Building a Stable and Maneuverable Snowboarding Posture

An experienced executive and former CEO of NIC, formerly known as the Kansas Information Consortium and the National Information Consortium, Jeffery Scott Fraser guided the company to its initial public offering and brought it back to profitability following the dot-com crash. Now owner of the Tsaina Lodge in Alaska, Jeffery S. Fraser enjoys snowboarding in his free time.

One of the keys to snowboarding is establishing a solid stance. This begins with the feet, which is typically just a bit more than shoulder-width apart. In this position, the legs are spread far enough apart to be stable yet not so wide that they restrict the rider's range of motion.

The weight should also be evenly distributed between the feet. This allows the snowboarder to feel the terrain and respond to it. Boarders who ride with their weight habitually more on one foot than another have trouble responding to the ground and may have a more difficult time maneuvering.

Maneuverability also requires the knees to be slightly bent and over the feet while the hips are relaxed and directly aligned with the knee. Likewise, the weight of the torso should remain over the center of gravity, as any bending from the hips or waist can disturb balance. The arms should hang loosely by the sides, and the head should be pointing in the direction that the board is traveling. However, the trunk should remain stable to allow for additional stability and maneuverability.

Tips for Graduates Looking for Jobs

An entrepreneur in the tourism and hospitality industry, Jeffery Scott Fraser owns Tsaina Lodge, near Valdez, Alaska. He holds a BS and MS in human resource management and management information systems from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. In addition to his role at Tsaina Lodge, Jeffery S. Fraser is an investor in Job Pose, a company that matches job seekers with employers. 

For young graduates, looking for a job is a job in itself. It entails researching opportunities, applying for them, networking with professionals, attending interviews, negotiating offers, and (hopefully) getting the job. 

First, prepare yourself for the journey. Set aside five hours each day to researching jobs and preparing your applications for each. Do not send a boilerplate application to every company in the hope that one will respond, as that method rarely works. Instead, update your details so that you appeal to each company individually. 

Next, network actively with professionals in your field. Pay a visit to your school’s careers office. Besides career opportunities, you’ll find programs that connect graduates with mentors and grant access to networking opportunities. Attend your school’s alumni events and actively seek helpful contacts. Register as a member of a professional organization and attend their events. Make meaningful connections with the people working in a company you would like to join. Not only does this show interest, but your contacts can help you prep for an oncoming interview.

Remember to use social media wisely. Research the best apps or social media sites for professionals in your field and join these platforms. While there, communicate your strengths. Project the unique skills and expertise you acquired at your last internship, while serving on a student organization, or while doing your course projects. Highlighting experiences that show your strengths will help you know what to include in your resume and help you to answer career-based questions during interviews.

Practicing Safe Skiing and Snowboarding Behavior

Jeffery Fraser has served as owner of the Tsaina Lodge since 2011. Prior to taking on his current role, Jeffery S. Fraser spent nearly two decades as chief executive officer at NIC, Inc., in Olathe, Kansas. Away from his work in the software and hospitality industries, Jeffery Scott Fraser enjoys staying active by training bird dogs and snowboarding.

Avoiding accidents and injury on the mountain should rank as the top priority for all skiers and snowboarders. In order to limit the chances of a negative interaction while enjoying a run, individuals should familiarize themselves with and adhere to the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) Responsibility Code. The complete NSAA Responsibility Code can be found online at www.nsaa.org.

Understanding right of way rules on a mountain is one of the most critical aspects of the NSAA Responsibility Code. Any skier further down the mountain has the right of way, meaning that individuals higher up the mountain must maintain controllable speeds and practice safe maneuvering as they descend and pass other skiers. However, individuals at any place on the mountain must avoid stopping in areas that may pose a risk to others. Lastly, skiers engaged in a run always hold right of way over skiers and snowboarders preparing to merge with a trail. Before merging, individuals must carefully survey the slopes and wait for a safe opportunity to enter a trail.

Tips to Remember While Training Your Young Bird Dog

Jeffery S. Fraser has spent the last six years as owner of the Tsaina Lodge in Alaska. From 1991 until 2009, Jeffery Fraser served as chief executive officer at software company NIC, Inc. Beyond his various professional interests, Jeffery Scott Fraser spends time field training bird dogs.

There are several simple tips dog owners should keep in mind before setting out on a bird dog training session. First, owners should always pack drinking water for their dog before taking to the field. Dogs will require water as they engage in training and hunting activities, and drinking freestanding water may lead to illness or even dehydration.

Additional supplies that can help during a training session include forceps, steroid-free eye ointment, and a supply of hydrogen peroxide. Dogs, particularly inexperienced puppies, may encounter a variety of obstacles while searching for birds or other marks in the field, including broken glass or briers. The forceps can be used to remove harmful materials from a dog's face or snout, while the eye ointment can be used to treat an eye injury until a veterinarian can be seen, which should be as soon as possible. Also, a mouthful of hydrogen peroxide will cause a dog to throw up any dangerous substance it may have ingested, but do not induce vomiting if the dog has swallowed sharp objects, such as chicken bones.

Finally, for young bird dogs, socialization is as important as proper field training. Socialization is an important process for all puppies, but it can be of particular importance for hunting dogs. The more exposure a young dog has to different people and kinds of animals, the less likely it is to be distracted by external stimuli during training or while on a hunt. Owners may consider taking multiple dogs out on training sessions, even if they intend to hunt with just one dog.