Risto Sports

Hi,

You may have noticed articles in the news about  the Tazreen Fashions factory in Bangladesh that burned down, killing over 112 people.  You may have heard some survivors claiming to have worked there since they were children. You may have heard that when workers smelled the deadly smoke, they were told to go back to work!

Here’s what you can do about this exploitation:

When you can, buy products that you know are not made in a sweatshop.  It starts, right here, at Risto Sports with our Risto branded shoes, wrist wraps, and straps.   The people making our products are treated like people as you can see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9btyIgjCMt0

I know people who say they can’t buy things that aren’t made in a sweatshop because it’s too expensive. Guess what, that’s not true either!

Because Risto Sports opts to fairly price our products, our shoes are still cheaper than other brands.  And, we are higher quality than the other brands on the market.  Seriously, if you’re on the fence about which shoes to buy, why wouldn’t you buy a high quality shoe that you know is doing something good for the people who made it?

So, do something good this Christmas, Hannukah, Festivus, or other holiday of your choice and buy a piece of social good — a pair of Risto’s… maybe some Fair Trade coffee, too.  It’s really that easy.

” Be the change…”Mahatma Gandhi.

Sweatshop fire references:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/07/world/asia/bangladesh-fire-exposes-safety-gap-in-supply-chain.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57557717/ap-bangladesh-factory-where-112-died-in-blaze-had-lost-fire-safety-clearance/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cbsnews%2Ffeed+(CBSNews.com)

Looking for some additional photos on the Risto Olimpico before buying?

A gallery on Risto Olimpico production model has just been added, and can be found here:

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

or

http://www.ristosports.com/blog/?page_id=521

All old models are at a deep discount.   We have very few shoes left in only a few sizes, so here is your chance to be opportunistic.  We almost never run sales, and the sale will end this November…  so don’t expect to see prices like these again.

As there are very few shoes left, all sales are final.

Risto Sports is proud to announce the luanching of our new model: The Risto Olimpico:

The elite weightlifting shoe: Hand made leather upper and interior, solid wood heel, natural rubber outsole, flexible forefoot to improve jerks.

As mentioned in our July 15, 2012 blog post, Risto Sports worked with a NYC designer, Storm Lewis, to develop a new and, even better model (http://www.ristosports.com/blog/?p=452).  Well, moths of work ensued to bring the Olimpico to life.  This included – finding a new manufacturing site,  developing improved manufacturing methods, upgrading styling, adding performance features,  improve long term durability of the shoe, and continuing to improve the overall quality and value of the shoe.

Why you should buy this shoe?

1. It will make you lift more!   It’s designed by weightlifting experts and will outperform any flat sole shoe.

2. Hard wood heel insert, at a height that is optimized for hitting max snatches, clean and jerks, and squats.

3. Hand made in fair trade* conditions, by the only female run factory in Ecuador, in the America’s- just watch here:

4. Full leather upper ( Leather interior and exterior upper), for supreme fit that will improve over the lifetime of the shoe

5. Way cheaper than the big brands.  The Risto’s are priced more than $20 less than the big brands.

What  is different from our previous models?

1. It is lighter, because CrossFitters like light shoes.

2.  Super flexible forefoot to improve jerks and decrease break-in time:

Natural rubber is better than plastic

3. Even more green footprint.

These models are made in Ecuador and are locally sourced. The leather, wood, and natural rubber all come from the area, reducing the carbon footprint.

4. No more metal eyelets on the exterior of the shoe.

Eyelets are only visible on the interior of the upper and not exposed on the exterior.  This prevents them from damage and increases durability of shoe.

5. Improved drying methods extend life of the shoe exterior sole

Due to improved drying techniques, the seal between the rubber exterior footing and the wood heel is more durable.

To celebrate Election Day, the Risto Olimpico will be available for pre-sale Tuesday, November 6, 2012.

*Important Note: Currently, there are no Fair Trade organizations which certify products like weightlifting shoes. Hence, we have not sought fair trade certification.

As you probably already know, Risto Sports made an appearance at the Alaska Fitness Expo last weekend (OCT 13-14, 2012).

