Action Snowboarding

The people of Bulgaria make many claims: they invented the wheel, the digital watch and the Cyrillic alphabet. But whatever the locals say they have been responsible for in the past, there is no doubt that Bulgaria is witnessing a tourist boom in the present. Recent figures suggest that as many as three million tourists visit the country each year from all over Europe, including Russia, Romania and increasingly Great Britain and Ireland. With spectacular mountain scenery, impressive cities and great Black Sea resorts, Bulgaria has much to offer tourists - both in summer and winter.

The Rhodope Mountains offer a year-round tourist experience with superb skiing and snowboarding in the winter, and hiking and extreme sports in the summer. For winter sport enthusiasts the Bulgarian nirvana is Pamporovo in the Smolyan Province, some 260 km from the capital of Sofia. Surrounded by lush pine forests, the resort boasts modern hotels, great facilities and 25km of ski runs all at an altitude of a minimum of 1620 metres above sea level. Winters at Pamporovo are not severe and an average of 150 days of snowfall each year allows for an extended skiing season.

Due to its great resort infrastructure that includes many great bars and restaurants, Pamporovo also proves very popular in summer. The region is littered with many natural caves especially around the rivers of Arda, Shirokolushka, making villages there and those close to the town of Smolyan very popular with extreme sports fans.

Black Sea summer resorts at Burgas and Varna are attracting tourists in their droves, especially at the biggest Black Sea resort of Sunny Beach, located between Ravda and Sveti Vlas. Bulgaria holiday villas are in demand in the resort and others around this region such as Golden Sands resort near Varna, next to the national park of the same name. The resort has been in existence since 1957 but in recent years has seen an upgrade in its hotels, restaurants and bars as it attracts more tourists from Germany, Scandinavia and the UK.

The rapid development that the expansion of tourism in Bulgaria has generated has also triggered a property boom. Villas in Bulgaria are becoming a must-have item, not only due to the opportunities afforded for great holidays but also because of their capital value. Whether as a holiday retreat or as an investment and property, accommodation in Bulgaria is in demand and has become the target of many a speculator, with prices predicted to rise exponentially over the next ten years.

THE SKIER & SNOWBOARDER MAGAZINE, WINTER 2001

INITIALLY, stretching exercises are a good way to re-awaken muscles that have been sleeping since the last skiing expedition. The next step is to undertake a regular routine of strengthening exercises that focus on the muscle groups most used in skiing.

SQUATS

These exercises are one of the most effective for building endurance and strength in the quadriceps, gluteals, hamstrings, hips and calves, and can be performed with dumb bells or other weights (cans of baked beans are an ideal substitute) to increase resistance.

â?¢ Stand upright with the soles of the feet flat to the ground. Hands, with or without weights, should be rested on the hips.

â?¢ The position of the feet is very important in this exercise. Stand with feet shoulders-width apart so as to allow you to work the muscles of the entire lower body. A wider foot stance focuses on the gluteals and the hamstrings, while a narrow stance develops the quadriceps.

Lower the body to the floor, keeping the knees pointed in the toes. Once the knees have reached a 90-degree angle, in a slow and controlled motion, return to the standing position.

â?¢ Remember, always keep the soles flat on the floor and do not extend past the 90-degree angle.

â?¢ Repeat 10 times in each position.

LEG LIFTS

Strong hip muscles give more support to the back and knees when skiing. Leg lifts are very useful for building up the hip muscles and wilt also help strengthen the whole of the leg area.

â?¢ Lie on your side, rest on your elbow, with legs extended.

â?¢ Bend the bottom leg backwards, at a 90 degree angle.

â?¢ Keep your knees, toes and thighs pointing forward and your top leg straight, and slowly lift your leg up until your toes are in line with your shoulders, then lower the leg.

â?¢ At its lowest point, the working leg should not be rested on the bent leg, but kept in continual slow motion.

â?¢ Repeat 20 or 30 times then rollover on to the other side.

Ankle weights or a ski - can be worn during this exercise to increase resistance.

STRENGTHENING IN THE GYM

Resistance machines can be used to great effect, particularly the stairclimber and cycling equipment.

Weighted equipment is also very useful â?? but be aware of using too much weight, as this could have the reverse effect, hampering your ability to achieve good results, while making you more susceptible to injury. If you feel yourself using your back when exercising, or are tempted to use too much momentum or speed, the weights you are using are too heavy.

When using the weighted equipment, your first exercise set should always be done with less weight and regarded as a warm up. Further sets can then be done at a higher weight.

If you complete these exercises two or three times a week you will be fully prepared to tackle the exertions of the slopes.

