By Hans Rey (Mountain Bike Freeride Pioneer, Trials World Champion, Founder of Wheels 4 Life)

The big news is that I got married to Carmen in November and that I also received my US citizenship in October. Despite my broken leg (Feb. 08) I had a fantastic and busy year. The highlights were my adventures and work for my charity ‘Wheels 4 Life’ in Tanzania.

I ended the year with a skiing trip in Livigno in the Italian Alps, not only a great place for skiing, but really good for biking in the summertime. I spent the Holidays with my new family in England. I even competed in a moto-trials event and got nice rides in, even though the weather was quite cold and miserable.

When I’m on the road I usually bring some açaí powder, but this time I just brought a whole box of frozen açaí smoothie packs, couldn’t bear the thought of being cut off for too long from my homemade smoothie creations. My latest ingredients discoveries include canned leeches fruit, they taste so good with soymilk, banana and CLIF Vanilla Protein powder.

Today I added the CLIF electrolyte replacement drink powder (cran – razz flavor), its awesome, and when I’m hungry in the mornings I just add cereal to the blender or on top of my bowl. Try it and stay tuned.

More info at: www.hansrey.com, www.wheels4life.org
Follow my day on Twitter.com: http://twitter.com/HansNoWayRey

Hans

Rest in Peace, Hélio Gracie 1913 - 2009

Written by Travis Baumgardner, Sustainability Officer

Hélio Gracie passed away today peacefully in his home in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro at the full age of 95. He leaves behind his wife and 9 sons.

He was a living martial arts legend who pioneered together with his brother Carlson, the special Brazilian style of Jiu-Jitsu. He gained worldwide fame and recognition for developing a unique fighting style which allowed him to defeat opponents almost twice his size with relative ease, despite being mostly vegetarian and only weighing around 140 lbs during his professional fighting career.

Hélio also spent his entire life dedicated to promoting his family’s healthy lifestyle through sport and the Gracie diet, which had açaí as one its main superfood staples. The diet is based on three concepts, not poisoning the body, taking care of the body and respecting in one meal the adequate chemical combinations of different types of food. Food is viewed instead as a remedy that can nourish and cure the body.

Though many know very well Helio’s Jiu-Jitsu legacy, many do not know that Hélio was a native Amazonian, a “Paraense”, raised in the heart of the world’s açaí epicenter. His cultural upbringing consisted of eating açaí every day together with rice, beans and fish.

Many credit the brothers Helio and Carlos for bringing açaí outside of the Amazon to southern metropolitan regions of Brasil like Rio de Janeiro. At fourteen his family moved to Rio de Janeiro and subsequently created the açaí bowl and diffused the healthy eating habit throughout the Jiu-Jitsu community. The Gracie family’s Açaí Bowl is the same thick smoothie like frozen mixture made of açaí puree, Guarana Syrup, Banana and Granola that we all have come to love today and which first became popular in juice bars of Rio de Janeiro.

God bless you Hélio for bringing us açaí and inspiring us to live better and healthier lifestyles!

Sambazon keeping me on the go

My name is Tom Rezvan and I am a sponsored Sambazon surfer from Huntington Beach, CA. I was first introduced to Sambazon Açaí a few years back when visiting a Brazilian friend of mine living in South Beach Miami. I have always cared about my health and have been eating raw live foods that contain high alkaline for years. Up until being introduced to Sambazon Açaí I had been juicing wheatgrass every morning for energy, which can leave a uncomfortable taste in your mouth. But once I tasted Sambazon Açaí for the first time I was I instantly hooked! It is one of the highest antioxidant foods in the world with a great taste! I now blend a shake every morning with Sambazon Pure Açaí packs combined with a banana, soy milk, and whey protein powder. This gives me enough energy to surf for hours! If I am in a hurry and the waves are really good and I don't have time to make a shake... I will grab a bottle of Sambazon and drink it in my car on the way to surf. Either making a shake or drinking a bottle of Sambazon... I know I am getting the proper nutrients to give me the energy for my surf sessions.

Thanks to everyone at Sambazon for bringing this Super Food to the U.S. and keeping everyone healthy.

- Tom

Sambazon Gets a Whole Lot of Love at Sundance

Aubrey O’Day gives us a great açaí smile














Ryan Cabrara picks up a Sambazon Strawberry Açaí smoothie











Nick Cannon tries something different – his first Açaí bowl













Denise Richards tells us that she already loves Sambazon












Funny man Chris Kattan shows us how he cracks open a Trinity Juice











Jane Lynch from Best in Show gets caught mid bite












Jordan Belfi from Entourage tells us he eats açaí everyday












Christina Milian opts for the Antioxidant Trinity












Brittany Snow learns that she loves açaí











Matt Sorum, drummer from the Velvet Revolver and Guns N’ Roses, gives us the best look of the day