Denver Air Concerns

[FencingDad]

My 17-year-old son and I are headed to Denver for the NAC Junior Epee Competition. Since we're flatlanders from the midwest, should we be concerned about his competing in the thinner air? Any thoughts on how to help prepare him? Do fencers bring along bottled air like NFL football teams do?

My thanks for your sincere replies. Best of luck to all NAC fencers, especially foil and sabre fencers.

[eternal109]

The elevation shouldn't affect him to much, as long as he follows some basic advice. Make sure to get a good nights rest, drink plenty of water!!! If possible send him out the day before so he has some time to aclimate. If he gets a headache from the altitude change just have him take some asprin or advil. Usually doesn't take moe than a 12 or so hours to aclimate for a person who is in good physical shape. I came from Nebraska out to Colorado.

[rjccj]

If you live near a big city, and the polution is bad, then the breathing won't be much worse. I've been to Denver and higher areas on vacation and had no problems playing tennis at that altitude right after I got there. Good luck to ya'll.

[robbie]

Welcome to Colorado ...

If your son begins to experience dizzyness and feeling light headed, have him take a Tums or Rolaids. It helps to counteract elevations sickness, that is if he develops it.
He will get tired a bit faster than those of us who live here and are used to it. Eternal is right ... a good night's rest before is essential. Maybe a quick snooze during lunch.
It really shouldn't be extreme though ... where the football players have difficutly with their breathing comes from playing outdoors in the cold air!
Have fun and good luck!

[This message has been edited by robbie (edited 10-30-2000).]

[robbie]

Just curious ... how did you son do? which one was he?

All the kids did very well! What an exciting atmosphere! It broke your heart though to see the little ones in their first competition get so keyed up, then take off their masks after a loss, and start crying. You could see they were trying to be so brave.

[darius]

I would imagine reactions to the air in Denver are mostly psychological -- it's only about a mile high, right?

I never noticed any of the standard oxygen-deficiency problems (headaches, dizziness, sluggishness, impaired judgement, etc.) while skiing at La Plagne, which tops out at around 8,000 feet.

Well, none that couldn't be attributed to trees, cliffs, and playing hockey without pads, at least.

darius

[eternal109]

Reactions are different to altitude sickness. The more physically fit you are the less of a problem you are going to have. Simply because your body is more used to dealing with less oxygen. Sorry but downhill skining isn't much of a work out, try telemark skiing or cross-country, then tell me that 8,000 feet doesn't have an effect on the body.

[Lumberg]

Regarding Darius' message, altitude sickness is a physical reaction to high altitude and not psychological. The air is literally thinner in Denver than on sea level.
The Denver NAC is over and no one died.

Regarding Eternal109's message, downhill skiing is a workout depending on how you ski. You are burning more calories while downhill skiing than walking. Do you ski? On the outside, skiing appears not to be a physically difficult aerobic activity, but your lower body muscles are constantly contracting and relaxing. After a day of downhill skiing, I am totally wiped out. Oh well, that's my two cents on alpine skiing.

[This message has been edited by Lumberg (edited 11-16-2000).]

[saberkid]

i dont know i went to denver and i didnt like it to much the air was thin my lips were chapped (all the time) and you got worn out VERY fast. and omfg it was cold... comming from sacramento where 40 is cold going to denver where its lke 25 (ouch!)

Chris

[HilandDoug]

I asked a taxidermist, and he confirmed that downhill skinning burns a lot of calories. (sorry, I couldn't resist.)

[eternal109]

I ski quite a bit actually, all three forms cross-country, downhill, and telemark.

[Foil Girl]

SaberKid, where to you fence in Sac?

[saberkid]

yeah, im at Sacramento Fencing Club
why?