Breckenridge Ski Lesson Pictures And Some Food For Thought

One only has to be receptive - let the canyon speak.

Sheila – Houston … first time skiing, gliding wedge, Poma, just starting to working on direction change. Sheila, forget about the wine bet, there is no way you could have won that one. Have a good vacation.

Donna & Jake – Georgia. Back on skis after five years, still solid level 7s. Side slips, pole window, balance in bumps, some bumps, Imperial bowl, less upper body rotation, flexion in the ankles, more leg extension and flexion, pressure on both skis ALL the time (not the same pressure, but some pressure which means no lifting the inside ski to match). Good day!

Alex, Ben, Jack – TN – levels 5,6,7. Some groomed black, some bumps, some trees (those were tight), some drills (poles behind knees, hands on knees, hockey stops, uphill skidding garlands), less reliance on the sharp edge and more on a flatter ski with friction and shaping, upper/lower body separation, some arm/pole work, race course, more ankle flex … great day guys, thanks for sharing some your ‘youngism’ with me.

Orla, Feargal – Irland, London – level 9 skiers. This was an interesting day … open bowls, serious trees … dang that Windows 1 line, Doors is a ‘piece of cake’ compared to that, is there even a line in there, ‘good for you terrain’ for sure. More discipline in the upper body, let the inside 1/2 lead all the way to turn completion, get serious about the arms and hands, blocking pole plant in the bumps. Think we will all sleep good tonight … ‘Orla, not sure your motor ever runs down’. 

Terri – Virginia Beach. Starting to match more consistently, tipping of the new inside ski to release, rhythm, using momentum to help initiate the new turn, less dependence on just the downhill ski, rotating both skis (feet) together, turn shape to control speed. It’s starting to gel …..

Maddy (princess), Bella (tiger), Lily (lion) – all different levers (6 through 3) … some matching and sliding drills, some pole drills, some upper body stability drills, some more even pressure drills, working both skis (feet) in unison, less reliance on inside edge of inside ski as a brake.

Andy & Terri,  Virginia Beach. Alignment and stability of upper body, edge and pressure vs. twist and brace, slow the turns down to reduce the rotary motion … more pressure on uphill ski, edge control (gentle), sliding on both skis, matching and sliding … tomorrow address initiating the turn with skis staying parallel.