So the word "Patience" has been knocked around a lot for me, the word "Aequinemitas" has become a personal mantra, it's written on my skis, its going to be tattooed on my arm, I say it over and over...
Its ufnny because lots of times, I don't feel like I'm being IMpatient. I feel very excited about stuff, and spend a lot of time saying, "Wait, slow down, think it through..." I guess the thing that is a bit scary is that this is me slowing down and thinking through stuff and being patient...
Obviously I still have some practice and a long way to go before I'm good at this. I'm lucky to have a bunch of good friends who don't mind telling me when I'm blissfully unaware that I've overstepped again... but its a lesson I must learn pronto, before I do some damage that can't be undone.
I really don't want to get a reputation as a loose cannon. I don't mind being percieved as excited and passionate and energetic, but lets reign it in so its not unpredictable and etc.
Its been a very interesting journey to this point so far, a lot of self discovery in the last ten or twelve years, and its been intensifying for sure in the last three, as I realize that I love this industry, I love my job, and this is what I want to do and be forever. Its the first time I haven't wondered, well, if I make this choice, what about all the things I am not choosing? What if one of those was meant to be my path? I don't feel like I'm giving up anything by choosing to be a ski instructor. I feel like I'm following my passion, which is amazing.
BUT, even though this is me tamed down, I'm going to try to make sure that I install a new filter that asks me to triple check all sources before I jump on an action.
Lesson learned, lets make it permanent, like its an essential movement pattern in skiing.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Full Cert Free Ride Initiative HEATS UP on Epic Ski!
Last year, I proposed that all Level 3 skiers get a Nation Wide Free Ski Pass with their level 3 certification. To read the full concept behind the idea, please visit the Facebook Group, The Petition Site, and the Epic Ski Forum where its being debated!
Following is an AWESOME post by Bob Barns, author of The Complete Encyclopedia of Skiing and Epic Ski Coach:
Originally Posted by Bob Barnes
Good reply, Kate. The bottom line, in my opinion, is that top certified ski instructors are dedicated industry pros, and it really is in everyone's best interest to have more of them around--whether you take a lesson or not. (But why wouldn't you, if you knew that truly high-quality instruction was available, for an experience absolutely guaranteed to help you enjoy our awesome sport more?)
...and the number of skilled, passionate, dedicated skiers would rise too. The industry has compiled indisputable records over many seasons that show the direct correlation between skill level and amount of time skiers spend on the slopes. Better skiers simply have a better time, and better instructors are the clearest route to get there.
Ultimately, though, this comes down to PSIA being willing to press the industry a bit, in exchange for its services. it is woefully easy to become a "PSIA ski school" and display the organization's shield over your ski school desk, and on your promotional information. Unfortunately, you don't even have to have PSIA certified instructors on your staff, other than one, in the role of director or training director. Because there are so few high level pros still teaching, and so many new, inexperienced instructors, the perceived value of of the "product" is understandably low. It's a vicious cycle--few top pros leads to poor perception of ski instruction in general, which leads to little demand for the services of ski instructors, which leads to little incentive for the industry to pay enough to keep top pros in the profession, and on and on.
But PSIA could conceivably influence positive change, and Kate's initiative is a very good start. Pros who reach the top level of certification are a benefit to everyone--skiers, resorts, manufacturers,...the entire industry. Kate has listed many specific reasons why it would be a win-win-win (instructors-resorts-skiers), at virtually no cost whatsoever to anyone. Resort accountants may look at comp passes as a loss of the revenue from a full-price pass. But the reality is that few instructors are going to pay full price--or any price--to ski, when they can ski free at home (and at sister resorts owned by the same company). Good instructors are good role models, good promoters, and good ambassadors. There's nothing to lose by inviting them to ski free. The savviest resorts already do, and PSIA could "help" the rest to benefit in spite of themselves through these sorts of programs.
So I encourage PSIA to look for this and other initiatives to support and inspire its members to further their professional education.
Best regards,
Bob
To voice YOUR opinion on the topic, visit the Epic Ski Forums and tell us what you think!!
Following is an AWESOME post by Bob Barns, author of The Complete Encyclopedia of Skiing and Epic Ski Coach:
Originally Posted by Bob Barnes
Good reply, Kate. The bottom line, in my opinion, is that top certified ski instructors are dedicated industry pros, and it really is in everyone's best interest to have more of them around--whether you take a lesson or not. (But why wouldn't you, if you knew that truly high-quality instruction was available, for an experience absolutely guaranteed to help you enjoy our awesome sport more?)
...and the number of skilled, passionate, dedicated skiers would rise too. The industry has compiled indisputable records over many seasons that show the direct correlation between skill level and amount of time skiers spend on the slopes. Better skiers simply have a better time, and better instructors are the clearest route to get there.
Ultimately, though, this comes down to PSIA being willing to press the industry a bit, in exchange for its services. it is woefully easy to become a "PSIA ski school" and display the organization's shield over your ski school desk, and on your promotional information. Unfortunately, you don't even have to have PSIA certified instructors on your staff, other than one, in the role of director or training director. Because there are so few high level pros still teaching, and so many new, inexperienced instructors, the perceived value of of the "product" is understandably low. It's a vicious cycle--few top pros leads to poor perception of ski instruction in general, which leads to little demand for the services of ski instructors, which leads to little incentive for the industry to pay enough to keep top pros in the profession, and on and on.
But PSIA could conceivably influence positive change, and Kate's initiative is a very good start. Pros who reach the top level of certification are a benefit to everyone--skiers, resorts, manufacturers,...the entire industry. Kate has listed many specific reasons why it would be a win-win-win (instructors-resorts-skiers), at virtually no cost whatsoever to anyone. Resort accountants may look at comp passes as a loss of the revenue from a full-price pass. But the reality is that few instructors are going to pay full price--or any price--to ski, when they can ski free at home (and at sister resorts owned by the same company). Good instructors are good role models, good promoters, and good ambassadors. There's nothing to lose by inviting them to ski free. The savviest resorts already do, and PSIA could "help" the rest to benefit in spite of themselves through these sorts of programs.
So I encourage PSIA to look for this and other initiatives to support and inspire its members to further their professional education.
Best regards,
Bob
To voice YOUR opinion on the topic, visit the Epic Ski Forums and tell us what you think!!
Good Bye, Bridger Bowl, and Thanks!
Today was my last day at Bridger Bowl as an employee. I went up for employee day and rode the lifts with Angela and John Saam and Shannon, Karen, and Alex, skied on about 3" of fresh wet snow while it dumped some more, and stayed on the "groom" (frozen solid underneath). It was odd, bittersweet for sure to be saying good bye to the mountain... I am still pretty sick, my tonsils were bleeding and pussy the other day, always fun, and this morning, I squeezed a bunch of snot out of my tear duct from my sinus... always a pleasure to blow your nose through your eye... wow...
I took a couple of runs, and looked at the familiar landscape and tried to separate the emotions, I have gratitude for the mountain itself, it has been an amazing teacher, the steeps, the technical chutes, the complicated fall lines, the wild terrain, the snow changing every couple of turns... I am so grateful to have learned on this mountain.
And I thought a lot about all the folks who have helped me through the last three years. I saw Josh Spuhler out there skiing today with his girlfriend, Lara, of course, they were playing on Flippers in this gnarly snow. I remember riding the PK lift with Josh last year and him telling me that I could do it, that he believed in me, that I had to not listen to the naysayers but know I was strong enough, that I had to keep changing every turn.
