Brava

January 2012

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live on the move All Aboard By Michelle Page-Alswager Carving up the slopes on a snowboard Where to Let's be honest, snowboarding is an activity generally populated by people my kids' ages, not women like me. When it comes to the sport, I've usually done what I believe any sane person should: Drop their kids off at the slopes and, instead, don a safer pair of skis. After years of watching it evolve, and a few days refraining from typing "snow- boarding injuries" into Google, I decided to take the plunge (I hoped not literally). Th at's how I found myself arriving at Ty- rol Basin in Mount Horeb and greeting my friendly instructor, Sebi Klarer. We began cautiously. On fl at land we clipped one foot into the board, getting a feel for how the slightest movements in our toes would tip the board to alter our direc- tion, or send us butt-fi rst into the snow. To my surprise, just 15 minutes and a whole lotta slipping backward later, I was starting to fi nd my balance and we were ready to hit the big slopes (well, the mighty bunny hill at least). With the proper technique running through my mind, it took a bit of trial and error (with friendly reminders from Klar- er) to get it all working just right. Using a bend in my knees and slight weight chang- es I found my sweet spot on the board. In no time I was surfi ng down the hill at a manageable pace. Even on the bunny hill I could feel the burn from my head down to my hard- working toes, and all those need-to-tone places in between. Sidenote: If you've ever wanted to work the muscles on your shins (surprised there's muscle there? Me too!) then this is the sport for you. As I cruised to the bottom of the bunny go: In addition to classes offered at Tyrol Basin, look to lessons for both adults and kids at Blackhawk Ski Club in Middleton or Cascade Mountain in Portage. hill once more, I could taste victory. I had reached the bottom more than a dozen times, skull and tailbone intact. After The Dish on Snowboarding What to expect: A workout for the whole body. You'll be soreā€”and not just from falling. Balancing on the board works your core while weaving downhill works your thighs and calves. You may even fi nd yourself a little out of breath from working to stay upright. 16 BRAVA Magazine What to wear: You might start off chilly but in no time you'll be sweating. Light layers in fabrics that absorb moisture are the best way to stay warm and dry. The gear: If you're not ready to invest in your own gear, you can often rent a board at the slopes. Just check with the facility before you go to fi nd out what equipment you'll need and how much it will cost. A word to the wise: If you're nervous about injuries, try using a Waxel Pad, a foam-like pad contoured to your body that slips into your snowpants to protect your tailbone when you fall. Waxel pads are generally avail- able at sporting goods stores. starting the hour on my butt, I was stand- ing tall, having a good time and ready to return again. January 2012 Photo by Shanna Wolf

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