Author: bbooker99

John – Canton, OH. An hour (more like two after we looked at a little Josh Foster video in the Vista Haus) in the afternoon: how to control speed on steeper terrain/bumps/off piste/ice. Well John, think I gave you a new mantra and enough to keep the mind and skis busy for awhile. Counter, what is really going on with the hips, how do turns initiate, how does pressure shift from ski to ski, what is leg steering, rounder turn shape, ski grip (this is good stuff to never lose, even at initiation), coming off the hard edge, more skidding and shaping, use more of the ski bottoms (good friction here), skiing a narrower corridor (make yourself do this John, it will help with the shorter radius turns that are more slidee (don’t think that’s a real word but it is descriptive) that have a nice semi-circle shape). Lot of stuff in an hour, huh … it all ties together as you will slowly but continually realize. Hey, if was easy they would call it basketball!!

Nelson, Jessica, Eva – Elk Grove, CA – Level 1 (but somewhere in their past skis had been put on), nice day all and all, mid 30s, not too much wind on lower mountain, 4″ new, kind of sticky on for first 30 minutes. Some single ski push and glide, gliding wedges, how to find and keep balance, some flexion in ankles/knees/hip is good, butt back and upper body too far forward is bad, relaxed, wedge turns for speed control (and see more of the terrain than what’s right in front of the tips), matching in the traverse, weight distribution ski to ski, leg rotation and turning the skis, how tipping controls the edge, turning both skis together. Riding Rip’s Ride chairlift and skiing down from Poma practice area. You are level 3s now, well done, enjoy tomorrow … this is a cool sport, hope you get hooked!

Tina, Annette, Amy, Catharine – Sunday Club (Club classes have been small, some travelling, some broken), not a cloud in the sky, not too cold, the ever present wind was present, upper mountain closed again. Started on something steep and slick, finished on something steep and bumpy … Rustler, Outlaw, Devil’s Crotch, Inferno. Hop pivots without skis (a good warm up exercise), when to edge more aggressive/when to be more skiddy, how to ‘get going’ on a steep pitch with moguls, holding a tighter line (getting easier isn’t it), staying open to the downhill to initiate and finish those turns on challenging terrain (getting easier isn’t it), using the pole plant for a real purpose, rhythm (never really starting, never really finishing). Much fun, good laughs at lunch, you ladies are skiing well, a pleasure to watch!

Brenda, Meow, Nick, Elaine – Saturday Club, not too cold, not too warm, but definitely many skiers on the mountain … and they were all in Ten Mile Station at 11:45. Peak 10, Peak 8 – some steep slick stuff, some steep bump stuff, some stuff in between that was good for practice. Lots of pivot type practice, pressuring the new outside ski early, what does it feel like to rotate in the new inside ski (what are the muscles doing), pressuring both skis (keep doing that Brenda, it’s working), getting the skis away from the body early, where is ‘neutral’ – wherever it is it’s not there long, pole plant more down the fall line, commit the CM to cross over (not up) to facilitate finding the new edges, eliminating the ‘shop’ in bump, skis closer, how to handle steep/narrow/icy/bumps, how do pressure turns and pivot turns mesh.

Laurel, Jenny, Rebecca, Diane, Olive – the Thursday hardy lot, and this was a hardy day … wow, it was cold, temp around 5 degrees or so, wind a howler, two runs and warm up. No real teaching today (well, maybe just a little), bumps on every run … Dukes, High A, Little Johnny, Crescendo, with Rounders thrown in for good measure. If there was a focus: ‘commit to the new turn with CM/feet crossing over/under, pressure the new outside ski edge right at transition (maybe even before), steer the new inside ski (the outside ski will follow – always!), flexion at ankles/knees/hip, stay countered to the outside of the turn, skid and shape, slipping good to adjust line in bumps, the pole plant helps stabilize the upper body and commits the CM down the mountain’. Thanks for coming out to play! We are skiers – some days it’s just COLD.

Elizabeth & Michael – Menlo Park. Started with bumps (why not) and proceeded to more bumps. After totally mastering those tried some off piste by riding the T-bar, questionable decision as the wind was in fine Breckenridge form (upper mountain eventually closed), did find some good snow after finding some bad snow, over to Peak 9 and more bumps, ended up on Rustler with steep bumps (best snow here). Soften the arms (less robotic) and keep them open (about beach ball wide), stable hips to provide platform for leg rotation, hips face outside the turn (can under do it, can over do it), release the new inside ski at turn initiation/feel the new edges/ steer and shape with leg rotation, keep some pressure (grip) on both skis ALWAYS, don’t give up at finish of turn – get the last 10% for speed control and set up the ‘platform’ for next turn, lots of slipping (on groomed and bumps), pressure turns, pivot turns. Ok, that should be enough to keep you busy until next year. Good seeing you both and catching up, good times this morning, THX.  P.S. – not one bad turn in Needles Eye !!

Gary & Cheryl – Ft. Lauderdale … pleasant day, some sun, not cold at all, little wind, snow getting slick, especially on Peak 10 (‘good for you snow’). Separation of upper and lower body, position of strength, face the zipper down the mountain, arms/hands out and wide, downhill hand lower and back, keep the hips facing more down the mountain, some pressure on the inside ski, outside of boots hip width, pole touch more down the mountain, rounder turns (especially at initiation) helps ski grip and speed control by staying ‘engaged’ for the complete turn. Fun day skiing with the two of you, thank you for the social time!

Tina, Annette, Amy, Catharine – Sunday Club (kind of), Breckenridge wind doing it’s thing, upper mountain closed (all of it), not too cold actually, started easy on Springmier, ended on Devil’s Crotch and Peerless. Continuing focus with shorter radius turns, inside leg steering (not just at initiation, all the way to completion), letting the inside ski lead around the turn, early pressure and grip with new outside ski, how counter relates and aligns with lead change, one ski pivot turns (for real, I had them take the other ski off – this was hard), javelin turns, lifting one ski in the traverse (all traverses can be put to good use), cowboy turns playing with inside ski steering, pulling the old inside foot back at initiation to rebalance and facilitate simultaneous leg steering. Lots of bumps (can there ever be too many – maybe don’t answer that question). Great day ladies, the four of you are skiing at a high level!