“If you don’t fall, you’re being a chicken.”

I spoke the words of my best friend’s dad aloud as I teetered at the edge of the Gun Barrel, the more difficult of two black diamond trails at Dubuque’s Sundown Mountain.

With 10 minutes until closing, I had completed spill-free runs down 20 of the resort’s 21 trails. All that remained was the one hill that had intimidated me since my first elementary-school ski trip to Sundown in 1992. Fall or no fall, if I skied the Gun Barrel I could say with confidence that I was no chicken.

Cautious at first, I pushed my skis into a wide V-shaped snowplow, momentarily fighting against gravity before positioning them parallel to each other and giving in to the speed of the descent. The frigid midnight air whipped against my face, biting my cheeks as I gained momentum, my skis floating atop the fresh snow.

As the slope leveled out I skidded to a stop and turned to face the monster I had just conquered. It was then that I realized I had viewed the slope from the wrong angle for years. From the bottom it didn’t look intimidating at all.

While my previous trip to Sundown ­­­­­­— as a snowboarder — left me bruised and frustrated, revisiting the slopes on skis for the first time in 15 years was like riding a bike. The techniques I learned as a child returned with ease, and I finished each run felling invigorated, adventurous and eager to go again.

If it’s your first time on the slopes try Sundown’s beginner special. Available for $30 Monday through Friday, and after 4 p.m. any day, the special includes a 90-minute group lesson, rental equipment and a lift ticket to the beginner slope. Once you feel comfortable on your skis you can upgrade to an all-area ticket for $20 and explore the rest of the mountain for an added challenge. The same package is available weekend days for $55.

If lessons aren’t your style and you just want to hit the trails, Sundown offers daily rental and lift ticket specials, including military discounts and free lift tickets from children 5 and under with a paying adult. So pull on some warm socks, gloves and snow pants and hit the slopes.
And remember, if you don’t fall, you’re being a chicken.

— KELSEY

Sitting in a padded bar stool at Dubuque’s Sundown Mountain’s north lodge, I sipped a Bloody Mary and fixed my gaze on the Winter X-Games playing on a television hanging in the corner, hoping the professional snowboarders on TV would reveal their secrets as they launched themselves above the half-pipe in jumps and twists.

Filled with a little liquid courage, and a lot of false confidence, I pulled my new snow pants on over a dual layer of Hawkeye sweats and thermal leggings and grabbed my rental board and boots. Finding a space atop the busy beginners slope, I clipped my boots into their bindings and commissioned a bare-bones boarding lesson from my friend Tony – a seasoned boarder.

With a working grasp of how to stop and an uneasy sense of balance at best, I let gravity do its thing and started down the hill. A few yards into my first run I pulled my toes up, putting my weight on the back edge of my board, to practice stopping, and fell hard on my butt.

That’s one way to stop, I guess.

Keeping my board under me as I slid down the uneven slope was a challenge; but getting it back under me was a test in patience, strength and balance beyond any I have ever experienced. And experienced it I did. Over, and over, and over again before finally reaching the chair lift at the bottom of the hill.

Exhausted and frustrated I flopped into the lift as it came up behind me.

Thankful for the rest ­— and my waterproof snow pants — I watched other first-time snowboarders below falling, standing up and repeating. As the lift carried me to the top to try again, I set my goal for the day: Make it down the beginners run just one time without falling.

After dozens of tumbles, bumps and bruises — and a second dose of liquid courage — I finally managed to keep my board under me from the top all the way to the bottom. By that time a full moon had replaced the bright January sun, and my hands,
hips and shoulders ached from more spills than I could count.

I never made it off the beginner’s hill, but I achieved my goal of a clean ride and finally
grasped the key point of Tony’s earlier lesson
– trust the board.

— KELSEY

Struggling to find rhythm in my forward strides, I trekked cautiously along the cross-country ski trail hugging the shoreline of Lake Macbride. Helplessly picking up speed atop the ice-crusted path as it descended, I realized with a panic – I don’t know how to stop!

