Author: bbooker99

Laurel, Rebecca, Mitzy, Jenny, Chris, Olive: powder in the morning, about 4 inches or so, first tracks in Whales Tale, Imperial bowl, Way Out, Horseshoe bowl, Meadow, E-chair lift line, Inferno – skiing outstanding. Counterbalance, counter (with the hips), softer arms, early edge engagement, athletic position, ski the platform in powder, less rotation at initiation.

Catharine, Paula, Tina – a cold day for sure, sunny, no wind, by late afternoon flat light and dropping temperature. Counterbalance and counter rotation, wall exercise with nose over boots, slow the twisting at initiation with more edging, ride and shape the turn, use the bank in trough, pole plants more down the mountain as opposed to out front, not lifting inside ski, more equal pressure in the bumps.

Nick, Meow, Brenda – cold day but not that cold, some new snow, stayed on Peak 9. Hip rotation, ski grip, stronger edging at initiation, don’t let a flat ski be a platform for too much rotation, softer arms, less robotic with upper body, skis into the trough in bumps, pulling feet back for balance. Decorate the ‘Charlie Brown’ tree.

Elaine, Terry, Violeta – lots of no shows for Friday club, still early. Cleaner and earlier edge change (less opportunity for a flat ski and twisting), creating more of a carved turn, hip (and shoulders/arms) counter (allows flexion at waist to take hips to inside of turn), taking the ‘robot’ out of the arms. Bumps: not turning on every bump, round it out, let tips drop into the trough, maintain edge grip.

Laurel, Mitzy, Rebecca, Olive, Chris, Dianna – first day club, six inches new snow, what a start! Mountain skiing like mid January … this is the level 9 ladies, no holding back on this day, powder skiing morning, bumps in afternoon. Tipping the inside ski, recognizing and using the ‘float’, what ‘counter’ with the hips does for strong skiing, leaving two clean tracks, less twist at transition for more positive grip and a carve turn (it still has some slip but the shape is there).

Ingrid – New Zealand & Washington DC. Four inches of new, good stuff until about noon, heat came on, snow compacted, still the mountain skiing delightful with over two feet in the last three days. Started level 1, completed the day level 4 … wedge, wedge turns, controlling the edge for a flatter ski, skidding, shaping while skidding, speed control with friction from skidding and completing the turn, balance, arms forward, NO sitting down, tipping inside ski to release, beginning turn with new inside ski, leg steering, turning both skis together, flexion of ankles and knees for balance. Well Ingrid, the last run you broke the code, blue terrain now in your sights – good job!

Calvin – Nassau. 6 inches of new on top of 13 yesterday, not too heavy, good powder skiing, no rain today, a bit colder, some sun, getting to be cement by late afternoon. Focus: loosen boots to get more flexion at the ankles, where to feel pressure in the boot (heel, shin), keep both skis on snow, some pressure on both skis, initiate with new inside ski (left ski to go left, etc.), arms out and wide, hip/chair exercise, shuffle turns, hands on knees exercise, bumps on Peerless and under lift line on Bonanza. Biggest change, staying balanced with a lower center of gravity, how the turn is initiated, skidding the turn for shape and speed control. You might be surprised Calvin if I show up someday in Nassau … we’ll go boating and fishing and have a glass of wine to winter.

Lilly – New York. This was a first, rain on the mountain, have not seen that before, 13 inches new and it was Sierra cement … what’s happening here? The mission was to getting skis closer together and come off the hard edge. Drills and discussions: more pressure on inside ski, initiate with tipping then steering, hop turns, hands on knees, arms more forward (a pole plant someday), uphill ski traverse, more patience in top 1/3 of turn, softer edges, more skidding and shaping, use friction for speed control (that along with rounder turns, race course (twice, was it ever slow), two black runs. Good changed today Lilly, well done, have fun tomorrow.