Posts made in February 2022

Ski Kaçkar Mountains

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The 2022 heli-skiing season has officially kicked off in the scenic Kaçkar Mountains of Turkey’s Black Sea region, and will welcome 370 accredited athletes through the end of March. Perhaps better known for its white-sand beaches and turquoise waters, Turkey is home to some of the best heli-skiing in the world, luring top extreme sports athletes from the US, Canada, Switzerland, France, Italy and Russia with its deep powder snow and long ski runs.

Located between the Rize and Artvin provinces of northeastern Turkey, the highest peak in the Kaçkar Mountains reaches nearly 12,800 feet in altitude. The more than 400 ski runs in the area range from about 11,800 to 4,000 feet above sea level, with vertical drops of 2,300 to 4,000 feet. With its excellent snow quality, highly stable snowpack and varied ski terrain, the Kaçkar mountain range is perfectly suited to heli-skiing. In addition to heli-skiing and snowboarding, the Kaçkar Mountains also offer rafting fans an adrenaline rush in the world-class rapids of the Fırtına Stream.

Based on the Ayder Plateau in Rize, the Kaçkar Mountains are home to a wide range of accommodations from boutique hotels, hostels to rental bungalows. The team on site consists of experienced professional ski guides, pilots, massage therapists, engineers, interpreters and tourist guides. All hailing from different alpine countries, some of the guides on Kaçkar Mountains are also professional helicopter pilots, renowned Himalayan specialists or members of professional rescue teams. The pilots on the team, all of whom are of Swiss descent, also work in Alpine conditions all year round doing heli-ski flights, rescue work or hauling loads. The massage therapists, available to offer relief after a day of leg-burning laps, are trained in physiotherapy, acupuncture and reflexology.

In addition to world-class sports, the Kaçkar Mountains are sure to delight those who would like to add some culture to their visit with historical settlements and churches. Located in Artvin and dating back to the Middle Ages, some of these structures sit perched atop mountains with stunning views of the Black Sea below. And not to be missed are the regional culinary delicacies of the Kaçkar Mountains is its gastronomy delicacies, including the famous hamsi (Black Sea anchovies, served either cured or fried) and the Black Sea regional variation of traditional Turkish breakfast, including Rize’s famous black tea, muhlama (a mixture of cheese, corn flour and butter), tursu kavurmasi (fried pickles), misir ekmegi (cornbread), a variety of pides (flatbreads), local butter and Anzer honey, which is locally produced on the green plateaus of the Black Sea.

A Safe Tourism Destination

Taking great precautions to ensure a safe stay, the resorts in the Kaçkar Mountains have all the necessary equipment and evacuation aids at their disposal, ranging from rescue mats with a winch cover, vacuum mattresses and defibrillators, to ventilation systems and first-aid kits. There to assist you in the event of an accident, all guides on site are trained in emergency snow procedure and the use of equipment.

In addition to heli-skiing safety, Turkey’s Safe Tourism Certification Program, the first of its kind in the world, certifies: accommodation facilities; food and beverage facilities; tour and transfer vehicles; culture, art, and congress facilities; theme parks, ski lifts and marine tourism facilities; and vehicles’ compliance with a total of more than 900 international health and hygiene criteria. Accreditation institutions that have been authorized to inspect these facilities, vehicles, parks and lifts conduct hygiene and health inspections at least twice per month. To date, more than 11,700 facilities in Turkey have been granted the Safe Tourism Certification. In addition, there are tourist protection and accommodation protection insurance packages covering the costs of an extended stay in Turkey in the event visitors develop COVID during their visit.For further information, please click HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Nine Things You Didn’t Know About the Paralympic Winter Games

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The Olympic Games get a lot of love. However, if you haven’t gotten enough sports action yet, you can watch some of the world’s toughest athletes once again go head-to-head between Friday, March 4, and Sunday, March 13, 2022, during the Paralympic Games.

The Paralympic Games enter their 74th year this spring. Here are nine things you didn’t know about this spectacular sporting event.

