Double hot chocolate stops today – thanks to a blizzard and significant drop in temperature. At least the snow wasn’t sticky. Little bodies lose heat quickly (volume to surface area ratio!) so in the mountains you have to be aware and vigilant! We had a chocolate break at the top of the Col de la Chal (2600m) and went straight in for another one at the bottom back in Arc 2000.
There was no possibility of holding attention for technical instruction again today – so based on following and copying we just did exercises “on the go” – with me enforcing the “line” taken for controlling speed and explaining this while skiing so that some of it might rub off.
Both girls seemed to be getting used to the wild mountain environment and Poppy was only worried that she didn’t know where we were once on an unfamiliar run and deep inside the clouds.
Two or three of my young students have ended up at university studying astrophysics – apparently (possibly) as an unintended consequence of my ski teaching. Of course I wasn’t then surprised when out of the blue Poppy asked “Do you believe in the Big Bang”.. and of course she was shocked again when I answered “No!”. The “Big Bang” was named by Astronomer Royal, Sir Fred Hoyle – and he rejected it outright. Why does ski instruction always end up with astrophysics?
Paddy faithfully turned up for another session – more extensively beaten up than yesterday with a damaged shoulder as well as lower back pain. More importantly he brought a lot of determination with him.
The key for Paddy to unleash the “pivot” is to make sure the pelvis is facing downhill. His weight was getting too far back due to the starting off with the pelvis facing across the hill and allowing the skis to run forward.
The pivot is a “braking” turn – the skis always being on their uphill edges. This has to be mastered separately then later blended with dynamics – when the skis are allowed to run forward.
Use the pivot for short fall line turns – it is excellent in deep soft snow. When snow gets heavy then only dynamics works! Nearly all non race trained skiers do the opposite to the pivot – they push their heels outwards or twist the ski into the turn – this without fail limits their off piste, ice and bumps skiing capacity. There’s no need however for race training if you understand the difference and apply it.
Be aware that you don’t need to use the inside edge of a ski to turn – the entire ski is designed to support and sustain your centre of mass – the only fundamentally important thing being the direction of your centre of mass.
Some of my local poppy photos for Poppy….
