Breckenridge Ski Lesson Pictures And Some Food For Thought

Rob (Denver), Jon (Denver), Ashley (Denver), Charles (Grand Rapids), Zia (Orlando), Al (Orlando), Ashley (Dayton). This was a cold one … but the snow is getting better with each passing hour. Leg rotation (abduction, adduction), inside leg steering, tipping with ankles/knees/CM crossover, come to new edges first the begin steering with the new inside ski (the new outside ski will follow), pole plants are important (move them up on your priority list if you want to get out of the level 6 funk), upper/lower body separation, friction and shaping, completing the turns, both skis on the snow (ALWAYS), balance in the moguls, flex and extend to absorb the rise and fall of each mogul (moguls have a bad rap, give them a chance).

Kevin (from somewhere, AM), Alice (Ohio, AM), Jon (Denver, all day). Lot of arm and pole work, bringing in a pole touch to the skiing, letting the pole touch bring the hips forward and over, rhythm (hard to have with lazy poles), how to release the inside ski (well, actually how to release both skis simultaneously), inside ski steering, one ski drill, slow the leg rotation down at initiation, semi-circular turns (short radius, big radius), hockey slides/stops, pivots, balance in the moguls, upper/lower body separation, body spring (wind it up, let it unwind at transition), how to align knees/hips/shoulder/hands.

Eileen (Silverthorne, AM), Alice (Ohio, AM), Keith (Maryland, PM), Alex (NYC, PM). Morning working on basic technique on blue terrain, afternoon focus on moguls on black terrain – same turns, just different levels of movement development and understanding. How the turn starts with tipping from the ankles/knees, old outside leg begins to collapse, old inside leg begins to lengthen, CM crosses over the feet, now we’re on the new edges and lots of doors open (skid, shape, steer, slide, increase edge angles to arc, pivot turns, etc). Begin direction change with new inside ski (AFTER edge change), position of strength, get lower (standing tall is not your friend), flex ankles and knees with some bend at waist, hips rotate into the invisible uphill chair, arms forward/wide/out from the body, pole touch comes from the wrist and initiates the transition by signaling the hips forward and lateral – THUS, the edge change, hands on knees drill, pole balance drill, inside ski drill, lots of bumps, head at constant level in moguls, legs are the shock absorbers, top of bump good place to initiate turn, DON’T LOSE SKI PURCHACE DURING THE TRANSITION, keep both skis on the snow, no need to turn on every bump, make some nice round sinuous turns, balance is the big issue in uneven (aka, moguls) terrain.

Sue (Broomfield, AM), Ken (Broomfield, AM), Meredith (Denver, AM), Emmy (Fairfield, AM) … Tamar (NYC, PM), Lizzy (Colorado Springs, PM), Evan (Boulder, PM). So, a bit of different focus from AM to PM but the common threads runs through every lesson: balance in the moguls, turn on top of mogul and come into the top SLOW – use a check turn is needed, pole balance on top of hands, poles behind back to bring upper body forward, hands on knees develops the feel of being lower, put the butt in chair up the hill – also called hip rotation facing outside of turn, pivot turns, initiate turn with new inside ski, leg steering, adduction leg rotation, abduction leg rotation, less edge and more skidding, use more of bottom of ski and not so edgy, CM crossover to initiate edge change, pole plant/touch – bungy this to the hips bringing them forward and lateral, load up the front part of ski at initiation, don’t have lazy arms, pole swing comes from the wrist, ‘two tree’ exercise for feeling the core below the feet (upside down). OK, that’s probably enough to think about.

Page (Colorado Springs), Camille (Denver), Gabe (Denver), Tatyana (New Jersey), Sarah (Chicago). Started out sunny, cold and snowy by end of day. Peak 9 and the blue runs. How to release with tipping of ankles/knees – CM crosser over the hips, tip to new edges then begin to shape, uphill arcs, hockey slides (need more practice here), hip rotation, balance poles, hands on knees, poles behind the back, initiate the turn with new inside ski (strange, huh?), speed control with friction and completing the turn, how to be in a strong position, getting off the hard edge with a wedge, open the turn up – don’t be so quick to get through the fall line.

Ksenia (NYC, AM & PM), Roman (NYC, AM & PM), Oliver (NYC, AM), Lillian (NYC, AM), Alex (NYC, PM). Seems to be a patter with the NYC, think there must be an add in the New York Times about coming to Breckenridge. Less hard edge, use more bottom of skis, let friction help with speed control, pivot turns, shaping while skidding, leg rotation, inside ski leads at initiation, Brain & Brawn, arms up and out, pole plant, inside ski drill, pole balance drill, how to be strong, body spring, CM cross over, load up the shovel at initiation by coming forward and lateral, hockey slides/stops, intro to bumps. (Can’t image how finger got in picture).

Molly (NYC, AM), Christian (Miami, AM/PM), Ameen (Wilmington, AM), Amanda (Campbell, PM), Amanda (Chicago, PM). Getting out of the wedge and learning how to control speed with skidding and shaping, shin pressure, flex ankles and knees, leg steering (sequential and simultaneous), initiate turn with new inside ski, how to ‘fix’ a wedge once it develops, uphill skids to a stop, ski a narrower corridor, stand taller (within limits), arms up and out, can’t get too far forward (well, at least not at this stage of the game).

Oliver (San Francisco, AM), Linda and Spencer (Chicago, PM). Two different classes, working on the same things, just with different intensities. How to stay balanced in the bumps, where to initiate turn on top of mogul, maintain purchase, short radius, pivot turn, lead with new inside ski (this is initially difficult, don’t give up, ‘it is the way’), pole touch triggers CM crossover (or skis cross under, how every you want to look at it), don’t square up, wind up the body spring (must happen to complete the turn with powerful leg steering), one ski off/ inside pivot turns, pole balance to stabilize the upper body.