Cloud-chasing (electronic cigarette)

E-cigarette users exhaling aerosol (vapor).

Cloud-chasing or extreme vaping[1] is the activity of blowing large clouds of vapor using an electronic cigarette. Cloud chasing is an activity where people build very complex coils of different types of "wire"—the main one used is kanthal. Other types are nickel, titanium, or stainless steel. After building these coils, people adjust them to get a set ohm reading to where they can produce a big cloud of vapor. A wick is made with different types of cotton, and e-juice is placed on the cotton. A battery provides heat to vaporize the e-juice, and users can then blow massive clouds. New cloud-chasers should remember to always build safely and do the proper research before jumping into this hobby.[2]

History

E-cigarettes gained popularity in the US in 2007.[1] Using them for "cloud-chasing" began in the West Coast of the US.[3] "When automotive manufacturers first started out, they were not thinking about a sport to be called Formula One. You always have groups of people who are looking for excitement," Hon Lik said in respect to cloud-chasing in 2015.[4]

Recreational activity

Vapers who enjoy blowing large plumes of vapor are known as cloud-chasers.[5] Cloud-chasing is a recreational activity[4] and a hobby.[6] Some cloud-chasers demonstrate their skill in public.[7]

Competitions

Some cloud-chasers known as "professional vapers" take part in cloud-blowing contests in what is a called a "cloud competition", competing against one another to exhale the largest cloud of vapor.[3] This is increasing in popularity[3] attracting spectators, known as "cloud-gazers".[8] The competitions are becoming a routine event at some local vape shops.[9] Some teenagers participate in the competitions, sans nicotine.[10][11][12] Two major cloud competitions in the US are the International Cloud Championships in California, and the World Series of Vape, in Las Vegas.[13] There are also competitions in New Jersey, Illinois and New Mexico.[3] Some consider it to be a sport[1] and competitors can win prize money in the range of $250 to $2,000.[14] Some competitors are sponsored by e-cigarette companies.[8]

Usage

A customized e-cigarette device designed for cloud-chasing.

Some fancy e-cigarette devices are designed to create as much vapor as possible.[15] The devices are customized.[16] A growing subclass of e-cigarette enthusiasts called cloud-chasers assemble their atomizers in such a way that can produce extremely large amounts of vapor by using heating coils with a resistance of less than 1 ohm.[17]

By using a coil with very low resistance, the batteries used can be stressed beyond the margins of what could be considered safe use.[18] This could present a risk of dangerous battery failures.[18]

Cloud-chasers are not always interested in the nicotine released from the vapor.[19] Most cloud-chasers do not use nicotine.[19] Many choose mixtures that are made without propylene glycol and nicotine, but use higher amounts of glycerin to produce larger plumes of vapor.[6]

Debate

Vaping trick called the dragon.

As vaping comes under increased scrutiny, some members of the vaping community have voiced their concerns about cloud-chasing, claiming the practice gives vapers a bad reputation when doing it in public.[15] Long-term vapers maintain that some vaping newbies are making the industry’s image look bad by exhaling large clouds in public.[15] Some vapers believe that cloud-chasers are partly responsible for the negative media attention.[15] Some restaurants and bars have banned e-cigarette use.[7] Others permit e-cigarette use but do not allow cloud-chasing.[7] Cheryl Richter, the financial secretary of the National Vapers Club says that "it gives vaping a bad name, and we don’t need negative publicity." Although competitors say that the sport helps people stop smoking cigarettes.[20]

Related practices

Some use e-cigarettes to take part in tricks like blowing smoke rings, French inhale, tornados, and various other vape tricks.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ayana Harry (29 April 2015). "Cloud chasing: The world of competitive ‘vaping’". WPIX.
  2. ↑ Jory Burbank/ Buku Vapes/2015
  3. 1 2 3 4 Dominique Mosbergen (5 August 2014). "This Man Is An Athlete In The Sport Of 'Cloud Chasing'". The Huffington Post.
  4. 1 2 Martinne Geller (9 June 2015). "Interview: E-cigs a 'consumer-driven' revolution born from a bad dream". Reuters.
  5. ↑ Leah Sottile (8 October 2014). "The Right to Vape". The Atlantic.
  6. 1 2 Rebecca Burn-Callander (5 May 2015). "Are you a vanilla custard cloud chaser?". The Daily Telegraph.
  7. 1 2 3 Beth Balen (2 April 2014). "Cloud Chasers: Extreme Vapers". Liberty Voice.
  8. 1 2 Info Tech (27 April 2015). "Vaping Competitions Heat Up with the Help of Sponsors and Large Cash Prizes". Info Tech.
  9. 1 2 Jilian Mincer (1 May 2015). "As youth vaping rises, teens cite the allure of tricks". Reuters.
  10. ↑ http://ecigarettereviewed.com/most-teen-vapers-dont-use-nicotine. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ↑ (17 December 2015) Author Lindsay Fox, Title "Gateway to Smoking?Most Teens dont even use Nicotine"
  12. ↑ Ted Ranosa (3 May 2015). "What Lures Teens Into Using E-Cigarettes? Flavors And Smoke Tricks". Tech Times.
  13. ↑ Gavin Haynes (22 April 2015). "Daft vapers: the competitive world of e-cigarette smoking". The Guardian.
  14. ↑ Samantha Dupler (23 April 2015). "Competitive Vaping Is The Latest Extreme Sport And Other Facts". Digg.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Victoria Bekiempis (1 April 2015). "Veteran E-Cigarette Users Fret ‘Cloud Chasers’ Give Them a Bad Name". Newsweek.
  16. ↑ Cathy Cabrera (6 August 2014). "Vaping Becomes A Sport With Professional Vapers Puffing Giant Cloud Smoke". Daily OffBeat.
  17. ↑ Mary Plass (29 January 2014). "The Cloud Chasers". Vape News Magazine.
  18. 1 2 Sean Cooper (23 May 2014). "What you need to know about vaporizers". Engadget.
  19. 1 2 Laurie Merrill (16 April 2014). "E-cigarette smokers are chasing clouds". AZCentral.
  20. ↑ Mickle, Tripp (20 April 2015). "Take a Deep Breath if You Want to Try Competitive Vaping". WSJ. Retrieved 6 March 2016.

External links

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