Breckenridge Ski Lesson Pictures And Some Food For Thought

Charlie and Gina – California – teachers. Gina, don’t over think it! Pick a skill (aka, starting turn with new inside ski) and just work on that … one skill at a time … don’t overload the neurons. You now have a shopping bag to pick from: upper body more down the mountain, leave hands more out in front, pole plant each turn with rhythm, little more skid and shape in the turns and less high edge angle, every turn is a 1/2 circle and symmetrical, let the body cross over inside the new turn to aid with the edge changes, tip then shape as opposed to twist and skid … there that should be enough. For you Charlie, just keep the skis hip width wide and let both side of the hip align with the feet … position of core strength. Have a great summer!

Javier, Alejandra – still from Monterrey – don’t know if you like me are hate me at the moment – Peak 7 was difficult but it did change your skiing for the better, steeper pitches, more traffic, need to side slip in some places, a bit of increased speed, linking turns with more rhythm … and look how easy Springmeir now seems. Great progress in the last two days, you are now ‘skiers’ and can enjoy blue slopes. Hope you come back next year … you have a start now, much fun still to be had and things to learn. 

Francisco, Alegandra, Jemena – Monterrey. Nine inches of new snow this morning, a pleasant surprise, skied like winter for a few hours. Siverthorne and some wedge turns … then more matching, shape for speed control, getting the arms and hands away from the side, how the leg rotates, more pressure on both skis, learning to slip, slide and shape … over to Peak 8 and couple times down Springmeir from the Vista Haus, good speed control on the blue portion, everyone matching to some degree. Enjoy your last two days of vacation, come back and visit Breckenridge again!

Don (Wisconsin), Katie (UK) – clouds, a little snow, some wind, some real hard snow. Upper/lower body separation, pole balance, pole touch, balance on uphill ski and traverse, leg rotation and steering, ‘how many turns’, pivot turns, side slipping, bump traverse and tactics, wider stance, rhythm with poles, inside ski initiation, how the leg rotates when straight or flexed, turn shapes and relation to speed control. Didn’t catch the last lift but was close to it … good day with lots of turns and some changes … a bit nackered getting back into the locker room. Cheers.

Chris, Lisa, Harry – still from the UK … this day as good as yesterday. More pivots, new drill with ‘shoulder poles’ (that actually worked out quite well), less ‘rotate skid’ turns and more, ‘edge change shape’ turns, syncro skiing (this was fun), lots of follow the leader with different leaders. Got pictures today, couple of good ones. Hope to see you later part of the week, if not then next year … cherrio O … you guys nackered me out!

Chris, Lisa, Harry – (no picture today, forgot camera in locker) – UK. Upper/lower body separation, a distinct pole plant, side slips, pivot turns (these will get easier Lisa), intro to flex/extend in bumps (probably could have done without that), quick short radius turns, some blacks/some blues. Learned one English word and have already forgotten it – means ‘you are ready for the glue factory’ … I can use this word. Picture tomorrow.

Callie, Florida – likes horses and volleyball – level one at 9:00AM, level four by day’s end … lapping Rips Ride and both sides, starting to match with some sliding, controlling speed with turns, comfort with speed is building … good day Callie, welcome to skiing, hope this will be first of many days and years.

Mitch (Dallas) & Melina (Miami) … bumps and steeps. Upper body stability, let the core wind up, definite pole plant, complete the turn with flexion in the ankles and knees (let the legs follow the arc of the skis), keep both skis on the snow in bumps, blocking pole plant in the bumps … Whales Tale, Debs Alley, Inferno, Dukes bumps, Rustler, Contest bowl. Good day guys … a good day!