Author: bbooker99

Chris – San Francisco. First time on skis this year, skiing family, refresher … chair 5 and Colorado Super Chair. How to ‘slide’, coming off the wedge and edge, getting comfortable with skidding both skis, more equal pressure, tipping to release, using the downhill ski to release first and initiate the turn, friction and turn shape to control speed, arm position, staying more open (hips facing down the mountain), using a smaller corridor (a more direct line), using less edge in all phases. Good progress Chris, now time to go ski with the family.

Jason, Kris, Holly, Sue, William, Nea, Nickos, Nalian (I know these last three are mis-spelled, I didn’t get home with class list, sorry) – Greenwood, IN. Mixed abilities, some already skiers, some beginners (well, almost). Magic Carpet, Rips Ride, Poma … gliding wedges, wedge turns, wedge change ups, gliding wedge with direction change, leg rotation, side steps, how to maintain a flatter ski, speed control with turns. Hope you all had a good day, it was diverse to say the least, everyone skiing now except Nea and she is close, one more lesson day and she will be off and ‘running’.

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!