Breckenridge Ski Lesson Pictures And Some Food For Thought

Kevin & Ashley – Vestavia, Al – first time skiing, first time to Breckenridge, hope you enjoyed your day. Safely ride chairs 7 & 5, starting to match more consistently, working on skidding and shaping, speed control with friction and turning. Keep it slow guys, work on the fundamentals to make muscle memory. Happy Winter!

Meow, Nick, Don, Linda – mission statement: transition from ‘stand/twist/skid’ to ‘tip/balance/carve’ … start using the other 80% of ski performance that has been patiently waiting to come alive.

Joelle, Pam, Kay, Donna, Nancy, Paul – this was all about edging and tipping – start at the ankles, ankle tension, edge change at initiation, balance on the inside edge of the outside ski, keep pressure on both skis all the time (not equal, but some on both), lift inside ski drill, shaping with ski performance, moguls with same technique (initiate with edge on top of mogul, shape with balance and pressure on flank, finish with some steering back on top of some other mogul). It was cold, morning and afternoon break, chocolate for lunch (thank you Donna).

The Crazy 8s: Laurel, Mitzi, Olive, Betty, Jenny, Diane, Chris, Paola, ChingHe – cold day, break after every two runs, mountain skiing best of year. Five fundamentals of skiing, skill to skill relationships, ankle tipping (start at the snow), early edge change from the snow up, outside ski to outside ski drill, early (first thing) balance on inside edge of new outside ski … try it groomed, then try it bumps. Next time venture into off piste. 

Marlee – level 3 – 11 inches of new snow, cold, snow sticky, started out on Poma, last run on Colorado Super Chair. Gliding wedge, turning wedge, matching in the traverse, skidding with softer edges, skidding and shaping for speed control from friction and turn shape, hops, arms forward and wide for balance, Springmeire. Good job Marlee, now you can practice and starting having some of the fun skiing offers. 

Linda, Brenda, Don, Meow, Nick – good snow, kind of windy (that’s a relative term for Breckenridge), not too cold. Peak 6 & 7 … early edge change, never lose pressure from either ski, less rotation at turn initiation, more flex at turn completion/initiation, extend into the shaping phase, 5 concepts of good skiing (manage pressure, foot to foot, fore/aft, rotation, tipping), initiate on top of the bump while flexed then extend into the next flank for shaping. Picnic at Grand Lodge (thanks Meow) with everyone sharing what food was in pocket, plenty of chocolate. 

Pam, Joelle, Kay, Donna – this was one windy morning (some lifts closed, maybe up to 35kts, but not too cold, afternoon delightful) …. working on bumps, keeping both skis on the snow and pressured, initiate on top of bump, shape on the sides, early edge changed, never lose pressure from old outside to new inside, complete each turn (sometimes turning up the hill), more flexed in ankles and knees, standing tall on the top of bump is a recipe for ‘step and lift’. Good days lady, you are a hardy bunch.

Olive, Paola, Chris, Jenny, Mitzi, Betty, Theresa  -upper level 8. Skiing all upper mountain, steeps, some bumps (but not big), tour from Peak 6 back to Peak 8 through the upper gate, Brilles, Rustler, Joker, Beyond Bowl, Imperial Bowl, Whales, Y Chutes, White Crown – every run off piste. Keeping both skis ‘grounded’, maintain pressure at all times, early edge change, complete the turn, pressure early in the turn, lead with the inside 1/2 through the finish phase. Great day, sunny, not too cold, wind on the T-bar, chocolate for lunch (thank you Mitzi).