1. A Veteran Started Them

The original Olympics began in ancient Greece around 776 B.C. The modern Paralympics came about much later. Ludwig Guttman started them in 1948 for World War II veterans with spinal injuries.

This year’s games feature 736 athletes and 78 medal events. There are 39 events for men and 35 for women. The games welcome trans athletes, making them a model for inclusion for other institutions to follow. It sets a shining example amid a flurry of proposed legislation banning such individuals from competing.

Some of the games involve mixed-gender events. Wheelchair curling will include 12 such teams, each requiring at least one female.

Like standard Olympic games, athletes can qualify to compete through several means. They can place at World Championships, regional games or rank, or a world or regional list. They can also achieve a minimum qualification standard with or without the subsequent allocation formula.

2. Skiing Is the Most Popular Event

Skiing is the most popular event at the Paralympic Winter Games. There are six disciplines: downhill, slalom, super slalom, super-G, super combined and team events.

Athletes compete in three categories based on their abilities. A results calculation system allows those with various impairments to compete against each other. Racers often reach speeds of 100 or more miles per hour as they race down the slopes, and missing a gate results in disqualification.

3. The Record-Holder Has More Gold Than Phelps

Michael Phelps is an impressive athlete, to be sure, with 28 medals. However, he more than met his match in para-athlete Trischa Zorn-Hudson, who tops the charts at 55 — 41 gold, nine silver and five bronze.

In the Seoul 1988 games, Zorn-Hudson won 10 gold medals in 10 events, setting new world records in each one. She won admittance to the Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2012. She currently works as an attorney for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

4. There Are Subdivisions for Different Challenges

Each para-athlete is as unique as any other. They also have various challenges that make ranking their performance more difficult than watching an instant replay of who crossed the finish line first.

The Games use the Raza point score system, where judges convert performances to point scores to account for each athlete’s classification. Therefore, a more disabled athlete might beat a less disabled one, even if they don’t throw or jump quite as far.

5. Beijing Is the First City to Host Summer and Winter

Beijing hosts the Winter Olympics this year, but that isn’t the city’s only distinction. It’s also the first to host the Paralympic Games in both summer and winter back-to-back.

In many ways, the city is uniquely suited for these games. Athletes with disorders like cystic fibrosis run an elevated risk of severe infection from the COVID-19 pandemic. China’s zero-tolerance approach, strict quarantine requirements and mask rules keep participants safer. Although China has waived the quarantine requirement for athletes, they exist in a “bubble” with daily testing and N95 masks required when not competing.

The Paralympic Winter Games served up yet another wrinkle during the pandemic — the need for coaches to communicate with their visually impaired athletes. Although officials discourage coaches from shouting to prevent potential spread through aerosol droplets, they may briefly remove their masks to accommodate these participants.

6. Innsbruck, Austria, Hosted Back-to-Back Winter Games

Who decides where to hold the Paralympic Winter Games? It’s a joint decision between the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee. Ten cities have hosted the winter games since their inception.

Innsbruck, Austria, has the distinction of hosting the games twice back-to-back, in 1984 and 1988. The city’s unique geographic location makes it ideal for skiing events, seated in a valley surrounded by towering, snow-capped mountains. Visitors with less athletic aspirations than competitors can take a cable car to one of the enormous peaks and enjoy a spectacular view.

7. The Paralympic Flame Is Now Eco-Friendlier

Addressing climate change is everyone’s responsibility. Human beings don’t get a pass for special events like the Olympics. Fortunately, the event’s organizers take their sustainability responsibility seriously.

This year’s Paralympic Winter Games will feature a torch powered by hydrogen. This technology was first implemented in the Tokyo 2020 games to decrease emissions.

Switching fuels isn’t the only eco-friendly change. Organizers use sustainable materials, such as recyclable cardboard beds, to construct the Olympic Village.

8. Blind People Can Play Ball

Have you heard of Goalball? If you haven’t, it’s probably because you’re a sighted person. It’s played exclusively by athletes with blindness or visual impairment.

Athletes must have less than 10% vision to participate. All participants wear special opaque glasses to level the playing field — people who can see shades of gray have no advantage over those who have complete blindness.