His faith in me and my ability helped me to believe in my own dream, made me think maybe it wasn't just a crazy idea, but that I could really do it. I was sad to be saying good bye to the hill for that reason, but it was also sad because Josh and I have grown apart this year, his life is taking him in one direction and mine in another. But I will always be grateful and beholden to him for his extraordinary ability to make people believe in themselves. Josh taught me a lot of things, but the two biggest ones were to laugh at myself every time I crash, and that I need to be my own biggest advocate; I need to believe in me. I didn't get to say good bye to Josh in person, but I think maybe that's what he wanted, it was nice to just watch him ski and remember how it was, remember him taking me up on the ridge and waiting patiently while I made one turn and fell on the next over and over and over again...
I wanted to say good bye and thank you to Bonnie as well, but the awards had started, and she was sitting up front and paying attention, so I didn't get the opportunity. But I appreciate that she took a chance on me in the beginning, and gave me some sage pieces of advice over the last few years, most especially about making sure I stay connected to my kids through this whole process, and came out and played with me some this year. I wish we'd had more of a chance to play together, it was really fun! I was also really grateful that she was understanding about me leaving for Aspen. I know its a source of frustration for her that people have been tending to achieve full cert and leave Bridger either for a change in their life, like grad school, or for another mountain. So I was really grateful to how she took it when I told her, and for her support. I hope I come back one day, I already miss it.
Its funny to me, a lot of people think I'm going to Aspen because its ASPEN, the glitz, the big show... and its interesting, because that's about as far from the truth as possible. I lived in Los Angeles for years, the glitz leaves me cold. Its actually the one thing that makes me nervous about moving there, I'm worried about how that will affect the kids. I have learned in my time there that you really don't have to see that much of it if you choose to travel in a different circle. Its there if that's what you desire, and sometimes its fun to watch, but in general, Aspen is a skiers town. There are plenty of big, wild peaks to conquer on your own, and 1400 ski instructors in town to play with, 960 of whom are full cert. I'm excited to be a little fish in a big pond.
I'm going to Aspen because it fits my path, they have been welcoming of me, desiring me to come and work and play with them, they are open to my coaching concepts, and my mentors are there, Megan, Squatty and Weems. I feel when I drive into the town like I am going home.
SO... I rode the chair trying to pay attention to Flippers beneath me, the chutes off the ridge, what it was like to empty my locker and say good bye to the locker room where I learned not to tuck my long johns into my socks... to realize that Shannon and I won't have our lockers next to each other any more, that this chapter is closing.
Angela drove me down the hill in the snowstorm, and I realized with some growing excitement that I'm not driving away from something but towards something new.
I'm grateful to have the next two weeks to end the season looking forward to next year, to ski hard at Snowbird and reconnect with friends from all over the country. I'll be saying thanks to some of my sponsors while I'm out there, doing some demos for Skiers Edge Machine, taking pictures for National, giving some massage, and training hard in the snow.
When I get back, its back to school for good, with an eye on making the move to Aspen as pain and stress free for the kids as possible. Tom and I have been brainstorming on how to do this, because our savings is tied up in our house, so there is some trepidation about how to come up with 2 or 3 months rent to overlap 2 or 3 months mortgage, so we are thinking of refi-ing again now, to make a little cushion for the move.
Tomorrow, we see if we can make it to Snowbird with $86 to our name, I think that's enough gas money... once again, the paycheck will come in about 2 days after I leave on the trip, so it will be about 4 days before it goes into my account. Always the drama with the money, another reason I'm looking forward to living close to the training I crave, having fewer bills and a better paying job!
So with some sadness, I say good bye Bridger Bowl, and thank you, so very much, for such a decidedly surprising education. And to Dave Evans, you ruined my life forever. Thanks a bunch. I'll never ever forgive you.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Pics from the Level 3 Exam!
Thanks to Shannon for the camera and pics!
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Troy and Steve try Kung Fu Kick Delayed Weight Transfer turns, taught by Jon from Big Sky. Awesome fun in this teaching segment!
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The Examiners discuss...
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Jen Gunther waits for results...
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Kate, Shannon, Alex, Travis and Jen wait for results and watch Just Good Skiing 5.
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Shannon's Examiners, Chris and Emily, with Bridger Bombshell and shadower Karen Kirk, tabulate final scores while we wait...
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Coming down the stairs, I passed!
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Hugs from Jenny G right after
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Congrats from Tom, from Whitefish, also in our group, amazing athlete, made HUGE changes during the exam!
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Oh no, you can't take that away from me, no you can't take that away... here it is, gold pin of doom!
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Jenny passed as well!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The relief and disbelief begin to set in...
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Aaand... waterworks!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Troy and Steve try Kung Fu Kick Delayed Weight Transfer turns, taught by Jon from Big Sky. Awesome fun in this teaching segment!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Examiners discuss...
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jen Gunther waits for results...
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Kate, Shannon, Alex, Travis and Jen wait for results and watch Just Good Skiing 5.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Shannon's Examiners, Chris and Emily, with Bridger Bombshell and shadower Karen Kirk, tabulate final scores while we wait...
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Coming down the stairs, I passed!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hugs from Jenny G right after
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Congrats from Tom, from Whitefish, also in our group, amazing athlete, made HUGE changes during the exam!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Oh no, you can't take that away from me, no you can't take that away... here it is, gold pin of doom!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jenny passed as well!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The relief and disbelief begin to set in...
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Aaand... waterworks!
Retro Wisdom from Weems
Check out this AWESOME article on Weems when he was a 39 year old ski instructor in Taos! Go to EpicSki and click on the photo to read a larger version, just wonderful!!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Looks like I'm going to Snowbird!
Alright, I think its on! I'll be leaving Wednesday early afternoon for Snowbird for the Academy! YEAH!
I'm bringing my table, $60/hr, as Weems said "One of the top 5 massages I've gotten!" and from the mouth of Missy Cashman "The best massage ever! SO DOPE!"
Feel free to email me at katehowe at mac dot com to book ahead of time! I'll do 3 hours per evening!
SEE YA IN SNOWBIRD!
I'm bringing my table, $60/hr, as Weems said "One of the top 5 massages I've gotten!" and from the mouth of Missy Cashman "The best massage ever! SO DOPE!"
Feel free to email me at katehowe at mac dot com to book ahead of time! I'll do 3 hours per evening!
SEE YA IN SNOWBIRD!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
BOOTS MATTER!
Okay, Brent, you might not want to read this one! So I went up to Big Sky for the last two days to film for an NRM version of Just Good Skiing, and I forgot to bring my boots down from Bridger. My amazing, incredible, perfect boots that I love. Dalbello Proton 12s, modified by Brent Amsbury. The boots that Brent has worked on for nine or more hours, that have been just tweaked and dialed until they feel literally like glove. They are supple, and subtle and gentle to my tender and whiny feet. They fit so snugly that when I twitch my foot, the boot and ski move. Its awesome.
So I forgot to bring them down the hill. And I though, oh, that sucks, but oh well, I have last year's boot, those worked really well, and the fit can't be that different, Brent worked on them, too.
YEAH. Okay, first of all, there's no footbeds in last year's boots, because I took them out and put them in this year's boots! There's no heater, the liner is wickedly packed out, two buckles are bent and the shell is giving in. These boots have over 300 days on them!
