A Fresh Start

A unique part of skiing is its limited season. Without extensive travel and expense, we can only ski a few months of the year. This brings a process of relearning as we start again each year. It is important to be easy on ourselves during this time and not compare our skiing to what we were doing at the end of last season. Think of it instead as an incredible opportunity for reinvention and to break past one’s previous abilities. Here are some ways to ease back into the season while setting yourself up for your best season yet.

Balance is one of the most critical aspects of skiing. In order to get your season off to a great start, the best thing you can do is experiment in finding your balance. One way is to concentrate on your feet in your boots. Think about feeling your feet flat on the bottom of the sole of the boot throughout the turn.

Play with your stance. Do one run with your legs as wide apart as you can muster. Do the next run with your feet glued together 80s style but still using good form. Find a position somewhere between that feels natural to you.

While standing still, try hanging off the front of the boot. Then see how far back you can lean in them. Find a relaxed natural position somewhere between.

Remember that in order to maintain balance while skiing over constantly changing terrain, balance must be in motion. Keep your legs moving constantly through the turn without any static posed spots.

Choose terrain with which you are comfortable to figure things out. But don’t be afraid to once in a while throw in a more challenging run. This will prevent you from getting caught in a rut and make you a more rounded skier.

Look ahead when you ski. Not just for safety but to add flow to your skiing by anticipating where you will be a few turns out.

Mix it up. Everyone has a favourite turn shape that we like to revert to. If it is medium sized turns that are your thing, do some great big turns mixed with some short turns in the same run. This promotes movement and adaptability.

Ski top to bottom. Especially if you are skiing in Ontario. Our runs are simply not long enough to stop, rest, and re-gather part way down. If you want to get back in ski shape quickly or prepare yourself for skiing a bigger mountain, you need to ski longer runs. You should be a bit out of breath at the bottom. It shows you are pushing yourself. You have the whole lift line and chairlift ride back up to recover.

Ski loose. Chances are the skiers you admire on the hill have a relaxed ease to their skiing. Make a conscious effort to be loose and free. And have fun!

Hope something here resonates with you and you have an incredible start to your ski season! Hope to see you on the slopes soon!

Lessons from the Rink

Ice skating, whether it is hockey, ringette, or figure skating, is one of Canada’s great past-times. It is hard to grow up in Canada and not have skated at some time in your life. Being your typical prairie Canadian, I grew up on skates, logging 15 years of figure skating while simultaneously coaching figure and power skating for the last 7 years of my skating career.

Then when I graduated from high school I stopped. It was what was expected. I moved on, went to university, began my career, and eventually embraced downhill skiing as my winter passion. But I still dreamed of skating and this fall after a 20+ year hiatus, I returned to the sport. Doing so has caused me to reflect on the similarities between skating and skiing.

There is a lot of muscle memory involved in a sport you performed regularly over 15 years. Though I had only skated a half dozen times in the last 20 years I had full confidence I would still “have it” when I returned. Skating across the ice the first time, I really missed having a long ski underfoot instead of a wee blade. Which brings me to my first shared skill: Balance. If you can balance on a rockered blade that’s 5 mm wide and less than a foot long, what challenge is there to a 66 cm wide, 164 cm long ski?

Of course, Stance goes with balance and there the hockey players’ semi-prone body position is much more similar to that of a skier’s. For years I had to work on getting rid of my figure skater’s arched back when I skied. Now that I am skating again, I am trying to straighten it back from the rolled over posture I’ve gotten used to as a skier!

Strong skaters have the ability to move quickly from forwards to backwards and backwards to forwards. Hockey players do it by transferring weight from one foot to the other (a Mohawk in figure skating parlance) while figure skaters are also capable of doing it on one foot (a three turn). Both methods of turning require Pivoting – turning with the feet- our second ski skill. Three turns involve bending the knee to initiate, un-bending (unweighting) to pivot, and bending again to complete. Sound a little like a ski turn?

Ever watch a hockey player fly around a corner to pick up a loose puck? How about ice dancers create deep, round edges as part of their program. There is even a warm up drill for skating called slalom. Yes, the third shared skill between skiing and skating is Edging. When skiing, skaters have a great ability to “move inside” the turn due to their well-developed lateral balance.