The interesting thing about this sport is watching it — you must remain silent. During game time, only players or referees may make sounds so the athletes can hear and locate the ball. The sport has appeared in the Paralympics with a men’s and women’s division since 1984.

9. Even the Medals Are Accessible

What’s it like to win a gold medal when you can’t see the metal shine? Athletes with visual impairments will immediately know their rank before announcing the winner. The medals feature one to three lines, indicating bronze, silver or gold.

Furthermore, the venues go above and beyond to ensure accessibility. They must adhere to strict guidelines regarding ramps and signage to allow everyone to navigate freely.

Facts About the Paralympic Winter Games

Athletes come in all shapes, sizes and ability levels. The Paralympic Winter Games allow you to witness some of the best-trained individuals from around the globe compete.

These participants overcome incredible challenges to practice their sport. Now that you know these nine things about the Paralympic Winter Games, catch all the action starting March 4.

Discover Puerto Rico × Pantone

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Boriqua Interior Designer Cristina Villalón curates tips on how to best incorporate the color Puerto Rico Sunshine into a space. This fiery red-orange color created by Pantone is a combination of the sunbeams that grace the island throughout the day, refined by a physicist and professor at the University of Puerto Rico. Villalón, a leading designer in Puerto Rico with projects all over the Americas is the ideal eye to recommend how to integrate Puerto Rico Sunshine into any room or décor.

According to Villalón, orange is a dynamic color. It should be used to add energy to a room and make a space come alive. Thus, if you reside in a cold place, adding an orange wall will automatically add warmth and ebullience to the space.

Puerto Rico Sunshine alongside neutral tones such as gray have a neutralizing effect to tone down the brightness. For full island-vibes, blues also complement orange beautifully and make the perfect combination in a vibrant beach house or beachy themed room. It is recommended to use only one vivid color, like Puerto Rico Sunshine, in any given space. Using a neutral palette and natural textures, then adding pops of this bold orange in accessories makes for a soothing yet cheerful space. Painting an entire room a strong, overwhelming color can be a bit too much for most interior design tastes. Villalón recommends painting one wall in a room the brighter, statement-making color, and the rest a more neutral tone. Not only will the accent wall stand out and become a focal point, but it won’t overpower the rest of the décor elements and make you want to run out of the room! Other trends include incorporating accent colors in a wall mural. A wall mural permits you to incorporate as much or as little of an accent color as you would like, and you can also add texture and visual interest with the pattern or design you choose.

A great way to offer cohesion to the room is to paint only one wall an orange, like Puerto Rico Sunshine, and then repeat the color via furniture pieces or accessories. Some of these ways include adding color to the entryway of your home, updating older furniture, framing a mirror, or even making your own artwork. The eye-catching possibilities are as endless as the sun’s rays. Color is an extremely powerful force and too much of anyone can leave a room or space unbalanced. Yet the right amount can invigorate a home and its visitors!

Cristina Villalón is the Co-founder, Principal Interior Designer and the Director of Álvarez-Díaz & Villalón® | Architecture & Interior Design. Recognized for her attractive, welcoming, and functional interior designs, Villalón was awarded in 2015 with the Star on the Rise Award from the Design Center of the Americas (DCOTA). In 2016, Cristina was named among the Top 40 Under 40 by the magazine Design: Retail and that same year, Caribbean Business awarded her the same distinction. Villalón is a proud mother of three beautiful daughters, a recycling activist and gender equality, an insatiable reader and a lifelong learner.

Discover Puerto Rico and Pantone featured in 360 MAGAZINE.

*Special thanks to Discover Puerto Rico for providing images and access to Cristina Villalón.

Spotlight: Alex Taylor

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From Arizona, Alex Taylor (22yro) is a self-taught producer and composer. When he was young, music remained a quintessential aspect of his education. Listening to George Strait, Stevie Nicks and Poison, Taylor started analyzing the lyrical content of the songs that filled his home. He says that’s where his passion for songwriting comes from. “Although I don’t write country music, there is no denying the art, imagery, and overall passion that goes into his writing,” said Taylor during a recent interview. Aside from writing songs, Taylor produces all his music and singing. His style is described as “electronic, disorderly, sonic emotions.” He quotes his musical influences as Tove Lo and Nine Inch Nails.

