Month: April 2018

Ingrid – New Zealand & Washington DC. Four inches of new, good stuff until about noon, heat came on, snow compacted, still the mountain skiing delightful with over two feet in the last three days. Started level 1, completed the day level 4 … wedge, wedge turns, controlling the edge for a flatter ski, skidding, shaping while skidding, speed control with friction from skidding and completing the turn, balance, arms forward, NO sitting down, tipping inside ski to release, beginning turn with new inside ski, leg steering, turning both skis together, flexion of ankles and knees for balance. Well Ingrid, the last run you broke the code, blue terrain now in your sights – good job!

Calvin – Nassau. 6 inches of new on top of 13 yesterday, not too heavy, good powder skiing, no rain today, a bit colder, some sun, getting to be cement by late afternoon. Focus: loosen boots to get more flexion at the ankles, where to feel pressure in the boot (heel, shin), keep both skis on snow, some pressure on both skis, initiate with new inside ski (left ski to go left, etc.), arms out and wide, hip/chair exercise, shuffle turns, hands on knees exercise, bumps on Peerless and under lift line on Bonanza. Biggest change, staying balanced with a lower center of gravity, how the turn is initiated, skidding the turn for shape and speed control. You might be surprised Calvin if I show up someday in Nassau … we’ll go boating and fishing and have a glass of wine to winter.

Lilly – New York. This was a first, rain on the mountain, have not seen that before, 13 inches new and it was Sierra cement … what’s happening here? The mission was to getting skis closer together and come off the hard edge. Drills and discussions: more pressure on inside ski, initiate with tipping then steering, hop turns, hands on knees, arms more forward (a pole plant someday), uphill ski traverse, more patience in top 1/3 of turn, softer edges, more skidding and shaping, use friction for speed control (that along with rounder turns, race course (twice, was it ever slow), two black runs. Good changed today Lilly, well done, have fun tomorrow.

Davis – Hilton Head, SC. This was one wet day, heavy snow, temp 34F, not raining but not far from it. Worked on: being balanced, pressure on shins not calves, flex ankles and kneed, get lower, hands on knees, arms out and wide (especially at turn initiation), more even pressure on both skis, turning feet/skis together (not one and then the other), skis can skid more when not in a wedge at turn initiation, at little more speed. Good job Davis, lots of choppy snow today, you did well!

Christoph, Greta, Ainsley, Jethro,William – this group was a bit of ‘world’ flavor – German, South Africa, America. Major wind, upper mountain closed all day … so, just worked on bumps and more bumps. Peerless, American, Crescendo, Inferno. It’s ok to slid and smear in the bumps, not so hard of an early edge set, still working on arms and pole plant, flex and rising up on the bump/extend down the back side, keep skis on snow, always some pressure on both skis, turn initiation with tipping then steer onto those new edges, shuffle turns, push/pull turns, hands on knees turn, raise one ski on the traverses. Hard snow in the morning, just about right in the afternoon, twice down the race course. Great day guys, I liked our humor, I like your willingness to learn!

Happy Easter (we found no eggs, we were not looking for any eggs). Christoph, Greta, Kirt, Stuart. Good winter snow up high, Whales, Vertigo, Contest Bowl, warm, sun – classic Colorado spring day. Pressure on the sweet spot of the foot (skis to knees – feel the heel), flexion in ankles and knees, position of strength, counter the hip to align with the feet, how a turn initiates (tip THEN steer), quiet upper body, ‘sit in chair’ demo for hip counter, arms up and ready, pole plant just before edge change to facilitate CM (center of mass) crossover, finish the round turn (last 10% controls 25% of speed bleed), keep both skis on snow (ALWAYS, unless jumping), some pressure on inside ski to make it work. Well done, fun Easter Sunday skiing! Tick, Trick, Track probably would have liked to play with us today.