PEDphiles and the Havoc They Wreak!

By: In: The Sharp Edge

the PEDphile

Allegations of PED Abuse Haunt a Wisconsin Sports Figure

Not a pedophile, but PEDphiles — athletes who take performance enhancing drugs (PED) to get the extra edge to win. Here in Wisconsin one of the star athletes on one of our professional teams is constantly the subject of doping stories. Unfortunately, this story is following the same trajectory as the Lance Armstrong saga.

PEDphiles — Intense Pressure to Perform

Star athletes have more to worry about than simply paying their mortgage. In fact, that is the problem with being a high-profile figure, others depend on you so they can pay their mortgages too. In my college days I recall hearing of a study that established a rigorous connection between the wins a star player is responsible for and the extra revenue those wins bring (this a study in baseball) and if I recall correctly the that magic number is 10 wins.

Of course, it is not all about the money. Star players are star players because they are competitive and it is only after the competitive drive turns them into the best in their fields they get the pay. With or without the money they want to win. I have been around a few people who were hyper-competitive and losing to anybody is devastating to them. That drive does not turn off with million dollar contracts, they still want to figure out how to improve and become better.

PEDphiles — Continued Improvement

Professional athletes are well tuned for the athletic job they need to do. They have staff to make sure they exercise, train, eat, and recover properly. In many ways they are interchangeable with each other. The only way a professional athlete can truly outshine his or her peers is to dope. In fact, professional athletes do not have a lot of time at the top of their game due to age, they are pretty much at the peak of their physical fitness and time is going to do what it inevitably does. The only way to reverse or stall it is to — dope.

PEDphiles — Lawyers Do Not Necessarily Argue for the Truth

They argue what their client pays them for.

Lance Armstrong too beat a positive test on a technicality involving chain of custody questions. Of course, Lance has confessed to the doping charges. That was the angle taken by the current figure in the PED stories. I bought the story then but the recent round of stories and further consideration of the Armstrong story wash that belief out to sea.

PEDphiles — Skiing

Cross country skiing is subject to PED use by its athletes and if one Googles the subject one can find such stories. This is unsurprising as it seems those sports requiring high levels of endurance are the most subject to PED abuse. However, search for downhill skiing and PED use turns up very little (except for some skiers arguing for allowing their use). I wonder why? I do not think these athletes are anymore pure than the rest of the human lot.

PEDphiles — Do Not Idolize Athletes

Top performing athletes deserve our admiration, even those using PEDs. Even if I took PEDS I am still not hitting 95 mph fastballs 400 feet, I am not cranking 1000+ watts up a 12% 5 km hill climb, and I am certainly not blowing out a 300 pound offensive lineman and getting a sack. However, there is a huge difference between admiring and idolizing a person. Even when the drugs were whiskey and tobacco they athletes were bound to disappoint if viewed too closely. The whole PED thing simply serves to remind us no matter the level we compete at, the temptation to cheat to cut corners other go around is very strong.


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Fighting on the Snow — Do Not Do It!

By: In: The Sharp Edge

Want to see some fighting on the snow? This video gets close: (not safe for work — NSFW)

Fighting on the Snow — Know the Code

Talk about handling a situation poorly. First, the skier does not understand one of the points of the skier’s code and that is:

People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.

Downhill skiers do not have eyes on the back of their heads, they can not see and avoid you. The very best you (as the uphill skier) can hope for is they are traversing the trail and pick you up in their peripheral vision.

In this case we are talking about snowboarders down the hill. If you are uphill from someone it is YOUR responsibility to avoid them. The skier’s concern is the boarder may swerve into one of his children, which is not an irrational fear, especially on this narrow trail (aka a cat-track) with the cliff to the left edge of the run. The trail a traversing trail — cutting across a slope to get people who can not ski the steeper main runs down to the bottom of the mountain. Typically, they are narrow and it is a good idea to ride in a tame and predictable fashion. Still, it is no excuse to say the person you ran into unexpectedly turned.

