‘Who is...-

B16 Terrace Review — Wednesday, January 16, 1991

-Klimmer Alexander?

by Betty Barton

Twenty-one year old Klimmer
Alexander (commonly known as
"Alex’) is an engincer-in-training
for Doppelmayr Lifts, a downhill
_skier since age three, and a visitor
to Terrace for the holiday season.

Alex arrived here from Austrla
for his first visit on Dec. 6 (St.
Nicholas Day in Europe) after a
two-day delay in Vancouver (duc
to our record one-metre snowfall
in Terrace). This was a good sign
for Alex because he was coming to
Terrace to visit his uncle Klimmer
Elmar and to ski at Shames Moun-
tain.

Alex Klimmer has his Staatlicher
Schilehrer (state ski instructor)
certification, an Austrian desig-
nation the qualifications for which
takes two months of training for
each of three years. Andrew Rush-
ton, the ski instructor at Shames
Mountain, goes on to say that for
similar qualification in Canada the
courses are seven days long, after
an indeterminate number of
months or years of training. Alex
worked as a ski instructor for one
year in Lech, Austria. He was also
on the Austrian National B Ski
Team. '

_ While on the National Team,
Alex attended university and
trained on the ski slopes two or

three times each week for nine

months of every year. He raced in
the Europa Cups and other F.LS.
(Federation of International Skiers)
“yaces.

Rushton invited Alex as his guest
to ’clinic’ and exchange style ideas
and teaching techniques with the
ski instructors at Shames. He says
the Austrian style is to keep your

upper body still and just flex your
legs up and down like a telescope.

Alex has had a chance to ski and

there (at the Ski School) for begin-- |

ners. Your skiing doesn’t improve

without the opportunity for change. —

Change happens quicker and beiter
with lessons."
Alex explains that in Austria it is

‘the responsibility of the Ski Patrol
to take anyone off the ski runs
‘who seems lacking in ski control.

Then the ski school takes over to
teach them technique and educate
the person about safety.

Alex likes the Canada West Ski
Areas Association slogan, "Be
aware. Ski with care.” He adds,
"There are too many accidents
when people are out of control.
And lessons are much cheaper here
than they are in Austria. It’s worth
it for the safety.” He feels it’s also
more fun when you have good
technique, giving the skier "power
for the whole day".

"When you stand on the skis like
a bear, it takes more effort!" he
says.

Alex describes Shames as "the
best area for family skiing. It's
very nice weather; much warmer
than in town. The mountain’ is
beautiful for tree skiing. It has
good snow and well looked after

runs." "It’s like, perfeci!” he states
enthusiastically. "Sometimes, better
than in Austria. Here the lift
operators are friendly and polite.

‘Ther, it’s all business." Alex

explains that in Austria, it’s all so
big, with 40 or 50 lifts at one ski
resort.

Next Monday, Klimmer Alex
leaves for a week of skiing at

Whistler with seven ski instructor

friends from Austria. From there,
they will travel to Big White for a
week of skiing and then on to Blue
River for one week of heli-skling,
Will he be returning to ski next
year? By then, he will be a cer-
tified engineer... and then anything

clinic with seven of Shames’.14 is possible.
ski instructors. He likes their ski

| aaaie ski Schools in A If you don’t know
ex says "Ski Schools in Aus- :
tria have a much higher profile. what's going on,
Even good skiers take an hour- things go on

long lesson every day they ski. Ski
school is for everyone. It’s very
important to take lessons for better
control and safety of the skier and ©
others on the mountain."

Rushton: adds, “We’re not just

Thieves foiled

The Terrace RCMP "Lock It or Lose It" campaign appears to have
been substantial success over the past holiday season, with thefts of
_ items from parked vehicles way down from previous years.

_ The program began three years ago as a public awareness project to
cut down the number of stolen goods complaints from people who
failed to lock their cars. RCMP began enforcing laws that make it an
offense to leave vehicles unsecured, and the benefits of the program
- became apparent this year.
For December 1990, Terrace RCMP received oily seven reports of
- thefts from vehicles. That figure was 31 in 1989 and 28 in 1988. Police
found 16 percent of the vehicles they checked last month unlocked,
compared to 23 percent in the 1989 campaign. During the most recent
campaign two vehicle owners were charged under the section of the
Motor Vehicle Act covering drivers who leave their cars running and
unattended.

Cst. Jane Andrew, community relations officer for the Terrace

detachment, termed the 1990 program “a great success", adding, "We
that motorists will continue to secure their vehicles and valuables,
and thereby reduce the number of losses from insecure and unlocked
vehicles.”

Andrew also noted that insurance claims for items stoleh from
vehicles contribute to the overall increase in insurance premiums for all

vehicle owners.

without you. |

Read the
Terrace Review

Kilmmer Alexander: Ski school is for everyone. it’s very important to take lessons for better
control and safety of the skier and others on the mountain.

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