Taylor is working towards the release of a new music, with an EP in the coming months. He hopes to release his first record, also produced and written by Taylor.

Fear is a song written, interpreted and created by Alex Taylor. The title is based on electricity and energy, as evidenced by the instrumental. The track describes the aftermath of a break-up; the desire and despair for someone to fill the vacant place. The best descriptors of the song are “electronic, dark, humming, synthwave.”

Skrull Variant Covers

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The Skrulls‘ latest takeover begins! Adorning the covers of your favorite ongoing series, see Marvel’s biggest heroes revealed as undercover Skrulls in new artwork this May! Crafted by the industry’s leading artists, these stunning pieces showcase just how devious Marvel Universe’s greatest cosmic foes can be. And later this year, fans can expect the Skrulls to take center stage once more in writer Ryan North and artist Francesco Mobili‘s SECRET INVASION, an upcoming limited series starring Nick Fury and Maria Hill that calls back to the iconic 2008 crossover event!

Check out the first batch of SKRULL VARIANT COVERS now and collect them all throughout the month of May.

Check out the first batch of SKRULL VARIANT COVERS now and collect them all throughout the month of May. Artists such as Steven Segovia, Salvatore Larroca, Nao Fuji, David Lopez, Khary Randolph, Pasqual Ferry, Francesco Manna, Mico Suayan, John Tyler Christopher, Lucas Werneck, Sergio Davila, Kael Ngu, Leonardo Romero, Trevor Von Eden, Phil Noto, Bjorn Barends, Nicoletta Baldari, David Baldeon, Junggeon Yoon, and Jan Bazaldua helped create the different variant covers.

Skrulls will appear on your favorite titles, such as Captain Marvel, two issues of Amazing Spider-Man, Shang-Chi, Venom, Miles Morales: Spider-Man, X-Men, Avengers, Black Panther, Iron Man, Moon Knight, Silver Surfer, Spider Punk, Fantastic Four, Iron Fist, Silk, Strange, Wolverine, Avengers Forever, Carnage, Ghost Rider, Hulk, and Immortal X-Men.

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.

Amazing Spider Man Variant Cover Art via Salvador Larroca for Marvel Comics for use by 360 Magazine

Priscilla Block on Kelly Clarkson Show

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Mercury Nashville recording artist and 2022 ACM “New Female Artist of the Year” nominee Priscilla Block sits down with Kelly Clarkson on The Kelly Clarkson Show Thursday, February 17^th to discuss her recently released debut album, Welcome to the Block Party, and perform her latest single, “My Bar.” Please check your local listings for air times.

Priscilla has been a “breakout artist to watch” over the past year—landing a Top 15 single with “Just About Over You,” the highest-peaking debut single from a female country artist in 2021—and has surpassed more than 250 million digital streams and counting.

Recently, Priscilla announced her first headlining tour, The Welcome to the Block Party Tour, which kicked off last week in Las Vegas, NV.

About Priscilla Block

Country artist Priscilla Block draws listeners in with her unfiltered, relatable songwriting and catchy melodies. Pegged as an Artist to Watch by Amazon Music, PANDORA, Spotify, CMT, The Boot, MusicRow, HITS, Sounds Like Nashville, Country Now, Music Mayhem, and more, Priscilla’s honest and upfront approach promotes self-love, empowerment, and acceptance through her own blend of country pop and southern rock, dubbed the Block Party sound.

