Month: February 2013

Thorsten, Boston, level 7 – the private group lesson. Sunny day until about 3:00pm, warm, delightful. Waking up the inside ski, how the turn initiates, early edge change then steer to an edge, body alignment (especially hip position), slow the turn and feel pressure on feet, big toe/little toe pressure, less pivoting and more shaping, speed control with turn shape not skidding, shuffle turns, side slips, side slips on up hill ski, 360s, video analysis.  Much progress … but always just a journey.

What a great day – the college buds have survived another year and once again rally for a few days of skiing, tales of yore and probably a bit of whisky, beer and wine. Mike, Chuck, Sam, Don, Greg (aka, Budda) and Andreas (new this year, snowboarder, and a good one). Don’t know who wore out who … bunch of tired legs. Thanks for the beer and a memorable day – be safe this summer – give me an e-mail if you make Moab. Cheers.

Well, ladies, think we took Ore Bucket one notch higher – Upper 4 O’clock in blizzard with lots of new heavy snow, and low visibility … oh yeah, this one will be remembered. Let’s see … group separated, some lost, thigh deep snow an issue, everyone cold, a few wanted to kill me, a few were actually enjoying the experience … welcome to powder day!

Babes;Pam, Carla, Judy, Donna, Joelle, Nancy, Elsa, Becky – the level 7 ladies. Snowy all day, warm at bottom, cold at top. Information/transformation, managing/generating ski pressure, feel the pressure on both feet, feel the snow undulations under the feet, how completing the turn and linking turns are compatible, powder, bumps (some real progress here, the first bump run was a winner for all), brief discussion on Ore Bucket for the unfortunate/lucky ones that missed it (wonders of wonders, some want to go back, now that’s cool). Kind of a quiet day for us, not sure pensive or all thinking about Valentine roses and candy.

Level 8, Chandra, Phoenix. What a fun day, one on one with the whole mountain to ourselves (cold and blowing, windchill around -15 or so. Stuff we touched: turn initiation, inside ski pressure, tip to turn, early edge engagement to shape complete turn, patience at initiation and completion, upper body alignment, tons of bumps in Contest Bowl, Russler, Crescendo and Dukes, side slips, feather the edges to adjust bump line. Lots of fun and laughs!

High level 7, Eric (snowboard), Phil, John and Wes – North Carolina. Cold and snowy, what good skiing and riding. Whales Tale, Contest Bowl, Crescendo (several times), a few trees, groomed blacks, some technique. After a little whiskey, think all well sleep good, includeing me!

Lots of snow, high winds on Tbar, some cold feet (aka, mine), snow delightful. High level 7/low leve 8: Sonya, Keith, Kai, Glynna. Trees, off piste, Devil’s Crotch, almost fence hopping, a few rocks I suppose, early edge transition, more aggressive with loading up forward portion of ski at initiation, staying forward with hands and shin pressure, keep hips aligned more down the mountain to allow femurs to steer through turn completion. What a fun day with all the new snow!

Level 7: Carla, Judy, Donna, Joelle, Elsa, Becky, Kia, Don, Julie. Second day in a row think part of the class was ready to lench me … am I living on borrowed time … oh well, worse ways to meet one’s demise I suppose. Ore Bucket was all Becky’s idea (but I did buy into it as a fun adventure). So Carla, totally

Becy’s fault … but it was not a lost cause. Got to see some steep terrain, with mogals, and trees, and rocks, and stumps, and unpacked snow …. my gosh, how good does it get!