adventure.
Crested Butte News • Summer 2013 • 11
Thomas P. moore, m.D., Ph.D • Sports Medicine • Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon • US Ski Team & Snowboard Team Physician
Jacqueline Duba, Pa-c Medical care on the Mountain General care, urGent care, orthopedic and SportS Medicine photo by
Tom Stillo
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The premise of the clinic was simple: a group of women head out on the mountain, ride the Red Lady Lift during free Fridays, and practice whatever skills they want to work on. Our group was small—four total with Janae—with a beginner, an advanced rider who calls herself an intermediate, and me in the middle. We all wanted to work on cornering. Janae’s instructions were deceptively simple: elbows up, knees wide, weight low and heels down. Picking your butt up off the seat does not mean standing up, because you need to keep your weight low. And above all, keep your eyes up (that one I knew, but after a long day of work, my eyes have a way of locking onto my front wheel). We loaded up on the lift and made our way to the top of Awakening. When it comes to sports I prefer to be naturally good, and since that’s rarely (or never) the case, I prefer that no one watch what I’m doing. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Janae taking turns riding behind each of us, calling out tips and advice. But if she were willing to ride behind me every time I went out on my bike I’d be stellar in no time. “Elbows,” she’d say, and I’d realize I’d forgotten my arms completely while focusing on keeping my eyes up. It only got harder to juggle the cues when we started practicing corners. Everything made sense intellectually: ride high on the turn, push down on the outside pedal, break until you need to and then let go. But my body has been doing things its own way for a while now, and it doesn’t like change. “Let’s just focus on three things,” Janae said on our last run of the day, and the simplicity helped. I pushed my heels down and kept my knees wide, and I could feel the bike move faster. I could feel the potential of learning a new way to ride. But two hours goes fast in a clinic, and I left with a brain fuzzy from new information. The real test, I knew, would come the next day when I rode up to the mountain from town and followed Columbine to the start of Awakening on my own. I paused at the top to gather my thoughts, and I definitely talked out loud. “Eyes up, heels down. Elbows up, knees wide. Don’t hug the seat with your thighs,” and I was off. I will not pretend I had racing form. I did not remember to keep my elbows up. But I didn’t brake through every turn, and when I hit the whooptis after the switchbacks, I did not hit the brakes. My body was low over the bike, and I did not hang off the back. My bike felt fast, rocketing over the trail like it never had before. Don’t tell my Minnesota relatives, but it was way better than hiking. Women’s Bike Clinics at CBMR Led by local bike experts. Registration is $25 per clinic. Call 349-2211 to register or for more information.
Located Slope Side in the Mall Building Next to Colorado Freeskier and Below Christy Sports
call 970-349-2677 or 970-349-2525 www.mooreorthopedic.com I Bar Ranch • Gunnison, Colorado June 28th & 29th, 2013
Friday, June 28 (Gates open at 5 p.m. for show, 4 p.m. for camping)
Stray Grass Simpler Times Bluegrass White Water Ramble
Kids 12 & Under FREE
Music & Cam
ping!
Saturday, June 29 Guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle and bass contests Saturday, June 29th • 10 a.m.
PRIZES! Awesome Camping on the banks of Tomichi Creek Vending • Hiking and Fishing Instrument Workshops and Clinics Saturday Dinnertime Square Dance featuring “Still on the Hill”
Still on the Hill New Folk • Lost Nation Bruce Hayes & The Ragged Mountain Ramblers John Stickley Trio Blue Canyon Boys The Grant Farm
le at b a l i ava s t .com e s k s c i a r T nnyg u g . www
Early Bird tickets until June 1st: Fri., $25 • Sat., $40 • Weekend, $55 After June 1st: Fri., $30 • Sat., $45 • Weekend, $65 Tickets & Info available at www.gunnygrass.com