As a point of departure between the two sports, when you carve in skating, your weight is on your inside leg, the opposite as when you are skiing. This is what makes skaters so good at inclination (leaning into a turn) but sometimes lacking in angulation (maintaining weight on the outside ski by keeping the body in a C-shape).

With skating as in skiing, a lot of forces are built up that need to be reined in. In figure skating you see this when figure skaters “check” using a still upper body to land a jump or exit a turn. You also see it when they land a jump, reaching down to their ice with a straight landing leg that then quickly bends and absorbs the pressure upon contact with the ice. This can be likened to a skier absorbing the forces with their skis for Pressure Control, the fourth shared skill.

The final shared skill is Timing and Coordination. In hockey, you have to have incredible hand-eye coordination to pass the puck or score. Timing is everything. In figure skating, all routines are set to music with jumps, spins, and dance moves timed to the beat. Having the wrong timing on a jump or lift can be disastrous. Teaching skaters how to coordinate their movements and implement a pole plant is a piece of cake.

What these five skills don’t take into account are the intangibles that make skaters great skiers – a zest for life, fearlessness, and embracing of our Canadian winters.

So, if you are looking for a great off-season way to work on your skiing, or a way to stay in ski-shape on days you can’t make it to the hill, why not consider lacing up and getting in some skating? Your skiing will be all the better for it. See you at the rink!

Setting Yourself Up For Success

From turkey tent sales and ski shows to the nip in the air, signals abound that the ski season will soon be upon us. As passionate skiers we can't help but start to make ski plans, get our gear in check, and perhaps even think about goals for the season.

What helps you to get better as a skier? One key is mileage. Whether you were lucky enough to get that mileage as a child or are now building it as an adult, to get better at skiing you need to spend time skiing. Now is the perfect time to lay out your ski plan for the year - whether it's marking up a calendar, inputting it into Outlook, or (like me) a detailed Excel spreadsheet, commit now to the number of days you plan to ski this season. Then try to beat it.

Of course we all know that repeating the same thing over and over expecting a different result is the very definition of insanity. Guided mileage is key. Start the year with a lesson. The first ski day after the summer break is magical. Just when you're thinking "will I remember how to do this?" your body takes over and you recall why you love skiing. This sensation of your body taking over is what is often referred to as muscle memory. The beginning of the season when your muscle memory is just being reactivated is the perfect time to break bad habits before they are reinforced.

Once the season is underway, check back in periodically with lessons to measure your progress and to find new ways to develop your skills. But remember to also spend time free skiing and integrating this knowledge. Discovery is an important part of the learning process.

Challenge yourself. Try new things. Define now what your goal for the season is going to be. The opportunities are endless - skiing black diamond runs on your next vacation to a big mountain, getting comfortable in the moguls, racing the gates efficiently, or becoming a ski instructor. The best goals are SMART - Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. Speak to an instructor about steps you can take to reach your individual goal.

The ski season will soon be upon us. Make it your most successful season yet!

Straddling East and West

Last winter my dreams came true. I was able to spend the entire winter living in the mountains, skiing every day, instructing and training with an incredible ski school, and oh yeah, taking in the Olympic alpine events in person. I turned the layoff from my corporate job into the opportunity of a lifetime.

Last winter's blog posts were written from Whistler, usually after a hard day's skiing. Since returning to Toronto, I've had the opportunity to reflect on some of the differences between skiing and instructing in the East versus the West.

Days at Whistler Blackcomb began with early moring training sessions for the instructors. There I quickly learned a couple things. These skiers skiied fast! Aand they don't stop. I was initially held back by my Ontario obsession with trying to make each turn perfect. I had to learn to just go for it and let my skis run. An invigorating way to start the day for sure! I also had to build up my endurance. My muscles and my cardio had to take me the equivalent distance of at least five Ontario-length runs without stopping.

So when could an Ontario insrtuctor excel? Perhaps not surprisingly in more technical conditions - on the odd day that we didn't have fresh snow or worked on skills like short radius turns. Then my "skinny skis"" (carving skis) came in handy! As did my regimen of meticulously waxing and edging my skis - something that is less of a focus for skiers that are always used to fresh snow.