I pushed my skis into a reverse V – it works in downhill skiing – but lost my balance and landed hard on my butt, my skis in the air.

Balance, timing and fresh, powdery snow are the keys to successful cross-country skiing. Unfortunately, my first attempt at the sport was missing each of these. While Mother Nature can shoulder the blame for the lack of fresh snow and the icy conditions resulting from the midweek warm up, the balance and timing issues fell solely on me.

Not easily discouraged, I pulled myself up and patiently shuffled along what under better conditions is a groomed trail. Slowly the awkwardness of the long, thin skis attached to my feet faded and my shuffle transformed into a glide. For me, the challenge in cross-country skiing was mental, not physical.

Feeling comfortable with my technique I pulled
my eyes off the trail and took in the crisp landscape. Under the veil of winter, Lake Macbride looks unforgiving, but beautiful; a side of the park
few see.

If you want to step into some skis and enjoy the colder side of your favorite summer parks and trails, here are a few basics you’ll want to know.

n Keep your knees bent, your hands low and in front of you and your weight forward. The goal is balance. Standing up straight is the quickest way to lose it.
n Choose a style you feel comfortable with. I failed miserably at skating – think in-line skating, but on skis – but hit my stride with the classic style that felt like running, but without lifting my skis.
n Look for flat, groomed trails to start out. Groomed trails should have a pair of tracks cut into the snow. Keeping your skis in these grooves makes it easier to navigate the trail.

Now that you have the basics, pick up a pair of rentals and dig into the snow. Saturday’s Winter Fest in the Amana Colonies is a great chance to try it out, with open skiing g on the golf course from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring along a bag of marshmallows to roast at the Millstream Brewery’s bonfire.

Beer, snow and toasted marshmallows. Now that’s a perfect winter day!

— KELSEY

When he was 23, Michael Harker set his sights on owning an art gallery by the time he was 60.

He made it with six months to spare.

Harker, 59, opened Orange Crate Gallery at 310 Third St. SE in downtown Cedar Rapids in October. The gallery offers his photography as well as selected works by other Iowa artists, photographers and sculptors.

Harker also stocks books published by the University of Iowa Press that feature his photographs, including “Harker’s Barns: Visions of an American Icon;” “Harker’s One-Room Schoolhouses: Visions of an Iowa Icon,” “Still Standing: A Postcard Book of Barn Photographs” and his new book, “Iowa’s County Courthouses,” released in November.

“My career was professional photography for 38 years,” Harker said. “I grew up in the Quad Cities and my career began there after I got out of the army in 1972.”

Harker worked in the Quad Cities until 1979 when he moved to Minneapolis for a couple of years. With the goal of becoming a corporate photographer for a Fortune 500 company, he figured that working in a large city would provide him with the necessary skills.

Harker came to Cedar Rapids in 1986 when he joined Rockwell Collins as a corporate photographer. When the company eliminated its graphic services department, Harker worked as a freelance photographer and held some odd jobs for a couple of years, including relief mail carrier.

“In 1997, I joined the University of Iowa’s Department of Ophthalmology as an ophthalmic photographer,” he said. “It’s a highly specialized field and our department was considered a model for ophthalmic photography in the United States.”

When a new department chairman wanted all ophthalmic technicians certified in the field, Harker transferred to UI’s radiology department. He worked as a photographer until June 2009.

Harker was offered early retirement with five years of benefits, making it possible open his long-awaited gallery.

The JumpStart Rental Assistance Program will reimburse Harker for his first six months of rent, enabling him to get through the winter and get the gallery established.

“I think downtown is hungry for some culture,” Harker said. “As a professional photographer, I have about 30,000 images in my archive. I’ve traveled around the world with the Army and on my own, have taken some interesting photographs, and people seem to like them.”

Orange Crate Gallery, named for Harker’s handmade replica crates used for display, is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. He is reserving Monday to work as a professional photographer.

