taken from last season that you will apply into the upcoming season?

PG: One of the biggest lessons I took from last season is the value of patience and trust in the process. I’ve been in this sport long enough to understand that every season is going to challenge you somehow. It’s how you respond that matters. What I could control was how I approached each day, whether I did the work and how I supported my teammates. I’ll carry that mindset with me into the upcoming season.

AM: What are the dynamics of leadership and how do you stay connected to your teammates as well as those that are new to the team!

PG: Leadership is about staying connected and supporting the people around you. Going through challenges, including postsurgical recovery, reminded me how important it is to lean on teammates and check in on one another. I try to bring that perspective into the locker room by helping new players get comfortable and making sure everyone feels included.

IG @ygtrece

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | EXPAREL

Read the AUG ISSUE #128 of Athleisure Mag and see SMOOTH P Paul George in mag.

US OPEN 2026

It’s official, the US Open kicked off on Aug 23rd here in NYC and will continue through Sep 13th at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Over the next few weeks, our days and nights will be filled with some of the best tennis players in the world coming together! There will be long matches, upsets, and new storylines to be revealed. During Fan Week, we had the pleasure of attending Media Day which took place over the first weekend where we were able to meet Coco Gauff, Novak Djokovic, Ben Shelton, Carlos Alcaraz, Frances Tiafoe and so much more!

The best part of the US Open is that there is something for everyone to enjoy regardless of your tennis level. There are activations, amazing food and beverages, concerts, and of course great game play! As we continue to navigate the schedule, there will be a clearer picture on who will win Mens and Womens Singles as well as Doubles for one of our favorite Grand Slam tournaments!

IG @usopen

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | PG 26 - 39 Kimmie Smith | PG 40 Wornden Ly/USTA | PG 42 Mike Lawrence/USTA | PG 44 Manuela Davies | PG 46 Darren Carroll/USTA |

Read the AUG ISSUE #128 of Athleisure Mag and see US OPEN 2026 in mag.

IT'S ABOUT CHARACTER | NICHOLAS PINNOCK

Last month, we shared with you that we attended STARZ’s Fightland premiere, which also included performances by 50 Cent and G-Unit as well as an after party at PH Live in NYC! We have enjoyed this boxing crime drama as the character dynamics and storyline has been drawing us in on its inaugural season that is currently streaming now with new episodes dropping until the Season Finale on Sept 25th!

We had the pleasure of interviewing Nicholas Pinnock (For Life, Long Bright River, Hedda) who we have been long time fans of his work, and how he immerses himself into the characters that he plays! As Kingsley Marshall, the head of an iconic boxing family in London, we are taken into his enterprise and how he has been successful in the industry! We wanted to know more about how he came to the role, what he likes about it, and what he is excited about with this series!

ATHLEISURE MAG: We have enjoyed seeing a number of projects that you’ve been on and we’ve enjoyed seeing you in Fightland as well! It’s great to connect with you.

NICHOLAS PINNOCK: No, it’s a pleasure. Thank you for talking to me!

AM: Well, before we delve into Fightland, what do you love about storytelling?

NP: Oh, wow. I mean, telling stories is universal. You can touch anybody anywhere with a story. Somebody will identify with something or someone in said story and the human condition is such that we’re more alike than we are different. That’s what I really love about it.

AM: What was your creative process like when it came to connecting with the character of Kingsley Marshall?

NP: Finding him was all in the script. What happens when I approach a character, and especially I remember very clearly with Kingsley, was I read the scripts and from the way that the rhythm of the dialogue is laid out and how I find the rhythm, an accent or a vocal quality comes into my head and that’s where I started. That’s where I normally start.

AM: Oh, wow.

NP: Then I start to imagine what that voice looks like. What does that look like?

AM: Right.

NP: Then I try to decide, okay, now I get a look and a sound. What’s the feeling? And the feeling then happens a lot later when it comes to finding out what he wears. And then the physicality, because I can’t, I don’t know who my characters are until I’ve got them dressed.

AM: Exactly.

NP: That’s the final piece. Then it all comes together. And so Kingsley, yeah, it was really, really interesting. And, you know, the voice dictated what the beard would look like and how short that hair was and all these specific things. Then, it was how he would come into a room. I mean it was so specific with him and luckily the creatives, the show runners, and the writers - they allowed me to really explore it and find it without too many restrictions. They thankfully trusted that I had a handle on who I believed Kingsley was and I can just only hope that the audiences are as happy with it as we are!

AM: Well, as someone who loves boxing, it’s our favorite sport. We’ve been watching it since we were 3 years old. The subject was already exciting and we grew up seeing great fighters prior to when they became known to everyone else. So to see this series, Fightland and to combine the elements of crime, revenge, etc, it’s exciting.

What drew you to want to be part of Fightland?

NP: The biggest draw for me was working with 50 Cent again. Working with Curtis again was by far the biggest draw. I knew after the first time, that we were going to work together again. And when this came along, it was an absolute no-brainer. But, you know, when you’ve worked with somebody like him who you know, you trust, you respect, you love as a brother and you’ve got a friendship and more than anything as a collaborator! I would have come on and done one line for him and left.

AM: Right.

NP: So to have the privilege of playing Kingsley was just - it was amazing. Yeah, that was the biggest. But then on top of that, I read the scripts and the scripts were fantastic. I’m a big fan of the POWER universe and it’s in keeping with that. So I find it completely entertaining. So, you know, another opportunity for me to entertain an audience.

AM: Absolutely.

NP: Then I looked at the cast, who I was going to be working with and it just, all the things fell into place.

AM: We’ve seen a number of the episodes. We were at the premiere that took place at Jazz at Lincoln Center and being able to see you guys as a cast as you were literally sitting 2 two rows behind us –

NP: And you didn’t say hello?

You know what? It’s kind of like - I’ll tell you what it is. It’s like your boss giving you a pat on the back to say, job well done. Because my audience, the audience is who I make it for. They’re the boss. They’re the people that, you know, forget what critics or anybody else says. If the audience has something to say, that’s what I’m interested in, really, really listening to. So whenever anybody comes up and asks, you know, for a photo or they want to talk about it or they want to say how much they enjoyed it. You know, no matter where I am or what I’m doing, I will give that person the time because it makes you go, okay cool! I will continue doing this because it’s offering an audience something that they still want! So thank you! I’m still happy to do it for you so never be too shy to say hi next time!

AM: Next time!

What do you love about playing Kingsley? He is quite a character with such a presence!

NP: Yeah, and you haven’t really seen him yet, have you?

AM: Exactly. But the little we have seen - you give good face. You give good presence.

NP: What I loved about Kingsley more than anything was, this is new territory for me.

AM: Right.

NP: If you look at the roles that I’ve played in the past, they’ve always been, you know, the moral compass. They’ve always been the upstanding citizen. They’ve always been a tortured, troubled kind of kind of guy that has, you know, a story to to break through and become something else. This was completely different.

AM: Yeah.

NP: He’s the antagonist. He’s the villain. He’s the crime boss. He’s the head of this family. He’s the person that no one takes any shit from. To be in that territory within my body was very, very tough. You know, people don’t know that the subconscious aspect of actor’s releases the same chemicals as if it were real life. So I was carrying around a lot of heaviness and a lot of power in a sense that didn’t sit well with me, Nicholas, but it was tough. It was absolutely new territory for me. So it was different shoes to fill, but that was the challenge.

AM: Right.

NP: You know, that’s what I wanted. That’s where the fear really sat with me. Can you bring this character to life in a way that is real and believable for an audience and that really... has the effect on the other characters in the piece to make them do what they do and react in the way that they react. Because it’s a specific tone that’s needed you know for Kingsley to have a knock-on effect on the rest of the players in the scenes, for them to do what they’re doing, for them to go on and tell the rest of the story to the audience. And that was my turn. That’s what really, really drew me to really wanting to explore Kingsley as much as I did.

AM: Mmm.

What do you want viewers to take away when they’ve seen this season after we see how the dots connected?

NP: Honestly, there’s no real philosophical thing that I want to go away with. I want them to be highly entertained and want more.

AM: Mmm.

NP: That’s all I could ask for.

AM: Well, it is such a pleasure. We have loved seeing you in so many different things. To see you play a number of characters and to now see you in this way, as soon as we see Kingsley, he stands on his own and your performance of him is believable - this is a badass man.

NP: Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment. Next time, say hi, right?

AM: Absolutely!

IG @fightlandstarz

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | STARZ

LIV GOLF NEW YORK 2026

This month, we headed to LIV Golf NY to check out the second to the last match of the season. We enjoyed walking the holes catching up with our JAN ISSUE #121 cover, Dustin Johnson from earlier this year, seeing Jon Rahm who locked in and giving Rahmbo vibes across the 4 days, as well as seeing a number of stars from the league that we have grown up watching or have become new stars that we always keep an eye out for!

In addition to a bit of a heatwave, it was also great to see the vibe and energy that LIV Golf presents when it comes to attending their events from shotgun style play to having walk on songs it really draws viewers in whether you have been involved in the sport or are new to it!

To get a sense of what to expect from LIV Golf for next year, we have some curated images from the course!

IG @livgolfleague

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Paul Farkas shot with SONY Alpha |

Read the AUG ISSUE #128 of Athleisure Mag and see LIV GOLF NEW YORK 2026 in mag.

STAYCATION UNBOUND 2026 | HOTEL SEVILLE NOMAD

This month, we made our way to NoMad which we tend to be in a lot as it’s a great neighborhood that’s filled with fun eateries from fast casual to those that are elegant, great shopping, galleries, and our favorite fitness studios!

Earlier this Summer we went to a party at the Hotel Seville NoMad, part of the Unbound Collection from Hyatt, shortly after they had completed their rennovations. We knew we wanted to do a staycation here which we did this month. We sat down with Tommasi Moccia, the hotel’s General Manager to talk about the property, amenities, restaurants, and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did Hotel Seville NoMad initially launch? Can you tell us about the building that it occupies as we know it’s a 1904 Beaux-Arts landmark. What does that term mean?

TOMASSI MOCCIA: The hotel began its next chapter in April 2025, when the former James NoMad became Hotel Seville NoMad and joined The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. The renovation was completed the following spring.

“Beaux-Arts” means “fine arts” in French, but in architecture, it refers to the grand style that was popular in New York around the turn of the 20th century. It’s known for details like arched windows, decorative stonework and symmetrical façades, many of which can still be seen on the hotel’s historic exterior.

AM: This hotel is part of Hyatt’s Unbound Collection. What kinds of hotels are part of this selection of hotels?

TM: What makes The Unbound Collection by Hyatt interesting is that every hotel has its own story, design and personality. There isn’t one set look that every property has to follow, but guests still receive Hyatt service and can enjoy the benefits of World of Hyatt. Hotel Seville NoMad is a natural fit because it pairs the character of a historic New York building with a fresh, more contemporary interior.

AM: We had the pleasure of attending an opening at the property this Spring/Summer. What can you tell us about the renovation?

TM: The renovation was really about giving the hotel a fresh new personality while holding onto the history and character that make the building so special. As part of the multimillion-dollar transformation, the striking 1904 Beaux-Arts façade was carefully restored, with many of its beautiful original architectural details thoughtfully preserved.

Inside, all 348 guestrooms and suites were reimagined to feel more like chic, inviting New York apartments, with curated artwork, layered textures and charming vintage-inspired touches. The project introduced Il Bar, a warm and stylish new lobby bar, while giving the ballroom, event spaces and fitness center a fresh, modern update.

AM: Is this hotel pet friendly?

TM: Yes, dogs are welcome at Hotel Seville NoMad! For guests bringing a dog, the Pawcation Offer includes treats, a water bowl and a FUZI Pets dog bed in the room. Their owners receive coffee and a pastry for two from Bourke Street Bakery, along with a 1 p.m. late checkout.

AM: Tell us about the rooms that are available when we are staying here for a vacation, staycation, or a business meeting!

TM: There’s a great mix of newly redesigned guestrooms and suites, whether you’re visiting for work, planning a fun weekend away or treating yourself to a New York staycation. Guests can choose from cozy queen and king rooms, more spacious deluxe rooms and stylish Seville Suites.

For something truly special, the 1,050 square-foot Penthouse Suite features a separate living area, dining room, wet bar and sweeping views across NoMad. Several other suites also include separate living and sleeping spaces, comfortable sleeper sofas and picture-perfect views of the Empire State Building.

AM: What amenities are available to guests in their room that we should know about?

TM: The rooms have everything guests need to settle in comfortably, from custom pillow-top mattresses and natural linens to blackout curtains and marble bathrooms. Each room also features local artwork, a fully stocked minibar and a flexible nook for working, eating or planning the day. For a quieter night in, guests can order breakfast or evening favorites from Scarpetta through in-room dining.

AM: To enhance your stay, what experiences are available to add to your stay?

TM: There are several nice extras that make it easier to enjoy both the hotel and the neighborhood. Guests currently receive discounts on Empire State Building admission and Big Bus Tours, as well as savings at nearby Bourke Street Bakery and Oasis Day Spa. There’s complimentary coffee, tea and fruit in the lobby each day, plus a welcome glass of Prosecco during the stay.

AM: Tell us about your fitness center.

TM: The fitness center is on the third floor and is open 24 hours, so guests can work out whenever it fits into their schedule. It has Peloton bikes, Precor cardio machines and a good range of strength-training equipment.

AM: What can you tell us about the ambiance of Il Bar which is such a focal point when you enter into this hotel!

