Akron Life February 2022

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F R O M T H E P U B L I S H E R

[ Publisher | Colin Baker | cbaker@bakermediagroup.com ]

Let It Snow

February brings fun and memories.

This is my favorite time of year to go skiing. Typically, the snow is at its best and crowds are below the peak around the sec ond week of February. I started skiing when we moved to Oregon when I was 7 years old. My first experi ence was when my mom booked a week at Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood. If you have ever been to Portland, Oregon, on a clear day, you know the mountain I’m talking about. It’s the snowcapped one that serves as the backdrop of the city. Timberline Lodge is also a recogniz able landmark. It’s where the movie “The Shining” was filmed. Thankfully the indoor scenes were set in another hotel, because if I was given the keys to room 237, I may have run and never returned. While at Timberline, my brother and I took skiing lessons. But we only wanted to go fast and hit jumps. For that reason, we always got the young instructors who were willing to take us hunting for jumps. At the time, it felt like I was jumping 10 feet in the air and landing on a pillow. I was easy to spot on the mountain, too. I was the kid with his jacket wide open, my poles straight out to the sides and my skis pointing straight down. I would make two turns on every run, one coming off the lift and another at the bottom of the mountain. Everything else was straight, as fast as I could go. Skiing quickly became my favor ite sport while living in Oregon. I have been lucky enough to ski in some incredible places since. One of my favor ite ski destinations is Steamboat Springs in Colorado. My family has a history there,

and it is such a unique western town. My Uncle Mike lived there for many years, and we always had fun skiing with him because he also liked going fast. He tried to beat us to the bottom of the hill by getting off the lift as quickly as possible and trying to lose us on a trail. We had to be ready, because when the chair got to the top, he was gone. We chased him, never knowing which run he was going down next. But you don’t need to travel west for that kind of excitement. Boston Mills/ Brandywine is right here in our backyard. After I moved from Oregon, I thought my skiing days were over. Then I got involved in ski racing at Boston Mills and joined the junior race team, learning more about ski ing than I ever had. What I love about Boston Mills/ Brandywine is the accessibility it offers, and

it is a less expensive place to learn to ski. The instruction is as good as you will get anywhere, but it is about a third of the price of those large western destinations. In addition to February featuring the best snow, it’s also American Heart Month. Taking part in a sport like skiing can be great for your heart (just don’t overdo it). Check out the health and wellness story on pg. 40 for more tips on how to implement heart-healthy habits in your life. My kids learned to ski at Boston Mills/ Brandywine, and I took snowboarding les sons there. Give it a try. With the Winter Olympics kicking off this month, what a great time to start a new activity while getting out and experiencing the wintery weather. I say, Let it snow!

[ Publisher Colin Baker is a retired racing driver and gearhead. ] Comments? Email them to Kelly Petryszyn [kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com].

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