One thing that has always bothered me as a skier in Ontario was so-called skiers who couldn't be "bothered" to ski in Ontario and limited their skiing to the one week or two they could get away each year. I love skiing too much to go a sinlge weekend without skiing. While Ontario does not present the challenging terrain that the west has to offer, there are many opportunities to improve your skiing - ski gates, moguls, trees. Heck, if that fails to challenge you, try skiing backwards or head into the terrain park!

The hardest part of my experience was winter ending and leaving Whistler. I would have stayed in a heartbeat if I could have figured out a way to integrate my professional life into the community. So I am back in Toronto where I have started my own company and will be instructing for High Park this winter. But I will still be straddling East and West as I have also committed to teaching at least four weeks for Whistler Blackcomb. You will be hearing from me from both places come this winter so stay tuned....

Packing it in

For those not lucky enough to have a spring ski vacation on the horizon, it is time to start thinking about packing away your ski gear for the summer. A little extra care now will set you up for a great next season.

First your skis: before stashing them away, treat them to a thick coat of hot wax. Coat not only the bases but also include the metal edges. Do not scrape. The wax will keep the bases moist so your skis don't dry out or warp in the off months. Covering the edges helps prevent them from rusting. It doesn't matter which of your ski waxes you use. I use whichever one I have the most of at the end of the season.

Note your DIN number and write it down on a Post-it note that you attach to your skis. Then take a flat edged screwdriver and release the front and back DIN of your bindings by unscrewing it to zero or until there is no tension left. This will ease the tension of the springs and ensure your bindings continue to work well for the lifetime of your skis. Just don't forget to re-set the DIN come fall! The Post-it note will remind you to re-set as well as remind you of your DIN. Store your skis somewhere with little temperature fluxtuation and that isn't too dry or too damp. So long as they are completely dry, storing them in your ski travel bag will keep them dust-free.

Before putting away your ski boots for the season, make sure the buckles are fastened in the same spots you keep them fastened when you are wearing them. Do up the power strap. Ski boots should never be left unbuckled even during the season as the hard plastic has memory that will make them difficult to fasten later. Store them somewhere that does not get too warm. Heat will affect the plastic shell and can undo any work (punching out) you have done on the boots.

Finally, I find it very useful to make note of any ski items (e.g., gloves, long underwear) that I need for the following season. Then you will be armed for any surprise summer sales or fall ski shows.

For those finished skiing for the season, enjoy your summer! For those not quite ready to call it quits, it has been DUMPING in Whistler. Look me up.

Pow Pow!

As I write this, it is dumping snow outside which means one thing - powder! True powder days are elusive and thus stand out in skiers' memories. The key is to make it stand out for being fun rather than tedious.

Many western skiers are effortless in the powder, floating along on top of the snow. Not only do they have the opportunity to ski powder more often but they are also often on a wider ski. Some ski widths have gotten ridiculous. I've seen many skis this season that are wider in the mid-section than my skis are at the tip and tail. However, a mid-fat ski (around 80 mm) underfoot will allow you to float on the snow while still controlling the ski. Unless you are doing the majority of your skiing in powder (if we could be so lucky!) or you keep more than one pair of skis, it will not make sense for an eastern skier to buy mid-fat skis. However, that doesn't mean you can't rent them for the day. Just do it early - maybe even the night before when lots of snow is in the forecast - as they sell out quickly on a powder day.

Whether on mid-fats or "skinny" eastern skis, try running a straighter line than you would when you are carving. You need more speed in the powder as it will slow you down. If you are uncomfortable with speed in this unfamiliar environment, try it first on easier terrain. How to weight your skis? I had always been taught to keep my skis closer together in the powder and to weight them more evenly. However, this year I have been exposed to the new train of thought which is to ski more like you would when you are carving - "pedaling" through the turn by keeping the skis hip width apart and transfering weight from one outside ski to the other as you transition between turns. I have found this incredibly effective in the powder and more akin to the way one usually skis. It is particularly helpful once the powder begins to be chopped up as it helps maintain balance.

Like anything, the best way to get better at skiing powder is to ski it. So fingers crossed that there are many powder days in your future. Not to rub it in, but I'm signing off now to catch this one!

Are your skis really parallel?