TM: Il Bar changes throughout the day. It’s fairly quiet in the afternoon, then gets busier in the evening as people stop in for a drink or something to eat. It feels comfortable and casual, more like a living room than a typical hotel bar.

AM: What are 3 cocktails that you suggest that we should enjoy at this bar?

TM: I’d start with the French 75 if you’re in the mood for something light, with Tanqueray No. Ten gin, lemon, sugar and Champagne. For bourbon drinkers, the Paper Plane mixes Bulleit with Aperol, Amaro Nonino and lemon, giving it a slightly bitter, citrusy flavor. And later in the evening, the Espresso Martini is always a good option, made with Ketel One vodka, Borghetti, espresso and vanilla.

AM: We enjoyed live music when we attended the event. Can you tell us about the entertainment that we can enjoy there?

TM: Il Bar hosts live music as part of special programming throughout the year. Most recently, it welcomed guests for an evening of live jazz during NoMad Jazz Festival Week. New events are announced as they’re added to the calendar, so it’s worth checking what’s happening during your stay.

AM: Tell us about The Seville Welcome Sip!

TM: The Welcome Sip is a fun little way to begin your stay. When hotel guests dine at Scarpetta or Barlume, they can simply show their room key and enjoy a complimentary glass of Prosecco.

AM: Tell us about Scarpetta, what can you tell us about this restaurant and the cuisine that is served here?

TM: Scarpetta serves modern Italian food, with a menu built around seasonal ingredients, handmade pastas, seafood and meat dishes. It has received a James Beard Award nomination and a three-star review from The New York Times, but the atmosphere still feels comfortable rather than overly formal. It works just as well for a business lunch as it does for dinner or a special occasion.

AM: What are 3 appetizers at Scarpetta that you suggest we try?

TM: I’d start with the Yellowtail Crudo with ginger oil and pickled red onion. The Burrata with orange, pistachio, balsamic and soft herbs is a good option for the table, while the Bigeye Tuna Crudi with carrots, chives and preserved truffles offers something a little richer.

AM: What are three mains that we should consider at Scarpetta for lunch?

TM: The signature Spaghetti with tomato and basil is the dish Scarpetta is best known for, so that’s always a good place to start. For something lighter, I’d suggest the Branzino with lemon, dill, capers and chili oil. The Hanger Steak with thumbelina carrots, marble potatoes and spring onion purée is a more substantial option.

AM: For dinner, what are 3 mains that you suggest that we should think about at Scarpetta?

TM: For dinner, I’d consider the Maidstone Lobster Tortellini with saffron brodetto, crispy guanciale and confit tomato. The Porcini-Crusted Halibut comes with artichokes, mushrooms, guanciale and purslane, while the Prime Sirloin is served with thumbelina carrots, marble potatoes and spring onion purée.

AM: To end the meal, what are 3 desserts that you suggest we should have at Scarpetta?

TM: If you have room for dessert, the Valrhona Chocolate Cake comes with salted caramel gelato and banana toffee. The Espresso Budino pairs salted caramel with hazelnut gelato and chocolate biscotti, while the Mascarpone Cheesecake is served with caramelized apricot, sable cookie and honey-yogurt gelato.

AM: You also have an underground restaurant, The Seville. Tell us more about the vibe here!

TM: The Seville is tucked downstairs and has a darker, more intimate feel than Il Bar. It’s the kind of place where you can settle in for dinner and drinks, with a menu featuring Scarpetta favorites like crudo, seafood, salads and braised short rib. Later in the evening, live music and DJs pick up the pace.

AM: What are 3 cocktails that you suggest that we should enjoy at The Seville?

TM: I’d suggest the Lion’s Roar if you like a little heat, as it mixes Don Julio Blanco tequila with chili, agave, passion fruit and lime. For bourbon drinkers, the Smoke Show is made with plank-smoked Bulleit, house bitters and demerara. The Casablanca is a more aromatic option, combining peppermint Earl Grey-infused gin with lime cordial, curaçao and bergamot.

AM: For those that are looking to hold Sales Meetings here or to book a wedding, what can you tell us about meeting spaces at the hotel?

TM: The hotel has about 5,000 square feet of event space, with several rooms that can be configured for everything from a small board meeting to a reception for 200 guests. The Madison Room is the largest at 2,394 square feet. Studios 1 and 2 can each accommodate up to 80 guests and can be divided for breakout sessions, while the Workshop holds up to 40. For a smaller meeting, tasting or private dinner, the Library has natural light and space for up to 20 guests. Scarpetta handles the catering, and audiovisual equipment is available.

For weddings, the team can host ceremonies, receptions and rehearsal dinners for up to 200 guests, as well as arrange guest room blocks. The Seville can also be used for a cocktail hour or after-party, which is a fun way to keep the celebration going.

AM: Tell us about NoMad and what guests should check out when they are in this neighborhood.

TM: NoMad is a great neighborhood to explore on foot. Madison Square Park, the Flatiron Building, the Empire State Building and Fifth Avenue are all close by. You can also head out for a walk and see where the afternoon takes you, with plenty of cafés, galleries and shops to visit along the way.

AM: Are there any promotions that you have going on that we should know about and share with our readers?

TM: There are two current offers worth knowing about! The Sleepover Package includes embroidered pajamas, an eye mask, tea and biscuits for the room, and a $100 credit to use at Scarpetta. Rates start at $399 per night, and reservations need to be made at least two weeks in advance.

Guests travelling with a dog can book the Pawcation Offer, which includes treats, a water bowl and a FÜZI Pets dog bed, along with coffee and a pastry for two from Bourke Street Bakery and a 1 p.m. late checkout. It is available for stays through December 31, 2027.

AM: Tell us about the World of Hyatt membership.

TM: World of Hyatt is free to join and allows members to earn points on eligible hotel stays, dining, meetings and other qualifying purchases. Points can be redeemed for hotel stays, room upgrades, experiences and additional rewards.

Members can also access exclusive rates when booking directly through Hyatt, including up to 20% off eligible stays at Hotel Seville NoMad.

The program includes Member, Discoverist, Explorist and Globalist levels, with additional benefits such as bonus points, potential room upgrades and late checkout becoming available as members advance.

AM: Although we are enjoying the Summer, we’re already thinking about the Fall and the holiday season. Are there special events taking place at the hotel that we should know about?

TM: The hotel will celebrate the holiday season with the 12 Days of Seville, featuring something new for guests to enjoy each day. Stay tuned for more details!

IG @hotelsevillenomad

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Hotel Seville Nomad

Read the AUG ISSUE #128 of Athleisure Mag and see STAYCATION UNBOUND 2026 | Hotel Seville NoMad in mag.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY OPEN 2026

This month, the world of action sports had their eye on the 3rd Annual Rockstar Energy Open which is a 3-day annual skateboarding competition and music festival at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland, Oregon. Over the days of this festival, attendees enjoyed skateboarding contests, live music, and the festival village which included art installations, interactive sponsor setups, and local food trucks.

We sat down to talk with some of the athletes that participated this year which includes: 2X RSEO and 6X X Games Medalist Braden Hoban, 2X RSEO and X Games Bronze Medalist Lazer Crawford, X Games Medalist and Team USA Olympian Paige Heyn, RSEO Bronze Medalist and 2X Team USA Olympian and 2X X Games Bronze Medalist Bryce Wettstein, Team USA Olympian and RSEO Gold and 4X X Games Medalist Chris Joslin, and RSEO Silver and 2X Team Australia Gold and 6X X Games Medalist Keegan Palmer. We talked about their style of skateboarding, how they train, what they were looking forward to with the games, and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What drew you to skateboarding and when did you realize you wanted to do it as a pro?

BRADEN HOBAN: What drew me to skating is watching my neighbor skate his half pipe when I was 4 years old. I was obsessed instantly.

LAZER CRAWFORD: I guess I grew up around it cuz my dad was a skater and so were my two older brothers but I remember the day I decided I wanted to skate, X Games was playing on the tv and I went into our garage and grabbed my brothers board and that set it all off.

PAIGE HEYN: My uncle gave me a skateboard when I was younger and I would always kinda mess around on it but when I did my first skate lesson at 8 years old I fell in love and knew I wanted to skate forever after that.

BRYCE WETTSTEIN: My dad introduced me to it. It was fun to be able to see it from his perspective and as I got older, I fell in love with it on my own. There were challenges which are a blessing now, but at age 13, 14, 15, I began to fall in love with it even more. It also helped me love music and my other sports more – like surfing and volleyball.

I love the intimacy and focus you have when you’re skateboarding and how beautiful it is. The passion, grit, beauty and love to create real moments with real friends and family. How to navigate ups and downs, have perseverance. Sometimes you over complicate it and sometimes you don’t over complicate it – and that’s what makes it simply beautiful.

CHRIS JOSLIN: I always loved the freedom skateboarding allowed. No coach, no rules just you and the board.

KEEGAN PALMER: Something that got me really excited while I was a kid was seeing all the pros coming out to skate in Australia. They were really motivating because they showed me that I could make a career out of something I loved and something that was so exciting to me.

AM: For those that compete in street, what do you enjoy about this?

BH: The art of street skateboarding is what I enjoy, so being able to skate contests is great because it gets you sharp for street skating.

LC: Street contests are cool there fun when you can land your tricks haha but at the end of the day I’m a street skater and that’s what makes me happy.

PH: I love all the girls, they’re my best friends.

CJ: I enjoy the fact that skateboarding has taken me all over the world and seen amazing places while getting to ride my skateboard and have fun.

AM: What do you enjoy about competing in park?

BW: I love figuring out the bowl. It’s like a puzzle. You have to intermingle with people in a cohesive environment, like an island. It feels casual yet there’s something brewing and we share our love for skateboarding. After going to the same spot, people see you grow up over a long time and we are all around each other’s progression over time. Your mind is constantly figuring it out new lines for tricks, figuring out rhythm and cadence of the ramp. It’s a surprise to skate the course every time, it’s never the same. The process resembles life - soaring and over coping, having fun, enough for flow state and push past boundaries and not over thinking too hard. Always feels familiar but there’s always room for growth.

KP: Something that really excites me about competing is the nervous feelings I get in the mornings before a contest, and even while I’m at the contest. Going through the process of overcoming those feelings or using them to skate my best is really rewarding for me. I also love that I’m always battling against my homies - we all want to see each other do good but we all want to win as well so that friendly competition gets me motivated to skate my best at any competition. For park specifically, I’ve always been more drawn to the airs and spin tricks versus something like jumping down a stair set in a street contest.

AM: What is an average week like when you are training for upcoming competitions?

BH: As of now, I don’t really workout other than just staying on my board as much as I can. Skating skateparks during the week is essentially working out for the contests.

LC: Honestly, it’s always different I’m usually just out filming with my friends not necessarily training at all. Probably should though.

PH: I’m skating about everyday and taking care of my body and definitely trying to have fun with it all along the way!

BW: The training schedule is what feels right. Nurture your soul so you can be open as can be when you’re skating. As I get older, it’s more about my mindset but also about my physical well being. Treat my body right, go to the gym at Nakoa and have a nutrient dense diet - treating it all more serious with a Fun and serious blend. I am more receptive to people around me when I feel distracted. It’s my fresh take and perspective on skateboarding.

When not competing, I do two sessions per day, I skate about 2-3 hours a day and after X Games, it has made me want to skate more but maybe not quite as intensive.

It’s broken out into 2 hours in the morning and 1 hour in the evening. I squeeze in surfing a lot and I’m also trying to prepare for the upcoming Super Girl Pro, and my music. Sometimes I play two gigs a day. Music is healing. Skate, surf and music is like a deep dive in my soul – updating the new me!

When prepping for comp - I skate 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening. I do quality training sessions for the first part and the second part in the evening is fun skate. More cruising and soul skating, which is fun. I find joy and recharge for the second sessions after my morning ones.

CJ: I would say an average week of getting ready for upcoming contests would contain 3/4 skate sessions along with multiple stretch/mobility sessions a day.

KP: During the average week before a contest, I always make sure I’m not overworking my body and draining myself too much. So I usually skate for about an hour a day. I’ll hit the gym and do some PT around 3 times a week depending on how my body is feeling.

AM: What workouts do you do to optimize yourself in the sport?

BH: I think skating as much as you can so that you can be comfortable on your board.

LC: I just try to stay on my board as much as possible.

PH: I do a lot of yoga in the morning and at night.

BW: For my workouts at Nakoa, I do everything from plyometrics, lounges, squats, weights, cardio, stretch….just all around training. It’s important to be consistent. I eat avocado toast, eggs, Caesar Salad, broccoli, apples, bananas, oranges and pasta with olive oil!

CJ: A lot of single leg stability stuff to help with balance.

KP: My favorite way to work out off the board is by surfing and golfing. Surfing is so relaxing and nice and it always feels really great to be in the water while getting in a good workout. Golf is peaceful and quiet and I really enjoy being able to use golf as a way to stay outside and move my body while learning a sport without the risk of any injury.

AM: Bryce, you are a 2X Olympian. What does it mean to you to be able to represent your country and sport on such a global stage?

BW: It means everything. It feels like an even bigger chance to connect with the world and myself. The chance to be on a big stage and perform feels bigger than me. It’s a combination of having a lot of courage, inspiring others to have courage because when they have it, they have that strength too. Skating in the Olympics feels like another day in my life…like a treat, joyful, something worn on me not just for me but a chance to share my gift with people. Inspiring people is something I feel more of a blessing and something we can all do. I try not to put that pressure on myself because wherever you are, you’re meant to be. All the emotions. I love talking about this, oh my gosh.

