February 16, 2017

Elizabeth & Jess – VA. What a great day, warm again with no wind, take it while we can get it. Gliding wedges, turning wedges, wedge change-ups, Rips Ride, Poma, turning wedges, matching by keeping the inside ski flatter and turning with outside ski, thumpers with inside ski when it gets hung up, speed control with turn shape, sliding with both skis on uphill edges (this is a big one, essential skill), sliding and shaping to finish turn. Like your (both of you) sense of humor, what is life without it. Delightful day, good job!img_0973

February 12, 2017

Chris, Paula, Kay, Catharine – went high and stayed high, still winter snow, bowls never skied better. Not a lot of teaching today, more just skiing and having fun … everyone has something in their head that is a focus – playing with that focus on more challenging terrain. And, it was not cold … and, there was no wind!img_0965

February 11, 2017

Sophie, Brenda, Linda, Meow, Nick, Elaine, Charmane, Catharine – grey, windy and crunchy in the morning, by 2:00pm a delightful snow with the wind starting to lay (of course the visibility was zip – but come on, we are Breckenridge skiers). Started out working with poles and touch/plants, how and where to swing, what it does for us … ended up the day with more of an edge change focus and how to pressure the new outside ski right at the top of the new turn to maintain shape and speed control. Good skiing dudes, the steeps were fun this afternoon.img_0958

February 10, 2017

Ernie, Paul, Terry, Violeta, Sohpie, Charmane, Elaine, Linda – winds continue to howl, upper mountain closed again, down low not so bad, actually pleasant. All about how the edges engage, CM crossing over inside the new turn, tipping from the femurs, pressuring the inside edge of the new outside ski right away, the new edges can be soft, old inside leg extends/old outside leg flexes – this crosses the CM over the feet, down the mountain and to the inside of the new turn. You ‘guys’ are starting to get this!img_0957

February 9, 2017

Laurel, Jenny, Rebecca, Mitzi, Olive, Chongie -and the wind continues to howl – but … it loads some real good stuff. Lots of technique today: less up and more lateral, let the energy of one turn flow into the transition to move the CM lateral and effect edge change, wider arms, how to swing the pole at transition, get a rhythm to prevent the ‘flat spot’, more edge angle on the inside ski (show the tattoo) while that leg becomes more flexed, being upside down at transition. Good day ladies, thanks for the chocolate!img_0949

February 6, 2017

img_0941Rhonda … ‘help help me’ (sorry, just had to do that). Manage the edge – you are in good balance, now learning that every turn doesn’t have to be of high edge angle, can be ‘soft’ with some scarve. At turn entry (transition), come on to the new edges together and clean, then start to shape with a combination of carving and skidding. Less edgy in the bumps and off piste. Once the new edges are established (shallow or steep), start to pressure the inside edge of the new outside ski as early in the turn as possible. Thanks for coming to play, was a fun day!

February 4, 2017

Don & Maria – all about balance, all the rest is just ‘stuff’. How hard can this be, makes rugby look complicated. Slips, slides, scarves … if the hips/knees/feet are aligned and in balance then the edges transition cleanly and the rest is history … maybe a little over simplified but what the heck. Delightful day, thank you.