Month: March 2018

Leanne – St. Louis. Warm (mostly) afternoon, no wind, some sun, pleasant day weather wise. Tipping before steering at transition, let the old outside ski lead into the next turn, find the new edges then steer into them, leg steering, pivot turns, maintaining pressure throughout the turn and transition, where is the ‘sweet’ pressure point (ankle, front of heal, back of arch), purpose of the pole plant, CM (center of mass) crossing over at transition. Good turns this afternoon, cleaner transitions now with better edge grip all the way around, turn shape getting more consistent, patience at top to turn to stay in balance and feel the new edges. Well done Mother Earth! Think the camera lens was wet, pictures didn’t come out, just a bunch of blur.

Alex, Ben, Jack – Franklin TN. Bump day (High A, Crescendo, Peerless, American, Volunteer, Upper 4 O’clock). More even pressure in the powder and off piste (skis working more as a unit), shin pressure on front of boot, heel pressure (actually in front of the heel), flexion of ankles and knees, less twist of the upper body, arm position for balance and pole plant, pole plant to initiate and carry CM (center of mass) inside the new turn, narrower corridor down the mountain, ok to jump off bumps now and then. Snow off and on all day, 8 inches new in the morning, definitely some powder skiing today. Good skiing guys, you are all mountain skiers now – time to explore!

Julia – Greenbra, CA. Morning snow hard and fast, some real slick spots, snowed off and on, cold but workable, by late afternoon the skiing quite nice. Wales Tale, Vertigo, Forget Me Not, some steep stuff, some off piste, not much real powder. Some pressure on inside ski, no lifting of inside ski, tipping new inside ski to initiate turn, tip then steer (this prevents the ‘wedge’ on steep terrain), more flexion of ankles and knees, athletic position for balance, shin and heel pressure, arm position for balance and pole touch, starting to use a pole touch, counter with the hip to align with feet, not ‘squaring up’, turn on top of the bumps, no need to turn on every bump, more flexion (don’t rise) at turn initiation. Fun day Julia, no doubt you can keep up with your friends now. Have a great college education!

Alexandria – St. Louis, MO. This was your day it all started to make sense, terrific. Whales Tale, hike Peak 7, Whiskey River, Lost Cabin. Hips more open to the turn, staying flexed throughout the turn (reduce the body rise at turn initiation), when flexed at ankles/knees/hip the tipping and steering works easier and initiation cleaner, arms no higher than waist, hands wider than elbows (athletic position), the pole touch is coming along – that is good, more speed and confidence on the groomers – that is good. Well done Alex, this is the day we were looking for!

Harrison – Church Point, VA. Solid all mountain skier, Whales Tale, Whiskey River, T-bar & Chair 6, Rustler, Vertigo … some good skiing, some challenging skiing. Less tall, get CM lower with flexion in ankles and knees, turn initiation with tipping then steer onto the new edges, more even weight in powder and off piste, closer skis to use as ‘one’ platform, no lazy arms, arms up and wide in athletic position (get ready for the pole touch), how to eliminate the wedge on steeper terrain (tip first), eliminate upper body rotation and butt dropped at end of turn (don’t need that now with more turn shape and a more rounded turn). Fun morning Harrison, we probably won’t forget the rescue off the lip by the Rock House. Stay cool!

Erik, Allison, Matthew – Ponte Verda Beach, FL. Nice day, warm, no wind down low, blues on Peak 7 & 8, first day on skis this vacation. Initiating with the downhill ski (new inside ski), some weight on both skis (always, except when jumping), 360 mini-hops, jump turns (keep at this Matthew, you will get better every day), pole window, pole plant (why do it – helps cross over the CM at initiation), position of strength, flexion of ankles and knees (not so much at the waist, but a little), speed control with sliding friction and turn shaping, hockey stops, hips more open down the mountain to align with the feet. Have a great vacation, this was a fun day … good luck with the curve ball Matthew, take care of your arm.

Kyle, Steven – Atlanta. First time skiers, magic carpet for the morning, working on gliding wedge, Poma in the afternoon, ride Rips Ride, gliding wedge with some turn shape. Speed control with turns and friction, the gliding wedge is just a crutch to get started. Maybe you will come back next year, what you learned today you will not forget. Have a great vacation!

Vicki – Norman, OK. You are an accomplished skier for only four days skiing a year! Worked on: hip more open to the turn, tipping at transition as opposed to outside ski rotation, more flexion in ankles and knees, arm position, use pole plant to initiate CM crossing over to inside of new turn, skis more as ‘one’ platform in powder and off piste, leg rotation (steering) after both skis arrive at new edges at transition. Nice meeting you, fun day, enjoy the rest of vacation!