Outdoor Central Oregon Issue 14 | September/October 2019 | Page 38

38 SEP/OCT 2019 FILM| 2019-20 WINTER SPORTS FILM PREVIEW BY NEIL KORN Every fall people in mountain towns start getting the “itch”. It’s a good itch, when thoughts of powder days and perfect park laps inch ever closer. While we go about our winters, skiers and snowboards all over the planet are gathering footage from their season, hitting the editing studios, and releasing what they hope will be watched by thousands of people. Times and films have drastically changed since the days of Warren Miller and Greg Stump who pioneered some of the earliest ski films. Today, technology has allowed anybody to pick up a camera and film their friends and put out footage online. These technical advancements have allowed professional film houses to push ski and snowboard films to all new levels. This is just a very small preview of some ski and snowboard films for 2019- 20. We will review more in the upcoming issue as they become available to watch. LEVEL1| ROMANCE The Season AIN’T OVER 39 HEALTH| IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN BEND BY DR. OLIVER J. WISCO, DO, FAAD, FACMS TETON GRAVITY RESEARCH| WINTERLAND In 1999 the old sport of skiing had just been given new life, and Level 1 was conceived to document its progress into the future. With twenty years in the rearview mirror it still stands true- new things never get old. Romance, the final chapter of annual films by Level 1, captures a modern-day Golden Age in skiing. Featuring a generation of talent that came of age in the best time to ever do it. Tweaking the formula, tweaking the grab, and in it for nothing but the love. I’m going to talk about something that most people find disgusting – fungus. But first, let me start with my usual public service announcement and remind you to wear sun protec- tive clothing/hats and zinc or titanium-based sunscreen. There is no such thing as a “healthy tan” – but don’t stop living, just minimize your risk as best you can. Now back to fungus. Most people hate to hear that we are covered with “creepy crawlers.” Our bodies are covered with millions of bacteria, fungus and microscopic bugs that live in harmony with us. That is, most of the time. There is a symbiotic relationship all over us and within us that is mutually beneficial. However, when the relationship becomes out of balance, as with any relationship, dysfunction occurs. Featured Athletes: Tanner Rainville, Bend local Lucas Wachs, Duncan Adams, Phil Casa- bon, Tom Wallisch, Colby Stevenson, and many more. Shot on Location in: Sierra at Tahoe, CA. Denver, CO. Montana. Idaho. Riksgransen, Sweden. Minneapolis, MN. Finland. Hok- kaido. Sarajevo. Switzerland. Bend, OR. Mt Baker, WA. British Columbia. Quebec. Utah. Winterland is a celebration of ski and snowboard culture. This is TGR’s newest film from the Jones Brothers. The film follows these individuals as they leave their own mark on these fabled locations. Staring many others but including former Bend resident, Tim Durtschi and Bend resident Sage Cattabriga-Alosa. Filmed in Austria, Alaska, Norway, Brithish Columbia. WARREN MILLER| TIMELESS Why am I talking about fungus? Because the skin can serve as a window to our overall health and when a component of our skin flora (the creepy crawler party on our skin) overgrows, it can indicate that something internally is not functioning correctly. Fungus likes to grow in moist environments (as found in folds on our bodies), and it likes sugar. Sugar, more specifically the most basic sugar in our body known as glucose, can be excessive in or on our bodies for several reasons, but most notably, poor diet and stress. The end state of excessive sugar in our bodies is diabetes. While diabetes does have a genetic predisposition component and there is a genetic type that is not self-induced, there is also a growing epidemic in the US due to lack of exercise, poor diet, and exces- sive stress. ROADLESS For the Warren Miller film company this is the 70th anniversary edition. It features legends like Glen Plake as well as newcomers like Caite Zeliff. Filmed in crazy places like the Mat- terhorn, Eldora, and Jackson Hole. Premiering in Bend on October 26-27 at the Tower Theatre Filmed in the Teton Wilderness, the area is one of the largest tracts of protected land in the lower 48. Home to stunning mountain scenery, massive amounts of snow and the home of the Yellowstone Grizzly, the hand of man has left this treasure trove largely un- touched. In the winter of 2019, Bryan Iguchi teamed up with fellow snowboarders Jeremy Jones and Travis Rice to