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Vaping As a Sport: Beginner’s Guide

Vaping has become a trend and is now being used as an alternative to cigarette smoking. The origins of modern vapes can be traced back to Ancient Egypt wherein vaping techniques involved the use of hot stones to vape herbs. The first hookah (shisha) was brought to India thousands of years back. The techniques used during those times brought about the invention of today’s new vapes.

 


Cloud Chasing Competitions: Vaping as a Sport

Since vaping has become an increasingly popular activity, a lot of people have decided to add a little twist when using this smoking device. The concept of blowing out vapor with style is now starting to be a trend. Some people who do this are not even former cigarette smokers – they do it as a hobby; inhaling liquids that do not contain nicotine and then releasing the flavored smoke into the air.

The people who practice this are called ‘cloud chasers.’ A number of these professional vapers would take part in a vaping competition where they blow out clouds in a creative manner. In the vaping world, the term ‘chasing clouds’ meant creating a vape that is specifically designed to release massive amounts of vapor. Some people would call this activity ‘extreme vaping’ or ‘stunt vaping.’ To get these types of vapes, you can find some of them in vape shops or you can search for smoke shops near me. If you live in the vicinity of Utah, Smoke City is a popular smoke shop in the area.

The origins of cloud chasing are unknown, but some would say that it started on the West Coast. Nevertheless, ever since the establishment of vaping competitions, the world of vaping has definitely changed. Cloud Chasing has become an opportunity for people to get introduced to a new hobby or as a way to get over cigarette smoking. The public’s interest in this new vaping sport has also helped Smoke City and other e-cigarette stores to be in the mainstream. As a result, more and more people have made the switch to electronic cigarettes.

In a vaping competition, vapers compete against each other by seeing who can release the largest and most creative cloud of vapor through exhalation. Some could even create shapes like rings, ripples, or balls out of the clouds they exhale. A trick called the French Inhale or Irish Waterfall can release a very interesting cloud of smoke. The viewers of these cloud competitions are called cloud gazers.

Before the competition begins, rules are established. The judges will then see who can vape the largest and most creative cloud of vapor. The winner of the match will then proceed to the next level of the competition. These competitions are serious – the clouds are measured through a ruler or yardstick found attached to the wall beside the competitor. In a competition held in Texas last 2015, a vapor cloud reached around 5 feet.  


Factors to Consider When Vaping  

Cloud chasing may sound like a cool hobby, but there are a number of important things to remember if you ever plan on joining this activity. It can be very dangerous if you do not know or understand the things that are involved when using vapes. To prevent any injury and to create better clouds, here are a few tips:

Mods

A common malfunction seen in the news when it comes to vapes are explosions or fires. To prevent this from happening, be sure that you get a mod that supports your coil. Cloud chasers often choose mechanical mods instead of regulated ones because they have better connectivity and air holes. However, mechanical mods are not beginner-friendly, and using them would need knowledge of the Ohm’s law and battery safety. Search for the best smoke shops near me so that you can guarantee that you’ll get excellent quality vapes that can be used for cloud chasing.

Battery Safety

Misusing batteries can increase the risk of explosion or fire. To avoid this, never overcharge your mod and never leave it charging unattended. Also, never charge your mod with an unreliable charger that you may have bought from a thrift shop.

E-Liquid

Normal vapers can use a mix of vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (GC). This will give a lighter experience that won’t leave your throat feeling harsh. For cloud chasers, it is recommended to get e-liquids that have more VG because it can produce denser clouds due to its thickness. A 70/30, VG/PG ratio is advisable for regular vaping, but for cloud competitions, it is best to go full on 100% VG.

Coils

An important factor that can affect your cloud chasing practice is how you built your coils. Coils with lower resistance produce bigger clouds. Also, cloud chasers often use dual coils instead of single ones because they give off more vapor.

Airflow

Beginners often find airflow to be a bit tricky when they start. Enough air must be released – too much air would thin out your clouds and too little air could lead the mod to explode. Being able to release massive clouds without overheating your mod is a trick you must master to be a good cloud chaser.

Technique

Having the best equipment and knowledge is not enough to master the art of cloud chasing. You must also be able to master your inhales and exhales to release large and dense clouds. Exhaling too fast will thin out your clouds, so you must learn to control your exhalations. Cloud chasers also like to do the technique called ‘rip trippers’ in which you move back while you exhale.