— GEORGE C. FORD, The Gazette

As Robin Williams’ character in the film “One Hour Photo” says: “Most people don’t take snapshots of the little things. The used Band-Aid, the guy at the gas station, the wasp on the Jell-O. But these are the things that make up the true picture of our lives.”

“Through the Lens,” the current exhibition featured by the Marion Arts Council at the Lowe Center, 4500 N. 10th St., in Marion showcases not only what might be considered typical subjects of photography, such as Ansel Adams-type landscapes, but also snapshots of the little things that make up the true picture of our lives. No used Band-Aids, but you get the idea.

The show, open through Jan. 8, presents eclectic and powerful photographic images by a variety of local artists, including Robert French and Sherri Kubik.

French began his in 1955 as a photographer for Marion High School’s yearbook staff. From there, he worked on everything from high-security assignments for Collins radio, such as photographing Apollo 1 crew member Edward White (the first astronaut to perform a spacewalk. French started his own photography business in 1967, which he ran until his retirement in 1998. French’s work reflects not only his technical prowess, but also his well-developed mastery of photographic composition and his particular sensitivities and perceptions on his subjects.

“Perhaps the most memorable image in the exhibit is a softly sepia-toned photograph by Sherri that visually suggests that old abandoned gas pumps might also be seen as a valid part of the natural world,” says Craig Campbell of Campbell Steele Gallery in Marion Square.

Kubik, born and raised on an Iowan Century Farm, first began pursuing professional photography in earnest seven years ago. Her agrarian upbringing manifests itself in both the subjects of her work and the artistic spirit in which they are captured. From rusted, abandoned classic cars in a grassy field to the beauty of desolate trees in the Iowa winter, Kubik’s work communicates an appreciation of subtlety.

“I enjoy capturing the effortless beauty of the objects that surround me, especially in nature,” Kubik says. “Photography is a way to immortalize single instances that make up our experiences and shape our lives. It is my hope to accurately express my passion in my images.”

Learn more about Kubik, French and other artists and the Lowe Center at a reception for ‘Through the Lens” from 7 to 8 p.m. today. The galleries are open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. They will be closed Dec. 24, 25 and 31 and Jan. 1 and 2.

To learn more about the Marion Arts Council go to www.marionarts
council.com
— KEVIN

Growing up I wanted to be an Olympic figure skater. Once winter rolled in I channeled Nancy Kerrigan on my walk to school, gliding and spinning effortlessly along the icy sidewalks, dodging attacks from an imaginary Tonya Harding.

I was a natural.

There was just one obstacle standing between me and my gold-medal dream. I had never laced skates tightly around my ankles and put blade to ice. Instead, I played it safe and limited my “skating” footwear to a sturdy pair of PF Flyers.

This year I decided to revive my aspirations for Olympic gold and hit the ice at the Coral Ridge
Ice Arena.

Not wanting my first ice skating adventure to turn into my first broken bone, I asked the man taking my $8 admission fee, ($6 for entry, $2 for skate rental), for some pointers. His advice was simple: bend your knees, and don’t look down.

Apparently looking down at your skates is the quickest way to lose your balance and fall on your face. Not exactly a good place to land when you do fall. And fall you will.

After tentatively stepping onto the ice, I began to get my skating legs. Thankfully what I had been told by seasoned skaters was true, ice skating feels a lot like rollerblading. My confidence bolstered by a handful of successful laps, I stepped by skating up a notch by attempting a basic spin. This was my demise and I crashed hard against the ice. Not easily discouraged, I got up and tried it again; and again, down I went.

Despite several close encounters with the ice, my first foray into ice skating reinforced my childhood belief that I was destined for the gold. If I only realized it sooner. I’ve missed out on 20 years of practice.

If you’re like me and can’t wait for Mother Nature to create the perfect conditions for your winter adventures, or if you want to try ice skating but aren’t keen on frigid temps, head out to the Coral Ridge or Cedar Rapids Ice Arenas. I recommend calling in advance to check public skate hours.

