Special Issues & Guides

If you've ever bitched about being stuck behind the snowplow or the gravel truck, you should get that attitude of yours in check and realize that these people are trying to keep you alive and your vehicle intact. Most of us acknowledge that, but few of us know exactly how these street scientists are keeping us safe.
Magnesium Chloride Now that sounds scientific! That is what's called a chemical compound, y'all, and it's what both the city of Bend and the Oregon Department of Transportation spray before, during and after snowstorms. City of Bend Street Supervisor Kevin Ramsey says that while most of the country is still throwing down a salt-based de-icer, Bend has long favored magnesium chloride MgCl2(H2O), for its effective, yet less-corrosive qualities. In short, that means that it isn't going to mess up your car (or your streets and wildlife) quite as much.

You hear it all the time.
What kind of wax are you using? Or, I need to wax my skis. Ski wax. We know we need it, plenty of people neglect it, while others pontificate about it ad nauseum. But why, exactly, does it matter and how does it work? Magic? More like science; chemistry and physics, more specifically. In this case, science is packaged in the form of a petroleum-based product called hydrocarbon (CnH(2n+2)) or, in some cases fluorocarbon, a hydrophobic chemical compound. Wax serves a necessary role in skiing, acting as both a sealant and a lubricant for your skis. Without it, your skis will slide on snow less readily, or not at all. “It's all about glide. If you're not gliding, you're not skiing,” says Bert Hinkley, local ski wax guru and sales and service tech at Webskis. Though Hinkley deals primarily with Nordic skis, the principles apply to alpine skis and snowboards, as well.

Buying winter gear can be intimidating. Winter hardware, like skis and snowboards, has seen some dramatic changes in the last two decades. Winter apparel, on the other hand, tells a different story. Industry insiders like Doug Hoscheck, one of the creators of Polar Fleece, say apparel has basically been the same for the last 30 years. The only real differences are in style and color. While the technological changes in hardware are fairly complex, the science behind how apparel keeps you warm is actually pretty simple. It comes down to two main things: layering and breathability (how your clothing manages moisture and perspiration).

Ever been out skiing, feeling like you're in a groove, moving along at a good pace, only to be passed like you're standing still by a truly gifted skier? Me neither. (kidding.) When you see an elite athlete in action firsthand – especially when you're participating in the same sport – it gives you a genuine understanding of just how good they are. And although they may be working really hard, most talented athletes make it look effortless.
“It definitely comes easier for some people who have attributes specific to their sport,” says Bart Bowen, owner of the Powered by Bowen sports lab. As an example, he points out that people who excel at cycling typically have large lung capacities and longer femurs. (Thighbones that are longer than shins act as a strong lever while pedaling.) Conversely, good runners usually have a longer shin, or a shin length equal to the length of their femur. Curious, I measure my leg and find my femur is longer than my shin. Maybe that explains my running.

The Jet Stream:
What the hell is it?
* A corridor of fast-moving air that separates the cold air in the north from the warm air in the south that determines where storms form and where they move.
*Composed of wind currents high in the atmosphere (20,000 feet)
*During cold fronts, the jet stream bends south, but stays above the warm-cold boundary. In summer, the jet stream moves north toward Canada.
*Jet streaks are faster winds surrounding the jet stream that have a major effect on the location of storms and precipitation.