Month: March 2015

Chris, Lisa, Harry – still from the UK … this day as good as yesterday. More pivots, new drill with ‘shoulder poles’ (that actually worked out quite well), less ‘rotate skid’ turns and more, ‘edge change shape’ turns, syncro skiing (this was fun), lots of follow the leader with different leaders. Got pictures today, couple of good ones. Hope to see you later part of the week, if not then next year … cherrio O … you guys nackered me out!

Chris, Lisa, Harry – (no picture today, forgot camera in locker) – UK. Upper/lower body separation, a distinct pole plant, side slips, pivot turns (these will get easier Lisa), intro to flex/extend in bumps (probably could have done without that), quick short radius turns, some blacks/some blues. Learned one English word and have already forgotten it – means ‘you are ready for the glue factory’ … I can use this word. Picture tomorrow.

Callie, Florida – likes horses and volleyball – level one at 9:00AM, level four by day’s end … lapping Rips Ride and both sides, starting to match with some sliding, controlling speed with turns, comfort with speed is building … good day Callie, welcome to skiing, hope this will be first of many days and years.

Mitch (Dallas) & Melina (Miami) … bumps and steeps. Upper body stability, let the core wind up, definite pole plant, complete the turn with flexion in the ankles and knees (let the legs follow the arc of the skis), keep both skis on the snow in bumps, blocking pole plant in the bumps … Whales Tale, Debs Alley, Inferno, Dukes bumps, Rustler, Contest bowl. Good day guys … a good day!

Manu, Mita, Riya, Sonali – good progress for all … Riya and Sonali riding Rips Ride and skiing down with no assistance, Manu another run on Chair 5 and now starting to understand and have progress with ‘slipping’ the ski for speed control and shape … Mita can turn left now (surely you will sleep better at night) and making laps on Poma. Have fun at the tubing hill and skiing on Saturday – was a productive day!

Manu, Mita, Riya, Sona – first day (level 1). Start on Magic Carpet for 1.5 hours then progress to Poma. Working on gliding wedge, turning wedge, staying balanced, matching at end of turn, not being so ‘stiff’, using turns to manage speed, learning to slip.  At end of day: Manu level 3, Mita level 2, Riya level 3, Sona level 2. Get those kids in Kids Ski School, it will be a fun and productive day for them. Cheers to all.

Dave, Anh, Adrew …a lot of diversity and drills today (I like this picture, it is a good one). Let’s see if I can remember: four things for Anh (more upper body down the mountain, hands lower and forward, pole plant, separation between upper/lower body – you did amazing well at these tasks), for Dave and Andrew: hop turns, pivot turns, inside ski turns, outside ski turns, less edge and more skid with shape, ankle flexion, less big turns with lots of edge, bump tactics (where to initiate, where to shape, where to avoid), pivot slips, video, pole touches, run-away ski (that thing took off like a rocket), supple legs in the bumps (keep the head level), fore/aft ankle shuffles, back and forth shuffles, and more stuff I can’t remember. Don’t give up on the pivot turns and fore/aft ankle shuffles – do some every day – you will get better. Congrats on your new ‘digs’, must feel good – have a great week – it was a good day!

Joey – Alexander, AR (a Razor Back fan for sure). Sunny and warm again, snow still skiing well. More activity on inside ski (two traverses a day for this drill), initiate with new inside ski and let it help shape through out the turn, speed control from gravity, pole touches, let the waist twist (coil, anticipation, counter) happen on every turn to facilitate leg steering and turn initiation, pivots (practice four of these every day). Enjoy the vacation … better luck next year with March Madness.