Month: March 2018

Aneet, Swati, Sheil, Jaya, Brig – Fayetteville, AR. Two blacks, T-bar, Independence/Colorado/Rocky/Kensho chairs … about 4 inches new snow, not too cold, classic spring day. More even weight distribution, flexion of ankles and knees without breaking too much at waist, hip rotation, arm position to get weight forward, inside ski turns, hop turns, tipping the inside ski to release, leg steering (both skis together), narrower stance, both skis on uphill edges to skid and shape, less edgy or shapy (not sure that is a word), speed control with friction and turn shape (be sure and finish last 10% of turn – it controls 25% of speed), initiate turn with new downhill ski (right ski for right turns, left ski for left turns). Delightful day, good humor, good skiing, good changes … enjoy the week!

Vince, Janea, Lars, Joely – Coasset, MA. Levels 3-6, skiing family, love to see that. More pressure on inside ski, traverse on uphill ski, leg steering, initiate the turn with the downhill ski, rotate both feet (skis) together, tip the inside foot to flatten the inside ski and let it match to eliminate the wedge, pole window, hands of knees turns, position of strength, let hips face more down the mountain (outside the turn), arm position and pole touch, skidding and shaping is good, speed control via friction and turn shape. Fun day guys, thank you for letting me join your family for a few hours.

Daniel – San Antonio. Morning at 9:00AM a level 1, afternoon at 4:00PM a level 4. Skiing the Colorado lift (twice), maintain flexion in the ankles and knees, position of strength, how to slide and skid, leg steering, managing tipping for a flatter ski, completing the turn, speed control with friction and shaping, arm position … the left turn difficult but getting better. Amazing progress for day 1, well done Daniel!

Howard, Beth, Emily, Evan – Austin. Main focus getting out of the wedge, shift in mantra from wedge/edge to control speed to more steered/skidded/shaped … tipping to flatten the ‘hung up ski’, what is leg rotation, how to skid and shape, speed control from friction and shaping, some weight on inside ski, pressure on the shins in to the front of boot, how to stay in balance, hops, what to do with the arms, more compact stance, patience with the turn (let it develop, don’t rush). 50 degrees, what a day … ended with North Star and Dukes. Thanks for a delight day, hope you learned and will practice…as the years roll by the instruction and discipline will pay off.

Bruce, Avery, Kinley – Houston. Working on getting the wedge out, how to ‘unstick’ that stuck inside ski, tipping to a flatter ski, steering (leg rotation), steering to a shallow edge, wider turns, how to skid and slide, sliding and shaping the turn for finish and speed control, balance, more shin pressure with ankle and knee flexion. Good progress with more comfort in a shaping turn via a hard edge wedge. 

Joe, Kim, Jenna, Ally – Mississippi. Started the day as beginners, ended with three level 4 and one level 3, lapping Rips Ride, control speed with turns, starting to match on the traverse, what is good balance, shin pressure, how to flex and tip, arm position for weight distribution, how to release the inside ski with tipping to facilitate matching during the turn and traverse. Share lunch while sitting on the snow at the Poma (that was really cool), think you girls actually liked my vegetarian stuff. Was a fun day … have a great vacation – good luck with high school and sports.

Andrew … that would be The Andrew. You are skiing great kid, I’m as happy for that as you must be – lot of work, lot of years … you now own it, not to be taken away, will have this for life, pass it on to the next generation! Today was a pleasure, think we might both remember this one for many years to come. Stay cool!

Matt and Marley (father & daughter), PA. Epic day (compared to the rest of them this year), four inches of new, light and easy to ski, right at T-bar when it opened, White Crown then the Meadow – so good. Stayed high most of the day, Whales, Debs, 4 O’clock, Boundary Chute, some trees, Upper Toilet trees. Counter with the hips (align with feet), more curve in the spine, lower, arms wider, skis closer in powder (act as one platform), let rotation, tip at transition then steer onto the new edges, more equal pressure in powder, some pressure on both ski all the time, heel (well, just in front of the heel) and shin pressure at the SAME time for balance, more direct line down the mountain. Both of you are quite good skiers and getting better … what a fun day – thank you!