The Dangers of Cloud Chasing

Cloud chasing is safe only for those who know what they are doing and who understand everything from battery safety to the Ohm’s law. It is definitely not for beginners and early intermediate level vapers.

If you want to become a cloud chaser, you must be patient and learn how things work. This includes knowing which batteries are safer to use with the coils, what the size of the air holes should be, and how often you should change the batteries. This is because when you are cloud chasing, you push your batteries to its limits. 

Make sure to do all the necessary research and practice before building your first mod. Always remember to check if you have done all the safety measures before firing it.

History

1930s: Joseph Robinson first came up with the idea of e-cigarettes. He filed a patent in 1927 which was granted to him in 1930. However, this e-cigarette was never commercialized. It is also unclear whether a prototype of his idea was ever manufactured.

1960s: The creation of a smokeless, non-tobacco cigarette by Herbert Gilbert paved way to the invention of modern e-cigarettes. He filed a patent in 1963 and received it in 1965. Until today, Gilbert has been credited for being the first to come up with an alternative to tobacco smoking. He created a number of prototypes that excluded nicotine but was not able to commercialize it. Gilbert knew about the dangers of tobacco, but the public was not yet ready to embrace this new alternative.

Tobacco cigarettes were widely used during the 1960s. People smoked them everywhere, from schools and universities to hospitals. Gilbert attributed his failure to commercialize his idea to companies who waited until his patent expired instead of getting it licensed before commercializing it. Other reasons for the failure also include the lack of technology to make the devices and the unclear commercial potential of the item during those times.

1970s: In 1979, computer pioneer Phil Ray and his physician Norman Jacobson worked together to create the first type of e-cigarette that was commercialized. This was far from the modern variation— it was not entirely electronic because it functioned through evaporating nicotine.

Ray and Jacobson were the first known researchers to conduct a formal study on nicotine delivery. Their products were brought to major retailers, but the technologies used for these devices were not perfectly functional. Though they were faulty, the creation of these devices did contribute a new word to the language — ‘vape.’

20th Century: In the 1990s, several patents for devices used to inhale nicotine were filed both by individual inventors and tobacco companies. Most of these devices used physical propulsion or evaporation techniques, but there were a few that were made similar to those of modern e-cigarettes. Those that closely resembled today’s e-cigarettes were commercialized during the 1990s.

One invention that can still be found in the pipeline is chemical-reaction based. RJ Reynolds developed the Eclipse cigarette, which was a heat-not-burn device that functioned somewhere in between a normal cigarette and a pure nicotine inhaler.

In the US, a major tobacco company requested a permission to release e-cigarettes into the market, but their request was denied because the products were not an approved drug delivery device. This is the reason why some attempts of launching e-cigarettes to the market failed in the country.

2003: In Beijing, China, an inventor, pharmacist, and smoker named Hon Lik created the first successful commercial e-cigarette. At the age of 52, he created the electronic cigarette after his father died of lung cancer due to heavy smoking. His device allowed people to use nicotine without the harmful effects of tobacco or other chemicals from traditional cigarettes. Hon Lik was able to create the product at the right time, so the market for smoking alternatives easily caught up. Lik worked for the Golden Dragon Holdings, and this company helped develop the device and called it Ruyan, meaning ‘like smoke.’

2007: The use of e-cigarettes, now commonly known as vaping, rapidly spread throughout Asia and Europe. The device was accepted by a wide range of consumers, and in 2007, it was brought to the US market. Since the device released no pungent scent and intrusive vapor and did not require the use of a lighter, it revolutionized the way people enjoyed nicotine.

Electronic cigarettes has become popular because of the said benefits that they can provide to the users. A lot of people have made the switch to use these devices instead of traditional cigarettes because they are said to be less harmful than tobacco.

2013: The e-cigarette industry eventually grew into a billion-dollar business by the end of 2013. Millions of smokers all over the world stopped smoking tobacco cigarettes and made the switch to using vapes.

At present, it is evident how e-cigarettes have become increasingly popular. The demand for vapes is constantly increasing along with other items that can be associated with their usage like e-juice.