The goal for almost every skier starting out is to get their skis parallel. To a beginner skier this means eliminating the wedge they use to initiate a turn. However, there are at least three other ways skis can be less than parallel with advanced skiers. The next time you are out skiing have your instructor or a friend watch or video you skiing past them so you are seen from the front, side, and back. Here's what to get them to look for:

1. A wedge to initiate turns. This is caused by pushing out the outside ski to initiate turns. While most common with beginner skiers, intermediate and advanced skiers will sometimes revert to using a wedge to initiate turns on steeper or more intimidating terrain. Similarly they may "step out" to initiate short radius turns or ski moguls. Tactics to eliminate the wedge include moving to easier terrain to build confidence, exercising patience when initiating the turn, and braquage style drills.
2. A reverse wedge where the tails of the skis come together at the middle to end of the turn. This can be seen even with advanced skiers and is best diagnosed by watching a skier from the back. It can be caused by having the weight on the inside ski instead of the outside ski, by solely pivoting instead of using a blend of pivoting and edging to steer, or by poor body alignment. Depending on the cause some tactics that can be used to address the deficiency are outside ski turns, rollerblade turns, or feeling the feet flat in the boots and legs stacked in a natural standing position.
3. An exaggerated lead change where the inside ski is far out in front of the outside ski. This is usually caused by having too much weight on the inside ski but also can be caused by alignment issues (i.e., dropping the butt into the turn). Tactics to have skis more parallel fore/aft are to consciously pull the outside leg forward so the tips match when in the fall line and "kick start turns" where the inside ski tail is lifted as the turn is initiated.
4. Skis are not equally on edge (i.e., one is flatter than the other). This can be caused by sitting too far back or by A-framing (not having the outside and inside knees move equally into the turn). Tactics include feeling pressure on the front-inside of the outside ski boot and front-outside of the inside ski boot rather than full on the front or on the rear of the ski boot and uphill Christies.

Have fun checking each other out and getting parallel on all four fronts!

Mastering Short Radius Turns

Being a versatile skier means being able to ski a variety of turn sizes from great big carving turns to tight little short radius turns. Being able to ski short radius turns in particular is very useful when skiing steeps, moguls, or glades. For those learning how to ski short radius turns, or who just want to improve their short radius skiing, I have developed a short radius progression guaranteed to making you better at skiing short radius turns. Spend at least an entire Ontario-length run performing each one of the following steps before progressing to the next.

1) Side slipping. Slide sideways down the hill increasing edge angle by rolling your ankles and knees up the hill until you come to a stop. Then release your edges by flattening your ski to resume sliding. Repeat over and over again facing one direction until you are halfway down the slope. Then do it facing the opposite direction. Remember to keep your upper body facing down the hill as your legs are across the hill. This will help you develop muscle memory of being counter-rotated. The act of applying edge angle and just importantly, being able to release it, will help you finish your turns strongly and start the next turn in a balanced position.

2) Braquage. Start by side slipping in one direction with your legs (ankles/knees/hips) bent. Turn your legs as you extend (straighten) them as much as possible as you enter the fall line and then bend them as much as possible to bring your skis back across the fall line. Repeat down the hill. The result should be something that looks like sloppy, slidey short radius turns. Tip: the more you bend and extend your legs the easier it will be to turn them. Again, remember to keep your upper body facing down the hill. The object of this step is to improve your pivoting (ability to turn the ski with your foot) and to reinforce counter-rotation.

3) Hockey stops. Point your skis down the hill and then bring them out of the fall line coming to a full stop in one direction. Once you have stopped, plant your pole strongly down the hill. Repeat down the hill alternating directions coming to a full stop with a strong pole plant with each turn. This step will work on your steering as you must bring your skis completely across the hill to stop. Having a strong pole plant down the hill will set you up for your next turn and yes, reinforce counter-rotation.

4) Link it all together. Start your run doing the hockey stop drill above, then a few turns in, stop coming to a complete stop between each turn. You are skiing short radius! You have learned how to apply edge angle and release it in step 1, pivot your skis by unbending and bending your legs in step 2, and steer your skis in step 3. Throughout you have kept your body facing down the hill and using a strong pole plant at the end of your turn, stabilized your upper body so all the skiing happens from the legs, not the upper body.

Now get out there and have fun ripping it up with your small tight turns!