It's always something of a shock to emerge from the damp woods of British Columbia onto the bright hard candy of Whistler. Whistler Village is still basically a small sporting town with a gigantic ski area in its backyard (more gigantic than ever if you count the nearly half-million acres of backcountry that makes up the Heli Skiing area). Come dusk, when the yellow lights come on and the snowy peaks turn pink, the Village Stroll becomes a parade of apres-skiers. The 2010 Olympics may crank the party and prestige quota up another level, but the folks piling into all those cozy bars and restaurants are concerned only with tomorrow's powder. Considered to be one of the top ski resorts in the World, Whistler's growth in the last 10 years has been astonishing. Whistler has a philosophy that there is 'something for everyone' from skiing and snowboarding in the Winter to mountain biking and golfing in the summer, as well as other recreational activities such as shopping, dining, culture and arts. With regards to accommodation Whistler not only offers ski-in / ski-out condos and chalets, it provides many other options suitable for all price ranges. Luxury property rentals in Whistler have become increasingly popular as people seek convenience, service and all their needs to be catered for, in their need to escape for their hectic lifestyles. Accommodation in Whistler caters for all needs, from intimate 1 bedroom cabins to decadent 6 bedroom mansion style houses catering for up to 20 people. All amenities are provided and careful thought has been given to ensure the guests stay in Whistler is as enjoyable as they had hoped. Property rental in Whistler is well advanced and therefore guests have high expectations when choosing their luxury getaway in this corner of Canada. Its reputation precedes it - for the fifth time, one of America's most prominent ski magazines, Skiing magazine, has named Whistler the Number One Ski Resort in North America. The Daily Telegraph (UK) ranked Whistler 'Best Ski Resort in the World' in 2003. Ski magazine voted Whistler the 2nd best resort and TransWorld SNOWboarding rated Whistler the best resort. With a mile-high vertical rise, Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains are nothing short of the most remarkable skiing experience. It is the largest ski able area in North America served by one of the most advanced high speed lift system featuring 15 Express lifts in a total system of 33 lifts. It has the greatest vertical rise of any ski resort in the continent. Twelve incredible bowls, three glaciers, and more than 200 marked trails offer skiers of every level and age endless enjoyment. Whistler Blackcomb is regarded by many as the top ski resort in the world, but why is this? On the slopes, every level of skier and snowboarder is catered for -- every type of terrain imaginable can be accessed by a fast and efficient lift system yet the slopes remain relatively un-crowded. Off the slopes there are about 100 restaurants and about 200 shops to try, and dozens of other sports and leisure activities. Today, people come from all over the world to experience world class skiing and snowboarding in the Winter, and golf, hiking and mountain biking in the Summer. Whistler is unique in offering such a diverse range of activities, of such a world class standard. Luckily for the millions of visitors Whistler receives each year there is plenty to choose from when it comes to accommodation In Whistler. Luxury whistler chalets are prevalent for those who desire more comfort after a days skiing. Many of these Whistler properties are ski in / ski out offering the best in convenience and luxury in Whistler.

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When choosing to visit to Alaska one of the activities that should be considered is Alaska fishing. Besides seeing the sights and experiencing seasonal changes in weather there is just plain relaxing. Consider stopping at the nearest Alaska fishing lodge. There are so many packages available and so many offers that you surely will find one for your family. A great Alaska fishing lodge is one that offers all the amenities with easy access to the water. Any package should include close proximity to the oceanfront lodging, great meals, guide services and fish processing. So you get everything you need all in one trip. There are many choices in fishing lodges. Alaska also offers a great variety and quantity of fish to be caught. They can be caught in different regions of the state and at various seasons. Alaska most popular fish is the salmon and the runner up is halibut. In the South central region there are various choices of fishing lodges. First, Alaska Tree Tops Fishing Lodge. Then there is Alaska Accommodations and Fishing Charters, Alaska Adventure Company, LLC Wilderness Place Lodge. In the southeast region there are several selections in lodges such as Alaskan Advantage and Shelter Cove Lodge and Salmon Falls Resort. The southwest offers the Alaska Rainbow Lodge. There are many more selections of Alaska fishing lodges that are available. By searching the web you may find out which lodge is best to suit your needs and who offers the best package and pricing. Most fishing lodges offer valued deals on shelter, food, and fishing equipment rentals. How can you select what is best for you? Decide on what region has the fish you are looking to catch. Pricing varies on lodges, regions, seasons and packaging. A package can start from $75 and range up to thousands of dollars. Guides are included in these packages to show you the region and where the fish reside, how to catch them best and when is a good time to go fishing. Alaska fishing lodges are fully staffed with professional fisherman who have been guiding on fishing subjects for many years. They love fish and will give the best fishing experience to maximize your chance for success. This should keep you coming back for more. Alaska fishing lodges offer stays from four to seven nights and offer a variety of options to meet the client's needs and desires. Most of the lodging are owned and operated by Alaskan residents. When fishing in Alaska timing is everything. In other words each species of fish has a time when they are most available and when there is an abundance of that particular fish. When booking a reservation with one of the resorts, check to see if the fish you want to catch are available during your visit.