Ski Sundown Mogul Clinic - 3/18/09

[bvibert]

We are just getting going. I need another afternoon session during the week.

I know, it sucks. Unfortunately it's the way it seems to go around here as the skier visits drop off during the week..

 

[MR. evil]

I am not sure even where to begin. First off Ellen is a great instructor and a really cool person. I really hope we can get her back for another clinic next season.

Yesterday was one of those break through days for me. We have all heard people talk about A&E, and until yesterday I thought I knew what A&E was, but I didn't. Ellen was able to put thos ations into words that just clicked. It was also kind of weird how where you are looking impacts your skiing. As mentioned by others already, Ellen really focused on getting all of us to look far down the hill while skiing; it was the major theme of the session. At first this was really weird and even scary at times. I usually look about 3 to 5 bumps in front of my skis and can see my tips in my peripheral vision. Going from that to looking 50 to 100 feet or more down hill was quite the change and took the better part of the evening to get. But that one little change made a lot of other things start to fall into place. For instance one of my big problems is that I am too stiff in the bumps. It’s hard to imagine, but just changing where I look when skiing (down hill vs. at my tips) really helped me get much looser which helped everything else. What I realized is that when I ski looking at my tips and focusing at the next bump. I was actually bracing for that next bump and tensing up preparing for impact. By looking forward I couldn’t see or prepare for that next bump and my body just naturally absorbed the bump staying much looser in the process. By being looser I was able actually absorb and stay forward (aka out of the back seat) which made it possible to start to extend down the backside of the bumps and keep my skis in contact with the snow. That made it possible to control my speed better which allowed me to start skiing a more direct line. Like I said, a lot of little pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place last night. Now it’s just a matter of putting all of that into practice in my everyday skiing.

 

[MR. evil]

Goal is to simply qualify at this point. After that, we'll see what happens. I'm pretty happy with how my skiing has come together lately so I'm going in more confident. Don't get me wrong, I don't have any misconceptions about placing all that high, but I hope to get in a duel; two would be nice. I think that depends on whether there are 32 qualifiers. But really, who knows what rippers are going to show up and totally own us...

If you keep skiing that you have the past several times I have been out with you, you will qualify easy. Like I said last night, you seem to be peaking this season right in time for the comp.

 

[o3jeff]

Good stuff guys, you all should keep posting the tips you learned last night that really helped you for us fools that didn't make it.

 

[bvibert]

Good stuff guys, you all should keep posting the tips you learned last night that really helped you for us fools that didn't make it.

What would be the fun in that? No more tips until after the comp!

 

[o3jeff]

What would be the fun in that? No more tips until after the comp!

We're not asking for tips on a dumper air(btw-was she able to help you perfect it?), just on skiing the bumps!

 

[bvibert]

We're not asking for tips on a dumper air(btw-was she able to help you perfect it?), just on skiing the bumps!

No, but she was able to perfectly describe how one ends up with a dumper air, she even had a different name for it.

 

[Grassi21]

Yesterday was one of those break through days for me. We have all heard people talk about A&E, and until yesterday I thought I knew what A&E was, but I didn't. Ellen was able to put thos ations into words that just clicked. It was also kind of weird how where you are looking impacts your skiing. As mentioned by others already, Ellen really focused on getting all of us to look far down the hill while skiing; it was the major theme of the session. At first this was really weird and even scary at times. I usually look about 3 to 5 bumps in front of my skis and can see my tips in my peripheral vision. Going from that to looking 50 to 100 feet or more down hill was quite the change and took the better part of the evening to get. But that one little change made a lot of other things start to fall into place. For instance one of my big problems is that I am too stiff in the bumps. It’s hard to imagine, but just changing where I look when skiing (down hill vs. at my tips) really helped me get much looser which helped everything else. What I realized is that when I ski looking at my tips and focusing at the next bump. I was actually bracing for that next bump and tensing up preparing for impact. By looking forward I couldn’t see or prepare for that next bump and my body just naturally absorbed the bump staying much looser in the process. By being looser I was able actually absorb and stay forward (aka out of the back seat) which made it possible to start to extend down the backside of the bumps and keep my skis in contact with the snow. That made it possible to control my speed better which allowed me to start skiing a more direct line. Like I said, a lot of little pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place last night. Now it’s just a matter of putting all of that into practice in my everyday skiing.

