Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Hitting the Slopes

It's late February, the time of year when most people are fed up with the cold and are more than ready for winter to finally be over. Most students may be dreaming of a far off day when they can leave the house wearing nothing more than flip flops, shorts and a t-shirt instead of taking 20 minutes to gear up for the -20 degree windchill. Those who were lucky enough to go down south for some sand and sun during Reading Break may be having an especially hard time coping with the snow and ice currently covering most of Canada. Although I can be sympathetic towards winter-hating people, I am definitely not one of them. I love everything about winter; from the frosty winds to the snowy slopes; from the ice-covered ponds to the freshly-groomed trails. I was extremely excited by the huge dump of snow we got last week, and am very happy to hear that more is on the way!

A great winter activity that I tried during last week's break for the first time in 8 years was downhill skiing. I learned the sport at age 4, but ever since discovering the thrill of snowboarding I gradually skied less and less, eventually stopping altogether. Until last week, that is. I decided to leave my board in Montreal and borrowed a pair of my sister's skis to hit the slopes of Mont Saint Marie, a hill about 1 hour North of Ottawa. I was told by friends and family that skiing is like riding a bike in that it is impossible to forget how to do it. I decided to take their word for it, hoping that this excursuion would not lead to another concussion.

With all of the fresh snow that fell last week, conditions were perfect. It was one of those ideal days, when everyone else in the world seems to be cooped up at school or work. We had the hill almost entirely to ourselves, and were constantly up and down the mountain doing as many runs as possible. I was a little rusty at first but my body quickly remembered what to do and soon I was speeding down the slope with more confidence. My only complaint came later in the day, when we were done skiing and had started heading towards the car. The walking made me realize quite quickly that my knees were killing me! Perhaps I overdid it a bit for the first time on skis is years. Despite the pain I felt for days afterwards, I enjoyed the experience enough to get excited about the sport again, and to begin looking forward to the next day at the hill.

If you are a winter-hater, I challenge you to challenge yourself and leave the comfort of your apartment for a day of skiing or snowboarding. There are so many great hills that are just outside the city, and only a few weeks left to enjoy them. Grab a few friends and convince them that speeding down a ski hill on a winter's day is one of the great pleasures in life that should not be passed up.

See you on the slopes!
- Martlet Girl

Ps: best of luck to all of the varsity teams who are currently in play-off mode!

Friday, February 17, 2012

"Reading" Week Outdoor Activities


                Spring Break is finally here! After a hellish week of three midterms, a quiz and two essays, I am more than ready to do anything that does not involve sticking my nose in a textbook. Personally, I find that the best remedy for a school-induced coma is to get outside for some fresh air and exercise. Working out inside is great because it is convenient, there is very little risk of getting caught in a snowstorm and you don’t have to breathe through a neck warmer. However, there is something to be said for leaving the security of the gym to brave the elements and enjoy the mental and physical benefits outdoor activities can provide. Whether in a major urban center or a small town in the country, our Canadian climate and landscape offer ample opportunities to enjoy a variety of sports during the winter months.
                While in Montreal, my favorite outdoor activity to do during the winter is hockey. As I’ve discussed previously, Jeanne Meance Park is a great option for McGill students looking to fit in a quick game between classes or in the evening. For those who do not play hockey, there is an ice surface just outside of the rink which is usually reserved for skaters. The atmosphere at this skating rink is fun and inclusive, where people of all ages and ability levels can enjoy being active outdoors for an hour or two.
                Another aspect of the Montreal landscape that McGill students are fortunate to have easy access to is Mount Royal Park. Located immediately behind the Currie Gymnasium, “the mountain” is great for running, hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Don’t have equipment for these winter activities? The equipment room at the gym rents snowshoes, cross-country skis, boots and poles. Check here for prices. Although I have never actually cross-country skied or snowshoed on the mountain (it’s on the to-do list!), I do use the trails for running several times per week. I love the feeling that I get while climbing the mountain, escaping from the exhaust fumes and reckless drivers to leave the city behind, even if it’s only for an hour or so. I often say that I would not be able to live in Montreal without Mount Royal as a refuge from all of the cars, noise and commotion. Even if you are a city lover and are not bothered by the chaos of urban living, I highly recommend taking out the headphones, stepping off of the treadmill and heading outside for a run, hike, ski or snowshoe excursion. You may be surprised at just how refreshed you feel when you return, both physical and mentally.
                As for me, I will be escaping the city for the next week to go back home to the Gatineau Hills. If the weather cooperates I will be having a blast cross-country skiing, playing hockey on the ponds, snowboarding, and hiking in the woods. I hope everyone has a great spring break and enjoys some much needed rest, relaxation and fresh air, wherever you happen to be!
See you next week!

Martlet Girl

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Intramural Soccer: a Mid-Season Report

            During my time here at McGill I have been part of several intramural sports teams. From volleyball and basketball to floor hockey, soccer and 2v2 soccer, most teams I have been a member of have been moderately successful. We usually manage to win more often than we lose, and every so often we make it to the semi-finals or even the finals. However, one component continues to remain missing from my intramural sports experience: a McGill mug.
            For those of you who are unaware, these glass mugs are awarded each semester to the teams who win their respective intramural divisions. The winning squads also get all of the glory and honour associated with having their pictures taken and displayed prominently near the entrance of the Currie Gym complex. I’ve heard many horror stories of students who have played years of intramural sports at McGill without ever winning this coveted prize. As my undergraduate career progresses, I’m becoming more and more anxious that I too will obtain my diploma without ever having played on a championship team. That’s why this semester I stepped things up a notch in my quest for intramural glory. At the mid-way point of our regular season, my Co-Rec soccer team is undefeated. We currently sit on top of the 19-team league and if things keep going the way they are, my intramural dreams may finally be realized.
            If you happen to share my noble goal of achieving intramural glory, you may find it helpful to check out the following list of tips for maximizing your chances at a championship. For this Winter 2012 season, I have done everything on the list. I am happy to report that these tactics have been working for quite well for my soccer team so far.  

Martlet Girl’s Tips for Intramural Success

1.     Be the captain. Enough with being part of someone else’s team: if you want it done right, do it yourself! As captain you get to handpick your players and create the most skilled line-up possible.

    2.     Seek out the best soccer players you do not know personally. It can be helpful to check out the scoring leaders from the previous season, and then facebook stalk them to see if you have any mutual friends. Next, invite one of the mutual friends to be on your team and ask them to bring along the best player they know. Presto, you’ve got yourself a striking machine.

        3.     Bribe the best soccer players you do know. A lot of the good players that I am friends with are in high demand in the intramural leagues. So how did I convince them my team is the best? Bribery. Especially for early weekend games, it can help to invite your teammates out for a meal on you after the game. Since everyone loves free food, chances of superstar friends showing up increase exponentially.
          4.     Choose an intense team name. This is important, because a great name can psych out opponents before they even hit the field. I recommend adopting the name of a professional team or inventing a name that could very easily belong to a high level soccer club. 

          5.     Show up late. Never, under any circumstances, should you show up on time for an intramural game. Get there at least a couple minutes late and definitely do not warm up. This intimidates the other team and throws them off their game. Maybe they even think for a minute that they are going to win by default! They are completely shaken when your full team shows up and the game goes on as planned. Bonus tip: this tactic works better if you score in the first couple minutes of play.


                        Although some of these tips may seem extreme, if you are really serious about the McGill mug then you must realize the level of commitment needed to achieve this goal. I will be sure to report back at the end of March with full results from the conclusion of the Chelsea Football Club’s season.

            See you in the fieldhouse!

            - Martlet Girl