Month: December 2018

Lynn, Cincinnati, skied 28 years ago, didn’t forget much. Start on magic carpet, progress to Rip’s Ride, finish on Chair 5. Gliding wedge, turning wedge, flex the ankles and knee for balance and an athletic stance, leg (foot rotation), tipping to sidestep, tipping to allow the uphill ski in a wedge to release and match, matching during a traverse, release and feet (ski) rotation at turn initiation, steer both feet together. Good day Lynn, you are now a level 5 skier (matching on green terrain)!

Derek, Nikki, Mason, Quincy – Tempe, AZ. Cold morning (-3), afternoon not so bad, sun and no wind. Level 1 starting out: one ski slides, two ski walk around, magic carpet, gliding wedge, leg rotation and how it creates ski steering, tipping to side step up the hill or stand on skis, flexion of ankles and knees (this one is a challenge for you Nikki, practice it), how to control speed, gliding wedge turns, flatter skis, how to tip to a flatter ski, turning both skis together. Was a busy fun day … thank you.

Frank, Leanne, Areanna, Alex – St. Louis. This was a good day, this was a cold day, close to single digits all day, skiing delightful. First time in Imperial and Contest bowls for Leanne (Frank, buy her a nice bottle of wine, fine cheese and some crackers), how to pressure the skis, ‘sitting in chair (but not quite) exercise’, arms wide and forward, equal angles in ankles/knees/hip, staying ‘lower’ throughout the turn is good (standing up means going back), tip into a steer then continue steering onto the new edges, don’t rush the initiation with steering direction change, remember it takes a moment for the ski to begin changing direction, initiate turn with pole plant taking the CM over the skis and down the hill, maintain ski pressure from the initiation all the way around the bump (don’t lift a ski which allows speed to build). Chocolate for lunch … of course!

Glen, Kit, Kaitlin, Alex – family from Colorado Springs, first day skiing, snowing, considerable colder by 2:30pm. Boot work, one ski, two skis, gliding wedge, gliding wedge with direction change, how the legs rotate to steer the feet and make or decrees a wedge, Rips Ride, Poma, speed control with turns, not so straight down, tipping inside ski to a flatter edges helps it match in bottom of turn, matching during the traverse, some weight on uphill ski while matching. Alex – you were a rocket on the last run, more ‘back and forth’ will help keep that speed down.

Natalie & Lora – dynamic duo daughters! Denver and San Francisco. Lots of smiles and some humor (what would a day be without it), a little sun turning to snow in the PM, not too cold. Gliding wedge, gliding wedge with change of direction, start to match uphill ski with more equal pressure, tipping uphill ski at allow easier matching, some skidding at turn completion (this is important) when skis are matched, speed control with turn shape and ski/snow friction. Upper/lower body separation, hips countered into the turn (aka, facing more down the mountain as opposed to across), alignment of skis/knees/hips/shoulders/arm, pole balance exercise, complete the turn with leg steering (feet steering if that is easier to remember), equal angles in ankles/knees/hip, pressure on shins and heels, downhill arm/hand back (if it drives forward that closes the shoulders and hips which results in the skis stop turning and skidding more, shaping less), let the upper body be stable with an active hip and legs … biggest challenge right now is shoulder/arm discipline (let them follow the hips into counter). Great morning, pleasure meeting both of you … thank you.

Jon – Nebraska … winter solstice, it’s all warmer from here (don’t think so). Balance (shin and heel pressure), hip counter (let the arms and shoulders follow the hips into counter, too much is as detrimental as too little), arms up and wide, leg steering (might be easier to think of ‘feet’ steering), steer with pressure (pressure equals ‘ski grip’ and this is a must right from the top of the turn), speed control with turn shape (shorter radius as it gets steeper). Something to study:

Josh Foster Ski Tips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5FDFNKpfm8

Don, Kay, Tina, Annette – not a cloud in the sky, no wind, warm – not sure this was Breckenridge … take it when we get it. Pivot skips to start, steering the feet, holding a line, hunching the back (pick up a penny), keeping the downhill hand from driving forward, short radius turns (especially the first couple turns on steep terrain), early tip engagement, balance on the feet, holding poles in hands and ski through the window, circles of steering/edging/balance and how they interact.

Meow, Nick, Ernie, Brenda, Don, Linda – major wind up high but not that cold, snow still skiing well, especially the bowls and chutes. Pipe pivots, question: ‘tip into a steer’, or steer onto the new edge’ …. hmmm, using both skis more, early pressure and edge at initiation, short radius turns on steeps and bumps, speed control in first 1/2 if turn, softer arms, not closing at finish, how to manage those first two turns on steep terrain, slowing down the twist.