Tips that Make Skiing More Enjoyable for Beginners

Ski

 

A retired surgeon, Terry McEnany, MD, spends his winters in Colorado. Dr. Terry McEnany has been teaching people how to ski for nearly two decades.

These following tips can make your first time on the slopes more enjoyable as a beginner skier.

– Steer clear of powder.

Perfecting technique is important when first learning how to ski. Areas laden with powder create unnecessary challenges during the learning process, and you will likely spend much time getting stuck, rather than practicing. Allow yourself to keep full attention on the basics by selecting groomed terrains to practice on to ensure surface consistency.

Try to use “detachable” chair lifts

These operate on two different- speed cables. One cable carries the lift chairs quickly up the hill,, while the other slows the chair down at the loading zone. The latter is critical for beginners because it gives you more time to situate yourself on a seat when loading and to comfortably exit the chair at the top of the lift. View a resort map to locate this type of lift.

– Look straight ahead.

A common mistake new skiers make is looking at their skis while in motion. Avoid this and keep your sightline at least 10 feet ahead of your skis. Identify obstacles, such as a group of people or a change in the surface, quickly consider how to prevent a collision or fall, and execute your plan.

The Importance of Healthy Eating for Skiers

Healthy Eating
Image: health.usnews.com

A former cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, Terry McEnany, MD, has since retired and taken on a new career as a ski instructor. Dr. Terry McEnany teaches through Ski and Snowboard Schools of Aspen, Colorado, where he helps skiers to navigate the slopes healthfully and skillfully.

Healthy and safe skiing requires not only a firm grasp on technique but also attention to proper nutrition. A skier typically burns between 400 and 750 calories per hour, and this energy needs to be refilled at proper intervals. A healthy meal before the day’s session is essential, as it provides the glycogen that muscles need to perform at high levels.

Lean protein also helps to ensure that the body maintains adequate stores of glycogen, which the muscles can draw from to fuel extended ski sessions. Foods such as sandwiches and cereal with milk, which include both carbohydrates and protein, are strong choices for providing the muscles with short and long-term energy. These foods are particularly helpful for skiers to eat during a lunch break, which is essential for keeping the athlete strong throughout the afternoon.

It is also important for a skier to follow the ski session with a healthy snack or light meal. Carbohydrates and protein support muscle recovery and help the skier to refuel, while fresh fruits and vegetables provide the nutrients necessary for overall healing and wellness.

2016 Heart Valve Summit to Take Place October 20 to October 22

2016 Heart Valve Summit
Image: aats.org

A graduate of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Terry McEnany served for over two decades as a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon. Terry McEnany MD is a member of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), an affiliation that began in 1976. AATS will host its 2016 Heart Valve Summit in October.

The Heart Valve Summit serves as a forum for internists, nurses, physician assistants, and other cardiology and health professionals to explore a wide range of heart disease topics. Hosted by the AATS in conjunction with the American College for Cardiology, the summit’s background lies in treatments for valvular heart disease and now incorporates a number of interdisciplinary areas. Its 2016 course will focus on interactivity and practical decision-making in the heart disease field, and will engage attendees in discussion and debate regarding real-world cases. Attendees can also participate in breakout sessions and network with exhibitors from throughout the industry.

AATS’ 2016 Heart Valve Summit will take place at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, on October 20 to October 22. For more information about the summit, visit aats.org/valve.

A Brief Overview of Sigma Xi at Brown

Sigma Xi at Brown
Image: brown.edu

Before his retirement as a surgeon, Terry McEnany, MD, held membership to more than 20 medical clubs and groups from 1976 to 1994. When Terry McEnany attended Brown University, he also was inducted into Sigma Xi.

Established in 1900, Sigma Xi at Brown University consists of professors, instructors, students, and graduates who strive to advance science and engineering. An individual must show significant achievement or a capacity for research in either field to earn a nomination for membership.

The goals of Sigma Xi at Brown include: providing national research for students; helping students to network and connect with scientists; and expanding the opportunities for research grants. Sigma Xi serves as a support group where participants help guide and encourage each other through their intensive work, as well as provide and share resources to help advance human knowledge.

Nominated faculty or alumni can earn full membership, while associate members are usually junior and senior undergraduates. Graduate students either can be nominated as associate or full members. Each university department may nominate prospective members in February, with an induction ceremony following in May.

New Touchless PPGI System For Monitoring Blood Flow

Blood Flow Monitoring
Image: upi.com

Based in the Boston area, Terry McEnany, MD, completed advanced training at Massachusetts General Hospital. Terry McEnany, MD, is experienced in diverse aspects of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, and stays informed of latest developments in his field.

In early 2016, University of Waterloo, Canada researchers announced the creation of a portable, noninvasive device designed to provide real-time monitoring of blood flow throughout the entire body. The touchless device employs a coded hemodynamic imaging approach to measuring blood flow at several arterial points.

Traditional blood-flow measurement approaches rely on blood-pulse readings at single points in the body. Whole-body imaging, coupled with continuous data collection, offers a much better picture of what is occurring throughout the body. The new photoplethysmographic imaging (PPGI) approach does not involve skin contact, as sensors use ambient and active light fluctuations as a way of measuring changes in local blood volume. The PPGI system has several potential uses, and may be particularly suited to monitoring neonatal intensive care infants and patients with severe burns and extremely contagious diseases.

