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A Flurry of Activity
By Tamara Wilberding in collaboration with Katie Sauck
Shirley Hansel was 35 when she put on her first pair of skis. “It was a warm February day and I went with my three children,” Shirley says. After a few short hours on the slopes, the foursome was exhausted but they were also hooked. They began skiing several times every season following that memorable day.
In 1985, Shirley began teaching ski lessons at Mount Kato in Mankato, Minnesota. “Being accepted to the Mount Kato ski school was a memorable event for me because I was, at best, a mediocre skier,” Shirley remembers, “Because I could relate to people and teach, I was hired.”
Most of the lessons the instructors teach are for beginners and school groups. Shirley’s main focus, along with all instructors, is safety. Each lesson at Mount Kato starts with an equipment review to make sure everything is properly in place.
The main reason most people learn to ski is for recreation. Shirley says this is the second focus of instructors. When skiers are having fun, it is easier to learn skills, the third focus of instructors.
Skiing also provides substantial health benefits to the body. The cardiovascular workout strengthens the heart and improves delivery of oxygen to muscles. Skiing tones the entire body and also helps with balance, endurance and range of motion.
While skiing, it’s very easy to forget to stop periodically and rejuvenate. When physically tired, a skier may lack coordination and response time becomes much longer than when alert. Shirley reminds skiers to drink plenty of water.
Shirley encourages women her age to try skiing. “Even if you don’t think of yourself as a skier, or as a winter fun person, it’s worth giving it a try.” She advises first-time skiers to consider their fitness level and to go from there. “If you are sedentary or do not exercise moderately throughout the year, ease into it. Take a skiing lesson and learn basic skills. Ski on easy terrain first and always pay attention to your body.”
“Skiing makes the winter go really fast and is a fun activity to do with kids,” Shirley says. Two of her children still ski. She occasionally meets her son to ski in the mountains during the season, usually in Colorado. Shirley loves the challenge of mountain skiing but she says you don’t have to be in the mountains to be challenged, “Skiing is one of those activities that you can almost always find a challenge or create one for yourself. You can try to do something better or try something new, like racing. Skiing is different each time you go.”
“Sometimes winters can seem long and skiing is a great way pass the time,” Shirley says, “and, it’s enough stimulation to make you want to continue to be active.” Make a trip to the slopes for whatever you need: either a social event or a means of escape for some quiet time.
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