At first glance, Jim Quinn and Tony Ray do not seem to have much incommon. Jim is from the southern United states - the great state Georgia - andhas a background in a "traditional" sport: He started swimming when he was 8years old and evolved into a triathlete after college. Tony Ray, on the other hand,grew up on the other side of the world, in Australia, and was introduced to the decidedlynonmainstream sport of surfing when he was 7 years old: His dad gave him a surfboard forChristmas. So what do these two world-class athletes have in common? AIMproducts!
Since beingintroduced to the AIM products, Tony has caught the wave and is riding high. He hasdiscovered new strength and believes that this has translated into moving to the nextlevel.
"Since Ive been on the products, Ive had a lot of success.Theyve really helped. In November 1997, I won the OP Pro Surfing Championship inHawaii, which is one of the most prestigious in the world."
Last February, at the Reef Big Wave Team World Championship 98, in Baja, Mexico,Tony placed second after Carlos Burke snuck ahead of him in the last 15 minutes of thefinal hour. And in April, Tony competed in the Rip Curl Bells Pro, where he again surfedagainst the best in the world and outsurfed the four-time world champion, Kelly Slater.
Tony is not hesitant to give credit to AIM products. "They work for me, I justreally like them. I can definitely feel a difference in my energy levels, especially with AIMBarleygreen . I usually take aboutthree teaspoons of AIMBarleygreen and two to three capsules of AIMBee Pollen a half-hour before I paddle out. Its amazing the differencethis makes."
Tony finds these products not only beneficial for the extra energy during competition,but also for recovery time. He feels this is important, especially considering thepaddling involved and the heat in which a surfer is working.
"In surfing, you have to paddle out to catch the waves, and this can be tiring.You really are never sitting still. You also use a lot of energy in the heat, so Illcome in and have another couple of spoonfuls to recover, especially if Im surfingagain a couple of hours later.
"Since Ive been using the AIM products, I dont feel any fatigue in theheat. I have no doubt that the products help me with my endurance and recovery. Because ofthis, its much easier to keep a clear head, and I find Im less likely to makeerrors and my judgement and moment-to-moment decision making in a heat is much better.Its clear thinking. The products really help."
Tony also has a lot in common with the AIM lifestyle. He began doing yoga in 1988,largely because surfing uses different muscle groups in different ways, so it often leavesthe body in a muscular imbalance that can develop into neck and back problems. Yoga ledTony to a vegetarian diet and an awareness of the importance of diet.
"I was always very health-conscious and very diet-conscious. I feel best when Istick to the raw food diet. When I do that Im flying, I just have so muchenergy."
Energy is a must for Tony. He specializes in big-wave surfing, a demanding event wheresurfers paddle out to catch and ride 20- to 25-foot (6 to 7.6 m) waves, which translatesinto some 50 feet (15 m) from trough to crest. Tony likens this to speeding over adownhill ski course in which the slope is continually changing shape and moving with you!At the end, you are exhilarated and exhausted.
Tonys introduction to the sport was a family affair: Both his father andgrandfather surfed and still surf, and when Tony decided to go pro, he had hisfamilys support.
Tony was introduced to AIM products through Henry Simmons, an AIM Director. He firstmet Henry in Indonesia in 1995 on a surfing tour, and when they were reconnected in 1997,Henry introduced him to the AIM products. Since then, Tony, with the help of the AIMproducts, has caught the wave and is sitting on top of the world!
Jim was introduced to the AIM products by hismother, AIM Member Janice Quinn, while he was swimming competitively for Johns HopkinsUniversity and training intensively with two Olympic medal winners. Jim admits he was abit skeptical about "green juice," but "After adding AIMBarleygreen to my diet, I proved herright by clocking personal record times later that summer."
After earning 12 all-American honors for his performances at the NCAA SwimmingChampionships, Jims success has continued as a triathlete. This sport, whichcombines swimming, bicycling, and running, is a grueling test of speed and stamina. Jimfinds AIM products especially helpful from the endurance angle:
"Since I began taking AIMBarleygreen in 1990, it and other AIM products have enabled me to achievetremendous breakthroughs in my performance both as a collegiate swimmer and as atriathlete. Ive noticed a dramatic improvement in my recovery time during trainingthat has allowed me to train longer and more effectively. Ive also developed greaterendurance as a result of the nutrients I get from the AIM products, giving me a vital edgeduring competition. My resistance to injury and illness has also improved."
To make this breakthrough, Jim uses a number of AIM products. As part of his trainingdiet, he uses six tablespoons of AIMBarleygreen; three caplets each of AIMActivated Ginkgo and AIMHerbal Release; three capsules each of AIMCellSparc 360, AIMCoenzyme Q10, AIMBear Paw Garlic, and AIMProancynol; six capsules of AIMBee Pollen; and one capful of AIMEarthWise. Go to AIM Products and read aboutthese products for yourself.
Has this done anything for him? In 1997, Jim placed first in his age division andsecond overall in the National Triathlon Championships in Columbia, MD, and in the 1997World Triathlon Championship in November in Perth, Australia, he had the best time amongall U.S. competitors in his age group and was ninth overall.
Jims family also played a big role in introducing him to athletics. His motherand father introduced him to a summer swimming league when he was 8 years old, and he didwell enough that his coach suggested he begin year-round competition. Now, as aworld-class triathlete, he has not forgotten the early role his parents played, notingthat "I would not be where I am today without their support and encouragement."
As focused as Jim is on athletics, he has not forgotten other aspects of his life.Other goals he has set for himself include spiritual growth, being an inspiration and rolemodel to others, and self-improvement.
Thanks to AIM and others, Jim has been able to leave his job as a paralegal andconcentrate full time on his next athletic goal: to make the U.S. Olympic Team. Althoughthe competition is fierce and only two or three triathletes will represent the UnitedStates, Jim believes that God has given him the capability to meet this goal: "Godhas given me the strength to be where I am today, and Im going to continue todemonstrate my best effort."