Fighting on the Snow — Does not Play Well (or live) With Others

The skier does two things that are very wrong here and the first thing he does is to take a reasonable case and turn everyone against him and his case. Confess, how many of you were not hoping a ski patroller came zooming in and clipped him? I know, I was hoping for it, or even him eating a phalanges salad (i.e. getting a fist in face) again I was waiting for it. If he would have calmly explained his case to the snowboarders that the cat-track is not appropriate for tricking then things would be very different (of course he would not be the star of the video), and in fact it could very well the snowboarders who were acting out.

The other thing the skier does wrong is to threaten a physical fight. If you are not prepared to take an action then do not talk about it, heck, I would even advise against warning in the event you are willing to carry that action out, just do it as they say. Even in the heat of his obvious anger he should have realized attempting to start a fight is the ultimate of stupidity. Who knows though, maybe he ate lead paint as a child.

Know the code and wisely pick your times and places.

What do you think of this display of manner?


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Lance Armstrong and His Fall

By: In: Biking, Off Season, Outdoors, The Sharp Edge

the yellow jersey of the Tour de France

The Fall of Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong has finally admitted to using performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) during the peak of his professional bicycle competition days. I know many are gleeful to see this day . I disagree with that and think now the dogs have nothing more to chase he can move on to bigger and better things.

In his admission of guilt he can move on, will others?

Lance Armstrong — Still Impressive

There is no doubt the use of PEDs contributed to his amazing bicycle wins. However, one must consider a few things. First, that sport is awash in PEDs. Current grand tour rider (with an equally impressive record) Suspicions of PED usage dog Alberto Contador and he has served suspensions for positive PED tests. In any event, I challenge you to even finish a mountain stage in one of the grand tours, with or without PEDs.

Lance Armstrong did this despite the fight with cancer he had and the absolute grueling grind that professional bike riding is. That is impressive with or without using PEDs.

FYI, Lance continues to compete in endurance events, I saw him on Universal Sports some months ago competing in a triathlon.

Lance Armstrong — LiveStrong

I am a regular visitor to the website he spearheaded — LiveStrong! It is a good website and seeks to inspire others to get off of their ez-chairs and become active! It also provides advice on healthy eating, it is an all around source of information and inspiration on becoming a more healthy person.

I have seen people joke about the site calling it LiveWrong but I do not see anything wrong with LiveStrong despite its founder’s lie. It is attempting to motivate people to a better and more healthy life. Lance knows what it is like to undergo major medical treatment and if the website can help others avoid similar ordeals that is good. I have witnessed (as have we all) people undergoing major medical ordeals brought on by previous lifestyle choices and it is no fun for them and no fun for those of us who love them. LiveStrong provides guidance to prevent taking those wrong turns.

Perhaps we can view LiveStrong as Lance’s penance?

Lance Armstrong — The Lie

As is usually the case, it was not so much the original crime but the coverup and the lie Lance was living that incensed most people. Lance was a part of a team in all of this and the team was falling to the accusations and he called everyone else liars and continued to deny the truth. People can not let that go especially those who were around him when he was engaging in the use of the PEDs.

Lance Armstrong was doing deeds in the dark. The consequence of those deeds coming to the light kept Lance from acknowledging the truth, one has to wonder how much the need to keep his usage of PEDs in the dark motivated his behavior? If someone did that to someone else, would that not be extortion? Of course it would be, in essence Lance was extorting himself and now the lie is over he can live more freely.

Lance Armstrong’s fall was actually a long time ago and not today. I would guess he would still have been an amazing rider without the use of PEDs, just not the legend we thought he was. He is now free from his days of PED usage but now must live with the consequences of the lie.

I am not so concerned one way or the other about all of this, hero-worship is something that can only lead to disappointment and so I avoid it.

How about your thoughts on this fiasco?


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Riding the Snow? Wear a Helmet!

By: In: The Sharp Edge

Wear a Helmet!Wear a Helmet!

Hey snow rider — wear a helemt! My helmet finally paid for itself.

Wear a Helmet — The Usual Thoughts

Most of us when thinking about wearing helmets think of either crashing and slamming our heads on hardpack, snowburied objects, ice; or we think of running into other skiers or objects (trees, buildings, lifts etc). Those are all very good reason to wear helmets. Running your head into any of those objects or falling and slamming your head on the surface you are riding is a bad thing. In my pre-helmet days I crashed once and my head slammed on the snow, still I was okay but it gave me reason to think about getting a helmet.