AM: Chris, as an Olympian. What does it mean to you to be able to represent your country and sport on such a global stage?

CJ: The feeling of getting to go to the Olympics and compete for America is still so surreal to me and I’m not sure if that will ever change haha.

AM: Keegan, you are a 2X Gold Medalist Olympian. What does it mean to you to be able to represent your country and sport on such a global stage?

KP: For me, it was a special honor and something I am really proud of. It is a really special moment when you get to see your country’s flag being raised in honor of your sport and country at such a global stage.

AM: You will be competing at this year’s Rockstar Energy Open. Lazer, you won in 2024 at the inaugural event. What are you looking forward to?

BH: I’m excited for this whole week. Each year of the Rockstar Energy Open has topped the last.

LC: I’m looking forward to having fun and seeing a bunch of my friends! Rockstar’s contest is the most fun by far.

PH: I’m super excited, the vibe at the rockstar energy open is amazing and everyone is always so hyped!

BW: I love this event because it’s liberating and leisurely after coming off a big X Games experience, which I love. NYC team support gave me that family vibe. Connecting and having a great time. We showcase skateboarding and have a good time as always jamming with friends and being in the moment. It takes coming to another state literally to see our confidence grow. Experiences are a part of us forever. You push yourself but not over push, thankfully! I think I’ll journal about and write about.

CJ: Looking forward to skating the Rockstar Energy Open course, seeing all the homies and enjoying the good times Portland provides for everyone!

KP: THIS EVENT IS WAY MORE EXCITING than any other event. It’s unique and different from all other park contests and I love that I get to compete against friends that don’t typically compete like Clay Kreiner and Tristan Rennie. I think the overall vibe and energy we’ve felt in Portland is what gets me the most stoked and makes it a really fun event to be a part of.

AM: Are there any upcoming events or projects that you have coming up that you would like us to know about?

BH: Yep I have a Rockstar Energy x Thrasher Magazine video coming out in late November that I’ve been working on. I’m super hyped to put that out to the world.

LC: I got a part dropping next month with Plan B I’m excited about that!

PH: Just a lot of traveling and skating!

BW: Recently, it’s to slow down time. Have all this new wisdom but stay humble. Lately I’ve been writing about staying present with Jessie (London) – both cover songs and originals. We have different versions of mixes of old songs. I have an album with my friend Beebs (Money) coming out. So a lot of music things and hopefully release a book of dreams and poems, and maybe an autobiography later on. I’m also working on a video part in skateboarding. I’m attending Mira Costa College and SDSU majoring in anthropology and psychology.

CJ: Nothing too major planned out right now just trying to stay consistent on the board for as long as I can.

KP: I have the 2nd Olympic qualifier for the LA 2028 games in a little over a month, which is really important to me and anyone else trying to qualify for the Olympics. Right after that event, I’m looking forward to a road trip the Rockstar Energy crew is cooking up. We’re going to do a roadtrip to the Sick New World Music Festival in Texas and skate along the way with the whole team so I’m looking forward to hanging with all the homies. As far as projects go - I can’t really share anything just yet but I have some cool things in the works with Quadrant and F1 that I’m really excited to be a part of.

After talking with the skateboarders, we also talked with some of the bands that kept the vibes going! We sat down with Hot Mulligan, PUP, Angel Dust, and Basement to get to know more about their music as well as why they wanted to perform at this year’s sports festival!

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about your band and how do you define your style?

HOT MULLIGAN: We’re based out of Michigan, even though none of us really live there anymore, except for one. And we reluctantly describe ourselves as post-emo, kind of a pop punk, emo, fusion.

PUP: We are a loud sweaty punk rock band from Canada. We’ve been doing this way longer than we ever expected. I still think this is the funniest thing that anyone ever said about us - it sounds like if Modest Mouse, Weezer and the Dillinger Escape Plan had a threesome.

PUP STEFAN BABCOCK: My fashion is very simple. Right now, I’m wearing one of the only T-shirts I own that is not identical to every other t-shirt I own. I usually find one thing that I like, and I buy it in 10 variations, and that’s it. I believe in comfort and efficiency, and I know what I like, and I’m not that adventurous.

PUP STEVEN SLADKOWSKI: My fashion is very simple. Right now, I’m wearing one of the only T-shirts I own that is not identical to every other t-shirt I own. I usually find one thing that I like, and I buy it in 10 variations, and that’s it. I believe in comfort and efficiency, and I know what I like, and I’m not that adventurous.

PUP SB: Okay, minus the not being adventurous part. I feel like I’m the most adventurous of... sartorically speaking, in the band. Uh, Zach is too. Everyone has cool style. But I do echo some of the trying to not overthink it, especially on tour. I have sort of got to this point on the road. You can get very decision fatigue, choice paralysis, because you’re making so many decisions all the time, and you’re exhausted. So, on the road, I will have, usually a pair of blue jeans and a pair of black jeans. And a series of white shirts. And then I’ll be a little more adventurous on stage. For a long time, I would wear a basketball jersey, A -’ cause it’s like universally cool. And we sweat a lot so it was actually very efficient. It actually cools. At home, I’ve been really into loud pants lately. These are not particularly loud, but patterns, crazy pants lately. I feel it’s evolved. Everyone is like, oh, I wear a crazy shirt with very standard pants. Inverting that has really opens some stuff up a bit. What if I just wear crazy pants and crazy shoes? I like crazy shoes.

BASEMENT DUNCAN STEWART: I would say, at this point, Basement is an alternative rock band, which has been formed through a lot of different influences and a lot of different ideas that we’ve all worked together to give us our own individual sound. And I think our personal style, we all borrow from counterculture, from skateboarding, from punk, from work stuff. We kind of pull from more underground styles.

BASEMENT RONAN CRIX: We were talking about how we’re not really easily definable as one specific genre. Because we’re so individual as people, there is a lot of ground covered in the music we make. Same with us, with our styles. For a long time we didn’t really try and style ourselves. As you grow up, you see your counterculture become more mainstream. It becomes a little bit of a weird cycle of, “oh, the thing that I was into, which wasn’t cool, is now cool.” So I’m dressing cool now by mistake. (band laughs) We’re also constantly evolving. We’re always trying to find inspiration in fashion, art, music. It’s all a nice, beautiful cycle of creativity, really.

HM: We just schedule time and lock ourselves in a room and jam and write songs.

AM: Tell us about your creative process and how you approach your music.

PUP SS: PUP is very much the four of us, and it’s a band that couldn’t exist with the three of us. It needs everyone engaged and going to make the things work, but yeah, my process is that I write every day of my life. At first, it would sometimes seem like a chore, but I’ve reached a point with it where I just love it so much that I feel weird if I don’t do it. I write every single day, and then as a band, we take a lot of those songs, and we... tear them apart and rebuild them, and we fight with each other over... what’s good and what sucks. We are all on the same page, and yet constantly disagree, bicker, argue. And that is a product of the four of us having radically different influences, but also radically different tastes, strengths. And, it is kind of the magic of the band. We all respect each other.

PUP SB: We all want the same thing.

PUP SS: We want the same thing. We respect each other, and the butting heads thing is what, I think, makes these songs.

BASEMENT ANDREW FISHER: Our creative process tends to be that one or 2 of us will have ideas that will bring to each other. We work in little groups first before we bring stuff to the whole. Either I’ll be by myself writing ideas to send to, usually Alex. And he’ll say oh, maybe not, maybe yes, and then we’ll get together, hash a few ideas out. I think we’re all constantly striving to find that spark, that feeling of, where you’re fighting over words to express that you like something, and that’s when you know. Hopefully you’ve got something special. We then bring that to the group, and then everyone puts their own touch on things, and we start to look at, what can we add, what can we take away. How does someone feel about this bit or this bit? That’s when the real magic happens and that’s when we, all 5 of us, find that spark and that excited feeling. And then we record it. And that tends to be how it works. Sometimes someone will come with an entire song, fully formed, and everyone’s like, tick, done, next. The more collaborative elements there are and the more push and pull, that’s when I think the best stuff comes out. So that tends to be my favorite way of doing things, but you just have to let stuff happen.

BASEMENT RC: To underline that last point for the newest record wide, because I feel that it was probably the most collaborative record we’ve done so far. Did the most time over it, putting the most, the most thought into it. It was definitely our most passionate project, today. And it’s reflecting how it sounds, how it looks and our work that went into it. Alex put a lot of work into that, and there’s a lot of too-ing and fro-ing.

AM: You guys are performing at the RSEO. Why did you want to participate here, and what are you most looking forward to?

HM: Well, we got asked just a couple months ago, and I’ve always wanted to go to a pro skating event. So to be able to perform at one and watch some sic skating is just sic. Plus, it’s a free event, so it’s cool. We haven’t played Portland in a minute. So excited to have some of our fans come out and not have to pay to see us.

We have a couple guys in the band who are big skating fans. So just the perfect opportunity to play a show and then also get to see some skaters that we like a lot and we got to meet some of them last night.

PUP SS: Well, they’ve been very nice to us, which goes a long way.

PUP SB: I love skateboarding.

PUP SS: We’ve gone to this point with the band where when opportunities, something like this is totally different than a tour. A tour is all right, you know it’s gonna be several weeks. It has its own rhythm. And you need to do that to survive in this world and keep the band on people’s radar. But for fun stuff like this, we go on a case by case basis, and if it sounds cool, it makes sense for us to do, usually we’ll say yes.

PUP SB: I started skateboarding at the age of 35, and it’s fun. It’s fun to be the band that we used to watch in early 2000s movies, that the punk band that plays the skate events is pretty fucking funny for me. We get a lot of weird opportunities in this band, and this is on of them, and we’re just trying to enjoy it.

PUP SS: Yeah, same. hypnotizing. to watch. The last couple of Olympics was skateboarding were fucking amazing. It was really cool.

ANGEL DUST JUSTICE TRIBE: I am a self-proclaimed poser when it comes to skating! I love Rockstar, particularly the yellow Rockstar Energy lemonade, which we always called that yellow stuff. We would make songs about that yellow stuff. It was our drink of choice touring, and I have a loyalty to Rockstar that attracted me to this event. The merge of the extreme worlds of skate and hard core rock ‘n roll.

ANGEL DUST ZECHARIAH GHOSTTRIBE: I came up skating - I don’t skate anymore but I surf still. And yeah, the natural progression of skate and rock ‘n roll. I mean, I got an album because I saw the cover of it at a skate park. So much of punk rock is absorbed from skate videos.

BASEMENT DS: It’s a free open skateboarding music event, and that very much ticks all the boxes for us. It’s a way of giving art and things back to back to the crowd and it’s in Portland, which is one of our favorite cities in America. We want to be playing to new crowds and new faces, and this seemed to be a perfect opportunity to do that. We’ve never played anything like this before. So, to get the opportunity to do that, it was a no brainer.

AM: Are there upcoming tours, festuvals, etc that you are looking forward to that we should know about?

HM: This year we still have a few. We have shaky knees, and we have, what is it, louder than life. Probably a couple more. I’m missing, but yeah, I’ve still got a couple left to do this year. And then we have not a full U.S. tour, but it’s like a 3 week tour. with one step closer, Riley and Wakeley. that starts at the end of October.

PUP SB: Stefan We’re winding down from a pretty heavy year and a half of touring. We got a tour this fall in the States, so come over and see it if you want.

PUP SS: We’ll play in October. We’re playing Riot Fest, which is always a really fun, exciting time.

PUP SB: We’re playing our second record, front to back, which is exciting for us, because it’s been a while.

PUP SS: 10 year anniversary

PUP SB: It’s the 10 year anniversary of that, so, yeah, Riot Fest will be a great time, and then there’s a tour in October. We’re looking forward to it, and equally looking forward to time off after a couple of years of going hard.

BASEMENT DS: In October and November, we have a full US headline tour. We had all the big stops. We go into a lot of cities, and it will be the biggest tour we’ve ever done, for sure. There is nothing more fun than a full US tour around America, as far as I’m concerned. You get to see amazing cities, you can see the country and the food! Our fans are incredible. They’d be so supportive since day one, since our music’s been accessible from the states, our American fan base has been so supportive. So we take every opportunity with such gratitude to come over and we’re so excited.

IG @rockstarenergy

@bradenhoban

@lazercrawford

@paigeheyn

@brycewettstein

@chrisjoslin_

@keeganpalmer

PHOTO CREDIT | Rockstar Energy Open

Read the AUG ISSUE #128 of Athleisure Mag and see ROCKSTAR ENERGY OPEN 2026 in mag.

9LIST ROUTIN3S | MINDY WEISS

Read the AUG ISSUE #128 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST ROUTIN3S | Mindy Weiss in mag.

HITTING THE SURF | LAKEY PETERSON

There are a number of themes that we talk a lot about here at Athleisure Mag and hydration is one of those as it’s essential and we are always looking at optimizing it as well!

We caught up with World Surf League #7 Lakey Peterson who is in the thick of her WSL Women’s Championship Tour! We talked about her love for surfing, how she stays in shape, self-care, and optimized hydration as well as her partnership with Hydrate by Celtic Sea Salt!

ATHLEISURE MAG: We love surfing and the vibe that surrounds this sport as well as the culture at large. We have enjoyed watching you during your competitions and everything you do on the waves. It’s great to connect with you today!

LAKEY PETERSON: I know this will be super fun. I’m a huge fan of Athleisure Mag.