Great summary. I wish I could have stayed until the end. I couldn't get over the fear of looking that far down the hill without blowing up or bailing. I needs to practice!!!!!

 

[Greg]

Great summary. I wish I could have stayed until the end. I couldn't get over the fear of looking that far down the hill without blowing up or bailing. I needs to practice!!!!!

It's a good thing to practice on the flats. Don't blow off that stretch leading down to the bumps either. Use that time to get your vision up. I was doing that towards the end of the session instead of charging down to the top of the bumps and it really prepped me for what I knew Ellen was going to want from all of us and that's eyes up.

 

[MR. evil]

It's a good thing to practice on the flats. Don't blow off that stretch leading down to the bumps either. Use that time to get your vision up. I was doing that towards the end of the session instead of charging down to the top of the bumps and it really prepped me for what I knew Ellen was going to want from all of us and that's eyes up.

Great advice! I wasn't doing that until the very end of the night. Several times i think I heard you yelling at me to get my vision up on that section as I was charging down to the bumps

 

[MR. evil]

Great summary. I wish I could have stayed until the end. I couldn't get over the fear of looking that far down the hill without blowing up or bailing. I needs to practice!!!!!

I had to bail many times while working on this. I even blew up once while working on this in the money line. I was quite embarrassed; I lost a ski and kept sliding on my back about 4 or 5 bumps down hill. Ellen had to ski down to get my ski for me..

 

[powhunter]

Sounds like a lot was learned!! Talked to Jp over a few beers last night and he was talking about how Ellen was really focusing on skiing on the balls of your feet, also there were some conditioning drills...can anyone expand on that??

steveo

 

[gmcunni]

this thread sucks. I'm so jealous!!

 

[Greg]

BTW, Ellen replied to my Email thanking her last night and said she was indeed impressed with Sundown setting up a run like that. She also said she "had a ball" and would be honored to come back next year.

 

[MR. evil]

BTW, Ellen replied to my Email thanking her last night and said she was indeed impressed with Sundown setting up a run like that. She also said she "had a ball" and would be honored to come back next year.

She was so impressed with Gunny that she took a couple of pictures from the bottom of the trail with her phone and emailed it off to a bunch of her WC mogul skiing friends.

 

[MR. evil]

Wired..... a little while ago I saw that 180 had responded to this thread, I clicked the link in the email to see his responce its not here.

 

[2knees]

No more tips until after the comp!

so you'll fill me in after your qualifying run? :razz:

 

[bvibert]

Wired..... a little while ago I saw that 180 had responded to this thread, I clicked the link in the email to see his responce its not here.

I guess he didn't want you to see his response, I'm not sure why but he deleted it.

 

[bvibert]

so you'll fill me in after your qualifying run? :razz:

Yes, exactly!

 

[Ellen Shields]

Hi You Guys!
I just joined the site, and I have been bragging about your hill to anyone who will listen to me! I think you should host a World Cup next season (may not be the steepest) but it is definetly the longest and most fun course ever!. US Team member Dave Babick does not stand a chance against you all.
I had a ball and thank you so much for the terrific feedback. I have gotten far from the coaching sector this year due to my other job. All of you insopired me, and made me realize how much fun the entire journey of the sport is. All of it, the comradirie, fitness, training, people, the jabbing-hee hee. It is all great. The friendships are the best part. In what sport can you know someone for only 4 hours and then ask if you can crash at their house??? Ha, Thanks to Jeanine and her husband for thier awesome hospitality. Thanks to you all, I slept about 20 straight hours after that course.
I wish you all the best this weekend, I will pray for the weather and the course to hold out. I have to travel for work and cannot make it. BOOOOOOOOOOOO
I welcome a return next season. Sorry for the typos, I am a menace on the computer.
Cheers to all of you.
Ellie