Pelham - Windham News | April 13, 2012 - 7 CoCo Taylor: Windham’s Very Own Ruler of the Slopes
very proud of her,” her father said, adding that she worked for everything she’s achieved. According to Tom, ski racing is generally a female dominated sport, with some of the world’s most talented, and best paid female athletes being skiers. “I think at the point where I was eleven or
CoCo completeing some runs in training
by Kristen Hoffman Few people know what it’s like to zip down an
ice-covered mountain on skis upwards of 65 mph. Fewer people know how to do it successfully. Windham’s Nicole “CoCo” Taylor is one of those people who can do both with ease. The 17-year- old high school junior is quickly becoming a legend, burning up mountains all over the world; recently she was named the 41st fastest female downhill skier in the world. Taylor attended went to Windham Center
School and went to Windham High School for three years. She spent several years at the Waterville Valley Academy where she skied in conjunction with her normal class load. As of November, Taylor has been attending Summit High in Colorado as a part of their elite athlete program. . Taylor, a first generation was also recently best in the US Nationals for
ranked the 18th
downhill. . “I’ve been skiing since I was three, and this is
my eleventh year racing. I’ve been racing since I was six, and I was on the Sunapee race team for
a few years,” Taylor said. Taylor described herself in her earlier days as a “weekend warrior.” She would spend her weekends on the slopes, but continue to attend school undisturbed as any six year old would do. When she began racing her brother was also involved in the sport, but he has since stopped.
When it became apparent that ski racing was not destined to be a fleeting interest, her parents let her pursue her dream by enrolling her in the Waterville Valley Academy, where she was able to focus on her sport full time. She has been skiing for over 10 years, and has been competing since grade school. By the time she was in the seventh grade, Taylor was chosen to compete in the junior Olympics in back in middle school. She competed when she was in the seventh grade at Waterville Valley, and in the eighth grade she tied for first place as the best female downhill skier in her age bracket in New Hampshire. During the junior Olympics the next year, Taylor placed 10th overall. Tom Taylor, CoCo’s father is very supportive of his daughter and the strides she has made, “I’m
twelve, I started training in the summer, and I started training during the week,” Taylor said. Her summertime training sessions have brought her all over the world, including to the French Alps and Chile. Domestically, Taylor has spent a lot of time at Mt. Hood and Mt. Bachelor, both in Oregan. Despite all of the exotic hills she’s dominated, it’s the ones that are closer to home that are more interesting. Learning how to ski in the east served as an advantage for Taylor, as the slopes tend to be icier. The lighter, fluffier powder that is common in the west can actually slow down a racer. She decided that downhill was going to be her event when she was 14 during a competition at Sugarloaf. “It was bulletproof ice - guys were going 75 mile an hour,” she said. She was also the only girl from her team who competed in the competition. “The girl ahead of me was at the gate, and I was on deck, and she backed out. My coach just said, ‘It’s your turn CoCo,” and I did it.” Taylor said. She said she didn’t get the best score she might have hoped for that day, but she fell in love with downhill racing that day. addicting,” she said. The speed, the adrenaline
“It’s
CoCo and her father, Tom
rush and the spirit of competition never gets old for her, but she knows there is a certain level of danger involved in such an extreme sport. Taylor suffered from a concussion last year at Waterville Valley, but that didn’t deter her for the remainder of the season, “the doctors told me to take a longer break,” she said. Ultimately, her love for speed won out in the end and before long she was back racing. “This [her ability] is phenomenal - downhill skiing is one of the hairiest sports out there,” Tom said. Right now, she is finishing up high school, but she already knows what she wants to do in the future. “I’m looking to make a division I team,” she said. Most of the schools she’s looking at are on the east coast, including UNH, Middlebury in Vermont and Colby in Maine. “Everything has been completely self motivated
- she’s traveled the world, she went to Europe before she was ten,” Tom added, “It’s something that she’s really pursued.”
At ten years old, CoCo had already been racing for four years
Living Green and Eating Clean The trend of protecting
the environment continues to gain momentum, and people everywhere are adopting more eco-friendly lifestyles. Within this movement, a growing number are taking a look at their diets and seeing how eating more natural foods can improve their health while minimizing the impact on the environment. The health benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables may be intuitive, but switching to a plant-based diet also has a positive effect on the natural world. Processed foods and meats, while plentiful and convenient, have a huge impact on the environment. The methods used to manufacture, package and transport many of these products emit harmful chemicals into the atmosphere and create tons of waste. Environmental organizations are promoting the positive impact of plant-based diets and encouraging citizens to eat more fruits and vegetables. This can be difficult for those who are accustomed to consuming large amounts of meat, dairy and packaged foods. However, adopting a whole-foods diet could benefit both your well-being and the planet, and these three tips can help ensure an easy transition.
Drink your greens Green smoothies are a delicious and easy
way to incorporate several servings of fruits and vegetables into your diet each day. Many recipes for these easy-to-make drinks include ingredients that will help you reap nutritional benefits without sacrificing taste. Author and celebrity nutritionist Kimberly Snyder recommends the Glowing Green Smoothie to her clients and readers in her book, “The Beauty Detox Solution.” Snyder says blending releases the full nutritional benefits of greens, emphasizing the importance of using a high-quality machine like the Vitamix, her personal choice. Able to completely pulverize whole fruits and vegetables, the Vitamix makes any combination into a silky-smooth beverage in minutes says Snyder. This versatile machine is capable of a number of other whole-food applications, including grinding whole grains, creating frozen sorbet, and even making hot soup, making it the must-have tool for anyone adopting a more plant-based diet.
Meatless Mondays Preparation is key in the transition to a plant-based diet, and creating a meal plan for the week can be extremely helpful. Take
Well Care Well Care
into consideration your work and personal schedules, such as lunch meetings, special events, recreational activities, etc. You might begin by creating all plant- based meals just one or two days a week and then gradually increasing the number as you adjust. Adapt your weekly meal plan into a shopping list, and purchase the produce you’ll need once to save time throughout the week.
healthy body, mind, and spirit. Does Snoring Bother You? healthy body, mind, and spirit.
Alternative eats If you have favorite meat- or dairy-based foods that you can’t imagine giving up, check out plant-based alternatives as an option. From veggie burgers made from beans, falafel, lentil or even walnuts to grilled portabella mushroom panini to breaded eggplant parmesan, there are countless recipes to help you find the perfect plant-based replacement to any meal. Eating more whole foods will
have a number of positive effects on both your health and surroundings. Keeping the planet healthy has never been more important, and transitioning to a plant-based diet will keep your body healthy as well.
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