Early in the pandemic, Priscilla was struggling to make ends meet after losing her job and her apartment. Unable to get out and play in person due to Covid-19, Priscilla began experimenting on TikTok and quickly developed a rabid fanbase with songs like “Thick Thighs,” “PMS” and “Just About Over You.” Fans rallied together to independently fund Priscilla’s recording and since its release, “Just About Over You” peaked both the iTunes Country and All-Genre song charts, the song was named one of The New York Times Best Songs of 2020, and it recently reached Top 15 on country radio. Priscilla has surpassed more than 250 million digital streams and counting with tracks like “Just About Over You,” “Wish You Were the Whiskey,” “I Bet You Wanna Know,” and more, all featured on her major-label debut album, Welcome to the Block Party. Originally from Raleigh, NC, Priscilla moved to Nashville to pursue music shortly after high school. In Nashville, the affable, hardworking, student of life worked multiple jobs to make ends meet, then a chance encounter with her idol–Taylor Swift–was the sign she needed to dive all the way in on her music. Priscilla is a seasoned performer sharing the stage and opening for artists including Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, Kelsea Ballerini, Ashley McBryde, Rodney Atkins, and more.

Eight Smart Winter Skin Care Tips

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La Niña caused harsh winter conditions last year, and people worldwide experienced colder temperatures and more snowfall. They also recognized changes in their appearance during the winter months as the cold affected their skin.

Various weather shifts wreak havoc on your skin. Some people notice an increase in cracking and flaking in the winter, while others experience an overproduction of oil. You can manage these changes by recognizing the weather alterations and adjusting your routine.

What Happens to Your Skin in the Winter?

One of the leading causes of skin changes in the winter is low humidity levels. They decrease during the colder months because cool air holds less moisture. People also use their heating units in the winter, which burn indoor water vapors.

Some people engage in outdoor winter sports that increase their susceptibility to skin damage. Skiing, ice skating and other activities expose them to wind, snow and sun rays.

When it is cold outside, many people believe sunscreen is unnecessary because of the low ultraviolet (UV) index. However, UV rays can penetrate the atmosphere and cause sunburns even in winter. High winds may also cause dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, cracking and other adverse effects. You can reduce these issues by practicing an efficient winter skin care routine.

The Importance of Skin Care

Proper skin care routines have various benefits. You shed dead skin cells throughout the day, which causes irritation without effective prevention techniques. When you remove impurities and moisturize your subsurface layers of skin, you may prevent wrinkles, acne and other adverse reactions.

The harsh effects of winter weather can also cause permanent skin damage. Keeping an efficient skin care routine can prevent harm, and prevention is easier than correction. Maintaining clear skin additionally enhances your self-esteem, which can improve your mental health.

Skin care is also important because your skin is your body’s largest organ. When you take care of your skin, you support your general health and well-being.

There are eight ways to improve your skin care routine this winter and protect it from the elements.

1. Continue Using SPF

One of the most effective ways to protect your skin in the winter is by using a moisturizer with a sun protection factor (SPF). The product can also protect your skin from indoor lighting, which causes adverse effects over time. You should use daily serums and creams with at least 30 SPF for optimal benefits.

You may also benefit from using a moisturizer with retinol. The ingredient is a form of vitamin A that promotes new skin growth. It also acts as an exfoliant to remove dead skin and nourish the new layer.

2. Turn Down The Heat

You can maintain clear and healthy skin in the winter by turning down the hot water in the shower and bath. High levels of heat cause inflammation, peeling and itching, similar to a sunburn. Hot water also interferes with your natural moisture balance.

The heat can strip your skin of the natural oils, proteins and fats that generally protect the organ. It also makes your skin overproduce oil to compensate for the dryness, causing acne and other unpleasant effects. Take lukewarm showers and baths to protect your skin in the winter, warming up with blankets and layers after getting out.

3. Stay Hydrated

You may engage in fewer physical activities during the winter because of weather-related limitations. You generally consume less water when you don’t sweat as much. Dehydration can cause dry skin and increase the appearance of aging.

Minimize the adverse effects of dehydration by consuming roughly 2.25 liters of tap or mineral water each day. You may also switch out coffee for green tea to improve hydration and your antioxidant intake. Straying away from dehydrating products and consumption patterns can effectively improve your skin.

4. Use Moisturizing Hand Soap

Another factor influencing poor skin in the winter is handwashing. The transmission rates of the flu and colds increase in the colder months, and it’s a good idea to protect yourself by washing hands frequently.

