Maelle Ricker: safe bet for a gold medal
Maelle Ricker's parents called her Mighty Mouse
when she was a child. She is a down-to-earth snowboard cross competitor, who is so successful she's lost track of how many times she's been on a World Cup podium.
Maelle Ricker, Canadian snowboarder. Currently in 1st place overall in the snowboard world cup
I think it's 15,
she says, but you'll have to check
. The count is rising steadily. Ricker leads the snowboard world cup standings ahead of Dutch boarder Nicolien Sauerbreij and Swiss slalom racer Fraenzi Maegert-Kohli.
Maelle, You are a Vancouver native. You know all about the region where the 2010 Winter Olympics will be held. What are some of the things you liked to do when you were growing up?
Mountain biking and hiking. There are so many great trails on the North Shore mountains.
When friends visit, what do you like to do?
We love getting up into the mountains. We also like renting cruiser bikes and going around Stanley Park. That's always fun on a sunny summer day. Or even in the winter -- get on your raingear or bundle up and cruise around. You can rent bikes that have the back pedal brake so you can kick it old school like when you were a little kid.
What beautiful places do you recommend?
Anywhere you can get up into the mountains and get away from the crowds. I still really enjoy mountain biking. I love jogging in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve and Lynn Headwaters Park. There's a suspension bridge in the park and a whole network of trails. You can even go up to Lynn Peak for a nice view over the Fraser Valley.
Is the eating out good in Vancouver?
I love the food in Vancouver! There's just so much international cuisine. I have a favourite little Thai place in West Vancouver. And another that serves amazing breakfasts. That's me, food and exercise.
What about Vancouver night life?
I love the Commodore Ballroom with its old floors and really great concerts. I remember seeing Jack Johnson there with a bunch of friends. We had an amazing time! I think that place is pretty neat for a night out.
What are your favorite shopping spots?
I do spend a lot of time at Park Royal in West Vancouver. My bank's there! I like cruising around it, especially the outdoor part that's like a village.
Do you have any favorite festivals in the city
Maelle Ricker
I like the Harmony Arts Festival in West Vancouver. They have live music playing and a whole bunch of different artists featured in three different parks, including the waterfront.
Please recommend something to see that might not get a lot of attention.
Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver. Depending on where you hike in the park you can get some really nice views to the city, all the way to the University of British Columbia (UBC) and westward toward Passage Island and beyond.
How do you hope visitors to the winter Olympics will experience Vancouver?
I really hope they get received well by friendly Vancouver residents. I think we have such an amazing city with lots of friendly people. I hope they're greeted with the warmth and charisma we've always had in the city.
Keep an eye open for Maelle Ricker. She is seen as one of Canada's best hopes for a gold medal at the 2010 Olympics.
At the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy she came fourth in Snowboard Cross. She was second overall in World Cup snowboard cross standings in the 2008-09 season. She also won a World Cup snowboard cross event at Telluride, Colorado just before Christmas.
Thanks to SBX Magazine
By Ben Foster
Readers respond
Linni, Chicago Thanks for the write-up on getting in shape for older people. I am a 47 year old female. I used to run and bike alot, up to 12km running a day and 50km a week biking. I gave it up over the years, I felt so tired and just gave up.
Four years later and I am now 30 pounds overweight, flabby tummy, bulky arms, huge saggy breasts. I am about 160 pounds and 5' 3". My average weight has always been between 118 and 128 pounds. I have also been single (not even a date) for nearly 6 years now because of the way I feel about my body. I am inspired by what you write and think there might still be hope for me! Thanks.
How fast can you run a mile at 50?
If you're 50, normal weight, and untrained, you should be able to run a mile in 9 minutes. After three months of training, you should be down to 8 minutes. After six months, you should be capable of 7 mins 15 sex. After two years of serious training without injury, you should be close to six minutes.
John, Petoskey, Michigan I'm looking down both barrels of the big five-oh and having trouble seeing my feet. This coming from a guy who finished the L.A. Marathon three times in his thirties, not to mention many half-marathons and countless 10k's. After knee surgery I started making excuses and now I'm faced with battling my weight ... again. I lost 100 lbs. between the ages of 28 and 30. I'm sure I'll be challenged now more than ever, knowing I won't see the results from years ago, but I still desire them.
Tammi, Knoxville My husband has gotten fat and stayed that way. Knowing that all sex can be is having someone who flabby who weighs 120 lbs more than I do during sex makes me feel depressed about the rest of my life. I will print out this article and hope he reads it.
Malin, Tampa I am so sick of my husband. He is so boring in bed. I think he doesn't love me anymore, or he's just like that ..so tired and out of shape for six long years. I don't know what to do.
Don, Boulder Thanks for the great article. Great encouragement for me to get running again after a few years off after an injury. At 51 I hope to someday feel comfortable running 5 and 10k's, maybe even a marathon if I can be so lucky.