Heithffitlless
How to start, where to go, what to get, how much it costs.
LAURA SHERMAN, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
PHOTOS BY BILL MCALLEN
Tennis
Jogging
You can jog for free at
outdoor high school tracks
when there is no conflict-
ing school activity. Among
the high schools that wel-
come the public are:
* Harrison High School,
12 Mile Road, Farmington
Hills
* Oak Park High
The Bottom Line
Winter running outfit
Cross-training shoes
Total
School, Oak Park Boule-
vard
* West Bloomfield High
School, Orchard Lake
Road (no animals please)
For an indoor track,
look to these options:
* The Farmington Area
YMCA, Farmington Road,
553-40220, adult individ-
ual membership $240/yr.
* The South Oakland
YMCA, 11 Mile Road, Roy-
al Oak, 547-0030, adult in-
dividual membership
$295/yr.
* The Jewish Communi-
ty Center of Metropolitan
Detroit, W. Maple, West
Bloomfield, 661-
7683, adult individ-
ual membership
$100 $340/yr., $265 for
$75 seniors (adjustable
rates, too)
$175
Expert: Ed Taylor
is the director of
physical education and fit-
ness at the West Bloom-
field JCC.
Tip: If you are not in
condition, you should start
with some guidance so
that you can do it safely
and wisely. Learn proper
running technique, plus
how to warm up, cool
down and monitor your
heart rate.
Have a reputable athlet-
ic store fit you for shoes.
Running shoes range from
$39 to over $100, depend-
ing on the brand and the
level of the runner.
For outdoor winter
running, a hat and gloves
are a must. To avoid
hypothermia, layer your
clothing. Sports stores
and catalogs offer a
variety of running gar-
ments made of materials
like Coolmax and Ther-
max which are meant to
keep you warm and to
absorb sweat from your
body.
Skiing
In Detroit, we're fortunate to be
within driving distance of three ski
slopes. The nearby ski slopes include:
* Mt. Brighton, Brighton, Mich., off
1-96
* Mt. Holly, Holly, Mich., off 1-75
* Pine Knob, Clarkston, Mich., off I-
75
For a northern exposure and more
challenging runs, try:
* Boyne Highlands, north of
Petoskey
* Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls
* Crystal Mountain, Crystal Lake
Expert: Don Sill has been director of
instruction at Winter Walden Ski
Club, West Bloomfield, for 19 years.
Tip: Explore other ski areas af-
ter you've experienced the most ob-
vious choices. Every ski area has
its own special charms and fea-
tures. There are over 50 facilities
state-wide.
Skiing is a sport that requires
lessons. It is a good aerobic work-
out. Like all winter sports, it's im-
portant to dress properly. For
skiers, the most important pieces of
equipment are the boots and skis.
Most ski areas provide rental
equipment.
The Bottom Line
Ski parka
Ski pants
Ski boots
Ski bindings
Skis
Ski poles
Pair of goggles
1-day lift ticket at any
Pine Knob
1-hour private lesson
at Pine Knob
Total
$150
$60
$200
$150
$200
$35
$25
$25
$25
$870
Like jogging, you basically must
join a club to perform this activity
indoors. Following are a few possi-
ble choices, plus their membership
tariffs.
* Beverly Hills Racquet and
Health Club, Southfield Road,
Birmingham, 642-8500. Adult indi-
vidual membership includes an ini-
tiation fee plus $79/mo. Court costs
are $0-$10.
This club
The Bottom Line
has a strong
Tennis shoes
$40
kids' pro-
Tennis racquet
gram, too.
$125
(average price)
* Frank-
$3
Can of 3 tennis balls
lin Fitness
1 1-hour private lesson at
and Rac-
Franklin
quet Club,
$55
Northwest-
$223
Total
ern High-
way,
Southfield, 352-8000. A member-
ship is $200 plus $40/mo. Court
fees are $13-$29. This includes a
summer swim club membership.
* The Jewish Community Center
of Metropolitan Detroit, Rosenberg
Tennis Complex, W. Maple, West
Bloomfield, 661-5813. Adult
individual membership is approxi-
mately $340/yr., seniors $265 (ad-
justable fees, too). Court fees are
$10-$22.
*Sports Club, Farmington Rd.,
West Bloomfield, 626-9880. The
fees for tennis are $20 a month or
$216 annually. Court fees are com-
parable to other clubs.
Tip: Get in shape before you play
tennis, so that you can handle the
pace and be injury-free. Your
conditioning program should
include cardiovascular exercises
and strength training.
Keeping the ball moving is how
tennis players get a workout. The
best way to improve your game is to
play at least once a week.
B owling
This tremendously popular local sport boasts
many fine alleys, open from early morning to late at
night.
* Hartfield Lanes and Lounge, W. 12 Mile Road,
Berkley, 543-9337. * Thunderbird Lanes, W. Maple,
Troy, 362-1660. * West Bloomfield Lanes, Orchard
Lake Road, West Bloomfield, 855-9555. Expert:
Chuck Walby is the owner of Thunderbird Lanes in
Troy. He is the former TV star and producer of
Channel 4's "Beat the Champ."
Tip: Don't try too hard — it's self-defeating. The
ball should be rolled, not thrown. For the beginner
bowler, bowling centers offer all the necessary equip-
ment.
The Bottom Line
Bowling shoes
Bowling ball
Ball-carrying bag
1 game at a Thunderbird
Total
$30
$30
$20
$1
$81