However, overwashing your hands can strip your skin of its natural oils and moisture. You can protect your skin from dryness by using moisturizing soaps. You can also apply lotion directly after washing and place a balm on chapped areas. Using the best hand cream for your skin type find will also help in keeping your hands moisturized.

5. Hydrate in the Bath

You can also protect their skin in the colder months by taking baths. Submerging your skin for extended periods may improve hydration levels. Baths also decrease cortisol levels, which is a hormone that damages the skin.

You may add bath oil to the water before getting in to decrease eczema symptoms. It is also important to moisturize afterward to improve your skin’s moisture retention.

6. Decrease Your Alcohol Intake

Alcohol also adversely affects your skin. Cocktails, wine and beer cause inflammation in the body that interferes with the skin’s natural equilibrium. Alcoholic beverages can worsen the effects of eczema, psoriasis and rosacea.

Excessive drinking also causes dehydration. Protect your skin by limiting your weekly beverage consumption. You can also drink more water when consuming alcohol to minimize the effects.

7. Exfoliate

Exfoliating in the winter can help prevent acne and give you a head-to-toe glow. Removing dead skin prevents clogged pores and stimulates cell regrowth. It’s a good idea to apply a moisturizer after washing away the dead skin to protect the new layer.

You can exfoliate with a washcloth or a beaded body wash if you have sensitive skin. Those with tougher skin can use a dry brush to remove the top flakey layer. You should also remain mindful of your daily routine and tendencies that cause dryness to protect your skin.

8. Prevent Lick Eczema

You may try to moisturize your lips by licking them. However, saliva can exacerbate dryness and cause cracking and chapped skin. The skin on your lips is more sensitive than other areas of your body, making protection essential.

Keep your lips moist in the winter with ointments and balms. You should also restrict your consumption of acidic foods and beverages to minimize licking and dryness. Also, be sure to cover your lips with a scarf or mask when skiing or dealing with high winds.

When Is the Best Time to Start a Winter Skin Care Routine?

You should adjust your skin care routine in the fall and explore any reactions. Test different products by using samples before investing in a new set of moisturizers and soaps. It is essential to remain aware of slight changes in your skin throughout the seasons for optimal protection and to keep that healthy glow all year.

G-Shock × Rubik’s Cube

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Casio announces a new addition to its lineup of G-SHOCK shock-resistant watches with the launch of a limited-edition model created in collaboration with the makers of Rubik’s Cube. The all-new GAE2100RC-1A, arriving in the popular octagonal shape of the GA2100, features an interchangeable bezel and a multi-color design that draws inspiration from the nostalgia of the Rubik’s Cube.

The new GAE2100RC-1A represents the colors found on the Rubik’s Cube with red, blue, and yellow on the dial, an orange buckle, and a green band loop. While the core watch features a matte black bezel, it also comes with an interchangeable white bezel with green and orange accents. The custom stainless-steel case back of the limited edition GAE2100RC-1A is engraved with both the Rubik’s Cube and G-SHOCK logos and comes with special packaging that embodies the colors and shape of the iconic Rubik’s Cube game.

Staying true to its GA2100 base model, the GAE2100RC-1A features a standout octagonal bezel and thin 11.8mm case featuring a Carbon Core Guard structure for lightweight durability, as well as a dual super illuminator LED light. The new model comes equipped with G-SHOCK shock resistance, 200M water resistance, 1/100-sec stopwatch, world time, 5 alarms, and 3-year battery life.

The GAE2100RC-1A will retail for $150 and will be available for purchase beginning February 18 at select G-SHOCK retailers, the G-SHOCK Soho Store, and their website.

Retrofuture Cleveland All-Star Experience

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Reebok has confirmed its return to all-star February 18-19, where the brand will offer Cleveland 2022 attendees an immersive retrofuture “Bok Door” experience showcasing the upcoming Question Mid 25^th Anniversary and brand new Instapump Fury Zone. The RSVP-only event takes place in downtown Cleveland and will welcome Reebok friends like Myles Garrett, Dee Brown, Allen Iverson, Shaquille O’Neal, and more, over the weekend.