So I figure, well, whatever, I should be able to ski in ill fitting boots and make it work, just like skiing on an ill tuned ski is a bummer, but you can make it work.
RIIIiiighht. Day one: Total and complete junk show. I was sitting on the lift after the first run and just feeling like crap on a stick. What is this? I couldn't figure it out, and then it occurred to me, OH, this is what being sick feels like, I'm still sick. I'm sicker than I thought. My legs were tired, I was out of breath and sleepy and exhausted, and I was skiing like a total spaz.
Ben Bruso was shooting promotional material for Big Sky, and he needed a student, so I got to pretend to be his student for the photo shoot. After a couple of runs, I knew I was in trouble, I was skiing worse than I've skied all year.
I went to the bottom and drank two big red bulls, ate a banana, put a granola bar in my pocket, pounded some water and took a bunch of Tylenol and Ibuprofen, and got back out there. I tried to muster the will to save my skiing, and usually, I can pull it together and ask myself to perform, but it didn't seem to matter what I did, I was just skiing like crap. I felt out of control and slippy and slidy and in the back seat and defensive, it was awful!
We filmed all afternoon, in the slushy mank, which I usually love skiing, and I was just surviving, basically. I was so embarrassed at my skiing, I felt like someone was going to come up and take my pin away! I felt appologetic and embarassed, but we stayed at it, and the folks I was skiing with were very nice about it, supportive, told me that it was normal because I was sick and still really tired from the exam experience. But it felt like an excuse, I don't ski like this, I don't have sensations like this when I'm skiing any more. And I couldn't fix it, it just got worse and worse.
This morning, Ben and Steve Hill and I went up and filmed in the third gully, but to get there, we had to ski Otter Slide, and for the first time in about a year, I got gripped and in my head. "If I fall here..." it was total slide for life terrain, buffed and hard pack, and my feet were swimming in my boots, I'd move them and the ski would wait, and then do something, the movement was sloppy and unpredictable. I was miserable, and I felt so stupid for not being able to pull it together!
The snow in the Third gully was great, its very very steep and exposed, with a big pinch in the middle, such a beautiful ski, but I was gripped and I stem christied down most of it. We skied Khron's and the Cold Creek chute on the Moonlight side, and then went in for lunch early.
During lunch, I decided to go in and buy a pair of Superfeet, because my feet were so uncomfortable just on the boot beds with no footbed, and so much extra sloppy room... I put two toe warmers under the heel of my right boot to simulate the lift that Brent just put in, and then I put in the foot beds and clicked in. WOW.
If I felt stupid before, it was NOTHING compared to what I was feeling NOW! I can't believe i whined and complained for a day and a half before putting footbeds in. They were fine. They were just great, the boots fit well, I went out that afternoon and we filmed lap after lap in Wounded Knee, the Blue Room, BlackBear, and so on, lots of playful bumps in the trees (which I couldn't ski AT ALL this morning), and it was fine, and fun, and fast, and after about three runs, I could ski again.
SO: Note to self: BOOTS MATTER! Yes the footbed matters! Yes, the amount of space around all parts of the foot matters! YES, it can affect your skiing massively to get your boots done!!!
Sheesh. Sorry, Ben and Christine and Steve, that you had to listen to me moan about my crappy skiing. Lesson learned.
PS: More filming for NRMJGS Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at Bridger Bowl!!
So I forgot to bring them down the hill. And I though, oh, that sucks, but oh well, I have last year's boot, those worked really well, and the fit can't be that different, Brent worked on them, too.
YEAH. Okay, first of all, there's no footbeds in last year's boots, because I took them out and put them in this year's boots! There's no heater, the liner is wickedly packed out, two buckles are bent and the shell is giving in. These boots have over 300 days on them!
So I figure, well, whatever, I should be able to ski in ill fitting boots and make it work, just like skiing on an ill tuned ski is a bummer, but you can make it work.
RIIIiiighht. Day one: Total and complete junk show. I was sitting on the lift after the first run and just feeling like crap on a stick. What is this? I couldn't figure it out, and then it occurred to me, OH, this is what being sick feels like, I'm still sick. I'm sicker than I thought. My legs were tired, I was out of breath and sleepy and exhausted, and I was skiing like a total spaz.
Ben Bruso was shooting promotional material for Big Sky, and he needed a student, so I got to pretend to be his student for the photo shoot. After a couple of runs, I knew I was in trouble, I was skiing worse than I've skied all year.
I went to the bottom and drank two big red bulls, ate a banana, put a granola bar in my pocket, pounded some water and took a bunch of Tylenol and Ibuprofen, and got back out there. I tried to muster the will to save my skiing, and usually, I can pull it together and ask myself to perform, but it didn't seem to matter what I did, I was just skiing like crap. I felt out of control and slippy and slidy and in the back seat and defensive, it was awful!
We filmed all afternoon, in the slushy mank, which I usually love skiing, and I was just surviving, basically. I was so embarrassed at my skiing, I felt like someone was going to come up and take my pin away! I felt appologetic and embarassed, but we stayed at it, and the folks I was skiing with were very nice about it, supportive, told me that it was normal because I was sick and still really tired from the exam experience. But it felt like an excuse, I don't ski like this, I don't have sensations like this when I'm skiing any more. And I couldn't fix it, it just got worse and worse.
This morning, Ben and Steve Hill and I went up and filmed in the third gully, but to get there, we had to ski Otter Slide, and for the first time in about a year, I got gripped and in my head. "If I fall here..." it was total slide for life terrain, buffed and hard pack, and my feet were swimming in my boots, I'd move them and the ski would wait, and then do something, the movement was sloppy and unpredictable. I was miserable, and I felt so stupid for not being able to pull it together!
The snow in the Third gully was great, its very very steep and exposed, with a big pinch in the middle, such a beautiful ski, but I was gripped and I stem christied down most of it. We skied Khron's and the Cold Creek chute on the Moonlight side, and then went in for lunch early.
During lunch, I decided to go in and buy a pair of Superfeet, because my feet were so uncomfortable just on the boot beds with no footbed, and so much extra sloppy room... I put two toe warmers under the heel of my right boot to simulate the lift that Brent just put in, and then I put in the foot beds and clicked in. WOW.
If I felt stupid before, it was NOTHING compared to what I was feeling NOW! I can't believe i whined and complained for a day and a half before putting footbeds in. They were fine. They were just great, the boots fit well, I went out that afternoon and we filmed lap after lap in Wounded Knee, the Blue Room, BlackBear, and so on, lots of playful bumps in the trees (which I couldn't ski AT ALL this morning), and it was fine, and fun, and fast, and after about three runs, I could ski again.
SO: Note to self: BOOTS MATTER! Yes the footbed matters! Yes, the amount of space around all parts of the foot matters! YES, it can affect your skiing massively to get your boots done!!!
Sheesh. Sorry, Ben and Christine and Steve, that you had to listen to me moan about my crappy skiing. Lesson learned.
PS: More filming for NRMJGS Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at Bridger Bowl!!
Monday, April 6, 2009
The aftermath...
I think I'm in denial. Its time to let go of skiing for the summer, the first summer that I'm going to have to do it, and focus all my energy on passing my National Certification for Massage Therapy. But I'm not ready to let go. I'm in bed, sick, and I think probably mourning or grieving that the training is over. I got up this morning and didn't put on my snow pants, walked around in circles, feeling bizarrely disconnected from my life, I have mail to open and appointments to set up... but I'm in this weird flux between worlds, Bridger is open for another week, Big Sky is open, and we want to make an NRM version of Just Good Skiing, I'm totally exhausted still, which is weird. All I want to do is go ski and enjoy not being in training, but i don't feel like I am allowed to ski unless I am training because it puts such a strain on Tom to do so much extra work for the boys.
