Author: bbooker99

Sophie, Brenda, Linda, Don, Meow, Nick – all about keeping the hips aligned with the feet, maintaining balance,  some pressure on both skis, staying open to the outside of the turn (even when that ‘open’ has the hips facing more up hill). Sunny in the AM, actually started to get warm, then clouds and cold afternoon, lots of chocolate today and a mid-afternoon break … finally have the food program dialed – lunch early, break about 2:15PM. Think a few doors were opened today, I will sleep good tonight. 

Elaine, Sophie, Paul, Terry, Violeta, Bob – this was one cold day!!  But … skiing sure was good. Bumps was the focus: shorter radius turns, more equal weight on both skis, tip before rotate, alignment of hips with base of support (feet), turn shapes, pressure throughout the turn, pole plants, retract feet to regain balance (vs. bringing core forward), pick a line with a narrower corridor. Good day group, see you in two weeks.

Laurel, Mitzi, Olive, Jenny, Diane, Rebecca – one of those ‘once in a year days’, solid 8″ of new and kind of heavy, cold for sure, not too busy, all the local hounds out in the morning, this was a powder day! T-bar, chair 6 and E chair … what a mixed bag: untracked powder, cut up powder, hidden bumps, trees … a definite ‘good for you day’. Technical focus on the ‘5 fundamentals of good skiing’: balance, pressure foot to foot, rotary, edging, flex/extend to manage ski/snow generated pressure. Great skiing ladies, hope we get another day like this before seasons end. No pictures today (forgot again) so it’s something from the canyons. 

Alex and Jack (brothers), south of Nashville. This morning was quite cold, heavy snow, wind, temp maybe around 15F, that being said, the skiing was delightful, maybe eight inches new. Balance was the theme, more ankle flexion (less at the knees), feels like you are too far forward but not the case, some pressure on both feet in the powder, simultaneous edge change at transition, some bumps, start to be more consistent with pole plants. You guys ripped it up today, good progress with the balance issues.

Kay & Scott, first lesson of the new year, level 8 Club. All about balance, base of support relative to center of mass, side slips in bumps, pivot slips in off piste (you guys didn’t like me for this one), leading with the inside half, more slip/skid in bumps to adjust line, maintain some pressure on both skis, pulling feet back to realign, angulation vs. inclination, developing skill to adjust the edge angle for desired outcome. Good day guys, nice small class, kind of cold … thank you Kay for bringing chocolate.

A good finish to the year, the Latudas, mostly peak 9 and 10 today … maybe our 8th or 9th year together … you guys are a hardy lot to put up with me so long. Concentration now on bumps and arcing, early edge engagement, let the ‘inside half’ lead all the way through the turn, hips support the base of support, very little rotary at transition, pole plant (touch), bump absorption and skidding in the bumps to adjust line, maintain ski/snow pressure with both skis during transition. Happy New Year!

PS. Thx for the whiskey.

Tiffany, Reese, Abigail (and John the dad shadowing)- New Orleans, first time skiers. Magic carpet and Poma … straight wedge glide, wedge change ups, riding the chair lift, wedge turns, letting the inside ski start to match, more tipping of the inside ski to yield a flatter platform, using turn to control speed. Skied down from the Poma to the bottom … a busy morning, good start to becoming skiers – think everyone will sleep good tonight.

Frank, Lea nne, Areanna, Andrew, Alex – bumps, off piste, some powder early, crazy insane with the crowds, 4 o’clock was I70 at rush hour on steroids. Keeping pressure during transition (and throughout the turn), ALWAYS a pole touch (plant sometimes), patience to let the turn complete, lead with the inside hip all the way through the turn (don’t give up the counter during the last 20% of turn), Frank and Andrew starting to be leaders … discipline when setting the example! Was is cold after 3:00PM – that is totally rhetorical. Great day guys, the whole family rapidly now becoming all mountain skiers … this opens up many opportunities. It’s 7:10pm and I’m still chilled, more whiskey maybe. See you Saturday.