AM: Oh, thank you!

What is your first memory of your first time surfing and what drew you to this sport?

LP: My first memory. My first time surfing was probably actually in Australia, my family, we went over there and rented a house for about a month.

AM: Oh!

LP: I was 6 years old and I learned to surf at the local surf school. I was getting pushed into the waves and I had sunscreen all over my face, right? It was the best time ever and I can just remember gliding into waves. That’s probably my first ever memory of doing it, and I just had so much fun.

AM: When did you realize because you can love something, but to do it as your career -what was that moment when you realized that you couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

LP: You know, it’s funny, I grew up playing a whole bunch of different sports, definitely a natural athlete. I played a fair bit of tennis when I was young, but I really loved that.

Then I remember I signed up for a few local surf contests in the Santa Barbara area, where I grew up, and I just had so much fun. It was so natural and honestly, it just didn’t feel forced. I was naturally good at it, but also just naturally liked it and wanted to try. And I just feel like the whole process of me going from an amateur into a professional was really organic for me. It just felt good, and it felt like the right fit, and I just love surfing. I love competing. I love that it’s my job, but I also love it as a place for me just to go and clear my head and clear my mind. So I think that’s just the best thing ever that I get to do that work.

AM: Obviously, it is a total body workout. Just surfing in and of itself, but are there 3 workouts that you like to do that optimize your efforts in the best way possible for you to do what you do as a surfer?

LP: Definitely. It is very full body. I think for a surfer, you know, it’s taken me some time to figure out what works best for my body? Our year is so busy. We travel so much, so much of it is just like recovering, feeling honestly, good, and at your best the whole year. If it’s a long year, it’s huge!

AM: Yeah

LP: The number 1 thing is a Pilates Reformer. I absolutely love it. It’s been a game changer just for my lower back and all those little intrinsic muscles, and so I usually do that at least twice a week. And then I’ll do kind of not super heavy weight training, but more like biometric and weights - functional strength training.

I guess you’d say a bit of power and pop. You want to be fast, and you want to have kind of that explosiveness.

So, a lot of the stuff I’m doing in the gym with weights, I would say, is that, and then just your tried and true kind of more Sprint-based cardio, I would say. I also do a lot of Hill Sprints, a lot of skiers, and those are the things that I rotate between.

AM: How has the season been so far? We had Caroline Marks as our MAR ISSUE #123 cover this year and the season was just starting. It feels like the season’s a little longer this time around and started later.

LP: Yeah, it’s been good. You’re right, we started back in March, and this is the first time we’ve had a break, so I’m really happy to have a little break. It’s been 6 events in a row and for me, it’s been great. It’s been a really great start, you know.

We start our year over in Australia. You’re right, they changed the schedule this year, so. It goes a little longer which is good and bad, right?

AM: Yeah.

LP: I started off really well. In Australia, our first 3 competitions there were gray, and then the last couple, you know, we just kind of did our South America leg we were in, Brazil, and El Salvador. These have all been great for me, but it’s such a long year. You just like ride the highs!

AM: Exactly.

LP: I feel like it ends and flows, so it’s been great, and we’re just getting ready. I leave this weekend, for Fiji. We’re gonna start up our back half of the year.

AM: A few years ago we had Carissa Moore and we didn’t realize the whole concept of when your matched are called on/off. Even though you know the competition is coming, you are still waiting for call times. To prep for something and then have a bit of an oscillating schedule seems so crazy to navigate!

LP: I hear you! Can you imagine a tennis player who doesn’t know when their match is? It’s definitely what makes surfing unique and hard because you’re just always on. We always say it’s a hurry up and wait game because you just wait and see if the waves are gonna be good that day.

You just learn to roll with it, because it’s part of the game, and it’s part of what we do, but it can be really frustrating at times, especially if you’re on a roll!

AM: We didn’t know that until we started trying to set times to interview her and it was around Super Bowl Weekend and it just felt like this perpetual limbo waiting on the waves ha! It couldn’t be us, we have a lot of Type A people here and we couldn’t do it, but there’s such a respect that that is what the sport involves.

LP: I’m type A too! Trust me and it’s hard, but it’s fun. We love it.

AM: So, what’s a typical week like in terms of training. How do you approach all of that?

LP: I mean, it changes depending if it’s a competition week or if it’s like a preseason week or just an off-season week. I’ll just say that I will pick a week that is in between events when I am home in California. Everything is surf dependent, but maybe I will surf a couple times a day, depending on the waves and the conditions. I’m usually in the gym, whether that’s reformer or in the gym weight training. I speak to my Sports Psychologist once a week, usually every Wednesday. I also do visualization journaling, you know, it’s such a fun lifestyle.

I get to live, and I love that I’m so active and I love getting to do this work, but that’s my sort of typical week. Being able to surf 1 to 2 times a day and then just eating yummy food, good meals feeling good. I try and prioritize catching up with friends.

AM: It’s great that you flow through different elements.

What’s the recovery process like for you since you are navigating training and exercising. We really enjoy pilates on the reformer and do it multiple times a week, but we also say that it is the most diabolical work out as well! But we love it and being able to do recovery for that is essential – as you get older having this in your practice is only going to maintain your body’s longevity.

LP: I almost think recovery is more important at times than the actual training and work you put in because, as an athlete, you know you’re constantly pushing yourself to do better. And honestly, it’s a big reason I’ve partnered with Hydrate by Celtic Sea Salt! Half of that is just putting good nutrients back into your body and when you’re working out as much as I am, and a lot of athletes are, you know you’re constantly depleted. What I put in my body and what I use is really important to me and the ingredient list is really important.

I try to take 1 day a whole day off a week - completely. I just do what I want. If I want to go hike or do something fun, I’ll do that. Just allowing myself the space to do that and then, of course, you could say enjoying s sauna and stretching, but I feel like just recovering your mind, sleeping in, reading a good book – these are important. Making sure that I have good nutrition – these are all things that fill up my cup and I have found that that is what works for me.

AM: How did that partnership come about between, you and Hydrate by Celtic Sea Salt? What will your work with them look like for this partnership and how will consumers see it? We have been sampling it this week, and you can see why it is beneficial for your body.

LP: It’s actually so cool. So I bought the regular Celtic Sea Salt for forever. Actually, my mom just used to buy their sea salt for years. The partnership was just super organic, you know. I found out they were going to be coming out with Hydrate as more of an electrolyte combo to it. Obviously, salt is the number 1 thing in an electrolyte. A lot of people, I mean, I’ve done a time where you just put some salt.

So the fact that it was a product that I already used every single day and I care about what’s in the ingredient list! Having something that I know is actually good for me and gives my body the right nutrition that helps me recover better and perform better, that’s just the best ever.

They wanted to partner up and I thought it was perfect as I loved the product. It’s a very organic fit, and it fits in so well in my lifestyle.

AM: Clearly you travel all around the world. Where are your favorite spots that you like to surf in?

LP: Oh that’s a great question. There’s so many! My favorite spot probably in the world is Fiji - it’s gorgeous. Obviously, Fiji is beautiful, and everyone kind of sees photos of that. I just love the people there and I love the culture there as well. The waves are incredible.

AM: We were talking about how you’re very mindful of the fact that you know when you’re not in competition mode or training and that you do love to step away and hang out with friends to stay connected. Why is it so important to also prioritize that element as well?

LP: Because you know, I just think as an athlete, and as you know, I’m Type A, like you. You can get so into working, working, working, working, and I, I love what I do, right? This is a normal thing, too, even in our regular culture. If you had an office job, no matter what it is like, we’re in such a go go mode!

I have just learned after doing this for a few years, what really fills me back up and actually gives me rest. I think just allowing myself when the time is right to just have that me day to go see a friend, you know? To go just get coffee, To sleep in to lay by the pool and read a book and just sit in the sun and sort of the beautifulness of doing nothing.

For that a moment, I just feel like that’s so restorative. And as humans, we need that because we are so productive every day. It allows me to just be so much better when I show up the next day for work because I’m, like, “okay, I actually feel rejuvenated.” It’s not just constantly going. I just think relationships are so, so important. I love having people over my house and making a big dinner and watching a movie. And I just feel like that sometimes is lost, but that’s what really fulfills me. So it’s important.

AM: Are there any upcoming events that we should be aware of? Are there projects that you’re a part of or philanthropic endeavors that we should know about?

LP: For sure. I mean, I’m head down, going to the back half of this season. I will be doing a lot more with Celtic Sea Salt. I do participate in One Ocean Initiative – WILDCOAST. Every event we go to it’s volunteering. You can do it or not, but they do cleanups in Tahiti and Fiji. We have those coming up. They’ll usually do reef restoration, which is nice. So I’m looking forward to doing a couple of those initiatives and working with them. I always love trying to give back to wherever we are. Of course, trying to get some more wins is another one to keep an eye out for!

IG @lakeypeterson

@celticseasalt

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT | Hydrate by Celtic Sea Salt

Read the AUG ISSUE #128 of Athleisure Mag and see HITTING THE SURF | Lakey Peterson in mag.

MMET HYBRID RN | NIKE, HYROX + DYLAN SCOTT

Last month, we made our way to Nike HQ in NYC to workout, try out their Hybrid RN training sneaker, and being able to train with Nike athlete, 2026 HYROX Elite 16 Singles Men’s World Championship and 2024 Doubles World Championship, Dylan Scott. We sat down with him to talk about why this sneaker is a game changer, how he came to Nike, the HYROX season and what it entails.

ATHLEISURE MAG: So, how did you first get connected to Nike?

DYLAN SCOTT: I think this kind of goes all the way back to February of 2025. So that was when I first got with my agent at Ripple Sports. It was through him that this kind of started. So we started the conversations and that would have been a little bit later on in the year after World Championships, right? So, I ended up finishing third at Worlds in 2025, in Chicago, and then after that, the conversations started and Nike came after which is really cool to say. They pretty much wanted to come into the hybrid training space and the hybrid racing space. We started contract negotiations and so it was in September of 2025 that I was on the radar, and then we had kind of formally signed things behind the scenes in November. It all got announced in January of this year.

AM: For our readers who may not be familiar, HYROX is a global indoor fitness race that contains 8 1-kilometer runs with 8 functional workout stations.

Is there a season for this sport?

DS: If you were to look at the season, it’s gonna basically start with the big races\ where you can start qualifying for Worlds that’ll normally start in late September, early October. This year, it’s not going to start until late October. Worlds is normally in June. It’s a very long season and a lot of people race year round. You’ll have people who will just be consistently in decent shape. Being ranked is based on points and there’s points allocated for every single race. So, if you’re in a regular race and you finish. First, you get 105 points. So, basically, you’re ranking in the world system. The point system is based on the 5 races.

In my races, I had a second place at a major a second place at a regional, a second place at a major one for World, and then one another race. All those add up together, and that gives me like 540 some points.

So that has me at number one right now. Now, if you don’t have 5 races, then you’re not eligible to be in the majors. The major is the only way to qualify for Worlds. So people will race in the off season to accumulate points to be eligible to raise the majors, so that’s how you get people racing year round.

If you looked at the real flow though, it is early September/October when you’re going to start having your first Majors. You’ll have 5 of those that’ll qualify you for the World championships, which will be in June normally. So, it’s running from September to June, and so

AM: What is taking place in these events?

DS: You’re gonna have 8 runs. And you’re gonna have 8 stations, and you’re gonna have a run interspersed between each station. You’re running just over 5 miles in total, so it’s a kilometer per run, so 8K is 4.9 something miles, and then there’s 700 meters of transition stuff. So it comes out to about 8,700 meters running. If it’s measured perfectly, then every station always goes the same, which is Skiered Sled, Push Sled, Pull Burpee, Broad Jumps - Farmers Carry Lunges, and Wall Balls.

AM: Wow.

DS: You have certain distances, weights, and everything that you do.

The weights will vary depending on the division you race in. So for the the elite category, it’s ski a thousand meters 50 meter sled push with 440 pounds, 50 meter sled pool with 350 pounds. Burpee, Broad jump 80 meters row a thousand, and Farmers Carrier with two 70 pound kettlebells,

Lunge with a 66 pound sandbag for 100 meters and then, uh, wall ball 100 times the 20 pound ball. So, that’s the men’s Elite weights.

AM: Clearly, that is a total body workout. What are 3 workouts you do in training mode to help optimize you in this sport?

DS: I’ve found like things that you have to train specifically. You know, a workout that I’ll do will be something like every four minutes. Okay, I’m gonna run 500 meters. I’m gonna do a 20 meter sled pool, and then I’m gonna ride an assault bike very easy until the four minute mark. I’m gonna repeat that for an hour, so we’ll rip through that 15 times. So if you are looking at sled pull – that’s a specific training session where you come in with a high heart rate, like you’re gonna have in the race.

You let your body recover a little bit. Repeat that. Repeat that. Repeat that. It basically drill it into your system to be able to do it. You’ll do all kinds of iterations of stuff, like that pairing in lunges, wall balls, machine work. Sometimes you’ll do ski and wall balls, it’s really just finding ways to blend together.

AM: What does recovery look like, coming off of these races?

DS: That’ll depend on whether it’s international or not. So if you have to fly back home, recovery is terrible because, you have a day, and then you go travel and fly back, you know? So that that’ll take two weeks to recover your entire system. Now you’re still training throughout that, but you understand that you’re susceptible to getting hurt or getting sick. One of the biggest things for Recovery is sleep. I have so many athletes that don’t feel like they’re recovering.

