Village Squire, 1979-01, Page 11as you want. It may be an opportunity for you to jet out in the
dear winter air, or to get involved in a competitive sport. You can
ski slowly stopping often without working too hard. or you can
use the sport as a strenuous conditioning process.
Medical experts are becoming more worried about the
strenuous side of the sport. They are warning that people should
make preparation for the beginning of the ski season. Some
conditioning programs and programs that emphasize stretching
and flexibility are recommended before taking to the skis.
The rewards are excellent for your work, however. The
excise you get is an ideal form of aerobic conditioning that
builds vital body systems such as the circulation, heart and the
lungs. Some Swedish researchers claim that the cross country ski
racers in Sweden live on an average 10 years longer than the
national average. In Canada we have the amazing Jack Rabbit
Johanson who skis regularly though he's more than a century
old.
Experts say that cross-country skiing is an excellent way to
lose weight. Any outside winter exercise will burn off more
calories than you are able to take in, they say, so that you can eat
heartily with a good conscience and still reduce.
Still the exercise is only a by-product of the enjoyment of the
sport. For me, the psychological benefits of being out in the
peaceful, restful countryside are among the most important
benefits of the sport. It's like taking a walk in the woods. The
only sounds are the swish of the skis in the snow, the sighing of
the wind in bare tree branches and birds. One of the advantages
of skiing over snowmobiling for those who enjoy nature is that
you won't scare everything within five miles into hiding. You are
much more likely to see wild animals end birds while skiing.
But while skiing can be a sport for the loner, it can also be an
ideal sport for those who like more company. Group ski -tours can
be a lot of fun with the comradeship of a group of people who
enjoy the same sport you do. The quietness of the sport allows
people to talk back and forth while they ski. They can stop to
admire scenery together or build a fire and eat a meal.
Cross-country skiing also provides a sport that the whole
family can get involved in. Some children are on skis almost as
early as they walk and they prove remarkably skillful at the sport
very quickly. In fact it must be quite a thrill for a child used to
wading through snow to his navel to suddenly be able to conquer
it and ride on top on skis, just like mom and dad.
Our own family took to skis last year, generally with success
though one daughter didn't like skiing nearly as much as her
sister. Our three year old boy. though, just can't wait to get on
skis soon.
There are so many attractions about cross country skiing that it
is likely to move past the fad stage and into a winter recreation
that will be part of our lifestyle for a long time. In Western
Ontario it should certainly be popular, allowing us to get outside
and enjoy our countryside even in the midst of a snowbelt winter.
8 Village Squire. January 1979
We'd like to express our Yuletime Wishes anti
Love to one and all...Merry Christmas and Happy
New Year.
HARRIS
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