Breckenridge Ski Lesson Pictures And Some Food For Thought

Warmest day this year, what a treat, sunny, no wind … not sure it was Breckenridge. Level 7, a diverse gourp of seven: Dave, Nancy, Celia, Pam, Donna,Becky Dawn. Up high early: Pica, Horseshoe bowl, Upper 4 O’clock, Peak 10, The Burn … some bumps, some trees, some stuff steeper than anything skied in the last two years. Good pictures today, I like them … and no trouble getting a table a luinch, this is about to change with March Madness soon descending. Most exciting of all … finally learned out how to load the Tbar.

Level 1, Florida, Craig (father), Irene (mother/grandmother/nana), Lucas (8 yrs. old). Nana made one run down the magic carpet – skiing not her ‘thing’… but she gave it a go …

 I like your spunk. Craig is Mr. Mild and as a consequence learned quickly (it’s not about strength, it’s about technique). Lucas has a cold and feeling a bit crum but hung in there all day … progressed from ‘never ever’ to sking down Twister in control and riding the chari lift by himself. To the Ackley family – I hope you remember this day for many years – an introduction to skiing, may it stick and pass from generation to generation. Thank you for this day we spent together.

Some of the best snow to date – whatever you want: groomed, off piste, bumps, bowls, steep … and even a table for 7 at the Vista House (now that was amazing). Ripping level 7s: Meow (starting to understand your humor), Joan, Dave, Michelle, Todd, Carole. White Crown (now there was some wind blown powder), Crescendo bumps, Imperial Bowl (that was skiing so good), Amen, Lower Bone Yard. Initiating with new inside ski, keep both skis on the snow, pressure with extension in the turn shaping phase, make the commitment, ‘smile’ drill to promote early edge engagement of inside ski, core facing more down the mountain,hands forward and wide, skis a proper width to align femur with hips. I’m whipped tonight, hope all of you are – a terrific day!

Spring is approaching, just not today – upper mountain a raging wind storm, lower mountain more peaceful. Five inches new snow, just what level 7s need (serious)! Pam, Donna, Joelle, Elsa, Dave, Merrit, Meow, Mike and Randy … and our focuses: more offense in the turns (GO to SLOW), carry the momentum from one turn into the next (a delay in initiation loses the centrifugal force needed to comment into the new turn), aligned ski width (feet, knees, hips stacked to allow the femurs to clearnly rotate in the hip sockets), turn initiation with new inside ski, upper body more vertical (less bend at waist), don’t rush at top of turn (let the new inside ski engage early and then use to to shapre throughout the turn). Last run up the Tbar and down White Crown was memorable!

Cold as hell today … but very productive. Most memorable for the last official Babes day: Pam, Barbara, Donna, Joelle, Nancy, Elsa, Becky – this was bumps and nothing but. Every one of you now starts to see the ‘bigger picture’ of what is going on here … like coming of age I suppose. All our drills, discusssions on infinitum, drills on top of drills, cold days/warm days, revelations and frustrations, the pieces rolling around in the cranium just waiting to solidify. Ladies, today the mind at last started to reconcile peace with all those muscles and neurons. I’m am more elated than you!

Level 7: Jullie, David and Tracy. Quite a cold day,some sun, some not sun – lift rides maybe the most trying when you have a nose that likes to freeze. Bumps was the terrain focus with tactics the main issue. From a technique standpoint: inside ski activity, upper body alignment, early edge engagement, foot/knee/hip relationship, independent leg steering, speed control with gravity, adjusting bump line with skidding. An enjoyable day – thank you wanting to learn and sharing a few piece of your lives.

Level 9: Sarah, Elisa, Greg, Art. This was a ‘hip’ day … all about the hip, how to twist it, tip it, counter it, use it as a base of support, let the femurs rotate under it when aligned. You guys wore me out, think we will all sleep good tonight … well, those of us that don’t stay up all night in the party mode. Lots of steeps, powder, trees and more trees, bumps in trees, bumps not in trees, narrow bumps, steep bumps, bumps with rocks in the trough, hidden bumps, off pisted bumps. A good day of skiing with some laughs and tired legs!

What a ripping group, solid 8s all the way – and with Mitzi pulling the strings more like 9s. So much fun today: Lulu, King, Rustler, Joker, Boundry line, White Crown, The Meadow, Cucumber, Souther Cross, Dukes, Tiger Woods – quite sure all will sleep well tonight. Technique: skis on steeper terrain (ok to have long leg short leg), more flex at ankles and knees, some angulation at the waist, turn completion, pressuring the skis, turn initiation with new inside ski, hand and hip discipline. keeping both skis on the snow and ‘some’ pressure on both skis ALWAYS. Have a good week to all!