The Importance of the Pole Plant

The pole plant is one of the most overlooked parts of skiing. For those not yet skiing parallel, poles are great for propelling across flats, getting up after falls, and keeping balance on magic carpets. For parallel skiers a pole plant can be an integral tool to help them ski better.

When in the turn should you pole plant? If you answered "at the beginning of the turn", while technically correct, you are probably pole planting too late. Skiers who think of the pole plant as the beginning of the turn generally start to extend and turn their skis into the new turn before they pole plant. The pole plant is the link between two turns. Because one turn begins when the last ends, thinking of the pole plant at the end of the turn puts it in the right spot.

When skiing medium to larger turns, the pole plant is more of a pole "touch" and is used primarily as a timing device. For these types of turns the pole touch is forward towards the tips of your skis. This changes in short radius turns and moguls where the pole plant becomes a strong plant and is further from your body and not as far forward. By reaching your pole down the hill in line with your boots in short radius and moguls, the pole plant does more than control rhythm and symmetry. It has the folowing additional benefits:

1. It gets the pole out of the way as your skis slide into the next turn. I have seen many people trip over their poles in steep terrain when the skis must slide to begin a turn.
2. You can do a shorter radius turn because you don't have to ski out and around a pole that is planted forward towards your tip
3. It forces your downhill shoulder down the hill so that it is parallel with the slope, thus allowing you to angulate properly over your outside ski.
4. It stabilizes the upper body so that you are steering with your legs, not your upper body
5. It allows you to recenter your body over your skis and down the hill between turns

So the next time you are out skiing, think about where and when you are planting your pole. For short radius turns and moguls reach down the hill in line with your boots and plant that pole firmly. You will be amazed at the results.

Pre-Olympic report from Whistler

The hills are alive with the sound of...military helicopters?!? It is an interesting time to have moved to Whistler. The village is changing daily in anticipation of the games. The military and RCMP have established a presence. Volunteers have arrived from all over the country. Many Whistlerites, including a large portion of the ski school, have temporarily left their regular jobs to work for the Olympics. Every day there are new banners hanging and new stages installed. Stores and public buildings have been repurposed as Olympic houses. I can't wait to sample Swiss chocolate at Swiss house and have my fingers crossed that the outdoor bar at Austria house has gluhwein!

As I write this I have just arrived home from the torch lighting ceremony in Whistler Village. An estimated 10,000 people showed up. That is the entire full time population of Whistler! Julia Murray, daughter of legendary Crazy Canuck Dave Murray and Olympic Ski Cross hopeful, rode on the back of the snowmobile up the hill where she handed off to Crazy Canuck Steve Podborski, who skied the flame down to the village and turned it over to Whistler high school student and potential 2012 Olympian Tyler Allison, who lit the cauldron. Very cool. It was so exciting to see Canadians being patriotic. People were wrapped in flags, had red painted faces, and belted out Oh Canada when the time came.

The next few weeks are going to be an exciting time for Whistler, Vancouver, and the rest of Canada. Go Canada go!

Overcoming Fear

The hardest part of learning to ski as an adult is overcoming fear. Fear takes many forms. For beginner skiers, it can be fear of going too fast, of being out of control, or falling. For intermediate and advanced skiers fear can be caused by poor visibility, steeps, ice, powder, trees, or moguls. What all these fears have in common is that they are fear of the unknown or unfamiliar.

Today I skied Spanky's Ladder at Blackcomb for the first time. As I climbed up to the top of the mountain ridge it quickly became apparent why it is called ladder. I had to kick the toes of my boots into the steep narrow ledge to make my way up. It was so narrow I dared not look over the edge. A couple of times my boots slipped on the icy ascent and I dropped to a knee. I could not tell if my rapid heartbeat was caused from exertion or fear.

I was wildly relieved to get to the point in the climb where my whole ski boot could make contact with the snow. Then I realized I must ski down. The entry to Garnet Bowl was narrow and steep. There was lots of fresh snow that my narrow eastern skis sunk into. But taking it section by section it was totally skiable and dare I say it, fun. When I reached the valley floor I felt like I had conquered my own Everest. I couldn't keep a big grin off my face as we skied back to the lift. The next double black diamond we skied, Pakalolo, had a narrow entry which ordinarily would have been intimidating yet didn't feel so bad after Spanky's.