Showing just a few weeks after the launch of its new “Life is Not a Spectator Sport” campaign, Reeboks’ 2022 all-star experience will pull attendees into a sneaker-culture “time machine” exploring the brand’s heritage and future.

“Pump, Question, Fury—Reebok is legendary in basketball and sneakers, so I’m happy to work with the brand in telling its story in Cleveland,” commented all-pro football player and Reebok partner, Myles Garrett. “This is a big weekend for the city. I hope to see tons of fans and friends at the festivities, and look forward to hanging with the Reebok community, playing games, showing some cool new shoes, and just having a good time.”

The activation will first take guests back to the 90s vintage sneaker store scene, highlighting Reebok’s basketball heritage through Allen Iverson’s iconic Question Mid and the upcoming Question Mid 25th Anniversary, a silver iteration dropping February 17^th. This 25th “Silver Anniversary “Question Mid marks the final installment of a year-long celebration of Iverson’s prolific ’96 rookie season and his first signature Reebok shoe–one that has forever changed sneaker history and basketball culture.

Visitors will then be catapulted decades into the future through the “Bok Door” and a transformative space mixing iconic Reebok basketball moments and technologies. These elements and storylines will come together to present the all-new Instapump Fury Zone—dropping February 19^th—that offers a modern interpretation of Instapump Fury design language, paired with Pump technology, and built for the modern-day blacktop with style and comfort all-in-one. In this futuristic space, guests will enjoy Reebok hoops-inspired activities, video games, exclusive custom gear, and appearances by brand partners.

About Reebok

Reebok International Ltd., headquartered in Boston, MA, USA, is a leading worldwide designer, marketer, and distributor of fitness and lifestyle footwear, apparel, and equipment. An American-inspired global brand, Reebok is a pioneer in the sporting goods industry with a rich and storied fitness heritage. Reebok develops products, technologies, and programming that enable movement so people can fulfill their potential. Reebok connects with the fitness consumer wherever they are and however they choose to stay fit—whether it’s functional training, running, combat training, walking, dance, yoga, or aerobics. Reebok Classics leverages the brand’s fitness heritage and represents the roots of the brand in the sports lifestyle market.

Liberation Pavilion

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Leading experiential design firm The Hettema Group (THG) will create a new immersive, cinematic experience for The National WWII Museum as part of the upcoming Liberation Pavilion. This project was funded by the third-largest individual gift in the institution’s history—a $7.5 million commitment to help complete the Pavilion and develop the Priddy Family Foundation Freedom Theater—representing a significant milestone toward the completion of the Museum’s $400 million Road to Victory Capital Campaign, thanks to the generosity of the Priddy Family Foundation led by Foundation Chairman and Museum Trustee Robert Priddy and wife, Kikie.

Led by Phil Hettema, whose father was a WWII fighter pilot, The Hettema Group specializes in uniquely creative, impactful design and production of experiential entertainment. The Hettema Group has a long history with the Museum as the developers of the Solomon Victory Theater’s Beyond All Boundaries 4D experience. While Beyond All Boundaries will continue to serve as the entry point to the visitor experience, the Priddy Family Foundation Freedom Theater production will serve as the capstone experience that Museum guests will walk away with.

“We’re honored to collaborate with The National WWII Museum once again on this highly anticipated expansion,” said Phil Hettema, President and Creative Executive of The Hettema Group. “Our unique and engaging production for the Liberation Pavilion’s Priddy Family Foundation Freedom Theater will highlight how the sacrifices made to defend our freedom during World War II continue to shape us today.”

The third-floor Priddy Family Foundation Freedom Theater will help ensure that the stories of World War II remain relevant for future generations by offering audiences a 20-minute multi-sensory experience focused on the lasting impact of World War II and the ongoing struggle for freedom and human rights. Drawing upon cutting-edge technology to create an immersive, emotional experience, the production will highlight how freedom almost vanished from the world in the 1930s and 1940s, efforts to protect and promote freedom during and after World War II, movements for equality and civil rights in the aftermath of the war, and the nation’s role in the postwar global order. Powerful, original visuals will be projected throughout the show, and at a pivotal moment, the theater audience platform itself will rotate. The memorable, thought-provoking experience will highlight the importance and fragility of freedom while making the sacrifices of World War II profoundly relevant today.

