The snow is falling…
It’s winter and somewhere in our local mountains and other mountain regions, it’s snowing. And this year, because of the climatic condition called El Niño, weather experts predict substantial snowfall for most California mountain areas. It’s also February, the traditional month we reserve for matters of the heart, whether that be selecting a gift for our special Valentine or paying greater attention to the health of our hearts (February is American Heart Month). And, while physicians may stress the benefit of exercise for our hearts’ health, every skier and snowboarder who takes a run down the snowy slopes, and every child who plays in the snow, will also enthusiastically proclaim the benefit snow has for our spirits’ health!
With that in mind, this February issue of LIFESTYLE will focus on mountain resorts, whether they be local or out of state, what they offer, how to get there, and much more. This issue also examines the upcoming Winter Olympic Games to be held Feb. 12-28 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and describes some of the unusual and esoteric sports played during the Winter Games. Some of these events, unfathomable for many Southern Californians, include curling (Scotland’s national sport), Nordic combined, and biathlon—all of which are explained by contributing editor Rich Breault in his story, “‘Sheets’ and skeletons—learn more about the Winter Olympics.” Additionally, sports editor Toby Carrig takes a look back at the thrills of Utah’s 2002 Winter Olympics, including the outstanding men’s mogul competition, which combines the speed of downhill skiing with the ability to perform tricks off jumps.
In his Hometown History feature, staff writer Vern Lawson takes us back to February 1930, when Halvor Bjorngaard set the first world record ski jump at Big Pines with a leap of 137 feet. Then, a year later in 1931 at Big Pines, Alf Engen scored a world professional jumping record of 243 feet, and in 1932, bested that with a record 257 feet.
But this February issue of LIFESTYLE isn’t just about the Winter Olympics and winter sports, there’s much, much more. All of our popular usual features will appear, including Arts, with a story by Rich Breault featuring a very talented 25-year-old photographer, Jonathan Numer; Good Kids, which spotlights Michael Loria, of Palmdale, who is 10 and excels in school, fencing and acting; Horse Tales, in which equine expert Elaine Macdonald visits with skilled young horsewoman Emily Harris who has, through much effort and study, earned the title of California Gymkhana Princess for 2008-2010.
Our other regular features are also included such as Home & Garden, featuring a visit with local homeowners Ann and Robert Dieguez, written and photographed by Liz Breault; A Taste for Wine, written by wine expert Lyle Norton who describes how to obtain a bargain wine collection; Classic Car, written and photographed by Dean MacDonald, which describes a nearly all-original, 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray owned by local residents and car aficionados, Fred and Nickey Frakes; Out & About, written by Rich and photographed by Liz Breault, which features their trip to the exotic and other-worldly rock formations called the Trona Pinnacles, long a favorite of science fiction moviemakers.
But there’s even more in this February issue of LIFESTYLE that we’re sure you’ll find interesting and informative. Please join us.
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