Happy Canada Day

At the trail-head, it was hot before we even started

 To celebrate Canada Day Simon and I hiked and skied Old Glory on Friday.  We went early because we were unable to do it today.  Good thing as the snow has been melting rapidly, I am not sure it would even be possible today.  It was a huge effort, 8.5 hours total with no real breaks.  Simon did exceptionally well, this was the first year where I was confident enough in his skiing to take him.
The snow was just like this last season, the most marginal of all the 8-10 times I have skied up there for Canada Day.  Our turns needed to be precise as the the chute was so narrow.  But as Simon said "It was totally worth it!". 
I had no trouble hiking up skiing down and hiking out the chute but I hit a wall after that and slogged all the way down the mountain looking at each step as a victory of progression.  It was a suffer-fest down for me.
When we got home Simon jumped on the trampoline while I laid myself down on the living room floor.  This was a mistake because I literally could not get up, I was so weak I could not even roll onto my side.  All I could do was laugh at my plight and that hurt-a lot- particularly because I could not control the laughter.  I guess I pushed myself a bit far.

This is the chute we skied, photo taken a couple of years ago, this year we could only ski the top half.

Simon mentally preparing for the best turns he will make all June

This is what we hiked for.

Really Steep!

This is about where we ran out of snow

Simon near the top, when he came over the top he said "Well that was worth it!"

January Groomers

It has been quiet on the slopes of Red Mountain-unfortunately no powder.  The upside is that the slopes seem pretty much reserved for Canadian Ski Quest and Nonstop.  Seriously we were about half the population on the hill today.  Great for us as the groomers are fantastic.  We were skiing on Grey Mountain a lot today, or I should say we used the Grey Mountain Chair a lot today.  We used the Grey chair to ski laps on Rino's Run.

Photos above are of Peter Parrot in red and Paul Egan in green.  Powder is great but these two had a fantastic day without it.

12 random thoughts on the profession of Ski Instruction

Acknowledgement of influence from Bartoz Barcynski and Don Kjorven!


1.    The most successful CSIA Course Conductors have first been educated and inspired by the CSIA and have then taken the extra step of looking outside of the CSIA for education and inspiration.

2.    Lateral flexion of ones knees, without season ending injury, is an impossibility.  Knees move on the vertical plane.

3.    Fact: Norman Kreutz knows the secret of how to ski well.  He has shared this secret with his immediate family and no others.  Norm is also very good at pretending that there is no secret.

4.    If a Ski Instructor has stopped learning it is time to stop teaching.

5.    In an effort to develop edge angle, hips need to move first.  A skiers ankles can not contribute to this effort until the hips are actually inside the turn.

6.    Boot fitting is presented as being way more complicated than it needs to be.

7.    Just about every Ski Instructor who has been successful in achieving the Level 4 certification has committed an exceptional effort towards this goal.  The 5 or 6 since 1938 who have achieved Level 4 certification on talent and intelligence alone didn’t last long in the business.  Level 4 certification is merely a starting point for further development. 

8.    The effort is more important than the pin.

9.    There might be a difference between what the “Center of Gravity” and the “Center of Mass” is.  For those who seem to understand the topic this is difference is very important.  Nobody else cares-at all.

10.    Guest service skill can be developed just like edging skill can be developed.

11.    Enhanced pivoting skill will help all skiers to ski better.

12.    Points 2, 5, 9 and 11 are important but no where as near as important as solid guest service skill.

13.    In training; Compare your performance of the day to your own performance of the previous day or previous run.  Comparing your performance to that of others, for better or worse, is mentally devastating.

14.    Fellow Ski Instructors: Can you believe how privileged we are to be able to earn a living by doing what we do?