Risto Sports was invited by Alaska Fit Productions (http://www.npcalaska.com/) to AFXIII.  Here are the results of Risto lifters:

Gwen Rojas (LG), Age 9, snatch 23 , clean and jerk 32 , 55kg total , under 48kg weight class

Gwendolyn Sisto , snatch 82, clean and jerk 97 , 179 kg total, 63kg weight class, Best Female Lifter

Here are some fun pictures of the Risto Team with pro IFBB Athletes as we.ll as some shots of the powerlifting, figure, and bodybuilding competition (Sorry, we did not get any photos of the Olympic lifting as we were helping out and lifting)  Note, cool photos with Dana Linn Bailey and Mike O’Hearn

Risto Sports also gave a Soviet System I Certification, in conjunction with the Expo organizers,  at South Side Strength and Fitness (http://www.southsidestrengthandfitness.com/). The seminar was a great success, with athletes remarking that they learned as much in a half hour as a semester a of college.  Yes, we do a pretty good job jam-packing the Certifications with content!  At the certification, we also do hands-on application. Check out some photos of the Cert 

Finally, here’s a cool video of IFBB pro, Fred Smalls putting on a real show:

And then, Fred talking about how awesome Alaska, Garry Lodoen, and George Farrah are:

If you’re coming up for our Soviet System I seminar on October 27 at the Risto Sports Gym, or any day for that matter, here are some suggestions in no particular order for Organic, Natural, buy local, and raw foods.  

1. Rising Tide Natural Foods  …Raw milk and goat milk! :

This is a local food store with mostly dry goods as well as refrigerated dairy and soy product, about 2 miles from the gym. They carry  Raw Milk and goat milk.   Many of their dairy products are from Maine and New Hampshire. They also have a great selection of unique fair trade and organic products like cacao nibs.

2. Golden Harvest …lots of good, fair trade coffee:

Local food store that carries fresh produce (vegetables etc) as well as local dairy products. They also sell locally made gelato and ice cream (pre packed).  They have a good selection of locally roasted coffees, many of which are fair trade or organic or both (http://www.wickedjoe.com/java/ brand out of Brunswick, ME).

They are also adjacent to Carl’s Meat Market, carrying fresh butcher quality meat.

3. Portsmouth Health Food Center – Raw milk and Grass Fed yogurt!

This is a store located in downtown Portsmouth, NH ; which means it is a short stroll from magnificent local cafes!  Anyhow, they tend to carry grass fed dairy products from Rollingsford, NH.  Paleo diet followers: grass fed milk has a different fat profile than regular milk- more omega 3′s than omega 6′s (high omega 3 ratio due to eating grass and NOT soy or corn).

Other unique items they carry is a wide selection of high Omega 3 as well as high monounsaturated fat oils, such as: avocado oil, almond oil, apricot oil, coconut oil.  Most of the oils list the fat profile; a great plus for Paleo diet followers.

Their website is http://www.portsmouthhealthfood.com/retailer/store_templates/shell_id_1.asp?storeID=3AF4B77695E54E81A7D3690F43CBC12B

4. Philbrick’s Fresh Market… the local, organic, high end supermarket!

This description from their website says everything, “Philbrick’s Fresh Market is a local, independent, family owned and operated food shopping experience like no other. At Philbrick’s, you’ll find everything you need to make all of your meals more memorable, from the area’s best selection of naturally raised meats to organic produce and hard to find specialty foods and ingredients And if there’s something you don’t see next time you’re here, our helpful, food-loving staff will come to the rescue. Too busy to cook? Our amazing selection of restaurant-worthy prepared foods and sushi-to-go are always here for your convenience. ” from http://www.philbricksfreshmarket.com/.

Philbrick’s is a favorite of many local Crossfitters and Risto athletes. It’s got everything in one place. You can get raw milk, grass fed yogurt, freash made meals to go, Kombucha, grass fed meats from Wee Bit Farm in Maine, and lots of coffee and tea choices.  They even have a cafe located inside.  In terms of prices,  they carry a lot of high end local/organic/artisan/heirloom/fair trade products.

5. Farm stand on Route 236, South Berwick, Maine near Marshwood High School

If you simply keep driving West of us on route 236, right near the Marshwood High School is a fresh farm stand.  They are still open as of now and have beautiful pumpkins.

Also Mention: Vitamin Shoppe in Portsmouth, NH  - raw food bars and Icelandic Water

Our local Vitamin Shop often carries raw food bars and Icelandic Glacial water.  Though Vitamin Shoppe is yet to carry products like raw milk, this store has a good selection of friendly items like high purity protein powder, Omega 3 supplements and raw food bars.

In closing, Risto Athletes have actually bought products from each local business listed, and we’re offering this information to our customers as we know how important diet is to your training success!!

If you have a local business that you would like to recommend, then please leave a comment.

DISCLAIMER: The FDA does not support Raw Milk and advises against Raw Milk; talk to your doctor before buying raw products http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/consumers/ucm079516.htm

From the farthest North state on the East Coast to the farthest North state on the West Coast- in true viking form– the Mainiacs from Risto Sports are invading Alaska!

