Breckenridge Ski Lesson Pictures And Some Food For Thought

Taylor (NYC, AM), Karla (New Orleans, PM). Get some flexion in the legs, rhythm, tipping the new inside ski early, lead turn with new inside ski, upper/lower body separation, how to come off the hard edge and skid, how to shape the turn after coming off the hard edge and skidding, upper/lower body separation, wind up the body spring so the when the skis release the tips start downhill, pole balance drill, pole touch to finish/initiate, tip to new edges before starting to steer (should have that sentence on my speed dial keyboard), let energy from previous turn carry the CM over the feet at initiation (don’t be afraid, you won’t fall over).

Don and Barbara (Colorado Springs), Greg (Breckenridge). Now this was a mixed ability group – Don and Greg in the morning: 10 inches new, whoa, was that good skiing, T-bar to the bowls and White Crown, not the lightest stuff but well worth getting up for, more even pressure on both skis, still need CM to cross over, patience (the skis need to build a platform in the snow as they sink in), lower is gooder (I kind of like that word), wind up the spring, complete the last 15% of turn with leg steering, DON’T LET THE POWDER MESS WITH YOUR MIND AND SIT BACK! Barbara in the afternoon for one run, first time on skis in 12 years, skidding, up and down with knees and ankles, rhythm, flex ankles and knees together, speed control with turns and friction.

Tina (Chicago, PM lesson), Joel (Biloxi, PM lesson), Linda & Spencer (Chicago, AM lesson). Two different lessons, but so many common threads I’ve decided to put them together. Can the skis slide – which means can they be shaped, don’t be so edgy, leg steering, tip with CM crossover before steering, arms up/wide/out – don’t be lazy here, this is important, steer both skis together, top of bump great place to initiate turn, flex & extend for balance in the moguls, don’t rush anything, friction and turn completion for speed control, flatter skis have more surface area for skidding and friction, hip rotation, wind up the spring, upper body stability, uphill arcs, hockey slides/stops, how to be strong, get lower, get some flexion in the ankles and knees, hips to the inside of turn – not just break at waist and put butt back over tails (this is SO not effective).

Over 24 thousand vertical and most of it on moguls, I’m worn out tonight, nothing a glass of wine and some chocolate can’t fix (and 10 hours of sleep). Inside ski steering, inside leg flexion to bring hips inside the turn and create more edge angle, pivot turns, steer both skis into the fall line AFTER edge change, no body part is ever static – what it the right position for one instant will not be the right movement for the next instant, it’s a dance, always in motion and changing, White Pass turns, hands on knees moguls (has to be some value in that, still working on what), tip drag drill, pole touch and CM crossover go hand in hand (so to speak), completing the turn with strong leg steering and ‘winding up the body spring’, uphill arcs, can’t get too far forward (well … probably can but don’t worry that), shuffle turns, arcs with lifting the inside ski.

Jackie (Milwaukie), Jen (DC). Tipping before steering, tip into the shaping phase, upper/lower body separation, homework on the chairlift, new inside ski is the brain and leads around the turn, tip and steer both skis together, how does leg rotation work, CM cross over (this is here every night), arm position, pole touch (tie with bungy to hip), slower movements in powder, let both tips drop toward the fall line, wind up the spring (never be able to complete a turn with out this), hip rotation, upper body stability, where is balance on foot, shin pressure. Lots of powder and steeper bumps, maybe six times up T-bar, snow best of the season.

Greg (Huntsville). Bumps: balance over the moguls, position of strength, how leg flexion enhances steering and tipping, tip to new edges before steering, CM crossover, upper body discipline, pole touch and hips tied with invisible bungy, hip rotation, alignment, don’t get lazy with the arms, lower is better, lead steering with new inside ski (it is the thinker), keep both ski on snow, maintain grip throughout the turn, skidding in moguls is good to adjust line. Inferno, Mine Shaft, Corsair, Peerless, Tiger, High A, The Burn.

Michael (NYC) morning class, Katrina (Ohio) afternoon class. 13 inches of new snow, not the lightest stuff, kind of worked by the wind, but what the heck, much needed. Michael in the morning: not much teaching, just skiing, Peak 6, off piste at it’s best, fresh tracks, heads up skiing with the heavy snow. Katrina in the afternoon: lower and stronger, alignment in vertical and sagittal plans, pole balance, pressure point on bottom of foot, shin pressure, hip rotation, starting to get a pole touch, hip cross over, simultaneous edge change, skiing ‘through the pole window’, back to Peak 6, Intuition for some real off piste (was that ever good, no bumps, just a long powder run). Cold day with lots of wind – Breck skiing at it’s best!

Richard (Golden), Michael (Breck), Ben Lee (NYC), Michael (NYC). Blacks, double blacks and bumps of all varieties. Balance in the bumps, flex/extend to keep the head constant level, turn on top of bump, maintain edge grip, flex inside leg and rotate hip to give edge angle and assist leg steering, one ski drill working with new inside ski, strong position, don’t be lazy with upper body, plant/touch pole to initialize and stabilize, how leg steering works, don’t be so tall, CM cross over, come to new edges then begin to steer/shape, both skis on snow, rounder turns, wind up the spring, vertical and sagittal alignment. Snowed 4 inches from noon to 3:30pm, Outlaw, Rustler, Stampede, Peerless, Meadows, High A.