School started last week, and I need to get back and catch up, which feels like a daunting and impossible task, taxes are due, mail to open, still have a court date, money to be sorted out, Academy is coming up in like 10 days, I have three articles to write... and I really really just want to spend a day relaxing with my friends and my boys with no pressing responsibilities and let my brain decompress.
On the other hand, I can stamp my feet all I want and insist that I need a day or three off and get even further behind, or I can suck it up and get back to work, face my responsibilities, book a bunch of massage for the next two weeks, and make enough money to get to Academy. I can start calling instructors and getting caught up on work, and I can find a way to find one evening to celebrate passing the three with my friends.
I got tomorrow off at Bridger, so I think the plan will be to make all my phone calls and emails tonight to book as much massage as possible, then travel up to Big Sky tonight to celebrate, film JGS NRM tomorrow, stay the night, and drive back to school on Wednesday.
The bummer here is that when I work at night, like I will have to for the next two weeks, I don't see my kids very much (Which is why the sick day today was kind of awesome...), and Tom has to do a lot of extra work taking care of them and putting them to bed and getting them to school. He did that an awful lot while I was getting ready for the exam, thanks Tom!!
Its for this reason that I'm looking forward to summer, having the days in between school off to do massage or work on the house, which we are selling, and we need to get on the market ASAP. I will need to take a few ski trips in the back country this summer for sure, to keep the legs fresh and remembering, but this summer will be mostly focused on selling EVERYTHING we own, fixing the house, selling the house, and moving to Aspen! Meanwhile, I'll spend a LOT of time on the Skiers Edge machine trying to keep my muscle mass, and hiking locally. Don't think I'll make it to Mt. Hood this summer, because the scheduling would just be insane with the move.
I graduate from school on August 28, and I think we need to move in early June to get good employee housing, so the overlap of the cost of the apartment and our mortgage will be an interesting issue to grapple with, along with reducing the amount of stuff we own down to fit in a 800 square foot apartment with no storage unit!
Hmm, no wonder I want to lay by the pool for a day before tackling the next five months! Its going to be just as crazy as the last five!!
School started last week, and I need to get back and catch up, which feels like a daunting and impossible task, taxes are due, mail to open, still have a court date, money to be sorted out, Academy is coming up in like 10 days, I have three articles to write... and I really really just want to spend a day relaxing with my friends and my boys with no pressing responsibilities and let my brain decompress.
On the other hand, I can stamp my feet all I want and insist that I need a day or three off and get even further behind, or I can suck it up and get back to work, face my responsibilities, book a bunch of massage for the next two weeks, and make enough money to get to Academy. I can start calling instructors and getting caught up on work, and I can find a way to find one evening to celebrate passing the three with my friends.
I got tomorrow off at Bridger, so I think the plan will be to make all my phone calls and emails tonight to book as much massage as possible, then travel up to Big Sky tonight to celebrate, film JGS NRM tomorrow, stay the night, and drive back to school on Wednesday.
The bummer here is that when I work at night, like I will have to for the next two weeks, I don't see my kids very much (Which is why the sick day today was kind of awesome...), and Tom has to do a lot of extra work taking care of them and putting them to bed and getting them to school. He did that an awful lot while I was getting ready for the exam, thanks Tom!!
Its for this reason that I'm looking forward to summer, having the days in between school off to do massage or work on the house, which we are selling, and we need to get on the market ASAP. I will need to take a few ski trips in the back country this summer for sure, to keep the legs fresh and remembering, but this summer will be mostly focused on selling EVERYTHING we own, fixing the house, selling the house, and moving to Aspen! Meanwhile, I'll spend a LOT of time on the Skiers Edge machine trying to keep my muscle mass, and hiking locally. Don't think I'll make it to Mt. Hood this summer, because the scheduling would just be insane with the move.
I graduate from school on August 28, and I think we need to move in early June to get good employee housing, so the overlap of the cost of the apartment and our mortgage will be an interesting issue to grapple with, along with reducing the amount of stuff we own down to fit in a 800 square foot apartment with no storage unit!
Hmm, no wonder I want to lay by the pool for a day before tackling the next five months! Its going to be just as crazy as the last five!!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Now what?
Today was as surreal as they come. I woke up exhausted, but in a good way (aside from the fluish ness), like I had given every single ounce of energy I could to the exam, and now I was just flat out empty. But happy. Everything moved slower today, things felt strange, quiet...
I went up to the hill and ran into Alex and Shannon, and we got geared up to go ski. I decided to take out my fat skis since I've been on the Magfires for the last three weeks (a crime in this deep pow!), and it was spectacular. I rode around on the Elan Deep Spice for next season, and my skiing has changed SO much since I got them, I could actually make them function like they are supposed to! Quick to turn, floaty, stiff off the jumps and into the bumps, I was skiing around thinking to myself, "I did it. I am full cert. I am a full cert instructor, because I am a good enough skier to be full cert." Wow. I couldn't quite wrap my head around it, it felt like something magical had happened to my skiing, even on super tired legs, on skis I haven't been on for weeks, it was easy and fun to play in the deep deep powder that is still DUMPING up there.
Bridger is skiing on a 123" base at 12:30 today. Insane! We were going to go head over to Slauchmans and take a run on the Saddle, but instead, we just lapped Flippers and the Whirlpools, having fun watching the racers... Alex bought me breakfast, redbull and a peanut butter sandwich, and we just ripped around all morning.
I tried to think of what it meant that I had this pin, that I'd passed this test. Michael explained it to me last year this way: that I could go anywhere in the country and get a job, and that director would be able to confidently give me any client they had and know that I could take them anywhere on the mountain and show good skiing to them, the day I got there, with no explanation or examination of my skill necessary. This is amazing to me.
I feel like I have completed the prerequisites for life here, and now I can get started. I feel like now, NOW, I have a basic understanding of how the ski works and what can be done with it, and NOW I get to go out and play with that, try and figure out what it means, and how can I make it work even better? Now I get to join groups of other people who are trying to figure this out and experiment.
I'm so looking forward to going through the trainer verification process at Aspen, tackling each problem and working through it. I feel on track to my team tryout, I have a loooong way to go to get there, but I feel like the pieces are falling in to place. I can't believe that I passed. I can't believe I'm free to keep going. I feel like I've been handed the keys to the executive washroom, or something. Not that its a club, but that I demonstrated enough skill to be invited to participate in what comes next. I am just completely humbled by this, it feels like an enormous responsibility and privilege, and I feel like I'd better get to work! (right after I take this nap...)
I went up to the hill and ran into Alex and Shannon, and we got geared up to go ski. I decided to take out my fat skis since I've been on the Magfires for the last three weeks (a crime in this deep pow!), and it was spectacular. I rode around on the Elan Deep Spice for next season, and my skiing has changed SO much since I got them, I could actually make them function like they are supposed to! Quick to turn, floaty, stiff off the jumps and into the bumps, I was skiing around thinking to myself, "I did it. I am full cert. I am a full cert instructor, because I am a good enough skier to be full cert." Wow. I couldn't quite wrap my head around it, it felt like something magical had happened to my skiing, even on super tired legs, on skis I haven't been on for weeks, it was easy and fun to play in the deep deep powder that is still DUMPING up there.
