Taos Eco Park Achieves FIFA 2 Star Certification

Shaw Sports Turf’s Taos Eco Park Achieves FIFA 2 Star Certification
New Mexico Park Makes History as First Field in the Country To Score FIFA 2 Star Requirements for Three Consecutive Years

Calhoun, GA : January 04, 2013

Shaw Sports Turf (www.shawsportsturf.com), a leading synthetic turf company in North America, announced today that its PowerBlade HP+ synthetic turf field installed at Taos Eco Park in 2010 has met the rigorous qualifications for the FIFA 2 Star Recommended level of performance for the third consecutive year. Taos Eco Park, located in Taos, N.M., is now the first field in the United States to receive the FIFA 2 Star status for three straight years.

The FIFA 2 Star certification process requires a stringent series of testing for performance including ball roll, force reduction, rotational resistance, vertical rebound and several additional tests designed to mirror the playing characteristics of professional soccer. Shaw Sports Turf performs similar tests on all its products in its world class Research & Development Center in Dalton, Ga.

The Taos Eco Park field features Shaw Sports Turf’s PowerBlade HP+ turf system, which consists of a 2.5-inch monofilament fiber and a mixture of sand and rubber infill. In addition to safety and durability characteristics, PowerBlade HP+ is an engineered system built for performance needs where athlete-surface and ball-surface interactions are critical.

“Taos Eco Park is the only U.S. field to earn a FIFA 2 Star certificate three straight years and we are proud to be partners with Shaw Sports Turf in celebrating this milestone,” said Joel Israel, Executive Director, Taos Sports Alliance. “Taos Eco Park has surpassed every expectation for safety, quality of play and longevity. The town of Taos also deserves credit for maintaining this investment at such a high standard.”

“Taos welcomes all athletes and teams to play on our fantastic FIFA 2 Star certified artificial turf field at the Taos Eco Park facility. This is the highest quality field available today,” commented Mayor Darren Cordova, Town of Taos. “High altitude training is maximized when you train and compete in Taos at 7,000 feet above sea level, clear air and blue skies. In addition to the athletic pursuits, Taos is also an exceptional vacation destination rich in outdoor adventures and cultural traditions.”

Taos Eco Park is currently the highest altitude FIFA 2 Star training facility in the world. Located 7,000 feet above sea level, Taos Eco Park is used to aid professional and international soccer teams and players with training in high altitude environments, in addition to youth and community events in various sports including, but not limited to, American football, rugby and lacrosse.

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