Month: December 2019

Jacob – Tarpon Springs. In his mind the #1 mission was better hockey stops so he can spray his brother and sister … in my mind it was more of a focus on getting some angles in the legs, better balance, not having lazy hands … so, we combined the two – the hockey stops are better when flexing the ankles and knees. Hot dog for lunch with an amazing amount of ketchup – back in the day would probably have done the same thing. Fun day Jacob!!

Jeff & Cindy – Vernon Hills. Folks in ski school … boys in snowboard school … probably lots of tales to tell over dinner. Coming off the hard edge to control speed, more sliding, skidding and shaping, less upper body rotation, where is body alignment for strength, pole plant (this shows up every night on almost every lesson), keep hips open down the mountain (which means shoulders and arms also open), rounder more shaped turns, less ‘pop and twist’, be patient at turn initiation, hands on knees drill to emphasize a more flexed alignment. Merry Christmas to all!! See you next year.

Richard, Erin, Rachael, Joseph – Tarpon Springs. For living in Florida, this is one skiing family. Joseph is a live wire, probably needs to be in a race program. Alignment, position of strength, arm position, how to a pole plant and why, hockey stops, skidding, slipping, shaping, come off the hard edge, leg steering (both feet/skis together), releasing the skis with hip crossover, some trees(not many), more ankle/knee/hip flexion, stay open to the photographer. Good progress, good fun, see you on the 26th, Happy Christmas!

Annette, Paula, Kay, Don, Catharine, Lisa – Sunday Club (Tina missing today). A mellow day for first Club day, lots of chocolate (Don always has a pocket full, had some for breakfast – why not). Pole plant to initiate the hips crossing over – which – allows the edges to cleanly change (both together) – which – allows edge grip right from the transition – which – give a clean arc through the top 1/2 of the turn – which – gives a clean arc through the bottom 1/2 of the turn – which – controls speed – which – ‘is what it’s all about’. Static edge changes (these are kind of hard), using poles to help with arm/hand position, side slips, pivot slips, hop turns (something else that is not that easy), lifting one ski, railroad track, 360s, bumps, trees. I would say that was a good start to the season. Happy Holidays – eat some chocolate cake (this for Paula).

Brenda, Meow, Nick, Maria – Friday Club. Winter solstice (our maybe it was yesterday), days getting longer now – that means nothing in Breckenridge, there will be some cold weather coming our way. This was a good day for progress, focus: letting the hips cross over at transition, feel the float, tip of new outside ski engages right away, ski starts to arc/carve at top of new turn, skis never lose grip (well, maybe for 25 milliseconds right at transition). Happy Holidays. Brenda, do you guys eat deer for Christmas dinner, my guess yes, that or some kind of fish. Cheers to all!

Ernie, Phil, Bob, Kari, Terry, Terry- Friday Club group. Could have been a better weather day, ice fog in the morning, almost no wind, snow just the right grip, mid 20s on mountain in the afternoon. Rustler (not the best of shape, snow kind of punchy), Brill’s (sketchy getting into the lower part), Boundary Chutes, Meadows (twice), got separated at lunch (but chocolate was still to be had). Side slips, pivot turns, pivot turns (these are hard, don’t give up on the practice), hips aligned with outside of turn (confusing I know, it will make more sense with each passing day), early edge change, tip before rotate, keeping both skis on snow, open up the arms, pole touch to initiate the hips crossing over, how to manage pressure on the ski (lots of shin pressure, foot pressure just below the ankle), when to be edge and carve, when to be less edge with more skid to shape with some leg rotation, a few easy trees to work on the pivot turns, syncro skiing (always end the day with this). Happy Holidays, see you next year.

Laurel, Rebecca, Olive, Mitzi, Diane, Vicki, Deb … first day of Club … and it was fun. Good weather, some wind but not much, snow skiing well with some challenging cut up stuff up high. Leading with the inside hip, hips open to the outside of turn which begins at transition, outside leg extension through the belly of turn, flex at finish to allow the turn to complete and be in position for the edge change at transition, core/feet separation (get the feet away from the body to allow pressure management -especially important in off piste), uphill ski side slips, counterbalance with the upper body in conjunction with hip rotation, consistent pole plant, synchro skiing (Mitzi, your idea of figure 8 synchro could be deadly, but intriguing). Great stat to season!

Kyle & Elizabeth – McAllen, TX. Cold day, not much snow, good skiing, take a break every two runs. More skiing less talking … hands on knees, ski pole ‘window’ to stabilize upper body, skidding and shaping, ‘you’re a dancer’, fluid (not being static), stay flexed and forward as entering powder, enjoying the ‘quiet’ forest. ‘Windy Road’, Peak 9, lots of blue runs. Been a great two days – thank you.