I think too, we all have heard stories about people crashing on ice patches and either suffering head injuries or being rescued from injury by a helmet.

Wear a Helmet — Flying Objects

Last Saturday evening I was skiing at Granite Peak in Wausau Wisconsin. I was off the run’s drop and on the runoff making turns concentrating on my hips and outside leg when something went wrong. Quickly I was on the snow and detected a ski release, I do not know what happened it just happened. Fortunately, all was well and then BONK bonk on the head!

What was that bonk? It was gravity bringing that ski back to earth straight on my head! Guess what? Aside from the surprise of the bonk I was quite okay. Now, would I have suffered major injury without the helmet? I doubt it but would I have kept skiing? I do not know, I do not know how that ski fell down on my head (flat or edge first), maybe I would have received a major cut? Maybe the ski would have given me enough cause to stop skiing for the evening, or who knows? All I know, the helmet spared myself pain and possible injury.

Mind you, I was not skiing on a hot run, I was not skiing tremendously fast, I was not skiing in trees, I did not collide with another person or an object, I simply fell and created a falling object zone and that falling object fell on my head. I am glad I was wearing my helmet.

Wear A Helmet — Just do It

Helmets are:

  • Warm

    • I have no problem keeping warm with my helmet.

  • You can wire them up

    • In the past I have worn earbuds while skiing, what a PITA. You can wire up your helmet and make the tunes delivery more reliable and easier to work with.

  • They do not look bad

    • I do not see they add or subtract from one’s fashion statement at all. If you want, pack your hat or cap and when walking into the lodge pull the helmet off and whip out your alternative headgear.

  • Come on, don’t risk your brain

    • Even the gruntiest of grunt workers signficantly rely on their brains to work and yes ride. You need a fully functional brain to pay for the riding and to ride, do not jeopardize either.

Wear a Helmet — We all Want you Back!

It is quite simple, anything that increases the odds you will walk off the resort grounds to walk back on is worth it, please wear a helmet when riding.

Wear a Helmet — Your Stories?

Have you had an incident you wish you were wearing a helmet or were glad because you were wearing a helmet? please share your store may inspire others to wear a helmet and that could be life saving!


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Learn from Crossfit

By: In: Health and Fitness, Skiing, The Sharp Edge

Cross fit chick!

Learn from Crossfit!

I first became aware of the Crossfit training program about a one year ago and it immediately intrigued myself. I wrestled in high school and in my last year our coaches took a mixed approach to our fitness making sure we received strength training as well as cardio-conditioning, furthermore the emphasis was getting in as many repetitions in a given time interval. That program of exercise got me in the best shape I have been in my life, especially given my weight and age at the time.

Crossift — Many Facets of Fitness

There are many facets to physical fitness and most training regimens emphasize either strength or cardio-conditioning, however, we need to consider flexibility and we can not forget balance. I suppose Crossfitters can fill in a few more, I think I have seen people talk about agility and explosiveness too, but in my view (at least agility) is a combination of the other attributes of total fitness.

Fitness focusing too much on any one attribute is not useful in many competitive activities. As a skier, I do not find running a marathon very useful, nor is curling lots of weight. However, when I combine reasonable amounts of stamina and strength that is helpful to my skiing. When I run a NASTAR race I need the strength to bend my skies, I need power to bend the skis quickly, I need balance to stay up, I need agility to quickly change edges, and I need stamina to do all that for a sustained amount of time. No single attribute in excess is going to make up for weakness in another one.

Useful physical fitness is fitness that balances strength, cardiovascular, balance, agility, power, and balance.

Crossift — Too Much?

Crossfit gyms have developed a reputation for being intense. In fact, most articles I read on Crossfit typically focus on the near maniacal zeal which Crossfitters push themselves and those around them. Most proponents argue that people must maintain awareness and respect their limits, but the focus is on repetitions per time unit and most weight based workouts specify a weight without consideration to th person’s size or ability.