I ask them how much they are sleeping, how much they eating, and they’ll say that they are getting 5 hours of sleep. I tell them that there’s the first problem. So it’s really those two things make up the vast majority of your recovery. And then, it’s all these little things at the end using stuff like Hyperice boots, using compression sleeves and focusing on your mobility – are you foam rolling at all? It works for me, so I do that. It feels like it works - even if that is a placebo, it works. That is a placebo I am willing to do. That’s fine. You basically take care of the essentials.

You also make sure that with all this training and everything that your underlying health, is good. For a while, I was anemic while I was trying to race, and I was, like, dude, I feel tired all the time. I was working a job while racing while starting up a coaching company.

I’d fall asleep in the middle of the day. As a coach, I talk to the people I train about that. Your body knows one thing, and that’s called stress. It knows the stress inputs, and it has to recover from that. Whether it’s coming from a workout, your child being sick, or work.

AM: How does that dynamic work for being a coach and an elite athlete?

DS: It’s actually great. If you’re only focused on yourself, it kind of sucks, like a very selfish life, like that is not very fun. With other athletes and just other people in general, it makes you outwardly aware.

It was great to hang out with the Nike team, workout with them, and to be able to put their latest Hybrid RN shoes through their paces as it really allows you to do an array of workouts without feeling the need to carry multiple shoes to do them!

This everyday training shoe is built for hybrid fitness for running and cross training for activities like HYROX which allows you to smoothly transition from running, heavy lifting, and dynamic movements.

IG @thehybridraccoon

@nike

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Nike

Read the AUG ISSUE #1289 of Athleisure Mag and see MEET HYBRID RN | NIKE, HYROX + DYLAN SCOTT in mag.

THE ROAD TO THE WORLD CUP | REGGAE GIRLZ

We had the opportunity to screen Reggae Girlz which follows the Women’s National Jamaican Football Team! This documentary film talks about what happened on and off the field as the team prepared for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

In this feature, we had the pleasure of chatting with one of the filmmakers, Trish Dalton. We wanted to know more about how this project came to light, their creative approach to telling the story of football, capturing the women’s team, the Jamaican Football Federation, and the impact that Cedella Marley and the Bob Marley Foundation’s on providing the resources needed to get these women to the biggest stage in their sport!

ATHLEISURE MAG: Before we delve into Reggae Girlz, what was the first film that you fell in love with that made you feel like you wanted to work in this industry as a filmmaker?

TRISH DALTON: I think I was inspired by films that were telling women stories. There were a lot of independent films and then those about women told by women! It sounds crazy to say, but you know seeing a woman’s voice being shown - it’s a softer voice, and I hesitate to say one director because I feel like it was more about all of them. Many, you know, men, men’s directors as well, were aspiring to me like ones that could make a difference such as Michael Moore. I felt like he was creating a social impact, and I was an activist. I was interested in battling kind of all the things - race rights, class rights, and I was anti-war. I was an activist and making films. I felt like I was always drawn to women’s stories. That was always the thing for me. They needed to be told, and I felt like the best way that I could help women was to amplify their stories.

I fell into documentaries. As somebody who already loves storytelling, I was always into painting, writing scripts, and directing scripture. So, I started out making films. And then it was making plays and art.

When I would watch stories on women, I felt so seen and I knew that this was my world. I also traveled a lot when I was in High School and in University. That’s really when I fell into telling stories.

What did you think about the film?

AM: I have so many thoughts. I remember in prep for this interview I knew it was getting later in the day and as it is about an hour and a half, I knew I had time. As I watched it, I enjoyed seeing the Women’s Jamaican Football team and how they navigated getting to the World Cup, their graciousness, athleticism, etc was so great. But it’s a challenging film as you see how there were complications at every turn and not just related to being on the field. The lack of the friendlies, the federation providing resources, and more was really eye opening. At the same time, seeing how Cedella and the Marley Foundation stepped in and even how Adidas in the Netherlands supported them. There were a lot of dynamics so the film was excellent and very multi-dimensional, but seeing the issues was something that makes you reflect throughout the film.

I’ve also been a fan of you and your creative partner’s work as well as I did see Student Athlete a few years back, but it was the film, Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge was the first film that I saw from you guys which was amazing. DVF is such a blueprint when it comes to being a woman who has created an incredible fashion empire, a classic go-to for our closets, and also being a major beat in the pulse of so many changes and portions of the industry from various sides. Seeing that come together in your film was amazing.

TD: Oh wow, thank you!

AM: Speaking back to the dynamics of my initial thoughts of the film, you get the sense that you were with the team for awhile as we see them at various months.

TD: Laura Smith is a Director/Producer in the UK, and she saw them play in 2019, and she thought that they were incredible. At that time, they were the first ever Caribbean women’s team to go to the FIFA World Cup. She was like, there’s a story here. So, she partnered with Astronaut Films in the UK, and they reached out to Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and I because we had made Student Athlete, which is about sports rights, and we had both made a lot of women’s rights stories. So they reached out to us and asked if we were interested.

We met the players during the 2020s over Zoom. I was immediately hooked with these women who were supporting their families. They’re dealing with all of this - just incredible women and great stories. I said, “no matter what happens with the team, I think this is a great story.” So, we started pitching and trying to fundraise. We had some interest, but nobody came in until Red Bull Studios took a chance on us. We were so grateful because when they qualified for the second time, which was the first time that any Caribbean team men or women’s had qualified twice, so it was huge. They agreed to fund our filming so, we filmed leading up to the Cup as you saw.

She says that by participating in this project, it allows not just the Reggae Girlz team, but all the young women in Jamaica, the opportunity to be able to play. It shows the power of one person and the importance of having the resources and the support of Bob Marley Foundation to do that.

AM: One of the things that I love the most about the film is that there is an intersectionality between seeing them as individuals, team members, being focused on going to the World Cup, and also having to talk to the Jamaican Football Federation to talk about the things that didn’t make sense for them as they prepare to hit the world stage. As a collective they come together to voice their frustrations and to seek accountability as well as solutions. Seeing them in the room with the JFF and asking how their travel accommodations differ so greatly from the executive staff. During this tense but gracious exchange, you have the screenshots of their social media and what was taking place at the time. Hearing the JFF commend the women on voicing concerns and being ok with the push back but really as an audience member being left with the feeling that the resources still won’t be there. How did you balance showing these tense moments along with rounding it out with the fact that this is a cohesive team that is happy to come together to play for their country?

TD: Great question! It was really hard. There was actually a lot more things that happened. We wanted to dance the line of showing what a wonderful place Jamaica is, the community, the amazing humans, and what a really special bond the players had with one another as well as with their coaches. We actually dialed down some of the things that were going wrong, as we know that there was a lot of issues taking place with the JFF, but there was also support and love there as well. It’s kind of like, family. When you want to show someone’s family, you have to be mindful that you’re not just showing the bad things because then you’re not showing the love.

AM: Exactly.

TD: It was really important to me that Jamaica was well represented and that we showed the love and the magic. It was really important to me how we filmed it, how we portrayed it, and I was working very closely with Cedella Marley, because obviously, I’m not Jamaican, and it’s very important to me always in my films to partner with either producers or people on my team who can make sure that I am telling the story properly and speaking truth. It was very important to Cedella. She helped me by saying, we can say this, but let’s be careful about this because this isn’t the end of the story and this is a partnership.

AM: In various parts, I would watch and I had to pause it every 10-15 minutes. I was amazed at how deep the documentary went into some areas while still keeping it where you can see the 2 sides from where the team and Federation were coming from. It was important to voice the issues; however, you knew the women were still active participants in wanting to play for their team and country.

TD: Right, at the end of the day you see how the women never complained or whine. That is not the kind of movie that this is. I wanted the voices to be represented exactly how they were right when they said what they said.

AM: Even in that movie that could have been very tense and highly animated, the women shared their points, illustrated their points by juxtaposing how the same experience such as travel was for them versus the Federation.

TD: Yes, they were very mature on how they managed their situations. I think we wanted to show what they were up against. We also wanted to show their strength!

AM: They had a lot of restraint and I was struck with that level of poise in a situation that was beyond frustrating and also distracting to their efforts to play the game that they love so much!

TD: I think at the end of the day, they just obviously have this extreme strength, but a big part of the story is women helping women.

AM: Seeing how Cedella stepped in and brought the Bob Marley Foundation in to support their goals – this was another element that is powerful in the film.

TD: If you think about women’s sports and where they are in the UK and in the US, it’s only been 5 – 10 years.

AM: 100%!

TD: I’ve developed a lot of sports films, and it has been difficult to get funding for them. One of my friends who lives in LA, told me that she walking into a full stadium for the Los Angeles Angels and she just cried. And that’s how I felt going to the World Cup in Australia, because every stadium was full and filled with such energy! So being able to see that, people can connect with it and ultimately support it.

When you look at the support for women’s US teams, it’s about having that audience, and sponsors come in to spend. Here in the US, that exposure and awareness happened because lawsuits were filed as the women on the team decided to stand up for themselves to ask for more. I think Trudy speaks to this in the film that she’s not asking to be equal to their male counterparts in the same sport, because she gets that it’s different and has a different base, but it is about getting the respect.

The team was aware that there was a climb to be had, but I do feel that the more that people can watch them play, it is my hope that this will allow more sponsors to come. From there, there could be celebrity involvement. When you look at the LA Women’s soccer team, a lot of U.S. celebrities got behind them and that was a part of how they built it. I think it’s a really exciting time for women’s sports in that way that we’ve seen.

I feel like we’re at this tipping point, that now, your women all over the world, have someone to look to. In this film, you see that women in Brazil and Jamaica have these great women to look up to. Young girls in Jamaica can now say, “oh, my gosh. You could do this.”

AM: It was good to see that component as well. The juxtaposition of some of these women that play for other around the world whether for their collegiate teams or pro leagues and then seeing them go to Adidas in the Netherlands and having this immersive moment that was just for them. We see their pictures being painted at their headquarters there. They have their teammates model their kits for FIFA World Cup. You could see in their faces, that if they had the opportunity to have their friendlies that would be another component that would make them feel like they were properly prepared. But at least they got that moment where they were honored, embraced, and respected.

Why was it important for you to have that particular moment in there and of course Cedella was also at Adidas in the Netherlands with the team.

TD: We wanted to show what it looks like when they can get respect!

AM: Exactly.

TD: I think that was such a huge difference, and it’s just a little taste of what a lot of the teams from First World countries are like from more developed countries have, yeah, you know?

Yeah, just that those are just basic resources in a lot of countries. And here they were getting that from the Netherlands. It’s pretty special.

AM: Is the plan to do a follow-up with these particular, maybe not those girls per se, but the continuation of this team well?

TD: I mean, that would be great, right? Our hope right now is to get this film out there so that people can root for this team. It would be awesome to have more films made about them and continue sharing their story.

We’re so focused on just getting this out there. It’s premiering with a screening in London with some of the players before It drops on streaming platforms. We’ve been showing it at festivals. We’re also going to keep continuing to screenings as well. We will do them in sports bars across the countries in addition to the festivals. It will kick off on streaming on Joolz. Then there is a bit of delay by a few weeks before it goes to a number of platforms.

We hope that through word of mouth, it will spread. We want people to see it and word of mouth will spread and that people will see it on the platform. We’re living in this sort of brave new world of various streaming platforms. It’s also kind of becoming the new cable television of being able to go on them and to see what is there. It’s sort of a shift from just doing one stream.

AM: Exactly. It’s smart to launch on Jolt Film as an exclusive which is available now to rent or stream and then to have that ability to access it starting on Oct 27th on Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube Movies, Tubi, and Xumo.

TD: I think our goal is just to get it out there.

AM: There is also a companion LP that is dropping in tandem with this film.

TD: Yes, it is so exciting and I love the music. Tuff Gong has curated a number of songs that have Bob Marley of course; however, there are other members of the family as well as up and coming artists that contribute their voices as well! It even includes Tiffany Cameron, one of the players who wrote a song that we used.

AM: Oh wow!

TD: Yeah, it’s probably my favorite song in the film! It’s just because it’s so heartfelt and her music is amazing. She’s a singer/songwriter, and it’s so good. So I’m just super excited for people to get to hear the music and to listen to the tracks from these great up and coming artists along with the Marleys.

IG @trishfilms

After hearing about how the film was produced and the themes that were covered in it, we sat down with Cedella Marley who is not only featured in the film, but also was instrumental in providing support to the Women’s Jamaican Football Team! We wanted to know more about how Cedella became involved, how her father’s legacy and love of the game was instrumental to her decision, and what we can expect from Tuff Gong Collective!

ATHLEISURE MAG: You were the ambassador for the Jamaican Women’s Football Team, how did that come about and what did it mean to you to have that position?

CEDELLA MARLEY: It really came about because my son brought home a flyer about raising funds for the Reggae Girlz. I had no clue Jamaica had a womens football program so i reached out. Captain Horace Burell, who was the president of the JFF at that time asked me and I kinda said ok. I had no idea what I was getting into but I saw these young women fighting for something they deserved a chance to represent Jamaica on the world stage and I felt like I couldn’t just stand on the sidelines and watch.

At the time, the program needed support, visibility, resources, all of it. And once I got involved, it became much more than being an ambassador. It became personal. These girls became my girls.

For me, it was never only about football. It was about opportunity. It was about young Jamaican women being able to dream as big as anybody else and knowing somebody was willing to fight for that dream alongside them.