So how does one overcome fear? To become better at something you must do it. Yet getting into an intimidating situation often leads to a skier regressing to old habits - leaning up the hill, stiffening up, and even beginning a turn with a wedge. The best solution: put yourself into situations on the edge of your comfort zone. If you don't usually ski anything harder than a black diamond, try a double black diamond that isn't too long (Elevator Shaft at Blue Mountain comes to mind). Then the stakes aren't too high. Try to ski at least one run that challenges you every time you are out. As you become familiar with what was once unknown you will find that what used to look steep begins to look flat. You will begin to seek out moguls and more challenging terrain. What used to scare you will give you an adrenaline rush. And isn't that the reason we all started skiing to begin with?

Skiing the Glades

[Photo above: skiing the glades in Whistler on January 28, 2010]

The light is flat. The snow on the groomed runs is skiied off. It's time to head for the trees! Gladed runs offer the fun trifecta challenge of loose snow, moguls formed by everyone turning in the same direction to avoid the trees, and of course the trees themselves. Skiing the trees is not only exhilerating but also a great way to practice your short radius and bump skiing as tree skiing requires strong pivoting/steering. Sighting ahead even prepares you for skiing gates.

A few things to help you in the trees:

1) Remove your pole straps. If one of your poles catches a tree you'd rather your pole get left behind than your shoulder.

2) Ski with a buddy or buddies. Make sure you can see or hear each other and check in often. Tree wells can form at the base of trees which is very dangerous should one ski too close to the trees and fall in.

3) The single best thing you can do to ski the trees better is to look for the white spaces between the trees, not the trees themselves. You ski where you look so look for the path between the trees.

So the next time you see some skiable trees, dive in and have fun!

The Warm-up: Setting Yourself up for Success

Every day that you ski you have the opportunity to change your skiing and improve. The best way to ensure your success is to set yourself up for it right from your first few runs. How do you warm up for a day of skiing? Or, perhaps better put, do you warm up at all? By warming up I'm not advocating arm circles and static leg stretches. Static stretches before warming up do nothing to help your sports performance and can in fact lead to injury. Save the stretching for the end of day when your muscles are warm and stretching prevents soreness.

The best warm up for skiing is skiing, albeit at a slower pace and a lower performance level than that which you are capable. Balance is the key skill from which all of the other skiing skills fall. If you have strong balance, it is easier to do just about anything on skis. To set up great balance at the beginning of the day, try some of the following tactics for your first few warm up runs. For best results, focus on only one thing per run.

1) Feel your feet flat on the bottom of your boot. Often when one is skiing they feel more pressure on the ball of their foot when extending and on their heel when bending. Keeping your foot flat in your boot will ensure your fore/aft balance is in line.

2) Ski "shmooshy" turns. Try NOT to edge when skiing big round turns. It is easy to edge from an out of balance position. It is impossible to ski round turns without edging unless you are well balanced. Many high end skiers feel embarassed to "de-tune" their skiing in this fashion. To them I say, this is the way Herman Maier warmed up for his many World Cup wins. If the Hermanator can ski sloppy parallel turns, who are we to think we are too good to do that?

3) Ski with your boot buckles undone or very loose. You should have no trouble controlling your skis at a slower speed with loose buckles. Too often skiers crank down their buckles in an effort to control their skis instead of relying on good balance. This is especially hard on the feet muscles at the beginning of the day when we want lots of blood to flow to the feet.

4) Hop turns. Begin each turn by straightening your legs quickly allowing your skis to leave the snow. Land on a straight leg and then quickly absorb the hop. Hopping is impossible to do when out of balance.

5) Drag both poles in the snow. This is a great way to ensure you begin your day steering with your lower body rather than rotating with your upper body.

6) Ski any turn shape other than your favourite. If it is little tight turns that you love to do, ski great big carving turns, or vice versa. Set yourself up for change by trying something foreign first thing in your day.

Take a few runs to get to the point where you can comfortably up the performance. Having the patience to do a proper warm-up will set you up for success for your whole day.

Craving that Carving Feeling

What could be more fun than ripping up a clean sheet of corduroy snow? Shaped skis make it easier than ever to really carve it up. To get the most out of your skis it is integral that you are the one dictating your turn shape, not your skis.