I suppose given the state of fitness in our nation this is a refreshing change, but some people are not going to listen to what their bodies are telling them. In addition, tyou must have good fitness if you hope to accomplish the workout of the day (WOD). Crossfit is not for the fresh off of the couch, couch-potato.

Crossfit — Learn from its Philosphy

Crossfit’s focus on all the attributes of physical fitness is very worthwhile. My workout routines do not slave to clocks but like most people, I am busy and do not want to live in the gym. That desire to get in and out quickly serves me well, I perform the non-cardio portion of my workotus moving quickly through the stations, keeping my heart rate elevated working the cardiovascular system in addition to my muscles. Furthehttp://www.wi-ski.com/
rmore, I make sure I each part of my body gets some exercise, legs, upper body, and core. I also work in exercises to make some explosive moves and moves that work my balance. My physical fitness is moving along quite well and quite quickly.

Crossfit — Your Take Is?

Do you Crossfit? If so, why do you like it? What do you not like about it? Have you been hurt from it?


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Risky Business

By: In: The Sharp Edge

Skiing is Risky Business. We send ourselves down hill on a pair of boards and there are many obstacles and perils to overcome, and I am not talking about those who seek the near vertical steeps. However, facing the risky can lead to growth and learning the infant trying to stand up and walk risks falling and if we did not take that on where would all be?

Risk is an inherent part of life and we all learn quickly that we need to measure the risk and weigh the possible gains vs. the actual costs and the likelihood of failure given the situation.

I was watching some show this evening where a group of young men took a climb of the Shark Fin Meru and they conquered it (despite the expedition leader receiving near fatal head injuries about a year previous) and that was a risky proposition. One of the youths noted they are explorers in an explored world; that if born in the age of exploration they would have been on galleons crossing the oceans and hiking unknown continents. Sans the ocean floors the whole world is pretty much fully explored and there are no new lands, no new mountains to find, nada. Fact is, many of the early explorers took on the risk and paid the ultimate price, their bones would littler the world had they not turned to dust.

Evolution wired us to take risk, the thing is we all have our own areas of endeavor where we are willing to take risk. Some are willing to take physical risk skiing, some take it kayaking, some will take it in the offices of the world, risking their jobs and livelihood on some project, maybe even putting the livelihoods of hundreds perhaps thousands of others on the line.

So as long as there are nasty lines to ski or board young people will continue to die attempting to ski those lines and our species requires that, the moment home sapiens breed or drug risk taking out of our species is the moment we our species beings its slide to extinction.


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Lindsey Vonn vs. the Men

By: In: Competition, Skiing, The Sharp Edge

Most of us who pay attention to the ski world know Lindsey Vonn petitioned the FIS to compete against the men in Alpine skiing. The FIS denied her request. Lindsey Vonn is one tough skier and she skis on men’s skis.

There is no doubt Lindsey Vonn would regularly beat about 2/3rds of the men on the current circuit, at least in the speed events of downhill and super-g skiing, but I am skeptical she would be on the podium very often. There is also no doubt I do not want to see an event like Billy Jean King vs. Boggy Riggs and I am sure the FIS does not want that happening either.

My thoughts on this are is that Lindsey could usually wind up near the top, but I also have no doubt she would not get as many podiums and she would not be contending for the overall title either. I am glad the FIS did not allow the event to turn into something other than skiing. I do not blame Lindsey she is looking for more challenge, after all to her it must seem routine to get on the podium.

Lindsey Vonn is the top US skier of the current generation and there is no doubt about that.


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A Season’s Pass — The Buffet of the Ski World?

By: In: The Sharp Edge

Beautiful, but do not tie me down with a Season's Pass

A great place but do not tie me down with a Season’s Pass!

What is it about visiting a buffet? All of a sudden we become obsessed with getting every last penny of dietary value (and we usually measure that by quantity and not quality) out of our entrance fee? You probably do it and so do I, normally we go to a sit-down and spend twice (or perhaps 3-4 times) as much and not fee like we are getting ripped off, but when we go to a buffet we feel as we have to eat like a prolonged famine is about to hit. Yes, admit it you do it and so do I! A season’s pass to a snow resort is essentially the same thing.