Disabled Sports USA Hosts Annual Hartford Ski Spectacular

Hartford Ski Spectacular
Image: skispec.org

An instructor at Aspen Skiing Company, Terry McEnany, MD, helps skiers learn to navigate the slopes. As a member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America-American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI), Dr. Terry McEnany is recognized as an expert in skiing.

PSIA-AASI, a nonprofit association dedicated to the education and oversight of reputable skiing and snowboarding instructors, develops certification standards as well as complementary educational materials for the benefit of its members. Additionally, the PSIA-AASI hosts the National Adaptive Academy, which enables instructors to earn continuing education credits while taking part in an educational event.

One such event, the Hartford Ski Spectacular, focuses on helping people with disabilities return to skiing while allowing instructors to learn methods for teaching them. Hosted by Disabled Sports USA, the annual event is held in conjunction with the PSIA-AASI National Adaptive Academy and offers clinics in adaptive teaching methods. This year it will run from November 30 to December 6 in Breckenridge, Colorado.

Skiing Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct Skiing
Image: yourskicoach.com

An alumnus of Johns Hopkins University, Terry McEnany, MD, dedicated 25 years to medicine, during which time he specialized in cardiovascular diseases and thoracic surgery. Terry McEnany, MD, now spend his time on his second profession as a ski instructor in Aspen, Colorado.

No matter the level of experience, all skiers must follow the code of conduct to maintain personal safety and the well-being of others. The code outlines proper practices when using the mountain. Accessible around all ski resorts, the rules also often are printed on the back of lift tickets, depending on the venue.

Rules cover ski control, merging, and right of way. For example, a skier always gives a person downhill the right of way. He or she should yield to the downhill skier and make every effort to veer off to a pathway that will ensure the other person’s safety. Additionally, they must stop in locations that are visible and not obstructive to a trail.

Tips for Skiing in Powder

Holding an MD from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Dr. Terry McEnany dedicated more than three decades to cardiovascular medicine and surgery. Now retired, Dr. Terry McEnany is enjoying a second career as a ski instructor in Aspen, Colorado.

In powder snow, the following tips can make skiing easier.

1. Use the legs and feet for turns. Powder creates more resistance, and therefore, skiers find it more difficult to complete turns. While the initial reaction is to turn the upper body first, you must avoid this and, instead, lead with the legs and feet. This keeps your body and movement steady.

2. Ski as close to the fall line as possible/comfortable. More air in the snow means it takes more time for surfaces to get compacted. Until snow is compacted enough to glide across, you should not make large turns.

3. Try skiing to a rhythm. Skiing to a song helps you plan out the timing of turns. You should find a musical track that not only relaxes you but has a beat that encourages you to make symmetrical turns and turn shapes.

Ski Tips that Keep Beginners Safe

Establishing a successful career as a surgeon, Terry McEnany, MD, dedicated 25 years to the field of medicine. In 1998, following tenure with Mayo Clinic Health Services, Dr. Terry McEnany began his second career as a ski instructor in Aspen, Colorado.

Before hitting the slopes, beginner skiers should consider the following to ensure safety and fun.

1. Powder snow is ideal skiing terrain for experienced skiers. However, individuals new to the sport should stay away because the surfaces are uneven and heavy, causing most beginners to get stuck. Inexperienced skiers should practice and perfect ski techniques on groomed trails.

2. For better balance, skiers should keep knees bent. This encourages the body to naturally lean forward over the boots and results in better control. Additionally, a skier will find bent knees aid in navigating through uneven terrain.

3. Ski lifts come in different forms and offer varying levels of leniency when boarding. A beginner should locate a fixed lift on a trail map to try first. A fixed lift alternates chairs between fast and slow belts, allowing more time for new skiers to situate themselves safely before traveling up a hill.

2015 PSIA-AASI Conference Set for October 22-25 at Copper Mountain

For nearly three decades, Terry McEnany, MD, served as a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon at hospitals throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Ohio, California, and Wisconsin, in addition to holding professorships at institutions such as Brown University, the University of California, and Ohio State University. Now a ski instructor in Aspen, Colorado, Terry McEnany helps students of all ages gain their footing on the slopes, and he is a member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America.

Each year, the Professional Ski Instructors of America and American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI) provides a forum for ski and snowboard educators to network and collaborate at the annual PSIA-AASI Fall Conference. Drawing organization members, snowsports school representatives, and leading instructors, the event comprises two portions: the Directors’ Seminar and Education Fall Conference. It allows attendees to stay abreast of developments in technical manuals and the PSIA-AASI National Standards, encouraging collaboration and the development of efficient, objective, and consistent best practices.

The 2015 Fall Conference will take place from October 22 to 25 at Copper Mountain, Colorado, and will include both indoor and on-snow sessions. It will mark the third annual iteration of the Directors’ Seminar, which welcomes ski school directors from across the United States to network with industry leaders and work toward improving business practices and educational standards.