Month: January 2021

Alana (Breckenridge, Chicago sometimes). Good job with the arms, balance starting to settle down, feel the edge change with the feet – then start to pressure the new outside ski, CM crosses over with slight hip rotation to outside of the new turn, old long leg flexes, old short leg begins to extend which crosses the CM over the skis and facilitates the clean edge change, semi circular turns (nothing to quick with rotation at top of turn), skidding with more down the mountain speed, don’t panic when it gets a little steeper (shaping and friction will keep the speed under control), simultaneous rotating the feet to shape (almost like a pivot – actually, it is a pivot). A clean round shaped turn is even better than a hand full of chocolate covered almonds (both are addictive).

Grace (Denver), Melanie (Indianapolis), Courtney (Denver). Focus: how the turn begins at initiation, tip then ‘do whatever else you want to do’, but get on the new edges first (not necessarily ‘big’ edges, just new), CM (center of mass) crosses over to inside of new turn, tipping with the ankles helps, hip rotation (sit in the uphill chair), flatter skis for friction (speed control) and turn shaping with leg rotation, pole balance (not so hard), upper and lower body lock (hands on knees), lifting one ski in traverse to promote balance, balance with eyes closed, skidding shaping turn is good (works anywhere on the mountain), wedge type turn with high edge angles/rotation of new outside ski to get the turn started/short radius/traverse to get rebalanced works only on green and some blue slopes (doesn’t work well) and is more than a handful on steep terrain/moguls/off piste.

Brook (Denver), Charlotte (Germany), Shara (College Station), Corby (College Station), Corhin (College Station), Keith (Ft. Worth). Continuing on with the bump theme from the morning, now upping the ante with Dukes, North Star, High A (those lower bumps are getting nasty), position of balance, shin pressure, sweet spot on bottom of foot pressure, pelvis more forward, hips rotate toward outside of turn, flexion of inside leg to facilitate more edge angle, every turn has some sliding/skidding/shaping, pivot turns, pole touch and hips moving over the skis at initiation (clean edge change), ankle tipping (even in a ski boot the ankles can be tipped from side to side), no more lazy arms!!!, rounder turns in bump (use the flex/extend to go over a few, pick the one you like to initiate the turn), slow is good (fast is for those 18yrs and younger), locking the upper body to the lower body drill (aka, hands on knees) to reveal how the skis and body can move together (when the upper body is free to move, all our inner weirdness comes out).

Brook (Denver), Charlotte (Germany), Heather (NYC), Ciara (Florida) – how’s that for diversity. Black bumps: (well, we started with intro to bumps on blue terrain). Travers in bumps, when to flex/how to extend, helmet at constant height, tips dropping into downside trough, maintain ski contact with snow (ALWAYS), maintain ski/snow pressure (ALWAYS), early edge change, ski a rounder line (ok to go over or around bumps), side slipping in bumps, complete the turn, friction is your friend, don’t rush ‘things’ at transition, stabilize the upper body, position of strength.

Elizabeth (NYC, not same Elizabeth as morning lesson), Ana (Denver, same Ana as morning lesson), Elle (NYC). Once again the focus of how to shape a turn where you want it and not build up speed (skier is in control, not the edge – if that makes any sense), being comfortable while balancing on a sliding ski, uphill arcs, ok to come in and out of the fall line more slowly, leg steering with femurs, friction (this word seems to appear in almost every post, humm, wonder why), controlling a flatter ski, simultaneous steering both skis, hands on knees exercise, lower is good right now, hip rotation to face outside of turn (that would be downhill at bottom of turn), wider and more forward arms, enjoy the ride – be a ‘go’ skier, not a ‘stop’ skier.

Elizabeth (Denver), Ana (Denver), Kathryn (Denver). How to ski like a skier, and thus the focus: learn to flatten the skis more (never completely flat), sliding, uphill arcs, rounder turns, friction and completing the turn for speed control, side slips (these are kind of hard, huh, well … at least at first), coming off the hard edge and wedge turn (which really doesn’t slow us down but sure provides for some sight seeing as we zoom across the slope), patience at transition, where is the sweet spot under the foot, how to steer both feet together when the skies are sliding.

Heather – Lima Peru (sometimes). What is the deal with bumps, let’s find out, focus: traverse with flexion and extension (get the legs working), level helmet (use legs as shock absorbers), if the bump compromises balance a clean transition ‘ain’t gonna happen’, transition to new edges on top of bump, maintain grip (edge purchase) at ALL times (no lifting inside ski), pressure both skis down backside of bump into sidewall of next bump with leg extension while adding some shaping, at this level bring each turn to an ‘almost’ stop before initiating next turn (coming into the crown too fast puts us down the backside before the clean edge change happens), sideslip down the bump line (use this to adjust the desired path), arms forward and wide, pole touch below the crown, let the hips cross over with the pole touch (a must to get clean edge change), inside leg more flexed, hips rotated to face outside the turn (downhill during finish phase), be patient when practicing, speed is not your friend here, being outside the ‘comfort zone’ is the place to be (not way outside, just kind of outside).

Jacki & Addy – Madison. When the turn starts with a rotation of the new outside ski, the result usually is a high edge angle, short radius turn with the driver somewhat in the back seat, lifting the new inside ski because it’s stuck and little speed control. Ok, that being said, lesson focus: learning to skid, use more of the bottoms of the ski and less of the edge, friction in the skidding turn is just as important as shaping and finishing the turn, hips more toward the outside of the turn (that would be downhill at finish), where is the sweet pressure point of the foot, shin pressure, small corridor (safer), rounder turns, patience at transition, tip before steer (this is a biggie), steering both feet/skis simultaneous.