explore this untamed area on a 10-day human powered expedi- tion, climbing and riding dozens of never-seen-before lines. new mission in TGR’s latest snowboard film Roadless, dropping Fall 2019. JAMIE ANDERSON| UNCONDITIONAL Jamie Anderson grew up on the slopes of the South Shore of Lake Tahoe. Her prodi- gious talents as a pre-teen snowboarding savant made her a podium contender from the moment she arrived at the X Games in Aspen more than a decade ago. Since then, Jamie has amassed more X Games and Olympic medals than any other woman in history. Yet, being the best competitive snowboarder of all-time is an asterisk that Jamie leaves behind as she pursues even greater riding challenges far from the contest circuit. Powder, slush, corduroy and pillows, Unconditional presents the wide pan of Jamie’s 2019 season as she sets out to expands her horizon beyond the contest bib. Directed by Clayton Larsen. Unconditional world premiered at the Volcom Headquarters in Costa Mesa on Sept 26th. ROAD WEST TRAVELED| ABANDONED A crew of backcountry skiers set out to explore Colorado’s lost ski areas in hopes to find adventure amongst the ruins. Instead, they discover the truth behind what made these areas close their doors for good and illustrates what skiing used to be like before mega resorts and climate change wreaked havoc on independently owned ski areas. Through heart-wrenching interviews with former owners, ski patrol, and historians, The Road West Traveled uncovers what it’s like to be a skier in Colorado’s backcountry and what it means to go from lost to found. This movie will certainly tug on your heartstrings and bring out your melancholy side, who can some resorts be simply left to rot. Just another victim of climate change and vari- ous other factors, you are right there with the riders as you explore Colorado’s forgotten resorts. SNOWBOARDER| EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY Starring Bend locals Gabe Ferguson and Gus Warbington, filmed across the Northern Hemisphere and directed and edited by Ted Borland. The world premier took place at the Volcom headquarters in Costa Mesa on Sept 26th. PARTS, SERVICE, BIKES, and BEERS. Come join the community. X THE BEST OF two worlds under one roof, 345 SW CENTURY DR BEND, OR www.sagebrushcycles.com 541-389-4224 insta @sagebrushcycles / @skjersaas Diabetes is a gateway disease to multiple other diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, dementia, etc, but that is beyond this discussion. The point is that the occurrence of fungal overgrowth can be an early warning sign that you should pay attention to. Some things to look for include excessively dry scaly feet, yellow crusted thick nails, scale on the body that forms rings, scaly red areas in excessive body folds, itchy scaly areas on the head, and scaly spots that don’t seem to tan. This last one is a condition called Tinea Versicolor, and it is a condition that I commonly see as a dermatologist this time of year as the summer comes to an end. Tinea Versicolor is typically first noticed by a person when they develop a tan and there are scaly spots scattered over their chest and back that did not get darker like the surrounding skin. This fungus, which also is a causative factor for dandruff, interferes with the body’s pigment cells, called melanocytes, and slows pigment production. So, in periods where the skin is being damaged by the sun and the melanocytes are trying to protect the surrounding skin cells by producing more pigment to try to shield the neigh- boring cells, this fungus prevents the melanocytes from doing its job. Disclaimer: I do not recommend getting a tan to see if you have Tinea Versicolor, but if there is a “benefit” to damaging your skin cells, tans can highlight this fungal overgrowth. Before you start inspecting your body for scaly spots and become paranoid that you have diabetes, recognize that there are some people that are just genetically inclined to getting fungal overgrowth, despite being healthy. As with all diseases, minimize your risk and maximize your potential for health. Be active, get outdoors and exercise, eat healthy, drink plenty of water, and of course – protect yourself from the sun. Strive for balance and enjoy the world we live in, just do it right. About the Writer: Dr. Wisco is a fellowship trained melanoma specialist and skin cancer surgeon (Mohs). He founded Dermatology Health Specialists in Bend and Sunriver and also cares for patients at Harney District Hospital. When not at work, he is likely on the trail, running or riding his bike with his family and friends. www.derm-health.com