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Show March 15 03.qxd 12/7/2021 Volume VII Issue XI 3:46 PM Page 13 THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 13 March 15, 2003 Ski Tip Article provided courtesy of Lito TejadaFlores, author of Breakthrough on Skis; and Snowbasin, A Sun Valley Resort You look up and spot a remarkable skier cruising down the slope. You know she’s a great skier because you saw her earlier on a double-black-diamond run, skimming over giant man-eating bumps as though they were a groomed playground. But now you’re baffled. How on earth is she turning? She’s simply turning, or rather her skis are, and you can’t see any particular actions, any special technique, no stepping, no weight shift, no nothing, just perfect parallel turns, both skis tipping and turning together, by some kind of mysterious remote control. I know you’ve seen skiers like this one. Skiers so polished and so subtle in their technique that it’s far from obvious what is triggering their turns, what’s keeping them going. Now it’s time to pull aside the veil and introduce you to the most enjoyable and the most mysterious form of weight shift I know. And very useful too, I hasten to add. I’m talking about passive, or soft weight, shift— or, to say it another way, weight shift through relaxation. Fortunately, it’s a lot easier to describe, or to do, than it is to see because this subtle form of weight shift, perfect for steep slopes, for very short turns, for some bumps, and for lazy relaxed cruising too, is all but invisible. Are you ready? If I demonstrate this on a ski slope, traversing down the hill on my downhill ski and then simply relaxing that down- Osteoporosis hill foot to trigger a turn, my students can’t see me do anything at all, but they will see my two skis begin to turn; that sudden relaxation of the tight downhill foot allows all my weight to simply flow over to my other foot, which, so to speak, catches me and keeps me from collapsing totally. The same thing will happen when you try this—on a green slope first, please. You slide across the slope, standing mostly on your downhill foot, then you relax that foot completely, suddenly, totally, letting your foot go limp and squishy inside the boot (like a rag doll’s foot), and voilà, your skis start to turn because this relaxation is just a subtle form of weight shift. I generally refer to it as soft weight shift. Soft weight shift, or weight shift through relaxation, is very special and very versatile. Lots of expert skiers use it most of the time. And the fact that it is so hard to spot, to observe and understand, at least from the outside, has led many ski schools and many ski instructors to assert that a lot of the best skiers aren’t shifting weight at all, but actually skiing balanced equally on both skis. Wrong! Let me point out another curious aspect of this gentle, all-but-invisible form of weight shift. But here’s a promise: this is a genuine breakthrough, one of the biggest, triggering your turns by “letting go,” by releasing muscle tension, rather than giving it the old one-two and trying too hard, as so many skiers are prone to do. Soft weight shift is a real liberation. Play with it this winter. Nature/Bird Walks Offered Join the Wild Bird Center on a Nature/Bird Walk Saturday mornings. Our nature/bird walks provide an opportunity to get out and see nature up close and personal with a local expert. This is a great activity for the family and a superb way to introduce children to nature. The cost of the nature/bird walk is enthusiasm. We take care of the rest. Meet at the Wild Bird Center, 1860 North 1000 West, Layton (Across from Barnes Nobel) at 7:45 a.m. We leave at 8:00 a.m. (unless otherwise noted). Children of all ages are welcome. The number after each walk location listed below corresponds to the locations, as listed on the Great Salt Lake Birding Trails Map, which every nature lover should own (available at the Wild Bird Center). March 18 The Marsh at night under a full moon (meet at the store at 5:30 p.m.) Phil Douglas of DWR will join us. Timed to coincide with the Tundra Swan migration. March 22 Mueller Park March 29 Antelope Island #21 Call the Wild Bird Center if you have any questions at (801) 525-8400. St. Florence Catholic Community MASSES: Saturday: 5:00 p.m. Sunday: 8:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. WEEKDAY MASS: Tuesday: 6:30 p.m. followed by The Rosary Phone: 745 - LORD Huntsville, Utah PASTORAL ADMINISTRATOR: Fr. Charles Cummins 399-9531 RECONCILIATION: 30 minutes before Mass Come celebrate with us God’s good news. Intersection of Highway 39 & Snowbasin Road BARBARA BEALBA INTERIORS Custom Draperies Blinds, Shutters & Shades Reupholstery Design Consultation 745-2269 E-mail: barbarab@konnections.net MYTH: If I fracture a bone, I will know it because of the pain. TRUTH: Bones may fracture without causing pain, and a fracture that does cause pain may be mistaken for arthritis. MYTH: Only hunched over little old ladies have osteoporosis. TRUTH: Men and asymptomatic women can also develop osteoporosis. Most of us accept the fact that osteoporosis is a natural part of aging. It is not. But, since bone loss is not associated with any overt symptoms, you may not think about it. It is very likely that you are losing bone faster than you think; this puts you at risk for osteoporosis. If left untreated, osteoporosis can result in fractures (broken bones), loss of mobility, and loss of independence. The fractures caused by osteoporosis often occur during simple daily activities, such as lifting a grandchild, pushing a heavy grocery cart, or merely bending over. What is surprising to most people, even if you are taking calcium, following a healthy diet, and exercising, you could still be losing bone. Since bone loss cannot be felt, it may develop without you knowing it. Most people think of their bones as being “rock solid.” But, actually, bone is a living tissue just like other parts of your body— your heart or brain for example. Bone just happens to be a harder type of tissue. In order to stay strong, your body is continually renewing itself by eliminating the old bone and replacing it with new. Osteoporosis causes your body to lose bone faster than it is replaced. This results in a weakening of the bones, and as they become thinner, they are more likely to break. Yes, taking calcium and exercising are important for maintaining the health of your bones; but they may not be enough to prevent osteoporosis. All women over the age of 50 should be aware of the consequences of osteoporosis. Forty percent of all American women over the age of 50 years will fracture a bone from osteoporosis. As just mentioned, a fracture is a top concern, with the spine, hip, and wrist being the most likely areas to be affected. You may also experience height loss. An example here may be that you notice your pants are appearing longer, or your waist appears thicker despite no weight gain. You may also experience pain from small fractures that then limits your daily activities. Finally, you may notice an increase in the curvature of your back resulting in a hump. Who is at the highest risk for developing osteoporosis? Persons who: Are going through or past menopause Are Caucasian or Asian Have a family history of osteoporosis Do not exercise Smoke Do not consume enough calcium nor vitamin D Take bone-thinning medicines, like prednisone or other corticosteroids for extended periods of time To determine if you are at risk for osteoporosis, talk to your health care professional and request a screening exam for osteoporosis. If your screening exam demonstrates probable osteoporosis, your health care provider may order additional testing or recommend starting you on a medication designed to build your bones back up to a normal density, thus reducing your risk of fracture and disability. Note: This article courtesy of Stephanie Patton, D.O. of Pain & Rehab???????? 270 East 12th Street 801-337-4000 |