Mike, Jannette

Jannette’s first day back on skis started very gently – lulling her into a false sense of security – then we went off-piste.

Music by Blood or Whiskey – “Doors of Hope”

While Jannette was getting used to her skis again I asked Mike to focus on feeling the shins touch the front of the boots, feeling the point just in front of the heel and working on pivoting – which he was having more success with today. Slower skiing is a great opportunity to focus correctly on feeling new things.

For once this season the Off Piste was not wind packed and was light and forgiving so it wasn’t long before we were taking advantage of it. Surprisingly Jannette was more at ease than Mike initially – at least when the gradient was low.

This was a day for taking opportunities so there wasn’t much coaching going on – mostly guiding instead. I gave some advice for the off piste. Basically the number one thing is that dynamics always works so when in doubt use big dynamics. Number two is to take a lower stance – almost seated – so that the feet and knees are in front of the body. Sitting facing downhill will not cause you to fall backwards. If you don’t believe this take a chair outside and place it facing down a steep hill and try to sit on it. This stance also encourages the feet to remain downhill of the body at all times so pivoting from the uphill edges is easy – even on both skis simultaneously (hence feet together for a two footed stance). Dynamics is still used with this sort of fall-line pivoting but the “structure” and support below the centre of mass is obviously organised differently than for forward flowing “inside edge” skiing.

The K2 Kung Fujas skis were also experiencing their first soft power snow and they were stunningly good at pivoting – the double rocker construction having a clear effect.

While I was waiting for Mike helping to sort out Janette after the wipeout I took a few photos of the surrounds. I hope that Janette took a moment too at some point to appreciate the value of being in the wilderness and away from the pistes and the ever present risk of being rammed by stupid snowboarders (why we all have to wear crash helmets now!). The first image below is the top of the Bellevarde – above the Olympic lift. The huts at the top are the start huts for the World Cup and Olympic downhill races – the hut on the right going down the Face into Val and the one on the left going down to La Daille. The second image is looking up the valley at the “Tour de Charvet” route. Image three is the “Face de Charvet” – spectacular when it avalanches – so I don’t go there.