Breckenridge Ski Lesson Pictures And Some Food For Thought

Brenda, Don, Linda, Sohpie – mix of Saturday Club and makeups … cold in the AM (at least I was – never underestimate the Breckenridge wind), afternoon delightful with some sun and less wind. Morning stayed low and worked on technique, PM explored Whales, Vertigo, CJs, Y Chute, hiked Peak 7, Whiskey River (some really nice ‘good for you’ wind blown struggie stuff), tried to find Lost Cabin – it’s still lost. How much counter is good, what’s the deal with ski tip lead change, pulling the inside foot back at initiation (feel the shin pressure) so feet are closer and easier to pivot/steer/rotate, pole plant more down hill on the steeps, get the feet away from the CM right away, thinking of turns from apex to apex, maintaining ski pressure (aka grip) through transition, bringing the skis right on around on the steeps (strong counter), skidding when it’s slick. Good day! AND, cookies for breakfast (that could be habit forming).

Ernie, Elaine, Paul, Violeta, Terry – Friday group, wonderful day, no wind, warmer, clear skies, great day to be up high. Whales, Vertigo, Debs, CJs – exploring steeper terrain all the time now. Pulling feet back, turning the inside ski, initiating with the inside ski, pivot turns, thinking about pivots with one ski off (not ready yet), javelin turns, using cat tracks, pole plants more down the mountain when steeper, keeping shin pressure on both skis, (don’t let the inside ski ‘run out’), maintaining ski pressure (grip) all the way through the turn (most important as initiation transitions into the upper part of the turn).

Laurel, Mitzi, Jenny, Rebecca, Diane, Paola, Olive, Theresa – Thursday Power House ladies – last day of January (and it has been a windy month), blue sky today with wind morning but pleasant afternoon. Stayed high skiing the steeps, found some ‘nice stuff’ on Vertigo and Debs Alley, Rustler and Contest bowl a bit more challenging. Upper/lower body separation, flexion at the ankles (which also facilitates knee/hip bend), keeping the inside ski pulled back (pressure on the cuff), pole planting on the steeps, the day was biased more toward pivot turns as opposed to pressure turns (edgy and arcy), getting the feet away from the CM right away at turn initiation (get caught with the feet under CM and it’s SSS), feel the new outside ski engage right at transition, keeping pressure on both skis throughout the turn (more on outside/less on inside (but not zero)). Fun day, thx for the beer and recapping the day!

Paula, Don, Tina, Amy – Sunday group. Not so cold today, wind still aggressive, some sun, Peak 10 and Peak 9, Overlook for lunch … three bars of chocolate, now that’s a good day. Focus still on inside ski steering, not lifting, let the new inside ski be the brains (outside ski brawn), pivots, pivots slips, strong counter, leading with the inside hip, pole plant bringing CM over base of support (aka feet), skidding, sliding, slipping, shaping. Groomers and bumps on Peak 10, pumps on Peak 9 with some trees, short radius turns (almost pivots) make it happen. Good day!! Forgot picture again so in desperation took one of my locker for something to post.

Brenda, Don, Meow, Linda:

And I thought yesterday was cold, holy moly … strong winds, low temp, high humidity, morning break at 11:00 to warm up, mountain super crowded … that being said, skiing quite good. Lots of focus on short radius, pivots, pivot skids, strong counter, narrow corridor, one ski pivots (these were hard, huh), pole plants, crossing the body over at initiation, separating the CM and feet, straight line side slips. Peak 10, Corsair, Spitfire, Bronc, lots of bumps … much focus on ‘lesser edge and big radius’, more focus on flatter ski with skid and shaping. Just remember the three S’s: Sit

, Scoot, Screwed.

Elaine, Bob, Violeta, Terry – the Friday group minus a couple. Cold (make that frigid) in the morning, afternoon almost a delight after wind laid and sun appeared. Powder and bump technique, side slips, side slip all of Crescendo, strong hip rotation facing the outside of the turn (that would definitely be down the mountain at the finish of the turn), open arms/hands, less edge/more use of ski bottoms, straighter line in the bumps, javelin traverse, leg rotation on the PVC pipe, at transition: CM crosses over, feel the new edges and begin to steer/skid/shape, foot pressure: shins/heels/ball of foot behind big toe, focus on staying balanced with correct foot pressure, flexion in ankles/knees/hip/hunch of the spine.

Laurel, Paula, Mitzi, Jenny – rest of the Thursday club is scattered around the world or kind of broken. Cold, powder day … so, why not do a few drills right off the bat, surprised there wasn’t a rebellion. Lots of pivots, pivots slips, pivot slips down Little Johnny, ski a tighter corridor, skiing bumps with pivot slips that have a little shape, shuffle turns, shuffle turns down Dukes and Dukes bumps (those are kind of hard), shuffle on one ski (those kind of hard also). Inferno, Mine Shaft, Devil’s Crotch, High A, Dukes, Little Johnny, Peerless and Peerless trees. A good day ladies!! No picture today, forgot.

Scott, Alex, Henry – Denver. Dad a snowboarder, teenagers skiers, this was a good one, high level skiing … Chair 6, Imperial Chair, Imperial Bowl, Rustler, Dukes bumps, Contest Bowl. Less upper body rotation, more pressure on the inside ski, keep both skis on the snow and pressured early in the turn, hips and upper body more open to the down hill, not swinging outside hand around at turn finish, position of strength, hunch the back, nose drip on the toe piece (not the knee), shorter radius turns, hop turns, quiet the upper body. Fun afternoon guys, your dad is a good snowboarder, give him some credit!!