Season’s Passes — the Positive

A season’s pass can help save money when skiing, just divide the cost of a pre-season’s pass into the cost of the season’s pass and if you will ski at that resort around that result (more or less) then it could very well be worth buying the season’s pass. Buying a season’s pass also allows the resorts to get some cash in advance to keep their operations going through the lean summer months (there is still costs even though they are not operating). It also gives the resort the ability to know how many people at a minimum will be visiting their resort throughout the season.

Season’s Passes — the Negatives

Greg Ditrinco the editor of Ski Magazine sums it up very well in the November 2012 issue of Ski Magazine: “But a pass can act as a leash, tethering you to the convenient and familiar”. He goes on to observe part of the wonder of skiing is the thrill of exploration and discovery. Indeed that is true.

I have held a number of season’s passes for two separate resorts and there is the pressure to ski at those resorts and only those resorts and I want to ski at different resorts throughout the season. Any place or setup no matter how cool and exciting at first does become boring, mundane, and routine; and like most of us I get enough of that at my 925er.

Season’s Passes — My Final Word

A season’s passcan be a good deal but only if it is a place you can get to on a whim. If you have to plan it out in the slightest, forget it. If you live five miles from a resort and you might want to ditch the 925er (and can) early one day to get some carves in, or hit that hill on a weekend when you are home then I would believe it is a good deal. if going to the resort is not a trip down the bunny hill then buy pre-season passes. Its bad enough the demands of life ties us down enough, why add another — leash?

Season’s Passes — Your Turn

What is your experience and ideas regarding snow resort season’s passes?


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Earn the Joy!

By: In: Biking, Off Season, Outdoors, The Sharp Edge

     
I have wrote about this before, and yesterday instead of settling into my easy chair and watching the Tour De France I took my own bike ride!:


View 07/07/2012 4:48 PM in a larger map

As the ride was coming to a close I knew I could check-mark a goal that has been on my list for some time and that goal was by no means was trivial. Despite the numerous long rides I have made this summer, the ride was a stretch for me which my legs and the touch of cyclist’s palsy (aka handlebar palsy, a numbing of the pinky side of the hands due to extended pressure on the ulnar nerve) confirm; so it was a bonafide accomplishment in my book.

The only drawback is now I have to replace the old goal with a new and grander one!

After I cleaned off I went into town and got some dinner, on the way in some good Grateful Dead was playing and my bloodstream must have been saturated with endorphins as the feeling I had was of pure joy. The best thing about that joy was it was bought with a real accomplishment.

Now it is your turn to accomplish something and earn the joy!


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Facing and Conquering Risky Situations is Growing

By: In: The Sharp Edge

I do not normally read the New York Times, but googling around for the benefits of risky playgrounds leads to the article I was thinking of.

Essentially the article questions the notion of making children’s playgrounds into rubber rooms where safety is of paramount importance:

His [former New York City Park Commissioner Henry Stern] philosophy seemed reactionary at the time, but today it’s shared by some researchers who question the value of safety-first playgrounds. Even if children do suffer fewer physical injuries — and the evidence for that is debatable — the critics say that these playgrounds may stunt emotional development, leaving children with anxieties and fears that are ultimately worse than a broken bone.

The column states some very common sense ideas. Namely the idea of habituation, they note children do not go charging straight to the top of the monkey bars, but go up to a point and get used to being at that point, from that point then they base off of to conquer new heights. How many of us have gone through a similar progression while skiing?

The article also notes the research seems to indicate children falling and hurting themselves DOES NOT lead to fear and anxiety of the situation but actually quite the opposite, those children who are not exposed to the risky situations actually acquire those fears and anxieties more frequently.

Of course, parents fear the notion of seeing their children get hurt and the article’s implication is that hyper-safety is not for the children (though easily dressed up that way) but for the adults.

The upshot in my opinion is, all attempts to wrap us all in bubble wrap or keeping us from activities that carry the risk of hurt (or worse) are actually harmful to us and society.

Now get out there and be not afraid!


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