Author: bbooker99

Davis – Hilton Head, SC. This was one wet day, heavy snow, temp 34F, not raining but not far from it. Worked on: being balanced, pressure on shins not calves, flex ankles and kneed, get lower, hands on knees, arms out and wide (especially at turn initiation), more even pressure on both skis, turning feet/skis together (not one and then the other), skis can skid more when not in a wedge at turn initiation, at little more speed. Good job Davis, lots of choppy snow today, you did well!

Christoph, Greta, Ainsley, Jethro,William – this group was a bit of ‘world’ flavor – German, South Africa, America. Major wind, upper mountain closed all day … so, just worked on bumps and more bumps. Peerless, American, Crescendo, Inferno. It’s ok to slid and smear in the bumps, not so hard of an early edge set, still working on arms and pole plant, flex and rising up on the bump/extend down the back side, keep skis on snow, always some pressure on both skis, turn initiation with tipping then steer onto those new edges, shuffle turns, push/pull turns, hands on knees turn, raise one ski on the traverses. Hard snow in the morning, just about right in the afternoon, twice down the race course. Great day guys, I liked our humor, I like your willingness to learn!

Happy Easter (we found no eggs, we were not looking for any eggs). Christoph, Greta, Kirt, Stuart. Good winter snow up high, Whales, Vertigo, Contest Bowl, warm, sun – classic Colorado spring day. Pressure on the sweet spot of the foot (skis to knees – feel the heel), flexion in ankles and knees, position of strength, counter the hip to align with the feet, how a turn initiates (tip THEN steer), quiet upper body, ‘sit in chair’ demo for hip counter, arms up and ready, pole plant just before edge change to facilitate CM (center of mass) crossover, finish the round turn (last 10% controls 25% of speed bleed), keep both skis on snow (ALWAYS, unless jumping), some pressure on inside ski to make it work. Well done, fun Easter Sunday skiing! Tick, Trick, Track probably would have liked to play with us today.

Leanne – St. Louis. Warm (mostly) afternoon, no wind, some sun, pleasant day weather wise. Tipping before steering at transition, let the old outside ski lead into the next turn, find the new edges then steer into them, leg steering, pivot turns, maintaining pressure throughout the turn and transition, where is the ‘sweet’ pressure point (ankle, front of heal, back of arch), purpose of the pole plant, CM (center of mass) crossing over at transition. Good turns this afternoon, cleaner transitions now with better edge grip all the way around, turn shape getting more consistent, patience at top to turn to stay in balance and feel the new edges. Well done Mother Earth! Think the camera lens was wet, pictures didn’t come out, just a bunch of blur.

Alex, Ben, Jack – Franklin TN. Bump day (High A, Crescendo, Peerless, American, Volunteer, Upper 4 O’clock). More even pressure in the powder and off piste (skis working more as a unit), shin pressure on front of boot, heel pressure (actually in front of the heel), flexion of ankles and knees, less twist of the upper body, arm position for balance and pole plant, pole plant to initiate and carry CM (center of mass) inside the new turn, narrower corridor down the mountain, ok to jump off bumps now and then. Snow off and on all day, 8 inches new in the morning, definitely some powder skiing today. Good skiing guys, you are all mountain skiers now – time to explore!

Julia – Greenbra, CA. Morning snow hard and fast, some real slick spots, snowed off and on, cold but workable, by late afternoon the skiing quite nice. Wales Tale, Vertigo, Forget Me Not, some steep stuff, some off piste, not much real powder. Some pressure on inside ski, no lifting of inside ski, tipping new inside ski to initiate turn, tip then steer (this prevents the ‘wedge’ on steep terrain), more flexion of ankles and knees, athletic position for balance, shin and heel pressure, arm position for balance and pole touch, starting to use a pole touch, counter with the hip to align with feet, not ‘squaring up’, turn on top of the bumps, no need to turn on every bump, more flexion (don’t rise) at turn initiation. Fun day Julia, no doubt you can keep up with your friends now. Have a great college education!

Alexandria – St. Louis, MO. This was your day it all started to make sense, terrific. Whales Tale, hike Peak 7, Whiskey River, Lost Cabin. Hips more open to the turn, staying flexed throughout the turn (reduce the body rise at turn initiation), when flexed at ankles/knees/hip the tipping and steering works easier and initiation cleaner, arms no higher than waist, hands wider than elbows (athletic position), the pole touch is coming along – that is good, more speed and confidence on the groomers – that is good. Well done Alex, this is the day we were looking for!

Harrison – Church Point, VA. Solid all mountain skier, Whales Tale, Whiskey River, T-bar & Chair 6, Rustler, Vertigo … some good skiing, some challenging skiing. Less tall, get CM lower with flexion in ankles and knees, turn initiation with tipping then steer onto the new edges, more even weight in powder and off piste, closer skis to use as ‘one’ platform, no lazy arms, arms up and wide in athletic position (get ready for the pole touch), how to eliminate the wedge on steeper terrain (tip first), eliminate upper body rotation and butt dropped at end of turn (don’t need that now with more turn shape and a more rounded turn). Fun morning Harrison, we probably won’t forget the rescue off the lip by the Rock House. Stay cool!