The B.C. Winter Games weekend is ahead, and I’m trying to get into an athletic mood for _it. A person should really be "psyched up" for such events, _ and I’ve put forth an exhausting _ effort. Last week, I wore a sweatband to the grocery store, and it made all the difference -- it’s amazing how that little thing can preserve one’s body heat _ while cruising through the frozen Sara Lee Dessert display. The _ other day, I even took the stairs two at a time, and had a - momentary "jogger’s high" before I collapsed. Then I practised my “athicte’s victory dance" in the kitchen, but the kids began laughing and almost choked on their green beans. It’s not easy being a mental athlete. Through years of participation in recreational sports, Ihave gleaned a wealth of information about the psychology of sports. This does not mean I’ve ever Contributed by Stephanie Wiebe 6 151991 Norther’ B.C: Winter Games Sports spectators need sweatbands, ~\K played anything WELL -- purposcly, ! like to think, to maintain complete objectivity when researching my subjects. Yeah, that’s the reason. But my experience has given me a profound respect for cerebral. aspect of professional athletics -- that, and a strong aversion to excessive sweat. The sweat thing came from my grade eight gym teacher. Mrs. Brown gave all of us grade-eight girls the serious low-volume speech about "these tender growing years" and then she took away our football. She also mentioned our insufficient use of underarm deodorant, telling us that "horses sweat, men perspire, but ladies ’glow’" -- I remember thinking that Mrs. Brown sometimes ’glowed” like a horse, but I was too much of a lady to say that. Soon after, we began modern dance and floor Excrcises. In high school and college, I “earned about field sports and mud. What a glorious feeling, to run with abandon across a damp, grassy field and slide sideways through thick mud into a “ goalpost. It’s even MORE fun if you’re carrying a ball at the time “and the gealpost belongs to YOUR team. Our dormitory girls’ football team was quite expert in this mud-sliding practice, that is, until we played against the guys -- you know, the 220-pour thick-necked guys who grind their teeth and yell "kiIi!" across the fifty-yard line -- somehow, the threat of serious ” physical injury sucked all the joy out of the sport. So I turned to volleyball, a . somewhat cleaner sport. This was an education in self-protection. Our first game, I tripped, fell on my keester, and some hotshot spiked the ball into my face, so I learned to trip AWAY from the net. I also learned that when a player leaps into the air and yells "Bonsai!" during a serve, it might be a dangerous game. Most — important, I observed that volleyball teams wearing matching t-shirts and shorts play MUCH better than a variety pack of old torn shirts and jean Cut- offs. This effect is multiplied by the use of expensive brand- names, and has since been documented in numerous government studies. I found basketball to be mentally exhausting. This is a challenging, fun game, except ‘the dribbling part. In most sports, it feels natural to just grab the ball and run. But in basketball, you're expected to dribble while ~ you run -- that’s TWO activities at the same time. . . So I moved on to other activities. Badminton was the sport that taught me about "psyching up". Playing with friends was fun, until we were challenged by a group of professionals. Well, maybe they weren't professionals, but they actually knew the RULES. And they oozed perkiness. As they volleyed to warm up, they shouted supportive "team lingo", like "Way to GO, Julie!” or "THAT'S the way, Susie!" This was new to us amateurs, Our own team lingo consisted of "Yo! Get up off the floor and PLAY!" or "Aw, don’t be such a WUSS - - the bleeding will stop.” Needless to say, it was a short game. I knew it was over when ~~’ “4 supplement -to the Terrace Review — Wednesday, January 30, 1991 hot chocolate and Rocky Il victory dance! our star player ran into the net, pulled over the supporting poles, and somebody yelled, "Way to GO, Steph!" . Eventually, I turned to sports more psychologically suitable to my personality, such as stud poker, crossword puzzling, and matching up that pile of socks next to the clothes dryer. During these activities, I labour to maintain an athlete’s positive mental attitude, and thus avoid any temptation to boost my abilities with steroids. And now, I’m psyching myself ‘ up for the Winter Games -- even sports spectators need to be in the right frame of mind. With my sweatband, hot chocolate, and the "Rocky Il victory dance" technique, I’m all ready -- let the games begin! ; for « FUNDRAISER DANCE - Leslie Campbell, Gord Shaben and Paul Walker served refreshments at the Jan. 19th NBCWGi Fundraiser Dance sponsored by the Terrace Musicians’ Ass'n and Terrace Little Theatre. ‘THE COUNCIL AND RESIDENTS OF T WITH THE CITY OF TERRACE IN CELE NORTHERN B.C.WINTER GAMES. eo ny HE DISTRICT OF KITIMAT JOIN BRATION OF THE 1991 o the organizers, participants and residents, we wish success, : fellowship and goodwill.