Month: March 2017

Philip, Rebecca, Latisha, Iman – Washington, DC. Mountain tour and a nice for it … skied all five peaks. Some technique but not too much (stability of the upper body/arms/hands, keep both skis on the snow, show the photographer the zippers, what controls speed). Probably best snow on Peak 10, the long groomed runs not too slushy … some bumps that were fun. Philip, I hope this is a relaxing vacation for you and family … enjoy our mountains.

Beth & Kim – Charlotte, NC. So comfortable today, warm, not much wind, snow like gravel until about 11:00 then soft up high and slush down low. More activity on the inside foot, stronger emphasis on tip at turn initiation as opposed to rotating, open up the radius of the turn, let the hips be more open which allows the shoulders and arms to do the same, how to counterbalance when coming on to the new edges. Delightful day ladies, don’t party too hardy tonight, hmmm, on second thought, rip it up!

Barbara, Kristin, Sarah, Rachael – TEXAS! Pole balance, turn entry with tipping instead of rotation, upper body stability, prepare the arms and hands for a pole touch/plant, letting the inside ski be a player (some weight), a few bumps, wider turns with skidding and shaping. Warm – real warm, maybe a record, top of T-bar still ripping. Fun afternoon ladies, enjoy the vacation and college years – some of the best of life.

Kathleen & Ariel – Oklahoma. I’ve never seen a 14 year old smile so much as Ariel … just sure I’ll see your picture on the front cover of Vogue magazine someday. Almost the same as the morning lesson, get off the hard edge and quick turn to a stop, be more of a ‘go’ skier, soften the edges and use them to ‘spread the snow’ and shape the turn, wider radius turns gives time to think. Good last run, impressive!

Shelly – Church Pt. LA. Think I learned more from her about hair cutting than she did from me about skiing. Getting rid of the wedge (a common theme these days), using a less edged ski to shape and round out the turns for more speed control, hips more open to the mountain (let’s say downhill), some discipline with arms. Have a great vacation with your days – I’m keeping my promise!

Ray and Jack – Richmond, TX (high school football country … not sure there is any place in Texas that is not high school football country). Upper body discipline, pole balance to stabilize the arms (now can you stay focused without balancing the poles), getting rid of the wedge (why do we ever teach that stuff), more skidding and turn completion to control speed, initiate the turn with the new inside ski (old outside ski), some weight on both skis (always). Jack, if was a piece of cake then it would be called football – you are athletic and a thinker, good skiing is in your future.

Jack, Jimmy & Cory – St. Louis. Some bumps, some blacks, some blues and even a green. Eliminate the rise and twist, earlier transitions from edge to edge, learning to use both skis (novel concept), skidding and shaping (scarving), keeping both skis ‘grounded’ (kind of doesn’t sound right to say ‘snowed’), bump techniques (some of this but not much), some talk about food, Jack would give up his car before his cell phone -21st century!

Tim & Tatum – Dallas, Level 1 to start, level 3 by noon time. All about skidding, shaping, controlling speed, riding the chair lift, skied down twice along Rip’s Ride, don’t rush the turns, not too edgie … enjoy the ride, maybe this day is the start to a lifelong skiing passion.