Bridger is skiing on a 123" base at 12:30 today. Insane! We were going to go head over to Slauchmans and take a run on the Saddle, but instead, we just lapped Flippers and the Whirlpools, having fun watching the racers... Alex bought me breakfast, redbull and a peanut butter sandwich, and we just ripped around all morning.
I tried to think of what it meant that I had this pin, that I'd passed this test. Michael explained it to me last year this way: that I could go anywhere in the country and get a job, and that director would be able to confidently give me any client they had and know that I could take them anywhere on the mountain and show good skiing to them, the day I got there, with no explanation or examination of my skill necessary. This is amazing to me.
I feel like I have completed the prerequisites for life here, and now I can get started. I feel like now, NOW, I have a basic understanding of how the ski works and what can be done with it, and NOW I get to go out and play with that, try and figure out what it means, and how can I make it work even better? Now I get to join groups of other people who are trying to figure this out and experiment.
I'm so looking forward to going through the trainer verification process at Aspen, tackling each problem and working through it. I feel on track to my team tryout, I have a loooong way to go to get there, but I feel like the pieces are falling in to place. I can't believe that I passed. I can't believe I'm free to keep going. I feel like I've been handed the keys to the executive washroom, or something. Not that its a club, but that I demonstrated enough skill to be invited to participate in what comes next. I am just completely humbled by this, it feels like an enormous responsibility and privilege, and I feel like I'd better get to work! (right after I take this nap...)
Friday, April 3, 2009
Oh. My. God. I passed.
Wow. Okay, lets start at the beginning. I slept really well last night, and woke up this morning feeling rested, but achey and icky. I knew I had Bodhi's flu, but, with the sage advice of my friend Kurt, decided to rally my white blood cells "okay, boys, time to get to work!" and keep it at bay until four this afternoon.
I started the day feeling strong, but with a wicked upset stomach and a fever of about 100. I was tired and lethargic, but my body felt okay to ski, if that makes sense. I forced myself to eat a scone and have some coffee, had four ibuprofen and 3 tylenol for breakfast, picked up the lovely and talented Ms. Shannon Griffen, and we headed up the hill.
We started the morning with an indoor teaching segment on ankle tipping, and moved on to warm up on Deer Park, arcing down boot hill. Troy Nedved and Greg Sponsellor were the examiners, not sure if I said that before, and I was really nervous on the first day, because Troy has a reputation for being a hard ass. Anyhow, it was an incredibly positive exam experience, and I felt like I was able to take the notes from yesterday and apply them today.
I had 101.5 at lunch, and Peggy saved me with more Ibuprofen, and I downed two red bulls and got back to work.
Today was mostly teaching segments, with some off piste skiing, we skied the hourglass, which is very fun and steep, and was probably one of my best runs of the year. Of course, i had a massive double E right after that hucking off a rock, scrambled back up the slope, got on both skis, and one felt really weird and draggy, so I just skied on the other one down to the chair lift, and rode up with Troy. While we were on the lift, I took the ski off, and it turns out that the brake had been snagged by the bush I launched off (explaining the SECOND boot out that happened about 10 yards below the first...) Troy bent the brake back into position, and we were good to go on the top, which is great, because it was my turn to teach!
I taught arcing, with the idea of pulling your skis to their edge, and then bending the ski, pulling it back, and then took it into arcing, and saw great change in the group. I was excited, but nervous, because we had to revisit some tasks, and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to pull off pivot slips and javelin turns better this time.
Turns out those were okay... the one that nearly failed me was open parallel! WHAT? Whoops! Apparently, I'm not patient enough at the top of the turn there... yipes!!
We did wedges, wedge christie, open parallel, javelin, bumps, and Charlestons again in the last hour, and then we headed in to change and wait wait wait while they tallied the scores.
We went up to Jimmy B's and Bonnie, our director, bought us some beer, then we headed over to the lodge to wait some more. Jen Gunther went first, and she passed, which was awesome to see. Then it was my turn... and they put the certificate and pin on the table, and I was just... totally blown away.
I was happy, I felt good about it, like I've worked hard, and I feel that my skiing is consistently at that level, but I had been fairly certain that I was going to fail on my pivot slips.
Here's how it works: you are scored 1, 2, or 3 on each element. 1 being below the bar, 2 being at the bar and 3 being above the bar. You need a minimum of 10 total to pass, in each section, with 5 elements each.
I got 10s across the board (whew!) but in the demos, I got a 1 on my basic or open parallel, and a 3 on my bump skiing (WOW, thanks, Megan, Weems, Squatty, Kurt, and Alex!!), which was my saving grace.
On the teaching segment, I got a 14 out of 15 possible, which is amazing. I was so very honored to have gotten that score!! 4 3s and 1 2. SWEET!
Troy said he was impressed, and I was just very very humbled and honored to have passed in this very tough region, to have passed at all, to have been really bestowed this honor, which feels huge.
I came down the stairs and my friends were there, cheering and hollering, and hugging, Shannon took a bunch of pictures, Michael hugged me and wiped my tears, and suddenly it hit me, what I had done, I had passed, I had opened the door to my future in skiing, Michael said some very insightful things, and suddenly, I was afraid, like OH MY GOD, what have I done? Now people are going to expect that I know what I'm doing!
Some people came up to me and told me that they were looking forward to taking clinics from me next year, and I just thought, holy CRAP. I passed. I mean, I'm in trainer training now. I'm not going for certification, I did it. Now, my job is to train to become a teacher who makes other teachers better at their job. WOW. Its what I've always wanted.
Shannon went up a short time later, and did not pass, and this was very difficult, because I would not be skiing at this level if it wasn't for her. She was the one who spent six hours on a powder day with me figuring out how to move along the length of the ski. She was the one who taught me how to dress. She was the one who explained to me how to read a descriptor, how to take the tasks seriously, she is the one who is always willing to train harder, longer, to keep going with me. It felt so bittersweet to be excited and proud, and not to be cheering with her. But she will kill it next year, she skied really well.
My amazing training partner Alex also did not pass, which was hard to watch, he is an excellent and amazing skier, and he helped me to feel at home in tough terrain on hard technical pitches. Its because of him that steep double black diamond feels like groomed blue to me.
I am so very grateful for all the love and support I've gotten, for all the kind words people have sent to me, for all the training people have been willing to give to me. I can't believe I passed this benchmark after only 2 and a half years, and I can't wait to get to work filling out my trainer's passport next season at Aspen!!
I started the day feeling strong, but with a wicked upset stomach and a fever of about 100. I was tired and lethargic, but my body felt okay to ski, if that makes sense. I forced myself to eat a scone and have some coffee, had four ibuprofen and 3 tylenol for breakfast, picked up the lovely and talented Ms. Shannon Griffen, and we headed up the hill.
We started the morning with an indoor teaching segment on ankle tipping, and moved on to warm up on Deer Park, arcing down boot hill. Troy Nedved and Greg Sponsellor were the examiners, not sure if I said that before, and I was really nervous on the first day, because Troy has a reputation for being a hard ass. Anyhow, it was an incredibly positive exam experience, and I felt like I was able to take the notes from yesterday and apply them today.
I had 101.5 at lunch, and Peggy saved me with more Ibuprofen, and I downed two red bulls and got back to work.
