The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

. S-The Canadiazi Champion, Friday, February 8, 2002 Snowboarding certainly isn't just for the young By FANNIE SUNSHINE The Champion If trying to balance while your feet are strapped to a board, con- stantly falling in the cold snow and slidmng down a hili wbile the wmnd blasts in your face sounds like fun, you're flot alonte. "lSnowboarding started to get popular about six years ago," said snowboard insnructor Carey Matthews, who teaches as (3len Eden Ski and Snowboard Centre. Mr. Matthews, who's been a snowboarder for the past nise years and an instructor for five, said thse sport is for anyone of any age. "We have a wide variety of snowboarders, from age 9 to 50, botb male and femnale." Snowboard lestons are offered as Glen Eden for bosb the heginner and more advanced snow enthusiat, be taid. Glen Eden bas several mnstructional programns avallable to suit individual needs. Group lestons, wbich consit of up to nise people, are offered to those aged eight and up. The centre alto offert special Christmnas and Marcb Break group lestons, as well as private lestons. "We pus people of the saine age range and experience togesher," be said, adding a young snowboarder won't be un the samne group as an older person. And if you're out of shape, you can expeet your body to he gesting a wake-up call after only one letton. "It (snowboarding) workt everytlsing, your legs, stomnach," Mr. Matthews said. "If you're Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Chris Kargel camves an edge as he snowboards at Glen Eden. ity, like how to slide on the board. We'll pracfice standing on the board on fiat ground first and then go down the hili. One of the hardest things to do is getting up ofl the pitcts on the siope. We'l do straight rnning and sie fiipping and tumas and balancing on one edge and then fiipping to the other" And if you're going to be one witb the snow, you migbt as well dress for it. "Snowboarders should wear ski panta, gloves and a toque, along with a helmet, no master what level you're at," he recommended. Kylie and lier sister Amazsda were enjoying a day of snowboarding Wednesday at Glen Eden. 1I jusi started, so l'mn not that good yet," 11 - year-old Kylie said. "15 looked lie fun sOI1 want- ed to nry it. 1 fail a lot, but it's funs sliding on the board."1 Ten-year-old Amanda followed in her sister's footsteps after she saw Kylie trying to master the art of snowboarding. "We falI, but it's fun," sbe said, shaking snow out of her hair. "I know I'm not good, but I nry." Bush girls are currently taking lestons and said most of their friends do so alto because it's "1cool". Mike Hutoen, who's been snowboarding for two years, said he got hooked while watching bis older brother take off down the siopes. "It looked to cool, like you're fiying or tome- thing," the 14-year-old said. "It hurts when you fail, but that's the risk you take." Mike sald hie nries to snowboard a few times a week and alto takes lestons. "It's more funs to be juat begfinning, dependissg on your age you'l through the fundamentals of mastering the out here than stayissg indoors, playing video probably be out there for an hour." snowboard. ganses or something. Most of my friends ski, but If Mr. Matthews is teaching beginners, he'll go "I teach them about the board and basic mobil- I like snowboarding better." Here 'a some good advice, guys, for Valentine 's Day With Valentine's Day right around the comner, it's a good tisne to reveal the fundamental differ- ence between men and women when it comes to buying presents. Men buy women presenits they think will get themn into the woman's good books; women buy presents after careful thoughs and consideration about what they think the man wilI like. I n other words, men don't know what the heck they're doing. T'hat's no major revelation, but don't worry, l'mn gomng to help you. What makes me such an expert? Weil, I've done pretty much everyshing wrong that can be done wrong, so trust me. The thing about Vaientine's Day that I don't get is that it seems to be a time for men to do things for women. Why nos the other way around? Aren't we aIl equal, or are we just equal when i5 suits women? I only mention this because if you think the samne way, neyer ever say it to your wife or girlfriend. Stars off with the card. They are full of the most ridiculous mush, it's almost enough to make you vomis. Women want the musli, and actualîy reati the card. Do not, under any cir- cumstances, buy an intentionally-funny Valentmne's card. The mushy ones are funny a enough and shey wiIl appreciste theni Don't fall for this trick. If your other suggests not buying each other save money, by ail means agree with her. You still buy the present, though. To nos do so is just plain ssupid. If by tomne chance she doesn't huy one for you, that's even hetter because you have he one over on ber and she will be extra nice to n he make it up to you. 1The key to buying gifts for women is to be as loose impractical as possible. Neyer ever buy hr something they need. t once got a good mop as a Spresens, l'mn nos kidding. I really liked that mop, but chances are exnremely high that buying a mop for your lady on Valentine's Day will eamn significans you a spot on the couch for at least a week. s present to e see BE PREDICTABLE on page 30 mFIRUTRFESSIONAL 70 AI T E - e611 --- 1-