Pulse

Fall 2015

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torrancememorial.org PULSE | 29 helicopter with the 10 or 12 others in your party. When the copter lands at the top of the mountain, you put your skis on and go down the mountain. Sometimes you're skiing on a glacier where there are no trees and it's wide open. Other times you're tree-skiing through a native forest where there are no runs cut out; that big wide path does not exist. You ski on fresh, untracked powder every run. It gives you a sense of exhilaration being in deep powder in the unspoiled wilderness. This sounds dangerous. SC: You ski down the mountain as a group. ere are guides skiing with you who know the terrain. ere are rocks, cliffs, tree wells, etc., you want to avoid and they know where they are. We always emphasize safety. We're not thrill seeking by any means. It's just a different way to ski. We try to minimalize the danger, not seek it out. Do you work out as well? SC: Skiing is physically demanding and a lot of stamina is needed. I do weekly sessions with a physical trainer, Alonzo Garrett, during the year, but we ramp up right before ski season. We do circuit training , which is good for cardio endurance to build up your stamina, then we do leg exercises to build up what we call "ski legs." You started golfing five years ago at age 45. What made you take up golf so late? SC: My wife, Joanne, sent me out. She thought it would be enjoyable since my teenage boys were learning to golf. So, now when my sons and I go golfing together, that counts as family time. You can do a lot of bonding for four hours together on a golf course. And now you're an avid golfer. SC: I'm on the golf course two or three times a week. It's funny because I always thought golf was too hard, too expensive, too time consuming , not even interesting to play. And then I started to play and found out I was wrong on all those counts. It's good for physical health, but it's also mentally stimulating. e mental challenge is to learn to play the game and be constantly improving and challenging yourself, which I never knew until I started. I've even had some success by winning our club championship, which is something I am proud of. Dr. Chang's three sons, Marcus, 14, Matthew, 17, and, Michael, 18, golf with Dad and also go on skiing vacations several times a year. PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUREN PRESSEY

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