The first step to carving a turn is the set up between turns. This is where you release your edges from your previous turn and get stacked for the new turn. The best thing you can do to have awesome edge performance at the end of your turn is to take the time to set yourself up properly at the beginning of the turn. Be patient. When you release your edges from your previous turn, allow your skis to be flat on their bases before beginning to simultaneously extend your legs and turn your feet to begin your new turn.

Be sure to continue extending as you enter the fall line (skis straight down the hill). At that point begin to progressively bend your legs (ankles, knees, hips) as you steer your skis across the fall line. For ultimate edge performance, you should get the sensation that you are almost steering back up the hill as you finish your turn. The energy you create should propel you into your next turn. The following are a few tactics you can use to help develop the edging sensation.

1. Feel as though you are pressing on the inside corner of the tongue of your boots as you complete your turn
2. Uphill Christies - on a quiet hill, practice doing one large turn at a time where you come to a stop by edging up the hill
3. Rollerblade turns - on flat terrain practice going edge to edge by rolling your ankles and legs without pivoting
4. When completing the turn allow your inside (uphill) leg to go completely soft
5. My new personal favourite - pretend you have elastic bands around each leg extending from the knee to the bottom of the ski. As you stretch the band on your outside leg through the turn, feel as though the band on your inside leg is contracting. If you are at the stage where you are skiing laterally with a wide natural stance, your inside leg will actually be a lot more bent than your outside leg making it easy and natural to do.

Take the time to play with some of these ideas and enjoy carving it up at a whole new level. Carve on!

Moguls 101

The most common request I get from parallel skiers is to learn how to ski the moguls. As an instructor, bumps are one of the things I enjoy instructing the most as there is just so much to work with. The biggest challenge is focusing on the changes that will make the most difference.

The single largest thing a parallel skier can do to improve their bump skiing is to pole plant. Not pole touch or pole point but really plant the pole. Plant it as far down the hill as you can reach in an area roughly even with your boots. This will do several things for you. First, it will get your body down the hill rather than leaning back up it. Second, it will recenter you as the bumps manipulate your fore/aft balance. Third, it expands your base of support from just under your skis to all the way to your pole. Finally, it will help you develop a rhythm in the bumps which brings me to the next point.

Moguls are not the place for shopping. Save that for the ski shops at the end of the day! I am often asked where the best place to turn in the bumps is found. There are several acceptable answers - on top of the bump where the tips and tails of the ski are free to pivot, on the front side of the bump to use the bumps to help you steer, or even in between the bumps on a powder day or when they are well spaced. However, the best answer is wherever your rhythm takes you. Keep the poles swinging. Always have one planted or in the process or being planted. Good rhythm hides a multitude of sins!

Finally, one of the areas where bump novices have the most challenge is getting thrown around in the bumps. It is integral to use your legs as shock absorbers to absorb the bumps. Practice traversing them with the visual of being in a low ceilinged room with the only way not to hit your head is to bend your legs (ankles, knees, hips) on the top of the moguls and extend your legs down in the space between the moguls.

Ultimately the best way to get better at skiing the moguls is to ski the moguls. Venture in whenever the opportunity arises and soon you will be looking for moguls with anticipation rather than trepidation.

Ski Like a Kid

I recently spent a day instructing 6-8 year olds. For someone used to skiing with and instructing adults I was reminded of a valuable lesson from the kids.

Skiing is fun!!! It shouldn't be about countless drills and thinking of a myriad of technical instructions as we make our way down the hill. Instead, ski like a kid. Look for the "funnest" way down the hill. Take advantage of of dips, rolls, and the sides of the run. Get some air! Ski where the snow is untracked and ungroomed. When you open your eyes to the possibilities, you will find areas of familiar ski hills that you have never before thought of skiing.

Concerned that this will impact your ability to improve? It's actually quite the opposite. Skiing up and down an embankment on the side of a run improves both balance and pivoting skills. Skiing through and over dips and rolls helps with pressure control and timing. Skiing less than perfectly groomed snow prepares you for an all-mountain experience when you travel.

But best of all you will remember why you began in this great sport and have fun! So next time you are on the hill watch some of the kids. See where they go. Then go tap that terrain and have a blast skiing like a kid!