Watching Reggae Girlz make history and seeing Jamaica represented on that stage was incredibly emotional for me. I was proud of them, but I was also proud of what they represented resilience, determination and that Jamaican spirit that says, “We might be small, but don’t underestimate us.”\

Being their ambassador was an honor, but the real privilege was being able to serve them. They reminded me that sometimes you don’t choose the mission the mission chooses you.

AM: What does Football mean to you?

CM: Football, to me, means possibility. Football is Freedom.

I didn’t grow up thinking football would become such a big part of my life. But through the Reggae Girlz, I learned that the game can be so much bigger than what happens on the field.

Football can give a young girl confidence. It can give her discipline, a family, an education, a way to see the world and most importantly, permission to dream beyond what people may have imagined for her.

I’ve also seen how it brings Jamaica together. When our teams step onto that field wearing the black, green and gold, suddenly we’re not thinking about where we come from or what separates us. We’re just Jamaican.

So for me, football is community, pride and opportunity. It’s another language of One Love. You don’t even have to speak the same language to play together, celebrate together, or understand what that moment means.

And I think that’s the magic of it.

AM: We saw you throughout the film, what did it mean to you be part of it as well as to see the women’s journey close up as they made their way to the World Cup?

CM: Being part of the film was special because it captured something I had been living with these women for years. People see the World Cup, they see the uniforms, the flags, the celebrations but they don’t always see what it took to get there.

I saw the sacrifices. I saw the disappointments, the financial struggles, the injuries, the moments when they questioned whether the dream was ever going to happen. And I also saw them get back up every single time.

So watching that journey unfold so close up was emotional for me because these weren’t just players anymore. These were my girls. I knew their stories, their families, their struggles and how much wearing that Jamaica shirt meant to them.

And then to see them walk onto a World Cup field with JAMAICA across their hearts… that was a moment. I don’t think I can properly explain the feeling. There was pride, relief, joy and probably a few tears too!

The film reminds people that history doesn’t just happen. Somebody has to believe before everybody else believes. Somebody has to keep pushing when the doors are closed.

The Reggae Girlz did that. They didn’t wait for somebody to tell them they belonged on the world stage. They fought their way there.

And I feel blessed that I got to walk a little piece of that journey with them.

AM: What was your favorite moment in the film?

CM: My favorite moment is seeing the girls realize, they did it. They’re going to the World Cup.

Because I knew everything behind that moment. All the struggles, all the fundraising, all the times we heard no, all the moments when it would have been easier to just give up. So when that dream finally became real, it wasn’t just about qualifying for a tournament it was validation for every woman who had fought to keep the program alive.

And seeing the joy on their faces… that got me. Every time.

It reminded me why I got involved in the first place. I knew absolutely nothing about women’s football when this journey started! (laughs) But somehow these girls became my girls, and their dream became my dream.

That moment was pure joy. Pure Jamaica. And proof that when you refuse to give up on something you believe in, sometimes the impossible really does become possible.

AM: We know that your father loved Football and was passionate about the game. It was nice to see that in this film his love and passion was woven within the documentary. Why was this important to have in there?

CM: It was important because football was genuinely part of my father’s life. It wasn’t something added to the film because he was Bob Marley. Daddy really loved the game. If there was a ball around, he wanted to play. Music was his message, but football was one of his freedoms.

And I think there’s something beautiful about that connection. Years later, I found myself involved in football in a way I never could have imagined, fighting alongside these young Jamaican women for their opportunity to play on the biggest stage in the world.

Sometimes I laugh because I think Daddy must have had something to do with it! I certainly didn’t go looking for football - football found me.

But I also think his presence in the film helps people understand something about Jamaica. Football, like music, belongs to everybody. You don’t need much to start - a ball, a little space and somebody to play with. It crosses class, language, race, borders. It gives people a sense of freedom.

That was Daddy. He believed in freedom, he believed in people, and he believed that what you love should bring people together.

So having that part of him woven into the Reggae Girlz story felt natural. It connects generations. His love for the game was his own, and my journey with the Girlz is mine but somewhere in between, there’s this beautiful little thread connecting us.

And I love that.

AM: Tell me about Tuff Gong Collective and your role there.

CM: Tuff Gong Collective is really about taking everything I’ve learned as a family through music, culture, storytelling and building businesses and creating a space where we can carry that forward in our own way.

For me, it’s about protecting the integrity of what Tuff Gong represents while also allowing it to grow. Daddy always believed in ownership and having control of your own work and your own voice. That spirit is still very much at the heart of what we do.

My role is a little bit of everything! (laughs) I’m involved creatively, strategically, and especially in making sure that whatever we put into the world feels authentic. Whether it’s music, fashion, film, partnerships or something completely unexpected, I always ask: Does it have purpose? Does it feel like us?

Because legacy can’t just be something you look back at. You have to keep creating. You have to give the next generation room to bring their own ideas, their own sound and their own interpretation to it.

So I see Tuff Gong Collective as a bridge honoring where we come from, creating for where we are now, and building something meaningful for whoever comes next.

AM: There is also an album that is associated with this film, what can you tell us about this?

CM: Yes, and I’m really excited about that. The Reggae Girlz: Movie Soundtrack is almost another way of telling the story of the film this time through music.

I curated nine songs for the album, and I wanted them to capture that Jamaican spirit you feel throughout the documentary: the strength, the struggle, the joy, the pride and, of course, the freedom. The music crosses generations and genres because that’s Jamaica. Our sound keeps evolving, but there’s a thread that connects all of us.

Daddy always said, “Football is freedom,” and that became a beautiful starting point for the soundtrack.

Football and music have that same ability to bring people together. You don’t necessarily need to speak the same language to feel either one.

And I wanted the album to feel like the Girlz themselves—strong, joyful, fearless and very Jamaican. These women have their own rhythm. They fall, they get back up, they keep moving forward. So the music needed to have that same energy.

The soundtrack is coming through Tuff Gong Collective. It is a limited-edition vinyl record manufactured at Tuff Gong in Kingston, Jamaica. This is the label my parents built, which makes it even more special for me.

For me, the film tells their journey, and the album gives that journey a heartbeat.

AM: Are there upcoming projects that you want us to keep an eye out for that Tuff Gong Collective will be releasing?

CM: Oh, there’s always something cooking!

We have a few projects coming through Tuff Gong Collective that I’m really excited about, particularly in music, film and storytelling. I can’t give away all the surprises yet, but you’re going to see us continuing to create opportunities for the next generation while also finding new ways to tell Jamaican stories.

For me, that’s really where the Collective is heading. It’s not about trying to recreate what came before us. You can’t recreate that. It’s about taking the foundation that was given to us and building something new on top of it.

And I’m especially excited about what the younger generation is doing. They have their own voices, their own ideas, their own way of seeing the world and I want Tuff Gong Collective to be a place where that creativity can live and grow.

So yes, definitely keep your eyes and ears open. There’s music coming, there are stories coming, and maybe a few things people won’t expect.

IG @cedellamarley

After speaking with Cedella, we also wanted to talk to one of the athletes that is featured in this film, to hear about their involvement and why this was important for them to be part of this documentary.

ATHLEISURE MAG: It is so nice to connect with you. I just watched the documentary a couple of nights ago and a number of times it was when you were on screen interacting with the team or the Federation where I would just pause so it’s great to be able to talk with you about Football as well as the film!

DENEISHA “DEN-DEN” BLACKWOOD: Did you enjoy it?

AM: I loved the documentary. I am frustrated by what you guys had to navigate on the road to going to the FIFA World Cup! But, the documentary was great and seeing how as a team between players and coaching staff came together was great!. But, over the course of a 90 min plus film, I had to pause it and say, “my God, this is crazy!” But then I would focus on the powerful and compelling storytelling of how you guys trained together, supported one another especially when talking with the Federation about what going on and trying to get answers – especially as a team. So it was incredible. I’ve been a fan of the Jamaican Football team for years.

I’m excited to talk with you as It will be great to dig into this more and to see it from the vantage point of the players as we have chatted with the filmmakers as well as Cedella.

DDB: I’m really excited. I haven’t done an interview in a long time, but I think this one is something that as you know, is going to help the film! I will allow people to understand more about the film and, as you said, get more insights into how we came together to figure it out.

AM: Before we delve into the film, when did you fall in love with football?

DDB: So I fell in love with football when I was around 15. I started playing at 13 and immediately, I was on the U15 National Team. I didn’t have an idea of what I was doing. Track and field was my thing because I was fast.

AM: I assumed that at one time you were in Track and Field!

DDB: Yes! Track and Field was my thing. So I love track. But my brother told me to go test football out and I did. So at 15, I was on the U-17 team and I didn’t make it one time.

AM: So, what led to your decision that you would go pro?

DDB: So, the decision behind going pro was that much like in the film, Konya Plummer and I were close. I am also close to Bunny Shaw as well. So when we were in college at that time, they had all of these offers and after seeing that, I wanted to be in the mix too. I wanted to be making money as well as being able to keep doing this. I was selected for the 2019 World Cup team and I knew that that would be my best shot. Once I had been in the camaraderie and being able to be a role model in a sense, I knew that this was what I wanted.

AM: That’s amazing.

You play for the Women’s Jamaican National Team and you also play for Toluca Femenil in Mexico. What is it about this game that you just love doing? I mean, you travel around the world for it. So what is it that makes you just so excited about it?

DDB: What makes me excited about playing football and also representing the National team, are the connections you get to have with people from different races, different cultures, and you get to see the world. You get to understand the world and with that, you get to understand yourself. So I am always grateful for that when I am playing. The connections, the people, and just living in different countries, and being able to be part of different cultures.

AM: What is an average week of training like for you when you’re preparing to play for the next match, especially for the World Cup?

DDB: Okay, I’m gonna give the first day of my World Cup game. But what a week of training looks like for me for a World Cup game is that mentally, the first day I’m like, “what are my intentions for training?” Because my intentions for training has to lead to my intentions for the game. So, I set training goals. Maybe I’m on the left side, so maybe that’s being aggressive in my first tackle. So, in training, going against my teammates were so competitive. So, I’m in their skin in the first moment. I’m taking that first tackle, hydrating - drinking water, drinking electrolytes - I’m really a big fan of electrolytes, stretching, rolling out, and physically getting myself ready too because training is hard. Some days are tactical, some days are a little bit more relaxed. The day before training, you do free kicks, corners and, being able to get that feel of what the game is going to be like the next day. Game Day, I love a Game Day. You wake up and go to the mirror in the morning and you give yourself that pep talk. You remember that you’ve worked, you done everything that you can do and needed not accomplish in that week so there is no need to be nervous as the work was already put in! What you did during training will come out in the game! You’ve got to pump yourself up and it’s on you! I also feed off my teammates when we’re in the field. But in order for them to feed off of me, I have to make sure mentally and physically that I’m ready and prepared to play.

AM: Definitely.

As I said at the top, I loved watching this film. I felt it was a compelling story. What is it like to be at the World Cup, playing for your country and having to play when there are other dynamics that are going on, on and off the field that for many people would make it difficult for them to still be focused on that goal of representing their country. What does it mean to you to be part of this documentary?

DDB: For me, what it means to be a part of this documentary is that I feel like not just in football, but in life, people only see the good, which is the outcome. I think people always say, “oh, the Reggae Girlz, they have good spirits, they’re such a good team together.” What nobody really sees is the struggles and the challenges we have to deal with behind the scenes. Truthfully, we don’t feel respected when we are representing Jamaica. We don’t feel respected by the Federation - we performed things got a little bit worse we performed again and then things became a disaster. At some point we’re like, “okay but the bigger teams are performing and their Federations are seeing them.” So why is it so hard for our Federation to see us when we are performing?

AM: Speaking to that, there is a tense moment between the team and Federation as they are looking for answers. Hearing as a collective that the team provided facts, asked questions, and sought accountability while being respectful. With the issues that your team had with friendlies, travel, etc it was amazing to see everyone maintain their composure without doing antics! It couldn’t be me!

DDB: I think that’s what killed them because for the Men’s Team, I don’t know what happens on the Men’s Team the culture is different, but because we’re females, they expected us to just sit back and take everything. But, these are some of the most brilliant women that I’ve ever come across. We document the stuff we need. When we ask them for stuff, we make sure we have it in writing. Because at the end of the day, proof is the only thing that’s going to set us free.

AM: Exactly.

How did you guys come together to decide, you know what? We need to have this conversation. I can imagine that you have a number of people where they agree but they don’t want to put their neck out like that. So how did that process go about?

DDB: I think at some point, we realized that it’s not about how we feel. It’s not about how we feel. It’s not about how people are going to see us. It’s about the truth. We are actually not being treated right. We have to say something or else we won’t make another World Cup because eventually there won’t be a Women’s program if we just keep quiet. I think we had meetings together all the time while we were in camp. We made votes and everybody understood the risk that was at hand. But we were still willing to take it because we want to represent the country. We want younger girls to come and represent this country. We just decided together that like we’ll take the first step. We’ll take a little bit of the bashment from the outside world. So, we had meetings, meetings, and then voting.

AM: That exchange was another time where I had to pause the documentary. I was like, “did that just happen?” To see you as women come together and in the midst of the frustration and search for accountability and a solution, there were only a few side eyes that were done as opposed to really showing the emotions around this! I had a lot of respect for that moment and it just showed the depth of professionalism and how well put together you are.

DDB: No, for real! As you see in the film, when they were having the harder conversation, I personally wasn’t there. I can’t just sit and just like –

AM: I was looking for you because I felt that if there’s one person that I know is going to give more emotions, it was you – ha! I realized that you must not have been there that day.