Liberation Pavilion, which is expected to open in late spring 2023, will explore the end of the war, the Holocaust, the immediate postwar years, and the war’s continuing impact today. The pavilion will house two floors of exhibit space featuring personal experiences, iconic imagery, impactful artifacts, and immersive settings.

“The Museum is deeply grateful to Robert, Kikie, and the Priddy Family Foundation for their leadership, generosity, and dedication to preserving the voices and legacies of the WWII generation,” said Stephen J. Watson, Museum President & CEO. “Our mission is becoming even more critical as those who served in World War II pass away, and it is our responsibility to ensure that future generations understand the lasting impact of their sacrifice. The transformative gift to underwrite the Priddy Family Foundation Freedom Theater will enable us to complete our campus expansion plans in 2023 with the opening of the Liberation Pavilion, highlighting what World War II means today and the ongoing struggle to preserve freedom.”

A longtime supporter of The National WWII Museum, The Priddy Family Foundation previously named the US Navy flag on the campus’s Founders Plaza and supported the Museum’s oral history digitization efforts in honor of their family’s WWII service. Robert’s father, Clarence Nathern Priddy, was a Pharmacist’s Mate First Class on the USS Colorado, and Kikie’s father, Edward Hughes Fitzpatrick, served with the Navy Seabees. While the Foundation’s previous gift honored their family’s history of service, the $7.5 million commitment to underwrite the Priddy Family Foundation Freedom Theater reflects their dedication to ensuring that future audiences of all ages will continue to be inspired by the values and legacies of the WWII era.

“We believe that the Greatest Generation embodies American strength and values, and we are committed to supporting the Museum in their efforts to recognize the sacrifices of this generation and to inspire all people to embrace the lessons of this global conflict,” Robert said. “The importance of these lessons, and their relevance for today and the future, inspired us to take a leadership role in the funding of the Liberation Pavilion by underwriting the Priddy Family Foundation Freedom Theater. We hope that the central theme of human freedom and the exploration of ‘what World War II means today’ will inspire all who see it to reflect on the meaning of freedom and their role in preserving it.”

The Priddy Family Foundation Freedom Theater is being developed by The Hettema Group based in Pasadena, California. Led by Phil Hettema, whose father was a WWII fighter pilot, The Hettema Group specializes in uniquely creative, impactful design and production of experiential entertainment. The Hettema Group has a long history with the Museum as the developers of the Solomon Victory Theater’s Beyond All Boundaries 4D experience. While Beyond All Boundaries will continue to serve as the entry point to the visitor experience, the Priddy Family Foundation Freedom Theater production will serve as the capstone experience that Museum guests will walk away with.

Prior to the theater experience, visitors will learn about the end of World War II and the immediate postwar years through the Liberation Pavilion’s first-floor galleries, honoring those Americans who were killed or wounded as well as the immense sacrifices of an entire generation. In addition to exhibits examining the horrors of the Holocaust and moments of liberation, the floor will also include an interfaith chapel to provide a quiet space for contemplation and a gallery highlighting the story of the Monument’s Men and Women.

From these somber stories, visitors will transition into the brighter narrative of hope and progress on the Pavilion’s second floor, which will examine the war’s impact in the postwar period: from the joys of homecoming and transitions back home from the battlefields to the war crimes trials, new technological innovations, movements for social change and civil rights, and developments in international and domestic affairs. Connections will be drawn between World War II and its profound meaning and relevance today.

The National WWII Museum

The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world—why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today—so that all generations will understand the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn. Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum and now designated by Congress as America’s National WWII Museum, the institution celebrates the American spirit, the teamwork, optimism, courage, and sacrifices of the men and women who fought on the battlefront and served on the Home Front.