Today was mostly teaching segments, with some off piste skiing, we skied the hourglass, which is very fun and steep, and was probably one of my best runs of the year. Of course, i had a massive double E right after that hucking off a rock, scrambled back up the slope, got on both skis, and one felt really weird and draggy, so I just skied on the other one down to the chair lift, and rode up with Troy. While we were on the lift, I took the ski off, and it turns out that the brake had been snagged by the bush I launched off (explaining the SECOND boot out that happened about 10 yards below the first...) Troy bent the brake back into position, and we were good to go on the top, which is great, because it was my turn to teach!
I taught arcing, with the idea of pulling your skis to their edge, and then bending the ski, pulling it back, and then took it into arcing, and saw great change in the group. I was excited, but nervous, because we had to revisit some tasks, and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to pull off pivot slips and javelin turns better this time.
Turns out those were okay... the one that nearly failed me was open parallel! WHAT? Whoops! Apparently, I'm not patient enough at the top of the turn there... yipes!!
We did wedges, wedge christie, open parallel, javelin, bumps, and Charlestons again in the last hour, and then we headed in to change and wait wait wait while they tallied the scores.
We went up to Jimmy B's and Bonnie, our director, bought us some beer, then we headed over to the lodge to wait some more. Jen Gunther went first, and she passed, which was awesome to see. Then it was my turn... and they put the certificate and pin on the table, and I was just... totally blown away.
I was happy, I felt good about it, like I've worked hard, and I feel that my skiing is consistently at that level, but I had been fairly certain that I was going to fail on my pivot slips.
Here's how it works: you are scored 1, 2, or 3 on each element. 1 being below the bar, 2 being at the bar and 3 being above the bar. You need a minimum of 10 total to pass, in each section, with 5 elements each.
I got 10s across the board (whew!) but in the demos, I got a 1 on my basic or open parallel, and a 3 on my bump skiing (WOW, thanks, Megan, Weems, Squatty, Kurt, and Alex!!), which was my saving grace.
On the teaching segment, I got a 14 out of 15 possible, which is amazing. I was so very honored to have gotten that score!! 4 3s and 1 2. SWEET!
Troy said he was impressed, and I was just very very humbled and honored to have passed in this very tough region, to have passed at all, to have been really bestowed this honor, which feels huge.
I came down the stairs and my friends were there, cheering and hollering, and hugging, Shannon took a bunch of pictures, Michael hugged me and wiped my tears, and suddenly it hit me, what I had done, I had passed, I had opened the door to my future in skiing, Michael said some very insightful things, and suddenly, I was afraid, like OH MY GOD, what have I done? Now people are going to expect that I know what I'm doing!
Some people came up to me and told me that they were looking forward to taking clinics from me next year, and I just thought, holy CRAP. I passed. I mean, I'm in trainer training now. I'm not going for certification, I did it. Now, my job is to train to become a teacher who makes other teachers better at their job. WOW. Its what I've always wanted.
Shannon went up a short time later, and did not pass, and this was very difficult, because I would not be skiing at this level if it wasn't for her. She was the one who spent six hours on a powder day with me figuring out how to move along the length of the ski. She was the one who taught me how to dress. She was the one who explained to me how to read a descriptor, how to take the tasks seriously, she is the one who is always willing to train harder, longer, to keep going with me. It felt so bittersweet to be excited and proud, and not to be cheering with her. But she will kill it next year, she skied really well.
My amazing training partner Alex also did not pass, which was hard to watch, he is an excellent and amazing skier, and he helped me to feel at home in tough terrain on hard technical pitches. Its because of him that steep double black diamond feels like groomed blue to me.
I am so very grateful for all the love and support I've gotten, for all the kind words people have sent to me, for all the training people have been willing to give to me. I can't believe I passed this benchmark after only 2 and a half years, and I can't wait to get to work filling out my trainer's passport next season at Aspen!!
More snow!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
I love skiing
I was sitting here thinking about today, and you know what's cool? I was thinking about all the really fun times in each run, I wasn't thinking about the exam. I was thinking about that huge save, about playing with turnshape in slauchman's, about how fun the bumps were on Deer Park, about what it felt like to launch myself a little off one and then direct the tips back down into the troughs, to do some medium turns and some quick ones, I remember how awesome and smooth and easy the turns were in the morning on Deer park... and I was thinking wow, it was so fun! I love skiing.
I love the way it feels to get better and better at something, so I can play on more of the mountain more confidently, just play, with turn shape and size, with drops and jumps and kickers, going off logs and stumps and over and sometimes through bushes... I love the smooth feeling of your legs crossing under you while your body floats on top. I love feeling free and playful, I love being out in the snow all day. I felt like I was seven and going sledding with my friends.
I'm so very lucky. I love my job, and I love the process of moving on in my work. Of improving. So, I guess, I'd love to pass, I'd like to keep moving on, but if the exam ended tonight, if I got "cut" because my skiing wasn't there... I'd be okay with that. I'm not doing this to pass. I'm doing this because getting better at skiing is the most fun anyone can have ever, and I'm excited to teach more and more at higher and higher levels, and watch my students experience this amazing thing, the mountain unlocking as the skills come up.
Okay, I've made myself all sappy and weepy... I'm going to bed now so I can go play some more tomorrow!!
I love the way it feels to get better and better at something, so I can play on more of the mountain more confidently, just play, with turn shape and size, with drops and jumps and kickers, going off logs and stumps and over and sometimes through bushes... I love the smooth feeling of your legs crossing under you while your body floats on top. I love feeling free and playful, I love being out in the snow all day. I felt like I was seven and going sledding with my friends.
I'm so very lucky. I love my job, and I love the process of moving on in my work. Of improving. So, I guess, I'd love to pass, I'd like to keep moving on, but if the exam ended tonight, if I got "cut" because my skiing wasn't there... I'd be okay with that. I'm not doing this to pass. I'm doing this because getting better at skiing is the most fun anyone can have ever, and I'm excited to teach more and more at higher and higher levels, and watch my students experience this amazing thing, the mountain unlocking as the skills come up.
Okay, I've made myself all sappy and weepy... I'm going to bed now so I can go play some more tomorrow!!
Day One of Level 3 complete!
WOW, what a day! The snow could not have BEEN more perfect, total ego snow! I was very very nervous this morning, but as soon as we got out of the lodge and on our skis, I felt fantastic. We did a warm up on Deer Park, which was hero snow, and then warmed up some more on PK. We jumped into low end demos, which was great, wedges, wedge christies, open parallel, I think I did well on all of those.
Then we did modified stem christies, delayed weight transfer turns, those went fine, then we went into lunch, and then headed back out after to Slauchmans, where we skied steep north facing stuff in knee deep skied out pow. I felt SO solid, charging, happy, opening in the ankles, my legs were fresh, I wasn't hanging on to my turns, my skis felt light and responsive!
I definitely skied to my potential this morning. We came back over to PK and started presenting tasks, Jen Gunther did hop turns, which are not my best, but I think my second set is passing. Barbara did Javelin turns, my first set sucked, my second set was okay, but I had the same problem in them as I did in Pivot Slips, not keeping that uphill hip high, so I'm not sure if I passed either of them, even though the second sets of both were pretty good. Common thread problems are an issue, that's what the tasks are designed to expose, so we'll see if I can't pull that issue together tomorrow.
