Thinking outside the gym’s walls

Peter VIDMAR is forever linked to the Olympic Games because of the two gold medals and one silver he won as a gymnast at the 1984 Olympics in L.A. These days he works as a motivational speaker and, when he isn’t traveling, he is motivated by his wife and five kids to head for the scenic bicycle trails near his Orange County home in Coto de Caza. Vidmar is attending this summer’s Games as a commentator for Westwood One’s syndicated national radio broadcast from Athens.

Bring the kids

I try to do as much with my kids as possible. One of the things we like is going to the movies. We usually end up at the Regal Cinemas at the Foothill Center in Foothill Ranch. A few weeks ago, we managed to see three movies in three nights. We saw “Bourne Supremacy,” “Spider-Man 2” and “I, Robot.” I guess you can say we like action-adventure thrillers.

Another thing I enjoy doing with my children is going to the beach. My boys and I like to surf at Salt Creek, which is at the base of the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Nigel. There are other beautiful beaches in the San Clemente area, and then Newport is a great site as well.

I spend ample time attending wrestling and gymnastic competitions, watching soccer games and going snowboarding, which are all activities my kids participate in. We’re a very active, outdoors kind of family, which I believe began with me. I had spent so many years indoors at the gym that now the only place I’m truly happy is outdoors.

Two-wheeler

When I do my motivational speaking, I always bring a pommel horse with me as a visual aid and perform on it. It’s my version of PowerPoint, a visual reinforcement of what I do, and most people have a great appreciation for it because they’ve never seen anyone perform live on one before. So I still do gymnastics.

But a more recent love of mine has become cycling. When I’m in town, I normally cycle six days a week. There’s a ride that I do with the Radsport Cycling Team, but my more usual ride is with the Velosport Team, which is a bunch of old guys out to have a lot of fun. We do organized mountain biking or road cycling (the latter being what Lance Armstrong does) every Saturday. My wife likes to go too. There are some nice trails in the Cleveland National Forest area near Santiago Peak and Saddleback Mountain. San Juan Trail is another good one. They are usually three-hour rides if you’re moving fast. And we do.

A lot on his plate

One of our favorite restaurants near Rancho Santa Margarita is Opah, which has terrific seafood and a unique menu all around. My wife loves to order the warm, breaded sweet potato chips appetizer, and I’m always in the mood for their steaks. Another great place in that area is the Canyon Grill. It’s known for its very down-home cooking. I am very into their chicken pot pie, and don’t forget to try the s’mores. They bring you a little flame, a skewer, marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers, and you can sit there and make s’mores at your table.

Now if my wife and I were going to do more of a romantic dinner, we would head for Newport Beach’s Fashion Island to Roy’s. It is run by Roy Yamaguchi, a famous Hawaiian chef who does his own spin on Pacific Rim cuisine.

-- Karla S. Blume