DDB: My God, I was like, this is this is crazy. How can you just expect to sit and talk to us like that and that we would just be like okay - we’re gonna take whatever you give us?

AM: Well another point that you brought up which I agree with is that I love that there are highs and lows that are shown in this film. So as much as that moment between the team and the Federation was super tense – I can’t even imagine what it would have been like to be in that room with the cameras and the emotions.

I really loved the joy when you guys went to Adidas in Netherlands and you’re modeling the kits that you will wear during the World Cup. You have a place to play and you get that moment where you are receiving the love and the respect for what it is that you guys do as athletes and as a craft.

What did it mean to you to have that element of support and just that moment getting ready to go to the World Cup?

DDB: Adidas plays a big role in the work that we have done over the years. Obviously, Cedella, we can’t thank them and her enough. But from the side of the players, oh my God, we were so appreciative. We literally felt like this is all we ever wanted - people to see us and to give us the things that we need to perform. Once you do, you won’t have to worry because guess what? We are ready to do the job on the field. They literally removed a number of things that we didn’t need ot work about. They took it off of our hands. We had their gym facility and it was just, it was insane. I have personally never experienced anything like that. We would sit in our groups because we’re a very close team. So we’ll sit in our groups and say that we had to go to the round of 60. Like this is not for nothing. Adidas gave us so much and the Federation hadn’t even put a dollar into all of the things that we’ve gotten. We’ve gotten 4 cleats and everybody was able to go to training every day. This is why we do it. We were just so excited.

We were dancing, having conversation with their team, we got to know the Adidas Corporation. They’re all lovely people. And we tell them too, we’re like, this is all we’ve ever wanted. So guess what? You guys give this to us and we’ll take care of business. And that’s exactly what we went and did.

AM: I was so happy for you guys and to see the artwork that they did for you at their HG in the Netherlands.

DDB: The painter was so good. She talked with us. You see the painting, but you also kind of see how she got to know us too in the painting, which was really powerful.

AM: Really, really powerful.

As you mentioned, we have the thread of Cedella through the film as she is an Ambassador of the Women’s Jamaican team. She also provided various levels of support via the Bob Marley Foundation.

What did it mean to you to have her support and were you able to interact with her directly?

DDB: To have Cedella’s support is just, it’s more than the Federation deserves. We deserve it as players, but it’s more than they deserve. I think she’s a woman that lives by her dad’s words that football is freedom. It’s all about peace and love, and giving back. When she talked about her son bringing that flyer to her, she felt the need to get on board. She’s an incredible person. She came when we were in Amsterdam. Every day we would come in at the training facility and you would hear Bob Marley music. She would come, she would chat with us, ask us how it’s training, maybe kick a ball with us, and take some pictures. It felt like somebody that not only wanted to give, but also to understand who we are as people. I think for me, that’s also powerful. She came and she had conversations with everybody. Her energy is so light and that’s the energy we need around us. I think that energy just spread through the team, through the team, through the coaches, everybody that we interacted with - you know, they feel the energy. I think that comes from us being able to be comfortable with her.

AM: I didn’t realize until watching the film that your team is the first Caribbean team to have back-to-back appearances at the World Cup.

What did it mean to you to be on such a global stage like that?

DDB: It means a lot to me to be on a global stage like that, to be honest. I come from a single mom with 5 kids and no dads. The idea of being on a stage where I couldn’t even hear my own heartbeat was never something that I think about on the daily. I think being in the starting 11 in the first World Cup game, hearing my national anthem with over 40,000 people watching – I felt that I had won in life and that that was success for me. I don’t have to reach at the highest level in the world yet, but I’ve had a lot of success. I think when we are on the field and when we’re together, we always talk about how grateful we are because someone my age could have had the same opportunity and didn’t get it. We’re going to do it for the people who can’t do it for themselves or didn’t get the opportunity to do it.

AM: Or need that encouragement.

DDB: Or that encouragement! That’s why I love this documentary because you go through struggles. It’s part of life. If you’re in a 9-5, you’re still going through struggles, you know, but like people don’t underestimate what you see in the good, until they are able to see the other part too.

AM: What was your biggest takeaway after this film, now that it’s coming out in the next few days?

DDB: My biggest takeaway from the film is never underestimate the power of resilience. You have to keep trying. People will see you when you’re supposed to be seen. I’ve been with the national team since I was 13 and I’m 29 now and we’re just getting seen. So, it’s like, stick with that resilience. If you’re with a group of people who believe that they can change the world, stick with that group of people because the ones who are supposed to get the message will get the message.

AM: Will you be going to any of the launch premieres for this film?

DDB: Right now, I am in the middle of my season as it just started.

AM: That’s what I thought.

DDB: I literally was telling my sister that earlier. I wish I could go and meet people and talk to them in person.

AM: Are you thinking about the next World Cup?

DDB: Absolutely. I am so looking forward to be a part of this next World Cup. We had preseason this past Summer because the Summer is ending. This whole preseason, I knew I need to be my best self mentally and physically.

I need to figure out what that looks like because if you have a goal and once I set that goal, there’s going to be challenges throughout the year leading up to it. But the most important thing is, I have the goal, which is to make the team and that’s staying healthy. It’s getting the recovery stuff that I need. So whether that’s the Normatech boots, going to saunas, cold therapy, getting the body right and, getting the mind right. I like to journal a lot and it allows me to understand myself and keep learning.

My team, we have a new coach and it’s just been really good for me. So I think I’m literally counting on myself to be in this one. I got this tattoo. I don’t know if you can see it. (Editor’s Note: Den-Den shows us her tattoo that has both years of her World Cup appearances on her wrist and she has a little space where more years can be included.)

AM: I see it.

DDB: I made an extra space so I can have one more.

AM: You’re making your goal very apparent! Do you have any upcoming projects? We obviously are in the middle of your season right now, but is there anything that you have going on? And obviously we have the film that’s coming out that you want to share with our readers so that we can continue to follow you and support you?

DDB: I want to be more into social media and brand myself. Just look out for the posts that you will see from me. I’m excited for people to see the things that I do and getting to know more about me! You can also watch my games on YouTube and VIX for Toluca FC.

IG @den_den14

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Reggae Girlz/Red Bull Studios

Read the AUG ISSUE #128 of Athleisure Mag and see THE ROAD TO THE WORLD CUP | Reggae Girlz in mag.

PRACTICAL LUXURY | TIFFANY ZHOU

When it comes to our bags, we want something that works with our lifestyle and allows us to go from one place to the next. We love having elements on our bags that make our day that much easier.

We sat down with Founder and Creative Dir. of luxury handbag brand, OLEADA, Tiffany Zhou to talk about how she engineered these bags, the power of putting our products that mean something to those who wear it, and more!

ATHLEISURE MAG: Prior to becoming the Founder and Creative Designer for OLEADA, you worked in finance. What led you to design?

TIFFANY ZHOU: I definitely want to start something by myself. I wanted to be reasonable and rational about my decision because I do have another lens that understands the business from an investor perspective. I think as a female founder, we do have a natural instinct about how to build up a brand and how to resonate with a client. That’s why when I started, I compiled information and felt that doing a consumer product and onw that contributed back to where I was from as a professional woman.

In thinking about this I have a personal story. One of the moments that makes me think about why I went out on my own and started this business was over hearing my manager who was talking to my boss. I had just finished a nice financial model for a lease code that we were going to acquire. He said that I had done a great job, but that I was just a 28 year old girl. That let me rethink about who I was going to be and how I would be in the financial industry. I then reviewed myself and realized what I would have to do to get to where my male counterparts were who were my teammates. So I thought, why not put it into myself?

AM: Coming into this industry from finance, but being trained as an engineer, how did the engineering aspect inform how you went about designing these bags?

TZ: I don’t design the bags, I engineer them! I really lean into engineering when it comes to product design – which is called design thinking. When I am working on them, I’m trying to solve the real world problems, analyze what is being required in the marketplace, and to do prototypes that all the stakeholders – not just the design team, but customer service, and other members. Once you have created a prototype, you launch it to your base to get that feedback and you use what you learned to inform that design. That is what we are doing at OLEADA.

The Wavia Bag was my first design that I launched 6 years ago. When you look at the first bag that was designed, you can see how it evolved to be the bag that we have on the shelf now. There were so many details that were upgraded – the panel, cutting, etc. We had more than 25 small upgrades – the handle and its length or should another pocket be added to the back? So that is why I feel that I don’t design, I engineer these bags.

AM: What would you say is the ethos of the brand?

TZ: So when I started the brand, my last job was a banker, I was a professional woman. So that’s why the brand that I built up is a work style brand.

AM: Right.

TZ: I call it a work style in a way. It is for work, but it’s also stylish so that you can conquer your day, enter into the room, and feel confident. That feeling and sentiment is emphasized through our brand ambassadors, influencers, and our social media. As time went on, I started to realize that our life is more than work.

What is next? That is where AnyWear came from. It’s like, OLEADA. The work style is how you represent yourself in the room, then AnyWear is helping you to move in between the rooms. This part of the brand is an experience in this work/life aesthetic. Once you leave work, you go to the tennis court or maybe you go to the gym. It’s the combination of that kind of functionality we really want to offer to this market.

AM: What is your process when it comes to creating new styles and deciding about colorways, whether they’re your core colorways or new hues?

TZ: I like to reverse engineer everything. Most handbag designers when they are creating a bag, they may focus on a category such as a tote bag or a backpack.

I start from the experience. I think about people who are leaving their apartment, when they are getting back, and what happens in between. When you look at AnyWear, I am looking at someone who has a portfolio career. They are going out, going to a coffee shop,meeting a client, playing tennis, etc.

So in my design process, I am watching people. You learn a lot when you people watch. You see them and how they interact with the world.

AM: in terms of work bags, what would be 3 that you suggest should be in our collections?

TZ: I definitely love a tote because it’s so easy to use! Our Marina Tote that we just launched this year is very easy to carry and is an easy going bag.If you travel a lot, I would definitely suggest the Marina Carryall. You can wear it as a backpack.

AM: Seeing AnyWhere at the Accessory Council event and then again at your brunch at The Ned, it’s a great series of items that is travel and active lifestyle. When did you realize that you wanted to bring this portion of the brand forward?

TZ: I liked the concept that with these bags, you could go anywhere in order to have experiences that are within your life outside of work.

AM: What are 3 AnyWear bags that we should have on our radar?

TZ: I do love the Tennis Backpack. It’s not just a tennis bag, but for those that are hitting the tennis court, you don’t need to carry multiple bags – this allows it all to be in one! The Any Duffle is also an interesting item. The fabric is crease-free so when you are not using it, you can fold it into your suitcase. Once you get to your location, you can use it to go shopping and the bag can expand.

AM: There has been a lot of talk about quiet luxury. In preparation for speaking to you, I know that you believe in the concept of practical luxury. Can you talk about this concept and how it works within your brand’s ecosystem?

TZ: I actually think the new luxury is utility. It’s a functionality. Whatever works for you should be something you should cherish. That is where we want to be no matter if we are talking about OLEADA or AnyWear. I want people to have this type of feeling when they open the bag! Those who wear it didn’t realize that they needed this pocket or a strap.

It is important to me that our bags are engineered to be functional. They can carry your devices and the bags have great craftsmanship.

AM: You’re currently finalizing your showroom in NoMad and it’s one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city. There is an energy in this area, a number of amazing eateries, fitness studios etc. Why did you opt to be here as opposed to the West Village or Tribeca?

TZ: Like you said, I really love the energy of NoMad and I think it is really good for OLEADA. The brand really stands for someone who appreciates good quality, but also needs a number of aesthetics. I love that NoMad has a lot of artists, builders, and professionals which is literally our audience. Being on the street and as much as I love people watching, I feel that I can see what is trending and it’s a great way for me to keep inspired!

AM: Since I connected with your brand, you have done a number of events during the Spring/Summer here in the city, trunk shows, and being in the Hamptons.

Are there any upcoming events that you would like our readers to know about?

TZ: We collabed with this amazing non-profit organization called RaiseFashion. I think you know about that. And they are doing a full-day trunk show open to the public on the 11th of September during NYFW. I’d love to send an invitation to all the readers if you want to check out the products and experience OLEADA.

So we are building our studio and we have a TikTok series about creating a New York City fashion studio from scratch. Hopefully, I can get it done by the end of September and we can open it to the public by appointment in October. We’re looking at doing a panel event or something for the holidays.

IG @oleada_official

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT | OLEADA

Read the AUG ISSUE #128 of Athleisure Mag and see PRACTICAL LUXURY | Tiffany Zhou in mag.

MAKING THE MOST OF C.H.I.P | INAKI GODOY

We love adding heat to our favorite dishes as it takes it to the next level. We sat down with Netflix’s One Piece star, Iñaki Godoy (One Piece, The Imperfects, Who Killed Sara). We talked with him about how an Instagram post showing his love of Tabasco came about, being the lead in One Piece, and what his role as C.H.I.P. is one that he takes seriously!

INAKI GODOY: I don’t know if you heard, but now I am the chip of the Tabasco sauce family. Do you know what C.H.I.P. stands for?

ATHLEISURE MAG: Yes, Chief Hot Ideas Person.

IG: That’s who I am. I’m the Chief Hot Ideas Person at Tabasco Sauce. Thank you for your time. What do you want to know about being the C.H.I.P.?

AM: Well, before we get into C.H.I.P., what do you enjoy about storytelling?

