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First t Skiinq can be By NANCY SALOMONSKY ' Carolina! Editor Boots, bindings, bibs, hats, gloves and sliding down the mountain on your face ...a first-time skier's worst nightmare. Propelling yourself down a steep mountain on a piece of metal that is 150 centimeters long and a couple of(inches wide doesn't sound like much fun, but thousands of people hit the slopes every winter to tackle the sport of skiing. For all of you novice skiers, I have taken it upon myself to give you as much help as possible. First the equipment: Deciding on the length of ski to rent is often difficult, but the place where you rent them from should be able to help. "The length of the ski to buy or rent is determined by your height and weight," Mike Tambling, owner of S & T Southern Ski said. "A beginning male skier that weighs between 150?175 pounds would use 150 centimeter skis and a beginning female skier that weighs about 110 pounds would wear skis that are 135 centimeters. Next, the beginning skier needs to remember that they will be spending most of the day face down in the snow, so keeping warm should be high on the priority list. "Remember it is cold in the winHow often d !/l! ? lTfl STD Testing & HIV Testing & |pj Planned 256-4! Off Forest Drive, 1/2 mile fro Saturday, Lunchtime & Ev< ?Free Con i rv-* rv r ii I it: i a fun sport if) "When you first start skiing, the best way to excel to the point where you can have a good time is by taking a lesson." Zack Nixon, Shawnee Mountain Ski Patrol ter!" Tambling said. "I would not recommend wearing blue jeans. Jeans are made of cotton and when they get wet, they stay wet. Beginners should wear bibs, or stretch pants. The bibs are usually waterproof and since someone skiing for the first time will be on their rear most of the day, definitely get something waterproof." It is also recommended to layer the upper body with long-underwear, sweater and insulated jacket. "Layer clothing to adapt to moving around," sophomore marine science and Ski Patrol member of Shawnee Mountain in the Poconos Zack Nixon said. "When you are first learning you move around a lot and it sometimes is better to have layers to shed." Hats and gloves are a must for even the expert skiers. "Wear insulated gloves, not leather," Tambling said. "Leather tends to leak, so it will not keep your fingers warm. If your fingers r\ \tr\ i ha\/D v y v/u mu w t Se;X? Treatment Treatment Parenthood* 908 m Richland Fashion Mali sning Hours Available doms? lown you're ready and toes get wet and cold, then the rest of you will be cold." As far as destinations go, there are a number of places that beginners can go. "I recommend Beech Mountain, North Carolina," Tambling said. "For raw beginners, / Ski Beech is good because it has J- / Bar ski lifts. A J-bar life pulls the / skier up the surface mountain, their skis never leave the ground." "If you are looking for a resort, \ research the lesson program," \ Nixon said. "When you first start J skiing, the best way to excel to the point where you can have a good time is by taking a lesson." I There are a few safety rules that ^ skier should remember, according /iM? to Nixon. "From a first aid stand point, it is a bad idea to let your friends influence you into you to go on a slope that you aren't ready for, because you get scared and tense up and that is the way to get seri ousiy nun. Drinking on the slope is a bad idea," Nixon said "Again from a first aid point of view, I have seen a lot of people get hurt because the were under the influence of alcohol J or drugs. It is a good way to get / injured." \| Well, ski bunnies with all of that information, I think it is time for f you to hit the slopes. For informa- y? tion about trips and conditions call any area ski shop for details. K4 Night Cruise playa pu c March 7-10 Sailing 1 If PRESTIGE TRA Call for Low, Low Airfare from |||l|i * Based on 4 person occupancy per cabin / # | ' !* " Based on availability I j ' W * * * Pr ices subject to change w/o not ice \ W $49/person port charges Prom Port Manatee in Tampa Bay From $200/person* tnjoy bupero Dining... Lavisn Entertainment... Six Lounges... Las Vegas Style Casino... Poker ? Room... Children's Program... Full Activities... And Some Of The Largest Staterooms Afloat. Act Now - Space Will Fill ,VEL SERVICE /f5|X Lnarieston ana Atlanta"* PRESTIGE I 303) 252-6900