Month: January 2019

John, Jenny, JB, Audrey – Houston area. All beginners except Jenny, magic carpet, wedge, wedge turns, wedge stops, on to chair 7 and the Poma. More wedging with turns and direction change now the focus, controlling speed with turns, matching while transitioning across the slope, getting rid of the wedge, more parallel (that’s what skiing is all about), lots of Poma time in the afternoon, first chair ride. Much progress starting from never skied before, well done my friends. Be safe and have fun in the next couple of days … this was a good day, hope you all remember it for many years.

David – Germany and Boca Raton – windy day, good snow, cold in afternoon, little sun but not much. Focus on matching skis for parallel turns, more pressure on inside ski, begin turn with old downhill ski with tipping and steering (let it drop into the fall line), less edgy and more skid, flatter skis for shaping and sliding, speed control from friction and turn shape, hips rotated (I know this is a hard one for you and your back) to face more down the mountain, position of strength, equal angles in ankles/knees/hip, don’t be afraid of bigger radius turns (easier for learning and staying off a hard edge), three basic skills of: tipping, leg rotation and flex/extend. Was a good progress day, you are a good student, hope this sport sticks with you – it has much to offer.

Paula, Kay, Catharine, Annette, Amy, Don – the Sunday Go To Meeting group. Warm (kind of), no wind, upper mountain a delight, snow good just about everywhere (except the occasional rocks). Focus on strong upper/lower body separation, pivot slips and turns, staying lower on the steep steeps, pole plants down the hill (not forward), equal angles for ankles/knees/hip, standing up usually means sitting back, maintaining ski pressure from turn initiation through finish (don’t give up on the last 10%, that’s what makes or breaks the speed control. Chair 6, Imperial, T-bar, Independence … North Bowl, Imperial Bowl, Boundary Chutes, Vertigo, hike peak 7, Whiskey River, South Col (that was really cool), Oar Bucket (that was really gnarly). A great day indeed, thanks for all the chocolate, I’m saving the rest for two weeks!!!

 

Brenda, Don, Meow, Nick, Ernie, Catharine, Sohpie – the Saturday group + three. About an hour inside talking about counter, pressure, edging, turn shape, right to chair 6, about 2/3 inches new snow, Imperial with some steep bumps at the top, Whale’s Tail (more cutup snow here, a challenge for sure, then Forget Me Not, some video, Peak 6 after lunch. Focus on maintaining pressure early (and throughout) the turn, active leg steering, let the pole plant carry the core down the mountain, lateral movement at transition, feet/hip separation, skidding and sliding in the shaping phase, short radius as it gets steeper. Most fun day, thanks to all!

Ernie, Bob, Paul, Terry, Terry – new snow, maybe 8 inches on upper mountain, not too cold, no wind, powder lesson day. How skis turn in powder (making a platform), more equal pressure, less edgy, patience, leg steering, skidding, holding a tighter line in the bumps, side slip all of High A, position of strength, more angles in the ankles/knees/hips (all about equal), aggressive counter when skiing a tighter line, how to complete the turn (don’t give up on the last 10%, that’s the speed control), bumps on Dukes and Crescendo, a few trees. This was a break through day for powder skiing … well done!

Laurel, Mitzi, Diane, Rebecca, Jenny, Olive, Paola – Thursday Club – warm, still good snow up high, little wind – Imperial, T-bar, Independence, Chair 6. Pole dance (well, not really but did use a pole to demonstrate and practice hip counter and letting the feet/core separation), pressure from the heal while maintaining shin/boot contact, minimize fore/aft/ ski separation, upper body discipline, arms wide and not robotic, short radius turns on steeps and bumps, early edge engagement WHILE maintaining ski pressure (both skis), let the pole plant initiate the core displacing laterally NOT up. This was a good day for all, seemed like some things started to make sense!

Alexander (7 yrs) and Oliver (5 yrs) – Austin, TX. Start on Chair 5, spend the afternoon on the Colorado Super Chair, Springmier, race course (twice), Power Line, exploring some deep snow (without skis). More matching drills, hops, shuffles, modified hockey stops, race course very useful for keeping skis more parallel – great day guys, much progress, fun skiing with you!

Stephany, Alexander, Oliver – Austin, TX. Started on Magic Carpet, didn’t stay there long, on to Rips Ride, ended day with one ride up chair 5. Gliding wedge, turning wedge, starting to match in the transition, arms out front, tipping to release the ‘stuck’ ski’ to let it match, equal angles in ankles/knees/hip, no stiff lower leg, stay looking more down the mountain. Alexander and Oliver, you guys have an amazing power wedge, add some more ‘turn’ with that and we will be skiing blues.