However, if you prefer to bundle up and have the winter air pinch your cheeks, there are outdoor rinks at Bever Park and Arthur School in Cedar Rapids, and City Park in Iowa City.

With the forecast calling for cold and colder temperatures by the end of the week, it won’t be long before these rinks are ready for skaters. So get out and go for the gold.

— KELSEY

It’s reader suggestion time for Pints and Pigskins. Thank you Perry for the recommendation of the Stadium Lounge at 957 Rockford Rd SW in Cedar Rapids. We are now three full months into the NFL season, and with the last two Monday Night games being subpar, week 12 finally brings us a top tier matchup of the New Orleans Saints versus the New England Patriots.

The Stadium Lounge is a nice little bar located right across from the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena, otherwise known as The Stable to RoughRider’s fans, and Veteran’s Memorial Stadium where the Kernels play. The bar isn’t that large, but they have a lot of seating, including a long bar table stretching out from a sizable television, which was perfect for
the Monday Night Pints & Pigskins crew. The décor inside is sparse,
with RoughRiders, Kernels, Hawkeye and Cyclone gear along with the normal beer company posters and neon signage.

Standard beer choices are on tap, along with bottles and tall boys. The Stadium Lounge offers both normal and ‘mini’ pitchers. I never quite understood the concept of a mini pitcher, but I guess some people like to feel like giants when pouring their beers. Normal pitchers were quite reasonable at $6.50 each.

The Stadium Lounge serves food and offers both broasted chicken and fish, in addition to sandwiches, burgers and salads. They also run a unique daily food special, so be sure to check out what the kitchen is offering that night. They also have some pretty great appetizers; large chicken wings with 5 unique sauces and the crown jewel — fried macaroni and cheese. I’ve never seen this on a menu before. You have to try it for yourself. I’m now a fan.

If you have only been to the Stadium after a RoughRiders or Kernels game, you are missing out. This was a great spot to check out the game, so throw it into your rotation when you are trying to decide where to go.
— DEREK

It is fourth and goal. The quarterback sets, hikes, drops back and launches a pass into the end zone. Touchdown!

When I think of Thanksgiving, three things come to mind – Turkey, pumpkin pie and football.

Growing up a Hawkeye, football is a sport I’ve always loved to watch; but this year, in the spirit of Monica and Ross, I joined five friends for a game of three-on-three touch football that would have made the Friends siblings proud. While there was no Gellar Cup to play for, things certainly got competitive, with trash talking and few late “hits” on the field.

But a little friendly competition never hurt anyone.

To play a game of touch football you don’t need to know what play-action means, or that throwing a pass from shotgun has nothing to do with firearms. What you do need is an open space, a makeshift end zone and a ball. While the game might be two-hand touch, you are bound to leave the field with a few grass stains and mud streaks, so dress accordingly.

The beauty of this backyard style game there is no officials telling you how you have to play, so you are free to set your own rules. Here are a few basic points to get you started.

1. Each team gets four attempts, or downs, to get a first down or reach the end zone. If they fail to do so, the other team gets their shot.

2. Passing is the preferred method to move the ball down the field, since the small team size doesn’t leave anyone to block for a running back; but a well-timed running play can catch the defense off guard.

3. Allow the quarterback a “blitz count” to make a pass before the defender can cross the line of scrimmage and attempt the tackle. After that, they’re fair game. We stuck with a “Five Mississippi” count to keep the pace of the game moving.

4. You can play for a set amount of time, or to a certain score to determine the winner. Throw in a half-time and some pregame tailgating to keep things interesting and keep players hydrated. After all, football and tailgating go together like mashed potatoes and gravy.

Take these basics onto the field with you this Thanksgiving and work off that extra piece of pumpkin pie. The winning team earns bragging rights until next year.
— KELSEY

This Friday, young women attending the Go Red for Women Luncheon
are sure to learn that heart disease is not just a man’s disease or something that only affects people over 50.

