Flowering Facts with Trudy

The buds are blooming and the flowers are flourishing at the Old Town Hot Springs. Landscaping and Outdoor Maintenance Manager Trudy Greig is always busy with the hanging flowers, potted plants, trees and shrubbery that surround the five acres of Old Town Hot Springs property.

Trudy started 27 years ago as a lifeguard. Now she's in charge of keeping the property in perfect shape. She says that typically in Steamboat, planting should begin around Father's Day. But at the pool, planting can start in mid May. "What people don't realize is that we have a micro-climate here because of the warm thermal waters and all of the concrete. It's a very warm spot."

She says Steamboat only has an average of 49 days of frost-free weather a year. That means the gorgeous floral displays will probably peak in August, but be able to bloom until mid-October. "Sometimes, we have made it until the week before Thanksgiving,"says Trudy.

Trudy says she always needs volunteers to help her with the landscaping and outdoor property maintenance. The Old Town Hot Springs will do work trades for memberships, but you can only work during the day, Monday through Friday. An information sheet is available at the Front Desk and on the website.
Click here for details

The landscaping staff at the pool wants to remind you that the landscaping and maintenance materials on the Fish Creek Falls Road side of the upper parking lot are the property of the Old Town Hot Springs. Please do not remove these items.

Plenty To Do In The Pool

There are many ways to exercise in the pool. The hot pool and the lap pool both offer exciting options.

   •  Take a water aerobics class. Different levels are available. You can work and stretch and do the exercises at a level that is comfortable to you. Seniors love water aerobics. The class is also good for pregnant women, and those who need to rehab old or new injuries.

Lori Harrington, a Board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon in Steamboat says, "Exercising in the water is an excellent, non-impact, way to recover from most musculoskeletal injuries and/or surgery. It permits joint motion and strengthening without any impact. This can allow for accelerated rehab in many cases."

   •  Grab a lane in the lap pool and take a walk. Walking in the water is easy on the knees and an excellent way to get your heart rate up. You can even use some aqua barbells to add to the workout. You might want to wear water shoes.

   •  Swim in the lanes. Mix it up by swimming laps, or use a kickboard. Try some fins. Take a lesson to improve your strokes. Try one of the free Masters classes that is offered (Monday, 5:15-6:00 p.m.; Tuesday/Thursday, 12-12:45). You'll be put in a lane with other swimmers of your ability.

   •  Tread water in the deep end. Go to the diving board area, or swim in the hot pool deep end if it is too cold. Go during off hours and you'll have the pool to yourself. Tread water or do stomach crunches. Tread water while keeping your hands above the water, which makes it harder. Do your feet in an eggbeater motion. The resistance is minimal in the water, which is especially helpful with a leg injury.

That's what Dr. Jim Dudley with Steamboat Medical Group says is best. "It keeps the weight off of the leg injury so you can improve your range of motion. You can continue to use your leg or ankle without the impact, and without the weight."

Steamboat Special Olympians Swim Fast

Olympic swimmers have been busy training in the lap lanes at the Old Town Hot Springs. The five swimmers are Special Olympic athletes, many of whom are from Horizons Specialized Services in Routt County. They're off to Greeley this month, to compete in the Special Olympics Summer Games. They recently competed in the regional swim meet in Craig.

Jamie Kaminski finished first in butterfly, and 400 freestyle. Kelly Chambers won two gold medals for backstroke and freestyle. Jamie Sexton won gold in the 25-yard backstroke. The 100-yard freestyle relay team of Rhianna Gifford, Jamie Kaminski, Kelly Chambers, and Jamie Sexton won the bronze medal.

Wild On The Waterslides

The waterslides are open from noon to six every day, for the rest of the summer (beginning June 6). Work crews have recently smoothed out the seams on the inside. Transparent pieces have also been placed on portions of the slides to provide better visibility during the ride.

Slide pass prices are:

$1 each, $5 for five rides, $8 for 10 rides, $12 for unlimited rides.

Member of the Month

Ken Gibbon doesn't have far to walk for his daily workout at the Old Town Hot Springs. You'll recognize Ken from behind the counter at the Post Office, next door to the facility. Ken says he has a long lunch break at the Post Office. "With all of this time to kill at lunch, and the gym next door, I go and work out." Gibbon used to be a distance runner but now he lifts weights. He says his wife noticed a difference, "And that's the important thing!"

Ken and his wife live in Hayden. This Lifetime Member of the Old Town Hot Springs is 56 and he says, "I always wanted to grow old being fit." That's just what he is doing.

My Man & Me Luau Night

Hula on over to the Hot Springs Pool for the My Man & Me Luau Night, which is Sunday, June 28. This event is for girls 13 and younger and their special guy. Dads, grandpas, or uncles are welcome to accompany their special gal for this exciting date night at the pool. Details at: Click Here

Assistant Director of the Old Town Hot Springs, Jeanne Gillaspie, fondly remembers attending such an event with her father, when she was in 7th grade. This is the picture she found of her dad, John Hauerwaas, at their Father-Daughter Hawaiian Luau years ago, in Los Angeles.

