SUPER, NATURAL HIGH COUNTRY KAMLOOPS BC VERTICAL FEET OF INCREDIBLE SKIING! @ New Quad Chairs ¢ So close and so affordable @ 31/2 hrs from Vancouver ¢ 6 lifts, 63 runs, over 1000 acres of wide open terrain @ Packages include: 2 nights lodging in Kamloops hotels (2 Beople sharing) and two days skiing FOR SKI PACKAGE INFO CALL SUN PEAKS 1-800-663-2838 RESORT | (604) 578-7222 VANCOUVER SNO-PHONE 2900-SKi Stay for *$9'and breakfast is free. et u ‘ ~ «Winter bed and breakfast special includes complimentary breakfast for 2. “Friendly home- : away-from-home 2 : pect *Stay'n Save Motor Inns conveniently located in . four of BC’s most popular destinations *Beautyrest™ mattresses, free sports and movie channels, farnily restaurants and more. «Coupon must be presented upon check-in Vancouver Airport Victoria Kamloops Kelowna 1-800-663-0298 FAXline (604) 273-9522 *Singte/Double per night basis. Valid Nov, 1/94 to Feb, 28/95, Available at all locations. Subject to availability. Taxes extra. Only avallodle Friday, Saturday & Sunday, a ee Oe Pe ee oe 2 oe ee es ee es ee ee os RENTEGTON: WON; ! : . . Bt) Single and Group Buokings available eat % The Coast Vernon Lodge 3914-32nd Street, Vernon, B.C. Canada VIT SPI Call Toll Free Canada & USA 1-800-663-4422 » The Coast Lakeside Resort 21 Lakeshore Drive West, Penticton, B.C. Canada V2A 7MS Call Toll Free Canada & USA 1-800-663-9400 Mike ee NEWS photo Neil Lucente CROSS-COUNTRY skiing is more forgiving than downhill for unfit skiers, but does require endurance and strength. Pre-con- ditioning is the best way to avoid aches and pains. Get in shape first DO YOU have a ski weekend pen- cilled in this year? If you do, you'd better be in good physical condition before you leave or you could end up spending a portion of your time sitting in the lodge wracked with muscle aches. By Gerald Secor Couzens Contributing Writer Downhill skiing is certainly fun. For those of you who are physically prepared for all the bending, twist- ing and turning at average speeds that can range from five to 10 mph for beginners and {5 to 20 mph for experts, a few days on the moun- tains can be an exhilarating experi- ence. And even though cross-country skiing is less dangerous for an unfit skier, the sport enjoyment will rise with your fitness level. For those simply hoping to move from an office chair to the ski chair within the next few wecks, don't. Your dream of a ski vacation (or even a day or weekend of skiing) could turn into a nightmare. You need a certain amount of luck if you plan to ski without prop- er physical preparation. It’s luck if you are able to return from the mountain with muscle aches that go away within a week. It’s certainly not tuck, though, if you end up trad- ing ski poles for a set of crutches. Downhill skiing has a cruel way of quickly weeding out those with strong legs and stable knees from those less strong. Just ask any orthopedist. If you are out of shape, don’t let this warning make you cancel your trip. Assuming that you already know how to ski, with just a few weeks of ski-specific exercise under your belt, you can ski, have fun and make it back with nothing but happy memories. — Skiing isa total body sport that makes use of all your muscles -— legs and stomach especially — and demands balance, coordination, endurance and strength. For those with just a short time to train before their ski adventure, experts favor an overall condition- ing program, but with a heavy con- centration on preparing the legs, the major body part that’s used in ski- ing. If you have been fairly inactive, then start walking a few miles daily. This will help increase leg strength and get your heart and lungs working more efficiently. The more aerobically fit that you become, eventually translates into more runs down the slope. If your current fitness level is already higher than couch potato status, your daily aerobic routine should then include 30 minutes of riding a stationary bike, running two miles or more or taking an aer- obics class. Like skiing, rowing is one of the few activities that requires the coor- dination of all body parts simulta- neously. Most of the power comes through your legs, but rowing also requires the arms, stomach and back as well. After a good warmup, a half hour of daily rowing at various intensities is recommended. Distributed by the Los Angeles Times syndicate.