In fact, heart disease is the number one killer of women ages 20 and older. And not just that, but more women die from heart disease—which includes coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, congenital heart defects, heart attack, and stroke—than the next five causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer. Luckily heart disease is largely preventable.
For Heidi Vancura, 32, of Cedar Rapids, those statistics are close to her heart, literally.

About four of five years ago, Heidi began having what she calls “spells” where she would foam at the mouth and blackout for 20 seconds or so then have to be rushed to the hospital by ambulance. After one such “spell”, she was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. Heidi has an enlarged heart that doesn’t pump blood properly. Since her diagnosis she’s had surgery to insert a defibrillator, makes regular visits to a cardiologist, and is on medication for the rest of her life. Certainly a list most 20- or 30-somethings don’t have on their to do list.

But Heidi is a lot like most young people her age. “If I didn’t have a heart problem, I wouldn’t think anything of it,” she says. “But there is so much to know about the heart.”

And while she lives with heart
disease every day, Heidi is getting
life back on track. She recently
started playing tennis again (a favorite past time she’d given up for the past few years.) She also hopes
to start a support group of sorts so that she and other young women in the area can get together and talk about how they’ve been affected by heart disease.

This girl’s obviously got heart.
­— KATIE

Orchestra Iowa’s ‘Generation O’ series kicks off

Think going to the symphony means blue-haired ladies, unforgiving ushers and the agony of not knowing when to clap? Think again. Tonight, Cedar Rapids’ Orchestra Iowa launches the first installment of “Generation O,” a series of events designed to bring young professionals and other symphony listeners together over a glass of wine and a night on the town.

For the doubters among us, it may just prove that classical music is sexy.

The event, a new offering this year from Orchestra Iowa, has all the ingredients of a posh night out: a preconcert cocktail reception at Zins in Cedar Rapids, followed by a behind-the-scenes tour at Coe College’s Sinclair Auditorium with music director Timothy Hankewich, musicians and Orchestra Iowa production staff. Then it’s on to the entree, a program that features the well-known — Beethoven’s First Symphony — and the not-so-well-known – Respighi’s “Gli Uccelli.”

There’s a reason for that, says Hankewich.

“It’s important to give audiences a taste of something they know they’re going to like, but like any great meal, to introduce something that they’re unfamiliar with but likely to remember even more,” he says.

For Generation O, the goal is to offer young Corridor professionals — and anyone else who likes a little Beethoven with their Brie — a social networking event at an affordable price as well as a backstage pass to the world of classical music.

“The point of this whole Generation O experience is to introduce people to the orchestra, introduce them to great music, but at the same time break down the barriers so that they’re not afraid,” Hankewich says. “People love to learn, but on the other hand, they hate to feel ignorant. When you can create a safe atmosphere where people can come together, go out, have a great time with their friends and enjoy great music – then you’re in for a good evening.”

That’s a particularly important thing to keep in mind, considering that while America’s orchestras are good at reaching school-age children and their parents — or perhaps grandparents — 20 and 30-somethings can sometimes be overlooked. And reaching that market can be crucial to the continued success of the orchestra as well as the well-being of its audience.

“Nowhere is it written in stone that a community needs to have a symphony orchestra,” Hankewich explains. “Like all the arts, we have to earn our relevancy every day, and that means reaching out to new audiences and making the orchestra as visible as possible in as many contexts as possible.”

That combination of social networking and community outreach is something that Hankewich, who’s in his fourth year as an Iowan after leaving his previous post in Kansas City, understands personally.

“It’s been a real privilege getting a chance to know some of the great minds in this area,” he says.

By getting to know Orchestra Iowa friends and supporters, he explains, he’s been able to feel right at home in the Corridor — a sentiment that Generation O is designed to cultivate.

“It’s been remarkable, without a doubt, to enjoy getting the chance to become an Iowan and get acquainted with the community. I’ve made some of the best friends of my life here.”

— JESSICA