IG: What do I enjoy about storytelling? I enjoy that it’s very fun.

AM: So is there anything you would like to tell us about One Piece or anything we should know about Luffy? We know S3 is coming up.

IG: Well, I think that in S3 of One Piece, Luffy is going to eat a lot of food. And I think people should be looking forward to that.

AM: So how did you become Tabasco’s C.H.I.P.?

IG: That is a wonderful question. Let me tell you about how I became a C.H.I.P. of Tabasco. So it all started back in April. I ran out of hot sauce and I decided to post on Instagram that I needed people to send me hot sauce because I didn’t have any. What I didn’t expect was that Tabasco sauce replied and they sent me a box full of Tabasco all the way to South Africa where we shoot One Piece. It didn’t stop at that after that they sent me a customized Tabasco sauce that I actually displayed in my living room and it looks beautiful and then after that, they went even beyond what I ever imagined and they offered me a position as C.H.I.P. in Tabasco right?

AM: So what does it mean to be a C.H.I.P.?

IG: It’s my responsibility to have ideas to represent the values of Tabasco and just enjoy Tabasco overall so that’s what I do. C.H.I.P. it’s my new biggest role to date and I’m very very happy to be collaborating with my favorite sauce ever in the world.

AM: What are some of the hot ideas that you’ve come up with? Are you able to share?

IG: Well, one of my best ideas so far is I actually have a cookbook now. So I am not a chef. I am not trained at cooking. However, Tabasco decided to give me a shot and we collaborated together in making the Chaos Kitchen Cookbook, which you can actually download for free on the Tabasco website. It has some of my favorite recipes - all starring Tabasco sauce, of course. And it’s very, very, very entertaining. I think that if you’re looking for good food, if you’re looking for a not so serious experience, one where mess isn’t a mistake, but it’s actually the method where you can experiment, have fun, and just, you know, enjoy being in the kitchen. I think it’s the best cookbook for that.

I have this suit, of course. This is also one of my ideas. I wanted to have a suit, a red Tabasco suit. I have it. It has a lot of pockets where I can fit many Tabasco sauces. So for example, if I’m at the movie theater and someone has some popcorn, I can be like, “don’t worry, I got you.” Boom, boom, boom, sprinkle some Tabasco. Or let’s say I’m having a carne asada with my family. They’re having some tacos and then I can be like, “hold up, hold up. Let me give you some hot sauce, uncle.” And then boom, boom, boom, some Tabasco sauce. So it’s a very convenient suit. I personally like it a lot. I don’t like taking it off because I love it so much. So this is another thing that me and Tabasco collaborated with. I mean, there’s many of them. I am very busy as C.H.I.P.

AM: Do you have a favorite Tabasco flavor?

IG: It’s too hard to pick. There’s so many of them. I mean, the chipotle is so nice with a sandwich. I really like the little sweet, spicy flavor that it has. Sriracha is also really good. The extra hot is delicious when I’m feeling a little bit adventurous. I mean, the Tabasco red sauce is a classic. It’s discreet, yet it enhances everything. So I don’t know. I mean, I ran out specifically of the green jalapeno Tabasco sauce when I made that post back in South Africa. So, I mean, you could say that that one is my favorite because that’s the one that I ran out of first. So I don’t know. I like all of them. They’re all like my children. I cannot pick. I love them all individually.

IG @inakigo

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT | Tabasco

Read the AUG ISSUE #128 of Athleisure Mag and see MAKING THE MOST OF C.H.I.P. | Inaki Godoy in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | YUNARA LIFE

Taking care of our bodies is an ongoing process and not just one that we do when we realize that we are getting sick. Yunara Life focuses on combining preventative medicine with behavioral science and selfcare! It allows us to make sure that we are positively reinforced to make healthy behaviors as we navigate our days. Their first location opens this Summer in Gramercy.

Founded by Erika Chen, FNP-BC, she trained at Columbia University/New York Presbyterian Hospitals with 15 years experience in the ICU, ER, primary care, and aesthetics!

By believing that healthcare should keep people well, she provides evidence based medicine, behavioral science, technology, and restorative care in a new way by placing it in a health sancutary where people can look forward to coming to it.

Yunara is designed to be a one-stop destination for both healthcare and self-care, so their range of services is intentionally broad. They offer advanced bloodwork beyond what is typically ordered in primary care, longevity protocols, peptide oversight, hormone optimization, DEXA scans, and comprehensive exercise physiology and performance testing, including VO₂ max, lactate threshold, and gait analysis. They are also introducing the only AI-powered treadmill of its kind in the U.S., which scans the body while walking or running to assess movement and form.

On the self-care side, they offer medical aesthetics including Botox, chemical peels, and advanced microneedling with exclusive Korean serums featuring NAD, exosomes, and PDRN, as well as stem cell facials, full-body red light therapy, personalized sunlight therapy, performance recovery, zero-gravity adaptive massage, and massage and bodywork incorporating cupping, gua sha, and other restorative modalities. The Yunara app ties the experience together, helping members understand their health data, follow personalized recommendations, build healthier habits, and earn rewards for engaging with their health.

The 6,000-square-foot Gramercy flagship was intentionally designed as a health sanctuary, not simply another medical or wellness center.

YUNARA LIFE

115 E. 23rd St 10th Fl,

NY, NY 10010

yunara.life

IG @yunara.life

PHOTOS CREDITS | Yunara Life

Read the AUG ISSUE #128 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | Yunara Life in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | TAP

TAP launched in New York City in 2017, opening its first café on the Upper West Side. What began as one small counter built around three Brazilian staples, tapioca sandwiches, açaí bowls, and pão de queijo, has since grown into a five-café everyday Brazilian café,” with locations across Manhattan, Queens, and Miami, including our newest café in NoMad, which just celebrated its grand opening this August.

TAP serves wellness-driven Brazilian fast-casual food, 100% gluten-free and built around three pillars: tapioca sandwiches, açaí bowls, and pão de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread). The signature ingredient across the menu is tapioca flour, milled from the cassava root, which forms the base of our sandwiches, egg wraps, and cheese bread. It’s naturally gluten-free and a staple of Brazilian cooking that’s also become a favorite among fitness- and health-conscious eaters. We layer that with real açaí, Brazilian- grown coffee, and tropical fruit, so every category on the menu, from breakfast through dinner, carries the same Brazilian, better-for-you DNA.

Being 100% gluten-free isn’t a marketing angle for us; it’s a promise. So many of their guests are part of the celiac and gluten-free community, and walking into TAP means they never have to ask a single question about cross-contamination. Every item on the menu is safe for them.

That trust is exactly why they operate from 7 AM to 9 PM at NoMad: they want TAP to be part of someone’s whole day, from a morning coffee and açaí bowl to a lunch and dinner tapioca sandwich, without ever having to think twice about what’s in it. Fast, healthy, and full of flavor, that’s the whole idea behind TAP. And being gluten-free, isn’t exclusive to those who need it; it’s just a better way to eat for everyone.

We suggest that you try these 3 acai bowls - Samba Bowl (an authentic açai with homemade granola, mango, and passion fruit – a bright, tropical mix), Monster Bowl (a 24oz bowl loaded with real açai, fruit, granola, chia, and coconut flakes), and a Power Bowl (built for peanut butter lovers: real açai topped with granola, banana, strawberries, a swirl of peanut butter, and milk powder - contains nuts).

Their tapioca sandwiches are TAP’s original signature: a naturally gluten-free “bread,” griddled fresh from tapioca flour milled from the cassava root, filled with real, honest ingredients. We suggest you try their Philly “Rio” Steak, Prosciutto Classico and BBQ Mushroom.

There Pão de Queijo is Brazil’s beloved cheese bread — naturally gluten- free, made from tapioca (cassava) starch and real cheese, with that iconic chewy-inside, crisp-outside bite. It’s one of the most nostalgic foods in Brazil, and they bake theirs fresh daily using a special cheese blend of mozzarella, parmesan, and swiss. Try their Traditional, Spicy, and Pesto.

TAP NOMAD

261 5th Ave

NY, NY 10016

eattap.co

IG @eat_tap

PHOTOS COURTESY | Tap

Read Athleisure Mag’s AUG ISSUE #128 and see ATHLEISURE LIST | Tap in mag.

BINGELY BOOKS

THE CARIBBEAN COOKBOOK

Phaidon

Rawlston Williams

Caribbean cuisine is rooted in creativity, resourcefulness, and ingenuity! The dishes that are made represent various cultures that have come together over time and borders. In The Caribbean Cookbook, Chef Rawlston Williams celebrates the diversity in food, culinary traditions, and flavors that are from this dynamic region.

With more than 380 recipes from 28 countries and island nations, the book includes classic marinades, sauces, and preserves; broths and soups; rices, grains, and vegetables; and chapters dedicated to Sea & River, On Land, Flour, Sugar, Juice, and Rum.

We’re looking forward to making an array of dishes like Jamaica’s Jerk Chicken, Dominica’s Callaloo Soup, and Puerto Rico’s plantain-based Mofongo and more!

WHAT TO COOK WHEN YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE COOKING: MAKE IT FAST

Union Square & Co

Caroline Chambers

In What To Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking: Make it Fast, Caroline Chambers once again presents dishes to make when you don’t feel like cooking which has been her brand! Her cookbooks remove unnecessary steps, minimizes the amount of prep dishes, and strives to make stress free options that keep the process fun - even when you don’t want to cook!

She separates her cookbook in 3 time based chapters. WIth over 100 recipes for dinner you’ll find that nothing takes over 30 minutes to make with some stand-outs including Flank Steak with Elote Salsa, Fish and Veggie Curry, and Rotisserie-ish Chicken with Schmaltzy Dressing!

SOMETHING FOR NOTHING

Clarkson Potter

Alison Roman

We love when a dish comes together and it’s when you think, “how did something so wonderful come from basically nothing,” you will get the answers to this in Something For Nothing! This cookbook is a collection of simple, smart, timeless recipes that rely on a home cook’s best kept secret - a well-stocked pantry!

Being able to make the most of items that are already available to you whether they are in a can, bags, jars, etc! Alison Roman ensures that each dish is packed with flavor along with her writing style that presents classic recipes along with her warm flair!

We love Snacks and Things to Start which includes Herbed Artichoke Dip, Spanish Tortilla & Friends, and Labne with Caramelized Harissa.

With the Fall coming up Soups & Stews provides recipes for Kimchi-Tomato Soup with Rice & a Soft Egg; Golden Mushroom Soup with Orzo & a Pat of Butter; and Ginger & Greens Noodle Soup. These may be on repeat!

In Pasta & Noodles her Saucy Roasted Eggplant Pasta; Bolognese with Fennel; and Carbonara for Two seems like a win.

These are just a sampling of recipes that you will find that will make you want to raid your own kitchen/pantry (or even pop out to get a few more items) to create these amazing dishes.

Read Athleisure Mag’s AUG ISSUE #128 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY BOOKS in mag.

BINGELY TV/STREAMING

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: THE WOLF OF WINTER

Prime Original

Prime Video

The US Open has kicked off here in NYC and when it comes to one of the greats, it’s Novak Djokovic. In the documentary, Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter, we see his iconic rise as he plays tennis. But we also see how he juggles between the tragedies that took place in home country of Serbia, the belief his family had as well as the lengths that they would go to bring him to global stages, and how he has mastered being such a force on the courts for all of these years!

While we attended week 1 of the US Open, he shared in the press room that he would be interested in potentially sharing more of his story in a serialized format. We hope so!

TRAVIS BARKER: LOUDER THAN FEAR

Hulu Original

Hulu

Travis Barker is an incredible drummer and producer that has lent his talents to Blink 182, super bands as well as working across genres. He defintiely showcases how in many ways music and the way he plays it is a sport all of its own!

In Travis Barker: Louder Than Fear, we get to know how he came to music, literally drumming to his own beat, having great voices in music giving their thoughts about him, the highs and lows of his life, his plane accident, and how he has bounced back from it by flying again in the last few years!

We also see aspects of his personal life, kids, and the various businesses that he is involved in.

LANTERNS

DC Studios

HBO Max

We love seeing our favorite comic books in a new way and in DC Studios’ Lanterns, they do exactly that! In this series, we get to watch Green Lantern legend Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and fresh recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) as two intergalactic cops that are brought into an immersive and dark, Earth-based mystery.

Whether you follow the comic books or are new to the universe, this series feels like a True Detective vibe while providing Easter Eggs and hat tips to characters that have yet to be revealed who are also known characters in this universe!

In addition to watching this show, we highly suggest that you watch/listen to the companion podcast Lanterns The Official Podcast hosted by Juju Green.

Read the AUG ISSUE #128 of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely TV/Streaming in mag.

9LIST ROUTIN3S | LAKEY PETERSON

Read the AUG ISSUE #128 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST ROUTIN3S | Lakey Peterson in mag.

9LIST ROUTIN3S | PAUL GEORGE

Read the AUG ISSUE #128 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST ROUTIN3S | Paul George in mag.

9PLAYLIST | RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

PHOTO CREDIT | Pavel Suslov

PHOTO CREDIT | Pavel Suslov

PHOTO CREDIT | Pavel Suslov

PHOTO CREDIT | Pavel Suslov

PHOTO CREDIT | Pavel Suslov

Read the AUG ISSUE #128 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST | Red Hot Chili Peppers in mag.

9LOOKS | FENDI FALL 2026

Read the AUG ISSUE #128 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LOOKS | Fendi Fall 2026 in mag.