Bethel Citizen 3/3/16

Prime Time Ski Club News for Bethel Citizen 3/3/16

For further information contact: 

Terri Messer at tmesser@aol.com 

The ski conditions at Sunday River ski area continue to fluctuate from freezing temperatures and firm snow to warmer temps and softer, springlike conditions, all within a few days. It seems like whenever the mountain gets some natural snow, like this past Wednesday, it usually ends up with sleet or rain on top of it and then cold weather follows so that everything freezes. That was the case last Wednesday when about 30 hearty Prime Time Ski Club members showed up at the 10 a.m. meeting at North Peak Lodge to try out the softening conditions. Despite limited vision due to freezing rain on the ski goggles, skiers were rewarded with a softening snow on 3D and T72, two trails on North Peak that include freestyle park features but also offer some great skiing if you skirt the jumps and rails on non-busy days.There were other good trails as well, thanks to the softening snow, but a number of our club members made multiple trips up and down these two trails until the goggles and clothing became extremely ice covered.

As many of our club members have experienced, even if the conditions aren’t top-notch, skiing with other people make it a lot more fun. As a matter of fact, there are several studies that show that as we age, social ties are just as important to a healthy lifestyle as diet and fitness. A study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill claims to be the first study to definitely link social relationships with concrete measures of physical well-being such as abdominal obesity, inflammation and high blood pressure, all of which can lead to long-term health problems, including heart disease, stroke and cancer. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, builds on previous research that shows that aging adults live longer if they have more social connections.

A study from the University of Rochester Medical Center also agrees that people who continue to maintain close friendships and find other ways to interact socially live longer than those who become isolated. This study shows that relationships and social interactions help protect against illness by boosting the immune system and help keep the brain from getting rusty. The takeaway from this study is to try to either keep existing friendships going or make a concerted effort to create new ones. This is not as easy as it was in younger years when school, clubs and sports teams created a framework for socializing. However, the Prime Time Ski Club can provide an excellent social outlet for those who love to ski and even those who just want to socialize. Check us out at www.primetimeskiclub.com.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for someone to ski with, remember that the Prime Time Ski Club motto is “No one needs to ski alone.” Club members meet every weekday at Peak Lodge around 10 a.m. on the upper level, right side, just beyond the bar. After a brief time for announcements and sharing information on where the best skiing is for the day, members (who must be 50 years or older) usually break into small groups of from four to eight skiers, based primarily on skiing ability and terrain preference. Or you can meet members at 9 a.m. in the Mahoosuc Room at the South Ridge Lodge prior to lifts opening at 9 a.m. Join us and give you immune system a boost!