Month: April 2017

Deborah, Kris, Briana, Cody, Ella, Amanda – Grand Cayman … but in reality it was just Cody and I working the ‘go from level 1 to level 5’ in one day, a late start day at that. Start with the gliding wedge, then turning wedge, match during the traverse, tipping and rotating (twisting if you like) the inside ski getting to to release easier/earlier, slip along the berm, get some skidding into the mix, chair 5, more lower body angles, less upper body movement, use the arms to stabilize (up and out), some vertical motion to lighten and pressure the skis, turning and friction (the holy grail), and the even bigger ‘holy grail’ … READY POSITION – SIDEWAYS! Good job Cody, you are off to blues tomorrow!

Karrie & Kyle – San Antonio. Another slush day (from about 9:30 to 11:30 snow was great), good for balance, kind of fatiguing. Coming off the hard edge and short radius turn that creates a wedge with inside ski ‘stuck’, how to ‘unstuck’ a ‘stuck’ ski, more pressure on inside ski, release with an edge change then start to skid and shape, keep the hips facing (doesn’t have to be a lot) the outside of the arc – the shoulders will follow, use arms to your advantage, shuffles, hop turns (these are hard), let the hips and feet separate, 60% friction/40% turn for control, how to rotate the femurs, create body angles (any angles good now even if not completely correct), use the dynamic range of the legs by letting them flex and extend, nose/knee/toe piece alignment, larger radius turns, carrying some energy from turn to turn. Kyle, thanks for hanging in there – every day of skiing increases your skill level … Karrie, you are so non-over reactive, well done.

Valeria (Miami), Susie (Miami) – level 4, getting rid of the wedge. So warm today, afternoon like skiing in a snow cone globe, riding the chairlift was good just to get a breeze. All about balance: shuffle feet, push pull feet, walk uphill/downhill, balance on one set of edges and then the other, static hops, leg rotation (steering the feet), edge release, more movement in the lower legs, upper body quiet, hands out for balance, pressure on the shins to keep off the heels, lifting one ski (this a drill, not complete skiing), bigger turns, use skidding (friction) and turns for speed control, relax, position of strength (let feet and hips become separated), edge change then steer into the new turn, how to release the inside ski if stuck in a wedge (tip and steer), some pressure on both skis, never lift one off the snow (this will definitely effect balance). I know the snow this afternoon not easy, thx to sticking it out – good skiers are hardy!

John (Miami), Mariana (Miami), Christie (Jensen Beach) – the Florida invasion. So warm today, no wind down low, think we all overdressed a bit. What a roller coaster day as far as ‘I don’t get it’, ‘This is hard’, ‘Starting to get it a little’, Now it’s totally gone’, ‘wow, think I’m figuring this out’. How to get out of the hard edge wedge, tipping to the uphill edged, leg rotation (call if foot steering if you want), hands on knees, pole under arm, pole balance, bigger radius turns, more down hill then start to shape and skid, hockey slides, hop turns, staying balanced, position of strength, hips over feet, speed control with friction and shaping. Delightful day, thank you.

Lyle, Dibyadyuti – Chicago & Indiana. Addressing the hard edge set and getting out of the infernal wedge (why do we ever teach that, like a bad drug), how to release both ski simultaneously, tip the inside ski to the uphill side to get it ‘unstuck’, what is ‘position of strength’, let the photographer see the zippers, slide skis sequentially then simultaneous, long slides with shaping, how to get more pressure on inside ski (this one not easy, huh), can’t slide in a wedge-so don’t, leg rotation (think of it as feet steering if you like), speed control with turn contour and lots of friction, don’t rush things (big moves mean big balance issues), body counterbalance at edge change, change the edges first THEM begin to smear all the way around the turn. Good job Dibya on the inside foot/ski starting to work – good job Lyle coming off the big edge with a hip drop and being more patient with the skid. Maybe see you guys again some day … this was a good one.

Anna Paula, Gutstavo, Emillio, Anna Kristina – Mexico. Three level 6s and one level 2, start to an interesting day. Some wedge slides, wedge turns, riding the Poma, matching on the traverse, softer edges, more sliding and skidding, use both skis (they are there for a purpose), tipping the inside ski to help matching, speed control with friction and turn shape, be a skier that wants to ‘go, not one that always wants to ‘stop’, stopping is no fun-going is a lot of fun. Ana Paula you have a great family, take pride. Bring your family back again someday and let’s ski.

Marilou (Indy), Jim (Orland), Tracy (Columbus) – day not quite as nice as yesterday, some high clouds, some wind, but warm and no crowds. Many ‘things’ addressed today: more pressure on inside ski, keep both skis on snow, initiate turn with new inside ski, be patient (I hope you guys hear this in your sleep because it’s that important), tip to new edges then add steering with the legs, stabilize the upper body and arms (another sleep aid), pole balance, hands on knees, traverse on uphill ski, ski poles as flashlights, less edge more skidding that facilitates turn shaping, what controls speed (direction of travel and friction), position of strength, more flexion in the ankles and knees, not so tall … ok, that should be enough for several years. Good getting to know you guys (‘guys’ includes you also Marilou)!

Marilou, Indiana. What a great ski day – the four factors that hardly ever arrive together: new snow, warm, no wind, no crowds … take that while we can get it. More pressure on inside ski (let it be a player), hockey slides/stops, shuffle turns (looks easy but isn’t), keep both skis on snow (ALL THE TIME), stabilize the upper body to reduce twist, more lower body flex/extend to pressure and release the edges, sometimes wider turns/sometimes shorter radius, ski like you are 25yrs old – show some aggression. See you tomorrow, we’ll continue this elusive game of perfection.