Subscribe to Outside Magazine
advertisement
Survival Guru

Today's Question
How do you make primitive snowshoes? answer

What should you do if you get lost driving in a snow storm? answer

Eco Adventurer

Today's Question
What is the greenest ski and snowboard on the market? answer

Can I really damage a coral reef with sunscreen while snorkeling? answer

Videos Ask Dave
  • What kind of dog will make me look manlier? answer
  • Is there a sport that safely combines my twin passions for guns and kayaks? answer
  • How come most of the world's cultures enjoy eating goat, but Americans don't? answer

Online Favorites

Special Issues

Photo Galleries
save this page print this page email this page
  • share this page

Outside Magazine April 2004

Outside’s Guide to Getting Schooled
Follow Through
Get a shot of confidence at camp, then sustain the commitment at home with these six strategies.

By John Bradley


Intro | Climbing, Mountaineering, and Canyoneering | Snow Sports | Cycling and Horseback Riding | Water Sports | Paddling | Racing | Running and Wellness | Skydiving and Paragliding | Survival and Wilderness Skills | Specialty Camps | Post-Camp Routines | Beginner’s Schools | Soft-Adventure Learning Vacations

Join the Club
Like-minded enthusiasts can get you off your butt with organized events like group-training programs for a first marathon. Pete & Ed Books (800-793-7801, www.peteandedbooks.com/clubs.htm), an online bookstore and clearinghouse of sports clubs, has links to about 1,000 outdoor organizations in the U.S. and abroad.

Get Tuned Up
Hook up with expert instructors for one-day refresher courses. Keep working on your weak points and sooner or later you’ll nail that stubborn crux move. Eastern Mountain Sports (888-463-6367, www.ems.com) hosts climbing, camping, and kayaking clinics throughout the Northeast.

Local Motion
People who hit the neighborhood trails and local surf breaks know what’s best, and when. When you take your sport on the road, ask around at shops or scour the Web for advocacy groups. California Kayak Friends (818-885-6182, www.ckf.org) is a boaters’ network that shares event and condition information on hot spots at rivers, lakes, and oceans across the West.

Give Back
Volunteer to clean up your favorite play spot (and conscience). Meet your brethren, then hit that debris-free singletrack. Oregon’s Portland United Mountain Pedalers (www.pumpclub.org) hosts weekly "work parties" on nearby trails.

Push Yourself
Nothing gets you fired up to practice like a little healthy competition. The New York Road Runners (212-860-4455, www.nyrrc.org) hosts the New York City Marathon and some 75 shorter races throughout the year.

Cross-Training
Just because your sport is seasonal doesn’t mean your training should be. Minnesota’s North Star Ski Touring Club (952-924-9922, www.north-stars.org) has been organizing cross-country-ski clinics and outings for more than 30 years. Come summer, members hike and bike together to stay in shape till the snow returns.

Next Page: At a school like Otter Bar, every beginner has a shot a greatness

Intro | Climbing, Mountaineering, and Canyoneering | Snow Sports | Cycling and Horseback Riding | Water Sports | Paddling | Racing | Running and Wellness | Skydiving and Paragliding | Survival and Wilderness Skills | Specialty Camps | Post-Camp Routines | Beginner’s Schools | Soft-Adventure Learning Vacations

• Subscribe to Outside and get a FREE Gift!
• Give the gift of Outside Magazine!
• Subscribe to Outside Online's free weekly e-mail newsletter featuring gear reviews, fitness advice, galleries, podcasts, and more.