Breckenridge Ski Lesson Pictures And Some Food For Thought

Caitlyn – Montana, Texas, San Francisco (the lady has lots of hang outs). Shaping turns in a C arc, less quick rotation and ski direction change at top of turn, edge change THEN shape and steer (or slide, or skid, or whatever you want, but both edges change first), varying turn shapes, hands on knees drill (more knee/ankle flexion), letting the hips be active to align with the feet, arm position/pole balance drill (getting ready for the pole touch), balance on inside edge of outside ski (not only balance there, manage the pressure there).

Kristen – Dallas. Second lesson, minimizing the wedge, matching in traverse, sliding/skidding, less hard edge, steering both feet/skis together, using skid and shape to control speed, not using all of slope to turn, rhythm, how to ‘unlock’ the inside ski with tipping skill. Boyfriend took her up chair 5 at end of first 1/2 day lesson, right off the magic carpet to chair 5, whoa, that makes her a survivor!

Ana – New York City. Tipping to release inside ski, traverse with a side slide, speed control with friction and shaping, matching skis earlier in the turn, don’t turn too sharp, let weight naturally shift to new outside ski, not so much back and forth from side of run to side of run, rhythm, dancing. Hurt knee on last run, double dang.

Robbie Redlin – Denver. Getting rid of the dreaded ‘tip cross’, wider stance, hips forward for balance, flex ankles and knees (not just knees), relax, wedge change ups, hand/arm position, keep the wedge stable (no ski wobble), direction change, steer with both feet/legs, can’t change direction by tipping (at least not at this level), ski flatter to allow slipping and keeping edge from hanging up.

Mian, Maria, Mishel, Saad – Wildwood, MO. Third day of 1/2 day lessons, skied Rip’s Ride five times, the family is starting to cook. Working on matching more and wedging less, some matching with skidding, speed control with turns, Mishel and Saad both using poles, how tipping at start of turn eliminates the wedge (well, kind of) if used with leg steering.

Ana – New York City & Brazil. First time skiing (also known as never ever), magic carpet, wedge stuff with some direction change, up to Poma, now working on turns and slight matching between, softer edges, flatter skis to help with steering, skidding is good, skied down at end of day making speed control turns.

Joe – Colorado Springs & Breckenridge. More shape to turns, not so twisty at top, edge change then begin to steer, CM cross over at initiation, let old downhill ski initiate the new turn (keep some pressure on it), patience, pick a line on the bumps as if the bumps were not there, flex/extend the bumps to maintain balance.

Mian, Maria, Mishel, Saad – St. Louis. Up Rip’s Ride, not ready for that, take skis off and walk back to the Magic Carpet. Solidifying the wedge, gliding wedge, wedge change ups, high speed wedge stops, changing direction with the wedge, how to turn both skis together, managing the edge angle, working with a flatter ski, just letting kids be kids. Was a good afternoon.