I taught Charlestons, and my first demo was crap, but my feedback was good for the group, and my second set felt good. Then we did short swing turns, which are a problem for me, we did two sets, I don't know if either set passed. My feedback for the second set was to send the knees across into the new turn faster, earlier. I got the same feedback for bumps, so that's another common thread, that's two, so now I'm a bit nervous.
Bumps on Deer Park felt solid, I played, had fun, varied turn shape, good ski to snow contact, etc, but then I got the knee comment, and that threw me, I haven't got that feedback yet in the bumps. I called Squatty after I got down the hill, and he said that means I'm not committing to the new turn enough, and I can change that for sure.
We did arcing in the crud, about shin deep, high speed arcs, and I was arcing, but I wasn't working my upper body like I can, I think I was a titch defensive in the crud. The second set was much better, the third set was good and aggressive.
On Slauchmans, Troy asked me to soften my outside leg earlier in the turn, and I did that for the rest of the day. I also had NEARLY a huge wipe out, which turned into a spectacular save, I got inside, my outside tip got ripped back behind me, I miraculously stayed on my inside foot and did about 15 turns in knee deep crud while I tried to get my outside ski back under me (the tip was dragging and bouncing in the snow BEHIND me) I went over a little compression and my tip freed, and I pulled my foot back under me and kept skiing, I was PSYCHED! If I had fallen, I would have totally destroyed my knee. It's a bit sore from being yanked on like that, but no worries.
So no falls for me today, my free skiing was to my potential, I did well in the Whirlpools, I did well in the bumps, and can make the change they want, I hope, tomorrow.
Focuses for tomorrow:
Must soften downhill leg earlier
Revisit pivot slips with a better tip lead/hip open
Revisit short swings with knee commitment
Revisit bumps with same
Revisit arcing with leveling of shoulders
Don't pop even once all day
School those hands, more open, no lazy left hand
Kill it in the teaching segment.
I have NO idea if I am above the bar or not, I think my freeskiing is there, I'm not sure if I'm going to fail on Pivot Slips, Javelins and Short Swing turns. I'm not sure if they are good enough to pass, or not.
SO, I'm not gonna worry about it. I'm gonna hydrate, shower and go to bed, then go have ANOTHER killer fun day skiing at my favorite mountain tomorrow!! Whoot WHoot!!
Then we did modified stem christies, delayed weight transfer turns, those went fine, then we went into lunch, and then headed back out after to Slauchmans, where we skied steep north facing stuff in knee deep skied out pow. I felt SO solid, charging, happy, opening in the ankles, my legs were fresh, I wasn't hanging on to my turns, my skis felt light and responsive!
I definitely skied to my potential this morning. We came back over to PK and started presenting tasks, Jen Gunther did hop turns, which are not my best, but I think my second set is passing. Barbara did Javelin turns, my first set sucked, my second set was okay, but I had the same problem in them as I did in Pivot Slips, not keeping that uphill hip high, so I'm not sure if I passed either of them, even though the second sets of both were pretty good. Common thread problems are an issue, that's what the tasks are designed to expose, so we'll see if I can't pull that issue together tomorrow.
I taught Charlestons, and my first demo was crap, but my feedback was good for the group, and my second set felt good. Then we did short swing turns, which are a problem for me, we did two sets, I don't know if either set passed. My feedback for the second set was to send the knees across into the new turn faster, earlier. I got the same feedback for bumps, so that's another common thread, that's two, so now I'm a bit nervous.
Bumps on Deer Park felt solid, I played, had fun, varied turn shape, good ski to snow contact, etc, but then I got the knee comment, and that threw me, I haven't got that feedback yet in the bumps. I called Squatty after I got down the hill, and he said that means I'm not committing to the new turn enough, and I can change that for sure.
We did arcing in the crud, about shin deep, high speed arcs, and I was arcing, but I wasn't working my upper body like I can, I think I was a titch defensive in the crud. The second set was much better, the third set was good and aggressive.
On Slauchmans, Troy asked me to soften my outside leg earlier in the turn, and I did that for the rest of the day. I also had NEARLY a huge wipe out, which turned into a spectacular save, I got inside, my outside tip got ripped back behind me, I miraculously stayed on my inside foot and did about 15 turns in knee deep crud while I tried to get my outside ski back under me (the tip was dragging and bouncing in the snow BEHIND me) I went over a little compression and my tip freed, and I pulled my foot back under me and kept skiing, I was PSYCHED! If I had fallen, I would have totally destroyed my knee. It's a bit sore from being yanked on like that, but no worries.
So no falls for me today, my free skiing was to my potential, I did well in the Whirlpools, I did well in the bumps, and can make the change they want, I hope, tomorrow.
Focuses for tomorrow:
Must soften downhill leg earlier
Revisit pivot slips with a better tip lead/hip open
Revisit short swings with knee commitment
Revisit bumps with same
Revisit arcing with leveling of shoulders
Don't pop even once all day
School those hands, more open, no lazy left hand
Kill it in the teaching segment.
I have NO idea if I am above the bar or not, I think my freeskiing is there, I'm not sure if I'm going to fail on Pivot Slips, Javelins and Short Swing turns. I'm not sure if they are good enough to pass, or not.
SO, I'm not gonna worry about it. I'm gonna hydrate, shower and go to bed, then go have ANOTHER killer fun day skiing at my favorite mountain tomorrow!! Whoot WHoot!!
Here we go!
I'm leaving for the hill now, thanks for all the support, emails, facebook messages, Twitter posts... I am frankly overwhelmed (in a GOOD WAY) with all the love and support out there. I feel excited, rested, and ready to go have fun!
Next update won't be till tonight! Thanks, guys, you are amazing!
xox
Kate
Next update won't be till tonight! Thanks, guys, you are amazing!
xox
Kate
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
14 hours to go, Pointers from Brent to the rescue...
A couple of things, I just found this quote, which I love:
"The limit at any given time is really only a taboo which can be shifted so that we slowly move toward what is absolutely impossible, something nobody can reach but which is the magic point that keeps adventure and uncertainty alive." --R. Messner
AND, I got a lovely note from Squatty and Weems, and a great message from Megan... my mom called, my sister called, my cousin tweeted me from Austria... and my Facebook friends have been boosting my confidence all day long! Thanks, guys!
I just got this email from Brent Amsbury, my amazing bootfitter of doooom, with some very sage advice...
Just a couple of pointers from my old coaching days....
DO:
Begin hydrating big time, tension makes you perspire, so load up starting 24 hours in advance.
Check your gear. Wax em, and make sure your binding tension is correct, especially forward pressure.
Get rest, even if it means just sitting or laying down.
DON'T:
Break out of your morning rituals. Do the same things you do every morning. Break the ritual and your run the risk of seriously
amplifying performance anxiety.
Ski for the audience, ski for yourself only. It's just you and the mountain out there as far as the universe is concerned.
Forget to have fun......it's the whole reason why we do this
Now go kick some ass!
Brent
Awesome!Good things to remember for sure. I am feeling really tired right now, a bit worn out for some reason, so I'm laying out all my stuff for tomorrow, getting the kids in bed and going to sleep myself shortly! I'll tweet from the ridge or Slauchmans if I get up there (That's the only place there's cell service) otherwise, more updates tomorrow night.