Steamboat's Got Talent

Singers, dancers, comedians, and anyone with a special talent is welcome to join us at the Old Town Hot Springs for the first season of Steamboat's Got Talent. It's a night of entertainment, spotlighting our local talent in Routt County. Dates this summer are June 24, July 15, and August 19.

The way it works is that you pre-rent a table for four for $20, and bring your own dinner. It's similar to American Idol where each person gets to perform their talent. The top five acts in June and July progress on to the finals in August.

There is no age limit. Each night, there will be ten to 15 acts, at $10 an act. You must sign up in advance for a table, and talent must try out.
Click Here For Details

Events This Summer

More exciting events are set for the summer.

   •  Everyone is welcome to celebrate at a party for recently-retired board members Bud Romberg, George Tolles, Mike Holloran and Linda Cantway. Refreshments will be served on the upper party deck, June 25, 6-8:00 p.m.

   •  Flick & Float is every Monday night through early July. The movies this summer are Harry Potter I-V. Details are on the Events page of the website.
Click Here for Details

   •  Singles Night at the Old Town Hot Springs Beach, Saturday, August 8.

   •  Couples Night at the Old Town Hot Springs Beach, Sunday, August 9.

   •  Mom & Me Luau Night, Sunday, August 16. This event is for elementary school-aged boys and their moms. If Mom is not available, grandmas and aunts are welcomed.

Personal Training Available In The Fitness Center

Change up your routine and get more value and fun by working out with a friend or a group in a Personal Training setting. Brent Tollar is a Personal Trainer who has challenging, aggressive and fun workouts prepared for semi-privates or groups. He will train up to five in a group. Brent is certified ACE, College Football coach in Strength and Conditioning, Adaptive Sports Facilitation (outdoor activities) and College Football All-American/Conference. Stop by the Fitness Office upstairs in the gym and speak with Brent or Simonne for additional details. You can also call 879-1828, ext. 27.

JUNE Lap Pool Schedule

Before heading to the pool for your lap swim, please check the monthly schedule online. Through the aquatics office scheduling, many user groups are utilizing the lap pool and deep end on a daily basis. These groups include swim lessons, Masters swim sessions, county-wide school groups, swim team, kayakers and scuba training. Here is the June schedule:

Lap Lane Availability in JUNE (Subject to Modification)

MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
5:30-7:30 a.m. / Lanes 1-8
7:30-10:00 a.m. / NO LANES
10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. / At least three lanes

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
At least three lanes throughout the day. Note: Four lanes available during special events on June 9 and June 30 (6-9:00 p.m.).

Erich Strotbeck spends a lot of time in the lap pool, swimming solo as well as with the Masters group. This former national rowing champion shares his favorite workout, adding, "Here's one that I do when I swim solo (short & sweet). It's about a mile and keeps it interesting while swimming alone."

   •  Warm-up: 200 free, 200 IM kick
   •  400 IM, swim 25, drill 25, kick 25, swim 25
       (all strokes)
   •  100 light breast (recovery)
   •  5 x 100 free sprints, on 1:45 or 2:00
   •  200 warm down

Erich adds that the Masters workouts with Aquatics Director Jill Ruppel provide a great team atmosphere. "It's a positive atmosphere and everyone can swim at their own level. Also, everyone pushes and supports each other." The Masters swim times are Mondays, 5:15-6:00 p.m. and Tuesday/Thursday, 12-12:45 p.m. More Masters Swim Workouts are available on the website. Click Here

The pool rules at the Old Town Hot Springs are designed to keep everyone happy and safe. They include the basics, such as:

   •  Shower before entering the pool.
   •  No running on the decks.
   •  No diving in the shallow end.

One rule that is new is that the Heart Pool is now for adults only, ages 15 and older. Other rules involve swim tests. To get to go off the diving board, swimmers must pass a test, and show that they can swim the 25-yard length of the lap pool. Once this is accomplished, the child gets a wrist band to wear. You must also pass the test to ride the waterslides. Swimmers must be 48 inches tall, and ride feet-first on their backs.

For all of the rules of the pool, as well as details on the various swim tests, climbing wall guidelines and waterslide regulations, please visit the website under Pool Rules & Regulations. Click Here

Private, semi-private and group tennis lessons are available at the Old Town Hot Springs tennis courts. Call Lynne Meyers for details, at 879-1828, ext. 60. Robert Martens also offers Junior Tennis Clinics featuring USTA Quickstart Tennis. This program utilizes specialized equipment, shorter court dimensions and modified scoring all tailored to age and size. It's a fast, fun way to get kids into tennis and keep them playing. Children's clinics start the week of June 15th. Sign up for all tennis programs in the pink tennis book at the Front Desk. You may pick up a flyer at the front desk for details on classes, clinics and tennis leagues, or click here for details.

We'd love to see you down at the Old Town Hot Springs. Please come in and join or renew your membership. Rates and payment plans are available for singles and families. Click here for details