Month: February 2017

Chris, Paula, Kay, Catharine, Scott, Laurel – windblown snow, loading in Horseshoe and North Bowl, another growler up high, so Breckenridge! All about balance today, different movement patterns that affect our stability, how to stay in it, how to get back in it, lots of off piste (this stuff was so good), Brills maybe the best all year. Love to see that outside ski pressured, deflecting and performing. Most fun day!

Sophie, Brenda, Linda, Don, Charmane, Meow, Nick, Kay, Ernie, Elaine – it wasn’t cold … it was brutal cold! Must be getting soft, was just another normal Breckenridge winter day. Counterbalance, counteracting (hip rotation), the ‘float’, managing pressure with the inside edge of the new outside ski (not the same as generating pressure), static edge change drill, some bumps with feet retraction and early pressure on the new outside ski. Thanks for the chocolate … now a must, especially on such a winter’s day. One more club day, where did this winter go!

Elaine, Bob, Sophie, Paul, Terry, Terry, Violeta, Ernie, Louise, Linda – this was one cold day … two runs then warm up, but .. the snow sure was good. Counterbalance, counteract, femur rotation at transition – get on the new edges, don’t mess up all the good lower body stuff with a wild arm swing and pole plant. Four packs of chocolate for lunch, saved two for next week. Starting to ramp up the energy, good changes!

Chongie, Diane, Chris, Jenny, Mitzi, Olive, Paola – this was a crazy winter day, now as I write this the sun shines … at times visibility a few yards,  blowing hard, wind drifts, frost bite – so good! Pressing on with the early edge change, separation of the skis from the core, femur rotation while flexed to effect tipping, the legs tilt to the inside of the new turn, new outside leg extends/new inside leg flexes to bring the hips to the inside, playing with the ‘float’, let the new outside ski find its edge ‘then’ aggressively begin to pressure it. Everyone skiing with confidence and aggression (maybe that’s not exactly the right word but you get the idea). This was a Breckenridge day, love it! 

Alex, New York. Graduating from level 5 to level 6. Stabilizing the upper body, arm/hand drill, more open to the mountain, alignment to allow leg rotation, how leg rotation facilitates turning and tipping, edge control, side slips, putting some skid and shape into the turns, less edge and brake. Good afternoon!

William & Clark – father & son, Reston, VA. Sunny and kind of warm, wind up high again, maybe 2″ new overnight. Clark working on more turns to control speed and letting the skies be a little more parallel … William working on more tipping and less rotation at turn initiation, hip alignment, more foot to ski pressure higher in the turn. We didn’t solve all the world’s problems but we certainly discussed a few of them, unfortunately most of them are right here in the USofA. Safe travels, a good day for sure!

Gita – Ft. Lauderdale, FL. All about getting ride of the wedge (give it to you then just as quick take it away – unfortunately it comes easier than it goes). Two skis working together, more pressure on inside ski, release together, skid and shape, go with the slide, less edgie, let friction be your friend. You’ll catch up with your children in no time (well, that might be just a little optimistic, but it’s a great goal). Delightful afternoon, thank you.

Ben & Jeanie – NY, NY. Don’t get many students from the core of the city, we live in two different worlds (well, not really, just kind of). More open with the upper body to keep it aligned with the base of support (feet), not squaring up, taking it ‘down the mountain’. Pleasure meeting the two of you, a good morning, I like hearing about life in ‘the city’.