AFX, www.alaskafitnessexpo.com

Risto Sports will be at the 2012 Alaska Fitness Expo (AFX, as the cool people call it, so we’re told) in Anchorage, Alaska October 13, 2012.  You can swing by our table at the weightlifting competition. Stop by our table for exciting news and, exclusive offers.  Not to mention, in between the Olympic lifting action, check out some pro fitness, powerlifting, and bodybuilding athletes will be around, including the likes of Dana Linn Bailey.

Risto Weightlifters Gwendolyn Rojas and Gwen Sisto will be lifting.  Risto will also be giving out prizes for the top lifters, on sinclair, of the session.

The following day, we will also be holding a Soviet System I Certification at South Side Strength and Fitness  http://www.southsidestrengthandfitness.com/.You can register for the event at  https://guestlistapp.com/events/124572.

It is a rare opportunity to catch a Risto Cert outside of Maine, so Sieze the opportunity!

Hi there,

We just wrapped up our first “Soviet System I” certification, and it was a great success.  We had coaches- College Strength coaches, private sports performance trainers, CrossFit Coaches  – and athletes from Ohio, Indiana, Quebec, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania,  New York (yeah, Brooklyn!), Kentucky, North Carolina, Maine, and probably a few places I’m not even aware of…  attend the Certification today.

Here is what attendees got out of the Cert:

1.  Actually, went through several programming examples with Dr Herrera

- This includes – how to program a month of training, how to decompose it down to planning rep’s each week and each day

- This includes which combination of exercises to do each day — and why

2. Actually, were required to do a sample program to become Certified (ie we don’t give Certificates out like candy)

3.  Yes, and, my favorite the PHILOSOPHY AND Theory you need to know to even be able to write a Soviet program

4. A sample program that Risto Sports created for Annie Thorisdottir for Olympic lifting,

5. Studies done on Alexeev, and the programming that went with it

6.  Booklets that the students can take home with them to use as a reference going forward

7.  Vitamin Shoppe of Portsmouth, NH sponsored the event with free gift bags (free supplements!)

8.  A free lunch

In summary,  this certification went into the “how to”  as well as the “why” behind the Soviet System.  We feel that the participants who passed the certification test will be proficient in writing basic Soviet training programs, which means big results for their athletes.

Did you notice Kazakhstan won every weight class that they were entered in for women?  Did you notice Ilya Ilin of Kazakhstan smashing the 94kg world records, outlifting the 105kg winner?

Would you like to know what training methods they use?

Guess what — we can show you:

Register at: http://www.ristosports.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=135

The Kazakhstan weightlifting program used the Soviet System to train their athletes.  Just like Alexeev, the Kazakh lifters brought home the gold in record breaking performances and style.    You, too, can learn to apply this system to your athletes by attending the Risto Sports’ Certification on the Soviet System.

In our Seminar, we will open the doors to the Soviet System to you.  You will get an introduction to the Soviet Programming, and walk away being able to proficiently apply the fundamentals.  Yes, this is a Level 1 Certification, as Dr Herrera, Medvedyev, and Turkeleri did not become programming genius’s over night.  Still, we offering you a fast track to becoming an expert as Dr Herrera has already done the research on training systems for you.

If you’re wondering how we know that Kazakhstan uses the Soviet System, well, we know a couple of ways:

For one, Risto Sports’ Head Coach, Ivan Rojas, happened to have a long conversation on Kazakh training methods with  the head of the Kazakh weightlifting federation, Kairat Turlyhanov, while flying back from the Paris World Championships on the same connecting flight to Frankfurt, Germany.   (Apparently, Ivan knows everyone and hangs out with everyone in the know, so we’re pretty lucky, here, at Risto Sports).

Finally, there is a pretty good article in www.allthingsgym.com,  showing a snap shot of a Kazakh youth training program, that shows characteristics of Soviet training– it’s of course written in Russian.  (Yes, if you come to the seminar, we’ll teach you much more than what’s in this .pdf).

And here’s another fun fact:  Enver Turkeleri is the coach and consultant, of the Kazakh national team. It is an often forgotten fact that he brought up 3 time Olympic gold medalist Naim Sulymanoglu, as well as  3 time Olympic Champion Halil Mutlu.

References:

http://sport.gov.kz/eng/?p=1977

http://www.allthingsgym.com/2012/07/kazakhstan-youth-weightlifting-program/

In the spirit of continuously improving the aesthetics and overall look of our sports gear–ie, each new design gets closer and closer to more accurately identifying the Risto esprit du corps- we are proud to announce an add to our design team.

Storm Lewis will be working with Risto Sports on our next generation of shoes.  Storm graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, NY.   He has done design work for labels such as: Samesky, Oleg Cassini, and Calvin Klein…. to name a few.

More importantly–  Yes, he has a real Mohawk.