"The limit at any given time is really only a taboo which can be shifted so that we slowly move toward what is absolutely impossible, something nobody can reach but which is the magic point that keeps adventure and uncertainty alive." --R. Messner
AND, I got a lovely note from Squatty and Weems, and a great message from Megan... my mom called, my sister called, my cousin tweeted me from Austria... and my Facebook friends have been boosting my confidence all day long! Thanks, guys!
I just got this email from Brent Amsbury, my amazing bootfitter of doooom, with some very sage advice...
Just a couple of pointers from my old coaching days....
DO:
Begin hydrating big time, tension makes you perspire, so load up starting 24 hours in advance.
Check your gear. Wax em, and make sure your binding tension is correct, especially forward pressure.
Get rest, even if it means just sitting or laying down.
DON'T:
Break out of your morning rituals. Do the same things you do every morning. Break the ritual and your run the risk of seriously
amplifying performance anxiety.
Ski for the audience, ski for yourself only. It's just you and the mountain out there as far as the universe is concerned.
Forget to have fun......it's the whole reason why we do this
Now go kick some ass!
Brent
Awesome!Good things to remember for sure. I am feeling really tired right now, a bit worn out for some reason, so I'm laying out all my stuff for tomorrow, getting the kids in bed and going to sleep myself shortly! I'll tweet from the ridge or Slauchmans if I get up there (That's the only place there's cell service) otherwise, more updates tomorrow night.
Motorist Burried in Teton Pass, Winter Recreation to be Closed in 2009/10 Season
This is a reprint of an article from Skiing in the Backcountry.com by McGaper.
Please visit SkiingInTheBackCountry to post comments on this article!
A natural avalanche occurred early this morning around 3:00am on Teton Pass. The avalanche slide path was on the south side of Mount Glory in the area known as Twin Slides. One unlucky motorist was caught and buried in their automobile until rescuers found the victim two hours later and was pronounced dead on the scene. The name of the victim has been kept private until the authorities could notify family members.
"After a tragedy like this, WYDOT has no choice but to close the pass to winter recreationalists." stated WYDOT spokeswoman Mary Samsonite. Closures will begin on November 4, 2009 and last until April 4, 2010. Although the loss and closure is devastating, the closure is not permanent and it will more than likely be open again for winter recreation in 2010-2011.
After studying the bed surface of the slide, local avalanche experts determined that the occurrence of the slide was unique. They found that the unusual amounts of dog feces in the snow pack had caused depth hoar to form and create a weak layer for all the new snow to slide on.
"All the warm weather before the recent snow fall had exposed a winters worth of poop all at once for the new snow to fall on," commented local avalanche forecaster Olly Williams. "This in turn did not bond well with the heavy "dumpage" of new accumulation received in past days." While this is the first documented case of a turd caused avalanche, experts hope that people will now understand just how dangerous a crap covered slope can be.
"We feel that we have been more than patient with winter recreationalists and since this death was a direct cause of careless skiers, they now have to deal with the consequences," explained Samsonite.
Local skiers mentioned that in recent weeks the dog poo had become so bad that it gave corn skiing a whole other meaning. Some say they started wearing a face-mask to avoid ending up nose deep in dog dookie. Maybe more shocking than the unnecessary loss of life, is that on investigation of the bed surface one account of human feces was identified. Which begs the question: What the crap is going on up on Teton Pass?
APRIL FOOLS!! (AHH I fell for it!)
20 hours to go, figured something out skiing in the hot tub...
So I'm up here in Big Sky, hangin at the Huntley with my new friend Tricia, and Tess from Bridger. I have to say that it was awesome to get up here for the last two days and just relax. I feel like I've been on vacation, surrounded by positive, encouraging people, training just a bit, relaxing, eating well, and just playing.
I think we forget to do this, to consider taking care of ourselves as a crucial part of training, and last year, I came up to Big Sky as well to ski with Squatty and Weems at EpicSki, because the exam was at Big Sky. So I wasn't so much taking care of myself as I was learning the snow up here and getting more familiar with exam terrain.
This time, the point was to be next to my Coach and my... what would I call Weems? It feels like he's been my friend and playmate for centuries, but I just met him last year. I think a lot of people feel that way about him. Anyhow, the idea was to be near these two incredible friends, to ski with them, to demo for their groups, to listen to them teach, to take it easy and feel my feet and practice the move that I'm working on.
Today, even though its still dumping, I managed to stay off my skis, and just be. I'm trying not to rush home, and get a bunch of stuff done, but to just stay, relax, be here now. I slept in, ate a nice breakfast (Thanks, Tricia!), and went down to soak in the hot tub.
While I was down there, I did a long meditation in the water, which was great, slowing my brain down, feeling focused and centered and present (another reason why its been great to do massage for the last couple of days up here, just being fully present like I have to be while I'm working on a body is great training).
After my floating meditation, I was sitting on the step and thinking about the short turns I did yesterday in Weems' group, and the fact that they still have a pop in them.
I started skiing my hands, looking at the sensations, and I realized that in my short turns, I still have a two legged extension! So the invaluable feedback that Andy gave me about extending the new outside leg while shortening the new inside leg, I had only applied to medium and large radius turns.
I sat very still for a second as I thought about this, and then floated myself off the top step and tried to ski short radius turns. I realized while I was doing this that I am still long at the bottom of the turn, and that I don't start releasing the pressure on the outside ski until I am ready for the new turn. In other words, I'm still hanging on to my turns.
I slowed down the turn and worked on large radius turns, trying to change the timing and movements and see if I could walk through the whole thing, it worked like this.
Starting neutral at the transition, both ankles closed, leg length equal and flexed, I begin to point my toes, opening my ankle into the new turn as I let my leveled pelvis be drawn across the platform. The inside leg is soft, and continues to shorten, being drawn up the inside of the new outside leg. Softening the new inside leg while pointing the foot was challenging, and I realized that this might be why in the short turn, I'm extending off both feet, because oppositional movements are difficult at best, and this is a secondary set of them. (The first being lengthening one leg while softening the other, the second being opening both ankles while softening one leg).
Now we are at the apex of the turn, the longest and strongest, and this is where I should begin letting go, rather than twisting hard at the bottom of the turn and coming off the heel (although that helped out yesterday in the deep mank, and Weems said he was skiing off the heels a bit in that stuff as well...) Anyhow, Apex. Outside leg is long and strong, advancing, inside leg is soft at the knee, falling to the inside of the turn, strong in the ankle as both ankles close and flexion begins. Inside foot is pulled back strong for me, as I love to let that sucker squirt forward. Now we are in the bottom third of the turn.
I should begin letting go (if you ski close to me, you'll hear me saying "soften!" at the bottom of every turn) of the outside leg, and as a result, ski begins to flatten, and I travel back over the platform. Ankles begin to open, diving toward the new turn as inside leg softens and draws up. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
So, now I'm headed down to the sauna to ski in there and see if I can keep the timing of this in shorter turns, practicing opening my ankles while softening, taking the sensation of my upper back stiffening and being pulled back when I open my ankles out, and trying to reprogram a soft spine with an easy, flowing attack with the core. I'll let you know how it goes!
Heading down the hill this afternoon, first, gonna stop at the Moose and buy cookies and chocolate and red bull for my jacket for the next two days. Then, gonna snuggle the kiddos, then Alex is coming over and we are going to do a traditional Crow smudge ceremony for serenity and balance, good night's sleep.
Up at six to wax the skis, on snow by 8:30, let the games begin!
Thanks so much for all the encouraging emails and notes, its been WONDERFUL to read them!! You guys rock!
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